How to Play "Blackbird" by the Beatles | Guitar Lesson

[@sweetwater]

Learn a new technique and an incredible song in one sitting, talk about a win-win! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more lessons like this one!

[@hkguitar1984]

Don, where were you back in 1974 when I was trying to learn this song! Cassette tapes, that is all I had (I'd already worn out the vinyl). Great Lesson, Thank You

[@Blueesteel_]

These little guitar lessons by Sweetwater was a great idea! Someone got a raise out of this lol

[@JMarkJones]

The BEST, bar none, tutorial of dozens, maybe hundreds on KZbin. This is how you break a song down! I finally think I can get this. Thank you my friends. DC this is awesome.

[@user-pn1bj6os9b]

Thanks for this lesson. You broke it down and explained it very well. Your a great guitar player Don and it shows.

[@sweetwater]

Thanks so much for checking it out, Tim! 🙌

[@kevinfitzgerald2884]

Don, I found this video in January, right after buying my Taylor from Sweetwater. I've been working on it for months, and I think I've finally got it. Thanks.

[@Guitario666]

Those chords sound so nice together

[@Fordirk1]

Not quit there yet but thanks to your explanation and others i'm getting closer to where i want to be. Thank you to anyone who helped produce this video. People all over the world should help eachother learn all kinds of stuff. I'll also try to pass it on.

[@jorisbrem]

This one did it for me. Thank you!

[@silviacancellieri6513]

You are incredible with your guitar. You are a good melody

[@glorioskiola]

Wow, best lesson for this song that I’ve seen.

[@matcoffidis1135]

It's a great song. I like the pick helping the bass notes ring out more.

[@Ken.Kmetz.]

Great job Don! I’m 68 and never learned this song when it came out. Now I’m too old and my muscle memory ain’t what it used to be. Hope you youngsters take the time to learn it. I regret not learning Blackbird.

[@JDavidChilders]

You're never too old! Give it a go! It may take a bit longer, but I can tell you that age is not a factor! I'm 65.

[@glorioskiola]

I’m your age and just learning it. It’s never too late!

[@avjake]

This is such an excellent teaching style. Great lesson!

[@hawg427]

Fantastic video Don. You just can't beat the Beatles and Pauls Masterpiece.

[@Mossydc]

Thankyou. that was very well done!

[@Ahkeys82]

Good to hear you play again Don!!

[@williamwmcqiv6157]

Awesome... thank you for this lesson!

[@ralphrounds709]

Awesome lesson, Don. I’ve always loved this song, (and this album!). Only just started playing guitar seriously recently, so this will be a challenge!

[@JDavidChilders]

I was just revisiting this in my Beatles song book this morning. I always wondered why the open chords just don't sound quite right. Thank you for this excellent breakdown!

[@davidplays8505]

How was that Cm made?? (12:30)

[@donhall2759]

Don Carr is a treasure, plus this song is the best for checking the intonation of your guitar. If the intonation is off, it'll sound terrible on that 10th-fret G figure.

[@stephensinclair8894]

Pretty sure you're giving some misinformation here. He doesn't do the alternating thumb bass. John learned this from Donovan, but Paul couldn't be arsed, and I don't think he ever learned travis style. He does a picking/strumming combo that's all his own style. You do play it very nicely though.

[@sweetwater]

Thank you for the kind words about my playing, Stephen. At 6:36 I take a moment to discuss Paul's "flick technique." It falls somewhere between frailing, a banjo technique, and Maybelle Carter's style, which you can go down a long rabbit-hole tracing those origins. I think we saw the same Donovan interview, where he talks about showing John and Paul alternating-bass, thumb-style fingerpicking. From what I gathered, John worked with Donovan for a couple days to really get a grip on it and Paul sort of casually walked by and checked out what they were doing, without diving into intense study. Hence, Paul's individual approach to it. From a teaching perspective, I decided that Travis-picking was more universal to someone first learning the technique. Not to mention the fact that I demonstrate clearly in the video that I really can't do the "flick!" My conclusion was to play the notes, however you can. Bearing all this, I take issue with your statement that I'm "giving some misinformation." Check out the video and see if you agree. Respectfully, DC

[@stephensinclair8894]

@@sweetwater You're right, I didn't watch the whole video; sorry I responded without watching the whole thing. I stopped at around 1:30 when you said 'this song uses a technique that John and Paul learned from Donovan'. I think this does imply that Paul used this technique, but he doesn't, and this is what I found misleading. I'm pretty sure that your demonstration of Paul's technique, at 6:55, is incorrect. Most of the youtube players who've dug deep into how he does it use a thumb and first finger pinch followed by a flick, and I think this is correct. That means there is no drop thumb at all; the repeating open g string is played with the flick, not the thumb. I actually don't mean to get picky (too late for that!). I completely agree with the idea of playing songs in our own way, and the musical result is the important part. I do like to figure out what exactly they were doing as a vehicle to getting the feel, after all, if I like a song it's because the feel works, and sometimes our own way falls flat. Yours does not, it feels great, and so there's no reason not to teach it. It's the discussion of Paul's technique that I take issue with. I've always been interested in Paul's acoustic technique because it looks so simple and natural, but so few people (including me) can actually do it and get the feel. Again, sorry for the picky...

[@larrysiegel]

@@sweetwater Hi, Your playing sounds really good! but it's no wonder you have trouble with that index finger flick - He's not doing that at all! He's pinching upward like anyone would do. The "flick" is on the second beat where he's "flick-strumming" the chord with the back of his index finger in a sort of Frailing way. No worries that you couldn't get that - he wouldn't either! larry :D

[@danielferguson6811]

Don, just a minor quibble: If you listen closely to the original and watch videos of Paul playing it, you'll see that he plays the constantly droning open G's with an outward *swipe* of his index finger rather than a traditional free stroke.

[@quinnmitchel4075]

I just looked up how to play it 10 mins before this came up lol

[@damon123jones]

3amazing man

[@deejaydaniel4154]

I need an acoustic guitar

[@JohannesLabusch]

Sweetwater probably has an idea ...

[@rickyguitarman3839]

it amazes me that Paul didn't have any music education what's so ever but managed somehow to write this state of the art classic song! What does this mean!?!?! Is music education even worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars you have to pay for a piece of paper?

[@gavinw5469]

It's about what you learn. For the average person, you are not going to get into a music school. You have to be very good to get in berklee for instance. An average person won't be able to afford it either. Some people are good enough to get scholarships, and if you are really good, you can have a full ride. When you go to Berklee, you can choose 2 paths, jazz or classical. For instance, if you can play jazz you can play anything basically, because of its technical difficulty.

[@gavinw5469]

It's a lot more than a piece of paper man. You saying that obviously shows you don't know what you are talking about. Blackbird is not really an state of the art song. It does not really use anything state of the art. Travis picking is very old. It is nothing new.

[@gavinw5469]

He is naturally a genius as well when it comes to song writing. Most people aren't in his league. There was also no reason for musical education, because they write pop songs. Good songs, but pop songs. Even complex parts of there songs are normally obscure such as John Lennons banjo chord shapes and rapid strumming and chord changes.

[@rickyguitarman3839]

@@gavinw5469 you're right!

[@rickyguitarman3839]

@@gavinw5469 FYI, i graduated from berklee class '89 :)

[@dispersemedia]

the b string must also alternate with the g string

[@sportsmediaamerica]

Paul strums while picking. It's as if he is flicking at the strings while his thumb plays the bass. Isn't this what he pointed out in concert to thousands of guitar-playing fans? That they were all "doing it wrong"? Some other teachers on KZbin have addressed this.

[@sonicobsessions947]

Why'd you only do it now? I live 6 years of my life playing it the other way which is totally wrong!!

[@JohannesLabusch]

This is great, but anybody who can't hit the "IN" note in "into the dark..." should refrain from covering this song (I'm including myself here ...)

[@jacottt]

no médiator, please...! 😄

[@klausgeltl5654]

That 'flick' which missing is criticised here (and I've read the reply to it), must be in it. Without it, this whole thing sounds wrong.

[@alecalfaras5936]

Rolling Stones > Beatles

[@JohannesLabusch]

Yawn. I hope you haven't started a thing here, but I bet you did.

[@cindyhull8313]

Nice ….but its not how Paul plays it….he doesn’t pick it like you are….he kinda flicks with his index finger ….nice lesson but not really accurate to the way he plays it. Not to mention its impossible to play it correctly with a pic. This is your version….not Pauls. There is no Travis picking in Pauls. But you make a point which can certainly be true….play it the way you can. By no means is this the way Paul plays it. Don’t understand why some teachers insist on naming chords….it’s unnecessary….just confuses things. Thanks, Keith

[@frankfasulo9107]

There are many other videos on this song that show how the original artist plays it, but they don't break it down like this one. He is doing everything proper except for the finger flick. If one must learn the finger flick he/she can incorporate it by watching other videos as well. I'm using the pick style and the rhythm is exactly the same as the original. It's sounds great, and I don't need to flick my finger to sound exactly like the original recording.

[@cindyhull8313]

@@frankfasulo9107 you are very talented and this tutorial covers some useful insight on this song…I’m Keith not Cindy ( it’s her laptop).. I’ve taken your approach to heart…thank you for a sweet lesson…I do appreciate your work…I would recommend you to anyone who wanted a well rounded approach to this song…trying to do it the way someone might have done it is not always the right approach to learning something and you bring a clarity to that.