How to play guitar like George Harrison - by mjsokes

[@davidletterman7786]

This is one of the few homemade videos about music on youtube that is actually worth watching. Thanks for doing this.

[@guitaroable]

I think George was one of the all time under rated guitarist;s. Like Miles Davis you don't need to play a ton of note to make a beautiful musical statement. My fav solo is on Old Brown Shoe. That descending chromatic line from the F# to the Am was a work of art.

[@Powertuber1000]

There was a 4th George guitar style which was completely different than the other three... his post Beatle style.

[@beatlemike9]

yep...Slide

[@bammbamm12]

I never got over the lead in Till There Was You. It's like he pulled a rabbit out of his hat. He never did that lounge lizard jazzy stuff, but just nailed that at will, seemingly.

[@bobjob3456]

Indeed. Some stuff like that he played, I have no idea how to play. I like this fact.

[@itamarbushari88]

Very natural

[@toms6756]

Definitely something special about that solo!

[@RockThisTown2000]

George's lead on TTWY is so brilliant, it's been copied many times by many other artists. And George also had some great 'country-fied' guitar moments, like 'Act Naturally'. Different genres, but George's playing is stellar on both. He could move flawlessly from one genre to another. An absolute guitar genius.

[@JackThomas-t4m]

@@bobjob3456I am bald

[@davesuiter]

George Harrison was arguably the greatest guitarist of his time who "played by ear". There were no computers, no videos and limited sheet music in the late 50s for a 14 year old kid with relatively small hands. He grew better every day as a guitarist and practiced non-stop; he was extremely dedicated and had world class competition. What an inspiration; that's why we love the gift of his music.

[@G.H642]

Finally somehow who knows what's fact :) Totally acknowledged.

[@davesuiter]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Are you saying McCartney played ALL studio solos for the last 3 Beatle albums? If so, you'd be wrong. Paul played all instruments on Back in the USSR and lead guitar on a few others but not all.

[@davesuiter]

jerry jah Are you trying to say "intro". If you're capable enough to use a computer you should be able to write your language. If English is not your primary language, then type it in another language. Google has a translate feature. Surely you can do better than this.

[@G.H642]

jerry jah I would surely know if Paul took the lead parts in Beatles songs. It's definately not true. You can check it up on serious sources. There are many of them on the net. www.beatlesbible.com/songs/ www.thebeatles.com/explore-songs ...

[@G.H642]

Evidence of researches. I guess you're a McCartney fan but that's not a reason to argue about what has happended and what did not.

[@PotterheadMando]

Thanks for re-uploading these! I loved this guy, "mjsokes", back in the late 2000's, especially his John Lennon playing style video, on how to play rhythm guitar, of course. I had seen them all a few times, just before he took them down, back in about 2009, when I started playing guitar. Thanks again for the memories!

[@xxmanx1]

Great Tribute to GH! With all the shredding that happened afterward it good to see George appreciated for recording some of the best guitar tracks ever.

[@matheusmello1995]

It's really cool the fact that you're not pretending to be a funny ass or something like these no-life idiots from youtube do, you're just doing you're thing by teaching and giving us your message, really nice. George was the man and so are you, mate. Cheers

[@63jbiz]

EXCELLENT! So good to see younger players like yourself studying the Beatles playing style. I enjoyed your "John Lennon" lesson too. GREAT playing.

[@ktpinnacle]

For those more interested in criticizing instead of listening, this is a HS kid who has a better grip on what he's doing than most will ever have of anything. And he's moved on to bigger and broader things with his life, showing just how capable he is at mastering a variety of interests. Glad these recording from his youth are still available.

[@pape37]

Great video. I'm glad to finally see some George appreciation. A friend of mine laughed in my face when I said George Harrison was a better guitar player than Eric Clapton, but I meant it. For every 100 flashy blues players, there are very few people who can play something simple and elegant, where every note says something important. George was one of those players.

[@KeithMoonbeat]

Love it ! You're a fantastic player if it comes to playing George's style . He's my all time favourite guitar player and i want to say : 'Thank you ' for this . God bless

[@michaelsilva6026]

thank so much for taking the time to down load this. I grew up in the Beatle times. went to there last concert in SF. The ticket was $4.50. Learned to play guitar using a Beatle song book. My favorite songs to play and sing. Glad they came along when they did.

[@alangriff1]

Thanks for the tribute to George. A very under-rated lead guitarist. He was GOOD. RIP George. You're an amazing talent too! thanks for bringing it to us.

[@steviepaulson1753]

'Fixing a hole" 'Yo me was a favorite all time great solo by George. It stood above anything that was trying to be played. Solo's were heading to a more orchestrated approach. Please post that?. It's been a mystery for decades. T.Y. great job...

[@kingsxkids]

Stevie Paulson George mostly always followed the chords. now I’ve got a listen to fixing a hole again - I haven’t heard in years I don’t even recall the solo. Thanks mate

[@bluecat51]

Just wanted to let u know how much I enjoyed this. Im a 61 yr old geezer and my mind was blown back in '64 when the Beatles invaded America. Because of them I learned guitar and its been a life long passion. Im still a Beatles freak. It does my heart good to see young people like yourself appreciating their contribution to music. I love your playing and your tribute to George. Keep on picking man. Your Casino sounds great! thanks again!

[@funguy4utube]

Thanks for retrieving this … mjsokes is so talented … good to be able to see this again. Maybe he did not take his vids down .. maybe he was taken down … however, I cannot see why. Or maybe there were some rude comments that upset him and he had enough. Anyway, my hat is off to him for his vids and sharing and to his immense talent.

[@woolenwigwam]

you don't have to chastise yourself when you make a mistake! everybody makes mistakes.

[@woolenwigwam]

and I find your videos really interesting. I learned a few things about beatle playing that I didn't know before.

[@markv.5962]

agreed. being more insecure than george. just relax and play, we get it

[@paulsb77]

This is what KZbin is all about, home made videos inspiring others to learn from the great legends. Good on you dude

[@thomasmcrory2291]

Super sweet posting, super sweet non-ego guy = just like George ! Nice, accurate interpretations and good backdrop of the Arc of a Soulful guitar player - may you follow that same Arc or development and may more be blessed to choose the High Road in the pursuit of guitar/songwriting excellence ! George was a solo compositional master and you gave a nice lesson here ! I learned a lot! Please lettuce know when you post more = perhaps looking at the slide technique next ,,,,?PeaceMac

[@flexwinggpipi]

dont knock yourself man , very respectable guitar playing. love george harrison

[@kingsxkids]

I just realized this is nine years ago I can’t imagine how amazing you are by now

[@marianotrujillo7044]

He's right about George and love his enthusiasm and appreciation for him.

[@clockWorks10]

He actually sounds really close to George.

[@erlpen2016]

amazing guitar playing by both george harrison and mjsokes...more amazing though is how many people leave comments here as if you were mjsokes....i am glad you saved some of mjsokes videos and uploaded them for all of us to enjoy....thanks.

[@dingoswamphead]

Thanks for reviving msjokes. He has George (and John) down pat.

[@vDomMusic]

I love his guitar fork on his solo albums too, Cloud 9 and All Things Must Pass especially.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

It's good to see a young man who knows the significance of studying what the Beatles and George brought to the table. My kids play music, as do I, and I keep telling them to learn to play blues first, or at least some old country. They need a foundation first.

[@tpowell453]

80 people are total dolts. Thank you for posting this! You are very talented and generous to share your music and knowledge with us. Many thanks.

[@BigJman3000]

Finally someone who gets it! You are the man, Long live George!

[@69kpm]

The Epiphone Casino is an amazing guitar! The first week with it and finding a real Beatles tone was fun. The Casino is really John Lennon's guitar. I played a bunch of Lennon stuff at a near by blues bar. This thing nailed it all night long.

[@islandbay3]

Great playing, and your correct ,George was the man ! excellent genius riffs !

[@kirbygene]

You really hear George "growing up" as a guitarist. Thanks for this video!

[@williambrown6347]

Really good video. Couldn't have been more informative. Really takes a true guitarist to hear what George was doing as he continuely improved his game.

[@ThePhunboy]

spot on! george's playing was so melodicly articulate and economical, he's amazing! saying more guitarists should take his example is a truesy. great video.

[@taylorgibson4783]

It is so nice to have you on utube to get a little insight n trying to play beatles. Thanks for this - big time!

[@lx7x7xl]

George's guitar work on his 1979 solo album George Harrison is some of my favorite. "Here Comes the Moon" is beautiful and shimmering. For anyone wanting to play it, here's the key: capo 5th fret. Also, the solo in "My Dark Sweet Lady" is so incredibly soulful, one of the most expressive solo I've heard. I love to play along with that entire album and have it down note for note.

[@mblimmina]

My favorite George album as well. Great guitar work. Great songs.

[@lukastaylor1397]

Love comes to everyone is my favorite of that album

[@mrfester42]

I've been a Beatle FANatic since I saw them on Sullivan in '64 and you, young man, are a very perceptive musician. I'm a guitarist as well (not very good but I enjoy my own noise) and you distilled Georges evolution as a guitarist beautifully! Hat's off to you!

[@ayllasousa]

Oh man, i could listen to you talking about them and playing guitar all day! That was amazing! Huge Beatles fan here too. Cheers :*

[@clarkewi]

George was very precise and imaginative right from the start. A perfect compliment to John Lennon's primal style.

[@jordanlynott169]

Let’s get a 10 year reunion post on how your George playing has evolved!

[@MichaelSokil]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ7FaK2Njqt-j80

[@ringoshub]

Never forget that George was a huge rockabiilly/C&W fan, and you it shows in all his career with the Fab Four, even beyond. So they are no phases really, just a steady evolution of a very creative guitarist - every solo was a solid composition in itself, and we're even talkimb

[@korak40]

John, Paul, and George all contributed great guitar in the Beatles' output. For those trying to say one is better than the other is a bit silly, and unnecessary. Is this a contest? Clunky seems to be the wrong adjective to use. I don't think there is anything clunky about the solos on "Can't Buy Me Love" and "I Saw Her Standing There." I think some of the live solos on the early videos may seem a bit clunky, but imagine playing live with the equipment they had, and all the screaming. I frequently see George turning to look at his amp while soloing, as if he can't quite hear what he's playing. That makes it very difficult to play yeah? Good video though - thanks! For me, these are some of the best guitar playing selections for the Beatles. Paul: "I Will" "Taxman" "Sgt Pepper" "Yesterday" John: "Dear Prudence" "Julia" "Happiness is a Warm Gun" "Get Back" "Revolution" "Yer Blues" George: "Something" "Here Comes the Sun" "Octopus's Garden" (Actually the entire Abbey Road album) "Old Brown Shoe" "A Hard Day's Night" "Help" "Can't Buy Me Love" "I'm Only Sleeping"

[@zsderecskei]

Oh how I was searching for this video to watch again and it just came to me suddenly. Well done. And thanks for the reupload

[@Denthedragon]

His solo on "One After 909" was awesome.

[@RiXFortuna]

He says "kick ass" because George really kicked some serious ass in the guitar! Congratulations dude, you seem to be a easygoing person, and I like the way you play! Heart all the way!!!!

[@cacaovanhouten]

So glad you managed to rescue these vids. This guy is one of the best Beatle guitarists on youtube! Wonder why he deleted his account. He has so much talent.

[@colotron]

So happy you mentioned Chet Atkins' influence on George's playing!

[@SpaceCattttt]

He also played a hell of a lot of slide guitar. You didn't mention that.

[@tomthx5804]

I did too

[@chrisbenson9232]

teppolundgren This is a reupload of a channel that deleted all their content, and I'm pretty sure this video is focusing entirely on his tenure in the Beatles. I can't think off the top of my head of anywhere he played slide with them.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Chris Benson I always assumed he played slide on For You Blue, but apparently not. I found an interesting forum, though. Check it out: forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/beatles-songs-with-slide-guitar.292735/

[@vitorveiga6547]

For You Blue was Lennon on the slide guitar. You're correct.

[@apolloroma6783]

teppolundgren ..he did not play slide with the Beatles

[@kedocom]

really enjoyed your video! I believe George also did a lot of interesting slide work too!

[@tailor7793]

Amazing .Loved the presentation. Ive always found compositions by GH to be remarkable....amongst others .Beautiful.

[@ztcjsa]

I remember watching this video a few years ago, and now its back up!!!! Thanks!!! He really was helpful!

[@tomk3420]

Michael you are a great soul! I would love to have played in a band with you. You need a Gretsch for these George demos.

[@verutumnorton4662]

Hey Mike, thanks for the informative entertaining video. I LOVE George Harrison's music, (and all the Beatles stuff, for that matter!!!) I went out and bought a big black Gretsch hollow body!!!!!

[@topolino2]

yes good insight on technique and style... studied him for years and I am still impressed

[@MrGreencheetah]

Very well done tribute to Mr. George!!!

[@bryanogrady7372]

Hope you're still paid love to see more videos like this ir anything guitar related! I remember watching this as a young Beatle lad!

[@applescruff81]

You are good man.. You play George with feeling.. the way it was meant to be played.

[@RogerTeachesMusic]

Awesome insight on George's evolution. I always noticed each phase, each one was incredible. Well done and I think your videos kick ass!

[@beatles1000]

You are pretty smooth yourself my friend. I enjoyed listening to you very much. I always thought George was one of the most underrated lead guitar players. Then again with Lennon and McCartney there it was most likely intimidating. Best thing for him was going out on his own. Thanks for posting.

[@southernmonkey64]

I really cannot understand why you have taken down some of the VERY BEST,INFORMATIVE VIDEOS ON THE WEB! YOU ARE VERY GIFTED AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO SHOW THW WORLD YOUR TALENT , I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED ALREADY HOPE ALL IS WELL LOOLKING FOWARD FOR YOU RETURN YOU ARE MISSED FRIEND

[@doubleagl]

YES! He WAS the man!

[@SDreher58]

This is a tribute to George. This guy obviously thinks George was the shit. And mjsokes is more than decent guitarist in his own right. Anyone who plays, knows it's not just technique, but the spirit. Great video! Thanks!

[@MrBaldy79]

if harrison was a clumbsy guitar player please ill be a accedent waiting to happen

[@Probablylani]

lmao for real

[@AardvarkAdventure]

maxwell park Translate "clumsy" to "quirky," or, as he also says "clunky." It's true!

[@shafinr]

maxwell park Clumsy, not sloppy. He was pretty relaxed. The thing is, George Harrison NEVER hit a wrong note it seems xD

[@ordjk4797]

It’s crazy how the Casino handles all the pedals you throw at it. It also is able to play right about any genre of music, damn I want one.

[@mynameisreed1995]

Great playing-- His slide solos definitely were what defined him in the guitarist retrospect

[@wkclshero]

Nice job - I really enjoyed your observations of style. He did morph smoothly through the years. By the way his favorite EARLY BEATLE ERA SONG -" You Can't do That "

[@stephensmith1034]

You're good. You know you're good. I'll watch and learn from you.

[@Uniblab8]

No one ever gives George Harrison the credit he deserved as a guitarist, especially in the Beatle years. Sure is nice to see someone pay homage to him like this.

[@mikelamoureux6582]

Great Presentation, There will never be another band like the BEATLES !!

[@albertoprepucio4398]

his solo stuff is amazing, incredible on the slide

[@wolf-dieterolbrich6222]

Oh mjsokes, please re-release all your "how any beatle played..." videos, I love them. Bitte!

[@daijones101]

mjsokes nails it and he's really entertaining. He's done his homework.

[@bdctube]

1st off, I love the video, and it makes me see in my own playing how I've incorporated Harrison! Though not in a note for note way. I Wish "Fixing a hole" was included in the discussion, being I think it's one of the bridges between the stylistic gaps discussed in the video. Also "and your bird can sing", which is probably the most intricate guitar work on a Beatle record..... That said, because allegedly George and Paul both played the lead guitar in the latter, and share in assembling it, maybe it would not be among the 1st George works discussed, I get that....... Also there's Georges slide work, though not prominent in the Beatles stuff, it became his signature.... Another thing, "Something" is a one off piece, it's not really representative of his style in that era as a whole. So I don't agree with the way things have been put in a box here, never the less I like the playing and points made, in spite of some different opinion.....

[@stevemcclure]

Wow, thanks for sharing your wonderful insights. I learned a lot.

[@dominiccarter77]

Better get that door! Nice one again. Never really thought of the way they played.

[@MrBeatlebacker]

The Chet Atkins hybrid picking style can also be found on Please Please Me, From Me To You, Anna (Go To Him), Devil In Her Heart and many others. It takes a little practice to get it right, but when you have it - you have it!

[@rjworks13]

I agree overall, and thought you gave an awesome demonstration. I like the way you placed his styles into phases. I would suggest however, that there was a phase between your 1st & 2nd. I'd call it his "Soul Phase." His early style did reflect some reticence in his style, but by the time he got to Help/RubberSoul/Yesterday&Today/Revolver. His style picked up greatly - sometimes mimicking a surfer sound, and other times more Stones. That's when George truly emerged as a lead guitarist.

[@bobbollu]

you rock thanks for showing me lennon and harrison styles. I grew up with the Fab Fab you are very talented Bob

[@peterdvideos]

Great! The Something solo is my all time favorite guitar solo.

[@covemangreg]

I grew up listening to the Beatles and you have done a great video a great Guitar. Cant go past a Casino..and i love Epis. Keep on chooglin man. Nice job.

[@G.H642]

Thx for reuploading! Always cool to see michael go :D

[@AdrianHowe]

Hey there! Love your vids and I love the beatles. Keep them coming.

[@buddylobos5277]

John taught him a lot. John had great chord voicing s. Without which there would be not much lead

[@noblesiner]

This was awesome. George had an overall evolution through out his time with the beatles. But he truly hit his peak musically with all things must pass after the beatles were over. Its very interesting to see you demonstrate george's changing style from the beginning of the beatles to the end of the beatles. In the beginning he had a rough rocking kinda style that complete the beat music they were playing at the time, and due to years of the beatles sound maturing, he became more refined.

[@michaelcraig9449]

I like some of the stuff like Dont Ever Change, There's a Place, etc, all those perfect early songs, the real super tight shiny harmonies, etc..

[@Blaze850]

I personally think that it makes more sense to divide George's playing into two groups: the early "clunky" phase, which was his style up until around 1965-66, and the more "flowy" and technically advanced style that started showing up around the White Album, and really played a part in Abbey Road's sound. Of course, his excellent slide guitar playing was something completely different, but I think his guitar contributions in the later Beatles years helped shape that technique that he would form later in the 70s. His overall technical ability, including tone and speed began to really reach its peak in the 80s and 90s, where you can see the most how much his playing had improved since the Beatles years.

[@barkbarkbarkbarkable]

That's what I thought too. It also said he did the solo in "You Can't Do That", "Get Back", "Come Together", "Yer Blues", " I Want You", "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Flying", "Nowhere Man" (with George), "Revolution", "The Ballad of John & Yoko", "Tomorrow Never Knows", and parts of "The End"

[@swimmerM3]

freaking GOLD. I wanna learn how to play guitar just so I can play these classics.

[@ShelterDogs]

I can't imagine the real mjsokes is too happy with this channel.

[@zyxmyk]

when I was growing up in the sixties and seventies I lived on interstate 40, which was called Route 66 until the early seventies. I grew up in a town that was about a day and a half's drive west of Nashville. I was a guitar player and I used to go to the local club to watch the musicians. They were a three-piece band, guitar bass and drums. Everybody sang. They were hardcore old Nashville guys who had come this far West to escape the glut of Nashville musicians. The guitar player was a guy named Ron Griffin who had started with some kind of family band when he was in his early teens. He played a Stratocaster and used the same right-hand approach as George Harrison (and every other really good guitar player I've ever seen) which is now called, "hybrid picking" because they can "finger pick" but with a flat pick and their middle and ring fingers. He was excellent in all facets and could fire out some very flashy leads. My point? He was as good as George Harrison. So, yeah, George Harrison, by my lights, was a damn fine guitar player but in terms of the stratosphere he inhabited with the Beatles, no, he was nothing special. He played by ear. Eric Clapton plays by ear. Hendrix (who had perfect pitch) played by ear, as did all the Beatles. Glen Campbell (once the highest paid studio musician in the world and who also has perfect pitch) mainly played by ear though he would joke, "I can read music some but not enough to hurt my pickin'." George Harrison was a slower study than paul McCartney but he had better tone because he practiced on the guitar for hours a day. He was not a "great" guitar player but he was in a band with the greatest songwriters of the second half of the twentieth century and he had very good tone and he wrote some really great songs himself (though not to compare with the people in the band with him who were unbelievable). but the thing you should remember about George when he played live with the Beatles was that on virtually every song he was required to sing harmony. When you add that to his guitar parts, that's a full-time job. that's all I have to say.

[@ESmithStringSlinger]

Striving to play without errors,and being modest is a good way to be.Playing sounds decent.Carry on!

[@anninaa]

we love George!

[@Sweeper5]

George's best solo work (in my opinon) is the work he did on "And Your Bird Can Sing". That harmonized soloing was light years ahead of it's time.

[@dempsey981]

@Sweeper5 good comment,maybe i agree,that was really a clear melodic,chiming riff.clever too.

[@campbra]

George kicks asses in And Your Bird Can Sing (guitar solo). He was pretty amazing also playing the sitar in Norwegian Wood.

[@kerrymcmanus9188]

Don't forget his awesome slide playing.

[@mrmurph5046]

You trying to start trouble? ;) Not everyone can play slide - I've been trying for 25 years and sound like shit!

[@kerrymcmanus9188]

MP Pk Bad attitude to start with a question like that Mr.Slide was one of George signature sounds post Beatles.Played in standard tuning.If you cant play after 25 years you never will.

[@mrmurph5046]

Hey, dumb duche. The question was a joke (see the smiley face after it?) And I was giving a likely explaination as to why Mike didn't include slide here. But, just go ahead and continue being a useless dumbfuck.

[@kerrymcmanus9188]

At least i can play good slide.Choose your words better,,shit for brains.

[@mrmurph5046]

I already have. Bye gaybait...

[@Unshackledtruth]

You forgot one thing, George's slide guitar, he really excelled in this area, and had a style that no one could equal, famous bands would ask him if he would do slide guitar bits on their recordings in the studio.

[@emlyngriffith5846]

As a lifetime Beatles fan......who actually met and spoke to them and have they're autographs....I don't think George was an outstanding guitarist.....but was more than adequate for the music they produced on all they're records. In the same was Ringo was not an outstanding drummer but he produced the goods when needed. None of them were virtuoso instrument players like Clapton, Page, Bonham etc and they would never claim to be. What they were were brilliant songwriters and harmony singers who changed the face of music in the 69s when I was a teenager.....and I'm still waiting for someone to influence me like they did! Great video though!

[@mikespurgeon3345]

George was a far superior guitarist to the joke know as Clapton. Name one solo by Clapton that any kid must or wants to learn. Technically George is far Better. Listen to his Chord work esp on Till There was you.

[@victorarena23]

+Emlyn Griffith He was a great guitarist.he just wasn't a shredder

[@LRS905]

Thank you for showing it in detail, George Harrison kicked major ass as a guitarist.