HOW TO PLAY HOCUS POCUS FOCUS

[@GuitarPilgrim]

Enjoy this video with Study Guide ➤ tinyurl.com/sp32bejb

[@ItsJustRyan89]

Witch Hunt - Rush

[@atlantapinstripes5362]

I Know A Little - Lynyrd Skynyrd

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@atlantapinstripes5362 Steve Gaines! That Okie.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac

[@rickrs410]

Wow! Ages' since I've heard Hocus Pocus! Thanks for bringing it up. As for suggestions, I've always had a thing for Creedence Clearwater Revival. How about "Commotion"?

[@philjones8693]

Focus were an absolutely phenomenal band - Focus III and Hamburger Concerto were my favourites. They had such a unique sound - don't know any other band that sounded remotely like them.

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

Many people focus on Jan Akkerman's virtuoso soloing (and rightly so), Akkerman (and all of Focus) was actually one of the best rythm players I have ever heard. The power of their music is for a large part in the small rythmical details..

[@paulbuxton1326]

One of the best lead players too 🎼

[@johngerson7335]

In an interview, the vocalist related that the yodeling came to be when they were rehearsing the song and he did it as a sort of joke. They then decided to record it that way because it worked so well for the composition. Great lesson as always!

[@jamiemorgan4146]

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was the same. Singer, just joking and they liked it and left it in..

[@johngerson7335]

@@jamiemorgan4146 Didn't know that, cool!

[@brocluno01]

Back in the day, working at GRT/Chess/Janus Records we got this number to reproduce on tape (8 track & cassette). The floor QA machine was always doing Jim Croce or something. The first time one of the splicer gals stuck Focus in the machine, pretty much the whole production floor stopped in their tracks. It was really quite revolutionary. Great group and all good musicians.

[@tymanngruter1808]

That riff is not diffecult but the man who is playing it..... brutal! 😂

[@killW1266]

I like your attitude and discussion about the song. I never thought of using those two note intervals for the yodeling part. You presented some interesting insight and commentary in regards to the song . Thanks again !

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Great selection. I remember this decades ago. The radio stations switched versions after it became popular later playing the Dutch intro version for as long as I can remember.

[@DQSoft]

This brings memories. Back in the day, this track (and the album it was part of) was very popular with my friends.

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

One of my first favorite bands and first live concert as a sophomore in high school. Focus opening for Joe Cocker. ❤

[@crowhaven200]

Love the yodeling guitar, you nailed it as always. Thanks Pilgrim.

[@jrb123able]

Excellent! Great breakdown... and I second the request for Humble Pie! Thanks... 🤠

[@noahtenshen]

This could well be the last song I'd expect to see explained, and yet it was a great one and Well Done! This may force me to pull out my vinyl and use better ears. You have some great suggestions already--Love to hear some Humble Pie as well. Stay Well Groovy One!

[@q36spacemodulator]

I bought this album back in the 70's, still have the original vinyl. Always thought it was much underrated.

[@robsas6610]

Excellent! I'll be taking a look at this!

[@gitaaa7740]

Never heard that funky intro version and I am in the US

[@russellharness2805]

I'm in the US also, I remember when this song came out, I never heard the version with the funky intro either. The one he's calling the European version is the one I always heard on the radio. In any videos I've seen of them playing it live they never seem to play it the same way twice.

[@GaryPfingstl]

Awesome song. I always loved it. It rocks.

[@thamashu]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yessss! Totally crazy song!! I adore it!!!

[@BobWANDER]

Jan is still playing this sometimes, doing the funky intro. For the yodelling part he plays a tremolo.

[@oddshot60]

You can hocus and you can pocus, but there ain't no way you're gonna focus.

[@PAD939]

Stupid message

[@jamiemorgan4146]

One of the First Prog Rock bands! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@neilmckee6669]

This is a great riff to bust out at the local guitar shop, cheers going to give it a go.

[@richardroyster6631]

Very good job on this song, thank you

[@ppvk2610]

Funny Denethor asking Pippin to sing for him while he could Yodel quite well himself

[@drlespol]

fantastic man !!!!

[@davidgagen9856]

Never heard of this US version.....the original is the definitive version.

[@calumm8639]

Thanks for that. Great band and unique too. I can't think of another band like them. How about some Humble Pie? There's some great riffing from Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott on the Rockin' the Fillmore album. Specifically, I Don't Need No Doctor or Hallelujah I Love Her So.

[@douginny]

Again. Your backing track is so tight.

[@arpitsave1089]

Bands for the Next Video - STRIDER, TRAFFIC, STRAY, MOXY, PAINTER!!!

[@leegunter5223]

I don't know where you heard and called that funky beginning! Being American and was about 14 when that song Hocus Focus on the album Moving Waves was the way you started it ! I never heard of what you called the Amercan version of it ! I'm 64yrs old and you showing it on video was the first time I heard. I would not have bought the album if that's how it was! I love your videos and I'm subscribed but KZbin algorithms are screwed up and haven't seen you for 2 months!

[@johnwilliamcarlson]

Ah, well done.

[@sapelesteve]

Not my cup of tea but I can see why you enjoy playing that riff Thom. Well done! Hope that you & your family are doing well. 👍👍🎸🎸

[@meself349]

I think it's more like ☕

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

Sweet riff. Yeah I could play it, it’s right up my alley. In guitar, your right hand is more important than your left, unless you’re like Jimi and Albert King… lefties. The groove is the thing.

[@kofinimo8153]

Can you Please do the guitar solo on Rush's Necromancer? Thank you. Kofi Nimo.

[@Doug_Piranha]

How about Steve Howe's in "Siberian Khatru" (Yes)?

[@barackmycat9448]

Nice!

[@chicolopez8722]

Cool ,but need to describe which exact chords are being played,precisely. Too much guessing try to figure what is being played.but very cool video

[@BobWANDER]

E minor, F Major 7, C Maj 7, Bb Major 7, E 7-10 !

[@BobWANDER]

Actually the first should be e minor 7 🙂

[@dennisk.3909]

Colosseum, Lost Angeles

[@rbebut1]

Bizarre piece of music.

[@docskate4312]

American version??! HELL NAWWW!!!

[@12string-Randy]

ok awesome, guess I'll be slowing this one down.

[@Eddie-r2i]

Do you still have Lucille?

[@GuitarPilgrim]

Nope

[@MitchellFrew]

But what is on your shirt?

[@Fezzler61]

Ask Gary Hoey.

[@user-dd6ng1wn1b]

Ackerman is a great guitarist and this is a great song, except for the yodeling.

[@BobWANDER]

Jan thinks the same 🙂

[@dkbarnwell]

Suggestion: You didn't actually tell us what the chords are.

[@miparedro76]

La versión de estudio es perfecta, pero en vivo la arruinan. Al final termina siendo un acto de comedia, el mismo riff suena ridículo cuando lo aceleran.

[@Mark-wo9yt]

I can't stop staring at the stains on his shirt. You're making a guitar video - put on a clean shirt for god's sake! Maybe it's baby spit-up...if so, then it's OK. Great videos from GP...

[@GuitarPilgrim]

Its the baby indeed :)