How to play like Rory Gallagher - Episode 1 - Introduction

Here it is all.
The first of many, many episodes of how to play like the one and only Rory Gallagher.
I hope you like this vid and I'll see you Wednesday. : )

[@alamosabill201]

For someone old enough to have followed Rory around in the seventies and seen him probably 4 or 5 times, on reading the comments I am pleased to find so many younger people loving Rory. Dave you do him proud, love your enthusiasm for him and am looking forward to the future vids. I have no expectations of being able to play it but just listening to you Dave is enough. 👍 roll on Ballyshannon.

[@HaraldEngels]

My son is 13 years old and a great Rory Gallagher fan :-) I was 15 when I visited the first time a concert with him (playing the Irish Tour song-list).

[@juandelacal8343]

Yes!!!Rory music will live forever, full of soul and rock and roll!!! A true star,I missed him so much,he is one of a kind,living force,Excuse me,for my bad english,I get sentimental with him. Long live Rory's music!!!!

[@finarentz3814]

Easily one of the great guitarists. The only reason he's not objectively the best from Ireland is because of the Edge.

[@precisionbrown6829]

They just don’t know what they’ve missed

[@merrelltheperil]

never been ballyshannon but who knows! knocking on a bit so will have to get organised to finish that tick box in time 💀

[@snogglemonkey]

If you learn to emulate Rory's lead sounds, you'll automatically have the voodoo that turn heads when you take a lead solo. It's all there - the harmonics, the vibrato, the feel, the melodic nods to the chord changes. Rory is a master of drawing you into the song and taking you on a trip.

[@cgavin1]

I think he's cosnidered 'exotic' because of the Celtic stuff being so infused. Anglos just don't get exposed to it and most don't start on acoustics or do jams or a capella in pubs etc.Where as other cultures in Europe do this.. like in Greece!

[@perfeitorafael]

I was a fan of Judas Priest on my teens (still am) and one bright day I´ve read an interview with Glenn Tipton about his main influences. Rory Gallagher, he said. It was before the internet years. One day, when I had the opportunity to go to Sao Paulo, I found Irish Tour 74. Thanks to the internet now I know most of his work. Love him. Now, at 40, I´m starting to play his songs on guitar. Congratulations.

[@tjbreen3396]

Dave, thank you so much, I’m 14 years old and studying the playing of my favourite guitarist to make my playing even better, it’s hard to find videos of people doing lessons on Rory, Rory is a true legend, thank you so much for this!!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. :)

[@merrelltheperil]

amazing isn't he, that enthusiasm, attention to detail and knowledge... fascinating, presume does lessons, wonder where based, there's an accent in there 😊

[@gushutchinson8758]

@@merrelltheperil Hey!! Don't freak out... I am thinking my daughter MERYL.. different spelling.. Not Dutch.? The peril bit kinda went..!! I know.. Should know my daughters wotsits

[@merrelltheperil]

na is just similar to maiden name, play on beryl the peril lol! had to come up with something... @@gushutchinson8758

[@siddthekid5046]

4:02 Rory's Tone (MG settings: OD1 channel (w/ treble booster) => Gain 5, Bass 0, Middle 3, Treble 0, Contour 0, Volume 10) (MG settings: OD1 channel (w/out treble booster) => Gain 8, Bass 0, Middle 3, Treble 0, Contour 0, Volume 10) 13:08 Rory's Technique 17:51 Pinch Harmonics 21:26 Hybrid Picking 22:37 Hybrid picking exercise 25:55 Fret hand stuff 31:02 Tapping 36:00 Slide playing

[@asdfghjkl-jq2kq]

loveyou myman

[@CPettybone1]

About 40 years ago I was a 16 year old guitarist/mandolin player. I had so many influences back then, of course growing up in Washington state Jimi Hendrix was God. One day my older brother introduced me to a guitarist/mandolin player named Rory Gallagher and my life changed. I never strive to emulate my influences but rather have picked up different techniques from all of them and have developed my own. Without really thinking about it I have, over the years, molded so much of Rory into my own playing that at times I amazed when I hear him in me. Today I am becoming an old fart and I'm starting to actually learn all I can about my influences. I love your video and will watch all you have posted. I laughed when you started talking about Rory because you remind me of me! When I start talking about the players who have influenced me I get excited and I can't say enough about them, and Rory is at the top of that list. Anyway, thank you for spending your time and energy sharing with us your knowledge. Rory was known to share what he knew, you are keeping up the tradition.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@dannyolsen5543]

@@thedavesimpson long live Rory

[@overnightgrowth]

Strap in lads this is going to be a wonderful journey of sonic discovery :)

[@bigdog2432]

Can’t wait my friend (defo not good enough)

[@ramspace]

I don't play guitar, but you comments on Rory's playing makes me feel even more appreciative of Rory.

[@HaraldEngels]

Seeing Rory Gallagher live was my first Rock Concert (in 1975). Thank you for sharing this great mini series :-)

[@dominicsantorelli956]

Man I thought it couldn’t get any better than the Kossoff lesson. Now Rory. A sincere thanks Dave

[@michaelkelly3365]

DAVE! YOU ARE A LEGEND! it's strange to think that for someone who I've never actually met or known personally your such an important person in my life!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@kjb3315]

Thats true but i like that i would like to meet Dave in person

[@colmwatulikededazio973]

Dear Dave , I'm so touched by your great introduction of All things Rory ..and your great effort to explain Rory's atomic synergy with his legendary '71 Strat ...how much it so epitomised Rory's SOUL ..So I hope you also appreciate that Rory would have gotten that point ..as he travelled and toured with it so much of the time that the instrument and him literally exchanged atoms and molecules with each other.. Thers a great story in appreciation of Rory by RUSH guitarist Alex Leifsen ~ whos band supported him on early American tour..Rory read as he travelled , and his favourite Irish author was a whacko/zany character called Flan O Brien ..and O'Brien has a book called "The Third Policeman" wherein he revealed this same principle behind the storyline of the narrative (.to do with a 'copper and his bicycle' ).I know that you might allready be aware of Rory's great literary richness that make up the rich Tartan colours of Rory's fabric ..but a lot of his and your appreciative audience might not ...so I highly recommend it as a good read..Rory lent the book to Alex Leifsen and hearing that he liked it ~ even bought him a box set of O'Brien's novels as a gift -and gave them to him a year later when they met again on another tour..Rory was so personal and sweet hearted by nature ..and his music also reflected that so much in his tender lyrics ..enjoy..

[@gussyt4806]

I am currently 13 years old, and I have just been introduced to Rory Gallagher. This video has been soooooo helpful, and I enjoy watching it. Props to you Dave!

[@improbablytheguy]

Hows it going

[@andrewharris7439]

This is what we`ve been waiting for Dave

[@colinmclaren9002]

Rory Gallagher!!! Lucky to have seen him twice and wished I'd have seen him more. Dave your love of Rory shines through and your views on him are spot on. Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@txonisbi]

The one and only Rory Gallagher, yeah !!!!

[@dannyolsen5543]

The Goat

[@gushutchinson8758]

Rory Gallagher and Henry Vestine of Canned Heat put so much energy into Bullfrog Blues.. I couldn't choose... Rory played to a mixture of prods n taigs in Belfast northern Ireland right throughout the TROUBLES.. one of the few performers who kept supporting his people despite the risk he felt the kids deserved more than ever a good night out.. Rory was the together we stand kind... Loved his passionate attacking guitar style... He fitted right in with those rhythm and blues, southern boogie guys especially Canned Heat, without trying to sound or sing like an American..

[@belindadrake5487]

RORY to me, is the most AWSUM PLAYER EVER. He’s VERSATILITY, VIRTUOSITY and PASSION are UNMATCHED to this day. He could play 2 strings over a tomcats arse & make it into something AMAZING! 😬🌟🎸💚👑💞☘️

[@harwoods11]

You must be a goddess x

[@johnc9187]

Fabulous, love Rory, really liked the tone he has around 79-80, listen to Off the Handle from one of the live vids from Rockpalast from that era...mmmmmm

[@berndkruger4638]

Es war ein großer Moment Rory im ersten Rockpalast zu erleben! Jetzt erwacht die Liebe erneut. Ein Held!

[@huskvarsm]

I’ll be honest I never reckoned you much....until this and though rory has a basic pentatonic style that’s where we leave the word basic,I bought my first rory Gallagher récord in 1971 from Woolworths and then I got my hands on “calling card the album” back then I saved my money 💰 as I never went out just listened to thin lizzy and rory, so I saved and saved and got my hands on a 61 sunburst strat it was my uncles who got sick and could no longer play,and it was my uncle who told me he had met rory on the concert/festival circuit and gushed about how nice a guy he was,my uncle said if you want to sound like him get a Dallas rangemaster treble booster,a Vox AC30 and a 61 strat which I had bough from him anyway,so with my uncles assistance I ordered an AC30 and DALLAS RANGEMASTER “which my uncle paid for as he could tell i was really into rory.its a shame as my 1961 sunburst strat,rangemaster,and Vox AC30 were all stolen while they were being stored at a pub/club in the early 90s as i was doing a gig there that night, out there somewhere my gear is being used....also a 1961 sunburst strat in as new condition is worth a lot of money, I just visited ebay and there is a fair 1962 burst for £21,000 so I’m thinking £30,000 for mine as it was Concours.😡😞

[@treborob]

Excellent! saw him 5 times early seventies, both with Taste and solo, unique guitarist. Blew me away first time at Torquay town hall, August 1970, then 3 weeks later at the IOW. Magic.

[@Chris66JTM45]

Thanks for doing this much needed series Dave. I was lucky enough to see Rory a few times in the late 70's and 80's ... last time was Cardiff's St Davids Hall Oct 7th 1987. If he hadn't been taken from us so soon he'd have been turning 70 on March 2nd.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you for watching and i'm jealous you got to see him. : )

[@davids9192]

Brilliant Dave - this will be some journey. Was lucky enough to see Rory in his prime around Irish Tour time and have been obsessed with his solo on Walk on Hot Coals ever since. The Madrid 1975 version has to be the ultimate ( available in KZbin) Looking forward to you analysis!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@petermitchell6348]

I knew I should not have consumed that dodgy piece of cheese I found under the cooker. I am now hallucinating and believe to be watching someone here on You Tube who is such a genius he could not possibly exist in reality. I am now off to have a word with my psychiatrist. Oh, and I have just subscribed.

[@thedavesimpson]

:) Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@robsummers8344]

Kaboom ! Dave back in the game with this ace intro to one of the true guitar greats 👍🏼 Thank you Dave 🎸🎶 ☘️ Best Irish Rocker of all time 👊🏼Rory 😢

[@SGVB22]

Omg dude thank you so much for doing this rory is one of my all time favorite inspirations as a musician !!!!!

[@juandelacal8343]

Very good!!! One of the heroes of my youth,the one and only Rory Gallaguer,you keep the flame.Thank you Dave for doing this.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you for watching. :)

[@jamestodorov9985]

So happy that you’re doing this series Dave, please keep doing John Frusciante and Rory Gallagher for this series!

[@jimposten]

I have played for nearly 20 years, embarrasingly I have just recently discovered Rory. I have been binging live videos and fallen in love with his grit and how he melts into his guitar and almost seems like he is one with his strat. I am so glad to see this video Dave!

[@chriswich0071]

Love Rory, easily one of my top 3 guitarists. Glad to see this content!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you for watching. : )

[@MrDweb]

Can't believe I've only just found this. Many thanks.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. : )

[@cosmiccomedy7394]

Ahhhhh!! This is so exciting! 😀 Rory is my most recent guitar hero I've been geeking out on and now I have the legendary Dave Simpson to walk me through the essentials. You're a God send Mr Simpson. I truly hope you have someone that brings you the kinda joy that you bring to us people of tube. Cheers mate

[@eoghainmurphy4441]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS!!! Rory is the reason I picked up a guitar. I can't wait to see future episodes!!! Thanks again for doing this

[@giuseppepagliarulo]

Beloved and underrated Rory! Thank you Dave!

[@juleshalverhout3431]

Awww the best instruction video ever, I wish you could be my personal guitar teacher. The time and effort you put in this, for it to go out in the wild and let everybody see it, you are a gem❤

[@haleywood6505]

thank you dave !!! rory and peter green are my favorite guitarists, and your videos have taught me so much ! :~)

[@cooghoublaga7555]

I had the privelege in my teens to see Rory a few times live, i have to say you pay the man a very honorable hommage, and your Pete Green stuff is great too, bravo, leave no stone unturned !

[@cgavin1]

Man that Celtic vibe is evident but its also got really strong roots in medieval folk music. I think this is one of the reasons Rory has such a wide and enduring appeal in Europe. The Greeks love the fella. The music is a real mish-mash of blues-rock and some truly ancient pentatonic stuff with 5ths and 7ths akimbo, going back a thousand years or more. You can hear Rory in stuff like Vox Vulgaris ffs. Those very distincively 'folk' mode, pitch, and melodic shifts add a flavour akin to putting chilli powder in your soup! Also, I feel, a huge part of Rory's single coil tone can be got from an AC30 (top boost only) with alnico blue speakers. You don't really need the treble booster then as the modern amps have master volumes. I use a fair old lash of the reverb on the AC30 too.

[@Luuugssssss]

Yessss Dave! So excited for this series... Thanks for the best lessons on the internet, you're the man!

[@J0nny61]

Brilliant tuition Dave, I'm a big Gallager fan. I saw him at Sheffield City Hall in 1978, he was knock out. I had no idea how to describe how to play a pinched harmonic until I saw this. It's just something I do without thinking. I must try and do a bit more hybrid picking. Fantastic playing 10/10.

[@johnfritzenjr.1240]

Bad Penny! Classic! 🎸

[@guitaredemoschannel8668]

Thank you ! this is impotant, the memory of Rory Gallagher . THUMB UP for your work .

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. : )

[@kervinrodriguez1833]

Thank you ,thank you First John Frusciante and now Rory two of my favorites

[@gillesgenete9598]

At last I found you 😁 I've been a loyal fan of Rory for the lasr 45 years, and started playing guitar few years ago trying to play Rory. Your video is so informative and helpful. Just surprised with Marshall instead of Vox AC !? Anyway, you nail Rory's tone, thanks 👍

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@zeppelin2032]

Just stumbled across this video n boy am I glad

[@michaelperry2446]

AWESOME! BEEN WAITING FOR U TO DO THIS! GIVE THE MAN THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES! THANKS AND PLEASE DO MORE.

[@patrickbyrne99]

Fastest I've ever clicked on a video!!

[@dylanclancy5396]

THANK YOU SOO MUCH DAVE!! I can't remember the last time I was so excited for a video of yours! Please keep the good work up.

[@billgleeson3465]

Subscribed for john stayed for rory💚💛 And you of course😄

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. : )

[@pablocortando1]

Just came across this..brilliant. You are like a mad professor

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@TheStruggleUK.]

Rory is my ultimate hero, 100% honest in what he did. I have just put together a small collection of guitars to mirror Rory's core on stage guitars. This has meant I have made my first sojourn into folk with an a style mandolin and a copy of a 1931 National resonator. Already had the Acoustic and Maple neck Tele for slide work and the obligatory strat/Vox combo. Irish tour 74' is my favourite period so trying to emulate the sounds on that album. Great vid mate can't wait for more! :-)

[@KailynsJoy]

TheStruggleUK GOALS. I'd love to get an A style mandolin like Rory's. I had a resonator and sold it for my first electric (big mistake) and now that I'm learning electric, I've invested in my first strat. Rory is my guitar hero.

[@sergejmosorka2042]

Thank you so much for doing this series Dave! I'm so excited and I can't wait to learn the ways of Rory :)

[@jimtrussler9232]

Thank you Dave! Today was the perfect day and am looking greatly forward to more Rory videos.

[@bryamuuareme329]

Dave, you are simply amazing. Many blessings to you for your generous spirit of teaching and the firey passion that you make contagious!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed : )

[@Jamestele1]

That's some of the best tone I've heard for electric guitar - hard-edged, but not heavy metal "crunchy", powerful, without losing subtlety. There will never be another Rory, and there just won't be a guitar that comes close to the Stratocaster, aside from the Tele, which I play. Peace

[@jjcollins]

YES FINALLY! we have been waiting for this! : ) Thank you Dave! : )

[@ritchie1802]

Liked video in first tenth of a second. Thanks a million for this series. Cheers, mate. P.S. I hope next series could be about Ritchie.

[@lawrenceosueke810]

Great video as always, I’m now in a Rory rabbit hole!! Really love his playing style, he’s definitely not spoken about enough, he’s without doubt up there with the GREATS!!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. :)

[@iliastakidis5771]

You are so awesome man, I love your videos.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@petermitchell6348]

This man has Taste!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. : )

[@midgeburleigh5694]

Nice one Dave. Rory used to play till his fingers bled! Fact!! Not that I'm recommending it! Lol

[@fuelsmell]

That’s it. Great playing . Thank you for that lesson.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@davidevans2484]

This is the best Rory tutorial I have seen - done with a touch of humour and deep understanding of, and the skill to play the great mans music. Looking forward to the future focus on Rory,s slide playing -for me unsurpassed.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@shadowscolide4944]

Hell yeah, let's show some love to Rory ^_^

[@taurektaurek6213]

Great video! The only important thing I wonder about, whether Rory really had a folk background. In the interviews of his he always seems to be well grounded in a blues setting. That said, he was a great musician, down to earth, and very knowledgeable about his roots, his guitars and sounds.. and your video gives some great insights into his playstile!

[@therodeoflip]

I had discovered Rory Gallagher because of you and Joe Bonamassa about a week ago and can't stop listening. Dave, once again thank you for sharing your passion with us

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you for watching. : )

[@buska100]

Awesome. This Vid made My day,week and year Dave.

[@stephenforristal1785]

Brilliant Videos please do more Rory lessons

[@longmansrv54]

Excellent start to the series dave. Been looking fwd to this series as we all know you will do the man justice . 👍🏻

[@belindadrake5487]

THANK GOD FOR YOU DAVE!! I’m absolutely CRAZY NUTS about THE ONE and ONLY, GREATEST EVER, RORY. You have tha BEST LESSONS EVER ON RORY. You’re just as crazy as l am: so l TOTALLY RELATE TO YOU, MY GURU! You da BOMB MATE! 🎸💚👑💞☘️👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾😆😬

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@tarikdervovic3064]

Great lesson, I really like your energy and enthusiasm :)

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. :)

[@canyonke]

Yeesss! about time dave, finaly

[@JamieKristopher]

Yeah man, this is gonna be awesome! Cheers, Dave :)

[@mickhack07]

Hi Dave, you are the MAN! I haven't seen anywhere else such an enthusiasm, such a need, a rush to speak about something you really love! Please, roll on with the same strenght and love!

[@raindogred]

haven't even watched it yet, I'm excited

[@rjmilitante2787]

Dave youre like the guitar teacher I never had, covering only the most important stuff.

[@yaasalbudoor3273]

never stop making these videos in long format

[@FilippaArendt]

Love your playing Dave 💜🙌

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@myoldmate]

You are a brilliant man. I love your channel. Rory was, imo, a one off. There were many great guitarists at this time. He was, with Hendrix, also the frontman. So vocals, performance and showmanship. Very rare.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. :)

[@nicvortec]

Massive Massive Thank you. You are the first one, who let me watch nearly an houre from start to the end. Massiv thank you

[@KailynsJoy]

I love how flustered and overwhelmed you get because its so unfair to try and condense all of Rory's glory into a KZbin video. You are so observant and informative. You've pointed out the unique Rory techniques that truly capture his sound. I've go t a Blues Cube amp with the NY Tone capsule which revoices it to the likes of an AC30 and of course my first guitar purchase had to be a Strat. Rory is my guitar god.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you and thank you for watching. : )

[@wolvros6040]

Word! He is way, wayyy underrated! I don’t know another musician as versatile as him(well they aren’t many at all) how he isn’t in the rock n roll HOF is beyond me! He inspired some huge artists of our time! Thanks for this series! I love how thorough it is! I’m learning to much thank you!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. : )

[@brandonhupp464]

Had to revisit this! Dave you always capture the best of Rory gallagher...

[@thomasandrews1998]

I feel Inspired, thank you great Dave

[@zaprodaju1661]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is all you need to be a great guitar player. Melody, touch, and taste. Acrobatics are for the uninitiated. 👏

[@simonplimbley5778]

Boom .... Your back at what you are great at 🎸

[@johncollins5552]

Vox AC was Rory's main amp for the majority of his career live and in studio but he also used Marshall for some gigs, I've seen a photo or two of that in a book by Marcus Connachton I read lately. Great video.

[@gusdupree2508]

A young Brian May caught Rory outside a gig and asked him how he got his sound and Rory said "my amp ,a vox ac30 and a treble booster " I wonder if Brian ever got around to trying that sound out? Hahaha

[@WS-ij1fu]

gus dupree he went out and bought the gear the next day and has used it ever since

[@VintageSG]

Brian always mentions Rory as being responsible for his sound. Brian is such a gent. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKmqZaCkopWVeLM

[@harwoods11]

@@WS-ij1fu Brilliant answer 👍

[@fxpat2743]

Amazing ✌️

[@kempsole]

Love Rory

[@Daddysboys75]

Excellent brother! 👌😎🍻🤘

[@ebbcourt]

Brilliant thanks for posting!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. :)

[@bobot1981]

You have a real handle on Rory's playing. Thanks for keeping it alive!

[@iainb1577]

Thrilled to bits to see you`re doing Rory vids now. I will follow every note. Your insight is wonderful to behold.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much indeed. : )

[@kierancotter2382]

I can't explain how happy I am to find these videos.......

[@thedavesimpson]

:) Thank you. :)

[@merrelltheperil]

I can't play a sausage so love watching how other people do stuff, it's a mystery but a fascinating one 🙂

[@willemklewais4284]

thanks Dave, I like the way you share you're way on the gitaar. sometimes difficult to understand each word but I got the most important and it s great. I won't copy what you're doing but its a wonderful suggestion. nice to know you!

[@moto238]

Dave You and Jordon are my two go to online teachers. My favorite guitarist eve, r is Rory..... I totally soak up what You teach, because like minds think alike Dave!. Thanks SO MUCH Man.

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you very much. :)

[@rodneyariel2357]

I'm a big Rory fan!! Your video is great !!

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Very nice tribute Dave much respect and love Rory and miss his energy!!Cheers Rock on !!