How to play River Man by Nick Drake

[@deanmorgan7011]

Nick drake was such a clever chord arranger, this song he allmost treats them as open chords even though its in standard tuning, great video, no words needed, ,

[@lindahandley5267]

Yes he was! He had the most unusual sound, one that I love.

[@deanmorgan7011]

​@@lindahandley5267 totally

[@LelandDobson-o5n]

Nick Drake played this song in BEBEBe not standard, the chord shapes are actually much simpler the way he played it

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

Nick Drake had a special touch,very sophisticated

[@jgonsalk]

Your hand tapping was incredibly effective. Love it!

[@linkrox777]

Honestly, this tutorial format is perfection. Thank you

[@acidset]

I'm a beginner but this is actually much more useful and direct than a long winded 10-15 tutorial would be Granted, an alternative could be having a more in depth dive right after a 1-2 tutorial such as this Anyway great job and I'm glad one of my favorite songs by Nick Drake and the one I wanna play, also happens to be the only one in standard tuning lol

[@AlonMusic]

I'm glad it was helpful! I'm also not a fan of long-winded tutorials

[@xJoe90]

Straight to the point, accurate, informative. My kind of tutorial, subscribed

[@russlgtr]

The classical nylon strings is a great way to get the mellow nick drake sound. Thank you

[@MikeFowlerguitars]

Genius. And you did it in less than three fkn hours. Jesus. Fair play to you.

[@AlonMusic]

I was fed up with guitar tutorials that spend half the video telling you their life story and begging you to like and subscribe and share, so I made this

[@lindahandley5267]

Beautiful and it is so recognizable! Before I heard him play the first time, I was amazed at how different his sound was. I was instantly hooked on it! I told my son I wanted him to learn Riverman for me! Great job and thank you!

[@AlonMusic]

I thought the same thing when I first heard him play. He's such a unique guitarist.

[@lindahandley5267]

@@AlonMusic You're such a good all-around musician and I'm glad I found and subscribed to your channel. I have a question and it's not to compare anyone's talent. It's just because of her enjoyment of Nick's music also. Are you familiar with Madison Cunningham, a singer/songwriter of folk/pop and pop/rock? Anyway, I discovered her about the time I found Nick. She does a rendition of 'Riverman'. It is perfectly beautiful. She has the voice of an angel! I wish you would just give it a listen. I imagine that Nick would be very happy with her voice singing his song. If you get the chance, please let me know what you think! Thanks!

[@AlonMusic]

@@lindahandley5267 Thank you for the kind words! I have heard the Madison Cunningham version. Someone else in the comments recommended it. She has a really great interpretation of this song. I love the fast strumming she does in the first verse before settling into the rhythm.

[@lindahandley5267]

@@AlonMusic You deserve it! I'm glad you've heard her version. I love the fast strumming too! You take care and I'll keep watching!

[@deanmorgan7011]

There's a young guy called josh turner, he's an expert on Nick Drake, and he is well worth a look as he shows best hand positions, tone, and other stuff. Really enjoyed this video.

[@nathanlawinger6587]

love this style of lesson. well done, sir.

[@williammurray7717]

Thanks man! This is great. Comprehensive with no frills. I appreciate it!

[@AlonMusic]

No problem! Glad it was helpful

[@miguelgarciaortegon]

Second tutorial I watch and I'm a fan. This is both hilarious and instructional. Genius.

[@AlonMusic]

Thanks! Its just these 2 tutorials for now, but I'll make more one day :)

[@Rosskles]

Such a simple and effective method of teaching a really difficult song. Nice 1.

[@davidbuie3316]

Such a wonderful video. Thanks for posting this.

[@ucf8290]

Best tuto, straight to the point You just got a new subscriber

[@bicoule]

😊 Jamais leçon n'aura été à la fois aussi courte, rigolote, et surtout efficace !... Merci de France et de Belgique 😘

[@aidanquigley4799]

Really great, simple, and unique tutorial, thank you

[@AlonMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheUkuleleWhisperer]

Mahalo for sharing! been loving Nick Drake songs!

[@AlonMusic]

He is great

[@ravecousins2882]

You can not it explain better than this!!! Very helpful! Thank you so much!👍

[@roya89]

I could’ve sworn this was in some alternate tuning… the chords are so eerie! Appreciate the lesson though, straight to the point.

[@16addam]

Nicely done!!!!!

[@JohnGSchuur]

Hey great tutorial ! And rendition of this wonderful song . I like the way you split up the song in different sections explains what’s going on with the tabs being synchronized 🙏👍

[@AlonMusic]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@Mikino1976]

Everything I needed, and nothing I didn’t!

[@oscarroof8402]

Amazing explained 👌 just what I need, thanks a lot!!

[@AlonMusic]

Glad to help!

[@stephenlehardy]

Never thought I would get this until I saw your video. Thanks!

[@AlonMusic]

Glad to help!

[@therealturkeysandvich7919]

love this song cuzve how easy it is to play and sing at the same time, great job

[@AlonMusic]

I actually found this one really tricky to sing and play at the same time! I'll need to practice more

[@hey-jax]

And thank you again! This will be the 3rd Nick Drake song I learn from you :)

[@AlonMusic]

Glad to help a fellow guitarist get started on his Nick Drake journey :)

[@hey-jax]

@@AlonMusic actually Things Behind The Sun was one of the first songs harder songs i learned almost 20 years ago before taking a long break from guitar. Then Road, Pink Moon, but thanks to your channel very recently, I've added Been Smoking and soon, another 2. Been thinking of adding to the instruction of Been Smoking as yours only did the interlude part - but essential for me to get started as I'm lazy and time-poor! Thanks again for having tabbed out these songs. Instructional vids are much better with them but how do you find the time!

[@AlonMusic]

@@hey-jax My pleasure! I'm glad your guitar hiatus finally came to an end. You're right, I only did the interlude part of Smoking Too Long. The verse part is a simplified version of the same part so I left it out. It would be cool if you did a full version though!

[@guitarcoyote]

A thing I could add, that I hear in Nick’s earliest version with just him on a guitar, is the top string voice leading E D# C# C, least that what it sounds like to me, see what you think….and thanks again for the insights into the 5/4 meter.

[@guitarcoyote]

If you wish to not use a capo, tune the guitar D G C F A D, a std tuning down one step. It’s common to do with guitars to relieve neck stress of older guitars, I think this what Nick was doing it lays out on the neck nicely and the bass and voice leading on top is easy to play together. You seem I a good player, otherwise I wouldn’t bother telling you. Best of luck.

[@AlonMusic]

I'm only familiar with the album version from Five Leaves Left. Could you share the early version?

[@guitarcoyote]

@@AlonMusic if you Google ‘nick drake tuning’ there are a number of pages that explain his tuning most commonly used tuning CGCFCE. I found this after I last posted to you, Nick’s new to me. I found the solo acoustic version on Made to Love Magic, which is a compilation album of early (demo?) tapes he made, it’s on Apple Tunes. The internet is such a wonderful thing….Happy picking.

[@myradioon]

@@AlonMusic He's right at the beginning of the album version you can clearly hear the high "G" ringing at the start of the song and during the first and second chord..

[@myradioon]

@@AlonMusic Also your tab is not what you play. When you switch to the third chord you actually let off the D string early so you play it open for the note immediately before switching to the third chord. It's impossible to hold the D string on the second fret and switch to that third chord. The open string naturally drops you into the third chord.

[@Seawitchbanjo]

What guitar is this if it’s ok to ask? Very nice tutorial, thanks!

[@alonshenfield8908]

It's a Yamaha NCX700 nylon string guitar

[@geoff6942]

Oh wow!. You really know what you're doing.

[@jimmlygoodness]

Thanks for doing this!

[@AlonMusic]

jimmlygoodness glad to help :)

[@ChuckWasHere]

I've been holding off on getting a capo until I watched this. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@AlonMusic]

Glad to help :)

[@elbajofeliz]

Same here :D

[@michaelodonovan7405]

A guitar without a capo is like a dog that doesn't bark.

[@RodFraserMusician]

Ab Fab buddy!! I dig yer style man. :)

[@johnton6488]

I like this teaching style! Last chord should be Gismaj, i think and not standard Gis

[@Darek17061]

What the hell is a Gismaj?

[@hallamstafford6122]

great toutorial, thank you

[@guitarcoyote]

Brilliant! Cheers!

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

Great, but where the other bit?

[@oscaruber5973]

Genius, both, proud yourself

[@kennethbransford820]

=== Great tutorial =====

[@samandreas7704]

Can you make a tutorial of the end part of the song?

[@gillesserrigny6324]

Yes, it's missing the end, and the bridge. 🤔

[@Rosskles]

There is just 1 more chord that is played for 3 bars for the bridge and the end is a repeating coda. I know its been a while since you commented but for anyone else, a little search should probably get that info somewhere 😊 I would use this video for the hardest part of this song and that is the timing. Don't even mention singing at the same time lol

[@grout6924]

its Capo 3 btw guys

[@neilxify]

Excellent tutorial. Now how do I sing it a the same time?

[@AlonMusic]

I haven't achieved this level of coordination either :)

[@clarkchambers9992]

I don't think I'll ever be able to play like this.

[@faitha1588]

You will. You just can’t give up. I taught myself how to play. It took a few years, but here I am, able to completely play this song. You got this

[@deanmorgan7011]

He's right, I can play this song, it took me a long time to realise how he did it, completely agree with @faitha1588, you can do it, keep going.

[@andrewnicolai6251]

Sure you will!

[@PaoloRS1]

You can definitely play this, keep practicing. You'll get there.

[@blairchadwickmusic]

very clear.

[@gadaffi1000]

Good man... thank you.

[@stkittsdave1]

Thank you so much subscribing

[@RobissimoFC]

che bravo grazie

[@AlonMusic]

Prego! Buona fortuna con la canzone

[@ERB616]

Love this thank you

[@michaelrice1891]

are you sure he plays the index finger in the first 2 pinches?

[@AlonMusic]

Sorry, I'm not sure. It's been a few years since I've recorded this so I can't vouch for its accuracy

[@srfrios5435]

Very good!!!

[@onionjohnny4998]

Can it be played without a capo , if u don't have one ? . . . .

[@AlonMusic]

Sure, you can play it in the same tuning without a capo, but it will be 3 steps lower than the album version. You could also make a makeshift capo with a marker and an elastic band :)

[@onionjohnny4998]

@@AlonMusic Thanks Alon for replying , great short video gets you into the rhythm of the song . I will try your makeshift capo i think . . . . Lol

[@AlonMusic]

@@onionjohnny4998 The makeshift capo is surprisingly effective! A real capo might be a good investment though. Especially if you have a limited vocal range like I do and need to transpose most songs.

[@onionjohnny4998]

@@AlonMusic I can't sing to save my life , so i won't be worrying about that , learning the guitar is hard enough for me ! . . . . Lol

[@Rosskles]

​@@onionjohnny4998 Anyone can learn to sing, some just to learn how to more than others! 😊

[@cronologia348]

bruh ngl this slaps tbh

[@drno2141]

love

[@wunderdoggy]

one chord missing for the bridge

[@hectorhazard904]

fking brilliant

[@outoforder9348]

Got the music I just can’t read sign language

[@nykacho]

Droit au but

[@modgrip805]

Now try singing it at the same time 🤕

[@AlonMusic]

That would go against my whole No Talking format

[@modgrip805]

@@AlonMusic Fair enough! I meant that not as a comment on your abilities but on the abilities of any mortal next to the titan that was Nick drake! Great playing.

[@AlonMusic]

@@modgrip805 That is true. This is definitely one of the trickier songs to sing and play at the same time. Every time I learn a new ND song I get a newfound respect for his talent.

[@modgrip805]

@@AlonMusic Ditto 👍Madison Cunningham does an exquisite cover you should check out 👍

[@iggamba]

You've missed some parts...but anyway it's ok

[@AlonMusic]

Thank you, I strive for okayness