How to play Smokestack Lightning by Hubert Sumlin | Riff Guitar Lesson

[@JustinGuitarSongs]

*Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials?* Check out JustinGuitar Tabs: www.justinguitar.com/tabs

[@johnbifulco707]

You are the only person on KZbin playing this correctly. It's nothing without the constant bass note.

[@markseligman2919]

I agree

[@byanymeansnecessary398]

John Bifulco it's so hard to play with that constant bass note

[@CS-op4hk]

There's a video of Hubert Sumlin himself showing this lick and he actually plays the bass note incredibly inconsistently... and I mean INCREDIBLY. I find it harder to play it with that seemingly perfect random swagger he manages. I think it involves more feeling while still keeping things steady

[@winnie5322]

When you're in a band it's less important. That's what the bass player is for...!

[@dr.fukmabussey2250]

I met Hubert Sumlin as a kid. He was already pretty old, he played for a long time after. He was one of the greats.

[@davidquidas961]

Back in the mid '80s I got to play sax behind Hubert Sumlin for 2 nights. What a treat and awesome memory.

[@johndavies4541]

Another great lesson. Thought the thumb bass part was going to be tricky until those magic words 'SLOW IT DOWN'. Slowed each piece way down till it was smooth, tied it all together, then ramped it back up. Brilliant.

[@mrhoffame]

Great lesson! Now just teach me to sing with the soul of Wolf and I'm all set lol.

[@johnbifulco707]

AWWWWOOOOOOOOOO

[@KidNoah2012]

Gargle with a 50% solution of Drano and 50% whiskey.

[@stevetrivago]

Lol 😂👏🏼👏🏼🫡✊🏼

[@levialston518]

Yep this is going to be my first blues song the old lady will like

[@jeroendruwe9061]

In the beginning I was like how am I ever going to learn this... 3 days later: amp to the max! :D

[@cameronpatrickscott]

Lovely mate, lovely, touch feel execution, love it thanks bud :))

[@jeffallinson2154]

Thanks!

[@JustinGuitarSongs]

Many thanks for the super thanks and supporting the channel. It means a lot. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher www.justinguitar.com

[@Taeronai]

finally! It took me a couple of hours, but now I've finally nailed it... the fingers are really sore now but it was sooo worth it! Still pretty much a beginner guitarist but Justin has really made a big difference for my development since I discovered his page... Thanks again, for probably the thousand time :)

[@Completed-Youtube]

The reason you might struggle to play slow is because the riff is in your 'muscle memory', I SUCK at teaching my friends guitar because when they ask me the notes to a song or riff ... I actually have no clue... my brain only knows how to play a song full speed. These tutorials are fantastic by the way :)

[@alphonselarue3387]

Played by Hubert Sumlin but more importantly by Willie Johnson, who had played with Wolf far longer than Hubert had in 1956, when they recorded this. This is really Willie Johnson's lick, but he probably learned it from Wolf years before, in the mid-1940s, at least five years before Hubert played with Wolf.

[@calden12345]

Thanks Justin. Learning with Justin is fun. I am just learning, this is the guy who makes it fun and easy to learn. Right on Justin, love your style!

[@TheBluesBeggar]

please do more delta blues lessons for begginers thanks

[@nazrat07]

Thank you so much. all these excellent videos for free. Well taught, good filming, good speed showing where the fingers go. I love the cowbell in Don't Fear the Reaper.

[@bpverdia]

Thank you very much I was sort drifting around You Tube , and found your site. And it made me feel that i coud really learn to play guitar. I kind of knew some cords, But i gave up attempting and fogot it for ages. Now i sort of Play a bit and it makes sense I can´t express all my gratitude for all the hard work you do to help people understad guitar Truly grateful

[@tessiemcdonell188]

Thank you Justin. Your teaching is really magic.

[@MrAlsby]

great lesson justin - tyvm. love the way u break it down - helps me a lot.

[@1985dafydd]

I know this was almost 10 years ago but much appreciated, always wanted to play this one.

[@crazyade9556]

Thanks Justin this has boosted my playing and my confidence cheers bro

[@tonymayhemx4]

I have this as my alarm on phone...it's a timeless blues riff i could lesson to over and over...and a very good lesson from yourself sir. Now i'll just have to put down the pick and practise with those fingers (eeeek)

[@jasonbishop145]

thank you . always enjoy these lessons

[@tomluton8005]

Thank you a well executed lesson🎸

[@henrykrinkles2208]

Amazing that more than one person thinks CCR came before Howlin Wolf!

[@freakflagflies]

Great video, Justin. Thanks.

[@danielshevlin4159]

Wish I'd seen this video ages ago!! You explained how to learn that percussive style beautifully.Great vid bruv.

[@gregb6387]

Great Lesson.

[@sierradelta07]

Smokin' riff and smokin' lesson. Thanks.

[@DannyPanza]

Amazing! Pretty weird, i heard the Electric Prunes version of it today, on the Stockholm '67 record. Amazing lession, thanks!

[@tifreire1]

Hey awesome riff... I learned this off a Sawlon video about a year ago. This also happens to be the riff playing on the current Viagra commercials... Thanks Justin!

[@theodas]

Consistently awesome teaching!

[@stephenkater9621]

Please more blues !!!!!!!! cool lesson !!!

[@Nicholas-dreamlove]

Thanks Justin ✌🖐👋💥💫

[@erdna97]

Great quality video, great lesson, great music

[@el6594]

Great lesson✊️

[@sergehavelia]

Thank you so much! I love that song...now I can play it!

[@TheGorehound101]

Unreal, just made up a random driving cd, Smokestack track no 5,, Justin are you psychic ?? as well as brilliant !!!

[@brandonbergh2585]

Just starting out pretty insane to think I can train myself to do this...but I guess that's the whole idea!!

[@badgermost]

Great video, great song, great playing Counting along helps a LOT, specially newbies like me ;) Thank you

[@evetdelarue8003]

Ty so helpful ❤

[@Houston1120]

thanks for the vid. It´s really awesome finally being able to play that tune. Just one thing: I think in the original track hubert plays the E on the 1 and the 3, and doesnt go through the 1 2 3 4. I think that is the thing that always makes me want to shake my head when hearing the song...

[@notmyname3681]

Uh-huh, the riff basically starts on the 4 rather than the one, which gives it the proper syncopated feel like Wolf and Sumlin had.

[@MrGalenlcox]

Thanks Justin....!!

[@AirMike61]

Again you made my day!!! Great lesson- because I have the same awesome amp even my sound is great!!!!

[@Taeronai]

Word! This tune is sooo nice to play around with, just jam with some syncopated scale notes around that steady bass line, really good for rythmical development I think... If Justin or anyone else know some similar songs please tell!

[@copperaudio9664]

Dam good stuff Justin - thanks.

[@mikeatkins510]

Awesome

[@ATOMICOELIA]

very good!! fantastic music!

[@paulwhiting1648]

Please do Shake your Hips by Slim Harpo. You teach these little riffs very well. Other teachers on youtube dont show each little detail like you do.

[@Steve-wz5lx]

A pleasure 😅 Here I go.

[@acdczeppelinhalen1]

@jkinthewind that is the best analogy i have ever heard.

[@Lejnicke]

tnx mate - you rock! keep up the good job ;)

[@GTR-Ovat]

Is that a particular mushroom on your wrist 😂😂😂 great video dude 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@DudeRevolution]

Way cool! Never learnt to play a bass note with a riff, sounds freakin badass

[@amandasteven1400]

YiKES! good stuf! thank u kind sir

[@crazyade9556]

I've tried all sorts, then last week I decided to have a go at finger style, god I chose Smoke Stack Lightening and am doing well, guess who I learned it from lol

[@Merefnebef]

Weheee!! Delta blues at last:D Thank you Justin you're better than Santaclaus!

[@Greglnt]

I really tink you should consider making a video lesson of black hole sun by soundgarden. It's a very nice riff

[@paulcarroll9940]

It's hard! But a great lesson , thanks

[@jeanforget22]

Great fundamentals.

[@Metalmiltia]

cool lick!

[@rainbowskelter]

Sooooo hard to keep the thumb going through this lick. I have been playing a lazy man's version of this where my thumb drops out at certain points. Great lesson here...really breaks it down.

[@lesleymoddleton2287]

Great riff. How about Song for Sonny, Justin? Just love Delta.

[@Karimalejan]

MONSTRUO!!!!! Gracias ,saludos de Chile

[@jimmienewton6465]

Very Good Lesson, Justin! Thank you so much for that! Very well explained! Signed, an old fat, white baptist...... Which means I have very little hope of ever developing rhythm......

[@boguest2873]

All comes with time man, I'm a white preppy kid from the suburbs but somehow I developed a sense of rhythm. Keep working and always learn new concepts, eventually you'll just realize you're grooving without even trying. It's all worth the hard work brother.

[@pikiwiki]

thank you so much! chip chip cheerio! is there a meaning for smokestack lightning?

[@Bluebuthappy182]

Jesus bit of hostility there can't we all just get along. Bu the way nice little lesson there and good advice on learning fingerpicking.

[@carnack53]

thanks!

[@charlesprest1247]

If you make a mistake, do it twice and call it a riff.

[@Deimocracy]

Humbert Sumlin R.I.P

[@Honmatres]

Well for a 'Skinny white kid' you're freaken awesome Justin! Subscribed and thank you

[@jkuebler89]

Check out Primitive by The Groupies. It is by far the most raw and evil rendition of Smokestack Lightning. Amazing. Second to the original only.

[@notmyname3681]

I'd never heard that version; it's the only cover I know where the riff falls on the correct beat, ie starting on the four not the one. Good call.

[@MrWezr]

Woooo hooo

[@Parcolai]

Justin, so one riff is two measures and the thumb plays 8 times, correct?

[@bigfry1979]

you rock!

[@pikiwiki]

@mikesomething yes, but it sneaks in to your ear and... it does not let go

[@kingshearer2]

@Davideinum Ta. I'll give that a go.

[@lex1guitar1player]

Good lesson but it’s the right hand that needs the close up and breakdown for this surely?

[@kingshearer2]

does anyone know the tab for this song? Good lesson but not sure if all the notes are mentioned. After the 2-4 slide on g I think he's playing b3 g4-g2 g0 d2 d0 I think and then i'm lost..

[@McRonson]

Apologies for going off at a tangent here but Mondo Bondage by The Tubes has a very similar guitar riff to this going on.

[@TheSpidermanxtv]

can you do spoonful by howlin wolf

[@Davideinum]

@kingshearer2 Then again d2, second time round he doesn't play e3 & b3 simultaneously but just b3 without the "blues curl"

[@Mr.5hady]

I don't understand where the thumb is going to play, have any tabs for that? :)

[@JustinGuitarSongs]

The thumb is simply playing on every quarter beat - 1, 2, 3, 4. And it is on the low E string each time. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher

[@Mr.5hady]

@@JustinGuitarSongs Thank you very much!🤠

[@markforrest7657]

Great stuff Can you do Howlin for my Darling?? Please

[@Jimpeacfammusic]

even slow lyrics were flooding my mind real blues and smoooooooth

[@mpaz48mo]

Justin, how 'bout HEY HEY in the style of Clapton????? Or WALKIN BLUES?????

[@Kittyburrito69]

@Rfprimm yeah that's what I was thinking too

[@filologiaangielska3683]

hahaha ending of SRV leaving you woman from mardi gras performance xD

[@brazox]

I dont know if i should "reset" the riff by playing the single bass note alone or directlly go to low E and hig E. Anyone else?

[@chinacat63]

Grateful Dead has a good version too on the "Bears Choice" album.

[@ruihenriques574]

Wich Pickup is in that guitar?

[@mlwsf]

"after all I am a skinny white kid" classic. :-)

[@SuperPollyLover]

What amp? :)

[@Nicholas-dreamlove]

Pete Townshend plays this tune briefly on "The Who: Live at Leeds."

[@VDADmusic]

I got the basic riff down. Is there a video about the improv part?

[@NateBee]

isn't that a riff from CCR?

[@xsonaonesta]

is there a lick?

[@MrBenpash]

hi I like your instruction although its not always so clear where to play the bass notes, do you have a tab ? I would appreciate so much

[@Connorharding180]

why wasnt eagle rock on there?

[@cristiansalas443]

i need some tabs for this, im kinda confused