Hubert Sumlin Teaches "Smokestack Lightning"

A sample from "The Blues Guitar of Hubert Sumlin" available as an instant download here: leapingbrain.c...
Take a lesson from the man who played guitar in Howlin' Wolf's band for more than twenty-five years! Hubert Sumlin's unique guitar lines became an integral part of the Wolf sound, and his spare, sharp-edged solos can be heard on dozens of classic recordings.On this fascinating DVD, Hubert Sumlin discusses his style, technique and influences with guitarist Jimmy Vivino of the Conan O'Brien Band. Backed-up by a stellar rhythm session -- Jimmy on second guitar, Levon Helm (The Band) on drums and Michael Merritt (Conan O'Brien Band) on bass -- Hubert plays through some of his favorite Wolf tunes, including "Smokestack Lightning," "Forty Four," "Killing Floor," "Going Down Slow," "Hidden Charms," "Little Red Rooster" and others. David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter) sits in, providing powerful vocals to these timeless blues tunes.Hubert is a fingerstyle player, and he discusses his traditional, Mississippi-based blues style (his first great influence was Charlie Patton) on both acoustic and electric guitars. You'll learn the licks that defined a musical era as he slows down some of his trademark solos and lead lines for blues enthusiasts and learning guitarists everywhere.
To get the DVD version of "The Blues Guitar of Hubert Sumlin" from Homespun Tapes click here:
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[@gadzodilo]

RIP Hubert, who died today, Dec. 4th, 2011. I loved your music and this is the video that taught me how to play Smokestack Lightning.

[@jjkrause84]

Hubert...such a disgustingly UNDERRATED and under-known player. One of my favourite blues players of all time.

[@BostonRocker51]

ah, yes, Mr. Sumlin is so great I'm impressed with David Johansens vocals, too... thanks for posting it

[@dreamwell2020]

That first minute there is time well-spent.

[@CREMEdelaFEMME901]

i met hubert....the sweetest man ive ever met. rest in peace my dear friend. ill never forget our strolls down beale and our guitar session....even our carriage ride....you'll never be forgotten.

[@ARTP1G]

I've seen David Jo sing with Hubert twice. It's the coolest thing ever. It's a howl hearing a guy with a 27 inch waist sing "300 pounds of Heavenly Joy" and "Built For Comfort". Having the sublime Levon Helm on drums ain't so shabby either.

[@KRaGG101]

I love the way he plays that riff ... I want to get that feel some day

[@koko-pu5vn]

That's a good goal. Hubert was the real deal and his playing on many of many Howlin' Wolf's records are a major part of Blues history!!

[@Rag65]

You never will.

[@BostonRocker51]

gold top Les Paul with P90 pickups used by a blues Master. Beautiful.

[@sambone8348]

Chester Burnett and Hubert Sumlin were the REAL DEAL !!!!!

[@BrickBlacktoe]

David Johansen looking at the camera, "I bet I'm the last person you expected to see in this video".

[@davidalvarez1511]

he was - and damn I get to hear johansen on a wolf/dixon track!

[@farmdogmusic2365]

My thought 2. Surprise mr glam and mr Poindexter growling his ass off and playing harp. Lol

[@bartlybaert9592]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/imrbppxmp7ugnJI

[@frankieu2598]

Brick.. your comment so on. Made me chuckle. hee hee ha ha

[@koko-pu5vn]

Love Hubert's playing always!!!!! Met him at one of his gigs later in his life!! What a fine gentleman and musician he was!! RIP guitar hero Hubert Sumlin.

[@catdog420]

Mr Sumlin may be gone , but his music WILL NEVER DIE! LONG LIVE THE BLUES!

[@shoutingthomas]

I do declare, that appears to be Levon Helm on the drums!

[@TheOpinionatedGuitarist]

That singer kills man!!!

[@MaryGerdt]

We miss him already. We saw him at Levon's and I kept thinking, who is that guy? He is smooth with a sweet style. We are sorry for his family and close friends. He is a great man.

[@mshuptar]

I just stumbled onto this video and it blew my mind.

[@screenpuller]

Holy cow!!! That IS Levon Helm on drums!!! I gotta say, David brings it... to sing in that rough "Wolf" type voice ain't easy, I know. So, AHchela, when does YOUR blues album hit the shelves?

[@vbgbiomed]

I'm 20 years old and I play the guitar, but... damn... I would love to listen amazing guitar players like Hubert nowadays. A guitar solo/rythm doesn't need to be fast and full of technique just to fool the eyes... it needs to be great to make the ears cry of pure extasis!

[@Garciadann]

inside Levon Helm's home makes everything sound better !!

[@BostonRocker51]

First time I heard this riff I was 16 years old at the Boston Tea Party on Berkeley Street. What a brilliant riff. Great to jam on. Thanks so much for posting this, I deeply appreciate it. Peace and keep rockin!

[@bandmonte]

Holy shit! Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Vivino, David Johansen and possibly Levon Helm? Not too shabby

[@moisebourrady690]

David voice is great.

[@microtechg7]

Hubert's style is just too cool.

[@TooBadJim]

A privilege to watch and learn - fantastic!

[@TheAzmountaineer]

I bought this instructional video a few years ago, and got an autographed picture of Hubert with it,too!

[@South3West77]

A haunting trip. I heard it back in the 60s, one of the first songs that effected me emotionally. Also David Johansson did it respectfully.great blues style voice. But, them boys should have let it roll Couple moe minutes with great Hubert Sumlin gettin after it. To dang short.

[@DavidMFChapman]

I saw this exact lineup play on a blues cruise in New York Harbour, can’t remember the year but it was around 2003.

[@OMMNYC]

Oh my god what a fucking killing band, legends all!

[@HEADSUPBERKELEY]

I checked out Levon's Video from the library teaching drums and found it one of the most informative pieces, brilliant. I teach music in schools and need to understand all the instruments even if I don't play them. Thanks Happy and Levon!

[@JackieStranger]

@masterbate23 do it like us old folks had to. watch his hands and listen really hard. your ear can be the best tab book you ever had.

[@supaman8990]

hubert is the reason why i want to get a guitar

[@chrisb1953]

This guitar riff still makes it onto the top 100 guitar riffs of all time in many publications such as Guitar Player magazine.

[@hillsboritosk8er]

just found out hubert was gone on the grammys man he inspired me ALOT in my music a true legend

[@Brian31881]

Why is it necessary to compare versions of a song? The Wolf can't really be duplicated, but artists can put their own slant on his song. See Jimi Hendrix or The Electric Flag on Killin Floor or Jeff Beck and the Yardbirds on Smokestack Lightnin'

[@ssurfcity]

Good point.

[@fuzzbert1999]

Is Hubert not the best in the world? My favorite song ever!

[@thecoastizclear]

pretty much the greatest guitar lesson on youtube.

[@fastborzoi]

Hubert -- best, thank you

[@bluesjuke]

The ABR-1 TuneOMatic began to appear in '55 and was standard in '56. In '55 some had it. \ Nice to see Hubert with J. Vivino and party.

[@nri1969]

David Jo Hansen's vocal style owes a lot to Howlin' Wolf for sure, as does Captain Beefheart's. Also, there's a guy in New Orleans named Coco Robicheaux whose vocals sound a bit like Wolf, too. You can catch him Friday nights at the Apple Barrel on Frenchmen St. on a fairly regular basis.

[@Mission2Transition641]

great video! watching the master teach. Hubert on Gold Top w/ p90;s.....what a great sound. THANKS!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Interesting and informative comments. No negative bologna. Thanks for sharing.

[@dreadfulsnakes]

And the late great Levon Helm laying down the backbeat!

[@Xazertron]

What great tone and feel. A truly classic blues guitarist.

[@frankmaynes3608]

Great instructions from a legend.. In is later years of life Warren Haynes took Hubert out on the road and got him exposure to a lot of people and gave him a bit of what he deserved.. To be treated like a legend

[@okillz33]

Only 1 we miss you Hubert you were great.

[@BSIII]

legendary Hubert Sumlin 🎸

[@Joe_J-MT_Boy]

What the hell is it about a well-played Blues lick on a solid guitar? The way Mr. Sumlin is playing this song and showing you how he makes it special should teach you to enjoy your great songs in your Blues library just a little more. That is a nice gift he gives us aside from his recordings.

[@riteandleft]

very nice.

[@GREGLUHOWY]

Nice piece of video this is third eye definitely

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

RIP Played a tribute to him earlier tonight at an open mic night.

[@BMFlame9393]

That was smooth 🐏

[@myyootube2]

There was something ( a trick even perhaps) to the way Wolf would fit the downbeat of the guitar riff to the BACKbeat of the song that gave him license to fit the odd meters between the vocal lines. The Yardbirds lines the downbeats up. As a group these guys didn't cop the essence of that thing... I've never heard a cover that does, let alone someone that can teach it. Still one of music's great mysteries to me. A great showing from Hubert of one of the greatest all time riffs though.

[@notmyname3681]

Yeah, came across a random vid on this basically saying everybody plays it wrong. The riff actually starts on the 4 beat, not the 1. When you listen to him playing it with Wolf it's absolutely true. Moving it changes the whole feel of the song. Here they play off the 1 and it feels different, presumably because the rest of the band didn't know and it's 'easier'.

[@shjhdhah]

lol, thought it was Hubert singing with that deep blues voice.....yea, David Jo. Nice lesson

[@roberthancock2563]

Omg!! Great playing! I actually thought that was Wolf singing! You all sound incredible!

[@krisscanlon4051]

Hubert and David Jo! Score!

[@SetMiner]

I swear that looks like Levon Helm on the drums!

[@slideharp1]

Is jimmy vivino related to 'uncle floyd' vivino who did that late-nite tv show in NY during the 80's?. Re; Johanson - I used to see him often at 'Tramps', NYC as Buster Poindexter. He was a lot of fun, good voice, great band. Hearing him here, I'm thinking "Has he actually Heard 'Smokestack Lightnin'?". Great to see Levon keepin busy.

[@themancaveclub]

Wow!

[@drummer78]

The singer is the legendary David Johanson of the New York Dolls. Kind of a trip to see this godfather of punk with Levon.

[@0cerpintaxt0]

Enough to play it i would say.

[@SHENDOH]

David Jo Hanson!!!!!!!!!!! with Hubert. Smokin!!!

[@dr123hall]

Mick Jagger insisted The Great Hubert Sumlin come with Howlin Wolf to the London Sessions. English musicians easily recognized and idolized the Blues Rock connections of drummer Willie Smith, guitar Influencer of Jimi, Eric and Keith The Great Hubert Sumlin and of course, the real Piano Man himself, Pinetop Perkins!

[@PowerThirteen]

Cheers, nice to know it wasn't just me going crazy :D

[@peonwarrior]

RIP my friend

[@bigkittysmile]

wow. great talent, and to think he just passed on the 4th.

[@hoffy1003]

David Johansson does a pretty good job singing. I was impressed.

[@CesarClouds]

R.I.P.

[@contact57]

Hubert is a GOD!

[@1wiesehoefer1]

GREAT PLAYING 5* FROM GERMANY

[@monto39]

Are you kidding? David Johansen singing, Hubert Sumlin on guitar? Shazzzam

[@MACGATELEY]

RIP Hubert.

[@bradleyjl61]

R.I.P. Huslin .

[@lamper2]

I first heard this by the Yardbirds as a pasty white musically naive teen. been working backwards ever since.

[@SolzhenitsynBoogie]

R.I.P. HUBERT.

[@Fatshead]

this lick is "fun"damental vocabulary of the blues!

[@KRaGG101]

@masterbate23 Justin has a good lesson on that riff here on KZbin ... just search for "Justin Smokestack Lightnin' lesson"

[@davedoyle9623]

Actually I think Johansen did a pretty good job,,,, Hes not Howling Wolf,,,hes not Joe Cocker,,,and hes certainly not a Ray Charles,,, But I do believe hes heard tune many times and did his best,,, Please note,,,Mr Sumlin seemed to like it,,,,,,Well done lads,,,,

[@1994g0]

LOL.No, Hubert did not like it.Johansen`s harmonica wasn`t bad, but these terrible vocals would make Howlin` Wolf want to slug Johansen.Hubert was a brilliant guitar player.Although he didn`t have the phenomenal range of Hendrix or Clapton, his fluidity and control were so beautiful.A true guitar genius.Nice enough guy, but he liked to drink and fuck too much.Even after he lived up North for quite some time, Hubert retained the social and cultural mores of the Jim Crow Mississippi Delta Negro.And he was especially irresponsible about money.So Hubert would act content in this video to facilitate copping some money.

[@daviddoyle4516]

You sure do know alot about Hubert Sumlin.Maybe you should write his biography,,,,

[@1994g0]

Maybe I should.I think he`s one of the top ten guitarists in history.Had a strange relationship w Wolf.Had a few fistfights, Wolf knocked a few of his teeth out.I once thought Wolf needed Sumlin more than the other way around.Maybe not.Hubert`s greatest achievements came about when he worked with Wolf.

[@daviddoyle4516]

Dear 1994g0,,,I love Wolf and I love Hubert and the amazing sound and "atmosphere" they made together..I dont like the fact that "it is said" and Hubert confesses many time Wolf used to scold and threaten Hubert to "get ridda dat damn pick !!!!" I think it was Hubert perogative to use or not use a pick and he would have bet he would sound great either way.I also heard that when the music didnt sound good or up to Wolfs expections he used to pull his station wagon over to the side of the road ,,pull his guys out and start beating the shit out of them .Well now thats not nice Wolf!Why not at least talk to your guys first before kickin their asses!!! LOL On the other hand ,I heard Wolf kept unemployment hooked up for his guys so that in the event work dried up theyd still have some money coming in.Now I ask you what other South Side Blues Band "Boss" would do anything like that?Yes Wolf was one of a kind

[@1994g0]

You`re right about all the points you have made.Wolf -unlike Hubert-was smart and successful in money matters.He was savvy enough to understand that economic benefits would help keep talent around.Personally, my favorite Wolf song is "Commit A Crime".Hubert`s near perfect guitar talents are clear in this great song.The British blues rock greats-like Jimmy Page and Keith Richards- revered Hubert.I think Wolf was too strong sometimes in dealing with Hubert.But it can`t be denied that Hubert thrived working with Wolf.Hubert........what elegance and craftsmanship as a guitar player.

[@agooTV]

Check Out this CD: Hubert Sumlin: about them shoes There's Keith Richards, Clapton and David Johansen. it's Great!

[@stephenhoward2245]

Gets ya

[@drummer78]

It's sort of an all encompasing statement. There are so many diverse bands that fall under the label of "punk". That would include everyone from The Stooges (talk about blues inspired) to the Buzzcocks. Getting back to the Stooges, their stuff is as close to the Howlin' Wolf voodoo blues as any rock band ever was. Music shouldn't fall into such need categories. That is why Levon and Johanson can jam together because they both "get it".

[@thomaswashington3201]

Is Jimmy holding a Harmony Semi-hollow body in the first frame???

[@chrisdair]

I've been doing this since I was about 12 years old, at least 2 or 3 years before I heard of any of these guys.

[@djangolad]

In the context of the lesson David's singing isn't too bad. Lacking passion and timing but hey;this is about Hubert and his riff.

[@ernal]

Justin, can you do a lesson on pulling rock faces as part of the lessons series? I have been practicing doing mine real slow, but I think I need some pointers :)

[@Andrelix67]

E blues scale... All the licks are done based on the E7 chord and the E pentatonic scale... If you don't know that yet, I suggest you to get familiar with it before watching this video...

[@12Radius]

Seems there is a change B then E string ?

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

RIP

[@AltamontKiller]

Fuck yeah!!

[@TheMrmudminister]

Word

[@user-ky3ti7fs3i]

so where is the teaches part?

[@messiahsez]

I once shook his hand. It was huge and hard as leather.

[@12Radius]

Hi good to see ya 9 years later at this lesson

[@HashishUno]

i dont understand why david johansen is singing in the video ....... also that red guitar 0:20, what brand is that, what's the model?

[@jonny1251]

Anyone know what guitar jimmy vivino is playin? It looks like a Harmony of some sort.

[@laservampire]

1954 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

[@Texasbluestunes]

Buster Poindexter laying it down like the Wolf.

[@RoxusMaximus]

It would be nearly impossible to figure out where this lick originated. Students of the blues and jazz simply know it as "vocab." The core of it can be found in a majority of solos and blues riffs.

[@OctomomsBaby]

He might be "out of sink" but he's not "out of sync".

[@BarKafka]

That's Levon Helm back there at the drumkit, ain't it...?

[@homespuntapes]

He is in standard, I believe.

[@Neagle19]

Does anyone know the name of the song at the very beginning of the video?

[@salsageordie]

Did Hubert ever use a pick ?