I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash - Luther Perkins - Guitar Lesson

In this lesson I take a detailed look at how to play the classic Johnny Cash track. Guitar on this song was played by the great Luther Perkins and I give you a note-for-note run through of his introduction, then talk you through the chords for the rest of the song. Full and accurate music/tab can be found here as well as more info on the song: www.anyonecanpl...
Many more KZbin lessons: / anyonecanplayguitarcouk
Twitter: / acpgtr
Facebook: / anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk
Info on private lessons/Skype lessons: www.anyonecanpl...

[@t4texastom587]

R.I.P. Luther Perkins 🎸 Obviously, definitely one of the most influential guitarists in recorded music history. Everytime a Johnny Cash record is sold, or JCash music is downloaded, a LARGE portion of the credit goes to Luther Perkins.

[@jessesexton308]

I could sit and listen to you play all day and I have learned more from your videos than I have from anything over the years. Keep playing Adrian.

[@danyoung9687]

Man ... I can't believe that you haven't broke 100,000 subscribers yet . You are definitely one of the best teachers on you tube . Most excellent ... Thank you for doing this . It definitely helps , and you make everything seem like we can do this .

[@stratmangb]

I was told in the Sun Studio that at the time drummers were not allowed to play at the Oprey so Johnny Cash threaded a a dollar bill thorough his strings .Great lessons by the way .

[@JeromyBranch]

That same guitar with the same dollar bill in the strings is still there and you can go see it. So sweet.

[@alfredleonhardt2149]

Gibt es auch auf Deutsch

[@justsomerandominternetuser6379]

You are a gifted guitar player! I wanted to learn this song for my great grandfather who (by the way loves this particular song) passed on from cancer. Personally this song has special meaning to me. I played this on guitar for him at his funeral. Thanks for teaching this song.

[@acpg]

Thanks very much - really glad to have helped you learn this song!

[@Bbendfender]

Great lesson and this is Nov. 2020. I'm 70, been playing 50 years and still learning stuff like this.

[@bryanwithem6007]

Thats awsome Rob!. Im 60 and just startin out!

[@weshoward4301]

Another wonderful lesson. Never understimate the elegance of simplicity. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard this played incorrectly (including by me) "in all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world" I'd be quite wealthy. Thank you again for your great demeanor & sharing with us. Great job!

[@Sitting8ull]

Very quotable: Never underestimate the elegance of simplicity. :)

[@susancunningham4594]

Hello Adrian: I can't thank you enough for your detailed and precise instruction for this intro by Luther Perkins. Also, thanks for providing the music/tab to go along with it. Your fantastic instruction will certainly help me in playing this song at a much more authentic level. Thank you so very much.

[@acpg]

Thanks Susan - good to know you've been enjoying my videos.

[@snortinhorton1]

In an interview Carl Perkins said that in those early days at Sun they would sometimes speed the record up a little. This made everything sound a semitone or more higher.

[@rescareguy]

Great to see others keeping the old time greats alive

[@CharlesMcGlade]

A masterful summary of Perkins' style. Bravo!

[@leonardcanter4596]

You sound great ! Luther Perkins guitar playing was a defining part of Johnny Cash's music. Keep up the good work.

[@swaggercat]

Loved that bonus ending. Cash was awesome.

[@mrphilmcrooster4677]

Another great song expertly explained so even drummers like myself can understand & play it! Thanks Adrian :)

[@acpg]

+Phil Mckee Haha, thanks Phil, glad you enjoyed it.

[@REPS-kb7up]

You are definitely my go to guy for a complete and total breakdown of the song behind the flourishes (and often the flourishes too). BTW - your tone is excellent on this one.

[@patrickphippspa584]

Thank you Adrian. You're such a joy to watch!

[@daviddouglas7950]

Here's to eclecticism! Just great Adrian! Johnny, Waylon & Willy are about as country as this old rocker gets but they are truly giants. John Prine & Dolly do spring to mind as well now that I give it some thought. Variety is truly the spice! Rock on, Dave in the Adirondacks

[@32solly]

HI ADRIAN.THE WAY U TEACH GUITAR IS AWESOME.

[@tonytotten2133]

Cool Adrian good simple instruction keep up the good work thanks

[@weshoward4301]

I just reviewed this again (having finally acquired a nice 50's Tele that I'm comfortable with). Thanks so much. You have a very excellent demeanor proving that some 'can' both play & teach. Pretty neat stuff. Nice gentlemanly quality that reminds me a bit of Hank Marvin (not a quip on the glasses but the civility). Carry on sir & thanks again.

[@scarecrow33]

I appreciate your videos. You’re the first person that was able to convey rockabilly picking to me in way I could grasp and most importantly FEEL! Thanks man.

[@josephh151]

This is one of my favorite songs by the Man in Black, Luther Perkins had a unique way of playing which made him great. I am an intermediate player and hopefully i can add this to my arsenal. Great Job.

[@rickcrawford4981]

Johnny Cash - I walk the line - Hank Williams - Your cheating heart ) Two top classics of all time ! nuff said !

[@ocan1033]

"How about one big cheer for Luther Perkins?"

[@rickcrawford4981]

There were two great Perkins ) Carl Perkins and Luther Perkins !

[@martinhasson4942]

I'm thinking Carl..... There's also the Psycho Dude! Luther 🤓

[@martinhasson4942]

He's right!!!!!!!!! Luther was there!⛽

[@smesser01]

Yay!

[@twomindz79]

The guy was fire !

[@NKTheBowhunterOfficial]

Awesome! I was playing it A D A E A. I'm glad I watched this a B7 is in there to. Thank you and keep it up.

[@cskueny]

Revisiting this lesson again. (I was thinking to tell my wife that this is why I need a telecaster.) The other comments are right; your lessons are unsurpassed.

[@mma1st105]

Ever get that tele? Lmao

[@cskueny]

Indeed I did!

[@mikestroud9969]

Vey nice buddy. I'm older 61. I remember al those songs. Thanks 👍🙌💯🎸

[@chefkaiman]

Thank you for transcribing and sharing the music score.

[@faaleleinonu8828]

I love watching your videos. you're the only one that teaches very well n very informative. the other guys they play too much nonsense n don't teach you anything...

[@bigteno4597]

Adrian, you are such a great player and tutor mate! Thanks for all of your videos.

[@kevinaylesbury1969]

Your a great teacher Thank you 😊

[@jmarkwright]

You are a great teacher, thanks for the lessons!

[@dantegoat8568]

any big johnny cash fan knows the legendary guitar player that was luther perkins

[@glassslide]

Great job! Love that song!

[@laddlll]

Hi Adrian, another master class , you helped me understand the song so much. This song is so profound it sounds simple, thats genius. p.s. i suspect Johnny may have been influenced by the key changes in the great Bob Wills song"Faded Love" released in 1950 , this period would have been seminal to Johnny. The fiddle and vocal key changes are very similar in feel and style to "I Walk the Line". thanks Allan

[@tiffanyturcotte2538]

Will definitely be back! Amazing teaching .Might take me a beat 5o get it, goes somewhat fast, but hope to keep up eventually! Thanks 👍

[@TheRooster1122]

Your Awesome Buddy can't get enough of these lessons!! Thank You 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@acpg]

Thank-you! Glad you're digging my lessons.

[@micksheehan5109]

TheRooster1122 w

[@SWFlowseeker]

Love the way you break done these songs. Helps a lot. Keep up the great work!

[@peterbarratt2415]

1/4 Million views and all well deserved great explanation and contextualisation.

[@bsharp47]

Adrian, you are absolutely FABULOUS!! I'm trying to find the lesson on creating the train sound of Johnny Cash. You're unmatched, please keep teaching.

[@acpg]

Thanks Rick! Pleased you're enjoying the videos.

[@bluesarecool]

Thanks for this great lesson. as usual,very clear and concise.

[@jerryjohnson575]

great lesson I like yrs lessons very helpfulnIm a seasoned player,, I like David Bowie songs how about Panic in Detriot I live near Detriot Im learning Country music its so fun to play

[@larrykooiman1065]

Great lesson Adrian - your patience is wonderful

[@chinafish60]

My kind of music, thank you for teaching me how to play this better!

[@nicox8913]

You marvelous bastard you ❤ Thanks as always for this. Much obliged and mad respect, Nico

[@ronlight7013]

What a great lesson! I subscribe to lots and lots of KZbin teachers but hadn't come upon your instruction before, so superbly done. As an "advanced" beginner the theory makes perfect sense and the country rhythm will be fun to play and just what I need to progress in my ability. Quick question, is the Luther Perkins picking style at all derived from Mother Carter and the Carter Family? Thanks so much.

[@kennylogue7947]

So good Adrian. You are helping me so much. Thankyou

[@estring69]

Love the tele and your tiny amp sound. Gets down to the fun bare essentials.

[@supersaiyan3bi-han287]

amazing lesson i loved it.

[@rbrown2822]

Thank you. Great lesson!

[@coachchris548]

Great lesson 👍

[@danceswithwolves49]

Adrian, At the end where you show how to play Johnny Cash's part you say he wanted to emulate brushes on drums. Not so. Johnny loved trains and he was emulating an American steam locomotive.

[@h2er80]

Thanks for the great lesson!

[@deangaryjames]

Excellent, thank you

[@andybehr6467]

Thank you, Greatings from Germany 👍

[@egads2]

Adrien, you're The Man In Black!

[@rayburnhonea9405]

Hello Adrian, I am new to your channel, "great job and effort teaching this song" . 👍👍

[@larrylehman751]

Your lessons are great

[@Gunslinger1875]

I really love this channel. Thank you.

[@Sitting8ull]

Great Job!!

[@pg123ab]

Great work Adrian, I like this channel and great instruction

[@cormackjames]

Excellent, thanks for doing these.

[@kingclassicsvids]

Excellent work, thanks

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Real good lesson man. I was gonna say turn that treble and reverb up so that thing will snap and pop a little. But on second thought I think the original recording Luther did it with a warm dark tone like your using. So you are historically correct!! Most all the other songs ( and this one too if ya want) you can crank the treble and reverb and make it snap and pop using palm mutes. Sweet Looking Telecaster brother. I just bought a new Gibson Les Paul with P90 Single coins and I'm rather disappointed. I was expecting the single coil P90 to have more treble and bite but they are really thick and dark sounding. I think I made a big mistake by not buying a Telecaster. We live and we learn right LOL

[@acpg]

Yes, I assumed this one would be more of a twangy, treble-y sound but the original recording is actually pretty warm sounding. P90s are great but for the Luther/Carl Perkins kind of sound single coils are probably the best way to go. You can never have to many guitars, so why not get a Tele as well!?

[@JohnnyRebKy]

P90s are sing coil pickups and they don't even come close to the sound I thought i could get from them. They are clear and bright on the high strings but the lower strings are very dark and muddy. Especially the D string. I thought i would get a nice bright tone on all 6 strings just having a fatter tone to it opposed to Fenders thin sound.

[@lawrencet.mcguilicutty7447]

Thanks Adrian. Nice job.

[@TheNewenglandboys]

I was trying to see your pick up switch position but couldn't quite see which pickups you were using. Maybe the middle position? And tone knob position? Great job and great sound

[@CYRILGOUPIL]

merci Adrian !!!!

[@ricklynch5598]

Thank you Adrian. Nice Tele!

[@murraykiesanowski2388]

great vidio lesson on j cash .with your brilliant lesson i hope you will become a wealthy guitar teacher one day thanks

[@douglasmoody3403]

good job mate.

[@brewer7604]

great video the way you teach it very good

[@ricochetrabbit4618]

thanks for all the lessons Adrian. I had this idea that you might play Purple Rain really well. Any chance you might like to cover it?

[@bentoncushing8693]

Very good,,,thanks

[@jaknzax]

wealth of knowledge..thanks

[@infoscholar5221]

It would be helpful to discuss the Mother Maybell Cater "Boom Chicka) lick, that Luther and Johnny adapted from the Original Carter Family. (Mother Maybell was June Carter's mother.) Peace.

[@egecezik]

Great lesson!

[@harveyblackton3386]

great teacher, thank you

[@TheUkulelePeople]

thank you for a clear tutorial

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@spam12366]

really good explanation thanks

[@slicksnewonenow]

Nice lesson! As for the original recording, YES... Sun Records Lore has it that Johnny just flat couldn't sing in the key of E and sound any good... So the whole band would just tune up to F and go to town. Cheers, Slick 😉

[@duaneshort4162]

GREAT

[@OLD.SOUNDS]

Great job!!

[@jaimealexisedades8871]

Good guitar ..my new found busker friend Woody Cowboy 🤠 played this song at Union Station , Toronto

[@romysan1]

great job. thanks.

[@willeohman9840]

Nice cut :)

[@LonskiBig]

....very interesting....very detailed.....

[@ThaiThom]

Perhaps the tape speed on the recording bent the pitch up a bit closer to F?

[@MrRw59]

nicely explained thanks

[@WILLIAM195511]

I agree Adrian you are Great 21 people no nothing about good Guitar playing! Thanx Bud for you time! William e.

[@PLINKER]

I'm going to try to make an Esquire guitar for that original LUTHER sound. I have been in the process of moving so have not as yet started this project

[@acpg]

Yes, got to be an Esquire if you want the actual sound of those records. Good luck with the project - sounds fun!

[@PLINKER]

Thanks so much Adrian for your unselfish help with your playing and support !Tom

[@fabiopunk1661]

excellent as usual Adrian, it makes me feel like going back home from work and start learning it! Nice Tele - is it a Baja?

[@acpg]

+Fabio Punk Thanks Fabio. Tele is a US 52 reissue. My old faithful - had it about 20 years.

[@danyoung9687]

excellent ...

[@henrydong8110]

Good

[@cacornett58]

I always wanted to play the F# alternated with the B during the B7th chord, but I know that's not right. Bad habit, it works bit I wanna play it like Luther!

[@rabvek]

nice telecaster. what year is it?

[@acpg]

It's a 52 reissue. From around 1993 I think.

[@donhall6051]

Can you do Johnny cash doing my time

[@stratcat4461]

Cool.

[@lulukallinen6670]

ahhh you're sooo coool,thanks a Lot!!!

[@MattJay.]

Have you got Christmas lights up Adrian? Anyway love your vids wish you'd make more but I'm sure you're busy with real life lessons

[@acpg]

+ASMRWhisperLight. Ha, yes, Christmas all year round in my house. More videos on their way, but it is tricky to find the time...

[@tonytotten2133]

Hi Adrian do you have the tabs for this. Another great well explained video thanks tony