If I Laugh (Lesson) - Cat Stevens

[@greg1cronulla-ml2eh]

Thank you. I've wanted to play this my whole life. I can go anytime now with one less regret.

[@harigeorgeson5885]

A great song from a great album that’s really withstood the test of time. Sounds as good today as when I first bought the vinyl. Thanks for doing.

[@jpratt53]

I agree. It has held up well.

[@StevieMuso]

Thanks so much for posting this James. I've always loved this song right from it's release in October 1971. At the time I had been playing guitar for about 8 months and was playing in the local folk mass. Cat Stevens was a big favourite amongst the players. I could never figure out how he did this great song. Thanks so much for the easy to understand tutorial. Now it's practice practice practice to get it down pat.

[@stanleykostrzewski7222]

Brilliant, I love Cat Stevens . Still loving what you do James .

[@jesuspedroza2676]

Super👍👍👍 Tks😊

[@rich5034]

Such a great song. Your playing does it justice. Maybe someday.... Thanks for the inspiration🤞

[@marklandry9522]

I've wanted to learn this song for a long time. You've made it easy. I like the pace. Not too much, and not too little. Thanks!

[@Dallasl_andscaping_.]

This should be up to 3 million views by now.

[@jeffbody1419]

Glad to see you are still making lessons. I stumbled across you a few years ago. I think I was looking up a couple of John Cougar tunes, Authority song and Crumbling Down. We have similar taste in music. I am not an expert guitar player so I found your videos very fast and sometimes difficult for me to play and follow but that just inspired me to try harder. But the beauty of video is you can pause and watch over and over. Instead of watching painfully overly wordy drawn out videos. Also I like that you get into complicated intricacies of songs that sound "right". I recently watched/enjoyed/learned "Alright Now" by Free. Thanks man. Keep it up.

[@nelsonmanuel612]

Thanks for your video

[@lemayelaine]

this is fantastic! thank you very kindly for this fine lesson for a much underrated song by this genius! ❤

[@joseluisjunca]

Thank You !

[@FlugHerr]

Just a fantastic lesson. Thanks for sharing with us. You are appreciated. P.S. I just watched the Privettricker version. Yea!!

[@NickNicometi]

Thanks Jimmy James! I searched for this Cat tune and was pleased to see that you covered it and was the first tutorial to pop up on the list. I'm in Buffalo. Hopefully we can jam one day when I get some good chops. Cheers.

[@rcweber1953]

This was an extremely helpful lesson. Just as an instrumental, this gem sparkles.

[@TheGermanRL]

Great

[@mauriciovilar6562]

Great lesson! Thank you very much!

[@MJ-we9vu]

My man 👍 Rubylove is also in open E. That's a fun one (with or without the Greek mandolin).

[@nicklyde4361]

As always James ...very informative,thanks ..

[@paulmurphy208]

Excellent

[@user-bt3tj6we7b]

niiiiiiiiiiiiiice it sounds exactly the same

[@johnmallinson1606]

4 new video's in one day ? All great as usual ... keep rocking it !!

[@nickworley1000]

Thanks great tutorial and performance

[@guyrose6602]

Hey James. Great work, really helpful for this old favorite of mine (probably the one that got me to want to play). Question: in the original recording, at the end of the song , the last "run down" (not sure how to call it) sounds a bit different than the two preceding ones. Looking at the old video of Cat playing it, seems to me like he does something different that I just can't figure out. Have you seen it, and if so, what do you think?

[@donTataf]

Jesus your so good at guitar

[@jamesjames9275]

You can call me JJ. :)

[@donTataf]

@@jamesjames9275 I have been playing for more than a decade and I can’t get this smooth with it. Hit a frustrating plateau years back. I am impressed by your skills.

[@haroldfloyd5518]

Oh yeah! Open tuning, Cat Stevens, I’ve found my next project!

[@gregvernak164]

Hope you're doing well Bro!

[@paulkramer9666]

Excellent advice. First learn to play by developing your ear. And, it's going to take quite awhile.

[@bobdavies1839]

I've a query. On the run down for 5th fret to open E, you look like you are playing g string at 3rd fret while also playing d and e strings at the 4th fret. Yet you appear to say just play the d and e strings at 4th fret. Similarly as you drop down to 2nd fret. It sounds to me better adding the g string at 3rd and 1st fret. Just a thought

[@TedBoyRomarino]

My poor 53 years old nylon guitar wouldn't stand that tuning... Maybe open D with a capo in the second fret would make it safer for my old friend

[@haroldfloyd5518]

Anything you can play in open e works just fine in open d.

[@GlennWW]

You can down tune your guitar down a whole step (2 frets), then tune to open E relative to that set up. If you want to get actual open E, stick a capo on fret two - OR - just play the song as is, in the lower key (down tuned setup)

[@LaMusicade4]

That bridge is a bitch in regular tuning

[@johnmallinson1606]

what about a contrast of bands versions ? ie. Rolling Stones 2000 Man vs KIss 2000 Man ?

[@christianlambert4388]

Can someone explain the risk that comes with tuning, for example, down your guitarr, and does it differ between different guitars?

[@GlennWW]

I adjust my guitars to all kinds of tunings, up, down, open etc etc....without any problems. eg. due to my voice pitch these days I have to tune down a full or half a step. Within that range i also adjust to open chords too.... As well as normal tuning and open chords in that set up..... So go and explore and enjoy the musical gifts of different tunings without fear. (PS, the most risk is temperature and humidity range exposure, and dropping the dang thing...lol)

[@jimmysupafly1547]

Awesome as usual JJ. How come you took down your scarlet learn from scratch video? It was awesome to see you figure that out .

[@jamesjames9275]

I didn't take it down, the Stones did.

[@jimmysupafly1547]

@@jamesjames9275 wow we just don't get to have the little things in life anymore do we my man?

[@jamesjames9275]

@@jimmysupafly1547 Well, in his defense, Mick needs to buy another island in the South Pacific.

[@jimmysupafly1547]

@@jamesjames9275 lmao social distancing to a whole new level

[@injuredtabletennisplayer1474]

Your guitar sounds so rich.