Johnny Hiland - Slow Blues

Johnny Hiland shows off some true guitar wizardry on this slow blues at the Dallas International Guitar Festival 4/21/13. With Tim McDonald on keyboards.

[@jstnxprsn]

That's some seriously badass playing, right there.

[@ilikezappa3666]

Johnny depresses me sometimes. I have been playing 35 years . He can make it cry and wail . Best I can do is make mine fart.

[@Dobroman07]

Now that's funny!

[@ilikezappa3666]

Jack Duffee yer too kind

[@twst1]

just sometimes? I'm straight up humbled. Just heard him for the first time 6 minutes ago. If anyone wants my guitars they'll be out in the trash

[@ilikezappa3666]

Don Oziniwicz Ok Don . I will send you a CD

[@ilikezappa3666]

twst1 Know what you mean. I have a forty year old Telecaster and a Fender Valve amp if anyone wants `em . No good to me now.

[@mkeller8114]

Joe Bonamassa has nothing on this guy. What an unbelievable talent. Never seen anyone play almost any genre of music and play it like he is the master of it.

[@kevingoodson9042]

Yep, Johnny's taking it to another dimension.

[@jean-pierrelaplante1601]

Merci il faut que tu sois toi aussi musiciens pour apprécier un très, très grand musiciens jp .

[@peterlabrie9762]

Johnny embodies guitar. Whether it is jazz, country or blues he excels. Moreover, he is one of the humblest performers, always giving credit to his fellow musicians.

[@Shakedoctorsblues]

Wow! He's so good, they should put his face on money!

[@clayholloway4902]

I’m

[@clayholloway4902]

Kevin James bpm

[@chinesemoviesvivov1773]

FYI

[@beerdeddi1]

This mans playing is unbelivable. One of the Best in the world!

[@deirdrea100]

Lord have mercy this man is awesome, listen he is talking to you, see that sly smile, he is loving up your soul. Rock on my blues man, rock on

[@craigwildenradt]

A lot of confusion as to the gear used for the tone in this performance. Core tone after his fingers and the guitar is a Jetter Red Shift OD into a CEC Brigand (directly behind him) set on channel 1, clean mode. For the nerds, channel 1 on that amp is an original preamp circuit that goes: 5751 --> 12AU7 --> EF86. The amp has a dual KT88 power amp. How do I know? I designed and built it. ;-)

[@JakeElston]

Weird flex but alright

[@LordBransty]

Craig Wildenradt - If that's true, I dop my cap to you good man. That's some of the best guitar tone I've ever heard. I'm crying more than Johnny's wife. Greetings from the UK!

[@bones3988]

I thought he was into a Friedman,great sound. Wow

[@magnusnilsson1398]

Johnny Hiland is simply amazing! What an kick ass guitar player! :-)

[@garrettbaker2320]

This guy never bores me. Really special player.

[@carlosmatos9848]

I love Johnny's playing, but everytime I watch him he makes me want to quit and sell all of my guitars ;)

[@stevesalisbury8206]

This guy is over the top! Amazing talent!

[@bkeels002]

The band just totally noped the tempo he cued.

[@OscarTangoWhisky]

+Throat Yogurt Yeah, what's with the drummer?

[@robertfreeman7798]

Indeed ! Yogurt

[@fundorgon]

Could be they rehearsed it slower and were covering his ass? If not then shame on them.

[@calebzmayberry]

Throat Yogurt that's the way they intended it to be.. you'll see he does this every time they start a slow blues or maybe it's a musical thing bc I've done this and I dig it also. JH is the truth tho

[@rumpustime5460]

A little slow down is cool because it gives that downbeat a lot of weight, but this was too much. Drums and bass took a good two bars to find each other.

[@tenodogblu]

This guy is so talented!!

[@dogshome7110]

I don't understand who didn't like. The man can't have much (as much as the rest of us), but he has this. Full marks here :-)

[@hotforknowledge2111]

Man what a terrific player!!!!!!! I didn't know that those country guys could play such a mean blues...hats off :)

[@bobrichardson5905]

He's hardly just a "country" guy. He just dresses that way LOL

[@vanguard4065]

Johnny can

[@iagobroxado]

if that's the slow one just imagine the fast...

[@IZRRL]

Johnny makes that guitar sing!

[@MrNickyshoe]

This is why Johnny is one of my favorites, he's a great guy and can make those guitars sing.

[@jamespruitt3159]

You can tell he really loves what he does!!

[@buckburch1768]

Holy cow man my face just melted off my skull when he started up that slide haha god I love the blues

[@lordsong7]

Fabulous tone. Gorgeous playing as always with JHi !!!!

[@frankierodriguez8661]

I REALLY WENT IN LOVE WITH ROY BUCHANAN TO THE BONE WITH HIS "SECOND ALBUM" CIRCA 1973 I THINK, HELLUVA STUFF, BUF MAN, HONESTLY, I NEVER, EVER MET A GUITAR THIS FEROCIOUS AND ACCURATE, AND, HUMBLE. VERY. JUST A GUY FROM NASHVILLE. GOD BLESS AMERICA DUDE. GRETTINGS FROM DUBLIN, IRELAND.

[@maracuja55]

Chickin'pickin' guitar , slow blues...that man was born with a guitar !

[@KennyE1957]

Simply said, Johnny is amazing!

[@J1JL]

I come back to this video a lot. Mannnn that sound is amazing

[@magsuns7648]

that tone just incredible

[@CuntyMcCuntface-vc4do]

Friedman BE100 from the looks of it.

[@guitarzarfun]

or Metropolous plexi

[@easye9-21]

Category 5

[@analogman9697]

That opening lick is among the greasiest I've ever heard. What a talent---top of the "none Better" category!

[@stevenheck9433]

this man is a guitar player ...plain and simple ... the play speaks for itself .. every great player has their own voice.

[@Mischtchratzer]

so glad I know his name now... this is just too good...

[@MarkMaysey]

This guy is awesome, I can't even begin to comprehend the down votes on this. Loved it and so good to see someone enjoying the fuck out of the pentatonic scales and bending notes, you nailed this Johnny and what an inspiration for me to plug in this old 66 blonde Fender Telecaster and play until the roosters crow. Loved it!!!

[@BourneAccident]

What an incredible talent. I just love this guy. We need him to hang around a bit...so I'd like to see him lose 100 lb. or so. Don't want to see him end up like John Candy.

[@redxxone]

To be fair seems like he lost a lot of weight

[@Jisu88]

His play is talking to me. Really crying and bluesy.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Yeah..."slow" blues. Then he proceeds to unleash a flurry of notes in about 2 seconds flat. LOL.

[@nightdays6965]

The best guitarist ever

[@gwestfall]

Way back in the 90s I was sitting in a near empty club on Broadway in downtown Nashville when this super short and wide near blind cat walked in carrying a guitar case and a Fender amp. The Bartender said he was the newest hottest guitar slinger fresh in town from Maine. To my deep regret we left before he began playing. THIS is THAT GUY!

[@paddydaddyo]

MAINE! Represent!

[@MichelleTaylor1]

An unbelievable guitarist ! ❤️👍🏻

[@dingerelohim3446]

JH is fused with the guitar and as versatile as it comes. blues however comes from pain. man can't play blues in that way that keeps peoples attention unless he has been through hell. when a blues man plays, you weep inside as he is and even other guitar players listening could care less of the blues mans speed and wanking. his emotion you feel as he bends every note to sing a song. most even JH have forgotten the importance of making the ax sing the song. very impressive these kids these days with their speed and knowledge, however as mentioned below, I can listen to Stevie for hours, JH is just goofing here. one of the best ax slingers in the world? better believe he is. blues man? no he is not.

[@utooberblooper]

his slide is to DIE FOR,damn it.ive played most of my entire life 50+ yrs and he is so damn naturally full of talent.

[@alexanders562]

Looks like Johnny came to play guitar.

[@MrAMF50]

I think he spent a few hours in his room practicing a a loney kid just a few though.

[@pneumatica3]

If Frank Zappa had played this exact thing, everybody would still be complaining that he was wierd. My Daddy can whip your daddy...

[@toadcreektom]

unbelievable!!!

[@freecitizen2760]

The ending reminded me of Dudley Moore doing the parody of classical music’s “final” cadences. The ones that seemed to go on forever.

[@KelsterVonShredster]

In my humble opinion, the most enjoyable of all guitarists to just watch.....so damn good!

[@rack52]

amazing guitarplayer, what else to say, those who don´t think so,,, dont understand guitar.

[@thomvogan3397]

As the old saying goes, those that can do, those that can't, teach. The 43 that gave this a thumbs down must be teachers.

[@superjarrod13b]

Johnny is a teacher and he can do. But agreed, it's a rarity.

[@HADJEE]

...and, those that can't teach, teach Phys. Ed.

[@HpPmL]

Mozart was a piano teacher. This saying is completely off. Most artists teach, do master classes etc. It's a matter of survival.

[@jwallguitar]

um. he teaches all the time. As does every musician who isn't a household name.

[@timkirchhof747]

Stupidest saying I've ever heard. Those who communicate what they do teach. Those that can't think, can't play or teach make snarky comments about teachers online. Most of the world's best players also teach to some degree. Check out George Garzone. Taught at Berklee for 45 years and taught most of the modern jazz sax players. He's one of the best. What if you don't like living on the road and like the feeling of helping others? Such a stupid saying.

[@dougbottom1370]

Good blues. Damn man. you cant fake the blues.

[@spk8489]

I had a feeling this guy could murder the blues guitar. I've heard him play bluegrass-type stuff before, but this is epic in its own way. When the swing is heavy and slow, he's got more room to noodle around, which is great to hear. It's so damn good!

[@paulharris8551]

He's great but the word 'murder' usually means you play it badly. On the other hand, to 'kill it' is to play it well. Is 'he involuntarily manslaughtered it' the ideal we're shooting for, so to speak?

[@Rand89700]

If you thumbs down this video you obviously don't play guitar, or you really suck at it.

[@SayedaShumonaBegum]

Beautiful singing.Thanks for sharing.

[@sayshuh]

Damn Johnny, You can fry the neck dude. Thanks for the fantastic work.

[@emptypockets11]

Great stuff! Incrediblyridiculous diskussions! What goes on in your mind?

[@GeoAl09]

god damn that's amazing

[@TomandJulieMineExploring]

Johnny Foster, I don't think the drummer knew that JH had that many licks in him.

[@comedykennedys5791]

You know, I have to add...never have I heard genuinely great sounding use of tapping on a blues track. Until now.

[@gaggle57]

OK, alright already. He can bend that one note real good, and his turn-around is quick, but what's the POINT ? If you want to hear a guitarist-musician check out Chuck D'aloia. That's some blues with brains. This here is tricks, basically, no compositíon.

[@analogman9697]

Great recording all things considered. Guitar sounds great in headphones.What an artist!

[@unkaswine]

Great video. Thanks for putting it up here.

[@johnsonater8491]

love this guy. one of the best!

[@danieldoliveiras715]

Show, the best..i Love Cowtry guitar by Johnny, Monster... uallll

[@larrygeetar9309]

Johnny is unquestionably a great player, a master of many styles. But this is just wanking, like Joe Bonamassa, who is way better than I ever could be. It's just too much to call this great blues playing. The slide is closer to great blues than the rest of this take. I call what these people do "blues bombast." Great, great playing but losing sight of what The Blues is about - the feeling and the soul of the music. I get tired of it. It's not as good as the tasteful way SRV, Clapton, Peter Green or the great guitarists of The Allman Brothers Band, Mike Bloomfield, or B.B., Albert and Freddie King. Especially B.B. King. That is great blues playing. Even though SRV played many long solos, he had such wonderful dynamics and feeling you didn't realize it had been nine minutes long. Same with the original Allmans. A twenty minute Liz Reed or Whipping Post had so much more musical value and twists, turns and more than anything else, Soul. The time was gone in a flash. Sorry. This is some great playing but not great BLUES playing. Just my opinion and, no, I do not pretend to be anything close to the players I mentioned or Johnny Hiland. Just not my definition of what superior blues playing is.

[@rockerstorockerstorockers7284]

+larry geetar know what ur saying mate and agree totally. If it was about bending a string then I would be awesome. Wait! I am! I just choose not to play that gimmicky Bonnamassa crap is all.

[@whiketurner6249]

+Rec There are three errors in your sentence.

[@Khobbyhobs]

+larry geetar Never judge a person playing the blues on guitar. There is no such thing as over playing or wanking. Blues is all about how you are feeling at the moment.

[@jamesrockford2626]

+larry geetar SRV tasteful? lol... he was the biggest self indulgent wanker of all time + the Hendrix halloween costumes? spare is your BS .. Bloomfield is other overrated jackass.. whipping post and elizabeth read are not even blues you jagaoff

[@larrygeetar9309]

+Kevin Hobson It's not a judgment, just an opinion. I'm not one to judge anyone the caliber of Johnny Hiland. He's a monster player. BB King could say more with one note than most can say with fifty, though, and that's just what I prefer to hear for blues playing. In my opinion, there IS such a thing as overplaying or wanking. Other people feel differently, it's fine with me.

[@carguy3460]

those passing tones at :42 are so tight.

[@carolnewman2595]

Have watched John from a young child to the amazing artist he is today From the Three J's from lil ol Washington County Maine to living is dream in Nashville.. He's just freaking amazing..

[@larryphelps6607]

Greetings from Waite Maine Johnny , outstanding ! hearing your voice makes me lonesome for your uncle Ricky, God bless.

[@derekdiamond846]

The drummer's good, but completely got the tempo wrong at the intro!

[@1971SuperLead]

So the devil went down to Georgia......

[@sunsparkle8443]

awesome string bending .

[@सत्यमेवजयते-झ3ल]

This guy is unreal cool! Great guitar player.

[@OLDROCKER123]

Why is Clapton rated so good when you see guitarists like this... So Inventive.

[@CreamFreshCream]

Because Clapton is a pioneer of guitar techniques and sound, that's why. He brought the original fat overdriven humbucking sound to the rock music. For instance there wouldn't be EVH without Eric.

[@ronaldwilliams3743]

CreamFreshCream STOP LYING,YO!!

[@CreamFreshCream]

Ronald Williams Ain't no lies, just facts.

[@daw162]

***** clapton played blues. That's about where the similarity ended between him and hiland. Clapton was a pioneer and well marketed, but is not remotely as skilled as johhny. Luckily, we live in a world where you're allowed to listen to and appreciate both.

[@weholman1995]

tony pops Because Clapton was doing this 40 years ago

[@RSCL_BEATZ]

Fast but his phrasing was too repetitive. Lance Lopez for prez!

[@ronaldwilliams3743]

the king of all guitarist,PERIOD.

[@jean-pierrelaplante1601]

Le meilleur guitariste en son genre merci et tres plaisant à écouter parlé sa guitare encore merci jp

[@TheGurner1]

Man oh man what blues player! Johnny leaves nothing behind but a smoking crater ;-)

[@scotchiedude]

Brother Duane is my favorite slide player. He plays in open E. He is who I try to emulate. Warren Haynes is my favorite slide player in standard tuning. I thought he was the bomb. This Hiland cat makes them both look like shit! Other than that, I am speechless. Maybe I should just quit playing guitar even though I have been playing for over 40 years. Jeeeeez! And I thought Johnny Hiland was a country chicken-picker. Keep playing Johnny-boy, and enjoy making me look like shit!! LOL!

[@elmiga01]

SOS UN TREMENDO PELOTUDO MAN

[@krst1watchi]

He makes me feel things he should not be able to. (Oops, this is my wife's account, guess I should switch before I say shit like that).

[@jamesprice6381]

Like Santana said, God made the world ROUND, so all guitar players could have center stage!

[@MrAMF50]

mercy! this is how you play guitar.

[@Broadfieldpoint]

Jiohnny Hilland is better the Guthrie. WAY more feel....feel trumps technique.

[@jlynnb1]

why even make a silly comparison like that? they come from totally different places musically and occupy their own place among guitar players. both are fantastic, no need to say one is better than the other. I'm sure both can do things the other can't.

[@SteffeLindmanMedia]

Wow!! that fat son of a B really can shred that guitar:-)

[@Focalor9]

His slide is like Duane Allman on steroids... and I didn't think that was even POSSIBLE! HOLY CRAP!

[@rfactormo]

I hear mister B B King in this one :-)

[@plesnitrener3299]

7:12 no no no it s not end , keep playing dude I'm just warming up :D :D

[@MarkMaysey]

I love you Johnny Hiland, you just made my night.

[@thecombara6891]

Whoa!!! 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌 awesome

[@Gitfiddle]

10:30 Johnny, what the hell do you want me to do with this slide?

[@alexcastro7339]

Few thoughts... His volume is way too high in the mix... He doesn't need super high gain for blues licks. The gain/distortion is overriding the characteristics of whatever guitar he's using... He may be a great chicken picker, but he needs some serious Duane Allman/ BB King therapy to learn phrasing and vibrato on those blues licks ...IMHO

[@LessLethal]

What 'sucks' is unaccomplished, irrelevant idiots on the internet who think their moronic judgements about artists means something. The reason they judge artists 'against' other artists as if music were a math problem is because if they judged themselves against those same artists, it would be like a mirror held up to their own mediocrity. Much less emotional pain by saying that an artist 'sucks' rather than confronting your own relative abilities.

[@garyguitar]

Of course a hell of a player....mostly known for chicken pickin'...just for fun and my personal taste, I would like to hear him play a 335 or L5 hollow body guitar. However, I still like him best as far a fitting his style on a Tele type.

[@rodentcafeteria]

Tapping during what is supposed to be a blues solos just sounds out of place. You never heard Johnny Winter or SRV start tapping during a solo, did you? That's because it doesn't fit. Otherwise, this guy is awesome.

[@barrygathercole]

yeh band average,but MR HIGHLAND IS JUST SMOKIN'

[@CarlitosMayo]

Gee, I love this guy! 👍😎

[@shesthemanful]

So beautiful, wat an absolute beast!

[@LIKEFUNK]

He's not too shabby, amazing tone, amazing feel, got timing to match, ...superb touch...chicken picking shredder for sure.

[@Sveinbeard]

Guitar porn. Heaven.

[@dewaynewhite2928]

I'm gonna use that one, guitar porn,on my side of town

[@totobish2009]

I love you Johnny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheDKBaller22]

God I bet even Stevie would have been blown away

[@HanIl]

This is so good, it's funny

[@kimmolingonheimo]

to shred is to tear things apart into smallerr THIN peaces(human skin...) or the string or the frets or the fingerboard ..............................................evntuallu its the human epidermis that suffers....................nice playin time to you songwrights ukuleleists an stuff kind el guitarists .......i find it very funny that so called shredders tear their skin apart (tear is shred) Im now not gonna cry for this ..... but i do admit tearing /shredding ......thats so funny /fanny im tearing(inside) for you poor shredders!!!!!! dont you all know it takes time to be a good guitarist, no? POIrot hercule