Soloing Secrets - Billy Gibbons

[@Jojoslayer15]

You're hands down one of the greatest guitar teachers on KZbin.

[@frankiecalabro2617]

Dave is such an amazing guitarist and teacher....it’s amazing how he cops the essence of all these players.

[@rv6205]

thats the key is getting a good teacher .....but when youre a new player , you cant tell good from bad

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Right?! that flavor... sabor :)

[@gergemall]

Agreed

[@sergedenovo2389]

I love Lagrange with Slash! That’s cool!

[@joelghuggins]

I’ve been a session player in Nashville for 20+ years. This is the first “Billy video” ever on KZbin, where his early album tones are demonstrated in spades!! ( dark and saggy) Every other video I’ve seen people have a bright tight tone. Drives my buddy’s and I crazy!! 🤪 Fantastic video! Keep it up brother ❤❤

[@Magnetron33]

I saw ZZ last Tuesday. Same old Billy! Tasty licks the whole show. My 49th year of seeing him and Frank. Elwood is doing a great job too!

[@chriss1492]

Billy GIbbons, like David Gilmour, is a great testimony to the fact that blazing speed and sweeps aren't the be all and end all of guitar playing. Sure, that stuff is cool and impressive, but give me a player like Gibbons and Gilmour who convey soul and tasty phrasing any day. I'd love to see a Neil Schon lesson sometime.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

John Fogerty too ... guitar rhythms and solos for the song and the jam first!

[@thehomefront1905]

You're talking absolute shite again.

[@stevengrinold3203]

Yes, Neal Schon Dave!

[@johnc.8298]

Yes, the melodic phrasing is so musical. If you can follow the tones as they're playing it, then they've allowed you into the music just like if you can hear and understand the words a singer is singing. Neither Billy or Gilmour (or Carlos) were stellar maestros when it came to complex phrases and fast, precise passages such as Satriani, Gambali, etc. but just using those five simple notes with creativity they put together great melody lines and musical compositions all the same. So simple, yet so musically satisfying.

[@stevengrinold3203]

@@johnc.8298 well said John. Music is a VAST topic and there is room for many styles. I choose to love great players like Billy G., Gilmour and the more technically advanced like Satch and Gambale and also Dave Brewster. It's all good!

[@thejamnasium6447]

how could you not love Billy Gibbons

[@jasonashley4579]

Billy F Gibbons has been my favorite guitarist for all my life. Tv dinners there's nothing else to eat.

[@shanekiesewetter5593]

Thank you. This is an absolutely fabulous lesson. Maybe 20 lessons wrapped in one. Awesome!

[@sventextor1309]

Thanks for giving some love to Billy Dave...he is a master guitar player....his feel....tone and taste is unmatched.......Hendrix asked the world to watch this guy and for good reason....."Blue Jean Blues" always struck me as a song so immersed in feel and emotion.....the subtle technique combined with some stinging notes and understated depth always impressed.....I feel sad after the passing of Dusty Hill and think Billy on his passing will be "rediscovered" rather than truly appreciated in his own life time Gibbons Hill and Beard will never be repeated.

[@sergedenovo2389]

You interrupted my going down the line giving everyone here thumbs up and gonna have to check it out. thank you. :)

[@whatarefriends4]

All true and not only that the songwriting. A slew of hits all in the unmistakable ZZ Top style. Clever catchy rock tunes all about nothing.

[@billd9667]

I’ve learned to appreciate Billy over the years. He is crisp and expressive in his playing with a great sense of rhythm. I was expecting him to be Hendrix-like, but happy that he went his own way.

[@davidcoward7462]

"💡" just went off for me when you shared the pockets and how they inch up the neck!!! Thank you!

[@bghammock]

Tasty boogie there David. Thanks

[@sergedenovo2389]

My cursor arrow has a mind of it's own and just automatically goes to "like". I'm glad. saves me the work.

[@aristocaster]

Billy Gibbons is ridiculously great blues guitar player, and will never get enough credit for that, because his playing is so subtle on those great blues songs ZZ Top has written, but what a wonderful guitar playing they contain.

[@Ppuffdiddleydangdoof]

I 100% agree, except that Billy won't get enough credit. Every guitarist on the planet loves him and his playing. They have sold 10 gazillion records. They played 320+ shows a year for decades to adoring fans. But you're otherwise right, and well said.

[@campfireguitars]

You hit the spot with this one, my favorites... RIP Dusty

[@stratman9449]

i suppose we all have said it before...but there is just some original "magic" in ZZtops music and paricularly Billy Gibbons and his guitar playing....and you just have to love it....well.I DO...:-)...and yes i was sad to hear about Dusty passing away....things just won't be the same again....but...that's live...forever moving on....cheers Dave... intersting to hear that Billys dad had a recording studio and thus Billy met all these music greats...awsome...imagine growing up like that....wow...

[@10stringcharley24]

That D string vibrato !!! That’s Billy all day !!

[@thomasstevens9551]

Thanks for remembering Dusty! That was a nice pithy and classy tribute. RIP Dusty!

[@davethelawyer2268]

Thanks a million for this!! I've been in the dark about this for 33 years of playing. I can't thank you enough! This is the grand guitar mystery solved.

[@rorylisbon4723]

Tres Hombres will always be their masterpiece album. Tone for days, pinch harmonics, memorable short tasty licks, I can listen to them forever. Yeah, bending 7's on a 24.75" scale too, ha. Truly iconic player.

[@andy100hp]

What does bending 7 on 24.75 means?

[@simonvanderheijden432]

@@andy100hp Billy Gibbons plays string gauge .007 (but i'm not sure he did in the early days, let's say the first 3 albums) and 24.75" is the scale length of a Gibson guitar (Fender uses 25.5" scale length). But it means that string bending is very easy (with 7's on 24.75"), it doesn't require a lot of strength and it gives you way more control (overbending, vibrato etc..). Some people would say that thin strings will hurt your tone but there's nothing wrong with Billy's tone, I've seen him live just a couple of years ago and his tone is awesome. Rick Beato did a video on string gauge which is kind of an eye opener. On a semi-clean Strat I would have to agree that thinner string will hurt your tone. But that's just my opinion. And y'all know what the say about opinions.. ;)

[@andy100hp]

@@simonvanderheijden432 Thank you for this answer I think Gibbons is the one told BB King about using thinner strings tho if I'm not wrong (Why you work so hard?) Also I agree on the Gibson thing, everything just sounds better and more in-your-face with gibson, in my humble opinion

[@simonvanderheijden432]

@@andy100hp You're welcome. But that's funny 'cause I heard it the other way around, that BB king asked Mr Gibbons why he was working so hard. 😂

[@andy100hp]

@@simonvanderheijden432 haha maybe you're right, I heard that long ago

[@scottbivins4051]

Know that we have established that you may be King of cutting heads in your state this ZZ TOP lesson is something I can sink my teeth into. You just showed all the basics of dirty nasty boogie rock. Thank You.

[@bassface12348]

Oh man soloing secrets of Jimmy Herring? That would be soooo awesome 👌 👏 😎

[@guitarzan2201]

Billy is definitely an original and a master of his gear to achieve some amazing and killer tones. Thank you for this Dave.

[@RF944]

The Reverend Billy G, a top five guitar slinger for sure. Thanks David.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

I love the pentatonic blues rock players with nasty nasty tones and badass attitudes: Gibbons, Page, Cream Clapton, Ace, Angus, Kossoff, Humble Pie Frampton, Lesley West, Joe Perry - all my favorites! Balls + melody.

[@natediggidy6070]

I love Billy. Blue Jean Blues is epic. Thanks for the tips.

[@ramseyomery]

that was awesome! the double pentatonic highway and the pentatonic pockets was definitely something new for me

[@mike42441]

David, thank you for doing another video on Billy Gibbons. This guy is one of kind and I hope you do more Billy videos in the future. So many guitar greats out there, but hearing Billy's playing brings me back to my guitar roots every time!

[@rickowenkennedy]

You come the closet to nailing BFGs licks, chords, and tone for that matter,...that I've heard yet. Great Lesson! Thank You .

[@dziglavs]

My type of playin.Really good lesson

[@jamesruch4355]

Billy is constantly in the pocket! He is the perfect example of don't over do it!

[@simonvanderheijden432]

I saw an interview with Mr Gibbons were he said he started to use .008 gauge strings and he had problems with strings breaking all the time. After he switched to .007's that problem was solved. Dunno how, dunno why but that's what he said. And thanx for another great lesson Dave!!

[@jacobdowler1]

Yes rest in peace Dusty! i missed out on seeing him unfortunately in 2021 right after i bought my ticket he passed. i was very sad but still rocked the house in Dayton Ohio! took my wife and we had a blast! i could not believe i even got to see them even once let alone twice! lol shortly after seeing them in Dayton my Dad asked me to go to see them again in Cuyahoga falls up by Cleveland! i shid my pants just about at that show because it was such a damn good time and we sat close!!!!

[@voronOsphere]

More Soloing Secrets!!!! Billy Gibbons!!! Thanks, David!

[@myoldmate]

First heard ZZ TOP early 70's on Alan "Fluff" Freeman's Saturday Rock Show. It was La Grange, I was blown away and to this day it's still one of my favourites. One other tune of theirs which, imo, features Billy's effortless rockability is a track that I never hear anyone else mention and that's Planet Of Women. If your in your car and everything's good, put that on at max bearable volume and headbang down the highway.

[@bluesdude1194]

That was a great radio show back then.

[@myoldmate]

@@bluesdude1194 It was. Another band that show introduced me to was Bachman Turner Overdrive, in particular the track Second Hand off the Album Not Fragile. Ridiculous use of the wah pedal on that which I liked..a lot.

[@Craig_Fussell]

Thanks for this man! Huge BFG fan! For me, touch, feel and phrasing is how he puts his stamp on ZZ Top songs. Ever noticed how instead of starting a solo with low notes on “the highway,” and building up higher, he tends to start with a screaming high bend, especially on “boogie” types of songs? Classic example is La Grange, but there are plenty of others! Awesome!!✌🏻🎸🎶

[@j11smith]

billy himself in an interview in guitar world in 2013 taught me the highway, and this lesson is the next page he never explained.

[@-jeffk3339]

Thanks David - love the Pentatonic Hwy. approach. Your lessons are great for the blues-rock fans like myself.

[@petew.1418]

I had the opportunity to chat briefly with Elwood Francis years ago online. (We have a mutual friend.) He was their tech at the time. He confirmed that Billy has an extremely light touch with fretting and picking. He rarely goes out of tune, according to Elwood.

[@Dr_Reason]

I actually get what you are doing. I am impressed how you broke down this concept.

[@midiman5045]

Kool Stuff David, It's all about connecting the correct dots. LOL.

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Billy is always a treat...Thank u Dave...

[@mikeking453]

Great playing in the intro

[@cryptoreality9643]

Love this lesson man...Big fan of Billy's playing-thanks!

[@uncleremus5046]

His tone & phrasing put him in the Stratosphere with Carlton & Beck! As always awesome 🍺’ski.🤘

[@30pitchcleaver]

ZZ Top "Live" Dallas in the 80s - White Les Paul - A show I will Never forget.

[@FlugHerr]

Love the ZZ Top talks and lessons.

[@preppintrucker6005]

Oh this is awesome, I appreciate this one, I can understand this well. I struggle to learn scales but this seems different, better 👍

[@paulcasilio1119]

Dave, this was not only a great lesson for the information, but for how tightly it was packaged and explained. Wonderful, Sir. Thank you. These were things I know, but so very nicely tied together under the guise of a lesson about a master. Thank you also for the tribute to Dusty. Is there any better explanation about the human condition when we suffer a loss like this at distance than, “No, that’s not supposed to happen.”? No, it isn’t and unfortunately it is happening more and more the older I get. We are dying too much. It stinks, so by all means enjoy the ride while you are here. ✌️🤟

[@hortyist1]

Very kind words (and on point) about the Great Dusty hill. Thank you, I'm just a fan of the guy but still appreciate the kind words as if he was family.

[@timothyarnold9350]

Great lesson. Every guitar player need this as foundation.

[@allboutthemojo]

Love the new change to the videos of showing the tabs to the notes being played. Thanks!

[@jamesbutler1949]

The best guitar lesson on the great great Billy Gibbons.

[@davroshalfbeard8368]

Another great episode the door to guitar Valhalla open a little more thanks

[@davidhoward8951]

I remember when strings and things in Memphis Tennessee made a guitar shaped like Texas for Billy Gibbons

[@dirktucker77]

One thing I've always noticed is ZZTop's music is always upbeat and happy. I frckn love it. Especially the early albums. You are so good on guitar and such a good teacher. I can't believe we get to enjoy you all the time. A very serious Thank you for all your efforts.

[@jsauce311]

This channel always hits right when I need it.

[@sixstringer3783]

This is the coolest series glad you introduced it to the channel 👍👏🤘yep R.I.P. Dusty !

[@tallpaul1020]

Billy is fantastic. So was this lesson. Very eye opening with the highways. Thx. RIP Dusty!!!!🎸

[@jttx08]

This is absolutely the most useful single lesson I’ve ever learned. Thank you so much! Already putting together quite a few licks from these pentatonic highways. Billy would be proud

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Absolutely Love Soloing Secrets.....Thank You

[@brythecracker]

Brewster, I challenge you to use these for a couple weeks and see if you can break the 7s, I’m betting on Dunlop you won’t. I started using them 2 years ago, and eventually stringed up all my guitars with them. Pros: I bend everything now, a wrong note is always just a bend away from being right. Breaking strings is not an issue, I’m not sure what Dunlop’s secret is but I’ve never broke one. In the past I’ve broken 10’s regularly, but not these Mexican Lottery strings, and most my playing is bending riffs. If you’re an older player and the digits hurt when bending, do yourself a favor and go for the 7s. Your hands won’t ache as much if any afterwards. Cons: its easy to bend chords out of tune if 7’s aren’t your regular gauge strings, you just won’t have the touch sensitivity for the lighter gauge. If you stick with them for a few weeks you’ll get used to them and may never go heavy again.

[@jayogden773]

You could do every video on ZZ Top and Billy Gibbons and I would never get bored! He's the King of Cool!

[@scoobystap3159]

I love Late Night Lessons. Thanks David. 🙏✌🏼

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Billy is a living legend.

[@johntampellini6240]

I can't believe how clear and concise this lesson was. Literally I dont think I left 3 comments in my life, but i had to leave one here. I was constantly stuck doing vertical scales and never really was able to link them together effectively. The Pentatonic highway really turned the lightbulb on. The cool double stop stuff was also very helpful. I think if you play alone or with a 3 piece band those are the kinds of things that really thicken up you sound, and its a lot grittier than playing 6ths. Thank you!

[@arunviswanathan5555]

Great lesson! Billy is in my top 5. Some of my favorites to play are Brown Sugar, Beer Drinkers, Waitin/Jesus, Blue Jean, and Sharp Dressed Man! 🎸🤘🏽😎

[@michaelpal7641]

Hell Yess!! As always David-you never fail to inspire with great lessons! Thank you.

[@toneking6555]

Love your approach to guitar playing Dave. Thank you so much for sharing, I learn so much from you. Peace!

[@mutt8553]

Thanks for not only the lesson, but the PLAYING! That lick at 7:39 sounded awesome, as well as all the other licks in this lesson. Billy Gibbons is a legend, no doubt about it. As soon as I heard Brown Sugar the first time I knew them and there. Thanks a lot Dave

[@mickeystanic4750]

Not just a great, great guitar player but such a warm and intriguing human being you are. When comes to Billy, man, is he one of the most musical guitar players ever or what....and that tone in the early stages of their carrier is just unsurpassed.

[@Tomsdrawings]

Thank you for your teachings, David! All the best.

[@anthonybye6998]

Great work Dave, another excellent video. Shows well how Billy keeps it relatively simple yet sounds so cool.

[@ShaneOBrien]

Man, you sure have the ability to remind us as guitar players that lessons are always very useful to keep one's chop up and refresh one more time, before we move on and write, record and play out the new material. A good thing to do when ever we need a boost...

[@starfleet1126]

There's a Clip on KZbin were Jimmy Hendrix was ask who his favorite guitar is and he says Billy Gibbons! Billy Gibbons Da' Man! The TONE!

[@userjasker76]

Man this lesson is gold for me. Highways for the pentatonic. Love it.

[@petersmichaeld59]

MR. BREWSTER ...........good work ....over a myriad of musical styles...clear analytical detail including underlining theory....very generous

[@swoopdog54]

Really helpful, soulful phrasing and approach. I've always thought that Billy Gibbons is much more about making a meaningful statement than showing off. Guitar Olympics is impressive, for about one minute. Wonderful teaching tactics. I'm a big fan......

[@robertdyer8517]

Thanks for the visuals 👍

[@richybryan4652]

As always... World class

[@gobodega5226]

What a great lesson. I love it 😍 many thanks David 👌

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Dave! Duuude, we totally love what you're doing here! Great singing tone, beefy chord voicings, sooo powerful. Ha! Just saw some of your Rick Derringer piece. Smokin'...

[@sauletto1]

When I was in my mid teens around '76-''78 , I used 8's... then 7's for a couple of years . later around the mid 90's moved up to 9's. About 4-5 years ago Have been using heavy bottoms/ light (10) tops on a couple guitars, 10's on a couple, and 9's on all the rest. I like the variety of feel and definite tonal voicings the different sets bring out. After an hour or two playing the heavy bottom set... I can easily overpower the lighter sets.. If you play 7's, you naturally adapt to them. They do go flat sounding much quicker than 9's or 10's...but "two-step" bends are effortless .. lol :) Love this video !

[@MisterPoppy-sc1sj]

Billy is a master, thank you

[@davidlewis3169]

Thanks Dave! I got so much out of this. Awesome!

[@mikmadpro]

Late night indeed (4am on the Tex-Mex Border). Totally digging these micro-vacays through the looking glass. Thanks for mapping out the Highway.

[@chrisschaeffer2661]

Thank you! You just opened the door for me ...Im finally seeing the connrctions,and putting it together now comes the work to get these old fingers to co operate. Great explanation....For Me! I've watched and listened to other teachers and this time it made me put it in order. Keep on giving you will reap the rewards for such help to your brothers and sisters

[@adylp7818]

Wow, this lesson is packed full of wisdom. As well as some great techniques, it’s also a fantastic minor pentatonic workout.

[@toosmoothtomoove3510]

Great lesson Billy is the king of the blues.

[@michaeleaster1815]

8:08 Super helpful: thank you! I know the modes all over the neck but embarrassingly I don't know the pentatonic boxes (i.e. subsets), so this is great

[@BobIrving2]

Fabulous lesson, sir! You break it down so well.

[@crashsvault]

The name of this channel is so appropriate. I practice every night after work on this channel, thanks for the amazing content.

[@JDShellnut39]

This is the best lesson / explanation I've ever seen! Thank you sir.

[@j.r.martin5468]

Best Explanation I've seen so far, Thank You so much !

[@alecj3454]

As a long time guitarist who taken a few lessons, i just wanted to compliment you on your teaching style. Youve got a calm, engaging demeanor & a wonderfully clear way of expressing ideas. Love the use of visual aids, & interesting anecdotes to create a context for the material. Great memory aids like "Pentatonic Pocket" - I had never heard it referred to in that way, and its perfect. Anyway, dig what you do, dude. Cheers.

[@mikeking453]

Another great lesson,thanks for posting

[@straycatflauter5377]

This is great... your whole series on ZZtop is very interesting

[@Ventimiglia26]

what a great lesson. quintessential jam baseline for blues and rock. keep passing the wisdom mr. b!

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Hands down one of the best lessons and analysis I've seen! Thanks for giving us the insight to BFG style! Loved the way you tied it all together!!! 🤘

[@brucehelppie6119]

billy's the coolest guy ever. great lesson. i learned a lot here.