Jerry Reed Claw Style - Levi Clay Country Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson & Theory

[@Imw101]

Brilliant lesson. I’ve now quit my job down at the carwash and left my mama a goodbye note.

[@philgriffin1654]

Sounds like some good song lyrics there, Hank!

[@thijsvw]

Haha this made me laugh!

[@interestedlen8823]

Well done Hank, you win the internet!

[@alanwann9318]

Went all the way down to Kingston with my guitar under my coat

[@victorlehtinen196]

I hitchhiked all the way down to Memphis

[@TimNelson]

Refreshing to know somebody is paying close attention to what the supergrandmaster Jerry Reed did. Bravo, from the US.

[@jubbaronny]

I watched this lesson a couple of years ago and you might as well have been talking Japanese. I’ve just stumbled across it again and amazingly got it down in 5 minutes. Muddling away doing my own thing at my own speed to reach a certain level of competence has definitely helped me move on to a more advanced standard.

[@madukamagica]

felt this in my soul tbh

[@jscordoba3]

This is a great lesson. When i was a kid, guy at a guitar shop tought basic travis picking like this.. muted pucking hand only.

[@donaldroberts7055]

WOW! Thank you. I never realized this. Cool.

[@GrumpleSenior]

Not many people changed music with their talent but Jerry’s one of them. Also the humour……anyone that can write “She got the goldmine, I got the shaft” is automatically genius.

[@jamespfp]

I honestly can't list off the number of songs that Jerry wrote which make me laugh, grin, chuckle and sometimes shed a single manly tear, every time.

[@jerbear7952]

I love Jerry but the history of music is built by people who have changed it with their talent. If that weren't true we wouldn't remember or talk about the greats.

[@miikdaniels1439]

Fantastic teaching technique, never questioned a single thing you explained!

[@Sivadtu]

What he was doing was playing guitar in a similar fashion to a Scruggs style banjo player. To answer why, Scruggs played a three fingered style of banjo. In other words, two sets of three then one set of two = 8. Interestingly enough, you mention “rolling through the chords”. Scruggs banjo refers to rolls in playing.

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Most underrated guitarist of our time. He invented a lot of what they are playing today. For all you guitarist that are in a rut, pick up a Jerry Reed song book and see you next year. Lol

[@theeclecticreader5657]

Hardly underrated. He was an international star.

[@LeviClay]

Ahhhh ok, you’re one of those guys who has to come across as an expert on everything! Got it!

[@jackdawes120]

Jerry had such drive and energy in his playing. A transformative style that could make any song his own. That's alchemy for me!

[@el_kraken]

Sweet lesson. First time I came across Jerry Reed's music was listening to Amos Moses on the K-Rose radio station in GTA San Andreas.

[@B1G703]

Same! I remember waiting for Amos Moses on the radio. So gooood!

[@jackdawes120]

Exrcellent instruction, Levi. Thanks man! 'Jerry Reed info ' sounds like a goer. I now know what I'm doing this evening. 😊

[@iangray7410]

Just watched this with my wife, Claire Lynch, who has many versions of Wabash Cannonball on KZbin with numerous pickers, including Jim Hurst (himself a big Jerry fan). Claire was delighted and impressed. As am I. Thank you !

[@LeviClay]

That’s sweet! Post some links :)

[@jackvial5591]

Great lesson. Always wondered why it didn't sound right when I tried playing the claw riff. Now I know.

[@kennyhollidayjr5206]

Thank you, been flat picking for 45 years and started finger style last year, this is a great lesson. One of the few times I've ever been so frustrated to the point of putting my guitar down was learning this song. 😂 finally getting some speed on this after few days with the metronome.

[@theeclecticreader5657]

Man, it's never ending, isn't it?

[@ericashmusic8889]

Jerry's take on it all is just fabulous of course, & thanks to Clay for puttin' it up. Jerry must have picked it up from Mexican bands, where these Spanish rhythms are common and inherited. This takes me back- 50 yrs ago 1970's & for a few years. I was a guitarist on Cruise ships in bands. A nightmare situ cropped up on one cruise, "Dorita Y Pepe" were a fabulous Latin American dance couple 'Cabaret Act'. At first rehearsal, quite a few of their Show dances had this 123,123, 12 patterns ( with hand clapping & castanets-You probably recognize that now) but the tunes also included bars of 6/8 - 3/4 { 12, 123,123,--12,123,123,} -4/4 mixed in the same tune. The sheet music they handed us had been around for years, ripped & taped up, ink smudged & badly repaired, Up tempo as well, 30 mins in, I was a nervous wreck. 5hrs later it was the evening 'Live Show' by some miracle we got tho' it. I laughed about it later of course, & it just occurred to me to share it, someone might recognize a similar situation and smile ! & laugh.

[@jamespfp]

It's called the Claw for a very good reason. Jerry is partially imitating a picking style more common in use with Banjos; in other words, it's half Claw-hammer. He only needs the Claw part.

[@vinnieirvine1365]

That “weird Bb chord” - That’s known among classical and flamenco players as the flamenco Bb chord which has a fattened 6th.... it’s quite clear that some of these patterns are originally from Malagueña - tex mex - Hispanic influences- you can here lots of flamenco style imported ( of course) into Mexican styles

[@alfredoanderson]

Where is the super like button ? Thanks for this great lesson man !!!

[@kenwentworth2297]

Very well done my friend . I am going to get to a new level because of you .

[@slimtimm1]

You are definitely right about one thing. Jerry Reed definitely did have CHARISMER LOL

[@muskokaguitar]

brilliant lesson really clear instruction and breakdown

[@genesmalley9112]

I have learned every song from his book..Heavy Neckin.. I still love to play them all.

[@danielwalsh1288]

Wonderful lesson. Some people are natural teachers. Thanks.

[@ficheye00]

Thank you so much. This is really, really helpful. Funky country guitar. I just found Jerry and I've been watching all the stuff I can find. NOW I see what 'the claw' is about. I tend to do it naturally. Now I'm on to it!!

[@slimeylimey]

Yes, absolutely perfect lesson Big fan. Thank you!

[@theeclecticreader5657]

Hey Levi, thanks for the video, it's very good. For real. And no, I don't pretend to be an expert on everything, and PS - nobody accused you of saying anything. Shouldn't be so testy in a public forum.

[@billcharles9998]

Best tutorial EVER (better than Jerry's) on this great sounding but challenging technique. I'm devoting the next two weeks (months?) to getting this down. Hope I'm not too old (76) for new neural pathways in my brain. Many thanks, even if I don't get there.

[@LeviClay]

You’re NEVER too old Bill!

[@bleakcandour]

Hows it going so far Bill?

[@Kevin-nr9lj]

Thanks so much for this detailed lesson...

[@moreme40]

It doesn’t get more Jerry than that. Love it

[@ridersonthestorm5730]

3 3 2! perfect sense! nailed it Bro! Bloody Brilliant theory lesson Levi, Thankyou! it truly helped a lot, just subed, Gday from Australia

[@imannonymous7707]

Yes great lesson. Such a unique style Very cool indeed

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Good luck with Jerry Reed , I'm still trying to learn his stuff for years

[@Rowan-qd9ec]

When I was a kid, I sat in front of our record player with my guitar..playing Jerry's songs over and over.. trying to figure out how he did what he did. I love 💕💕 him and miss him terribly.

[@bleakcandour]

Levi Clay is a national treasure goddam Everyone protect this man at all cost!

[@LeviClay]

I don’t need protection! Just you sharing my videos! 🙌🏻

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Jerry! Amos Moses!! He was great man, Thanks for the video bro........

[@gregormcgregor7522]

Great lesson! Thank you!

[@theleftymonster]

Amazing video. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Thank you 🙏

[@ValiRossi]

Great lesson.

[@jasonmiller517]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much.

[@mjarea52]

Great Video! Thank you for posting!

[@rhumandlove393]

3+3+2=8 amazing.

[@tuckerberry8393]

Thank you for this

[@4133-m8i]

This is helpful!

[@johncarterbrown991]

Hello Levi. I first came across 'The Claw' many years ago, and the version I heard was played by Jerry Donahue. I thought it was fantastic, but only learned a long time afterwards, that it was written by Jerry Reed. I couldn't come close to Donahue's technique, but thought I should be able to grab the 'simple' sounding intro section. I couldn't! I've been playing guitar a long time, but always struggled to play the darned thing correctly. . . until now. Thanks a million.

[@LeviClay]

john carter brown glad you got it John! :)

[@andrewtodd9107]

Thanks for making it way more complicated than it needs to be

[@dwightnicholson2647]

Nailed !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

[@vladakrunic5239]

11:49 very strange? It's just II half diminished chord with 5th in the root; Em7b5/Bb

[@aisforapple2494]

It has a flamenco-type sound to it. It doesn't appear that you're fingerpicking that fast, but it rolls along at a decent clip!

[@alankkoc]

It's a rumba or colombianas pattern...but he plays it in a country style

[@robgray9620]

Great video thank you

[@malditoklee]

Excellent! Thank you!!!

[@jimmymainjr.2893]

Hey man thank you. You just helped me fill the holes in my playing and writing. Again thank you and keep it up.

[@DinhNguyen-yv9ho]

@11:59, the weird Bb, I always call it a Gm. Thanks for the lesson

[@freecitizen2760]

Dinh Nguyen : If the notes are low Bb-G-D, then it's a G minor triad with the 3rd in the bass. To analyze it a Bb chord, those same 3 notes would be 1-3-6 ... that's not the formula for Bb7 (1-3-5-b7). I'd call it G minor also.

[@TheZipeedoo]

Nice video. That pattern has some roots in common banjo right hand technique.

[@LeviClay]

yeahhh! This is rolling 101! :) good spot

[@edwardhealey6783]

Thanks!!!!

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

Hi Levy! (Female guitarist here.) Grew up listening to Chet and Jerry Reed albums, respectively. I started playing at age 7 in '76... could not figure out how one person played like that. My dad was a HUGE Chet and Jerry Reed fan. I wanted to say that Buster B. Jone's protegé Brooks Robertson has a KZbin channel and teaches Travis and Chick*Boom, plus all the variations Buster came up with. I so enjoy your playing and teaching. You and Brooks are two players who are equally talented at teaching as you are at playing. Oh--I love your Godin! Brooks plays that model. Do you ever use the midi? If so, in what context? Thank you again for your video. I love this lesson. I know my childhood guitar teacher taught me that first pattern you taught, but I was 11 and didn't have the patience. Or...I should say, I wanted to play Van Halen and Zep at that point. So glad you've broken things down in such an easy way. Cheers!

[@LeviClay]

My godin is the entry level one, it doesn't have the MIDI on it. TBH... I wouldn't really know how I'd use it if I did.

[@rebeldetail6134]

Amazing

[@bellend69]

Loved this video. Big fan of Jerry Reed and his unique guitar playing style. Did he not use quite a few rather unique tunings as well?

[@LeviClay]

Yeah man! Wild tunings!

[@bellend69]

@@LeviClay I loved the story of when Elvis was covering "Guitar Man", his band just couldn't get it it to sound right so they brought in Jerry Reed to play it. Whipped out his old nylon string, tuned it and off they went. Total legend. First guy to keep his full royalties when Elvis covered a song as well. Col. Parker usually did a deal for half the royalties but Jerry said, "HELL NO!"

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Excellent lesson. I wonder where I can finf, or can you show us the technique from of Jerry Reed's 1969 Alabama Wild Man. I have been waiting for someone to show this lesson for a couple of years now.

[@LeviClay]

One of my favourite songs! I showed that riff on my Instagram at some point and I teach it in my country fingerstyle method book

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@LeviClay Thankyou for the reply. So, I should look up Instagram Levi Clay- Alabama Wild Man?

[@LeviClay]

@@ROCKINGMAN I don’t know how easy it’ll be to find, but it’s there somewhere!

[@PeterPug]

great job!

[@InstantBeer]

Thanks Levi!

[@joshwalowe756]

Just bought your book :)

[@LeviClay]

Thanks so much Joshwa

[@perrywalton2237]

that was greatttttt!!! can you do" I saw the light" ?

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

Do you mean the one from an uncoming TRAIN???😂🤣😂

[@law13ie29]

Wabash Cannonball I was jamming along with on the record and is in the key of F so capo'd it top of the neck Can you list the songs you advise listening to once again please Great lesson cheers fella

[@joonasniinivaara5393]

Jerry Reed is probably ok with this but Sia is filing a DMCA for 5:18

[@bjrnarrygnestadstle3510]

This is great! Tho its freaking hard. :P Thanks for a great lesson Levi!

[@Gaadbsy]

Great tuition on a difficult to explain technique. if I may ask could you do a lesson on ‘too much monkey bussiness’ I just find the boogie woogieand claw hammer sort of a mystery

[@gregoryboyce6871]

Great vid.... How about some more. : ).

[@jasper_north]

Is this a Calypso style?

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

Well explained, consice. However can I ask you how much alcohol you consumed before writing out those Stave lines???🤔🤨🙄

[@danashane]

Jerry would say, "Figure out your own way to play it - stop listening to this guy. Then, once you've got it, forget it and find your own style, son!"

[@mattwertin]

love it thanks for the breakdown yee haw from florida lol

[@LAghemo]

Great lesson, really! Nevertheless, this seems to me quite the same as the pattern created by Earl Scruggs on his "Earl's Breakdown" and many others, quite some years earlier. Of course the concept is quite expanded, compared to the banjo roll, still... Am I wrong?

[@LeviClay]

Not at all - I never said Jerry invented this. Earl didn’t either. It’s called a tresillo pattern, and has grown massively popular in pop music again recently. Jerry just exploited it a lot.

[@LAghemo]

@@LeviClay Ops, that's absolutely right, you never said Jerry invented. And you're also right, this double triplet pattern is used in many music, like south american one and, of course, some classical composition. Thanks for the answer and keep going with your nice work, I'm going to do some drill on Claw this afternoon!

[@LeviClay]

I’m just happy that people are still watching this video and engaging on it 🥰

[@jasonwilding6334]

I fucking love you Levi

[@LeviClay]

and I hate that one of the tabs is in the wrong place at the end... :(

[@jasonwilding6334]

I've been trying to play this shit for years and never realised it was that strange phrasing, 123, 123,12 thing... I'm all over this now.

[@Billnn54]

What is the model of your Godin?

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Looks like my encore model

[@motophile]

Which Godin is that exactly?

[@LeviClay]

the entry level multiac

[@motophile]

@@LeviClay Thanks for the reply and thanks for the tutorial. Can't get enough Jerry Reed!

[@alperen3342]

can you make video about jerry reed s foggy bottom?

[@bodhi47]

crosspicking. down, down, up or mandolin players usually do down, up, up. George Shuffler is usually credited with it.

[@johnknowlescgp]

Nice breakdown, Levi. John Knowles

[@LeviClay]

Hey John - you're the man! Has this video recently gone out in some sort of Jerry community? That's two comments I've got from legends of the style in a week!

[@johnknowlescgp]

Levi, I think we all know Phil Hunt. FaceBook…

[@r.j.valdez9088]

I can here some Spanish guitar finger patterns. They must be Jerry's influence.

[@BulldoggerJK]

This a like a forward roll on a banjo. As a banjo player, I never liked the forward roll. Ralph Stanley would play the 1,2,3 of the roll continuously never hitting the 1,2 until it came back in time. It always drove me nuts.

[@davestagner]

Yes, the American system for note subdivision naming is better, but we more than make up for it with our adamant refusal to use the nice, sensible metric system like everyone else on Earth.

[@LeviClay]

Agreed completely

[@johnmurray6501]

I've left Kingston with my Guitar under my coat, 😋

[@woolyfuzzy]

I want your shirt

[@seamusbrowne4909]

😎😎😎

[@ninemilesgtrplayer]

son!

[@blindkimberly1360]

I like how everyone assumes their audience is sighted. I can count the beats but don’t know what your “looking” at.

[@LeviClay]

It’s a pretty reasonable assumption no? I’m close with a couple of my blind followers, but at the end of the day, I’m still making VIDEOS, which are (as the name implies) a visual medium...

[@jasonkeith9317]

Sounds like a Zep song!

[@fiddlefolk]

I could play like that had the alligator not bit me and I lost my arm clean on down to the elbow! Lol

[@LeviClay]

Sorry Amos 😢

[@fiddlefolk]

@@LeviClay Lmbo!

[@Acekorv]

Were you namned after the man of the cloth?

[@Neil_Olvera_96]

like 420 tnx a lot bruh

[@victoza9232]

"Pattern," not "pa'en."

[@stevegold7307]

My problem is, how do you get the patience to sit down and make your fingers actually learn this??... if I could figure out the patience thing I'd be the greatest guirtist who ever lived!...unfortunately, and pardon the pun, I'm high strung...

[@LeviClay]

It’s easy to be patient when you don’t just love the destination, but the journey

[@mike-ue4wy]

The theory makes it so much easier just trying to memorize a random string of notes makes me sleepy.

[@ПочтиМузыкант]

Ratiug

[@theeclecticreader5657]

Simple Malagueña pattern. He didn't invent it and he'd be the first to say that.

[@LeviClay]

Where did I say he invented it? It’s called a tresillo actually....

[@megarxidas17]

Sounds like a horse galloping

[@TooleyPeter]

Anybody else tired of people using KZbin to solicit donations on Patreon? It's an instant unsubscribe for me.

[@LeviClay]

Off you go then bud, I’ve got bills to pay. Glad you enjoyed this free video that took hours to make and years of experience. Also... are you telling me you were subscribed but you’re only just NOW watching a video from years ago?

[@TooleyPeter]

@@LeviClay We all have bills to pay, bud. I was ready to subscribe (which earns you money) until you started asking for Patreon donations as well. Now you get nothing and I watch Jerry Reed tutorials on another channel.

[@LeviClay]

@@TooleyPeter you subscribing doesn’t get me any money at all idiot 😂🤦 Meanwhile, joining Patreon would get you 100s of downloads, and access to a community of fellow learners

[@bleakcandour]

@@TooleyPeter you really are a tool Peter

[@colmtansey8359]

Ain't no place for a guitar man 😅

[@thomasfarmer1730]

First three mins I was bored......get to the point pls

[@LeviClay]

No worries bro, I’ll just refilm it all for you! 🙌🏻

[@memanthemans6457]

Americans better! You better watch it crotchet or else you'll be a double semibreve you little quaver of a minimum