My Controversial Keith Richards Video

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

You can get tabs in Standard Tuning and Open G from our Patreon www.patreon.com/guitarlessonsvancouver also check out my book Guitar Soloing Like a Pro on Amazon www.bluemorris.com/shop Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@lylewallace9022]

Sir been watching your lesson great job. With a 6 string k r tuning I thumb over or use index to mute. But I have few gem guitars. I have a Tele 5 s u use a les Paul for 6 string in standard tune or e tun or page tuning. Keep it up keep warm. Also you explain in such detail thank you

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

@@lylewallace9022 Thanks Lyle!

[@ProVoiceActorGuy]

Blue, thanks for doing this video and for all your work. I’ve been in a Stones tribute for 25 years and have lost count of the amount of times someone from the audience feels it’s useful to come up at the end and say “good gig but you forgot about Keith’s 5 string thing” or “I noticed you played in standard tuning”. Yawn. Yes that’s because unlike in Keith’s world where he gets a handed a different guitar ready to go for each and every different song he plays…I don’t have a guitar tech doing this for me. It’s essential for the energy and flow of the gig to kick in from one song to another and I’d rather do that and get very close to the sound than faff around with different tunings to achieve essentially the same result. I play one guitar all gig for 2 hours, with a back up if needed. My conclusion, and thanks for raising it too, is that yeah it is lazy playing tuned to a chord and removing a string. But I suppose lazy in a good way in that it makes those songs that work with 5 string open G just easier to play while prancing around on stage. Thanks again Blue, keep up the great work!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Great comment, thanks for posting. Good to hear your perspective coming from someone who has been playing Stones songs for years. I agree the flow of the show is most important. And I really don't see the point of 5 strings either -- other than a fun experiment 😄

[@mammoth123.]

Yeah but we all know the prancing made him worth about 500 M.

[@toddladner866]

Playing in other tunings is a great way to reinforce your knowledge of standard tuning. It forces you to consider the notes you play instead of following patterns and fingerings mindlessly.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

[@mikelee1906]

It is actually very easy to solo in open G. For instance at the 7th fret 4 of the scale shapes are the same. Plus open strings. Picking notes out of the one finger bar shapes. Can hammer on and off of a one finger bar!! Does not get any simpler than that.

[@dw7704]

Best thing about open G (which is covered here) is that three strings stay the same. Where this can really help is if you get mixed up, play on those strings & get your bearings

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

True, at least those strings have the notes we are familiar with :)

[@Scrabnor-Mudflap]

Was watching your vid (I've got a 5 string in G for Keef's stuff) and @ ~9:12 your little Westie came strolling in - he (she?) looks just like my late Willy the Westie! Was really glad to see that doggy walking in just like Willy would have. MADE MY DAY! Thanks! BTW I have another guit in E for Gimme Shelter. Did they do it in G?

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thank you! Yes Ringo the Westie makes a few appearances in these videos. Keith has played several of the Stones songs in different tunings. Not sure why. Sometimes live he'll actually play songs in different tunings than the original recordings. Maybe just what he happens to have at hand.

[@Gregorovitch144]

Great video man. On the five string thing, I've been playing 5 string Open G for donkey's years. When I started I had one guitar. Back then I wouldn't take the 6th off 'cos I would be going back and forth to standard all the time. But one day I said "I'm getting really effed off with avoiding this 6th all the time and the blighter thumps even if I mute it when I get exited". So I took it off. Suffice to say that a) I didn't change my strings for weeks afterwards and b) I massively accelerated my quest to find a second guitar. I now have three and one of them, my original old SG is now always in 5 string Open G ready to rock on demand. I'm actually looking for nice left hand tele right now which might replace the SG for Open G and my SG can go back to standard/Drop D. Anyways, what I wanted to say was that you can go either way on the 5/6 string Open G question. The Black Crows guitarist Rich Robinson uses Open G a lot but he always uses all 6 strings and makes extensive use of the low D for various fills particularly, it's his style. But Rich is a very accurate and quite soft player (the way he addresses his strings I mean, not what comes out of the speakers). Keith, on the other hand is not, or rather prefers not to have to be. My advice, FWIW, is if you decide to try out Open G start out leaving the 6th on. If you get into it over a period then come the time you need to change strings cut the 6th off and play that for a while. Initially, it will feel weird but you will quickly appreciate not having to worry about that annoying dead D string (or conversely you may not if, like Rich, you find yourself using that bottom string for riffs and approach runs etc a lot). But if you have a crack at Brown Sugar or something you'll probably quickly appreciate what Keith is on about. However there is danger, grave danger, in all of this this. Should get drawn down the Keith route you will find yourself per force in the market for a new guitar and a really good one to boot - custom shop teles come to mind. Open G just doesn't sound right unless it gets and stays dead in tune right up the neck. Reason for that BTW is in standard you can often micro adjust tuning with your fret fingers on the fly to get a sweeter sound but in Open G with just a one finger barre across the strings you can't so the slightest off tuning sticks out like sore thumb. Anyways, you have been warned, you better check you bank balance before undertaking this dangerous experiment.

[@officialWWM]

I loved your first video and I’ve watched it many times and I love this one too! I’m still struggling to figure out how to play minor chords in this tuning though :/

[@frankjurgensen9550]

I use that open G about 30 years now, but with 6 strings. E- down to D. Full blast telecaster sounds like an Orchester

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Ya no need to take the string off the guitar in my opinion too. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Cottageguy2010]

Hey another great Video! Found it interesting to understand but I still do everything in Standard Tuning. I feel my time practising is better spent on playing things I will use most of the time.. that’s just me but again, thoroughly enjoyed this and you have a great sound/tone! Tks

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks, I agree with you about pkayong in standard 👍

[@44scoots]

IMO, the majority of viewers would rather play in standard tuning. Many have only one guitar and are not paid players. It’s tough enough for many just to learn this thing called a guitar in standard tuning. Besides, Keefer never played a Telecaster with three pickups!!!! 😂

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks 44scoots! I think you're right about both the standard tuning and the three pickups! Hahaha

[@TheTommyData]

Many of Keef’s riffs are very easy in his tuning. I think that shouldn’t turn people off. And I’m very amateurish. I just tabs

[@officialWWM]

Yep, I have an old Strat that I’ve never gotten along with, so I cut the e string off and tuned it to G, now I play it all the time. It’s so much fun 😂

[@rajeshgumber363]

Thankyou for lesson, I actually like to play The Rolling Stones songs just on the D, G and B strings and it still works fine.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Works for me too!

[@rajeshgumber363]

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver That's awesome! Obviously with the open G as you mentioned you do get a fuller sound which is even better! Thankyou

[@tabletop9258]

Just because the obvious Pentatonic shapes don't work that doesn't mean the pentatonic's not in there, it's actually very similar to Pentatonic box 4 ascending on the small e string fret 8 🤔 Also, you won't sound like Keith, but all of the 6th string issues can be fixed by tuning to open D or open E. Then everything is shifted up 1 string and the root is on the 6th string 🤓. With open D and/or E you also get a nice double stop bend on the smallest 2 strings 👍

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

That's interesting about comparing the shape to pentatonic box 4. I'm gonna have a look at that. Thanks for commenting 🙂

[@tabletop9258]

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver Semi unrelated but this is a really cool video on mostly moveable open G chords, he also has one on open D, I like even more!!!! 👊🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXm8kGagnbdoh7c

[@TheBlueslinger]

Thanks!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks for the extra support!

[@Beachbumartist]

Great video man. What gauge strings do you use on your strat and tele most of the time? I use 9s on my strat. Would 9 or 10s be better for the strat. Thank you for your time.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thank you! I normally use 10's.... EXL 110 the 9 just feels so skinny to me.

[@simonpratley3301]

I agree with you Blue, I like the standard tuning version more, because it's more practical. But alternate tunings are fun to get you out of a rut. Hey I really like your sense of humour too. You made me laugh. I found this this video just as entertaining as it was educational. 😆🎸 Bottom line is we all love Keef and the world is a better place thanks to him.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks Simon! Much appreciated 😄

[@scoobydoo4087]

Another great lesson Blue. I’m going to tune one of my electric guitars to open G tuning. And about Keith and not soloing, he had Mick Taylor in the band in the early days. And Mick is a monster guitar player. So Mick did the solos until he left then Ronny took over.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

True! Those could really play!

[@capearkona1989]

I really like the sound of the "third Keith", cool, interesting sound 👍I recently bought myself a Telecaster just because of Keith Richards and Luther Perkins, my all time guitar heroes🙂

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Nice thanks! Telecaster is by far my favourite style of guitar. Simple, but sounds great.

[@jeffclaudius9783]

Great stuff, thanks, Can you please indicate the amp and settings you are using.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks. Amp is UA Dream 65. Can't remember settings sorry. It changes each video.

[@RBZ3]

Thanks Blue...nice one!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks RB! 😎

[@lauskop5995]

Great stuff. I think you hear all three variations on "Brown Sugar"

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks for watching! Lots more like it on the channel

[@CHill-uh1fg]

Well I enjoyed your video, but I do have a few comments.I love Keith Richards, and I play a number off Stone's song's, I think Keith is just a lazy player, I don't see any advantage in removing the 6Th string, in fact I leave it in E. For stone's songs I only tune the A,and high E. I've been using open tunings for a long time, many times for certin songs like some black crows, and even a couple of bad co. tunes, I only tune the A, making it possible for me too play the solo to songs, mainly because I play in a 3 peice band. Ps.the bad co. songs like moving on were actually done in open D, but work good and sound very much like the original recording, simply by tuning the A to D, and you can still play the solo.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Good points thanks! I agree I don't see the point in removing the string -- except for a fun experiment. But I wouldn't bother normally

[@johnpower40]

great topic, well explained as usual, thanks. What a great sound it is. By the way, I've been searching for some videos of you performing live, but not finding much. Can you point us "fans" in the right direction.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks John, not a lot online unfortunately. I've been doing summer tours with taylorraeofficial.com for some years but they are typically at festivals so we don't have much footage.

[@davidzaharik5408]

Great video Blue... lots of fun

[@jjadriottt9073]

Excellent video! Thank you very much and congrstulations. 👏👏👏👍

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thank you too! New guitar lesson videos every Saturday

[@IbizaRose]

Great lesson again, thank you. So, it's easy to play major chords. But what if I want to play minor chords?

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Great point! It's possible but not easy or natural to do in this tuning.

[@robertdegraaf8708]

Probably an advantage for Keith to be forced to play major chords only as Ian Stewart was known to react violently if minor chords were played in his earshot.

[@Maggai]

Thanks for the common sense! I was so confused when I saw the video of Keith explaining this tuning, and cutting the low E string. Like, just don't play the E string! So weird! Glad I'm not the only one who had this thought.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michaeltrueblood2545]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelmckenna9022]

Keith Richards still being alive is a hard one to wrap your mind around.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

😄🎸

[@Hexbyte965]

Love it Blue..

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks for watching hexbyte!

[@desmondkilmartin-pe2xi]

There's no need to cut/remove the low E (top) string 😎 You just mute it at the bridge or at the nut by jamming something under the string like a piece of rubber, plastic, rolled up paper or a cigarette filter/ butt 🙄

[@chrischapman3936]

I listen to you tube guitar videos and/or Guitar tricks about 4 hours a day or more …. I listen to ‘Em all. Great Stuff out there Blue is my current Favorite What would Blue Morris Do…..🎉

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks Chris!!!! 🎸😎

[@robertbowles780]

Your videos are awesome.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thank you 😎

[@jeffro.]

By jove, man, i think you've identified the "Stones sound!" Why is it that we can ALWAYS identify any Stones song right from the first chord? Has anyone but me ever wondered that? I think the Sus2Sus4 chord is a big part of it. Not really sure what the rest is. At one time, i thought maybe the guitar was always out of tune, but i didn't think that for long, it's just not the case. Somehow they manage to put dissonance in there, though. 🤪 Blue, after you cut off that string, i thought you were going to demo how easy it was to play while doing splits and jumping around. (I think in Keith's case, that could be why he cut it off, also just to be Keith. (That's the 'full Keith,' lol.)) But i guess it's ok that you didn't. Compelling ideas. Anyway, very entertaining AND informative video. But I was always with you from the first video: it's great to be able to play "the Keith" in standard tuning (with all 6 strings). For most of us, anyway. As for the Keiths among us....well, there's really only the one, the original. Good job, Blue. Again, as usual. Keep it up! 👍 👌

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks Jeffro, I'm definitely too old to do the splits now :)

[@pimhoff]

Open G tuning makes a huge difference in terms of sounding like Keith. Whether with five strings or not.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

It is more Keith for sure... but more work if you don't tend to be in Open G often

[@danthsmith]

I thought it was a great video. I know he did a lot of those riffs on open G but it works OK in standard

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Cool, thanks!

[@thelatenightbar]

Removing that string is so liberating.. then you can just go nuts.. next thing you know you makin' moves like Keith :)

[@crazyascarl]

Now do John Butler who plays a 11 string

[@niklashild3962]

I have a brilliant solution of how to go from 6 to 5 strings and back again in a minute...how can i send you a photo?

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Interesting... maybe post a video to KZbin so we can all see.

[@niklashild3962]

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver studio.kzbin.infoE_90ERVeNyw/edit

[@QBRX]

Thanks, this video was lots of fun!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks QBRX!!!

[@NakedSnowAngels]

How does he solo? If you know pentatonic scales you can't use em!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Indeed, it's not easy in Open G, which is why he often didn't play the solos :)

[@claymathes2701]

Yes,you can't solo in standard tuning but you slide in open tuning

[@pierresavoie3670]

Great lessons Thanks

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Glad you like them!

[@jameskey4633]

Keith's hands have so much arthritis the open tuning is less difficult to play- for the rest, he's got Woodie

[@trusarmor4957]

5 strings on a Guitar ! ! 😦 Someone stop Him ! ! ! 😰

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

I know eh!? Thanks for watching!

[@josealbaposse]

Buenísimo Blue!! Y justo hoy que estreno mi nueva telecaster, que espero algun dia hacerla sonar como la tuya! Jaaa/abzzz

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Bueno José! Me gusta mucho el Telecaster! En que color? Disfrutala!

[@josealbaposse]

The same as yours! Fender butterscotch! Abzz

[@bluemorris]

@@josealbaposse Awesome! Good choice!

[@keithconner9036]

Thank you

[@brianjones4026]

Yeah i did this for fun right in the beginning i was picking up guitar ! But as you say, unless you have a second guitar ready to go, it just becomes a one trick pony, with the impossibility of doing nice sounding blues licks ! Plus again as you said, if you throw yourself head first into this in the beginning you just will never get to grips with the universal language of guitar in standard tuning ! A shame clearly ! But yeah everybody wants to sound like Keith ! LOLZZZ

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thank you!

[@bristolfashion4421]

Thing is with Keith he can't actually move his fingies this is cos he got the old Arthurs pretty bad but back in the day it cos he too f***** up with too much drug innit…

[@whingerty2949]

Ry Cooder? Really? Ill be damned. He is one of my favorites.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

That's what people say, yeah :)

[@EtienneLawnga]

Conclusion --> Keef cheats at guitar. Alas, another idol demolished by the internet tubes.

[@grubbetuchus]

It's the harpsichord sound. It's great, but that's all it is.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Harpsichord? Not sure I follow.

[@grubbetuchus]

​@@GuitarLessonsVancouver My mistake!!! I wrote "harpsichord". Ughh. I meant to write "auto harp". Perfect examples: Street Fighting Man (Beggars Banquet) You Can't Always Get What You Want (Let It Bleed) Soul Survivor (Exile on Main St) Luxury (Goat's Head Soup) Start Me Up (Tattoo You) The Keef sound is to go open string and capture that auto harp ringing quality. The little note not talked about enough is the add2 to any chord.

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

Awsum

[@Hicky33]

Good thing I'm not lazy to watch, I saw that little cute thing.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

That's Ringo!

[@guitbox03]

Hey, Blue: I'd like to see more of the little white dog--a lot more: what a cutie!

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks Andrew! I'll try to get Ringo in some more cameos.

[@officialWWM]

Cute dog :)

[@teleguy5699]

Pretty Tele. Just sayin'.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks! I have two Telecasters. One just didn't seem enough :)

[@teleguy5699]

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver It never is haha. I have two also.

[@barruzza]

Your Telecasters have the BEST tone. Or maybe its your playing.

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks Sal! Classic Fender Reverb tones from the UA Dream 65 pedal.

[@whitex4652]

With 5 strings you can look and act way cooler on stage. That's a fact. And: that's is important. Ask Steve Vai. So: I am now going and will castrate my Telecaster. (It's a secondary guitar for me ... anyway. Good idea!)

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Hahah, good luck with that 5 string :)

[@Andy_E.2677]

Thx for that very helpfull Video, ... so no one will forget how the Keef works :))

[@GuitarLessonsVancouver]

Thanks for watching 👍