Pete Townshend Licks and Tricks | Guitar Lesson

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Pete Townshend is one of rock’s legends and he’s one of its best guitar players too. Pete could play a mean lead, but where he really excelled was in playing manic-sounding but controlled rhythm. He was a major influence in sound, voicing, and timing. And nobody played those fast rhythms with more punch.
Pete was a major influence on my musical taste and my guitar playing. Here are just a few of his licks and tricks!

[@Zappappappappa]

Pete Townshend grew up in a family of jazz musicians so he was traditionally a more rhythm oriented player and I'd put him up near the top if not the very top in terms of guitarists who could drive the rhythm section along when needed. He is an absolute virtuoso and that is highlighted the most in his acoustic compositions ("I'm One," "Pinball Wizard," and my personal favorite "Sunrise" off of The Who "Sell Out.") He's also on the Mount Rushmore of Songwriters during the golden age of rock music's history from the mid 60's until the mid 70's.

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, one of the best writers. Quadrophenia is his masterpiece IMHO.

[@davidrosie4995]

Exactly! Pete isn't a virtuoso guitarist, but I've met true guitar virtuosos and never heard them play anything as exciting as pete. Pete was a virtuoso of rock and roll in all the right ways!

[@ramjtme]

Pete Townshend is simply a genius.

[@jakethomas3205]

As a guitarist myself I find Pete t o be totally unique

[@MarkZabel]

Right on!

[@waltergibbons422]

I was a big fan of Pete, my guitar teacher always said "he's no great guitarist" Not knowing anything, I accepted his premise. Now that I know better, my guitar teacher was wrong. Pete was an amazing musician. He might not be the improv master as Clapton or Beck, but as far as coming up with "cool parts" Pete is better. I guess cause he was often composing his parts.

[@MarkZabel]

Totally agree. He was definitely an improviser ... just not really much of a player of extended solos. Pete's motivation comes from the song. He doesn't craft songs from guitar exercises. So the composition always comes first. He was plenty good and innovative - especially with his rhythm.

[@waltergibbons422]

@@MarkZabel He's always done much better stuff in the studio, than live. Live alot of the overdubs were left out. Even though The Who were a great live band, his guitar playing was better in the studio

[@VoxMax-dl3yx]

I love Pete's work. His songs. His power on stage. He is a great player and a smart guy.

[@MarkZabel]

Great player and writer.

[@superhepu]

I have been Pete fan since 1974. His energy in guitar was and is unique. After "My generation" and Tommy and Who's next my life was not same..

[@realKfiros]

The best songwriter ever, in the top 10 of guitarists in the history (people will disagree with this, but he’s criminally underrated and his playing style is unique around the other players) and a member (and the brain behind) the second best band ever (The Who are great but no one can top The Beatles for me)

[@MarkZabel]

Great songwriter and player. Very influential in both areas. He isn't an exceptionally fast or self-indulgent player and he emphasized rhythm and the song above all else, which is probably why he doesn't appear on top 10 lists. Johnny Marr, also criminally underappreciated as a player, regards Pete as the best player.

[@krisscanlon4051]

No one like him...overall band member +solo plus guitar god...Marr and Gilmour are close enough...can't really see Clapton or John Martyn doing his tricks...Weller was pretty close too...maybe Frampton as well. Total package player.

[@MrAschiff]

If your favorite band is the Beatles, what about John Lennon or Paul McCartney as your greatest songwriter ever? Both also had more substantial solo careers, too. Also, Bob Dylan was the most important songwriter post-1960. Mick Jagger said he would never have written the lyrics for Satisfaction the way he did if it weren't for Dylan's form of self-expression. Dylan changed the way John and Paul wrote their songs. Dylan's style heavily influenced songs like I'm a Loser, Help, and Norwegian Wood. I have no doubt that Pete Townshend would feel the same way about Dylan.

[@MrAschiff]

“Dylan definitely created a new style of writing. Dylan was the one who I think got the message across to The Beatles, that you could write songs about subjects other than falling in love.” It was something John Lennon, perhaps most of all, picked up on right away. He quickly ditched the rock tropes of old and focused his expressions into personalised pop songs.“When I started to work on ‘My Generation’, I started to work on a Mose Allison/Bob Dylan hybrid of a talking folk song y’know. ‘People try to put us down’,” Townshend sings before adding, “That’s a bit Mose and a bit Dylan. You can take any song of his and find something in it that’s pertinent to today.”

[@0Imtheslime0]

Refuse to take any Townshend lessons!!.. I'll just end up smashing my guitar.

[@MarkZabel]

LOL!

[@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et]

This is the best thing I have enjoyed on KZbin in a long time. Been using KZbin too much to fix things in the house...not so fun. Anyway, not many YTers are digging deep into Pete Townshend's style and licks and chords. I hope you do more...more...more.

[@MarkZabel]

Wow, thank you! Yeah, I love Pete's ideas and fills. He kept getting better and better (you bet!) as a guitarist throughout the years too. So maybe that would be a fun thing to do. Anything to keep you from raking leaves or fixing the grout around the tub! LOL!! Thanks for stopping by!

[@soulagent79]

Pete is definitely underrated as a guitarist. Even though he plays differently to me he is just as good as Clapton, Beck or Page.

[@MarkZabel]

I agree! Totally different player and very effective. Plus probably more influential than Clapton and Beck. Was there a better rock rhythm player? Hard to say. Personally, I think he's way up there.

[@teleguy5699]

@@MarkZabel Keith Richards might want some of that. 😉

[@MarkZabel]

@@teleguy5699 Yeah, Keith is an equally good rhythm guy. Better? Nah, different.

[@harrykadaras9459]

@@teleguy5699 If you close your eyes and listen to Keith you will hear Chuck Berry. Howling Wolf, and Muddy Waters - almost note for note in some songs. When you close your eyes and listen to Pete Townshend play...you only hear Pete Townshend...

[@teleguy5699]

@@harrykadaras9459 True!

[@ST-xg3gy]

Pete could do that "staccato" so masterfully. You got it down! Thank you!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much Scott!

[@MichaelTaylor-rz4wm]

Really enjoying your channel. You have some great videos, and your teaching style is excellent. A big fan. Thank you for your efforts!!

[@MarkZabel]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching and for the kind comment too!

[@javvieh]

Its weird that I already know this stuff but will sit and watch anyway just because its a Townshend riff

[@MarkZabel]

Oh man, I watch stuff I already know all the time.

[@harrykadaras9459]

Add to Pete's astonishing guitar sound snd song writing is the hardest part to duplicate - his windmills....I've tried it for 40+ years and cannot make it work, yet he does it on almost every live song. I can NOT figure it out how he can play an entire song like that. I've never seen anyone be able to do it - except Pete "The Great"..

[@MarkZabel]

It's amazing, isn't it? How does he do it so easily and with such energy? You'd think by now he would've at least lost a finger or something.

[@georgetebbens3524]

Pete Townshend's guitar style is entirely unique. Of course, Pete's power chords and sparse syncopated riffs depend greatly on John Entwhistle (on bass) and Keith Moon (on drums) completely driving the rhythm so he can "stab in" choice chords and licks.

[@danielmiller2886]

I appreciate you actually naming the string/frets when you play. So many people don't give that and you are just left to try to figure it out.

[@MarkZabel]

Glad to be helpful! Having said that, it's also a great skill to have to figure it out. Like in the old days, moving the stereo needle back again ... and again and again and again. Gets you to develop your ears more.

[@lreadlResurrected]

Long Live Rock! I need it every night. Great lesson, Mark. Thanks.

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you liked it! Rock on!!

[@joachimlachmann3487]

Pete would be proud of you. Nice idea for the video. Very entertaining to watch. More of this stuff please. Thanks.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!! More of this kind of stuff? Sounds like a plan!

[@joachimlachmann3487]

@@MarkZabel Yes. Next time some Stevie Ray - Licks &Tricks? Would love that. Youre the best teacher. Or Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher...

[@drutgat2]

Thanks, Mark. I enjoyed that.

[@MarkZabel]

My pleasure Geert. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@weczq4]

Huge Townshend fan, myself. I don't get into playing guitar without him.

[@MarkZabel]

He was a great player and probably my first big influence.

[@GMan-pi4or]

My favorite song by Pete Townshend that most people aren't aware of was a collaboration with Ronnie Lane in 1977 called My Baby Gives It Away. Great song.

[@MarkZabel]

I'm not familiar with it, but I'll check it out. Thanks!

[@petestern3639]

Great lesson love Pete two!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Yeah, Pete Two is one of the best for sure! :)

[@mraggrovator]

Another superb lesson.

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!!

[@GearGasms]

Les Paul Deluxe is the perfect vehicle for PT licks! Nicely done!

[@MarkZabel]

Yeah, you caught that, eh? (Not surprised!) I'm actually using a 1970s tribute. If you look closely, there's no binding on it. Great pickups. Love the sound of mini humbuckers. This one has a roasted maple fretboard too. The neck is quite fat, which works for me, but may not work for everyone. Thanks for stopping by brother!!

[@bookmobile]

@@MarkZabel those aren’t Firebird pickups? Sounds good BTW

[@MarkZabel]

@@bookmobile Great question. They aren't ... or maybe Gibson was lying about the re-design. Here's what I mean. 1. Gibson said they were LP mini-hums redesigned in 2012 for the LP 1970s Tribute. 2. They are blade pickups 3. They sure look like Firebird pickups! 4. They are slightly hotter than the classic Gibson minis - at least the bridge is. So are they actually just Firebird pickups and Gibson was pulling a fast one? I don't know, but they sure look and sound like Firebird minis to me! Thanks for your question and for watching!! :)

[@realKfiros]

Speaking about Pete’s guitars, Gibson finally put back the true SG Special (with the P90 pickups!) which Pete played in their “standard” lineup, I really want to get that guitar

[@carelcopierc.cartstudio7528]

Fabuleus lessons🤟👍

[@MarkZabel]

Thank you so much!

[@hillelhoffmann4459]

More good stuff. Thanks for sharing this. So many mysteries and wonders in Townsend's strumming alone that could use Zabelsplanation. Would love to hear you break down some of the unusual stuff going on in his acoustic rhythm playing sometime, for example.

[@MarkZabel]

My pleasure Hillel! I'll definitely do more. His acoustic play is amazing and very influential!

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Great instructions cheers. 👍🇬🇧🎸

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@texmacgregor1]

You're a good teacher Mark!!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Tex!

[@MarkZabel]

*Live Stream this Sunday! (April 19) at 12:00 pm EST. Improvising with CAGED Triads* More Classic Rock: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXbJkGegpqyoe7M More famous players: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH_Yd3qZjbOXfKc Sign up for Mark's 1970s Rock Guitar School here: preview.tinyurl.com/rwuoy39

[@musicismyreligion5213]

Fun stuff.

[@RavenMadd9]

thank you Mark

[@MarkZabel]

You are very welcome

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Hi Mark, sorry I might have asked you before, but is that a Gibson Les Paul Studio '70s Tribute guitar with min-Humbuckers? If so, do you have any tuning issues with it. This is why I am reluctant to buy a Gibson Guitar. Sorry for the many questions, have you had any tuning issues with Gibson? Thank you for posting this. Stay safe out there.

[@MarkZabel]

Hi Angel. Yes, LP Studio '70s Tribute. No tuning issues - after I intonated the bridge. When it came it was a bit out. Since I intonated it I've have no tuning issues out of the ordinary. (I mean I bend notes like crazy, so sure, they get out of tune sometimes.) I love this guitar. Out of loyalty I'd pick my 335, but honestly this guitar is perfect for me.

[@paulcooper5748]

I like the who live at leeds album with young man blues and magic bus.

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, a great album! The version of Young Man's Blues is very powerful on that album!

[@nkmcfrln]

B.T.O.'s You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet is Won't Get Fooled Again played backwards. The Guess Who is The Who with Guess stuck in between. Randy Bachman told Pete this when finally got a chance to meet him in person, which was not long ago.

[@MarkZabel]

Interesting! Most interesting is that Randy Bachman hadn't met Pete until so recently.

[@tommcnally3646]

THIS is rock and roll

[@MarkZabel]

Yeah!

[@michelecuoghicostantini7653]

i play the who from about 20 years...and pete... is a genius...the most power chords in the music history...

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, he's just amazing. It's never strictly strumming. He's always finding interesting things and his play is quite edgy too! Great, great rhythm and power in his playing.

[@michelecuoghicostantini7653]

@@MarkZabel you are right... he play following the voice and the melody.. another thing about pete are the "stopping" notes... in WGFA he use a lot this trick ( isn't a real trick is his playing mood )

[@vox1966]

Love the Sg with p 90 sound the best I own the Townsend sg and a Dr 103 Hiwatt Stack

[@MarkZabel]

Great!

[@whiskeywhiskeyromeo3730]

I own P90s SG.......love the tone

[@kyyowa129]

Love the axe, but I think it's missing a pickup! Great video

[@MarkZabel]

Ha ha! Yes, missing that middle one in the cherry version Pete played. You'll notice the one he's playing in the thumbnail just has 2 pickups though!! Thanks!!

[@sbardellajulio3114]

🎸🤓🎸🤘👍🎼Rock the City Zabel

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks brother!!

[@sbardellajulio3114]

@@MarkZabel you welcome 🎸🎼

[@benja0349]

Wich pedal did you use ?

[@MarkZabel]

No pedals. Just guitar and amp. It's possible I had a tiny amount of reverb from the amp too. I've got the gain cranked up a bit on the amp.

[@bedrosnersesyan6975]

Greatest triple threat in Rock.

[@MarkZabel]

Definitely way up there!

[@shehanjayasinghe8377]

Can You Do A lesson Sorrows By pink floyd Solo lesson

[@MarkZabel]

Yes. You mean the part starting at around 6:30 in the song? I wouldn't do the whole thing, but would be happy to do the first part of it.

[@teleguy5699]

Is that your keeper Les Paul?

[@MarkZabel]

Yes sir!

[@JammyGit]

Isn't F# the third of the D chord? If it is, then I don't see the point of including that note in a sequence where he avoided playing the third of any chord. I don't know how he actually plays the D in Won't Get Fooled Again, but it wouldn't surprise me if he played either a D5, Dsus2, or Dsus4, seeing as he used sus chords a lot......I'd go with the Dsus4 considering that the G5 is the leading chord to the D. 🤷‍👍

[@sholland42]

Wow, the hate for Pete. He was great, go listen to the intro solo in Eminence Front. It just occurred to me his intro chords (you just played) might have helped influence Hotel California.

[@MarkZabel]

No hate from me. I'm not sure what you're talking about. Could you elaborate?

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

@@MarkZabel Probably his CP conviction.

[@Ned88Man]

Pete describes that sound as "Yaggerdang"

[@MarkZabel]

Love it!

[@Ned88Man]

@@MarkZabel, for me the songs pinball wizard and WGFA are perfect representations of yaggerdang. I guess it means the quick "upstroke-downstroke-upstroke" that is characteristic of Petes playing

[@canalesworks1247]

Pete is the greatest rock rhythm guitarist of all time and also a pretty decent lead player when he wanted to do a fill her and there. Certainly a better lead player than Keith Richards.

[@whitex4652]

Pinball Wizard is missing.

[@Edward-MTBKR]

"Who's Next" what a classic rock masterpiece! Pete was never self-indulgent, every riff had a place and purpose. Their only weak link was Roger Daltrey, who I could only tolerate.

[@MarkZabel]

I agree with you on "Who's Next" and Pete (although I think Quadrophenia is even better). Pete was also a very much "in the moment" player. He didn't try to be perfect and he improvised. I think that's totally in the spirit of rock and much missed today. I'm not saying we should try to make mistakes, but I find the veneer of perfection annoying and boring. I'd much rather hear something real.

[@Edward-MTBKR]

@@MarkZabel Yeah, Love Reign o'er me and 5:15 are favs.

[@MarkZabel]

@@Edward-MTBKR No doubt. I like the whole album, and I love Dr Jimmy and The Real Me every bit as much as the ones you mentioned.

[@glennlilley8608]

Went to see the film Tommy with a few friends When do they start talking? A certain individual open mouthed Please be quiet! A lifelong love affair with well written music/the songs are king/stop trying to show off arguments! Started! It's all His Fault! Ps The other three helped too! I took up bass and broke several knuckles keeping up with T'OX

[@MarkZabel]

LOL!

[@johnthecreative]

i never understood why pete tours with that strat when IMO it's nowhere near as good sounding as the guitars he records with. maybe its a weight or convenience thing.

[@MarkZabel]

It may be weight, but he could certainly have weight taken off any Les Paul. (I've never believed wood weight adds anything but weight to solid body guitars) I suspect he likes them better. I think he has some special wiring. But I'm with you. I don't dig his Strat sound at all! Bring back your Les Paul Deluxes Pete!!

[@johnthecreative]

@@MarkZabel yeah he made it work but I dont get it. I know the SG has neck dive. I guess you can weight relieve a LP so it's weird he didn't. Maybe he had an LP neck break on tour once and it pissed him off. I loved that ric he had in 66-67 the most. The SG was killer at woodstock it had more bass than the bass guitar. I've got an LP Jr. close to it with P90s like that. I have 8s on it and they sound much thicker because of the bass it has.

[@teacher5376]

All the note ' are the same !!! So

[@MarkZabel]

What are you talking about? Even if they were all the same (which they aren't), you don't complete the sentence. "So ..." So what? What point are you trying to make? I just want to know what you're trying to say.

[@Skyy-avari]

You mean the guy who only knows 4 chords and no lead scales, and only just hits the chords once twice or so and never actually does anything with them and hadnt played an actual riff or lick in his life,,,,,yep thats pete, the worst guitarist in music history.

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

Into children too.