Play Like Gang of Four's Andy Gill | Post-Punk Guitar Lesson

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[@jdsnow9272]

What people need to understand about Go4 is that Andy Gill is part of the rhythm section and plays the guitar like a drum. All the melody in their music is carried by the Bass and vocals.

[@MercurialToys]

Had to go back and visit this lesson of yours. RIP Andy Gill. I have such a love for the post punk guitarists that pushed me in the realm of playing guitar myself and Andy was certainly crucial to that step. I'm forever grateful for his inspiring guitar playing.

[@auhom9811]

Do you have any resources to learn how to play post punk?

[@Guitarcope]

@@auhom9811 John McGeoch is a good one to study.

[@beastieboy9286]

@@auhom9811Bernard sumner Joy Division too

[@joebowles06]

When I first started playing, I looked up a lot of Gang of Four songs and they all seemed so easy in the tabs and they really are quite simple. I quickly learned that it is not easy to make them sound the way Gill makes them sound though. His technique is whats so incredible about his playing.

[@wilsmtt]

Yes! Gill is one of my all-time favorites, and he's such a unique player! You rule, Adrian.

[@acpg]

Thanks. Yes, Gill's definitely a one -off.

[@S34NP4THURL]

Wow - never ever thought I'd see the Gang of Four being discussed let alone dissected for learning. Well done. I'd love some Mick Jones stuff as he was my hero back in the day - I believe some of the earliest stuff was almost 2 notes but my what a player he evolved into. 👏🏻👏🏻👍👌🏻

[@mysparetime]

Argh..........RIP Andy. my #1 influence. Great work Adrian.

[@erinpitman8246]

Absolutely love Andy Gill's approach on feedback. It had bite and control. To Hell with Poverty is a prime example of his feedback being an integral part of the song.

[@erinpitman8246]

Love Like Anthrax as well 👍

[@sukurimi]

Ever since I heard "Entertainment" when I was first learning guitar I did everything I could to try and sound like Andy Gill. I've been looking for a video just like this for ages!!! Thank you so much!

[@jake2879]

Your by far the best guitar channel out there. The only one which covers my favorite bands, such as this one. Thank you so much.

[@itwontcomeout5678]

Agreed

[@paulashley5350]

thank you Adrian for a cracking lesson.....one of my fav bands

[@Bodyknowledge77]

First time being aware of Gill/Gang of Four was through the concert compilation movie "Urgh A Music War"(required viewing for those who're into new wave/alternative music). Gill's playing has so much attitude!

[@acpg]

Yes great movie!

[@sirgraves950]

First time I saw that was right when it came out. fantastic line up.

[@GordKapasky]

"Urgh A Music War" was perfect timing for this high schooler of suburban Toronto in 1980.

[@wickedlee664]

Yes! I mail ordered the VHS of it in the late 80’s. We used to watch that, Target Videos or Dead Kennedys live at the On Broadway every day after highschool. We’d be hopping around in my parents living-room until my mom got pissed. Fun days.

[@vincentvanpot4333]

Dude, you did an awesome job on this video! I think Andy Gill is a 'genius' punk guitar player!! He is terribly underrated and I think that's a crime. R.I.P.

[@charlieschmitt1420]

The gang absolutely great! Thanks for breaking down.

[@allancarey3273]

Brilliant as always man! thanks for this one

[@KirkeGodfrey]

Loving your work here! THANKS !

[@DrFalken100]

Love these guys!

[@davidgallagher5094]

Thanks for this, such a treat !

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Loved his playing. Thanks for the lesson

[@hotdogsoda4717]

Right on man! Killed it!

[@PedroskiClimb]

Love your lessons!

[@capitaldharma]

Great lesson to work on my rhythm and remember Andy Gill

[@pettysouvenir]

Always looking forward to your lessons! Thank you very much! Best wishes

[@acpg]

Thanks! Really pleased you've been enjoying my lessons.

[@julianjenkin4068]

Great stuff Adrian. Thanks for giving such a good insight into Andy Gill's staccato style. I love to play "I Found that Essence Rare". Such an awesome Gill classic. I've always fancied getting my fingers around the intro to "To Hell With Poverty" Keep up the good work. Many Thanks J

[@rjsullivanjr]

Outstanding!

[@kennypryde4235]

More of this sort of thing! Thanks.

[@adguitar7]

Hi Adrian. I just published a podcast with my interview with Andy Gill where we talk about your video and some of the comments :) The podcast is called "Become A Guitarist Today with Adam Roach". I hope you and everyone enjoy it.

[@FREDSPASSWORD]

Holy shit you nailed this. Great video man.

[@fotoajojo]

For all those nay sayers in the comments. Gill played in this angular way as an artistic choice. He can rip a traditional solo - listen to Cadillac. Page Hamilton is a killer jazz player, but most Helmet stuff is drop D easy. He uses jazz time sigs and altered voicing on occasion but it is driving rhythmic Drop D at its core to serve the songs. Gill and Hamilton are engineers, stripping away everything until just the necessary remains. Then when they bend your ear with something unexpected, it is that much more effective. The rhythm comments are right on. Listen to how Gill is always interjecting his staccato attacks between Tom Tom hits in drum patterns. The aggressive staccato guitars on top of what are essentially dance grooves is what made GOF so unique.

[@mattwright2964]

I saw Gang of Four live when they brought the first album out. The key is that the sound is semi random with variation. It's almost percussive as well as a guitar sound with harmonics ringing amongst the sharp half applied chords and variations.

[@greenvelvet]

Yes! Thank you!

[@SolidMoses]

Please make a vid for "at home he's a tourist". I fuckin love that song but i can't get it right by ear alone. As you said his sound is really unique (aka GREAT).

[@61hink]

Fucking love that song too. Guitar makes me feel like I'm being electrocuted.

[@michaelfroger1816]

You choose the best bands for lessons bro. Awesome

[@oliverharper7411]

This video is absolutely perfect, been looking for something like this for ages, thanks so much. Would you be able to do something similar for Rowland S. Howard? Your video on "Breakdown (and Then...)" was great and would love to hear you do some more of his stuff! Thanks again for the brilliant video.

[@acpg]

Thanks Oliver. Yes, would love to look at more Rowland at some point. I'll see what I can do.

[@markpfeifer1402]

I just KNEW you had some Gang of Four videos in there somewhere. 👍

[@paultringali4099]

How about Geordie from Killing Joke?

[@madaraguitarman2652]

good! とても勉強になります！ Thank You！

[@erricomalatesta8741]

good one feller. been a long time Go'4 fan and along with Wilko Johnson biggest influence on my playing.

[@ggoldfingers]

That Andy Gill sound,Weller's early sound in the Jam and the Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers got me playing guitar. Looking back on it you can see why.

[@chungusthicccreamyboi2elec802]

If you haven’t already, check out D Boon from Minutemen, he had a similar guitar sound.

[@scotticusnorvegicus]

Excellent ! 10/10

[@PierreBruynooghe]

Exactly the good vibe for reproducing Andy Gill'style. Perfect, guy !

[@concretelightbulb7082]

Another fav band of mine, you got that high gain razor sharp stab down pat. I almost joked about having you demo Jesus & Mary Chain awhile back, just to watch you measure the exact distance necessary to replicate their signature feedback sound when standing in front of the amp, but now I think you'd actually pull it off, haha. Cheers.

[@gemmeliusgrammaticus2509]

great video!! supremely helpful. I would love to see you do a similar video covering some early Psychedelic Furs songs.

[@verdayldzl5004]

tysm for this!

[@theWARMJET]

a truly original

[@pennyscottwarner]

Rest in peace Andy

[@gkillmaster]

ooo thanks! so glad to find this. Most excellent! I'd love to see how you might play Paralyzed

[@arqlopezcampo]

RIP Andy Gill

[@stevenhassall3165]

I love how you don't stick to the usual 'script' for your lesson choices. I wonder if you might consider doing a lesson on a Red Lorry Yellow Lorry track or a song lfrom the world by storm album by the Three John's. I think the Melons 'where were you' might be a great song also

[@matthewpollard2843]

RIP Andy Gill :(

[@hankwicklund2182]

R.I.P. Andy

[@anthonyluke9857]

Great stuff, cheers. Interesting to note that he played a Strat or whatever through solid state/transistor combo amps to get that cold & edgy sound with single coils & as I recently read that he still does. If you’d like to know one of his influences, check out Wilko Johnson, the original guitar player in Doctor Feelgood. Wilko also influenced Paul Weller of The Jam.

[@bennyshambles]

Very close. The first “chord” of the “Not Great Men” riff is an open G, not an A. However, the rest is correct. It’s crazy how simple it all is, yet very complex to figure out sometimes. Also, it’s important to use a single coil guitar (check) and a solid-state or hybrid amp with very mild overdrive to get that brittle tone. He originally used a Strat copy and a Carlsboro amp (might have been another, different obscure British amp for Entertainment). When using a tube amp or an amp with continuously adjusted drive, it’s basically a “clean” tone that’s corrupted by leaking overdrive. I was always surprised by how a “clean” tube amp and single coil guitar’s tone was akin to Andy Gill or the guitars of The Pop Group, Glaxo Babies, The Fall, etc.

[@robsthedon]

Good one

[@kevinsmith5318]

Took me a few decades to appreciate Andy Gill. Rediscovered him... He is shoulder to shoulder with Pete Townshend (fuck Hendrix)

[@gorjanpecinar5203]

Awesome! Finally found some tabs that actually sound like Ether!

[@70MIFICATION]

beast

[@nightshade8482]

Wonderful lessons. I wish you'd do "Natural's Not In It"--my favorite G of 4.

[@jameswcav]

Finally someone doing some post-punk right.. Thanks a bunch. You're not a Replacements fan are you?

[@kirkegodfrey414]

Would love more background on what your doing to get the sounds you use across your brilliant lessons.

[@BenEvansNZ]

I think you mention it in this video or another one of yours Big Gold Dream, about the Scottish post-punk scene. Thanks for that tip-off, it was great! Really enjoyed watching it. Any chance of a Josef K - Sorry for Laughing, or Fun 'n' Frenzy lesson? I tried writing my own tab for Fun 'n' Frenzy out, but it's clearly way off haha.

[@sceodnseven]

Really really appreciated if you could do The Dream's Dream, Prove It, 1880 or So, Elevation and so on by the great TELEVISION!!! Really liked the Venus one.

[@missanthrope5581]

how did u get the tone for this video

[@fhornet3123]

Gill's tone is so fucking sick

[@asec2827]

amigo si podes compartir las notas de temas como paralysed, i party all tyme time me encantan, me encanta lo que hizo la leyenda andy

[@kosmoshice3148]

Good morning!

[@ShlomirBareket]

can you do the Slits? Viv Albertine. Some really good female post-punk, and Poison Ivy from thr Cramps!

[@acpg]

Good suggestions both. More female stuff would be good, will look into it.

[@joebowles06]

Great suggestions! I love Viv and Ivy's playing.

[@talktokale]

Ditto to the Slits or maybe The Raincoats or Delta 5 even!

[@ronj9448]

Poison Ivy is a bit of rockabilly set among the zombies.

[@lingkaikong2777]

Love it! Can you share how do you make the guitar tone? That sounds really close to their album

[@lambdashiftakadavidheikkil2657]

Simple but effective riff.

[@hunternegron336]

It would be awesome if you could do some PYLON riffs

[@marxug1]

Andy Gill’s tone and Paul Weller’s tone tortured me in the 1980’s - I had a Carvin X-100B stack and couldn’t come close. Finally figured out I needed an EQ pedal and to ram max treble through the front end, that **sorta** did the trick…

[@bodhinature]

This is great. One request: I'd love to hear a little about the theory, especially, behind some of the weird open chords like at the end of the first riff. I'm assuming it gets into drone theory?

[@weldonwenturine3395]

Ya I agree lots to learn here!!

[@ZodiacEntertainment2]

It's an open chord shape (Asus2) moved up the neck. You can move all of the open shapes up the neck, but it changes the relationship between the notes your fretting and the open strings. You usually want to move them up so that the notes you're fretting are still in the same scale/key. Just try moving a G, C shape, D shape open chord up one fret and see which of the chords you get sound "good" and which ones sound dissonant.

[@JeffreyOcaya]

Damaged Goods riff starts at 8:00

[@WeZte]

thanks

[@arnquist]

nice work how about stuff from solid gold great Gill stuff on that album

[@flushfries5633]

Could you do a New York Dolls video? (Maybe a personality crisis lesson if you could)

[@GeorgeTokarenko]

can you do a tab of To hell with poverty?

[@mahatmaheil]

Would love a how to play Gang of Four guitar DVD or Book. Any chance of that?

[@billpugh58]

Thanks! Excellent stiff! Want to join my band:)

[@urmom4615]

can u do a lesson for i found that essence rare? please 🙏🏼

[@paulcurreri5265]

Hi Adrian. Could you briefly comment on the gear you’re using? Any pedals, or just that little fender in the back? (And what amp is that little guy?)

[@TheChristafershawn]

I think I am a bit OCD cause I can't get past the grimy fret board, that said very cool covering this awesome band.

[@ram29jackson]

aahhww I was waiting for - To hell with poverty :(

[@jhvh3083]

Can anyone please suggest me the pedal to get this accurate sound?

[@outtathyme5679]

Do the Au Pairs!

[@toffeeriot4548]

Does anyone know: Is there a Gang Of Four tribute band in Britain?

[@Soundgear4]

Any thoughts on Geordie from Killing Joke

[@johncruz6489]

Hi!! what's the model of that Telecaster? Thanks!

[@toffeeriot4548]

Good stuff! On Damaged Goods the first chord may be this: (Ascending) X77787. Andy used this one a fair amount. It's on He'd Send In The Army, for one. See what you think. Thanks for the second chord though. I've struggled to find that one for ages. Maybe you could do some XTC stuff too? The verse guitar on Helicopter and the main riff on Living Through Another Cuba would be good!

[@acpg]

Good info, thanks! I'll give that chord a try, could well be right. I did Making Plans for Nigel a while back, but I must do some more XTC. I like both your suggestions - will add them to my list!

[@gioelegentile]

What about his setup to get that iconic tone?

[@ramblr1959]

Peavey classic 50 4x10 mid all the way down, treble and bass full up. Rack gear or plugins used for effects.

[@lamper2]

GREAT! how about the solo from sympathy?-not even keith has come close to this miracle of sound in ANY live appearance!

[@tbwatch88]

Gill (RIP) played his instrument like 'twas a WEAPON. as I adore a twin-guitar attack more than tequila or girls in tennis skirts, the gang are one of the few single-guitar bands I love.

[@masterspears]

9

[@TheeHitch]

Can you do some Billy Childish stuff? this guy has been going for over 40 years, has made over 100 albums and yet absolutely no tutorials on any of his bands such as Thee Mighty Caesars or The Headcoats.

[@SolidMoses]

That's probably because he plays 2-3 chords (with a pretty simple strumming puattern) in every song, so they're supposedly easy to figure out. It's garage punk at its finest after all :)

[@sirgraves950]

Andy Gill does one of those rig rundown shows on Amazon I think. It was ok, could have been way better. He is using computer based effects these days for ease sake.

[@billypilgrim1]

How did you get the tone though? Trebley tone+distortion+reverb and a little delay? Sorry if I sound like a noob but Ive been trying to get Andy's sound for quite a while

[@replaceablehead]

It's something to do with resonant frequencies. For some reason his carlsbro amp gets weird phasing comb filtering effects that result in a very narrow high frequency being accentuated. It makes the guitar sound thin and metalic, with one particular harmonic that is feeding back. I think it has to do with four factors, the parametric eq on the stingray, the odd harmonic content of solid state amps, the limited frequency range of the strat bridge pickup, and phase cancellation between the twin speakers. Anyway if you want the sound get a parametric eq, or for a rough approximation the filter matrix setting on some flangers, just sweep the knob till you are accentuating the right frequency and back off the feedback to minimum, you want to keep it subtle. While your at it cut your low frequencies.

[@Adam-ee1tq]

@@replaceablehead very helpful thank you

[@subirdutta5491]

Sir 007 please...

[@bonhamhouse1169]

Stranglers?

[@Iomhar]

I've heard a rumour that Andy Gill used a guitar that had the capability to cut the attack. Is that true?

[@fotoajojo]

He had kill switches installed on his guitars because he usually played Fenders live. If you have say a Les Paul with separate volume control for each pickup, you can dial one pickup volume to zero and then just flip pickup selector back and forth ala Tom Morello. Who cites Gill as a major influence.

[@timothyhill1149]

loving the damaged goods

[@user-qt1gs9pk8m]

Dude, great videos! Plese make more acoustic stuff, i dont own e-guitar.

[@sirius_li]

Tom Verlaine's Television will ensue for sure.