How To Play Waiting For The Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago By ZZ Top - Plus Guitar Soloing Tips!

In this video I demonstrate how to play the songs Waiting For The Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago by ZZ Top. These are the opening tracks off the Album Tres Hobre and showcase some of ZZ Top's and Billy Gibbons best playing. Bluesy, soulful and full of passion. We take a close look at the structure and chord progressions as well as some of the tasty licks. At the end of the video I cover some tips on how to solo over the blues and give some pointers on how to sound similar to Billy Gibbons and other players in that style of music. I hope you enjoy the video! Please subscribe!!
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[@JerryAtricMr]

Holy sh*t!!!! This video's last five minutes suddenly expanded the guitar after several months stuck. Thank you Marty for helping the guitar make sense. Not the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed

[@Jerry-Falwells-Poolboy]

"Not the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed" Made me legit LOL!

[@user-lk9ip2kl4k]

this comment had skip to the end, and yes! totally agree. Awesome video.

[@kbroomall]

I noticed when Billy does this live he really rides that open A to beef the main riff up! Just saw them at Hershey Park in Hershey Pennsylvania on Sept. 9, 2023! Still killin it!

[@Mangoshake2021]

Really look forward to your videos, you are a great teacher

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! I am glad to help! 😎

[@markcarleton6647]

JJLC is probably my favorite ZZ Top Song. I like the way you break things down and explain how to play it. You’re a great teacher!

[@gergemall]

You’re a wonderful instructor. Love the way you presented the tabs handwritten. Very creative.

[@guitartim2128]

Thanx for the awesome lesson For ZZ Top's Waitin For the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago. Two of my favorites from the man that influenced me which is Billy G. His tone timing ,feel and chops are unequalled .👍🎸

[@kmajor44]

Great lesson! The Reverend said for the recoding he tuned his A string down to G on Jesus. Love the tune but usually play it in standard because I also love playing the Bus with a hard cut to Jesus…like the album. Makes the 2 inseparable…and both classic ZZ. note: the open A (and E on the 7th) is absolutely necessary for nailing Bus.

[@RuairiDeFaoite]

I've always played it Open G tuning, like what you are saying but E strings down to D. Makes the chord fingering much easier than shown here in the video

[@brianlegg6009]

I've watched many KZbin videos trying to get a handle on where to start learning how to play some of this stuff. This is BY FAR the most useful and UNDERSTANDABLE. So many guys on here seem like they are just trying to show off without really doing any meaningful instruction. Thanks a million!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're most welcome man! Thanks 🙏

[@genelewis2962]

Marty you nailed this, excellent, my two favorite Biily G jams. Thank you for sharing!

[@Callmenobody174]

Really enjoying your videos, man! Keep up the good work! 🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for watching man! I really appreciate it. 😁🎵

[@baynesstreetblues]

Brilliant explanation Marty, highlighting the feel that underpins Billy’s repeated groove. Many thanks 🙏

[@garyh.238]

Excellent lesson. Thank you!

[@keithelmo]

Great video and teaching style! Thanks!

[@markgreene3842]

This was great for me, I picked up some good tips that I need to apply.

[@papablue3015]

Blues, my favorite! Thanks Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! I'm love the blues! 🥂

[@coralspringsneckbackpainrelief]

Great lesson… love the details and chord boxes to accompany the lesson

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad you liked it 😎 Thanks for the nice comment man!

[@rolfhauf4266]

Your simple way of explaining the blues scale, was an eye opener to me… thank you🎸

[@JamieDuran-hr3bp]

You're a very good teacher you keep it simple and lots of extra tips that others would never teacher without charging you for their knowledge. Thank you

[@mtantiques9384]

That was fun. Don't see too many "how to" videos that are fun and informative. I love the slow blues and ZZ Top just adds such a groove to it. Thanks and just subscribed

[@BBF3]

Many thanks for this video. I highly appreciate it

[@markgreene3842]

This was great for me, I picked up some good tips that I need to apply. I like the way you go slow enough for my to implant it in my mind. I’ve had too many teachers who didn’t do that.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks man!

[@TaxPayingContributor]

Totally fills in the gaps on one of my favorites. Great teaching

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad to hear man! Awesome. Thank you for the kind words. 😎☮️

[@oscarerlanson1377]

Thanks bro. That was great!

[@mikedtubey]

Love the Lesson!!! Your not just VH!😅

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Mike! Nah, the VH is totally awesome but I love all kinds of stuff!

[@user-wp2ej5mn4c]

Sounds good. My favorite tunes.

[@jeremywilson7198]

Very good advice I am at the point where everything you said makes perfect sense and I will work on it, thank you

[@stevenpotter-en2me]

Merry Christmas Marty! Thank you for the excellent video

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@guitarthink]

One of my Favorite new channels that I stumbled on. Good stuff! Thank you!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for the kind words and for watching. 😎🤟🏻

[@jamespotts2469]

Fantastic job. I've been a little off on this for forty years--and you've nailed it and made it clear. I just subscribed.

[@rogergregg6026]

Sweet, really nice impro here , have to say i picked up a lot of really good tips and how to expand my playing in the pent scale. Thanks so much and hope i can see many more of your videos

[@hofmannhermann]

Great ... learnd a lot ... Thanx !!!

[@sleggarri]

Great lesson. Love your blues playing.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you kindly. I appreciate you watching and happy you enjoyed the video man! 😁🥂

[@hykeeba-9254]

Dawg, this is an awesome video. Love the handwritten tab overlays

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad you like it! Thanks for the support man 🤟🏻😁

[@kennykamensky993]

Good lesson Marty thanks for the tips

[@alainkempa2139]

Thanks for this cool lesson and all the technical remarks about notes choice(m3rd bend) and the explanation on modulations being used.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

My pleasure man. Glad to help people out and see it making an impact. Thanks for watching man!

[@edmcglinn9027]

great lesson - thanks Marty!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome. Thanks!

[@tokk3n-hj4xg]

Man I've been wanting to learn Jesus Just Left Chicago for the longest. Thanks for taking the time to making this video. I just subscribed. Looking forward to more videos.

[@davemullner7170]

Great lesson Marty! Plus I love the little Marshall stack and the desktop one too🤘😊

[@bpy4073]

Great tone and instruction have suscribed

[@jamesreilly872]

great lesson - brilliant!

[@jrezvb]

GREAT JOB! THANK YOU

[@GeneBussler]

Glad I stumbled onto your video. Appreciate the instruction that makes some sense. Great video.

[@GeneBussler]

I do have a small question regarding tone. Are you plugged straight into the amp or using some effects? I hear reverb and break up. Just curious.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@telefrk49]

Killer lesson and explanation...thank you!!

[@hank4434]

Great Player, Great Style, Very Good Teacher Thanx!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you kindly. I appreciate it man.

[@richardcranium8500]

I love that guitar man,I'm glad I bought one too. I love the 50's neck not to crazy fat just perfect. Great tune to learn also. Thanks

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love the guitar too. It really has a great tone and the neck is amazing. Glad you like yours as well! 🎵🎵🎵Thanks for watching man!

[@jasonhall947]

Good lesson. Thanks. Subbed!

[@chrisbrown4051]

Very nice man.

[@tonbuur5650]

great lesson!!❤...thanks..

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Thanks Marty! Them p90s sound great! I've ordered a shirt and will be sportin it with pride around town. Keep Rockin!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Cool! Thanks so much man! You rock!!! 😎🤟🏻 I tell ya, the P90's are so versatile. They can really get chimey and sweet! 🎵

[@fronthorse]

Great lesson and helpful to get to know the board better. Great sound too. LP with p90s are tasty.

[@danielcoleman4807]

Great video. I taught this stuff for many years and agree with you on all you said and did. I like your LP gold top with P 90s. ...I need a guitar with P 90s in my collection.

[@Bigsbeee]

Subbed - No question - Thank You Marty.

[@sandrocavali9810]

Great lesson! Let's not forget the tone. Crank that thing

[@hansfreekit]

Cool. Like it.

[@FMorgigno1]

Excellent lesson!

[@jeffwagner2707]

Thanks Marty you and Jay Pamar are my go to teachers I love Lynch as well& Schenker

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man. I appreciate the nice comment. Thanks for watching 😎🙏

[@robblackmoreofficial]

Very Cool,I Find Myself Just Moving Around Like This,Just Limbering Up Those Fingers All The Time. Great Fun! 😁 Thank You Marty,Love All Your Videos.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're most welcome man! So happy to help and share. Thanks so much.

[@timemerson2691]

That was awesome 😎

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Tim! Glad you liked it dude. 🎵😎

[@jeffjohnson7381]

Love this kind of blues rock can you continue some great rock styles in this genre..first lesson with you love your style of teaching 👍🎸🎶

[@southerncomfort6279]

Thanks a million Love zztop

[@dspguitarrebuild5281]

Very cool lesson. Thanks

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man!

[@kevinlarson4762]

Cool lesson thank you

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching man!

[@stevelankford7087]

Thanks for the classic ZZTop lesson, it sounds even better when you break it down. Thought I’d give you a sub while I’m here, great job!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for the sub and for watching! 😎🤟🏻

[@scottharvey7195]

Thanks! Great tone and great tips to help me break out of position 1!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! So glad to help man!!

[@jondavis3582]

this is what i needed today...

[@DannyGatton94]

In my book ZZ Top always will be the coolest thing ever

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh. They are at the top of my list too. And man... what a car collection too!

[@loupearl706]

You're a great teacher. Thanks. Nice to see you expanding your band library🙄

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for the kind words man! I appreciate it and so glad to hear I help people out. 😎🥂

[@MegaGuitarpicker]

Great lesson.! I have been tuning my A down to G and it seems to be much easier for me to hang on that (G) note when playing alone. I like your way of explaining things. Subscribed!

[@MrAnthony000004]

great lesson and tabs

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for watching man 😎🤟🏻

[@mattskey58]

Nice lesson bud, good job 😎👍

[@yourenigma3803]

Great lesson brother! 🎉

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! Glad you liked it 🎵😎

[@5150show]

Epic lessons

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man!! ☮️

[@REM1956]

Great lesson. Your Lead advice was very helpful in copping some of Gibbon's phrasing. So many people just blow a thousand notes over these songs, and it just doesn't gel with the gutbucket feel of ZZ Top. Thanks

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad it helped man! Thanks for watching 😎🍺

[@gnawbabygnaw]

Thank You! 🤙🤙

[@kibscott6096]

Marty I want to thank you for throwing a lick and a bend out to my favorite band from Texas (with an exception to STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN), bro you rock, my heart bleeds EVH, I was going on 18 when their first album was released, ok probably got a few years on you, but hey you ROCK!!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome!! Love SRV too. Saw him on the couldn't stand the weather tour. I really appreciate the support man!

[@andyspinks9996]

Your an excellent teacher man. Keep up the good work. You could even be a doctor of guitar with handwriting like that.

[@gergemall]

Nailed it

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks 🙏

[@douglaschristine8387]

I just noticed you got the Peavey with dashboard and all in the camera. Now I know why you really wanted it, aesthetics, cool.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh man! Did you see my unboxing video of it? I do quite an in-depth review and tone test. I love it!!

[@southerncomfort6279]

Thanks!

[@stan657]

Really nice lesson! Please do more Gibbons lessons!!🙏

[@douglaschristine8387]

How are you Marty? That one guy your not just VH, lol. I love how you make the whole song a lesson with licks and nuances, makes you stand out from the rest. Peace.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Douglas! I am glad that my teaching style works well. I'm never sure if it resonates or not! But it's always nice to hear when it does. I really appreciate it dude.

[@3top5]

Thank you. ❤❤

[@qua7771]

Man, them P-90's. What a tone for this.

[@Wolf4u2]

Descending run into the G on The Bus is so good, I'd refer to it as the Jesus run. Thxs Marty! That C chord is a tough one.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I love that run too! It's the hook! Dude, that C is brutal. I always wondered about it and one day saw him finger that chord in AXS Tv during a Sammy Hagar segment and was like damn that's it!! 😎🎵🎵🎵☮️

[@greggheslin2724]

Your Tone is Fantastic!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you kindly!

[@letsgo2then]

TAB on 3x5 cards did it for me. Hell yea

[@daveslusher3556]

Thank you!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome!

[@sixstringer3783]

Billy's playing just breathes cool nice lesson 👍

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It sure does. He's just awesome. 😎

[@rolandjgutierrez7737]

Nice flow you where in sync explain and play and demonstrate I enjoyed it its not like oh by the way one time in guitar land then this oh by the way my dog...RocknRollFlat5

[@theaxe5150]

Thanks Marty. 12:18 I see the light!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome. 😎🥂

[@sheepdog72]

Subbed!🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks 🙏

[@dotkennedy7443]

Love that gold top! Those are P90s, right? Sweet! Quite a collection you have. That song brings back a lot of fun memories.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks, this is one of my top 5 favorite guitars. It plays so nice and I think it sounds and looks gorgeous! ❤️

[@lovehategoddie]

Great early 70s tone, whole album. Can you teach precious and grace, I want to learn the finer points of the song. First heard album in Feb. ‘79, I picked up the guitar a few years later and used this album and early Priest, and many others to learn. It’s about feel and tone. I have never tired of tres hombres.

[@shaunlovett1565]

Sweet

[@simply3141592654]

Marty, thanks for your lessons! I enjoy the Van Hagar era stuff and Def Leppard especially. Would you consider doing something on "Without You" from the Van Halen III album with Gary Cherone.

[@joxyjoxyjoxy1]

Damn that's a pretty Goldtop. I was torn between getting one w P90's like that but went with uncovered humbuckers cuz i already had a strat.

[@cantstartafire]

Thanks Marty! I was in a bit of a rut and the ZZ Top has broken it (I think). Great lesson, thanks as always!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

So glad to hear man! Awesome! 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵😎

[@rvk5150]

Hell yeah...I want a LP with P90s badly....on my list!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

This was a bucket list guitar for me too. I just got it about 2 months ago. It's a dream come true. 😎☮️

[@CHill-uh1fg]

I enjoyed watching, actually I've watched it a couple of times, your les paul caught my attention, just happens I have a gold top just like it. I've been playing those 2 songs for probably over 40 years, you seem to be the only one that catches all the changes. 👍

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Wow very cool man! I appreciate the kind words. You know, I think you have to live with a song for a long time to fully understand it. Not claiming I fully understand ZZ Top or being arrogant... I just mean you have to really dig in and love a song. Live with it. You eventually hear stuff you wouldn't on a casual listen. These songs and ZZ Top have been one of my go to bands since eliminator. When I was old enough to understand rock and roll. Discovering their past material was such a gift!

[@CHill-uh1fg]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker glad that there are people like you willing to share that. I've been a fan since there 1st album growing up in Texas got to see them often, when I was a kid there was little to no way off learning, just had to listen a lot and figure it out.I remember me and my buddy standing in front of a mirror pretending to play the slide part on just got paid, I still can't play a slide, but songs like these and tush,and la grange are songs id get asked to come up and play with local bands, there great ones for a jam night. 🤙

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@CHill-uh1fg the slide parts on those songs is so good. I'm not much of a slide player but would love to dig into some of that stuff!! I wonder if he played in standard tuning ?

[@CHill-uh1fg]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I think tush was standered tuning, but I believe that just got paid was originally record with the slide parts in open E

[@anth495]

Nice lesson and playing, at around 13:40 I believe Billy slides to and from Bb on the low E after the blues run down.

[@billymoon5153]

Thx