Skip James "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" on Guitar | Reverb Learn to Play

This Skip James tune is on the 'O Brother Where Art Thou?' soundtrack, but James's "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" was originally recorded in 1931, lost, and rediscovered during the folk revival before eventually making its way into the Coen Brothers film (via Chris Thomas King's noteworthy cover.) Here, we break it down so you can revive it again in your own setlist.
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Browse Skip James albums on Reverb LP: goo.gl/FXKHon

[@fornoreason8822]

This tone is beyond hypnotic. It takes you to some heartfelt-melodic autumn sunset among a grove of trees in an isolated field.

[@davidtower3093]

Thanks to Joe at reverb! Great dialogue and effective fingerstyles playing of one of the unsung greats, skip James! Best Regards to you and I look forward to more of Skip James songs from you!

[@SlimSco]

Thank you so much. This is a pinnacle of blues songs. How blue can you get, really...

[@manuelponce9838]

really enjoyed this - thanks for showing me the mysterious melodic quality of skip s music

[@tfigmoney520]

Phenomenal. Been listening to this song for years and now just only ready to play it and you post this 2 months ago. Talk about timing

[@johnw614]

Thank you Joe. This is one of my favorite artists and you have done him proud with your instruction.

[@rustyshacklfort9508]

Thanks and this song is harder that you think

[@alexbozas887]

yep, it sure is

[@patrickgoebel3301]

Bro I’ve looked through a few instructionals on this song and yours is the best by a mile. Thanks

[@SeeMick1]

This is great. I’ve wanted to learn this song for years

[@mountain_girl]

Big Thanks, huge thanks, ginormous thanks (now the word thanks looks wrong as I type it, that ever happen to anyone else?). Skip James body of work is the root of everything in music that makes my body electrified, music that really haunts you and keeps you up at night wanting more. It took a pandemic to get me seriously playing again, whatever, I'll take it...the point is, songs like this is the food that feeds the hunger. I've tried to get this sound right in every tuning but d minor, trying to emulate this tone for a long while, must of asked a bajillion musician friends, all say "oh, no, I know what you're talking about, great stuff, don't know it tho", and no, never looked it up on the internet. So this is a huge gift in a lot of ways. Did I say thank you?

[@CorbCorbin]

Nice Joe! This is one of my favorite songs. It's a good song, for those wanting to practice fingerpicking and alt. tuning blues playing.

[@v5q211]

This is one hell of a tune thanks a lot brother.. love from India!

[@josephbrown9699]

Love Skip James! Thank you for this video. I've been playing his music for years and it's nice to see someone teaching his music. There isn't alot of info out regarding open Dminor tuning, or tablature. Hope to see more videos teaching Mr James.

[@garrettbaker2320]

This is an awesome lesson! I just picked up one of those Fender parlor guitars and the campfire scene in O Brother is one of my faves. Ive played for 50 years, but this is an easy song to walk away from. Tricky.You got er!

[@jeremyfox7599]

This is by far the best guitar tutorial that I have ever watched. Added to which, I have been wanting to find a good tutorial for this song for some over 10 years. I couldn't be more happy.

[@sfan3725]

I've loved this song since I first heard it 40 years ago, covered by Stefan Grossman with Jo Ann Kelly on one of Stefan's 'How to Play Blues Guitar' albums. Thanks for the tutorial, fantastic stuff.

[@OneDrunkWizard]

Fantastic lesson thank you for this. Crazy what a couple open strings thrown in the mix can do.

[@ratherbwalkn]

Thanks, I finally got it going a favorite song that you have broke down has taken some time but Im getting there, thanks again man!

[@JohnLawrieTWS]

I was literally trying to figure this one out by ear earlier in the week! This sure makes my life easier

[@joegeorge1002]

Great! I'm glad we showed up on time with this one for ya!

[@tpedroso]

Perfect lesson, many thanks

[@shawnprescott3646]

Thanks, love it! Been wanting to do this song for a long time!

[@jordanwolfcastle7387]

Such a soulful song

[@emmettedwards9782]

Been looking for a video on this song for ages!! More skip James plz

[@eyefry]

Thanks for this lesson! This was great!

[@allangow4746]

Thanks Joe, excellent lesson, I'm getting there.

[@markroylance1584]

Hear I am in the wild woods of the Surrey delta.... Couple of years after this lesson and I'm grooving to Larkin Poe's wonderful take on this probably 90 year old tune... Gosh I love guitar!!! Surrey delta? Well not far from where Clapton, Page and Beck were born.....

[@SingleCoilVoodoo]

Huge thanks for this 🙏🏼

[@palodine1]

awesome, thanks Joe!

[@9087125498172345]

Fantastic lesson!

[@OIP_1]

thanks so much for this joe, perfect lesson and now i can play it!

[@phillipgoodin3907]

Joe, thank you....

[@MrRexmoser]

great lesson thanks

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

terrific lesson

[@dommccaffry3802]

Nice guild !

[@robertozorzi7499]

Skip's masterpiece.

[@callummccomiskie9171]

Heard this through o’ brother where art thou.... such a tune🔥

[@kylejolin6033]

Thanks Joe! One of my favorites. Great lesson

[@shawni321]

Nice!

[@My52fender]

Great to hear some Skip James done so well. Can you do I’m so glad?

[@CptQwerty28]

Would love more blues content! Keep it up!

[@thegamblefish]

Thank you

[@dantahoua]

Waou! Thanks a lot!

[@I.Forgotti]

Good shit!

[@MastanehNazarian]

Joe! You're very talented handsome person! Cheers,

[@revotrupin7477]

Great teacher and player. Thanks a lot.

[@etiennevanonselen7949]

Respect

[@darkopage]

Please, please, PLEASE!!! Do “Devil Got My Woman”.

[@Lorenzo4IN]

YES

[@dave3605]

This

[@hans-hinrichthedens706]

just search for "Devil Got My Woman lesson"

[@annnonymous952]

Check out Chrs Robinson and Marc Ford's version from the Malibu Inn after the original. It's here on KZbin.

[@TredenWagoner]

I would like to see a lesson on Mississippi John Hurt's Candyman. Thank you.

[@Andy97906]

Good good good stuff. Great teaching I’ve always wanted to learn this ever since I wash oh brother where art thou. What key is this song in?

[@mysticfakir2029]

Lets change camera angles all the time. That will make for a better tutorial.....

[@alessiograziani6355]

I suggest listening to the 2003 Buddy Guy record called Blues Singer, this is the opening song...

[@robject]

Thx, man. In Memphis with five guitars in five different tunings. That was helpful. Maybe check out the maze of Albert Youngblood Hart's "Alberta?"

[@robject]

it's in John Hurt's C tuning I think

[@markgiles8527]

Did you post any instructions for this song? I'm having a hard time following along.

[@nomadicschoolofthesenses2157]

Joe, so many guitarist getting into this, but it your version and tutorial that really captures the sound!! I have a question. Often people play the thumb lines with a finger pick. You don't use anything and it sounds better. I was trying to capture whether Skip James had actually a long nail (flamenco-classical style) for his thumbing. Seeing you it looks that this would not be necessary. But I guess that has a lot to do with the kind of guitar, strings, and the actual mic. Any leads there? I am asking because I often play on nylon strings.

[@chronic888]

There are lots of videos of him playing... a little hard to see but it looks like he's got a nail on here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4qkfXWwm75oh7s

[@adamsalman6327]

could anyone provide the tab? Even slowed down, I can only get the intro

[@AndrewSnowden007]

Anyone got tab?

[@r.l.six-musicandrecords552]

Protip: if you guys think he is going too fast at all, go to the COG on the video and click PLAYBACK SPEED and click .75 SPEED. Perfect. Thank you!

[@strato6049]

I can't say you're the best teacher but thank you for trying, appreciated nonetheless.

[@craigbrown9987]

I thought Skip played this using a Dm tuning?

[@kevinmalone8903]

Which model Guild is that ? Sweet

[@Regulateur]

Probably M20/vintage sunburst

[@traor.e8110]

thank you jon snow

[@cbryandad]

What model is that Guild guitar?

[@JorisArink]

OM-140

[@herotheplottmix6690]

CTK version is much harder! The way CTK "runs" is hard as fuck to do! I like u taking time at this song. I learned to play guitar because CTK. FYI your extremely close to his version

[@QuinnJACKSON-zx1dx]

You have my respect because you have respect for the sound. You didn't call Skip James' style 'weird' or that disgusting word 'spooky'. I hate that crap. Those are modern terms from people who lack his talent or yours. It's the blues man.

[@randytrashcan]

Everything sounds better on a Guild, too!

[@naciremasti]

I'll take a vintage Martin over any Guild.

[@MKfan888]

Maybe I'm just shit, but you're going way too fast for me lol

[@josephhowell8158]

Lol

[@jerbear938]

no, nearly no one can get down the licks as fast as he explains one after the other, just put that ish on half or quarter speed and repeat repeat peice by piece, until you get each part down, and slowly work at playing them together smoothly, thats the way amigo

[@jamesfinney8841]

Way too fast for me too. Slowed him down in settings.

[@Char4948]

Please please slow the hell down next time lol

[@bubbamcgee5706]

Charlie Livens I had to put the video at .5 speed because I couldn’t keep up

[@alabastardmasterson]

Why even discuss a cover?

[@jaronhansen8476]

Dude you’re going way to fast slow down. You go over the walk ups for like 2 seconds and you say “do this” wtf is that supposed to mean?

[@mopardogdish7983]

Watch skip in 67 in Cologne doing Hard Time killing floor blues , then you should realize it’s never been done better. Modernize it,what are you talking about

[@michaellorah9051]

I'm using this to understand the basic rhythm patterns and strumming, but I'm using that live version as well as other live performances of his from that period to get a handle on the flourishes he does. I'm type who learns best by watching theae tutorials to get the basics, and then I study live video of the original artist to learn the rest.

[@SinSeared]

I recently picked up playing the guitar and its infuriating to find out that certain songs require you to detune your guitar. Everytime I hear that that's the case I'm like fuck off with the song. I love this song so much too so I am entirely disappointed. Why is that even a thing? Nothing against you @reverb but it's just, sigh. If I wanted to play different songs I would have to fuck around with the tuning over and over. I'm surprised this was a hidden fact to me prior to playing the guitar.

[@naciremasti]

Still playing?

[@jplorist6483]

Super beautiful song, but hard to follow along with the way you were teaching it, you would randomly call out notes but not all the notes you were playing, and then id have to go see which one u actually played. Kind of poor and confusing way to teach a song.