5 Johnny Winter Blues Riffs | Reverb Learn to Play

[@SidBonkers51]

One things for sure, there will never be another Johnny Winter.

[@richlaw1953]

Around 1976 my younger sister landed an Exec Secretary job at Blue Sky Records in NYC (Johnny’s label). In March 1979 she invited me and my gf to join her, her boss and Johnny for dinner at the Lone Star Café, a small club on 5th Ave and E 13th St on lower Manhattan. It was my birthday so my little sister and her boss at Blue Sky took us to dinner and afterwards Johnny played a kickass show!! Best bday present I ever got!!! Also, Johnny gave me a framed photo that he signed earlier in the day. He wrote “Rich, happy birthday ‘79 and the best of everything good! Johnny Winter” RIP, Johnny

[@philipstafford4540]

Wow what a super cool memory, thanks for sharing

[@lustlustt5618]

great memory

[@ChefClary60]

A genius and personal favorite that never got the recognition he deserved.

[@dougedwards412]

Johnny the real Texas guitar slinger

[@espojespo5]

Genius is a stretch, but very good player nonetheless.

[@_seventh_son]

@@espojespo5 nah he was a genius, especially for his time. he had an immense repertoire of music memorized. Not to mention that he really took silde guitar to another level

[@Marco81blues]

@@espojespo5 He was a good player till his retirement in the 70's when he came back in the early 80's he was a guitar god. Until he went sick again in the late 90's, those 6 albums he recorded during that period are out of this world guitar work...and the vocals so deep and tortuous.

[@Jahefe13]

He is a Master of the Blues idiom and my hero. He survived Heroin add. and a relationship with Janis Joplin . Now that's a real Texan . God bless Beaumont . I read Edgar is recording something related to Johnny.

[@Marco81blues]

It's said Johnny Winter had a huge record collection hanging on a wall and he could play alongside each and every song in those records.

[@fougee1]

Loved Mr.Winters saw him live over 25 times he was at his best in small clubs. Sometimes he would play for three hours straight with out a break.Wild man. Rest in Peace Johnny!

[@berkenerenusar6607]

You're so lucky. I'm 18 years old guy from Turkey and you know Johnny unfortunately died when I was just 11. I wish I was born in 60s, 70s and see Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray and some other blues legends... And also that's sad no one makes some music like these legends, nowadays.. All my friends listen to autotuned shit, they can't feel the blues and that's so sad...

[@fougee1]

@@berkenerenusar6607 Play your friends Johnny Winter "Don't Take Advantage Of Me" 1987 live. if they can't rock to that they have no soul. If you were around in the 60's you would be a old man like me. You still can listen and pass it on.!!

[@stephenhanlin2388]

@@berkenerenusar6607 Try Chris Cain, Michael “Iron Man” Burks. Josh Smith, Kirk Fletcher, Matt Schofield, Arthur Menezes. Those will keep you busy awhile

[@shelovesdisco2153]

A goldmine for all the Johnny Winter fans out here...thanks Jeff!

[@markmcmyn8967]

For me, Johnny Winter is one the hardest to copy,and actually get his sound. His fast guitar style is original, and is as blues as blues can be. It's My own Fault, off the Johnny Winter And live album with Rick Derringer,is one the greatest slow blues ever recorded.

[@zeus-bx9xw]

great album, bought it in the 70s.

[@TheBladepolisher]

Another GREAT track of Johnny's is "You Keep Sayin' Your Leaving" off of the "I'm Not Your Brothers Keeper" album. Check that one out for a JW blues guitar extravaganza.

[@billridge7854]

Yeah right. He personally told me precision & SPEED.

[@lewisprice3156]

100% agreed

[@TheFloridaPappy]

I generally can't stand the "look how fast I can play" thing, but you could tell that was just Johnny's style and he wasn't showing off. He had to slow down to play fast. I'll never be able to play as good as this, but thanks for breaking it down and instructing it so well.

[@cynthiaklenk6313]

Very nice! Johnny owned the pentatonic blues box, and made it is own. Johnny was as fast as he needed to be, soulful and very very clean - every note distinct.

[@robertbutler8769]

Excellent video Johnny Winter one of my favorite players a true monster player

[@JameyMeetze]

Absolutely impressive! Thank you

[@peterfaulds8597]

Johnny was also in my opinion the most versatile and unique rock and roll texas blues player that has EVER existed.,even BB King said that. And in jimi hendrixes biography he stated that Johnny was the best guitarist that he ever played with...We love your johnny you will live on forever..

[@tlgtlg3803]

Johnny winter was no slouch, he was masterful, articulate, versital, with a lightning flash, machine-gun delivery, an enjoyment to the ear, catchy & intimidating true blues "MASTER GUTARIST" LIVE ON "JOHNNY GUITAR"!! FOREVER....

[@jchow5966]

JW was absolutely The Best!!!!! ☮️💟

[@shawnbell6392]

Johnny could play and never run out of ideas. That is what inspires me the most out of his many, many talents.

[@donald-parker]

Johnny Winter was the one that turned me on to Electric Guitar. Copying his licks was my obsession for years. Slide and standard. Johnny Winter And Live album is still one of the best things I've ever heard. RIP!

[@Tonguefunsome]

Along with Sonny Landreth and Ry Cooder one of the greatest slide players ever!

[@larken558]

Maybe Duane Alman and Mick Taylor ( ... not Ry Cooder ... search youtube and he's got nothing special )

[@Neilhoh3]

Johnny Winter And Live was the second record I ever owned, after Eat a Peach. Wow, I didn't know what i was doing or what I liked but still playing them both. I didnt even know Jumpin Jack Flash was a Stones' song that's how naive I was. After listening to it regularly for nearly 50 years, the thing that gets me now is the tightness, particularly of Rick Derringer...or when Johnny is playing Rhythm too. Hard to believe a band could play that tight ever let alone live in that frenetic performance.

[@lennyluzitano8920]

Awesome my good man,,,,,

[@tiki_trash]

Rick and Johnny were just so damn good together! Those two And Live albums are still some of my favorite albums of all time.

[@Magnetron33]

These are riffs I have admired for years. You have got them down to a science. JWA played in my area (Davenport Ia) in August of 70. He and Derringer were an outstanding team.Thanks alot Saw him do those many times over 40 years

[@robertscottpurse1]

Thanks Jeff. Your lessons are awesome. I would love to see more Johnny Winter. Please

[@me2onthenet]

2 music man amps, turned up to dirty, Johnny was the best! I took a friend (Joe) to a Johnny show, he said he didn't want to go. Joe said it's not his type of music. I said it's not a type of music, its going to a bar and watching a bad-ass play guitar like you never saw. What else you gonna do sit home, i asked. Joe came and said it was the best time he ever had at a concert. "That guy was awesome " he said. After that Joe would call me every time Johnny came around. I've been to 50+ of Johnny's shows and enjoyed every one! RIP Johnny!!

[@larrygeetar9309]

First time seeing Johnny Winter ~ Boston Tea Party, 1969. He played a Fender Mustang through three (!) Twin Reverbs, two on the bottom and one on top in a pyramid. Dimed volume and treble, no bass. Blood from my ears, but totally stoked. The man was on fire.

[@luffy8563]

U guys just nailed the f'..in tone he had . love it

[@davidflint12]

RIP Johnny. You are missed

[@toddgreenwood9631]

I love that people are studying Johnny Winter. Really good lesson here, but I thought it should be mentioned that Winter also used his other fingers along with his thumb pick. Almost like a flam instead of a sweep.

[@Tonguefunsome]

I saw Johnny play live, he picked like a banjo player with a thumb pick and fingers. The man could lay down slide like no one else!

[@zd9995]

One of the best guitars lessons I've ever seen/heard on KZbin. Thanks Jeff man!!!

[@Ronno4691]

Saw Johnny two nights running in London 25 (?) years ago! The first night he played the then Town & Country 2 on Holloway Road, Islington nr. Highbury Corner and he was OK. The next night he played the Town & Country in Kentish town (I think it's now called the Kentish Town Forum), a much larger venue and he ROCKED the place playing to loads more people than the smaller sister venue down the road. He shredded on an awesome version of Link Wray's Rumble that second night that blew me away - his speed was incredible. RIP Johnny; we've all got to go sometime, buddy, but you won't be forgotten. Good tutorial here, BTW!

[@RickyPisano]

I met Johnny at the Iron Horse in Noho, MA. in the mid 70's. Always one of my favorite blues guys. I had an awesome original oil painting of him that I wish I still had. Saving this video to play with later on. Thanks Betty l bro!!

[@equinn2434]

I'm from Western mass. Sadly I was not born yet to meet the man.

[@anthonylarrain7835]

Johnny's vocal work was antastic in several songs. Lay Down Your Sorrows Stranger Cheap Tequila Miss anne Drown in my own tears Like a rolling stone The list keeps going cheers

[@bambledaczymbledek]

Drown In My Own Tears- probably the most underrated vocalist in blues....

[@eildertvinkenborg4761]

I am not in blues but Johnny is a chapter apart . He is some kind of special . I feel soon get bored with blues exept mister Winter because he plays amazing creative . And his voice so tasty ! He was a true genius !

[@fredkester6130]

Thanks very much!. . Such good things to practice when you come home and you've had a louzy day.

[@dr.corneliusq.cadbury6984]

I was hoping he was going to show us some super secret scales or something, lol. The reality is a lot of these licks are (amazingly) sitting right there in the standard blues box. It's sort of like a foreign language: I've learned some of the phrases but Johnny is like a fast-talking native speaker.

[@chriscampbell9191]

Yeah, that's sort of what the guy in the vid (Mr. Massey) illustrates -- Johnny took some basic licks, added a couple twists, and played them at lightning speed.

[@jchow5966]

Wpw- thank yoi for sharing a fantastic memory!

[@jackdavis6064]

Nice job. Thank you.

[@chiquiinfinite7028]

These are the best. Do a part 2

[@mukraker1]

Jeff, thanks a lot for the great info; especially how you started SLOW and then goosed it a little faster and faster. That kind of attention makes it much easier to learn this great stuff. Thanks again for paying attention. Good man!

[@potterman83]

Awesome! Love Johnny Winter

[@xpump876]

Johnny used to have his guitars serviced @ his friends store "Silver Strings Music" in St Louis - (Ed Selig's -since closed) and I was amazed his string gauge was so heavy - +13's on the high e sting - i heard this was because he thought the tone was much better {--considering the bends he frequently used he had fingers of steel }.The Johnny Winter AND Live album (w/ Rick Derringer) blues # : "Its my own fault " imho is him at his peak and it always blows me away - incredible powerful playing. RIP Johnny , thank you.

[@philipstafford4540]

That's super interesting. I played almost exclusively acoustic for about fifteen years before I got my first electric so I've always liked heavier strings than most people but that means 11's, except for 12's on my jazz box, and I also think they give better tone, but 13's are out there. I've heard SRV also played super heavy strings.

[@ariicotter]

I like this dude

[@markbass354]

1974 I was 18 years old I framed homes in Houston , I met a group of guys that played in a band one guy had long blonde hair . I was clueless back then I didn't know it was Johnny Winter till the next day. Now Im 61.

[@blackprince4074]

Hi from Australia Been a Johnny Winter fan since 1960's I am 69 this year. I love his slide in "rollin & tumblin" sooooo gooood. You take care

[@davidharvey1509]

That's a great story....thank you for sharing that!! Im from Houston

[@markbass354]

David it seemed like the other day but indeed it was a while back

[@yolantarooney9191]

I miss him so much, I can't believe it.🎸🎸🎸

[@bishlap]

just turned 59 june 4 and having lived in ny my whole life got to see Johnny play live at least 10 times - different venues, but all 3000 seats or less, perfect for my tastes and perfect for johnny winter. One show at what was then the felt forum - underneath madison sq. garden had james cotten open for johnny !! what a thrill to see johnny and a real chicago bluesman. RIP Johnny, you and your music will live forever in my heart.

[@au1098]

Very nice! Got this one on a loop! Thank you!

[@scottmatheson2390]

"..still in the key of B.." JOHNNY + B = GOOD.

[@momo1momo]

Thank you, this has been very helpful to me. Cheers!

[@chriscampbell9191]

Great vid. Pretty enlightening. Getting terrific tone from that guitar and rig.

[@sebastianfibes2126]

Excellent upload Jeff.

[@zeus-bx9xw]

Johnny oooohhhh yeah, my favorite. Thanks

[@horstgludwig1047]

cool, you figuered it out amazingly bro. Thanks so much from a huge Winter fan.

[@staffansvahn]

Jeff, Great playing and lesson. Thank you. Best wishes

[@RobCastro]

Sweet. I could not figure out JW’s playing until now. Thanks so much,

[@tonevicar-fr5gh]

Really ? You have to be a "newbie". Everything he ever played was older than dinosaur shit. Had him down cold at age 15. Then I moved on to a better class of player.

[@cameronjarrett5543]

If you're a fan of blues and don't like or at least respect Johnny Winter.. You either think John Mayer is the greatest guitarist of all time or you're high as a kite. I would appreciate it if you stop going on videos related to the guitarist you're "not impressed with" and throwing your factually incorrect opinions in everyone's face.. ✌️

[@Giants588]

Great chops, the late JW was sensational!!!!!!!

[@dorianblunote455]

See old Tommy Shannon on bass right? Mister winters said he used fender twins for long time UNTIL he found the music man hd 410!!!! He said they sounded "better than a twin" he used thumb and finger picks, also his eq settings were zero bass full treble!!!! Thanks man awesome stuff!!!!

[@thomasvee329]

I want to meet a woman who can play Johnny! Your riffs are spot on...I know most of his tricks...met him 4 times, (John Paris, Tom Compton era), though I saw them during the Hughes/Hobbs era! This has been the greatest experience other than awaiting the Rapture! After all...what good is all our playing if we can't take it to the "next level"?!!!

[@evasquez42]

Great stuff, can you do a tutorial on Johnny's "Rock Me Baby" please and thank you!🎸🎶🎸🤞

[@fergusx]

I love everybody is the one

[@bobboitt3126]

Great licks thanks! I miss Johnny!!

[@timhill6281]

dude this is KILLER!. Thanks

[@zarrir]

Well chosen. Very representative

[@craignelson6213]

I thought you looked familiar, did you play with Funky Mojodaddy for a while?? I moved from Chicago 6 years ago but I used to frequent harlem Avenue lounge

[@DaleyWard]

Fantastic, really sounds like Johnny. If I could just add one note about Johnny's use of pedals...the only one he used habitually as far as I'm aware was a Boss CE-2 Chorus.

[@TheBladepolisher]

Duane Allman look alike or what ? ? Hey Jeff, thanks for the great video ! Most people can't (and won't) play as clean as you do on this video. Great playing ! ! I'd heard that Johnny had bought Gatemouth Brown's guitar from his wife after he'd passed away. Another thing I wanted to pass along to you was the fact that Johnny made a video of him going back to his hometown and the house he grew up in. Great video. It was made and produced by Johnny's longtime bassist and assistant Paul . . . . . can't remember his last name right now, but man, what a great video.

[@coconini27]

Please How to play Solo Guitar "Mercy Mercy" from Johnny and Edgar Winter ? Thank you very much

[@serbgaby]

Very nice performance .... Please, if possible, you can take out the Chords / Riffs for "On the LIMB" by Johnny WINTER

[@alexhuevera939]

im always more impressed with johnnys singing

[@guitardudeguy3139]

Johnny Winter licks...yes!

[@vmat1000]

Great lesson. I never dug non reverse Firebirds very much but this one is pretty sexy, Looks comfy and i love the SB with p90s.

[@davidcudlip6587]

Johnny used a lot of phaser effects in the 70's. Listen to any of his live stuff from that era and it's on all the time. Later switched to Music Man amps and might have had one of the models that had the built in phaser.

[@fredfloyd68]

It was mostly the Gibson...they practically play themselves..and Johnnys brilliance...

[@MrGuitar1458]

Nice, well done!!

[@toddflowers8052]

Awesome lesson thank you !

[@chriskarp1877]

Sounds great Jeff!!!

[@RickMansur]

There will NEVER another Johnny Winter.

[@thevelointhevale1132]

Johnny used a Music Man 4x10 Amp ... The Bass was completely rolled off, Treble at 10 and ZERO Mids at all ... he ran a Boss Chorus Pedal that he left on all the time ... to thicken up the sound a bit. I would imagine it was dialed in very subtle.

[@megatrends]

Great video, thank you. Nice job.

[@geedubb-q1u]

John D. Winter WAS the Texas Blues Great. He didn’t need any outside peddle help. All you had to do was look at Johnny’s fingers to tell he’d be one of the few who could play that neck.

[@stevecocran4899]

Great video...

[@robertpeters4075]

Great stuff

[@edadpops1709]

Love to hear you and Andy playin johnny winter tunes,sometime!

[@liamerick7262]

andy?

[@hlowe4220]

Thanks for the tips!

[@RolleHardrocki]

Johnny played thru a Boss Chorus (stereo) into a clean amp on max volume , Bass on zero, Middle max, treble max and he only used the neck pickup

[@joepetrosky3411]

Excellent

[@turquoiseturtles7043]

Thanks so much!🎶

[@jr13227]

Interesting to see P90 in the firebird, Johnny used mini humbuckers, but nevertheless you nailed the tone.

[@kenruiz8714]

NICELY DONE .......THX

[@magfedacex]

Its 2020 Epiphone need another run at the wilshire in my life

[@Vinaigre]

Good video. Thanks for the tips!

[@skullduggery3377]

i have an old interview with johnny and he claims he didn't use much in the way of pedals, etc. because they would always break...lol.

[@sullyb23511]

"He was not a afraid of the key of 'B,' a triumphant key of rock!"

[@s0nder1275]

Greg koch

[@stefanlindberg8219]

nice playing.like it

[@furyiiiplate]

Nobody played like JWinter. At least I never heard of them. Style all of his own.

[@GemTones]

Thank you!

[@icu12cme]

Great video cheers :)

[@thomasvee329]

Jeff...thanks for sharing; would love to jam with you!

[@mr.vonruby.2195]

Johnny NEVER used any picks but thumbpick. never used an indexpick or 5 picks. A metalslide,a thumbpick and a `64 reverse firebird from gibson of course. Always do you research , LOL...! You do super good .

[@tidepoolbay]

Jeff always Cool!

[@pskemster]

Good lesson!😎

[@kcave23]

Great lesson!

[@frankenstien6978]

What year Firebird ..67 ...0r ?

[@raylebest]

great guitarist

[@HHG_BREEDINGGROUND1]

R.I.P. Johnny Winter

[@khnarry7938]

J.W. might just might be the best "bluesman" ever……..so much better than the SRV's EC's of the world……Not many people understand that because he was not as popular .!.!.!

[@larrygeetar9309]

Johnny Winter and Michael Bloomfield set the bar for white blues players. They were pioneers for the Claptons, Pages, and SRVs that followed. Johnny could flat out burn really anyone when he was at his peak.

[@imkergroningen274]

Please get your facts straight. The King's (+ Buddy Guy, Matt Murphy, etc.) of this world set the bar for white blues players. Clapton recorded the Beano album way before Johnny became famous. So EC never "followed" Winter. Nor Bloomfield, who claimed he started playing a Les Paul because of Clapton (before that he played a Telecaster). Page started playing blues in The Yardbirds, that was in 1966. SRV was influenced by Buddy Guy, Albert King and Hendrix, not by Johnny Winter. And BTW: I rate all these players highly, I'm not into the "better than" thing, the alone "the best bluesman".

[@mikehaas7]

This is the 2nd time I've seen someone take a left-handed Firebird and play it "upside down" and strung for right-handed playing. Is this configuration easier to play sitting? The Firebird is absolutely going to be my next guitar acquisition, but I've talked to folks who hate, hate, hate the reverse headstock whereas I think it's the coolest feature on a firebird other than an excellent body design, insofar as the amount of wood used and the unique tone they produce. Thoughts?

[@knightfall9394]

Its not left handed, its a non reverse firebird

[@mikehaas7]

@@knightfall9394 Ah! Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering why on some of these Firebirds the knobs were still in the correct position although I have seen the leftie used inverted, with the knobs up top after switching it. Thanks!

[@sergiomauricio9290]

The best

[@billyclub56]

Johnny on a Firebird is my favorite. I never liked that stupid lookin, no head thing, he went to!! He was still great

[@larken558]

The headless was lighter for Johnny to play for 2 hours live.

[@Dogheadj]

He normally used a Gibson Reverse 1963 Firebird for slide and some non-slide work. I believe he then switched to a Lazer Headless by Mark Erlewine. But he held onto the '63 Firebird and played it throughout his entire career.