Ry Cooder Rhythm Guitar Trick

[@professorhamamoto]

I have a lot of your books, transcriptions, and read many columns you wrote over the years. But this channel of yours brings it all together as tunes and music. Great job on your extensive contributions as an educator.

[@FretboardConfidential]

Thank you so much! That's very gratifying to hear.

[@mariannegrittanimusic4423]

Hey David, not sure now how I discovered you, but I'm glad I did. I started my late night guitar adventure this evening with an old video recording of Ry's Jesus on the Mainline, which I'm pulling out of my own archives and dusting off. Glad that the rabbit hole led to you. You have a great way of explaining things and breaking them down. I've subscribed and am looking forward to whatever else you have to share. Thanks for taking the time.

[@jimajello1028]

Tks David. Very informative. Different tunnings lending great rhythms & sustains. You are the go to man who clearly breaks the important details down & has truly improved my playing. Jim

[@twangmeister]

A really great lesson. I've been using open G on and off for many years now and learnt something new from your lesson. Many thanks for taking the time to record and upload it.

[@paulgoldreich3324]

Thanks David for all your brilliance. Ry is such an extraordinary player. I saw him and Chet Atkinson playing in London -acoustic - set. Mind blowing.

[@russelllitterell2311]

Wow!!! I'll bet that was a great show.!

[@corc01]

Chet Atkins maybe?

[@GuyCabliaro]

Thank you. You put in the time and are generous to share.

[@davidgunter6106]

Always have enjoyed your instruction - great to find your channel. LOVE the Ryland stuff!

[@arlenroth8373]

Cooder told me about this little dittie when I was doing a book about him back in 1976 or so.....

[@FretboardConfidential]

No, really? Hope I got it right! I had to piece it together from clues in his 1979 Guitar Player cover story and a lot of spins of Into The Purple Valley :-). But more to the point - Arlen Roth?? It's a pleasure and an honor to see your comment here.

[@keithfraser9705]

Even more importantly, what happened to the book?

[@RandonGuyMostly]

Yeah! Arlen! We miss your ‘Hot Licks’ material! You covered LOTS of territory with those! Thanks for your great contributions! 👍🏼👏🏼

[@MrZootalores]

thanks David i like the sound of this & i've tried this in the past just didn't know what it was called

[@stevedouglas7375]

Thank you David for being specific at the beginning in terms of showing how to tune the guitar for this lesson. I'm a long time acoustic player who is just now interesting in venturing out to try my hand at some open tunings. A lot of teachers simple say, "The guitar is tuned such and such..." and away they go. It's better to tune up with the teachers guitar. Thanks again David.

[@activemelody]

Great breakdown on this David.

[@FretboardConfidential]

Thanks Brian!

[@ricardojordy2634]

You prolly dont care but if you're bored like me atm then you can watch pretty much all the latest movies and series on Instaflixxer. Have been watching with my girlfriend recently xD

[@kingstonmalakai5910]

@Ricardo Jordy yea, have been using Instaflixxer for since november myself :)

[@bartonone2005]

Thank you David! Clear, concise lesson with a bit of music theory. Great!

[@TheCamerai2i]

Cool, yup noticed when playing along with Ry's records, the four chord turned out to be an open chord. This video, so well articulated, brought this home to me. Thank you.

[@billconley6246]

Hey David. Just discovered you on KZbin . Many years ago I took your workshop on swing guitar in CT and you launched me into swing/jazz and even dobro and pedal steel. you were a very big influence on my playing and growing as a musician so now I've subscribed and looking forward to continuing learning from you. Thanks for the Ry Cooder insights. Bill C from Vermont

[@FretboardConfidential]

Wow, that's going back a ways! Great to hear from you, Bill. No kidding - dobro and steel, too?

[@michaelmckinney5645]

Cool insight and memory-pedal steel y'all.

[@bigsmall99]

I would love it if you made a video series elaborating on Ry Cooder's tricks. He's the best and so are you!

[@FretboardConfidential]

Thanks, Brian! I don't know about a series, but I definitely have at least one new lesson on Ry Cooder in the works as we speak.

[@My6stringer]

I enjoyed your lesson and humility , it was refreshing, keep up the great work !!!

[@frankrussell4664]

Gregg Allman wrote Midnight Rider in Open G, although it’s in D. You can hear it on his Laid Back album version.

[@frankrussell4664]

And Ry Cooder… no words!🙌

[@bryanmccarthy5506]

That was a game changer thanks a lot David. I love your emails to, always thought provoking.

[@richardburt9812]

Very patient lemon and good for beginners

[@jakobgudmundsson5571]

Thank you David, Great lesson

[@momo1momo]

Subscribed. Immediately. Love the Stones story! I've got a lot of learning ahead! Thanks for contributing.

[@Bopshu]

Love this groove David. Not too tough but can get lost in it. Thanks Bruce

[@jeffbryan3224]

Thanks for this! Funny thing only YESTERDAY was I wondering how I'd figure out what Tuning Ry used !

[@paulhoward49]

Love that trickster Ry Cooder!! I'm sure all your followers appreciate this kind of insight, very cool!

[@FretboardConfidential]

Ha! So do I, Paul :-).

[@Baci302]

Great breakdown. Thanks.

[@thcarter123]

Very cool playing a song w guitars in different tunings. Ry is/was a genius. How did these guys figure this stuff out without the internet? I read recently that John Fogerty did some of that, too.

[@darrenkerton9837]

Hi, just discovered your channel, this has given me some great ideas for my unused parlour guitar, cheers from England

[@FretboardConfidential]

Glad to hear it! Always happy to help the cause of guitar ownership :-)

[@dannyjonze]

Son of a gun i wish i had found this out back in 1980, that would have changed alot, i got so far and just stalled, thanks for your lessons

[@FretboardConfidential]

Haha! I know what you mean. I wouldn't have gotten nearly as much of this sorted out myself without the Guitar Player interview around that time when Cooder explained about soloing in D tuning but playing rhythm guitar in G tuning. And even then, it was years before I managed to apply that insight...

[@dannyjonze]

@@FretboardConfidential it's all about the right help at the right time, and the mark knopfler stuff always astounded me and now i can see what i should have seen. But thanks anyway

[@rabbiyaakovashersinclair9688]

Hi David. Really appreciate this. Been a Ry Cooder fan since the the first album. This really helped me. BTW - the rhythm part of Alimony sounds similar to this. Would you think of doing a lesson on Alimony? I for one would love that! Thanks again.

[@FretboardConfidential]

@@rabbiyaakovashersinclair9688 Thanks! I hadn't thought of that one, but I'll put it on the list. In the meantime, I did do a lesson on "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" a few months back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5TQp6x_bqh4itU

[@MrDoctorCosmo]

Way K'EWL, Amigo-MAN! I saw Ry Cooder at a place that no longer exists called "The Checkered Flag" on Guadalupe back in the '60's, from 6' away and he was altogether amazing, solo... STRONG and hard-line L.A. funny (?) in a rather dry and distant way... the guy was mind-blowing back in the '60's... and never did even slow down! Thanks for your "tip" for sure... Smoothe Sailings!!!

[@AceBaseKingOfSpace]

That was a game changer for me. Thanks.

[@drewtodd1853]

Incredible. Thank you. 😊

[@ronalwoods3181]

great insite into alternate tunings !

[@boofit1961]

Discovered you about a month ago and really enjoying your channel. Never been able to get my finger picking to work with the side of my thumb so got some of those Black Mountain picks to see if I can try again. Love the 00-18 by the way. Thank you!

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Very nice and informative. I saw the same Knopfler video where he played the riff from Romeo and Juliet. But now it makes sense playing in D on a guitar tuned to open G. Thanks

[@FretboardConfidential]

Yes, it's mind-boggling how that small piece of info can make such a big difference, isn't it?

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Yes. I attempted to play the thing you demonstrated. Moderate success, but then I just messed around using the basic progression starting on the d down on the 2nd and 3rd fret, but not doing the same syncopation. Anyway it sounded good and I learned something new. And it wasn't the Keith Richards thing either. I used that thing a long time ago in my Rolling Stones phase( I'm in my 60s) Lol.

[@MarkCasimes]

David, thanks for the easy to follow instructional video. Absolutely loved it and your engaging stories. Looking forward to walking through your other videos. Cheers!

[@charlespeterson3798]

You just reminded me of a record by Ron Nagle from 1970, Bad Rice. First cut was 61 Clay, and the guitarist was someone I had never heard of, and never forgotten. A great album? I think it is.

[@picknngrinn]

Amazing! ...really appreciate your insight! Thanks David

[@rasbydorton1]

Great stuff David!! Thank you!

[@dalewilson4761]

Great stuff saved for future ref .

[@BaukeWijnja]

Thanks, David! This is an inspiring and helpful video.

[@jeffcaldwell2544]

You get a nice staccato attack even with the hand rest which disallows palm muting--I guess that's a combo of relaxing fretting fingers and returning picking fingers to strings after the pick? I've got a metal resonator, so if I let things get out of control there's a distant church bell ringing...

[@FretboardConfidential]

It's tricky; once I realized how much I rely on right-hand palm muting, I found myself playing the resophonic less, but - yes, the relaxed left-hand can definitely help compensate; I think I talked about that some in the Bluesier Travis Picking lesson from a couple of weeks back.

[@howardemerson457]

A late reply, I know, but I just saw this wonderful video you've done, David. I've been playing cross-tuned for decades now, but I digress........Have you noticed that your National hand rest is removable? I took mine off a long time ago, and I never pressed very hard on the fulcrum point, so a crushed cone isn't a concern. It really makes it easier to get to tonal attack point I prefer. Great job in any case, David!

[@rodjones117]

@@howardemerson457 They are *not* always removable. On many resos the palm rest is welded/brazed to the cover plate.

[@howardemerson457]

@@rodjones117 Yes, they were spot welded for a very long time, and it was bad idea to try removing them as it would almost always cause damage. National started making the straps removable in the 1990's at some point, and there are import covers that have them for conversion if you don't want to damage a non-removable strap cover plate. For many years I owned a Mosrite-era square neck Dobro that had no strap cover, and I bought it used while touring with Eric Andersen in 1974 at McCabe's in LA.

[@finlayandersonguitar]

Thanks David this is cool stuff :)

[@randykintzley5923]

Very cool. Thanks for posting

[@pierrotmergus]

So many good tips and stories in a short amount of time, U 4 real man thx a lot !

[@danwaldie4661]

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you!!

[@FretboardConfidential]

You're most welcome :-). Glad you enjoyed it.

[@tedpowers2045]

Could you do some Capt Beefheart vamps with this style Like Goona need Somebody on your Bond?

[@tomislavmihalic5283]

Ry Cooder is a genius. There's nothing you can add to that. But hey, so is Keith. That is why they don't stand each other in this world. In that other world they are both looking forward to, just like we are all are, they will be the best pals, trust me. And we're all gonna enjoy them when we cross over.

[@NeonBlade]

Great! Gave me 20 new ideas for riffs and I've only watched half of it

[@richpels8136]

I saw Cooder in 72 or 73 in Rochester, NY opening for Captain Beefheart, whom he was producing at the time. He went off on the Stones between songs, saying they took drugs to stay up all night and practice all the stuff he taught them during the day, and basically took a lot of his sound for what they were writing at the time. He didn't sound mad so much as frustrated they hadn't included him in the composition of the songs. Seemed to feel cheated. His performance was typically amazing. And the Beefheart band was amazingly strange and uniquely wonderful in their own way. I never understood why they were together on tour until I found out that Cooder wasn't just producing Beefheart, but sort of babysitting him for the label, since the Captain was totally bonkers.

[@tedpowers2045]

He was with the Beefheart Band until Don had an anxiety attack at a major coming out concert according to David Peel I read. I love the Beefheart bands vamps

[@davidroberts8657]

Thanks, great lesson.

[@Wobbly_Bob]

very nice. Thankyou. Many hours ahead for me!!!

[@bluescam1]

Nice stuff, thanks!

[@vadlasletta]

Hi love your videoa. I’m just getting into slide playing in open d, and a wanted to play ry cooder’s version of 6345-789. Any clu what tuning he uses?

[@jkmorrison1013]

good lesson

[@davidrichardson9172]

Excellent.

[@JAKENMK]

🤯 you don’t need to use the open chord as the 1 chord in open tunings !?! It seems so simple but i never thought of it before haha 😆 cheers mate, this jam looks like a lot of fun !🍻

[@electro-rootsworkshop7691]

This lesson is particularly useful!

[@Bopshu]

Nice to see Brian still learning when hes not teaching.

[@simonsbuddy1806]

Excellent video...I wish I had you when I was figuring this our for myself in 1972 from a 33 1/3 record!! KZbin is like having an older brother who shows you shit.

[@FretboardConfidential]

Haha! Believe it or not, that is pretty much the exact pedagogical vibe I'm aiming for; I'm glad to hear it's landing like that. Also, my sister has still not forgiven me for putting skips in the first 20 seconds of her Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy LP.

[@tjeu2275]

Thanks!

[@WindEnergy]

What a great tutorial - I subscribed!

[@FretboardConfidential]

Glad to hear it - and thanks!

[@norsekrap]

WOW!! That is a revelation.

[@rickstevens7770]

David's comment about Keith Richards stealing Ry's stuff was also told to me at a Bobby King and Terry Evans show in the 90's. When they took a break, the guitarist(a friend of Ry's) sat next to me at the bar and told me the same thing.

[@FretboardConfidential]

Nice! Thanks for supplying some confirmation :-)

[@danwalsh8472]

good stuff enjoyed that i think he is right about the stones!!

[@AZCobraman]

Great stuff!

[@chrisghiardi117]

Just in the first stuff I hear Lowell George as well ...

[@shafersongs]

Love it.

[@jipes]

Great trick I did also see Mark Knopfler video where he explains Romeo and Juliet How cool is it to see those two fabulous players having this same idea. I wonder whether Mr Knopfler got it from Ry or not ?? Great explanations and demonstrations

[@FretboardConfidential]

I was wondering about that too! No idea, but it *is* cool.

[@BMWBikes-i7n]

Very good lesson about technichs from a Guitar God. Thank you, I Want more about it. :)

[@tomleblanc6742]

Found my new slide guitar teacher

[@wasteyelo1]

Incredible stuff David. I've clocked some of your other lessons on truefire. I subscribed

[@lindseyashley8401]

Good stuff.. thanks

[@joeshea1010]

another great

[@Blue_3rd]

Love it, thanks! Subscribed :)

[@fotoajojo]

Hey, Dave. I am another NGSW vet. ( I was shooting photos in exchange for lessons - made a portrait of you on the stage for the catalog. ) Thanks for this lesson - reminds me of you sitting in on Paul Rishell's class and tabbing stuff out for us. Still have cassette tapes with Paul playing a lick and you in the background saying "Which part did you pinch?" I would like to start down the dobro road, too. I like that Uncle Tupelo 15 Keys tone - relatively warm tone so I am guessing wood with metal resonator? Anyway, got a recommendation on a guitar to look around for? Which reminds me, I think the last time we talked you were sitting in with 5 Chinese Brothers in a bar in Baltimore and I bummed a quarter off of you for a payphone. I would pay you back but I don't know how to work the PayPals or the Tweeters. - Photo Joe

[@FretboardConfidential]

I remember you! Didn't you also take a picture of me with my Rick Turner guitar in the auditorium? Wood with metal resonator is kind of the standard for most lap-style slide playing, so yes, you may want to start there. If you drop me a line through my other site (www.davidhamburger.com) we can have a more in-depth chat about resonators and such!

[@fotoajojo]

Will do. I have been digging through boxes to find a print of that to scan and send to you. I know it’s in there someplace.

[@FretboardConfidential]

@@fotoajojo I will likewise see if I can rummage up the Guitar Player column they used it for, though that will take some *serious* garage-diving...

[@michaelcraig9449]

If you are playing in these odd tunings, how do you play along with someone in a different tuning? What if one person is in standard and someone else is using an odd tuning? How do the notes on neck change? Do you need to re-memorize the notes on the neck all over again, to play in odd tunings? See, this is kind of confusing to me, not sure how it all works..

[@FranzRobertWILD]

That's it. You have to learn the chords on this new tuning. It's easier because it's in open tuning. You can find some tricks and pictures by searching on internet. I think I posted some on my FB page dedicated to slide music. facebook.com/SlideGuitars/

[@MegaNavek]

perhaps you had better try drums….

[@tweedguitar9103]

David, Do you teach "Tattler" by Ry Cooder ? If so, have you taught it on any of your instructional DVD's ? Can you help me to learn it please ? It seems the same idea with open G tuning with D standard chords on top. thankyou for your help.

[@dougaigner3258]

Ry hung out with Lowell George, too, and some of Lowell’s playing sounds a lot like Ry’s…

[@theriversedge7217]

Love it! Thanks for the lesson. But then he capos in the open tuning doesn't he? Why does he do that?

[@FretboardConfidential]

Usually people do it so they can get all the open-string moves and yet have the song pitched in the key that's best for their voice. I assume that's why Ry Cooder does it, too...

[@jaeztheone]

Yeah......we knew that Keith got G tuning off '69/70 ish……...Hence the '5 strings-3 chords-2 fingers-1 asshole...…...but he's still a genius

[@marcuscook3852]

Just remember - good artists borrow; great artists steal.

[@unclearvin3718]

noting to whom the moniker "@zhole" would apply defines who's side you are on in the RC vs KR dispute. Long live Mr Ry. KR, not so much. Great lesson, even with the unsubstantiated sidebars. cheers

[@bambledaczymbledek]

Mind freakin' blown. I gotta go lie down...

[@FretboardConfidential]

Haha! Pretty crazy, right?

[@klausochs7006]

Sounds good THX :-)

[@deltabilly1]

Holy crap.

[@deltabilly1]

I’ve always found open G to be easier for Rhythm because of the similarity to standard.

[@deltabilly1]

Re keith Richards- Keef pretty much copped to ripping of Ry in his book.

[@flowerbunny3225]

smash that like. You rock dude!😍

[@jspoone1]

I think Bruce Cockburn also uses this.

[@JosephRevard]

Thanks... That's great, and very useful.

[@billw5189]

The general idea of “Ripping off” a musical technique or sound is sort of an odd notion as everything is derivative if one only knows where to look

[@gentx2160]

Never worked with these tunings. Maybe time to try new stuff. I just play by ear. Ry style is a hell of a mess in stadard tuning. Jajaja.

[@billdyke9745]

I think Keef would be quite chuffed to be called 'reptilian'... (Is 'chuff' acceptable across the pond? On these shores it means somewhat amused)... Good trick, btw. 🇬🇧👍

[@FretboardConfidential]

I imagine you're right about that! My impression is that "chuffed" is in wider circulation in Canada than the U.S., but I've read enough P.G. Wodehouse to get your drift :-).

[@bangtwang3835]

You should end all your tutorials W/ , " I'm David Hamburger, and thats something you can sink your teeth into" . I know it sounds cheesy , and I can see that its not your style, but those are all the better reasons to do it. Also, like getting a silly tune from an ad stuck in your head, this is a way, that I guarantee you will work, to help people remember YOU , and WHAT YOU JUST TAUGHT THEM. It must be delivered with the utmost confidence, while looking the camera square in the eye. Maybe followed with a bit of a 'shit eating grin' [ shit eating optional ] . Your tutorial was great, brother.

[@ritaandcharlescorley5668]

You shouldn’t call this a trick. It’s a method. Great lesson thanks !!

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

I love Ry Cooder but I'm pretty sure he wasn't the first to do those chord moves in open G so I don't know why he would diss Keith for learning from him and using the ideas. That's the way it all works with music you learn from each other and pass it along for others. Strange that Ry thought they ripped him off. Maybe they didn't thank him or give him credit for inspiring them. A lot of musicians feel too self important.

[@gregleroy1]

👍🏼

[@HotRodSixString]

He missed the opportunity to mention that that is almost the exact tuning for banjo .

[@BlixtenMarlowes]

Sweeeet!

[@paulterl4563]

Liked and subcribed (#1501).

[@robertailman5092]

Aha! You must be listening to my phone calls...,I was talking to Ry Cooder's girl friend back then and.....,yes, the Stones are a very "derivative" band...,so "I drink your milkshake" to put into Texas slang...,meanwhile back at the ranch...,

[@jimajello1028]

Tks David. Very informative. Different tunnings lending great rhythms & sustains. You are the go to man who clearly breaks the important details down & has truly improved my playing. Jim