Scotty Moore Mystery Train Solo : Why it’s so hard to emulate! (Tabs included)

[@AdrianWhyte]

Hey folks, thanks so much for watching this video! I’ve been doing videos like this every week for the last three years - if you want to access the tabs for them and help feed my two kids join the Patreon! www.patreon.com/Adrianwhyte Thanks for being here!

[@kerryfromaj9032]

Very cool! I’ve messed around with Mystery Train for a couple years and keep getting better at it. One day I’ll be better, until then more practice. Thanks for this.

[@AdrianWhyte]

I hope this helps Kerry! Stay cool man!!

[@Dennistcb78]

Me too 😳 i Play it every day first and i have a Version but..... James Burton Scotty Moore Brian Setzer........Adrian 😃 its the Song we all love Rockabilly and Elvis also Myst.t.

[@jwsorrell]

Your analysis was amazing to pick up the mistakes, and yes, that makes the solo authentic. What you did was extremely difficult, so hats off to you!

[@AdrianWhyte]

Cheers man, I’m glad you appreciate that! It means a lot, hang around!

[@badasswood]

lol... 2 years so far for me, and I still dont get it , but this helps a ton!thank you!

[@lamartin5042]

It’s like you proved I am not crazy. Years of self doubt are gone. Thanks to you. I am a Patreon member and this is why!!

[@Dennistcb78]

Nice words from you 😎 Adrian makes a good Job

[@AdrianWhyte]

You ain’t crazy! Thanks so much, that means a lot man!!

[@CC-qb9sm]

Pretty much the greatest song ever!! Thanks for this lesson!

[@AdrianWhyte]

It really is good, such a cool recording, such a great vibe- I always love playing this one in sun rising! I’ll have to really practice to get that muscle memory if I’m going to get it spot on!!

[@richardstanley1331]

Awesome lesson and discussion. I can’t wait to dig in as it’s a perfect next song for me. Saw a James Burton vid were he has a fantastic run at it. He hybrid picks it. Good split screens. Good advice on the don’t duplicate the tab, but play like you understand what’s happening!!

[@AdrianWhyte]

Love those old videos - pretty much inspired what I do here, might try and get some split screen action going!!

[@felineth56]

Good job! It's pretty much the way I play it a long time ago when I was into Scotty Moore.....

[@tobylennon8913]

Thank you so much for this. Best 9.20 mins on you tube. Best wishes. Your a star!!

[@AdrianWhyte]

Thank you so much, glad you’ve enjoyed it! That’s a lovely thing to hear!!

[@kevintaylor8055]

Nice one Adrian I've been playing a simpler version of that for 40 years but nice to see how it's put together well done mate thanks have a good one 👍

[@AdrianWhyte]

Any time Kevin, glad you’re enjoying it! Please make the most of it and let me know how you find it!

[@John-ob7dh]

I have played it for years using a type of chord solo .Nice to see the correct way .

[@AdrianWhyte]

Nothing wrong with that, for the record I don’t think it has to be played this way- but it was one heck of a challenge!!!

[@John-ob7dh]

Just learnt to play the solo to baby let's play house, and Lawdy miss Claudy.

[@wowwowwow185]

2:55 Scotty more was a genuis Elvis was lucky meeting him along with Bill Black and Dj fontana that formed that magic ingredients for rockabilly sound with Elvis amazing singing to magic

[@AdrianWhyte]

Here here!

[@begtotheroots]

Hi Adrian, this is a great lesson. Thanks for doing it. Thank you for making such a deep look in the solo. It must have been a lot of work making this video. I have read in a book about Elvis or Scotty or both, cannot remember what book it was, that the band (Scotty and Bill) and Elvis, thought, that this was a rehearsal take. Thats why Elvis is laughing at the end of the take. Because he thougt it was only a rehearsal. I once checked the upright bass bassline of the song which is very easy without the slapping, but very complicated with the slapping, and I realized, that Bill Black (the Bass player) made the chord chances sometimes a bar or half a bar after Elvis. I think, they were working out the song but Sam Philips (Producer) found "the perfect imperfection" (it is said , that this is a thing he was alway searching for) in this take. So he released it. But once again, thank you for your great work. Greetings from Austria. Rainer

[@AdrianWhyte]

Hi Rainer, I really enjoyed hearing that- that explains why it has such a fun vibe, it sounds like they are just having a bit of fun. Music is a funny thing! That’s a great story. I wish you were local, you would really enjoy the sun records show I play in!

[@begtotheroots]

@@AdrianWhyte yes I would🙏. Just saw your Bandvideo! Its so great!!! Very authentic!!! Maybe sometime .... Greetings!

[@cowboyhomembanda]

Awesome 🎉🎉 Good Job

[@OldFlapper]

I'm going to need to erase my muscle memory for this one. It'll be tough, but so worth it. Thanks so much, Adrian. :)

[@AdrianWhyte]

Don’t work too hard, I’m sure you sound Great playing your own rendition!

[@mattdwyerbluesandroots]

Love your work Adrian!

[@AdrianWhyte]

Cheers Matt!!

[@nickefgen9219]

You explain this very well, I like this style of playing, I need to start learning this style of playing to add to my playing Ability, I’ve gotten use to hybrid picking using a pick and my middle finger, this style of playing will Expand my playing abilities

[@AdrianWhyte]

Apologies, I never saw this comment! It’s been a few weeks, how’s it going?

[@CulinarySpy]

Thanks Adrian I always wondered just what was going on and why I fumbled !!

[@AdrianWhyte]

No worries Guido, you’re probably playing it great- just go for it like Scotty did!

[@slicksnewonenow]

Yes! There are quite a few that are DECEPTIVELY simple. My all time favorite of these, is Dale Hawkins "Susie Q". In forty years of playing professionally, I haven't run across more than four or five pickers that could even come close to being able to play the ORIGINAL version of the song... All three and a half chords of it. And forget about getting an entire band to play it "correctly". Nearly every drummer I've ever worked with somehow doesn't hear any cowbell in it. No bass player seems to hear that it's mostly ONLY a "two beat". And most guitar pickers seemingly don't get the choppy syncopation of the guitar line. I'm pretty sure that it's got everything to do with the fact that Hawkins' song probably disappeared about six months after it was released, but the CCR version has been on almost constant replay since 1968.

[@AdrianWhyte]

Ok cool, is it different to the James Burton one? I nailed that many years ago, maybe I can make a video on that one!!

[@Chrstiansonne69]

Great Video. Please dont forget, that Chet Atkins plays along with Scotty Moore at the RCA Sessions. Mosten you hear two electric guitars😊

[@AdrianWhyte]

That’s a cool fact! I recall hearing that Chet wasn’t impressed with Elvis. Perhaps is only flaw!

[@cguzelli1]

Chet was there as a studio musician in case Scotty couldn't cut it. And "Mystery Train" was recorded at SUN studios as were the other 9 released sides. As it turned out, Chet was primarily a rhythm player as Elvis focused only on his vocals.

[@Chrstiansonne69]

@@cguzelli1 I think Chet plays also Fingerstyle/ Fingerpicking on mystery train. You can hear it. And you can hear it on other recordings.

[@cguzelli1]

@@Chrstiansonne69 - Chet is a monster player for sure right there with Joe Maphis and later Glen Campbell (who might be the best overall guitarist I've known) and Roy Clark for his virtuosity on many instruments. Chester and Lester (Les Paul) put out a dynamic album in the 1960's. Chet did not play lead guitar on "Mystery Train" as the original SUN master tapes were used for re-releases on RCA Victor.

[@Dennistcb78]

Oh yes thats my man. I Loved 😎 TCB 😎 Rockabilly Rules. I have a book the Original sun Session that i will Check. Adrian thanks for the Great Lesson. I will Take me Time for the Video. I have my Morning Coffee but no time...i ll be Back 😎😎😎😎😎😎thank you Buddy 😎 TCB 😎 Rockabilly Rules 😎 TCB

[@AdrianWhyte]

Haha yes Dennis when you get time my friend!! I knew you would enjoy this one!!

[@garypalmer9270]

Hi Adrian, I'm sure I read once that scotty often made mistakes but went with it? With all that screaming going on he probably could afford to be a bit sloppy, great lesson matey

[@AdrianWhyte]

Absolutely, it’s rock and roll after all! Thanks for that Gary, glad you enjoyed it!

[@manoelteixeira4936]

As I said before, you are a master on the guitar, an excellent teacher without a shadow of a doubt. And more, it teaches what many hide and teach nothing. And, where can I find the video lessons, because I intend to go to the United States soon, and I want to buy because I like real rock n' roll, without juggling squeaky guitars and drums and others of the kind. maneco - PortoAlegre-RS - Brasil.

[@AdrianWhyte]

That’s some wonderful feedback, thank you so much and sorry for the delayed response. I had a big month on KZbin and took a moment of not reacting to my phone for a week or two and here we are! There is a lesson on this on my channel, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWPLY4d6oNN3bc0 good luck!

[@willw3900]

Hey Adrien, I’m new to your channel…have you ever done a rig rundown video on your guitars, pickups, amps, and pedals etc….?

[@AdrianWhyte]

Hi Will, apologies for the delay- I responded to a lot of comments recently and it’s showing here that I haven’t.. which is annoying! Checkout my pedals for rockabilly and also my rockabilly guitar shootout videos, they’ll show you some of my guitars and the pedal video will pretty much show you my main setup, hope that helps and thanks for commenting!

[@willw3900]

Adrian Whyte no worries, thanks for responding….and of course thanks for the killer content. I love it man.

[@iancrawford1405]

What delay pedal are you using

[@AdrianWhyte]

I’m pretty sure I was using the Keeley Memphis sun! Hope that helps

[@jonvelde5730]

I think the -A- works inside the E. I question your premise.

[@AdrianWhyte]

You’re entitled to that! I do submit it was not intentional regardless, and I maintain that a 4th, a semitone away from the third of a good presents and clash / attempt in tone shift. But I don’t think I would hear this original solo the same without it, so I’m ok with your questioning if my .. premise! Haha

[@JasonGutierrez]

I just watched actual footage of Scotty Moore playing this and that's not the correct fingering for the last chord. The bends in the last chord are missing becuase they can't really be played with this fingering. He doesn't play the A7 chord the same at the end as he does in the beginning - he plays it at the 5th fret at the end of the solo. Really great video overall though. Cheers!

[@AdrianWhyte]

Fair call Jason, it’s funny because live I actually play it the way you describe, on the day though listening to the recording there was something tonally that was leading me to believe he might have been down in the open part. I’ll have to have another listen - to be fair to my ears and investigative curiosity, what he played on the day was not captured! Aside from that, I’m on board!

[@manoelteixeira4936]

It's expert. maneco - Brasil.

[@AdrianWhyte]

Thank you so much!!

[@JellyrollHorton]

It sounds like you are muting your picking with your right hand. I don't hear that in the original Sun recording.

[@AdrianWhyte]

It’s subtle, but I believe if he wasn’t muting the bass strings at times, it would sound quite ringy and a little messy in the bottom end. Try playing it without the muting and let me know what you think?-

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

Why? Because Scotty was sooooo good, that’s why.

[@cguzelli1]

I doubt that Scotty played it exactly the same way every time. Adrian does a great job of replicating the final take and solo from SUN record #223. Chet was an excellent guitarist and an on call studio musician as were Grady Martin and Hank Garland in those days. If Chet didn't want to do session, there were others so he must have found something interesting in the "kid" with the sideburns. In talking with those that were at RCA Studio B - it was tedious at first as RCA couldn't replicate the magic of 706 Union Avenue. It might have been song choices or the sterile environment but it took time to get things going. Steve Shoales had a monumental task of justifying a kingly sum RCA paid Sam Phillips for his contract. And to clarify, RCA wasn't the only label bidding for Elvis. In the end it all paid off as between 1956 and 1959 Elvis' releases accounted for 50% of RCA's revenues. Too bad Parker hindered Elvis more than he helped.

[@AdrianWhyte]

This is some great info, thank you! Feel free to contribute to any of these videos that you’re clearly really educated on, it’s really valuable to viewers! Thank you!

[@cguzelli1]

@@AdrianWhyte- thank you for the kind words. I enjoy your channel and while I'm a piano player, I hack on guitar so your break down helps me a lot to practice leads. I've been fortunate to know many of those early SUN artists including Scotty and D.J. Not Elvis, although my wife worked with him in the iconic '68 Comeback Special. She was "Little" Egypt" the belly dancer in the bar scene. She also had her own show in the Casino Lounge the same time Elvis was in the main ballroom at the International in Vegas. They were friends and she gave him ideas to become a better dramatic actor. Tanya was asked in 2018 and again in 2023 to celebrate the 50th and 55th Anniversary of that incredible show. It's always a great time. Memphis is a favorite city of mine. Like Marc Cohn sings "Walking with my feet 10 feet off Beale".....

[@Bixxy]

why so many god damn ads man

[@mrbaiser4133]

If you would play the whole part for a while at a consistent, slow speed, it would be much more helpful.

[@AdrianWhyte]

That’s actually helpful to know, I will take that on board! In the meantime try using the slow down feature and also consider checking out Loop2Learn or something like that. Hope you can get it!

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Like deployed 👍

[@AdrianWhyte]

Thanks again!!

[@roccodinosantino1474]

Looooooong talker

[@AdrianWhyte]

What can I say, you’re a regulaaaaar commenter!

[@roccodinosantino1474]

@@AdrianWhyte really ? it's the first time I saw your video, goodbye

[@AdrianWhyte]

@@roccodinosantino1474 must be someone else on the other videos then who always says the same thing. They seem to regularly visit my videos to tell me I’m a long talker, which as you can imagine confuses me because why would you continually visit my channel if you don’t like it? Strange!

[@roccodinosantino1474]

@@AdrianWhyte problem is you're such a long winded talker I turn it off and your video leaves no impression on me anymore, so I forget that I watched it and then I tune in again to have you're long-winded b*******.. problem is with you guys you just like to make videos because you like hearing yourself talk