Song For George (Eric Johnson) - Tutorial (Part 1)

Song for George by Eric Johsnon! A tutorial for sentimental reasons: this was one of the first fingerstyle songs I ever learned, years before Tommy Emmanuel pulled me all the way into the genre. A really cool bluesy tune that isn't as difficult as most of the TE stuff we've done so far!
Tab/notation file (fully matching the lesson):
www.musicnotes.com/l/lBzMm
Patreon (Full tutorial access, loads of extra help, ...):
/ timvanroy
Guitar used:
Martin J-40, Double Drop D tuning (DADGBD)
Recording: a pair of Neumann 184's through an Apogee Quartet
More info on www.timvanroy.be
Introduction
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Tuning
2:26 Intro
3:15 Verse 1 (Main theme, bar 1)
10:12 Verse 1 (Main theme, bar 2)
13:32 Verse 1 (Bar 3-4, repeat)
14:17 Verse 1 (The F-section)
16:31 Verse 1 (The first killer blues lick)
20:31 Verse 1 (Bars 7-8, repeat again)
21:36 Verse 1 (The second blues run)
27:48 Verse 1 (Slow Playthrough)
#EricJohnson
#SongForGeorge
#Tutorial
#Fingerstyle
#Lesson
#Blues

[@JimiGLee]

Great as always, Tim.

[@e.s3708]

That intro man XD. Thanks as always for your lessons!

[@MrRetinas]

I am so glad to have found your channel. You are a phenomenal teacher!

[@TimVanRoy]

Thanks Steven! Welcome to the channel, there is much more to come here!

[@monoblues]

I appreciate your clear and detail explanation, excellent tutorial

[@krossbow_]

Thanks Tim!

[@Sphyraminx]

So when are you doing A Song for Life? I think you’re the only KZbinr who could possibly do it justice!

[@joechapman3331]

Hands down, the best tutorial I have yet to find for this song. Your ability to teach is second to none. Glad I found your channel.

[@TimVanRoy]

Welcome Joe! I'm more than happy to have you here! Work on videos has been a bit slower recently, most time has been going into my soon-to-be-launched new website. After that it's straight back to work!

[@ezequielvallejo9352]

Hi Tim, you sound great and managed to give a vivid explanation without being boring, even when going into fine detail. An accomplishment not only as a musician but also as a teacher. Greetings and thanks from Argentina.

[@TimVanRoy]

Thank you so much! This tutorial was from when I was starting to find my voice as a "video" teacher, and I'm glad you are finding it useful!

[@lalremtluangakhawlhring8639]

Finally, Thank you for this ✋😇

[@TimVanRoy]

Part 2 drops coming Wednesday! Enjoy playing through this banger of a tune!

[@bobparsonsartist564]

This is awesome. Havent even got out of bed yet and totally into this first session!

[@TimVanRoy]

Great to hear Bob! This is a super cool (and fun) tune to work on!

[@wildstringdom]

I'm an electric guitar player who occasionally plays acoustic your lessons are world-class I just subscribed.... and your voice soothes the inner soul..lol. 🤩🤩🤩

[@TimVanRoy]

I'm getting comments over my voice more and more often. Maybe a carreer in voice over work could be an option if this KZbin tutorial thing fails 😜

[@StephenSypert]

I've great memories associated with this song. After 20+ years and 6 hand surgeries, I never thought I'd play a guitar again. This lesson changed everything. My deepest and sincerest "Thank you".

[@johnnyd63]

Fantastic! New subscriber.

[@TimVanRoy]

Great to hear, welcome! 😃

[@dmyerstc55]

I just bought the tabs

[@lbarto0221]

Mrs Robinson next pls ❤

[@TraditionalToolworks]

Thanks so much for this. I struggle on some of the Emmanuel songs, he is just some of the best fingerpicking going today...So this is most welcomed. I have listened to Eric Johnson quite a bit in the past, he has a very clean and unique Strat sound. I mentioned to you I saw him in L.A. when I was young, he played the Bonanza theme and brought the frickin' house down following it...what a player he is. I've always felt this song has a kind of Texas Bayou feel to it, and I've always liked the groove...never tried to play it and not good figuring out alternate tunings, so this tutorial is most welcome. I hope your guitar didn't get the Wuhan virus, isn't that one from China? *gd&r*

[@TraditionalToolworks]

PS - I mentioned I saw you post about this on the Patreon list but hadn't looked at it yet. Didn't realize you hadn't posted a tutorial yet. I guess my timing is perfect. Eric Johnson has some pretty cool vintage guitars also, there's some pics on one of the CD liners. 👍

[@TimVanRoy]

Eric is an absolute beast with great taste in guitars! And he only seems to age 10 years for every 40 years he walks this planet. It's not fair, is it?

[@TraditionalToolworks]

@@TimVanRoy He is an amazing player, and I have just always liked his unique tone.

[@keithwigley1256]

Eccellent video Tim ..what guitar is that...beautiful tone..

[@TimVanRoy]

Hi Keith! This is a Martin J-40, an early production model without the abalone inlays. Great guitars, especially when you have to tune down!

[@teki9662]

Hey Tim! Is there any possibility that u will do a Tutorial of keep it simple - Tommy Emmanuel? That would be absolutely awesome! *__*

[@TimVanRoy]

That one is definitely on the list for the future! But I can't give you a timeframe yet. First on the list now are The Beatles Medley and Guitar Boogie. You know, easy stuff 🤣

[@teki9662]

@@TimVanRoy damn u are a god thx!! :) And Tell me when exactly did u Something easy? xD everything what u do is somehow challenging :D

[@vlazed4809]

Good tutorial m8. But can you breakdown close to you by Muriel Anderson? eheh

[@TimVanRoy]

Thanks Yosi! I'm not familiar with that tune, but Muriel Anderson is an amazing artist. Do you have any particular version on KZbin you can give me a link for?

[@adenkyle5824]

Could you do Blood Brother by TE?

[@TimVanRoy]

On the list for the coming months!

[@christhorpec]

Such a cool song. For the uninitiated, why do you always keep this guitar in drop down tunings and also have the string action set up higher?

[@TimVanRoy]

I always keep one guitar for lower tunings because I prefer heavier strings for those tunings! So this guitar would be quite difficult to play in standard tuning. As for the action: at the time of recording this tutorial this guitar was in dire need of a neck reset, meaning the neck has to be detached and a wedge of wood has to be inserted underneath to correct the angle (at a certain point the truss rod alone can no longer fix this issue). So there was no other option than to proceed with things as they were. Believe me, I would have loved the action a little bit lower 😅 The neck reset was completed last week, and I’m picking up the guitar next week. Can’t wait to hear/feel the result!

[@christhorpec]

@@TimVanRoy thank you very much for the explanation. Guitar maintenance important over time!

[@brucestark8998]

Please do Once Upon A Time in Texas by EJ! I will subscribe to your patreon to thank 😁🙏🏼

[@vaughnmaurt5013]

Love the video, thanks for not giving up and the back story too!

[@TimVanRoy]

If you watch really closely you'll some strange cuts in part 2... Construction works next door, AGAIN while recording the tutorial for Song For George!