The Electric Rhythm Styles of James Burton, Albert Lee & Brad Paisley - Ask Zac 54

[@Coverswithchords1]

#1 2:18 #2 3:14 #3 4:24 #3b 4:35 #3c 4:47 #4 5:44 #5 6:34 #6 7:05 #7 8:02 #7b 8:34 #8 9:00 #9 9:50 #10 10:29 #11 11:38 #12 13:40 #13 15:10

[@AskZac]

The examples. Pinned

[@MarkEaster]

In 16 minutes you get a lifetime of solid country rhythm at no charge. Thank you Zach. Best guitar lesson ever.

[@captainzeb1969]

“He always treated me like gold when I was acting like tin foil”. That’s a great line. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Great video. Thanks for sharing the rhythm chops.

[@AskZac]

Absolutely, Brent!

[@Six3rdy]

Oof. Don't remind me. I know we've been there, but I HATE those moments. 🤣

[@AlexAquarius963]

I am a Blues rocker from Houston Kemah area. I have just moved to Austin to get into the music scene. I have a Fender Tele Modern Player Plus I am modifying. I have decided to learn country licks and this is perfect. Thank you. I played Classical since 5 y/o, so I like the claw pick and fingers methods.

[@fivewattworld]

Great stuff Zac! I have none of these things in my "bag". I was practicing right along with the video.

[@AskZac]

Very glad to hear that from you, Keith.

[@otisgibbs]

Thanks Zac! It was good to hear you mention Jamie Hartford. I've seen him with Jim Rooney a few times over the years and I love his playing. I'm a sucker for those long slow bends that seem to cover great distances and he has an endless supply.

[@GeneralTHC]

Just what I needed. Thank you! I'm a decades long rock player, but my dad was a pedal steel guitarists and I've always had respect for a lot of country players, but I was too busy trying to copy Yngwie or Eddie Van Halen to ever learn how to really play country.

[@richclayton5785]

Love watching you horsing around with so many styles. Fun vid thanks!

[@CC-te5zf]

I met Albert Lee at the Music Man area/booth at Winter NAMM 2018. I always said if I ever met him, I'd ask him if he was a country boy at heart. He paused for just a brief moment and said, "Yes - I think I am - I truly do." It was a goose bump moment for me. Such a nice guy.

[@Jay-lr3me]

What a guy I love him!

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Pete Anderson is never at a loss for a new rhythm line.its like he never wants to play the line more than twice he's so great. Zac this one is good man nothing is more important than solid rhythm.

[@ioodyssey3740]

My wake up video today. Cool stuff. edit... Okay, now I'm half way through and I'm learning so much! I'll be repeating this 'till I learn all these licks.

[@tomk1tl39]

Excellent the way you took the same amount of time for each artist....ZAC ROCK's ! ! !

[@Texasbluestunes]

I should have known you're from Texas, I'm just up the road from Victoria.. great videos Zac, keep em coming.

[@larrywithrow5876]

Very awesome lesson Zac, and very well explained. Love to see more of that country style😎👍 thank you

[@AskZac]

You got it!

[@johnulrich5572]

Wonderful video. It brings back memories of when I first heard James Burton (Ozzie & Harriet tv show in Rick Nelson's band), Albert Lee (Austin City Limits), Brad Paisley (I saw an article in Guitar Player about Brad and checked out his music). It made me realize that Tele players probably influenced me more than I realized. I was a big Yardbirds fan and they were Tele driven. I watched Hee Haw and Don Rich's economical Tele playing intrigued me to the point of learning Buckaroo and The Happy Go Lucky Guitar and I really wasn't into country at that time.Then about 20 years ago I heard of a Tele player by the name of John Lowery (known as John 5) who was also influenced by Don Rich and Roy Clark by watching HEE Haw as a little kid and became a Tele wizzard. The fact that he plays in metal bands doesn't take away his talent as a country licks player. Little did Leo Fender know that his first attempt at a very basic electric guitar would keep going well into the 21st century. And little did I know that after going through lots of different "more modern" guitars that I would wind up back at the beginning. Thanks, Zac.

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Thanks for shaking down some new rhythms Thats exactly what I was looking for.

[@alasdairmunro1953]

Thanks Zac, that was great!

[@LeeJHodgson]

Highly informative and demonstrative. Wise words about listen to what else else is happening from other players in the band. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@AskZac]

Love your playing, Lee

[@LeeJHodgson]

@@AskZac Why, thank you! I've interviewed Albert Lee a few times over the years for Lick Library/Guitar Interactive magazine. Anyway, I love your attention to detail with everything you do. As a teacher of some 30 years standing at the ICMP in London (formerly the Guitar Institute) and transcriber for Guitar Techniques and Guitarist magazines (many country columns, but other styles too), I'm known for my legendary attention to detail, but you're obsessive and I love it!

[@ingeniousmechanic]

Awesome video with great pointers. Big pete Anderson and Dwight fan, plus all the others, Burton...

[@codyhudman2763]

Great content Zac! Always look forward to Tuesdays because I know I get to watch your new episode sipping my morning coffee. Really great practical stuff this week!

[@davidratliff807]

Great job Zac, love your tone. Classic Telecaster!

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@gregmican]

Awesome Video Zac. You mentioned Randy Boyd in Victoria Tx. Randy is a cool guy and a awesome musician. I'm from Victoria also, small world!

[@AskZac]

Very small!

[@Jimbodiddley1]

Nice to see a lesson on rhythm guitar playing for a change. Everybody's so fixated on lead playing (which is great) that we tend to forget that great, tasteful rhythm playing is the foundation of so much rock and roll, country, blues, soul, funk, reggae... everything! Thanks. Exactly the stuff I need to work on.

[@AskZac]

Well said!

[@tacocabo2552]

Thanks Zac, from Steamboat, I know Drew! He said my have come to Taco Cabo Thanks again for giving us so many great things Thanks Much peace Kent

[@samhatman6536]

3:35, and I realize that favorite episode vibe is ringing in. So, my Daddy had me playin' rhythm right off at age 9. Thanks Zac!

[@NickRatnieks]

One of my friends, who has played Tele since the very early 60s ( he was a Gretsch and Gibson man first) told me that Dave Wendels from Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, arguably Britain's best band at the time, made it out to the USA and tracked James Burton down. When Dave got back every aspiring British guitarist wanted to know what Burton had done-so he was like the acolyte of the Guru- he had the mystic knowledge! My friend was guitar player for Gene Vincent at that time- the "British Blue Caps" and without Gene- much of the time, because of his condition, they were called The Roof Raisers. He did a tour in about 1963 in support of the Everly Bros, they had Jim Gordon on drums but more importantly, Don Peake on guitar, who knew James Burton very well and taught my friend many of JB's little fills etc. Some time later, my friend auditioned for Johnny Halliday- he had no idea really who he was but was told by the agent- jazz musician, Humphrey Lyttleton he should go and give it a shot. Also auditioning were John McLaughlin (who worked at Selmer of London and sold my friend his first Tele- my friend had worked for Sound City- Ivor Arbiter's Gretsch dealership, Alvin Lee and Eric Clapton. My friend had the James Burton style and Johnny wanted him because of this- he was chosen. Many years later Eric Clapton played with my friend on a charity concert and told him that the Telecaster he had in the Yardbirds was not good- too much feedback, and apparently that was common with them in the early 60s. Today, we can just watch you and others to get these skills- not have to trek to California which in the early 60s was as distant to most British people as the moon! Go to about 3:00 on this video for his soloing- on a Strat! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4HIdKGva8h3ZtU Here he is with R & B legend and R 'n' R pioneer Weeping Tommy Brown where he plays his Frankenstein Esquire kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Oke5-VlpKHd7s Tommy had plenty of Chuck Berry stories from when a young Chuck was in his band.

[@mischiefmikeyo]

This was a fun lesson Zac, you've got great taste in pickers. Would love to see some claw finger picking stuff ala Jerry Reed

[@buzzcrumhunger7114]

I’m with you on the setting up guitars by feel and eye, also the low action and nut. Every guitar has a sweet spot.

[@billhodgesguitar]

Thanks Zac. Great breakdown of how to play back up for a group.

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@retrotelerod]

Excellent video! Thanks so much for sharing your insights into these different styles.

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@donnywagers8736]

Thanks for sharing them techniques...very good...

[@AskZac]

My pleasure 😊

[@carlrudd1858]

You and I have similar playing styles. I'm going to be following up on these tutorials.

[@scotthd2841]

This is precisely the kind of guitar playing that interests me. Thank you for the wonderful synopsis of styles!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@tomcoryell]

Hey thanks Zac! Very informative sir.

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@TotallyTuberous]

Great topic, Zac. I remember seeing Area Code 615 at Fillmore West in SF when they were on tour in '69 or '70. I vividly remember Wayne Moss playing awesome rhythm on a Tele. Few leads if any, but his rhythm playing looked so unusual to me at the time, but was such a key part of the sound.

[@AskZac]

Very cool!

[@patboudotlamot]

bonjour de Paris cher ZAC ! j'écris et je parle anglais mais je continue d'utiliser ma langue ( pas maternelle car né au Vietnam...) d'abord je vous trouve très sympathique et vos conseils sont toujours simples et avisés ; ce qui rend vos vidéos originales, divertissantes, instructives et reposantes pour l'esprit ! merci et encore bravo : bonne continuation Maître ZAC

[@AskZac]

Merci, Patrice. I lived in Paris, back in 1999. I loved it there, and have been back a couple of times, most recently in 2019. Thank you for the kind words.

[@patboudotlamot]

@@AskZac oh really ? too bad we didn't meet ; as I used to be a musician at the time ¡ and for a while sleeping on a wood board stacked above 6 De luxe Reverb... only one beloved Princeton left ( guitar lover ) . actually I . live mostly in Valencia Spain great country as well... cordially Pat

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

crikey this is a lot of fun. Exactly the lesson I was after!

[@IvorThomas]

Great lesson Zac. I'd love to see more rhythm stuff. Idea: have you seen Paul Davids '10 players solo over same backing track' from the other day? Why not reach out and get a bunch of players doing country rhythm parts over a bass & drum track? I think that idea has endless entertainment and learning potential!

[@Theweeze100]

Great Idea!

[@johnridgeway6528]

Best guitar channel on KZbin!

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@curtishansen7270]

Great as always! Following you in vintage guitar also!

[@AskZac]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@1953MMike]

The echo really helped get the James Burton sound!

[@Tharvey8254]

Well done! So knowledgeable

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@TheKarlos]

Thanks for the lesson, Zac. Too few videos discuss the art of rhythm guitar.

[@tomkobialka7504]

Nice !!!! Thanks Zac .

[@AskZac]

You bet!

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Brilliant lesson on how to fit in, coloured with some sweet licks. Cheers buddy, you're the man 😎🎙🎸✅

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@lambert1702]

Great stuff Zac! Thanks!

[@jackjones2381]

As always great information, fast becoming one of country music stars with his great knowledge and country guitar aditude

[@joshporter08]

Another master lesson! Great stuff Zac

[@iannicholls7476]

Another great one Zac. Thanks.

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@MCyoutube956]

Great lesson, i'm sure that the James Burton ryhthm part was also played on Elivis's CC Rider live recording.

[@ronpriest7135]

Thanks Zac!! Red volkaert is another master Rhythm guy...

[@guitareveryone]

Nice rhythm lesson of those country legends. Tele sounds great. Can’t wait to hear the Esquire when it’s finished.

[@AskZac]

Me neither!!

[@Vnunis]

Thank you for the lesson Zac!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@JeanArcand]

Thank for sharing!!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!!

[@JeanArcand]

@@AskZac listening to the Spotify list now! I always wondered who played all that great stuff with Merle.

[@wewilliewilson1974]

great video thanks Zac

[@AskZac]

You bet

[@TonyBee63]

Another great lesson Zac...Rhythm playing gets overlooked when we start off playing lead and learning licks & solos etc...Took me a good few years until it dawned on me that the licks dont make any sense without the framework of the song!!...Lol...Would be amazing if one day you could get James Burton in the Truetone Lounge as I'm a massive fan...Really enjoyed this lesson..Cheers Buddy....regards Tony B....😁👍👍🎸🎸

[@AskZac]

I would love to interview JB

[@jaltsch1]

This video is so helpful. I was just working on Mystery Train and this pops up! I mean this in the best possible way, Zac Childs is the Bob Ross of guitar.

[@kw9172]

I hear you. The video was uploaded 3 minutes before I realized that my rhythm playing is not fit for consumtion yet...

[@AskZac]

You're very welcome!

[@richclayton5785]

Ditty at 12:00 reminded me of Billy Gibbons opening riffs

[@miketaylor7057]

‘Great discussion Zac. ‘stay out of the steel players way’ Yes.!!! Tic tac. Yes!! The Pete Anderson ‘stride’ rhythm discussion- playing lots of Ray Price shuffles in Texas, I would jump on the shuffle rhythm with the piano players right hand..

[@markchristopher2373]

Thanks Zac

[@lynnfrancesanderson1829]

Thanks Zac!

[@shibaku73]

Nice. That Albert Lee stuff at around 6:40 feels very similar to the way rolling banjo backup works in bluegrass.

[@Jay-lr3me]

I play banjo and yeah I can kinda hear it!!

[@nickg2431]

Really useful video!

[@AskZac]

Next Week's episode is another lesson with playing.

[@nickg2431]

@@AskZac great i will keep an eye out for it thanks

[@hearpalhere]

Thank you for these awesome examples Zac, lots to work on from just this short video! By you mentioning "playing diamonds", I take it that you are into using the Nashville Number system. I've just started learning about the benefits of that system and I'm quite impressed with it's flexibility and efficiency. I don't know if you've done a video about that in the past (I'll do a quick search in a moment) but if you haven't, I would love to hear your opinion about it and maybe give some examples utilizing the technique. Maybe give some hints on how to improve our ears so we can hear the interval changes easier, etc.

[@guitarmagic]

Man, this is a great survival guide for a guy like me. Also a pretty dang good music history lesson through examples.

[@nickg2431]

Once again Fantastic video -like having a cousin whos been in loads of bands ,toured all over and can explain everything clearly!Learnt everything in this vid in 15m and gained lots of knowledge of "what goes where' -subscribed and studied! Now how do i find that spotify playlist!

[@AskZac]

In the description

[@swamification]

Fantastic video as always! I’m always astonished at the simplicity and quality of your videos. In particular your amp sound. You don’t mic the amp and run it through ProTools. Or maybe you process everything off-camera. I’d be thrilled to see a behind the scenes Ask Zac episode. A kinda what all goes into making an episode episode! Anyway, it’s an idea...others will have to say whether or not it’s a good idea. Love the show!

[@AskZac]

I do not process anything. Just 2 iPhones. Thanks

[@swamification]

@@AskZac Thanks Zac! Well done, indeed 👍👍

[@Deliquescentinsight]

quite often the more streamlined, cut down or 'economical' approaches are successful, the old 'less is more' can work!

[@EdKidgell]

Excellent!

[@AskZac]

Glad you liked it!

[@sesa1076]

That loping dealie instantly brought me into Waylon territory. Maybe some 70s Willie stuff too.

[@pcau]

So good to see you again sharing your knowledge with such generosity!!! You are making me even more stubborn towards my goal of getting a Tele!!! I'm a nail player. Do you think I could achieve the same sounds with nails? Meaning without a pick? Thank you so much again for your teachings and PLEASE, do more of this. We love to learn from you!!! Thank you Sir!

[@AskZac]

You can use your nails. No need for a pick

[@pcau]

@@AskZac Thank you for your answer. I noticed one thing tho, the angle of my nails (not the them) has to be sharper in order to get your presence. This is very interesting and of course, I will let you know how things will go when I will have a Telecaster in my hands :) (Coming soon!!!!)

[@RussC123]

Love coming back to this video every so often. Question: Your bridge pickup seems to have a nice bold, full tone.. what is the resistance reading on it? I really want to build a vintage partscaster so curious on the ohms range I need to be looking for to get that big fat sound (not bright) out of the bridge. Thanks!

[@AskZac]

7k

[@BubbaBellin]

James Burton has some INCREDIBLE rhythm playing on Judy Collins "Someday Soon"

[@AskZac]

agreed

[@benjohnson4810]

I would add to listen to Don Rich on the Buck Owens Ranch Show. He would do tic tac parts even though there was only pedal steel and acoustic guitar competing to be heard, as well as bass and drums of course. Simplicity is musicality much of the time. Simple doesn't mean easy though.

[@teresawilliams2251]

Thanks!

[@AskZac]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@telecasterbear]

I can't remember if I heard it a long time ago, or if I made it up. I always say sometimes it's what you don't play that makes it good.

[@angelic_slayer]

Great tone Zac.

[@AskZac]

THANKS!!!!

[@nathancourtney2006]

Hi, Zac I have tried playing rthym with both pickups and it always sounds generic. Everything is subjective I know but I can't find any useful sounds. I currently use a 50's era pickup set. Any suggestions. Or is this the way the telecaster was designed? Thank you for any insight you could give.

[@AskZac]

It is my least favored position. I use it mainly to pull my guitar back in the mix

[@freddymclain]

when you mute like that you get an ELECTRIC BONGO DRUM effect. pretty cool...we need more electric bongos.

[@markmcara963]

Really enjoyed the lesson thank you Zac. Always love your tasteful ‘less is more’ approach. Your practical points about adapting to what else is happening on a tune are clearly so important. Oh and your gold versus tin foil comment is a classic. Haven’t heard that one down here in Australia. Thanks again!

[@roysjudy]

Making it look easy!

[@ioodyssey3740]

Noticing that the James Burton riff likely inspired the Joe Walsh funk 49 riff. cool. I love finding connections like that.

[@SergeCeyral]

Great great video, with quite interesting new (and old!) paths to explore... In the same state of mind, I'd be very curious of what you could produce in open D!... As the Tele sound is absolutely fantastic in open tuning (D or E), when you switch from IIm , IIIm (and VIm) to the IV, V and VIIm+ : adding some open strings to the minor triads brings new unheard flavours, that I'd like much you to play ... (have a look at my YT channel, for the video "scale harmonization in open tuning")

[@darrenwright2224]

Hey Zac, great stuff!!! Would you happen to have a full lesson on Burtons style rhythm like 3:15. Exactly like you learned from church? I am having a hard time seeing what your hands are doing there.

[@AskZac]

send me an email zac(at) askzac.com

[@notbraindead7298]

I’ve owned four Telecasters. Two made in USA and two miMs. I’ve tried every Tele pickup Fender makes. Texas Specials, No Casters, Standards, Lace Sensors. None of my Telecasters sound like Zacs, or Gills, or any number of other players I hear on KZbin or on CDs. I have a Fender tube amp and numerous compression, echo, and reverb pedals. Maybe what I’m lacking is talent???😂

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Any drum machines you like? I have one but doesn’t have country beat nor a bluegrass beat

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

The first time I saw Clapton live he had Albert Lee with him.

[@AskZac]

Jealous!

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

@@AskZac He also at one point stuck his guitar neck between Yvonne Elliman's legs.

[@AskZac]

@@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388 Yikes!!

[@jameskrys5286]

That James Burton lick sounds like the Mystery Train lick.

[@seanuvan]

Heck yes that's awesome, also I'm from Victoria too 👍

[@AskZac]

Right on!

[@muusicman2010]

This is one of those classic tele tones people strive to find! I love it and I was wondering if you could break down the gear you are using here. Deluxe Reverb… 65 perhaps? Original or reissue? Also your guitar gear and specs would be awesome.

[@AskZac]

The gear I use on every episode is listed in the description.

[@spacejamgoliath]

Maybe you've talked about it before but it would be cool to hear your thoughts on humbucking teles

[@AskZac]

Must borrow one for that

[@javierguerrero6168]

Zac...great overview!!! As usual in your respectful & tasteful styles. Thank you!! BTW loved you tone... what did you have on?

[@AskZac]

Comp and delay. Trem in one section.

[@matlindell5022]

Which exact model of tele are you playing in this video?mics?

[@tonypearce8763]

What exactly do you mean by “play diamonds”? Thank you

[@AskZac]

Play whole notes, and letting them ring. So if you change chords every 4 beats, you would hold out each chord for 4 beats, letting it sustain.

[@tonypearce8763]

@@AskZac Thank you sir

[@gcharb]

Great stuff as always Zac, thanks! I'm curious about the action on your tele's what is your preference?

[@AskZac]

low as I can go. Light touch, and 10,13,15,24,32,42 strings

[@AaronLS.]

This was so good. Are you hybrid picking with just the middle and ring finger? Or pinkie too?

[@AskZac]

no pinky

[@fernandes5986]

Hi Zac. Great video as usual. What mic are you using?

[@AskZac]

1phone

[@fernandes5986]

@@AskZac Thank you sir.

[@Davidferrell1964]

That’s awesome... you missed the old Waylon Jennings thing in A tho. ;-)

[@edgarmcbee2474]

Love the channel could you please include tab and /or notation

[@AskZac]

Not at this time. I will have to see about that.

[@Billywagner22]

Wow Albert's guitar was mixed hot on You're Still On My Mind. Did you have stems and bump these up?

[@AskZac]

That's James Burton. No, that is the way the cut was mixed. It is live.