The Robben Ford Lick that Changed My Playing FOREVER

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This blazing Robben Ford lick that he plays on "Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues" was a game-changer for me. Filled with jazzy inflections, great tone and gorgeous vocabulary, I knew that this was the style of guitar playing that I needed to play from that point on.
Tabs of the opening solo that I played can be downloaded here: andydacoulis.c...
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[@AndyDacoulis]

Check out my 20 Smooth Jazz Licks Package: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5qxhZuIbbpjn8k

[@wayneranson8763]

That guitar tone!!!!!!!!! ... WOW

[@youngandrew66]

Matt Schofield does something using the same scale and chord in 'sitting on top of the world ' fewer notes but how he throws it in just gives you the shivers

[@peterferguson3395]

Thanks!

[@bobceffo]

I hear your discovery of Robben Ford, and.. there could be my face in your video :) that record came out and blues guitar changed for all of us.

[@AndyDacoulis]

Indeed, many people have told me the same thing!

[@scottybee33]

After 30yrs as a Rock hack, never attempted a jazzy thing. So, thank you for initiating a noob... beautiful tone, and lesson.

[@anthem7777]

give it a rip its great

[@atanasmarinov1814]

Mr. Dacoulis. Thank you so much for all the lessons you teach on you tube. You are unique the best.!!!!!!

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you for the kind comment!

[@Taylort3b]

You are the reason I wished I’d taken Music at university instead of Geography. I know where I am in the world but not on the fretboard.😞

[@saxmaster45]

Better than many guitar players who can't seem to find the gig on time.

[@riceflatpicking4954]

Keep at it bro

[@Taylort3b]

@@saxmaster45 Hey Saxmaster45 I still have my Selmer C*80 alto mouthpiece from 57 years ago when I played in a stage band. We did all the big band music from the 40s. If you are still playing sax and want to here who I think was the best sax player of his generation, check out Jimmy Dorsey on the album, “The Fabulous Dorsey’s”.

[@Taylort3b]

@@riceflatpicking4954 life gets in the way sometimes. Widowed, retired, and just old. But still have not lost my passion for music. Unfortunately the learning curve is in a downward trend.

[@jimbob6th]

You can do it. I graduated a few years back with a drama degree and huge regret that I hadn’t done music. It wasn’t an easy journey but I work as a freelance guitarist and tutor these days. Keep pushing !! Believe in yourself

[@UpliftingRiffs]

Dude the tone is killer! Love Robben Ford as well. Great lesson.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Sometimes you feel you are stuck in a particular rut and every time you pick up the guitar you play the stuff in different places on the neck! I find playing more complex chord sequences that change keys and then trying to solo over the loop until you know it inside out helps you discover new things. Great easy to understand video.

[@JunkBondTrader]

totally! I hate being in ruts. Sometimes just trying things completely opposed to your typical style is another good way to get outside of those ruts. I was disappointed when I went to your channel that you aren't the woman in your pfp lol... Is that a Bond girl or something? BUT, you have a Fender Lead 2! I was considering getting one over a strat player. Should I, or would you say just go for the strat? I already have a Casino and SG if that matters. Also the PRS silversky is supposed to be pretty nice... choices, choices.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@JunkBondTrader Ha! Hi! That’s Britt Eckland! She was indeed a Bond girl. Regarding Lead 2, it’s a beautiful guitar if you already have a Strat but it’s pretty bright sounding and has only 4 voicings with the two pickups. The Lead 3 has 2 humbuckers and 7 voicings. The Player Strats are excellent, same neck is on the Lead series, but what kills them for me personally is the 2 point bridge and Pau Ferro instead of Rosewood on some models. I’d say try them all out if you can. Let your ears decide! Regards…

[@babagadoush1]

Thank you for including tabs, sharing and the work that went into producing this.

[@markrogers3308]

One of the best lessons I've ever watched on KZbin. There's just enough playing and talking to deliver true understanding to the viewer. Thanks!

[@slickyjorj]

Agree

[@tshoob]

Seriously, will be checking out more of his videos as a result

[@misterknightowlandco]

Same here. I hate videos where it’s just playing or just talking. You need both. You need to explain it AND show it.

[@bandit3837]

One of my favorite guitarists. Came across his music in the late 80's. An early album that Robben is featured on is Tom Scott's- 'Tom cat' album from the mid 70's.

[@emrysbaird1013]

Thanks for letting us know your musical background and your delivery is most insightful and fantastic in a relaxed confident fashion .Love it!

[@timknobloch3866]

Sounds really good, Robben is a great combo of blues and jazz guitar, but he can rock out if he wants to.

[@Geotubest]

Love Robben Ford.

[@alward5678]

Smokin Andy. I first heard him on a sound system in a record store in Texas in 1982 with the Yellow Jackets. I was like a hooked, been a fan since. You play very well and love the guitar. I have two of them myself, great instruments. Thanks for the great videos.

[@guyinpei]

Nice lesson with good production too. Seems to me that Robben used to play hipper, jazzier lines back in the 80's and 90's. 😊

[@methatswho8304]

I have too many saved videos of guitar techniques and lessons of outstanding Guitarist on KZbin, but I've finally found the right channel for me and what I'm trying to achieve in my play. I'm definitely watching everyday.

[@johnbrown4568]

That is indeed Robben Ford...Nice job. Robben is my favorite Blues/Jazz player.

[@luke-xz1gb]

Robben is one of the GOATS. A channel that dissects and teaches Robbens stuff? im in! awesome work dude

👌🏻excellent Andy!!!

[@gregmullins6927]

Excellent lesson Andy thank you and that guitar is quite beautiful to look at and listen to as well

[@portsideguitar1981]

Cool lick and great breakdown of these complicated concepts.

[@babagadoush1]

Just stumbled on the channel. Love everything about Robben. Subscribed!

[@imaseeker100]

You are a gifted teacher

[@zapantalambda]

Your licks are so clear. Very nice.

[@migrantfamily]

Talk to your daughter was one of - if not the first - blues album I really listened to and for a a long time I was a bit disappointed that not all blues albums sounded like that.

[@zambezi-sv1ed]

Gorgeous tone, brilliant lick! 🙏

[@petersmichaeld59]

Mr. Dacoulis....most appreciative for this one...too good providing the chords voicing plus grid display....nice...as well as theory ...very kind thanks for sharing...in debt for slowing it down ..

[@ronfrey5327]

Excellent lesson well explained my head is exploding love it.. Dave Workman sent me here to see this ! I owe him more coffees...

[@bobparsons1099]

Fabulous lines!

[@marktabscott5803]

OMG! Your guitar sounds like "Beautiful Smooth Pop Rocks! What amazing tone you have SOOO MUCH kNOWLEDGE!

[@slickyjorj]

Beautiful playing, very good lesson. Been a working musician all my life but never stop learning. It never ends. Played this great tune many times, but not with some of those voicings. Thanks

[@Stevie130]

That’s Beautiful D Angelico. Had a 335 style one that was turquoise. Beautiful guitar. Played it at one gig and I was tuning every 5 seconds.

[@pageluvva]

More of a mature style. Exactly. Amazing lesson and thanks so much for not playing that one played out blues box over and over again. That is so tired. Again, amazing lesson.

[@dr.rockproductions191]

I was on my way to narrowing down the online KZbin guitar classes, but now I just added one more guitar player thanks for making the decision hard for me. I appreciate everything that I've seen and heard from you so far. 👍

[@AndyDacoulis]

What a great comment! Thank you so much. I'm happy that you enjoy the content.

[@tinajackel]

i love that recording! and that lick too!!

[@gregvial9520]

This lick blew my mind too, thank you very much for the explanation!

[@MustafaBaabad]

The very strong point of Robben Ford is his "DYNAMIC" that enhance every notes that he plays. I was stunned to hear him playing. Cherrs from Indonesia.

[@joehernandez5600]

Great video! This lick also stunned me when I first heard it. Robben has always been a huge influence.

[@SonorousMusic]

Great lick, great player, great lesson.. thanks for sharing!

[@PhpGtr]

This is great. I love these analyses and how important a particular phrase was. I've got a few myself. I'm glad I found your channel.

[@TreyStegall]

Very cool. Love the chill, methodical way you broke that down. Thanks for the lesson.

[@babagadoush1]

Beautiful tone.

[@1963Tele]

Great knowledge & playing. Good tone too. Thank you for sharing!

[@vincerusso5619]

Gorgeous tone, velvety playing 👍🏻

[@briane.paulson]

The golden touch right there.

[@PureMadMetal]

That's sweet, I respect your honesty

[@davidgerber9317]

I just now stumbled across this channel for the first time. I like your teaching style. I like your choice of content. I like your playing style. I like your D'Angelico. I am your newest subscriber! How the hell do you get almost 55K views and only 9.2K subscribers? This stuff is GOLD!

[@kepriworks]

Great presentation of guitar instruction! Thx

[@mbmillermo]

I love your music and what you are doing here. I happened to see an interview with Robben Ford where he said that he learned jazz chords from the Mickey Baker jazz guitar books, which I think shows in some of his choices (e.g., the Am11 to A♭7♭5, which is one of the first things we learn in that book). Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman was a student of Lenny Breau and Breau used the Mickey Baker books in teaching Bachman. You can hear the jazzy influence in "Undun" (a.k.a., "She's Come Undone").

[@teleplucker6802]

That book was a staple in my early days of learning jazz.

[@richardthomas9198]

Hey Andy, I really like your guitar, the tone is killer and it's really good looking. Nice playing too. Just wanted to throw that out there

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you!

[@colingardiner6516]

Top lesson. Thanks a lot. Love Robben Ford

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

Whoooooweee that run at 0:23 is it!!

[@robhead22]

What a great lesson!! Thank you!

[@guitarlots]

Great album. Ford's tone on Talk to your Daughter is beautiful

[@dudorotomy]

Beautiful. Great work. Robben's playing is SO attractive!

[@yammylicks1108]

Γεια σου από Ελλάδα Άντυ!!! Πολύ χάρηκα που πέτυχα το κανάλι σου!!!

[@Len_J_]

Great lesson, great playing, and what a tone! I learned something from this. Thank you 🙏

[@aldofonseca6909]

Awesome class! Thanks

[@mrstrat222]

This was so good and so insane! Thanks!!

[@CAJMusic]

Yes!!! Great video Andy! 👍

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you Carlos!

[@bettyodell1420]

You changed my guitar playing life with this video. Is there a complete transcription of all content in this video? I got the opening lick. Tasty is an understatement...

[@AndyDacoulis]

Hello - glad that you enjoyed the video! All the notes of the opening solo are available for download on my website if you are interested. Thanks

[@chirbin0nidhogg623]

Wonderfully well explained

[@skimanization]

Wow, that's a cool lick to emulate. Thanks

[@thatsthegig]

Beautifully explained Andy.

[@MichaelLewisMusic]

Wonderful lesson!

[@moradghaemi7496]

Great Job, thank you so much!

[@BOLTONSOFT]

World class playing foreal!

[@johnsworldofvideopoker]

Superb analysis of the theory behind the lines!🙌🏻🙌🏻🍎

[@SalsaBailaProductions]

Great setup story❤

[@indyvin]

Great lesson. Perfect for music school graduates with 20 plus years of practice and experience.

[@thejamnasium6447]

such a cool chord progression

[@anthem7777]

love that record stil blast it out at work when i get a chance

[@revotrupin7477]

Awesome video! To me Robben Ford was the first person to take the Mike Bloomfield style into a jazzier direction. That album changed my life too although I wish I had broken down some of that stuff the way you did back in the day. Regarding the lick, I can't really hear those first 3 or 4 notes you do in his solo before he does the bebob scale thing at 2:50. Anyway it sounds great. Great colors for the dominant 2 sound which I need to work on. Thanks!

[@sed2142]

This is great! And wow.. I have a lot to learn 😳

[@samuelemahtolo]

Great, as usual. Many thanks !

[@samuelemahtolo]

Thank you so much !

[@irishmuso7129]

Great lesson. For an indication where this jazz idiom emerged from have a listen to 'Conception' by George Shearing with Chuck Wayne on guitar. It's a 1949 recording and still sets a high bar today for any guitarist.

[@wadesharp11]

Thank you from New Zealand!well presented, great teaching. Cheers I’ve subscribed and following

[@bills48321]

Very nice sound

[@michaelstevens8]

Andy, hello from Kansas City, Missouri. I like to think of it in terms of Tension and Release. Their's different Scales and Arpeggios depending on the Family of Chord, but for Dominant Chords, if you want Mild Tension, Superimpose a Mixolydian Flat 6 Scale. For Medium Tension Superimpose a Mixolydian Sharp 4 or Flat 9 Scale or a Whole Tone Scale. For Maximum Tension Superimpose an Altered Scale or Half Whole Diminished or Side Slip a Mixolydian or Other Scale a Half Step Below or Above. This also applies to the Arpeggios within these Scales. Charlie Parker did Some of this to a Certain extent. John Coltrane much more so. Blues Fusion Guitarists like Carlton, Ford, Scofield and Henderson also Superimpose like this a lot. For anyone that's interested, check out the Robbin Ford REH Books and Videos, their's also a book titled How To Play Blues Fusion Guitar. Thanks.

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thanks for your observation, Michael. The Robben Ford REH videos are a must. I learned a lot from them. Thanks again

[@michaelstevens8]

In my previous comment I forgot to mention that if anyone is interested, Robbin Ford has also made a number of TrueFire videos. Thanks.

[@docdoscojazz]

Good one.... I think that augmented ideas are very cool and many guys don't even think to use them except in a limited way ... nice blues lines too....

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you! Yes, the augmented ideas can lend themselves to a variety of colorful sounds, I agree.

[@docdoscojazz]

@@AndyDacoulis Just subscribed.... thanks

[@JordanHigginsGuitar]

Subscribed in literally less than 10 seconds of this video starting. Really excellent stuff man.

[@michaelethen7919]

New to this channel. You’re a stellar player. Awesome tone, great feel.

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you!!

[@rvmusictv0122]

Great amazing player and instructor. Truly masterclass!❤🙏

[@davidkuda]

that's a very interesting analysis, thanks

[@AdrianWhyte]

That D’Angelico sounds great, I know it’s more you than the guitar, but I’m impressed!

[@TheTwangKings]

You said it. Blues is great to learn the guitar, but if you want to move forward, jazz is the ticket. 👍👌😊

[@nileswright8915]

absolutely gorgeous guitar and playing too ;)

[@jsherrydds]

Great job!! Thank you for this!

[@joe-nautilus-nauticus]

Thanks man. Nice lick. So I subscribed.

[@AndyDacoulis]

Thank you!

[@joeurbanowski321]

Robben plays outside and sounds inside..( that’s the trick,ay..?)… I play inside… but sound outside…WAYYYY outside..!😩🤣 Thanks for this..!👍🏼

[@TheLochs]

I totally agree, Scott Henderson plays outside and sounds outside, lol. Still love both.

[@Pladderkasse]

Oh yes, this tune was my gateway into jazz blues. Turned me on to John Scofield.

[@rickjensen2717]

Very well described and a great sound 👏. I think that Larry Carlton did something similar with his solo on Kid Charlemagne - sounds like it anyway.

[@sakismousdrakas9694]

ωραια δουλεια..μπραβο φιλε....

[@karun8236]

I would pay for an entire first 32 secs lines at the beginning of the video. Can you please post the entire improvisation on that?

[@johnhhh3591]

Very cool!

[@druchumley4571]

Robben continues to fly under the radar, which is crazy. He should get WAY more recognition.

[@slicksalmon6948]

Robben never played anything memorable. Nobody whistles a Robben Ford tune.

[@druchumley4571]

@@slicksalmon6948 That's because whistling doesn't sound like an old tele through a cranked Dumble. If it did, we wouldn't NEED guitars.

[@ronswary]

Never understood the whole I’m playing in this position watch and listen but I’m gonna keep putting my hand in another position right before I do… play with confidence not indecision

[@kilterkaos1]

Identical to my experience when I first heard Robben Ford and the same album.