The Smiths-How Soon is Now?-Guitar Lesson-Allison Bennett Tutorial

Here's a lesson on how to play "How Soon is Now?" by the Smiths. This tutorial explains how I play it on stage, sometimes combining multiple guitar parts. I hope it helps! Please subscribe to my channel for more Smiths guitar lessons and follow me on Twitter @AlliBguitar

[@breal1183]

Its so crazy how something to the ear can sound so complicated. Then when someone shows you how to play it, it is so easy all you can think is, omg, why didn't i just know that? lol

[@vautrain]

Allison, if you're still reading these comments, thank you for this tutorial! Learning to play this song made me a real fan, both of the song, The Smiths, and your tutorials. I hope someday you can start posting new videos. Cheers!

[@NotQuiteFirst]

2:40 It's really interesting to hear the actual acoustic strumming which is producing the main tremolo part, from listening to the original I could never get my head round what the guitar was actually doing. So many distinct guitar parts in this song all contrasting but adding up nicely.

[@tomsanone]

i think im in love. that guitar is absolutely gorgeous.

[@FireMinstrel]

I have a love-hate relationship with Les Pauls. They really overcharge left-handed players. :(

[@nonoff2597]

@@FireMinstrel whoosh lol

[@BruceLee-zd9bw]

The dish playing it isn't bad either..🥰

[@KG00714]

ah but fender has a line that's independent which looks exactly like the les Paul , gretsch cateye guitar yet 1 / 5th the price $599 - 699 compared to $2000

[@skutty5773]

Learning this song in tribute to Andy Rourke who died today. This song changed my life many moons ago. And you teach it well!

[@MRWHITE-oi1uh]

everyone needs to catch her playing with This Charming Band. She is an amazing musician....

[@davidrapant6398]

How many guitar players does it take to show you how to play a song? 10. 1 to actually show you and 9 to tell the one showing you they are playing it wrong. I played in a working band for years and many times you have to make pick and choose the parts your going to play because there are usually several guitar tracks going on. I like what she’s doing here because she is covering it all well in a way that works live. You can learn a lot about how a musician is covering something by finding a live version video of the song your trying to learn.

[@steffyweffy777]

Wow. This is the only accurate and proper tutorial I’ve seen on how to play this song and live. Even the SMITHS avoided it live for years as it was not easy to do live properly, and here you are teaching the world. Great stuff. Thanks so much for being so good as to share your secrets. 👌🏻

[@cmg1819]

This is a great version of itself but it's not the version Marr plays live especially the chorus.

[@tdirgins]

Not a tutorial but I always loved how this guy did it. Caution: filmed through a potato. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZaoZaCgiJZ1ga8&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

[@dickhead5964]

As always great lesson Alison. Your love for the music of The Smiths is evident.

[@IDriveAnAudi]

Excellent tutorial, thanks! I really like your teaching style, just enough explanation but getting quick to the point. And, probably the best line in a lesson ever "what you need to do is turn on all your pedals". :-) Awesome!!!

[@andrewbarrientes1625]

That is one of the most beautiful finishes i have ever seen on any guitar. Thank you for the lessons!

[@ultragroove1]

This is (the) best tutorial on How Soon Is Now by far. How can I say, you go about things the right way. Tone, guitar, tremolo/effects arrangements, all fantastic. You made this perplexing iconic anthem playable and you show the chord structures and rhythm as only a gifted teacher could. Thank you Allison, you’re a superb musician and your channel rocks!

[@mikelawson6456]

I love the Smiths, Johnny Marr, and this song. Thank you for a great version and great cover...awesome tutorial

[@seanmcaleavy2369]

Nice job! I have never heard anyone capture Johnny Marr's sound as well you have done it. Excellent!

[@benjpope6949]

Allison, you've really reignited my love for the Smith's with your excellent tutorials! Clear and crisp, I've managed to learn loads, I'll post a cover of a song I've learnt using your lessons! Well done!

[@drummerindrenthe]

What a great start of my day, to find this 'howto' for one of my favorite songs. I am not a guitar player (drummer) but I am impressed with how clearly you explain how you play al of these songs. I am sure many guitar players would like to see more (recent) tutorials and covers!

[@paulwilson9115]

That intro gives me chills every time. Great tutorial Allison, thank you!

[@DarkestofTimes]

So good. I'll never get tired of hearing different people's versions of this classic.

[@ingebj]

Thumbs up for really good, accurate, detailed and perfectly timed - not too fast and not too slow. Thanks!

[@attaboy8738]

Love it when tutorials get into the meta of the song! Super well presented!

[@JeffFaulknerCD]

You make it look so easy but after years of trying I know it’s not. You’ve got an amazing ear and knowledge of tone. Bless you!

[@anthonym1672]

Ms. Bennett, thx to u and ur video. i can now play the chorus of this song. there has been not a single soul who has explained this song. I sincerely thank you for the details u have given us all. Ur tone is killer by the way...u sound exactly like Johnny.

[@gtralien]

THANK YOU for putting up the only video I've found with a demonstration of how to play that little slide lick RIGHT. Thank gawd, I was going nuts trying to figure out how to articulate that. You're awesome.

[@gofishglobal7919]

I so appreciate that you have really studied these songs. I spent a few days playing your version of Please Let Me Get What I Want...challenging but you made me sound like Johnny Marr. This is another GREAT explanation! You really break these things down!!! Thank you!

[@frankiechan9651]

Thankyou Allison, I've always been a fan of this song and picked up the guitar again during the pandemic. After listening to way too many versions and not getting anywhere, found your tutorial that is clear and concise - then went and bought a capo just to play it. The key, for me, is your explanation of setting up the tremolo effect and waiting for the 2 bounce-backs before strumming again. It certainly makes it much cleaner through my basic rig and it does not turn into a hot, muddy mess of reverberations.

[@eiderdown6208]

Best video on how to play this song I've seen. Great stuff.

[@dr261175]

Thank you for this tutorial, I love that you include the slide part no-one ever seems to mention.

[@chaplaincadet]

This is the best rendition I have ever heard of this song, cheers!

[@kirbonite]

it's very generous when professionals do these vids. thank you talented lady

[@douglasmilton2805]

Allison, excellent breakdown of this Smithsonian institution, finally I can play it without bluffing, SO many thanks.

[@MrJohnCrist]

Clear, concise, explanation and demonstration. Well done.

[@A9106]

So glad I found this (thanks!). Can't wait to get home (from work) and give it a go. First heard this great song 36 years ago and I've only now just taken up learning the guitar.

[@alexbostelle287]

Thanks for unlocking this mystery, the figuring out to tuning down the b string is some great sleuthing. That sound is pure genius . Reminiscent of an early Bjork song if I recall

What a great lesson! Thank you so much Allison.

[@Hello-dy1gh]

Lovely, just lovely. Thank you Alison!

[@stevendwilson1297]

Fantastic video. You’ve nailed it. As a professional drummer you have what we’re all looking for... Great rhythm. Brilliant job!!

[@discokillers8674]

Thanks alot Allison...after all these years I finally got curious to look up "what that sound was"...tremelo with a capo. Good tutorial!

[@jrussell4711]

Phenomenal. I've seen Johnny play it a couple of different ways during the verse, as he switches things about to different voicings, but always remaining faithful to the core rhythm and e lick. He played the lower part for the chorus the two times I saw it live and Dvorak handled the higher part as you depicted (you do it better, I might add). You are also the only person I've ever seen who figured out tuning down the b string for the sonic smear sampled throughout the original (the original was recorded two steps up and then slowed down and played back through heavy reveerb a time or two for the sample).

[@JeredtheShy]

jrussell4711 Well of course. Johnny gets to do whatever he wants.

[@therailtracerofrivia5012]

You're an amazing teacher, you've really made this smiths stuff easy to learn for me, so thank you!!

[@gamby16a]

This is the first time I've seen this song demystified and you did it in a logical, linear way. I have an RC-2, so I don't think it can "trigger" like that, but maybe I need to read the manual. I'd love to see you decode some My Bloody Valentine like this. Great lesson. Feel good that you just taught something to a 45 y/o who has played for 30 years!

[@Nixx2709]

I love this song, and this tutorial is great. I am going to enjoy learning this. Thanks for the video!

[@nicolassayada9982]

I gotta say you’re a really good teacher!i got my degree in classical guitar and I learned a lot from you. Everything was so clear! Liked and subscribed, and I will recommend your channel to anyone I meet who wants to take up electric guitar! Great job keep it up!

[@nicholasbrown8886]

Stairway to heaven of the 80’s. Nice work

[@lolufsen]

So well explained, even I can play it. I do however choose to use bends instead of a slide. That also saves you the detuning. No idea why anybody would downvote this. A big upvote from me! 👍

[@ultragroove1]

Actually that’s a great idea. I’d like see it in play. It’s still not possible to pull off without splitting it into two guitar parts right? Which string(s) are you bending up like a 1/2 Or whole step? while barring a couple others & at what fret? Just trying to picture it. Thx!

[@mv9358]

Wow...thanks. Great how too and fun to watch at the same time. I say Morrisey play this in Salt Lake a few years back with his new band but it felt dirty and cheap without J Marr playing next to him... one can only hope that Coachella opens with the Smiths one day soon.

[@SimonM5]

I've watched a few tutorials on this but I love the sound of the G6 and Asus2. Think you nailed it, thankyou.

[@simoncraddock5691]

Absolutely brilliant. Awesome playing and awesome sound. Spot on

[@toddsandford]

Wills Easy Guitar sent me. Great stuff!

[@davidshields8401]

Hi, If you haven't already seen it. Johnny Marr got up and jammed with the killers last night at Glastonbury! Awesome tutorial btw

[@itchyego]

Great to finally see a woman give guitar lessons! Brilliant! Thanks AB... please do more! - Ken in Hawaii

[@slawdawg23]

I just started playing guitar but hope to play this some day as it reminds me of my youth. Thank you Allison for this lesson. :D

[@Astinsan]

Love the layered guitar vibrato in that song

[@thenightporter]

I know zip about guitars but this is one of the songs that is the soundtrack to my life as an 80s teen, the riff especially. I never thought that a guitar alone made all those sounds on the track; I figured that was a synth that made that fading "wah" sound at the end of the riff and the rest was engineered to sound like that in a studio!

[@Jro132]

Thanks Alison for the great video. It's great that you took the time to make it. The band sounds tight.

[@chrisrader8547]

This is good stuff. Excellent lesson that really demystifies this song. Its an iconic song to begin with but you’ve captured the spirit of it. Thank you!

[@KrisNebroso]

Johnny Marr would approve.

[@carolinelima1660]

Omg you are such an inspiration to me ❤️

[@davewillis4861]

I love the lesson Allison I just started getting into the Smiths. Excellent job breaking it down.

[@christanehrhart8824]

This is the most Canadian thing I have seen in a while Thank You I can die happy now.

[@aliciafranco5704]

Will Gelvin is THE greatest and recommended your channel💘💘💘💘💘 Just subscribed

[@summerswinterer9247]

Same Gibson Marr used as well. In an interview he mentions how enthusiastic he was when his label let him pick one up he saw in the window.

[@blainebauman572]

Summers Winterer I think he used an ES355

[@KG00714]

yhea man and it inspired him to come up with 6 songs one which allison Bennett is playing

[@johnnydeutschemark3620]

So good you cracked the code! I am flummoxed by instruments and very impressed overall. Thanks!

[@mcgandur]

Thanks much Allison! The slide and RC-3 one shot are great clues!

[@OLIVERBLEES]

One of the best SMITHS tune!!!!! :)

[@OLIVERBLEES]

... nice haircut :)

[@nucleusmedicalmedia]

Cool! Thanks for the break down!

[@420_____]

Omg i love your videos

[@KG00714]

wonderful technique! i was playing by ear when 92.3 WDRE would played their music. brilliant work Allison Bennett i have a boss gt 1000 core what a difference using effects for the guitar. the 5 pedals you explained perfectly to use to capture the essence of the Smiths music. watch shoplifters of the world. keep the music coming!

[@carolloveskiwis]

Love all your vids Alison! You've nailed it. Can't wait to try it. Keep 'em coming. Johnny would be proud!

[@BogWraith1]

The picture of a very young Johnny Marr was the third thing I noticed after viewing your obvious skill level with the guitar and also in just how beautiful a woman you are too! Thank you for the lesson Allison. All the best teachers of songs and techniques on You Tube make me grab my guitar and start practicing what I just had seen on someones channel. I am reaching for my guitar as i’m hitting the enter key to post this comment!

[@Zartimus]

Merci buckets. You saved me some time. Great idea to use a stored loop to trigger the slide part for a single guitar performance.

[@mattludlam2194]

I think that's what Johnny mare used to do in the 80s when they played it live..

[@rickwhear4016]

now he has the other guitar player play it

[@larsm7655]

Thank you! One of my favorite songs for a long time now. This’ll help immensely! Keep up the great work.

[@fredbloggs6085]

Nice, very clear explanation, with a neat trick for spinning-in the "train" effect. Clever.

[@tkalbfeld1]

Crazy Awesome Alpine White Custom!! Thanks for the Lesson!!

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

What distinguishes a custom from a normal Les Paul? Is it all the beautiful trim details?

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Never mind, I found this great page that describes all the differences: www.reidys.com/blog/gibson-les-paul-standard-vs-les-paul-custom-1321/

[@tkalbfeld1]

But, That's not a custom. What is it?

[@gost4995]

OH MY GOD I AM SO IN LOVE WITH YOUR LES PAUL!!

[@canadianrushfan12]

Visceral Villian It looks a little off.

[@canadianrushfan12]

The Les Paul looks off.

[@4layerz]

Yeah what year is it? The headstock logo is more commonly on 335/345 etc. Don't think I've seen a Les paul with that logo

[@4layerz]

Upon closer inspection the trussrod cover looks iffy. I'm gonna hazard a guess that it's fake. Still a nice looking guitar though

[@lightmodifi]

Allison you Rock! Best Guitar Teacher Ever!

[@rossmcgarry8055]

Allison Thanks for your tutorial. I've always loved this song and you've made it look relatively easy. Now to practice. Thanks

[@MarkStevensonMusicChannel]

Super Spot-On! Thank you for this, Allison! How did you figure this out? You're obviously a badass!

[@jlang66]

great lesson! You are really both talented and beautiful!

[@grwuk]

Thanks for taking the time to show everything very clearly.

[@FitWithRyan_]

I am definitely going to learn this and finally know how to play the “washy” part! Thank you, ma’am! 🙏🏼

[@Mark-nu5vg]

It's a refreshing change to finally see a female with some guitar knowledge keep up the good work.

[@mikedberry]

How did you ever figure out the wailing part where the B string is tuned down a half-step?? Never would've occurred to me but it sounds perfect. Is it what Johnny did? Not sure and don't really care! Nicely done.

[@yesnickcarter]

Mike Berry i saw a video where they said Johnny retuned the guitar to make the slide have the right chord. so this is probably legit.

[@TheContinuum7]

OMG! Great demo on an iconic song! I would have not figured this out. Ever.

[@TimothySteffes]

Thumbs up before I had even watched the whole thing for the loop station idea!! Brilliant!! Way to go!

[@croaero]

lol - love nick in the background! haha

[@Seishi41]

Your lessons are great. Can you teach 'There is a light that never goes out?'

[@TheDenimIndustry]

I've always wondered how they did the effects for many years. Now I know. Thanks a lot! Awesome tutorial. I'm going to check out your other tutorials.

[@lanworkx]

Thank you so much for your great lesson. I am very new to the guitar and this song has been a great joy to listen to. But now thanks to you I can appreciate it so much more. Please keep sharing your lessons. Your awesome.....

[@ultrafloss492]

Cool stuff thanks! :D

[@dan_s_higginson]

Am I the only one who's here to learn the song? So many creeps on KZbin!

[@stiglistanbul]

Exactly what I was thinking. Urgh.

[@stiglistanbul]

dill doe go fuck yourself

[@misspou5242]

Dan Higginson creeps indeed... you ain't seen nothing dude.

[@misspou5242]

dill doe why would you do that to her?

[@orlfane1622]

Because she would probably enjoy it

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

Hi, Allison, this is the first video of yours I’ve seen after stumbling upon this. This song has been a mystery to me as to how it’s really played and you’ve really nailed it! I’m definitely subscribed and now, on to the rest of your videos! Really excited. LOVE your playing and sound - SO important!

[@gregallen1]

You are absolutely STUNNING!!

[@seanrosedotcom]

I read a 100 comments and they all said, 'her t&ts are nice' or 'she's hawt~!' and not one said, 'Johnny Marr is on the wall and she can play his shite well! Nice!'

[@austntexan]

I wonder why she didn't just wear a formless muumuu, instead of a tight form fitting top accentuating her double Ds? I guess she doesn't realize they're quite prominent and lovely to men? You're so good though, to remark about Marr instead her appearance, you know, being a man and all. You're better than other men, clearly. I know this because of the comment you posted. You're one of the good ones.

[@ronj9448]

Stumbled into your channel. Really a very thoughtful and detailed lesson. Thank you for sharing. BTW: I didn't realize you were in a cover band. I thought you were editing yourself on stage with some random band! You know youtube ....

[@obgmugen]

Awesome. Best song to get faded to. Great work with the gibson

[@rodpardey]

Wonderful job! Can't wait to see you perform at the convention.

[@w0mblemania]

As a male who is not PC or SJW, gotta say: it's embarrassing to see comments that go on about the presenter's physical appearance. Yes, she's a woman. So what? Leave it out guys, and just grow up. She's providing you with a tutorial, not an opportunity to rate her physical charms.

[@angry546]

Wrong, Buck - O ! Perfect opportunity!

[@tonybates7870]

It's sad when someone has to qualify this comment by stating that they're not "PC" or an "SJW" (please let that last phrase die soon). You're right, mate - it doesn't make you either of those things to say what you said. Good looking female guitar tutors - who woulda thunk it?

[@Garrett.1111]

I see a lot of objectification of women by way of straight up rude demeaning comments that usually involve things like "pretty good for a smokin' hot babe" or "I'd hit that" or whatever. Women with true skills in martial arts, music, sports, etc.. But if It's respectful Is it really a problem to say for example, "Not only is Allison Bennett an amazing guitar player, but she also happens to be incredibly gorgeous"? Because that is in fact what I'm saying. Thanks Allison. I hope you aren't offended by the fact that I like your playing and that I have eyes.

[@w0mblemania]

You raise a good point. Many (most?) women -- including Allison -- obviously go out of their way to make their appearance matter. They take pride in their looks. Therefore, it seems obvious to many males that there's nothing wrong on complimenting women on their looks. And it seems hypocritical to spend so much time and effort on looks and then get upset that someone comments on those look. I get that. Like I said, I'm not an SJW or WhiteKnight type. If some boobie-streamer makes her living flashing her cleavage on Twitch, and then cries "sexism" when young males make comments about her chest, then I have no time for that kind of hypocrisy. You can't honestly present yourself as a sexual commodity and then expect people to treat you as if your sexuality doesn't matter. My problem is with those comments that are specifically about Allison's appearance, and nothing to do with the music or what she is providing here. For example, one of the top rated comments here is simply "What a Babe". That's it. Nothing about the performance, no thanks for the tutorial, no questions about technique. Just a statement about a woman's physical attributes. This could have been a bikini-shoot video (in which case the comments would be completely appropriate.) But this is not a bikini-shoot video. I think those kind of comments, directly solely at sexual and physical attributes, are disrespectful. I think men can do better.

[@Garrett.1111]

I totally agree. That's why I said she is a great guitar player AND happens to be gorgeous. AND I thanked her for the lesson. I think were on the same page.

[@adnap]

As far as the “train sound” It’s almost perfect, but it’s missing the D string to add the lower octave. 8-7

[@scottharris7222]

Excellent tutorial and your alternative voicing for the chorus sections to fill out the sound work very well. Thanks for this. Subscribed.

[@dougdevine27]

Cool breakdown of the effects. So *that* is how it's done!

[@alexbreyer6921]

Great tutorial Alison. I'm curious if you could offer a ballpark setting for where you put your tremolo controls?

[@allisonbennett2407]

If you freeze the video at 7:30, you can see where all of my pedals are set...hope that helps

[@g.g.gorrell8420]

I came back here to figure out how you used the looper and what kind it was. Still amazed how you're able to capture the whole nuance of this tune! Ya' make me feel like it's 1984 again :-) Thx for the really awesome lesson too!

[@zaicolainen]

You can see the tremolo settings when she hits the loop station at 1:00

[@VioletDeliriums]

I would say don't look at settings, but use your ears to figure it out. It's clearly a square wave with full depth (because it cuts in and out completely) and the tempo is the tempo. If you play along with a recording you will know if it is right or wrong.

[@influxxmedia]

Getting the tremolo sound right is so tricky. By the end of the song the drummers tempo has increased by 17 bpm and the trem is out of time