Dave Matthews Guitar Technique Is UNLIKE Anyone Else’s

[@TomButwin]

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[@BCTCanadian]

Dave also has some inate ability to mute every string not needed every time, perfectly. It's like his right hand just strums at a constant pace and his left hand is doing two or three jobs at once. What a guy.

[@TomButwin]

Great point. That’s 100% true!

[@deirdremichele]

Yes, it’s a superpower! I don’t know how he does it. I guess it’s what Mastery looks like! 💜🙌🏾

[@ChrisGalesMusic]

Dave is a musical force of nature. Thank you for this post.

[@TomButwin]

Really appreciate you watching!

[@IAMMASED]

Ive been a metal bassist for 30 years but i love dave and everything hes done... Ive learned 26 of his songs lol... Amd they're all super fun to play ..

[@TomButwin]

YES. This is exactly what I’m talking about lol. Thank you. I can’t tell you how awesome that is.

[@NickJardine]

I always felt he was a fantastic and underrated guitarist

[@TomButwin]

I agree!

[@tony791999]

The really cool thing about Dave is his rhythm/lead style. Like the verse of Tripping Billies.

[@CASEMSTR]

Love the simplicity of explaining this, but also the complexity of what you are explaining. DMB is one of the great live bands because of how they are all in sync with each other, and my guy Carter does not get enough credit in the world of Music. Man is BADASS

[@TomButwin]

Carter is incredible! Appreciate you watching.

[@mikecole4489]

This was really well done man!

[@TomButwin]

Mike! Thanks man! Really enjoy your content and it’s been inspiring to see your channel grow like it has. All the best to you.

[@artistryinstone5576]

Hes incredible live and his singing is amazing aswell . Going back to mexico next month to see him and Tim play at the moon palace. Awesome 3 night concert. I believe they played 72 songs including covers last year .

[@ThermaL1717]

Crash Into Me is a perfect example of how Dave can create such a mesmerizing piece with holding the same static chord shape and simply moving the bass note around. Sometimes less is more!

[@TomButwin]

Great call!

[@skaitheslothgirl9317]

This was so insightful! I’ve never been to your channel before but the breakdown on Dave Matthews songs seemed like a “duh, omg they just use two note chords for almost every popular song” really helped me put pen on paper and get back to creating things

[@TomButwin]

So happy you found the channel and it inspired you! Welcome.

[@maineiacts]

I FRIKKN' * L O V E * DMB DM IS AN AMAZING MUSICIAN AND HUMAN!!💝🤗🎶🙋‍♀️ Thx for the insight on his tech! Coming from a retired gal, 😉

[@TomButwin]

I love DMB too!

[@geraldduncanduncan1874]

youre right brother. thanks for this great explanation of daves style

[@TomButwin]

Appreciate you watching!

[@flatcarwillie]

Tripping Billies, Grey Street, the bridge in Lie in Our Graves, etc. aren't 2 note chords, they are 3 notes chords. He frets the E and G strings, mutes the A string with whichever finger he's fretting the E string with, and lets the D string ring open.

[@TomButwin]

You’re right! I had a section on that and cut it. Should have said 2 fretted notes, in some cases.

[@musicman451]

The entire band are talented musicians.

[@Mgray345]

I will say this. Since I started following him and playing him seriously my guitar playing all around has 1000% improved. Like you said. Exercise. And that’s exactly what he makes you do.

[@TomButwin]

Couldn’t agree more. Appreciate you watching.

[@theworldofchris6736]

fantastic video, couldnt agree more

[@meetzaki]

the single place on neck is also visible in the very involved/complicated "warehouse" riff

[@TomButwin]

Yes!

[@bobalki]

Dave is a genius guitar player, hands down.

[@TomButwin]

Agree. There’s no one like him!

[@michaelfielding1750]

Great video!

[@TomButwin]

Thanks, Michael!

[@theshapeexists]

Writing these weird parts is unique and creative enough, playing it live while singing something completely different is impossible for many. For example, try and play and sing the song Fool To Think separately. Its not too difficult. But play and sing at the same time and you realize the freaks Dave and his band are.

[@TomButwin]

FTT is INSANE. There are so many examples of this. Rhyme & Reason, The Stone, etc. Even songs that get kind of glossed over by die hards (me included) like You & Me. Try to play that verse and sing. He’s a monster and has a monster band to make it all work.

[@usmc8408]

Anyone who plays the guitar knows that while his songs aren't all that hard to play, the real magic is the upstrumming, syncopation, abrupt rhythm changes, string muting, all while that beast of a right hand never stops moving or misses a beat!

[@Hollywood_ah]

The challenge isn’t in these songs you played. It’s the rhythm and the fills. If I were unfamiliar with the band/him in his music - as a guitar player - I’d be like there’s nothing special here. Meanwhile a song like Tripping Billies is not nearly that easy. Especially the way he plays with the timing/strokes. Acoustically he can’t be touched. Go deeper into his catalog for the next review if you Lee interested in doing another one. Jimi Thing, Sugar Will, Warehouse, Rapunzel just to name a few.

[@TomButwin]

As far as rhythmic figures, odd meters, time signature changes, etc. there’s a whole bunch there that could be covered, for sure. But that’s more obvious from listening to the music. What isn’t obvious is how he makes his way around the fretboard with his left hand. If someone were to be tasked with learning these songs, cold, with no visual reference (and no knowledge of Dave Matthews), I can almost guarantee they wouldn’t approach the chord shapes and fingerings the way Dave does. That’s what makes him so unique. It’s not necessarily about whats’s the most difficult to play, but more focused on the unique approach he takes, unlike anyone else, to deliver and be able to perform the complex rhythmic parts he does. Appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@TomButwin interesting

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@TomButwin I appreciate these videos and comments!

[@dmeme195]

Dave Matthews is THE GOAT‼️

[@TomButwin]

Yes. He. Is.

[@PloumidisMusic]

Hey Tom, nice video! Really curious about that Martin.. Is this a custom build? Looks like a 35 series but I am not sure.

[@TomButwin]

Hey! Thank you. Much appreciated. So, that guitar is a "Custom" made in 2001. It's based on a 000-16RGT.

[@ponloco8055]

Dave is great because he gives all the other instruments space to breath.

[@TomButwin]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@langyampsdmb]

Interesting thing is the songs don’t sound 100% correct until you use the same fingerings that Dave does. It’s wild.

[@TomButwin]

So true and they are CHALLENGING

[@BAMyerson]

What kind of guitar are you playing?

[@TomButwin]

That’s a 2001 Martin Custom based off of a 000-16RGT. I’ve got a Fishman Matrix Infinity undersaddle pickup in it.

[@mihailmilev9909]

Speaking of metal and jazz, still waiting for a proper combination of those two.....

[@danielplantus71]

I thought the secret method behind Dave was Boyd in FJM.

[@TomButwin]

From 1991-2018 it was.

[@oscarmckee1471]

Carter Beauford his drummer...that's his secret weapon

[@TomButwin]

YES

[@MotorCityMax]

The fact its A flat is epic

[@TomButwin]

No open strings here!

[@SammyMakepeace]

Brave to mention Tripping Billies and only play the intro

[@TomButwin]

There are a lot more notes in the verses...

[@TomButwin]

The Secret Weapon Series kzbin.info/aero/PLjNIskxVP-fOCcN4ajomLpli2EiW5zYtp

[@joshledford8921]

except ants marching....good lord! He is all over the neck

[@TomButwin]

He is, but even the main guitar part has some very cool/creative fingerings to keep from having to move too much!

[@F3PIZZA]

Don’t acoustic guitar players use pedals, too? Confused.

[@TomButwin]

Sure, but not Dave Matthews.

[@mihailmilev9909]

29th like

[@joshharris2365]

Hot take: people who don’t AT LEAST appreciate DMB don’t truly understand/appreciate music

[@TomButwin]

I can't say I disagree with you.

[@hellrose18]

This isnt that unique, metal guitarists use this technique all the time, they just dont make it their whole career

[@kriscary8988]

This is a bit too simplistic.

[@TomButwin]

Gotta keep it short! It’s the foundation of his style, though.