Top 15 Velvet Underground Riffs

Here are my top 15 Velvet Underground 'riffs', down-tuned to give it that dark mood that is usually found on a lot of VU songs. Lou Reed experimented a lot with tunings, most notably, the 'ostrich' tuning which featured on the song All Tomorrow's Parties from the Velvet Underground and Nico album.
SUBSCRIBE - bit.ly/1YzT9us
#velvetunderground #guitar #loureed
TRACK LISTING (Tunings found at bottom)
0:00 Sister Ray
0:15 Ocean
0:32 All Tomorow's Parties
0:48 Run Run Run
1:04 I'm Set Free
1:19 There She Goes Again
1:37 Heroin
2:00 Sweet Jane
2:20 Some Kinda Love
2:41 Lady Godiva's Operation
2:58 Rock And Roll
3:20 Waiting For The Man
3:37 I Can't Stand It
3:52 Venus In Furs
4:19 What Goes On
All songs tuned down a whole step (DGCFAD) except All Tomorrow's Parties (Ostrich Tuning), Run Run Run (DGCFAA), Venus In Furs (DGCFAC), Rock And Roll (CGCFAD).

[@dashstarkiller913]

“One chord is fine. Two chords is pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz." - Lou Reed

[@hsjshahs1305]

@Brecken Kase no one cares at all

[@kaderpdi1982]

@Brecken Kase nice virus you got there

[@PW-le6cr]

All of the songs are three chords or more

[@theknightsofawesomeness2701]

Have we been playing jazz all this time?

[@KaleEb449]

@@theknightsofawesomeness2701 No

[@losangulos]

"Riffs that spawned 50 bands or more"

[@BernardLangham]

far, far more than 50 :)

[@losangulos]

@@BernardLangham yes, each.

[@jedediahjehoshaphat]

And the 50 bands that spawned generations after.

[@michaelgraham9774]

More like 50,000

[@RansomGangsterBox245]

I couldn’t get into their riffs so I automatically think they’re dookie and not my cup of tea 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@rick.d]

Every time I turn on the radio, there ain't nothing goin' down at all.

[@briansmith9455]

Not even a tiny little bit!

[@sonamhf]

i sang this comment

[@raybbaby]

Nice. My introduction to this song came via Jane's Addiction on that triple x ep, or album, or whatever it was.

[@comedownmachine4682]

SHEEEE started dancing to that FINE FINE muuuusic!

[@cockylady2067]

Not at all.

[@JohnLee-iw1fn]

Venus in Furs has perhaps the most menacing chord sequence I've ever heard.

[@galgadelic]

it's almost like an egyptian tune or something like that, it reminds me of the end by the doors, it has the same spirit

[@al89712]

Wait till you hear black metal

[@plasticZarathustra]

@@galgadelic it was written in an Arabic scale so that’s why it has the weird feel to it

[@projektpsychodeliczny4620]

This version is in normal tuning?

[@junlee3515]

@@plasticZarathustra pygirian

[@jxomxo]

What’s so powerful about Heroin is that the song is just those two chords played throughout as the song distorts into highs and lows, it’s magnificent.

[@Juan-wo7zu]

One of the best songs ever made yet it is very simple. Just one viola note never gets boring.

[@Hbm1923]

such a great song. love it every time.

[@guywholovesmusic4611]

I love how the Velvet were capable of creating such a distinctive, experimental, and unique sound with a few chords, one of the best bands ever

[@cervgiovanni]

Sweet Jane is such a Beautiful chord progression

[@MuscleDad420]

Yep, it is the best jazz composition

[@UnitedFeodor]

it's pretty much as basic as it gets

[@forestfire1232]

@@UnitedFeodor and.....

[@anuragdeshpande9601]

I couldn't even get over the starting 15 seconds. Just listened to it again again

[@anuragdeshpande9601]

@@MuscleDad420 lol 3 chords? ( I don't know music theory)

[@CarlosVargas-cn7rx]

Lou Reed is such an underrated rythmic guitar player

[@jermyhopkisn9654]

This made me want to listen to the Velvet Underground. Spot on job with everything.

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you.

[@greytoeimp]

Each of these riffs tells a different story, all by itself.

[@jeremywu222]

there she goes again was so insanely accurate - I could hear Lou’s voice coming in!!!

[@nicotobiasmusic]

That riff is actually lifted straight from the Rolling Stones' cover of Marvin Gaye's "Hitch Hike"

[@II-xl7lj]

@@nicotobiasmusic No, it's namely from Marvin Gaye song, don't spread your stupidity to others

[@markjohnson7910]

You know who I discovered recently that sounds like the Velvet Underground? Nobody.

[@booshfan24]

Les Rallises denudes are about as close as I’ve found

[@lucagarcia1]

@@booshfan24 amazing band

[@andyisdead]

Galaxie 500

[@Psztyk236]

@@andyisdead I was just gonna write Luna. 23 Minutes in Brussels must have been inspired by Some Kinda Love, incredible song. Check out their Penthouse album

[@chrissvitreoushumour]

beat happening

[@camilopibi]

😎 the only emoji for velvet underground

[@dlawlis]

💉💊🚬🔪🍬👠💄

[@trashAndNoStar]

🍌

[@mesolithicman164]

"Girl Watchers" as Lou Reed once said.

[@lacanian1500]

@@mesolithicman164 is that kerouac on your pfp?

[@mesolithicman164]

lacanian Nearly was. But I went with Robert Mitchum in the end.

[@numsiskit]

Sterling Morrison is so underrated and ahead of his time. Love this band.

[@Mcgovern124]

Randomly found out during Halloween that our neighbor/guest is Sterling’s daughter. Never know who you’re gonna meet

[@synthmalicious7541]

@@Mcgovern124 I don’t want to get too much into people’s private lives but is she doing alright?

[@mesolithicman164]

Sterling Morrison's stuff came right out of old school rockabilly and blues. Such s great fit for the VU.

[@sakonbutthead9829]

He is dead rip

[@Paul-gf6kp]

You know it's good when the man gets a new guitar

[@silenceofthehills7610]

I love the guitar solo in “Sunday Morning”.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Me too

[@aestheticaltwat]

Don’t forget the heavily-reverbed guitar in the background. Shoegaze and dream pop a good 30+ years before either was a thing.

[@dankmetalmemes]

I love that part so much

[@nickbarthram1112]

Sister Ray needs that played-for-15-minutes-straight out of tune-ness

[@micpoc4597]

At the very least!

[@Selvikus]

You should hear their version of Louie Louie

[@joycejames8461]

@@Selvikus Had a good night, had a good night.

[@schnellpress7683]

@@Selvikus classic album!

[@berry541]

Nice JD reference🤣

[@iejcwejheiowcnlwekn]

It’s nice to know that there are this many Velvet Undergrounders out there. It’s another perfect day and I couldn’t hit it sideways.

[@mesolithicman164]

No ding dongs either.

[@yunarukami14]

@@mesolithicman164 But Sister Ray said...

[@joenouveau7109]

I never realised how downright weird the Venus in furs chord progression was-

[@robertmiller532]

Incredible top, i was amazed by hearing the Lady Godivas Operation riff, thats a very dirty sound.

[@dgarr2224]

Imagine clicking on this- knowing who TVU is, and not liking the video.

[@killbot_factory]

What Goes On is such a great guitar jam. on the 1969 live album there is a killer 12 minute long version that gets hypnotic with the guitar and especially organ. rhythm guitarists are underrated and Lou was a great one, attacking those chords with a real ferocity.

[@lewistyler462]

''Hey white boy, what ya doin' uptown?''

[@juanaloulehoux]

Nothing... just chasing some women around

[@aestheticaltwat]

Pardon him, sir. He’s just looking for a dear, dear friend of his.

[@annan1200]

He's just lookin for a two different of his

[@annan1200]

He's just lookin for a two different of his

[@annan1200]

He's just lookin for a two different of his

[@msimmo4]

Great work. I wish this had been available back in 1973 when I was struggling to play these songs.

[@berry541]

That’s two of us!

[@hecubot]

You just elevated "Lady Godiva's Operation" into the top ten! Never been done before.

[@ayyayyron5064]

some kinda love has one of the best riffs i've ever heard in my life. props to you man. you nailed it.

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you!

[@giganixon6994]

We needed this for a long time thanks!

[@dimitreze]

great!

[@andrewpappas9311]

These guys were definitely ahead of their time, man, Lou Reed was such a great songwriter and a hell of a guitarist as well

[@JonManos]

The intro riff from I'll Be Your Mirror is one of my favorites. Great video!

[@benbates4302]

tones are spot on

[@jakek1735]

Velvet Underground is the most well-known band that's somehow still incredibly underrated by the average person

[@johncale814]

The average person knows nothing of VU

[@RC-fi8nn]

So many great riffs and progressions. I was humming along to so many of these. What a band! Great vid.

[@grosstross2218]

What a great video, thank you for making this. I love it how number 1 is what goes on, perfect choice

[@nicoscarda6054]

thanks for showing so much love for this band ❤ superb playing

[@marcclaydon6296]

This is one of the most awesome things I have watched. Superb stuff.

[@berry541]

Fantastic job on all of them. Particularly loved “Lady Godiva’s Operation” Great work!

[@justincarpenter1052]

I can't begin to thank you enough for making this, after hours of trying to learn by ear and bunk online tabs you have finally created a video in which I can learn my favorite band's riffs. Bloxsy, you are my hero. Peace and love, Carp...

[@kevinminer1293]

Great work! I really enjoyed how you played these songs with their original tuning. It just adds so much more to the uniqueness of this amazing music.

[@scottjones7005]

“Some kind of love” was awesome brother. Playing it now . My favorite VU tune. Thank you mate. 👍

[@krishanpaul2]

Whenever the Sweet Jane riff starts, I'm put into a slightly better mood.

[@BanjoLupus333]

Love for Lou and the VU. Good job, sounds great.

[@micpoc4597]

Great job! "Venus In Furs" gave me chills.

[@Tony-lv8uh]

Great work! The tone for each song is spot on as well.

[@jimdavis8391]

Takes me back to being 19, sitting, standing, crouching, lying in my room with Lou Reed's drawl forming a backdrop to my drunken attempts to paint.

[@emscott2705]

Fantastic playing of these riffs.

[@nickaglyc]

I like Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes and Femme Fatale. Smooth af.

[@MarkMig7]

Awesome video mate!!!!

[@ianjohnson2284]

You’re a life saver by listing all those tunings! Subscribed 👍

[@fedeesna2604]

👏👏👏👏👏excellent work, not only the riffs, but the sound itself is spot on!!

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you!

[@alfa9358]

That's a video that I've waited a long time ago!!! And..... It's so great!!! Thank you for this video!

[@dankmetalmemes]

Such an underrated band. BTW their debut is easily one of the 10 best albums of all time

[@user-bv9cr9zp4z]

You've got a new guitar!!! This Jazzmaster is amazing!!!

[@stephenparis9595]

I didn't know it but this is is exactly what I needed to see tonight. They were all excellent but you nailed Some Kinda Love. That's impressive. Cheers friend.

[@alexm8859]

I’ve always loved Run Run Run

[@mjlotus]

This is a thing of beauty. Thank you!

[@kalvino67]

Great as always!!

[@fastestpussycat9518]

This is the video that started my day, things are looking up!

[@eduardoimbue]

Nailed the tone! Great video

[@whatafantasticdeathabyss]

This was excellent, really nailed the tone and everything. Today will be a day of revisiting the VU now!

[@kidbear8449]

Great work I really enjoyed hearing this, I was a young 16 yo Aussie who found VU in the mid 80's. Started a band a year later because of them and we played Sweet jane, White light/heat, and over VU influence songs such as Road Runner, Egyptian Reggae from Modern Lovers.

[@MLElf]

Nice work!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks!

[@underfedbodybuilder]

Mesmerising!

[@antacidchain3022]

Yessir was waiting for this!!

[@joxidearmageddonator882]

OMFG you are the big don, thank you so much!!! always wanted to know how to play Lady Godiva. Rock n Roll soundsgreat, they all do. Amazing

[@polcommwatcher]

Very cool! Thanks!!

[@labelledejour802]

My favorite is there she's goes again! And you are one of the guys who showed me rock!

[@ethanhill9460]

YOU BETTER HIT HER.

[@labelledejour802]

@@ethanhill9460 lol

[@FlipSideCT]

proud of your work....cool and great!

[@marceloBAdARI]

Awesome riffs! Great playing and guitar sounds as well.

[@jonpearse6465]

This was great, thanks. Its inspired me to check out more of velvet underground's back catalogue

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you for watching.

[@richardwilsonavena]

Fantastic!!

[@pcpolice2518]

so good dude

[@MrEconline]

This is a whole lot of awesome, Thank you!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks for watching.

[@Proutt]

Wow amazing job, these all sound spot on. You really nailed the tones and these songs are deceptively hard to play/figure out.

[@Bnt-ly2lz]

Damn I’ve been waiting for this and you got a new guitar!

[@3340steve]

Loved that. Thanks for the Velvets lesson.

[@diyaabbas6417]

great job bro

[@alexrezel8860]

At last something sophisticated. Way to go, man!

[@noah.161]

I just checked out your channel because this video was suggested to me and I think it's really great. Now I have to give you a compliment for your good taste in music!

[@timotheelaperriere5212]

it always amazes me how you get to hit a tone that’s so close to the original. what’s the secret?

[@bloxsy_]

I don't know, I just try and get as close as I can to the ear. I use the same equipment usually.

[@altdelet3778]

Semi-hollow body with some mild OD + reverb works for me.

[@Shovelglove545]

Yeah just use reverb and a bit of overdrive

[@xammai9679]

@@bloxsy_ damn bro what amp are you using it sound so good

[@jakereedman2881]

@@bloxsy_ for real though these are all very very close to the original recordings which is deceptively hard. Nice going!

[@JCKnuckles]

Very good!!

[@Frankybroadcast]

Awesome tones man. Sounds good 👍

[@nicolechlouveraki4116]

i adore the velvet underground!! great guitar playing! :)

[@Jano1971]

Great inspiration! How beautiful

[@kaynovamusic]

Super sick, I gotta try some of these out. Great work!

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you!

[@matthieuforte7618]

OMG, makes me want to buy a Jazzmaster 😄 Not sure that I would sound like you anyway... it's just perfect ! Thanks for posting all these riff videos. It is always very inspiring.

[@humantripx]

"How in the world were they making that sound?"

[@hasanabir115]

Like this: *Sister ray*

[@stuffitinacup]

Omg I've been waiting for this. This is rad man ✌✨

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you.

[@bluestevo93]

I could've done with a video like this a few years ago that's for sure. Great job man the tone and tuning sounds great.

[@allantucker4972]

Sweet riffs

[@a.harrison9527]

Love your videos!!

[@russnator3217]

great job on the vid. i love the tuned down rifts. i just realized that i cant get enough vu/ lou reed because today i listen to loaded and lou reeds solo album berlin today, fuck that is a sad but some how also an incredible album to listen to.

[@uuuuuaaaaaaah3637]

Damn man i love your videos!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks!

[@SharkMinnow]

this is cool. well played

[@soulsightseeing23]

I really enjoyed!

[@evanperry252]

Lady Godiva song didn’t realise it would be that difficult looking Lou was a fantastic guitar player

[@MitchGettman]

Spot on playing and tone!

[@sniffrat3646]

Fine work again mate...I was singing along to most of these

[@bloxsy_]

Cheers mate.

[@j.smitts9541]

Awesome man, cheers. reminds me to go listen to them again..

[@hornek]

YES! finally a velvet underground guitar video!