Western Swing Rules #5 by Robert Huston Productions

When creating the Western Swing RULES program on KZbin, I didn't want it to just be for musical performances, which are great.
I wanted it to be an outlet for teaching musicians and aspiring musicians to learn how to properly play Western Swing.
I'm honored to have guitarist Whit Smith of Hot Club of Cowtown featured as our first instructor for our "Lick of the Week" segment.
Could Elana James and Jake Erwin be next?!?!?
I welcome your feedback. Enjoy!!!

[@scrapkingfilms]

This guy is a natural teacher, it’s the most straightforward demonstration of chord inversion that I’ve come across, and learning Western Swing-styled bass movement opens any guitarist’s horizon. I found it far easier to apply to songwriting than jazz progressions. It also strengthens a rhythm guitarists ability to create descending or ascending chordal movements. Great work!

[@johncarlo7395]

Just seen it, and totally agree

[@djohanesen]

Whit is such a great player and teacher. I love the Hot Club of Cowtown and his lessons are so full of great information. Thank you for this!!

[@bill-fugetaboutit]

Thank you, Whit Smith, for exploding my head in the best possible way! I’ve been playing guitar for over 50 years (including Western Swing!) in an undisciplined and lazy style. But in the back of my mind I always knew there was more to what I could play, especially if I learned something about theory and the ‘mysteries’ of the fretboard. This video hit the nail on the head in explaining what I am hearing (and seeing) when I watch great Western Swing guitarists ply their trade! I am inspired to put this to use and learn more. And thanks to Robert Huston for putting this and other “Western Swing RULES” together!

[@randyboitz483]

Thank You for an aha moment! At 67 and having played guitar for 55 years, your lesson has taken me back 50+ years to my first lessons from my Dad. It also moved me forward significantly in my understanding of music theory. Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

[@yogimarkmac]

Hey guitarists, if this hasn't been missing from your repertoire, then congratulations. Only took me a little over 40 years to circle back to this. This is basically what my teacher, Michael Knust, back in 1978 was trying to get me to understand. Thanks Robert! It's all clearer now.

[@roberthuston331]

Mark, your comments and your reaction to Western Swing RULES #5 is EXACTLY why I created this series!!! To expose and enlighten musicians around the world to this great style of playing that is fast becoming a lost art. Now do me a favor by working to become proficient then go show the world so they can spread the gospel of this great American style. I tip my hat to you. Thank you.- R.H.

[@richarddorsett3734]

Finally , somebody else that loves western swing , I know who I'll be watching more of . Thanks for the lesson .

[@roberthuston331]

Richard Dorsett Hi Richard. Yes there are quite a few of us around. I invite you to view all my Western Swing RULES programs on KZbin and subscribe to my channel. I have several guitar episodes including my newest I just posted Monday night. - R.H.

[@jonathanlee5907]

Every time I watch this I learn something new.

[@jazzguitarjunk9578]

Excellent lesson, really well explained and terrifically paced. Great work!

[@Hjaltland2]

Best 20 minutes I've ever spent - for sure!

[@dopicker]

After searching for an hour on the web, I finally located a straightforward concise lesson! Fantastic and understandable lesson Well done.

[@johncarlo7395]

That was absolutely bloody fantastic, so well explained, thanks and well done.

[@magprob]

Thank you Whit. This is something that is missing in most guitar players arsenal. Getting around the neck in this manner, makes a player very powerful.

[@lafreeway]

After 4 years, I find this super video. It is such a pleasure to find someone who can give so much in such a pleasing manner. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@АндрейЖарков-ж3й]

Dear Robert, I sincerely thank you for Your rules. These are the best rules I ever met before. I'm happy. I play a lot again. Be healthy and happy. :)

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you my friend. I'll have more on the way so stay tuned and keep a swingin'. Stay in touch and let me know what else you would like Rules to cover.

[@SevenFootFrank]

Pure gold. Not easy to come across western swing players in Sweden so thanks for making this/these videos.

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you Jonas. Perhaps you become Western Swing's Ambassador in Sweden!!!

[@joedocmusic]

This is solid teaching and great great GREAT!!!!

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you so much.

[@danahorton9841]

Man you're blowing my mind. I understand what your saying but no one explained it so well and I need to pick up my guitar now. Thanks

[@griffgriffiths9982]

I keep returning to this video every few weeks... incredibly helpful ... I'm just a slow learner! Thanks very much indeed.

[@piotr.soton88]

We play similar chords in Gypsy jazz here in Europe. Very cool video, great playing!!!

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

This is great. You're a very good teacher. I wish I was taught this when I started out. Like everyone I learned the big 'cowboy' chords with the root in the bass and as many 3s 5s and octaves as you could get your fingers on. This of course is good when you want to play and sing along to your favourite tunes. It was only later when I started to learn jazz that I discovered that the root doesn't have to be in the bass, or even in the chord at all. This blew my mind. I thought I was a good player but realised I had only scraped the surface. Nothing wrong with cowboy chords at all in the right setting of course, but I wish I'd know about inversions earlier. And this is basic stuff when you learn piano which I guess is why pound for pound piano players know more musically. Now in later life I have to unlearn hitting the big six string chords with the open strings which drives me nuts. Hey Ho. Life's Rich Tapestry. Sorry but had to get that out. Thanks for the great instruction brother.

[@oldethangoogleacc8484]

not-jazz guitarists: (playing an open G) what are you talking about?? this is the only way to play it! jazz guitarists playing Gmaj13/F# barre: *there is another*

[@grady9752]

I have played for 50 years. In that time, like most self taught musicians, I "learned" by imitation. There comes a point where one becomes conscious of their incompetence, which is a very uncomfortable place to be! So I read books about theory. I watch endless videos on theory. I struggle to find a way to utilize all these abstract constructs. And then, out of nowhere comes an 18 minute KZbin video from a guy named Whit Smith, who honestly, I had never heard of. In 18 minutes and 8 seconds, I watched theory come alive. After studying with numerous teachers, and spending endless hours trying to actually use all this information, this presentation has somehow blown a door wide open. Here, at last is how to apply theory to the fingerboard of a guitar. Whit, I can't thank you enough. I think you will understand this when I say, "my guitar looks different today."

[@roberthuston331]

Hi Grady, This is Robert Huston, creator and producer of the Western Swing RULES music education series. I am so gratified to hear your comments. I created this series to accomplish exactly what you've described. I am so excited for you that it has been helpful for your playing. I will certainly pass along your comments to my friend Whit who is a tremendous talent and wonderful guy. I invite you to check out our other segments in the series which have a lot of guitar instruction. If you don't mind, please share in what part of the world you live. I like to know. Thanks again and continued success!!!- R.H.

[@GradyElla]

@@roberthuston331 Upstate NY, near The Eastman School of Music and the Hochstein School of Music, both places where I have studied over the years and continue to this day. I don't know Robert, something just clicked while watching Whit turn a fingerboard into a piano. Theory is hard to apply to a guitar, even for someone at my level, an accomplished gig musician. There's a saying, "At some point, the metal is ready for the maker's hand." I think I bumped into Whit Smith at the right moment. And yes, I will look at some others but there is enough in these 18 minutes and 8 seconds to keep me busy for a long time. Thank You both.

[@roberthuston331]

@@GradyElla It’s a never ending obsession. I’m sure glad it was one of those epiphanous moments. Keep moving forward and let me know how you’re doing. -R.H.

[@Trombonology]

THE best demonstration of the Western Swing guitar "moves" I've happened upon. And Whit is absolutely right -- the fingerings for some of the inversions may seem awkward at first but, like all others, they begin to feel natural and easy with practice.

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you Trombonology Erstwhile, Whit is the best rhythm guitarist I've come across since Eldon Shamblin. He's a tremendous talent and a very nice guy. He took about 20 minutes of his time right before HCOC's performance to film this episode of Western Swing RULES. More WSR's to come. Keep watching.

[@warrenhanlin1568]

More exotic chords with with 13ths or flatted 5ths and 9ths are OK when you really need them, but the advice to learn simple inversions is spot on. The applications go far beyond western swing, and knowing how to play these logical sequences is part of being a complete guitarist. A big advantage to good voice leading is the ability to direct other players, who might not know the changes to a tune, around a chord progression. If you do this in a straightforward way, everyone knows the song by the time the second chorus rolls around. “Moving changes” add harmonic interest to what might otherwise be a rather uninteresting little ditty. It’s surprising how many other players will ask just what the heck you’re doing and how can they do it too. Improving you rhythm chops sure beats playing everything faster, louder, and harder. Good video.

[@davesmith8593]

Thank you so much for a clearly explained entry into the "swing wanna be" world. I have played over 35 years, am burned out on country, rockabilly, and oldies rock, etc.................I have wanted to delve into this forever, but have questioned my ability a bit as there appear to be SO MANY chords.............life friggin jazz!! lol.........This gets me started, and is fun. I have a teacher that I've been with, and I'll be asking him to watch this, to help him figure out how I learn well.........which is huge.

[@roberthuston331]

+Dave Smith Dave, this is Robert Huston, producer of Western Swing RULES. Whit's video is one of our most popular. I urge you to check out the rest of our Western Swing RULES segments. Robert Huston Productions just completed Whit's third instructional DVD to be released sometime next month.

[@StevenLaneyGuitar]

Best guitar lesson I've seen on KZbin in a long time.

[@mikeallenpugh]

Most excellent! :)

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you Steve and Mike. And thank you for linking it to others. Your comments are exactly why I produce WSR to heighten the awareness of western swing and help others learn how to play it. Please check out my other segments that include fiddle and steel guitar.

[@gxtmfa]

It reminds me of all my jazz lines but with the basic triad and fewer passing tones. I love it!

[@RhythmGuitarMan]

Thanks for this late Christmas present Robert. What a great lesson !! No-one ever teaches this sort of playing. Very grateful.

[@pacoblancosmith]

Whit Smith was fantastic....intermediate player, and above, but some of the best instruction I've seen on YT. He does a lot of the same things I do and say with my students.....scary! I LOVE your channel....just came across it two days ago!

[@martinhorstrecorder7866]

Exact the Thing, that'll improve my cord and solo playing in my 50s band! Not only Scotty moore was a former Western Swing Player. Thanx for yout Connective thinkin and explanation!

[@IPLAYLOUD]

I learned more in 3 minutes here as I have in a weeks of other YT vids. Thank You!

[@stephensolotist4078]

This is great, going to combine this with the West Coast Jump Blues/Swing Chord voicings I am learning.. This will add so much to my musical vocabulary. Wish I sought this out earlier!

[@BrianKlobyGuitar]

Crisp... Clean... Refreshing.... :)

[@cironicholas526]

This lesson just blew my mind

[@fitchsen]

Thanks, Witt. Haven't seen you since Juneau and glad you're all still together.

[@jaytea42]

beautifully played Whit, and accurate to the roots of the style! thanks

[@adamtiers]

Wow that's is great stuff!

[@dtruell]

Whit, first of all, I really dig The Hot Club of Cowtown, and I must say that you are an incredible teacher. Thank you!

[@alunlloyd1201]

Oh wow, this is so good, makes it so simple, great teacher! thank you!

[@ckh57]

Excellent explanation of Chords and their usage, piano players do this all the time, but a lot guitar players do not seem to understand this application. I use this style myself but sadly not as much as I should, thanks for waking me up again . You are a great teacher and your explanations are top notch and easy for anyone to grasp.

[@mrtablesawful]

That will keep me busy for a while! Thank you for the terrific lesson.

[@TheAltarBillies]

Wonderful lesson. Whit is patient clear, and has an amazing way of communicating the chords and intricacies of western swing guitar. will have a look at the DVD..Thanks...A big thumbs up to you for this very informative video!!

[@thomascray]

Sooooooo good! Thank you!

[@trs4437]

Great stuff!

[@herosguitarschool]

Great Tutorial...Knowledge is Power...I am now Empowered. Thanks, Paul.

[@kelley71]

Drinking water from a firehouse. Great explanation. After 20 more times, I might have it. :) Merry Christmas.

[@strazzafurniture]

Great teacher!

[@mjcrawf]

One of the best things I’ve seen in a while. Thanks!

[@fredthompson6176]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love this kind of music and playing.

[@displaychicken]

Elana James is singing. She plays violin/fiddle and sings, Whit Smith plays guitar and Jake Erwin standup bass. Together they are The Hot Club of Cowtown. Check em out on youtube they are unreal.

[@beasleymark]

Thanks for this Whit. Ten years hard practice and - watch out!

[@stevemcqueen4720]

you sir are bloody fantastic, in my best English ha ha. I have been wanting to learn western swing style playing for ages and you have just unlocked it for me. I normally do rockabilly and blue's etc. so I have just subbed your channel thank you.

[@rooguitar]

Thank you, this is awesome :D

[@roberthuston331]

Hey rooguitar, Western Swing RULES!!!!! Don't forget to subscribe.

[@askerdog1]

great playing and chord melody work , one of the best solid smooth playing and explanation of texas swing playing , thank you ROBERT

[@MangoDaVille]

Ha, ha, you're all over the parking lot and it's just great! Thanks for the upload! Johnny

[@amandalively1]

Awesome playing and awesome video.

[@EzyoMusic]

That was crazy! Fantastic lesson! I know what I'll be working on. Cheers!

[@roberthuston331]

Thanks DuskY1991, I have more Western Swing RULES programs in the works. Please stay tuned and tell all your musician friends.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

wow, great explanation of what is going on!

[@polishbroadcast]

mind = blown. Nice work.

[@trains365]

This is Fantastic!! Very well explained AND how to apply! Another Western Swing guitarist that would be good to hear from would be Joey McKenzie. He used to be with the Quebe Sisters Band but has since left. Perhaps he would be available for this. Just a thought, Thanks for Posting and keep up the great work!!

[@HayesGriffin]

Great explanation of an often confusing subject for beginners. Love all your videos folks. Keep 'em coming!

[@roberthuston331]

Thank you Hayes. I hope you'll consider contributing to Western Swing RULES via PayPal if you have found them beneficial. Thanks-RH

[@Docsjeff]

Best Lesson I’ve ever had.Very good explanation.Keep em coming please.

[@calvinberkenbile8414]

Open voiced inversions! Great explanation

[@lindydanny]

Whit is one of the nicest international superstars I have ever met.

[@freddyparish]

What a great teacher, thanks for sharing this

[@KolodziejczykKuba]

Great lesson and great personality - thank you!

[@12BITJuNGLEOuTTHeRe]

Brilliant!

[@johnhughes1478]

Brilliant tutorial. One of my favorite guitarist ever and what a great teacher. After watching a million videos to understand these chord patterns I finally get it. Nice one !! Keep the channel going. Great idea.

[@TheCiaP2]

Good playing. My old man was Hank Thompsons steel player Bob White. I play piano. Keep on swinging😁

[@chortle12345]

Great lesson Whit! I've always loved western Swing, but thought the chords would be incredibly arcane; this helps immensely!

[@gregmirr]

Good lesson that clears up those chords that were in the Mel Bay guitar chords book !

[@rdehn5799]

love it, thanks much, more stuff from this guy please, so helpful and explained so well

[@Gabs321]

fantastic guitar player and lesson

[@relaxingchannel3928]

omg !! I love youor channel! I love to study swing following the history . thank you so much for your channel.

[@roberthuston331]

Wawawa, thank you for your comments and there's more on the way. Pass it along and keep swingin'.

[@relaxingchannel3928]

I would love to know song list which are often played there . like standard.

[@roberthuston331]

+wawawa Guitarist Shouta Please contact me directly through gmail. [e-mail]

[@LuzbelAlexander]

Hey! I caught them out in Malibu a few weeks ago, actually. Amazing musicians!

[@Ystadcop]

Fantastic lesson. This is the bridge to Gypsy Jazz.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

Great work! Keep it up!

[@JellyrollHorton]

This was a very helpful lesson for me, stretching me beyond my lower-intermediate level. The other comments sound like most viewers are intermediate+ and grasped this pretty quickly. For people at my level it would be helpful if a chord diagram superimposed in the lower right corner accompanied the video so we could see the chord shape and finger placement clearly. I'm not complaining, just suggesting. Thank you for the lesson.

[@sojnab1]

that's brilliant.knowledge is power,im subscribing

[@teaforone77]

A great tutorial. Thanks!

[@PugetSoundFlyer]

This is fantastic. I'm so glad I found it. Checking now to find out where to order his books!

[@roberthuston331]

PugetSoundFlyer PSF Thank you. Check out our other Western Swing RULES segments on KZbin. You can order Whit’s materials and DVD’s at whitsmithmusic.com and hotclubofcowtown.com.

[@tomthefunky]

Incredible lesson. Thankyou!

[@gregh2930]

Best lesson i've ever had. Thank you :0)

[@Fitzliputzli23]

Great lesson, thanks! I really recommend learning a bunch of inversions and enable yourself to go up and down the neck with each chord. For me it made the difference between amateur gigs and the world of professional guitar jobs.

[@guermeisterdoodlebug7980]

You are a terrific instructor. Very judicious use of time.

[@EddieLeeFunn]

His name is Whit...how cool is that!

[@hengestvortigern6983]

Thanks.... interesting and didactic lesson!!

[@herrschnupke4044]

Nice lesson, thank you!

[@austinspare4013]

brilliant. thank you.

[@demzunoplayer]

Great lesson...

[@RedDirtRules]

good stuff. i'm learning. thank you

[@stevewilson7915]

Love the theme song too!!! Should do a lesson on that.

[@stan525]

learned a lot with your Vid

[@roberthuston331]

It's Here!!!! "Chordination 3" instructional DVD from guitar genius Whit Smith of the Hot Club of Cowtown and Robert Huston Productions Western Swing RULES. Thank you Whit for entrusting us to capture and produce your third DVD. You truly help make Western Swing RULES. Available at: whitsmithmusic.com and www.hotclubofcowtown.com/gift-shop/ C'mon all you Western Swing RULES subscribers, support the music and Whit by getting your copy today. You'll be helping preserve Western Swing for future generations.

[@johnkrause9680]

FIVE STAR PLUS So much information in 18 minutes, I keep coming back and find something NEW! Very encouraging, "seeing is believing" fingerings and explanations. @RobertHustin Thanks for all the great content. B T W I just discovered... That hitting the Back Arrow while the video is playing WILL TAKE YOU BACK 10 SECONDS It would be great to do a Joey McKenzie segment. Lets keep this style ALIVE by continuing passing along these great lessons!!! pickitjohn

[@roberthuston331]

John Krause, Thank you for your comments. Whit is an amazing guitarist and a wonderful teacher. If you feel you have benefited from this and other WSR segments, I would encourage you to find the PayPal link on my KZbin channel main page and help us with a donation. These programs and very expensive to produce well and I hope to continue to produce them. Good luck with your musical endeavors.-RH

[@DavidDorenfeld]

great lesson! you're totally right about the 5th chord sounding best as a dominant 7th, I was teaching a student a 1,4,5 progression and had to change the d to a 7th because the standard d was too boring haha, the D7 just fits so nicely

[@christopherblankley4793]

Love this guy :)

[@KG-kg9li]

I took guitar lessons with Whit in Manhattan many years ago.

[@bennettskb555]

great lesson, thanks

[@andrewschneider1658]

Saw this guy play in Austin...Insanely Amazing Player

[@1horton3]

"actually it's great in rock and roll too, but that can be your secret" awesome