Why do so many people play this riff wrong?

In this video I am showing why many people play this riff wrong.
Thanks to the peeps of the KZbin clips I was showing, it's not meant to bash, but to learn other viewers why this happens to so many guitar players! And of course to teach you how to avoid this stuff from happening :)
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[@PaulDavids]

Oh and by the way, I've been there too. I totally played Master of Puppets wrong back in the days until I really listened to the song again! Any songs you discovered you've been playing wrong the entire time?

[@sleepymarauder4178]

Paul Davids redbud tree from mark knopfler. Missed a part from the solo. Listening to the song and doing research really helps. Great vid as always!

[@TUKMAK]

Paul Davids all of them.. literally every song I learn I just try to imitate it as best I can

[@celticfury7328]

Ziggy Stardust...I was jumping into a D chord in the verse ("...the Spiders from Mars..." and corresponding spots throughout) instead of playing the single note line that Mick Ronson used to punctuate that moment. It took many years of playing it incorrectly before I finally did some homework and learned the proper part...now if I try to play it the way I used to, it drives me bonkers!

[@christopherhinton9493]

Don’t Fear The Reaper. I used to play the third broken chord as F C F G but I now think it should be F C D G.

[@exarom1670]

Many people play 'around the world' by the the chili peppers wrong.

[@beeeennnnnnn]

He censored his accidental middle finger I'm dying 😂

[@jaspernolan3780]

youtubes hard these days man

[@elmo451]

4:29😂😂😂 coz he's holding the guitar pick with his index and thumb finger that's why he used his mid finger for pointing😂

[@lamuseiktamer8735]

Not YT man... your country ^^ In France we don't have this kind of problem ... yet

[@thatoneguy-pm8cn]

Iktamer it’s a problem on KZbin not just a country

[@NopeVS]

And I came to the comment section just to see who was the first champion to make this comment !! Brilliant 😂

[@lopocaldeiramarques4831]

I don´t even play the guitar, why am I watching this at 3am on a monday

[@itsallgood5314]

Francisco Caldeira Marques this would describe my life rn but it’s Thursday night

[@williamthomas5780]

Best comment ever.

[@FranciscoGarcia-pf3ot]

Same hahaha

[@bearpitrock]

I play guitar but I, too am watching at 3am on a Monday. 🤣

[@goncalobessa5915]

because theres a think called marketing and you are beeing influenced by it, ask youtube for more details

[@0prahTV]

this man has a beard, therefore I trust him

[@ryanwilliams4223]

Why do you think my name is Beardy ?

[@jmbwithcats]

Do you listen to Red Bar Radio? That was such an RBR thing to say.

[@juanpotz]

You can also tell by his hairstyle he's good.

[@Capillus]

That's something Peter Griffin would say

[@ComaAlpha]

His beard makes me want to punch him even more than I already want to.

[@quarter_moon_and_a_guitar]

Did you ever consider that Kings of Leon may be playing it wrong and everyone else is right?

[@tilmanstamm3987]

You made my day😂

[@user-lq6xl8di9m]

It may be one of those situations where the producer got lucky. He was so sick of take after take and they couldn't get it right so fuck it - if you don't hit it on the 100th take then this is the song. walah hit song.

[@POVShotgun]

Lollll I was just thinking that oh my god

[@NerdGlassGamingPA]

Wow ... mind = blown

[@kyerogers7838]

Kings of leon are never wrong

[@thecampfire4877]

As a musician, I've heard so many covers of this song, and was never really sure why they sounded funny. This is a great video

[@mjallenuk]

4:28 ... I return your salute sir with tone knobs on! 😁

[@brianwarner308]

i know a girl named Anna Crusis….i tried to pick her up

[@oqsy]

I tried to retweet this.

[@fernandogonzalez5770]

Brian Warner were you at a bar

[@scumbag1731]

Brian Warner You couldn't pick up a pencil

[@prachand.not.prachanda]

But it was only solo you get to play

[@andreidavidmatiut5559]

Brian Warner marilyn manson

[@kanealson5200]

I start counting the one about an hour before I start playing the song and then I come in around the 6,216th beat. Hey but that's just me.

[@TheZippy170]

ha ha, yeah thats me aswell, been playing 20 yrs and ime still shite haha , and i play the same shite riffs over and over again, and never learn fuck all new. powerchords and barre chords if ime not too stoned. haha see ya

[@eamonsefton5953]

THAAAAANK YOU SO MUCH! I've wanted to point this out forever. In highschool my band played this song and we did it correctly, because we listened to the song. It would drive me CRAZY hearing other bands do it wrong.

[@gorbashin]

We covered this song for the hot second I was in a band. The first practice was hell because I knew something was off and it took a full half hour before I got it to sound right...and you just illustrated why. Glad to know that even if the mind doesn't know the term, that the ears still hear the truth.

[@coopercarter]

Throw "All Along the Watchtower" and "Panama" in with this for songs everyone starts with the wrong rhythm.

[@vadlasletta]

Cooper Carter agree!

[@connor-bj6ku]

In fairness, "All Along the Watchtower" is a Dylan song so the rhythm is open to a bit of interpretation

[@coopercarter]

I'm obviously referring to the Hendrix version, but lol at the Dylan comment. Too true 🤣🤣

[@TurtleRocker12]

The Metallibanger Of Mordor it was Dylan's song. Hendrix covered it and made it completely different

[@connor-bj6ku]

The Metallibanger Of Mordor Haha, good joke

[@PianoVampire]

It's not really anyone's fault they are hearing it wrong, as there is a definite stress on the second note of the intro (possibly accidental), not the third note, so your brain is thrown from the start - thanks so much for the video !

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Very well explained!

[@dennisboxem]

Played this song probably 250+ times as a drummer. And yes, its been interesting. Especially as there's an open hihat on the 'and' of 4 where the drums come in. Which could be used to fix the feel if the guitarist has the beat inverted. But it has also been known to cause widespread panic because the guitarist realises at that point he has the pulse all wrong and then goes to try and fix it :P

[@ACrustyHippie]

This man's beard is incredible.

[@jessejordache1869]

He is to beards what Johnny Thunders is to long hair.

[@eduxmalvido7908]

He looks an sounds just like Obi-Wan Kenobi

[@jaydenjenkins6696]

Is clean

[@ohyeahyeah4205]

Ha 69 likes

[@ACrustyHippie]

Man, I'm familiar with the dead skin, but all that other stuff is really intense. LOL, you've got a whole other universe on the underside of your chin.

[@enzorum2560]

4:28 😂😂😂 the finger

[@tkplg21]

HAAHAHA lol

[@Diegoromero2006]

I've only been playing the guitar since october last year but i can really appreciate videos like these that arent meant to criticize but to teach. Theres a Difference between people that just play and musicians just like "there are pilots and there are Aviators". Great job

[@TheOneWhoSimps]

You played sweet child O mine on the wrong pickup position.

[@XIxR3DEEM3RxIX]

Yeah and the smell of the room wasn't correct too.

[@TheOneWhoSimps]

@@XIxR3DEEM3RxIX XD

[@j_freed]

How can you play the riff without cocaine and prostitutes.

[@gxtmfa]

My favorite part was when you pointed to the guy in the first or second video and said “He knows it’s wrong”

[@luh8389]

That feeling... "Omg... Please, play it the right way at least once, guys". 😭

[@AlexMS02]

Oh I played that song with my band and we had that exact problem

[@PaulDavids]

That's what I mean! We've all been there ;)

[@AlexMS02]

Paul Davids Thanks man!, maybe we could try to play it again and see what happen :)

[@465marko]

Even if you guys just realised it wasn't right, you were probably more switched on than most people (in my honest opinion!!).

[@PianoVampire]

Thanks for clearing this up - it always confused me ! Same with the beginning to Drive My Car

[@richeywcassel]

|1+2+3+4+|REST-0-16-0-14 Is how I play it and imho I think sounds groovier and is easier to drum to, but it is in fact as you say on the 4.

[@davidlean1060]

I think of the riff as if it was a ska type rhythm and it makes sense then.

[@biscuitking7059]

Man if wasn't for people as helpful and useful as you we'd all get stuck thanks so much for this lesson it really did help me

[@LeftHandedGuitarist]

The problem when the band comes in is usually the drummer being off. I've worked with a couple who got this song right and it was always glorious! Other times it's up to the rest of us to shift the riff and match to what the drummer is laying down. I agree that if you don't do that then that's never going to sound good.

[@celticfury7328]

LeftHandedGuitarist Ah, the joys of playing with a drummer that has difficulty counting off the beginning of a song that isn't a straight "1, 2, 3, 4..."! Feeling your pain brother lol!

[@ShootNeutrality]

Try working with a singer that can't keep time. Sympathy for the Devil becomes interesting.

[@joricklania8627]

If the drummer is off, don't keep playing. If you keep playing on an off beat, can't it only get worse?

[@celticfury7328]

Shoot Neutrality omg, you've been cursed with the worst curse there is for a musician...bandmates that can't even count to FOUR! lol!

[@ShootNeutrality]

He can count to four just fine, he just starts the count in the wrong place.

[@azmainmomen9010]

Hey Paul can you make a video which sorta showcases the kind of music style Mateus Asato has?

[@paulolsen6870]

Azmain Momen it's called noodling.

[@veeralmanekdrums]

I mean technically it's probably the drummer that's wrong...

[@PaulDavids]

Well, maybe it's their faults too, but definitely not only.

[@PaulDavids]

Because all play it wrong in the 2nd verse too.

[@veeralmanekdrums]

Its a great video. Without watching it as a drummer, I would definitely come in on the wrong beat and probably keep adjusting to the wrong beat even if the guitarist tried to correct it!

[@MrTruthAddict]

Yeah but if the guitar player wasn't shitty he would have stopped playing and told him to start over. I play guitar and drums so I pay attention to these things, but so many people do shit like this all the time. I've quit a lot of bands over stuff like this, because a lot of guitar players have huge egos and they don't want someone else correcting them. Ridiculous

[@joemclocklin8651]

Technically he's the one with the most difficult job. Take a lazy riff and make it decent. Also this band sucks hard elk balls.

[@BTsMusicChannel]

I am with you on the "who cares if it is exactly note-for-note, but you have to make it rock" attitude. And when it comes to making something rock, the pitches are 99.9% of the time not as important as playing them in time. I also agree that too many people rely on tabs. How do I know? Because they ask me to make them for stuff that I've performed on my channel. During the 80s, when I was first learning guitar, we didn't have tabs or the internet. Back then, guitarists used their ears and didn't get caught up in note-for-note as much as making it work musically. Your point about looking at performances on KZbin is spot on! If a guitarist wants to learn a song, first try my ear and get as far as you can. When you get stuck (or if you want to check your work), go look at a live clip. I sometimes take a look at other solutions to the musical problem by looking at a tab or another person's performance, but I don't go there first and I don't trust them implicitly. Tabs have become the enemy of the people. Good video -- and you don't come off as a snob. (I was afraid you would after I saw the title.)

[@vincentgirard-reydet2447]

mind = blown! This seems so obvious once you've shed the light on it... it happens in a LOT of songs with accentuated notes. Thanks for taking the time to explain it slowly!

[@NathanLaValley]

Am I the only one that noticed that he blurred out his own accidental middle finger? 4:28

[@farout666]

TheMusicVlogger because demonitisation

[@matrixarsmusicworkshop561]

Lol

[@hearyoume9004]

cuz he realized he was accidentally doing a middle finger (?

[@hearyoume9004]

Luke Dahleen probably he did that joking and censored it just to have fun or something, who knows

[@hearyoume9004]

Luke Dahleen I do hope that too

[@icenic_wolf]

As a life-long drummer who's now learning guitar, THANK YOU. I thought I was the only one who noticed this, and it's been driving me CRAZY.

[@icenic_wolf]

Also often-butchered: Enter Sandman... Kills me when the riff is started on 1.

[@releaseden3rgy895]

Trent Michael yeah even in interviews Caleb says he hates that he even wrote this song, especially since it was their top hit. Still a very catchy and fun riff to play!

[@sebradfield]

I'm a lot older - a bass player who started playing in the '60s. Two of these that always affected me in different ways were both Beatles songs. 1. I Want To Hold Your Hand: The intro starts on an off beat, and I've never been able to listen to it and get it right in my head. If I play it it's easy, because I can count it out, knowing when the singing starts. and it matches the middle section of the song, but if I'm listening to the recording it always throws me. 2. She's A Woman: The guitar walks down on the off beat and always plays the two and four beats. After the walk down the bass comes in on the one and three counts, making a fairly standard old-school rock 'n' roll beat. The problem came with one guitarist who always got thrown out of synch when I came in. In this case it was easy for me, but he just couldn't get it right to save his life. As soon as I'd come in he would stop and complain. I'm betting that every single one of us has at least one of those little oddities that was easy for the guy who created it but drives the rest of us crazy.

[@NewYorkSong1]

50 Frickn years Pro player and I STILL cant play that frickn opening to Hold Your Hand right! Good God!

[@danjolliffe6769]

Foo Fighters - Times Like These. The time signature change in the hook to 7/4. Seen so many bands mess it up. Another video idea for you

[@joshperry9468]

I'm playing this in a cover set and our drummer was haaating me playing it wrong. This helped so much, thanks Paul!

[@hobbesismycat]

@Paul Davids, what sort of jacket is that? I really like it!

[@TheClagga96]

Is it me or did I think this vid would be for Smoke on the Water? as that is a riff that soo many ppl get wrong lol

[@royalcat10]

Well I don't think a lot of people get Smoke on the Water 'wrong' per se. Just different than how it's originally played. Usually they play it in a different key, or in the same key but using different fret positions. Neither of these are wrong, just different.

[@carlkolthoff5402]

royalcat10 Anyone playing that riff using powerchords and a pick is pretty far from what Ritchie did in the original. (Hint: Try fingerpicking fours instead.)

[@royalcat10]

A fourth chord is just an upside down powerchord. (So a Power Chord would look A-E, a Fourth looks like E-A) So as I said, just using different fret positions. The same overall chord that the person hears whether it's played as a fourth or a power chord (5th chord) is the exact same. It just gives a bit of a different 'flavor' depending on which you use. Neither are 'wrong' they are just different ways to play the same thing. It's true that that isn't the way Ritchie played it in the original, but that doesn't mean that they are playing the wrong notes, or rather the wrong intervals if the person plays it in a different key.

[@hansolo989]

I thought it would be paranoid

[@RabbiRan]

The Clagga Your lol ruined the joke

[@kevinnashiscool1]

“Ana cruises” hello new band name.

[@butterstik9236]

Sounds more like a name for a pub. “Hey have you been to anacrusis?” No. What is it? “A pickup bar.” Oh... ok.

[@kevincollier4546]

@@butterstik9236 This comment is not getting the respect it deserves

[@zuma5278255424]

I'm glad this got an explanation! As a drummee I could never figure out what people were doing wrong, but I knew I've heard it wrong once or twice. Good to know I'm not going crazy

[@lucapipino]

I didn't know the song, but watching how you explain this is just mesmerizing. Loved it!

[@milab9384]

But in the end, it's not the guitar player who makes the mistake but the drummer, who is joining at the wrong time, is it? Please correct me if i'm wrong

[@Klassenfeind]

Mila B Absolutely.

[@DavidvdGulik]

Both, a lot of guitarists make the mistake of changing how they play it the moment the band joins in

[@TheMutantMindframe]

its everyone involved if nobody is internalizing the count correctly

[@cscfpv6221]

Until the riff changes and the guitarist changes at the wrong time because they are taking the queue from the drummer. It is both, playing together, that are messing up. They are creating a scenario together where they both play it incorrectly.

[@markfox6871]

Pretty sure it was done intentionally. Starting on the wrong beat is ear catching like tuning to E flat instead of E major. When you hear this it will grab your attention because it sounds different and that makes it difficult to ignore. You know you head something but not sure what it was. It’s only takes a second and it’s done. Now your mind is trying to figure out what just happened and You are drawn in. It’s a subtle accent designed to encourage a reflex from the listener. I use techniques like this and several others all the time when writing music. Another example is changing the time signature of a song from 4/4 to a 3/4 and then back a 4/4. The band tool changes time signatures quite well in several of there songs. It takes some planning and skill to make it work but if done right is very effective and hard to notice. We instinctively want to start on beat and stay on beat. starting at the bottom of the count is hard even when you are aware of it. He even started at the top of the count by accident at one point in the video and called out his own mistake. So I say the band did this on purpose. It’s hard to do that by accident and a drummer that is half decent would start on the wrong count unless they mean too.

[@jacksonpayne3477]

That les Paul is sexy

[@BTsMusicChannel]

You should maybe try to talk to it and get its number? Or are you too shy?

[@MadaraUchiha-sp3jh]

Nah, I think he's too shy to do that.

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

x’D true

[@vecernicek2]

It has a very tight plug, too

[@j_freed]

And that flame is on fire…

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

So to be precise it is not the guitarist who plays it wrong, it is the job of the band to enter on the write note. ;)

[@j_freed]

Except if the guitarist is still wrong on the beat, they will compensate incorrectly again... to the way they hear it in their head.

[@marekburag]

yup and then wait for the second verse

[@shawnparlour8562]

This is a drummer issue, surely.

[@silveradoLG]

Good points. I also listened to the band play it, and it helps to know the drum beat behind it. It helps to make sense of the offbeat music pattern. I think anyways.

[@jeffmaxwell7041]

This is a great instruction on pickup sections. It's always been a difficult thing to explain to students and listeners alike. Thanks for making this easy to understand and communicate to others!

[@martinsa4573]

the verse guitar riff in Around the world by RHCP is another one that is so simple, yet i still do not understand it to this day.

[@chromaticswing9199]

Dude, that’s been bothering me forever! I’m a bassist, and I naturally want to sync with the guitar so badly. The guitar has a 16th note syncopation, moved just before the strong beat. If you need help feeling it, take a metronome and count “1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & *a*” On the a of 4, clap or tap or whatever. Repeat until you can keep the quarter note pulse in your head while accenting the a of 4. Hope this helps!

[@SixStringflyboy]

191 people have never heard of pick-up notes...

[@spivvo]

On a similar theme.... the opening of “rock and roll” by Led Zep

[@KingBlonde]

For sure

[@ziiofswe]

As a drummer: Fuck that intro. As a drummer who found a good tutorial a couple of years ago and figured it out: It's stupidly easy to play right once you know how.

[@ThiscouldbeaName]

uhm i dont get it whats with that riff? its super easy to play

[@ziiofswe]

Riff? I'm talking about the drums. Lots of people "don't get it". They improvise and manage to play it anyways, because it isn't that advanced... but lots of drummers think it's a bit weird, doesn't quite make sense.

[@ThiscouldbeaName]

ziiofswe Yeah, i know you meant the drums. I was rather talking to Paul Grice but i get what you're saying

[@eddiejr540]

I can't even begin to count all the songs i've played wrong...the problem was lack of patience and inexperience...now i take my time and really dive deep into the nuances...you can always learn something from every song you master...great vid...love your stuff...rock on my brother!!!

[@martinlicht1969]

Thanks..if you dont start in the pocket, things go haywire..A majority of my problems covering a tune are due to overlooking the pick up bar to the music. This is why I like having the real published music to learn it right. I appreciate the lessons you and others give always indicating how to count the rhythm.

[@christopher0310]

THIS! This reminds me of that joke Fred Armisen made in "StandUp for Drummers" Guitar player plays intro. Drummer comes in... No no no no no. Its on the AND of FOUR. See 1, 2, 3, 4....

[@CargoShorts7]

Hey Paul what are your biggest tips for improving your timing and understanding of how to play on the proper beats. For me, I play based on feel much more and have trouble thinking about the timing and beats at the same time. This is a huge draw back when I get together to jam with my mates. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@celticfury7328]

Hey Willy, it sounds like you should become friends with a metronome...a solid rhythmic foundation is not only nice to have, it's critical if you plan on playing with other people! I'm sure Paul will be able to expand on this in much more detail, he's at least a thousand times the instructor than I am...best of luck with your musical journey!

[@REDEEMERWOLF]

Metronome

[@soundofBeers]

Agreeing with the metronome answers and keep practising slowly!

[@carljohnson4691]

Yup, metronome. That should be your first accessory after a tuner.

[@leftfieldcrush5952]

I agree with the metronome suggestions, but something I found helped a lot when I started out was getting a really basic guitar book that took me through the theory of rhythm along with scales and chords and whatnot. It’s been my experience that learning the “dots” and counting gives you a better understanding of how music works. It seems like a backwards step at first, but the benefits quickly show...and it doesn’t take away your feel for the music but rather enhances it. Can’t hurt to try (?) :-)

[@SnowTheJamMan]

You sound like Varg

[@user-ct1ns6zw4z]

Stop playing the riff wrong.

[@turcitox]

Let's find out

[@ReanimatorsMutilations]

HaliniSnow sounds nothint like him

[@MrAgustinach]

Are you writing this from Lost's Island Ben? Lol

[@lebocharp]

"So what's happening?" "LETS FIND OUT"

[@ironicallyscreaming]

i really like this guy. he seems like the kind of teacher to be patient and understanding even with a complete beginner

[@Londonjefsomething]

Hahahahaha! The middle finger blur! So perfect. This has always been the most G rated guitar channel on youtube.

[@rogeriosartori555]

That's cool although I never played this riff because I don't even know what song is that

[@webseiter]

You missed Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon all trough the past 10 years!? I did not know this was possible KZbin land. I mean, that song - the whole album - was a massive hit worldwide and for good reason.

[@Jebrysalus]

I'm on the same boat. Have no clue what song that is.

[@caiobustamante7736]

Alexander Langer I am Brazzilian, so is Rogerio, and... Well... I Guess it wasn't a really great hit here

[@AnomieTrain]

Yeah, I've never heard this song. I think the only song I've ever heard from Kings of Leon was Molly's Chambers and that was because--I think it was in an Apple commercial? It just shows you how out of the loop I am.

[@danielsgrunge]

Don't mind listening to it Search for Come Around Sundown, it's an awesome album

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

I'm a guitarist. If it's not on the beat I don't understand it.

[@joricklania8627]

Jazz Guitar Scrapbook become a drummer. You'll figure out afterbeat notes and pickup notes quickly.

[@nibbles324]

I've played by myself for 25 years. My timing sucks because it's not an issue. Still sound ok though

[@kingadalou]

Jazz Guitar Scrapbook listen to tool. It'll make sense

[@mattgilbert7347]

25 years is a long time. The musical narrative is fairly well set by that point.

[@HrSamstag]

nibbles324 I'm a drummer, since 35+ years now. As soon as i would see that you care that less for timing i would quit rehearsing with you immediately.

[@oudaram1]

We could mention that these upside down intro riffs, created to surprise the listener when the beat comes in, are rarely something you can feel, so they can only be played by people by denying their natural musical instincts. But, you become a better musician and they are a lot of fun.

[@cia1328]

oudaram1 but if you are used to playing harder music like Progressive music that's always changing from natural to compound and odd time signatures, this is rudimentary. Not to mention the subtleties that the percussion adds with ghost notes

[@465marko]

+terran236 YOU'RE a ghost note.

[@nnnnnnnnnick5557]

Like the ocean by led.

[@oudaram1]

like a bubble under the rubble

[@jaqen-huzzah]

Except they're not created to surprise the listener. They're created because the musician is hearing non-existent beats in his head before he starts playing, and is too familiar with their own song to realise that no-one else can hear what's going on in his head. But yeah, figuring this stuff out is good practice.

[@TwoCablesOCN]

I stumbled upon this video, I have never heard this song in my entire life (hey, I'm 39, I live under a rock, etc.), I'm just a drummer, but I 'Liked' this video before I finished watching it because this is the kind of stuff that KZbin needs much more of. Thank you for doing this, Paul! I thoroughly enjoyed this entire video. In defense of anyone who makes this mistake with *any* song, it is all in how you are hearing and interpreting the rhythm. I have been playing and making music on my drums for about 25 years (since the summer of '93), and I still make this mistake with songs on occasion. It just happens. I don't know how to describe *why* it happens though. Again, I think it's just all in how you are hearing and interpreting the rhythm. Even though I have 25 years of experience playing and making music as a drummer, I didn't hear what was wrong until you explained it. And, just as you demonstrated, it's still easy to hear the rhythm incorrectly. I have a recent example. I am helping out a local cover band. They do a couple of songs that they start off with *guitar only* in a reggae-style: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, and The Tide is High by Blondie. Now, when they do their guitar-only intro, they are playing the correct notes, but it is very easy to hear and feel their beat incorrectly. That is, instead of hearing the guitar strumming as being on the up beats (which would be the correct way to hear and interpret it), I sometimes hear them only on the downbeats because of the way they're playing it. So, I have to force myself to say "*and* 1, *and* 2, *and* 3" etc. along to the guitar part with my "and" matching each accented guitar strum so that I'm not playing on the wrong beats when it's time for me to start playing! So, the song Sex on Fire isn't the only song that has downbeats that can be easy to incorrectly hear and interpret when all you're hearing is the guitar, regardless if you're the one playing the guitar or if it's someone else (like a band mate). If you're in a band and it's clear to you that you're the only one who knows where the 1st beat of the measure is due to having a guitar part that makes it easy to incorrectly hear where the 1st beat of the measure is, it's your job to stop and take the time to patiently teach your band mates where it is, explaining that yes, it's very easy to hear it wrong.

[@BrainiacFingers]

This is why the drummer should always count off the song even if the drums don't enter until later. That way everyone knows where 'one' is. It's really that simple.

[@AirsoftAddicted]

What a nice upload... you are very positive and it's a pleasure to learn from someone like you. All best, keep up a good work.

[@GodnezZz1337]

Did you just flip me off? 😱😱

[@Cowglow]

Gojko Nezic i saw that too.

[@iwashere368]

😂

[@adrianbruton4689]

It's now been fuzzed out. Haha

[@quailstudios]

Go checkout Eric Clapton and you will see that sometimes guitarists have that hand position when we play. Apparently you flip people off from time to time and that is why you can see this symbol so readily. For guitarists, we don’t see that as a rude symbol when holding a guitar. :)

[@christophersmith8850]

Saw that too! Why the block out now

[@musik350]

What happens to his hand at 4:27??

[@lanethomas2549]

He accidentally flipped us off so he had to blur it out

[@gabrielaugustus]

Can you please make this title more vague?

[@jelijansen]

Hallo Paul, just want to let you know, that you’re by far the best online teacher I ‘ve ever experienced on KZbin. Not only is there lots of underlaying musical information, you’ re accurate and it all fits in place after watching your videos. Top! Thank you so much. Greetz Jeli Jansen, Zutphen

[@deathbykitty1954]

We play this song at every show. And every time it trips us up a little. The funny thing is that no one seems to notice. They love it regardlessly.

[@ThorneyedWT]

Did you say "horcruxes" are the problem?

[@danwally4754]

Plot twist. This guy is wrong, and I will show you why. Click here

[@DimitrisFatisisMusic]

Very well said! Tabs are nice when you begin playing the guitar, but when you start hearing the song you can get the most out of it! And you ‘re practicing your ear too! It’s a whole new level and it feels great! Keep the good job , Paul! 🤘🏻🎸🙏🏻 P.S I hope the Les Paul is alright! 👍☺️

[@ericksonnuyda1542]

Aside from all the quality of insights i am learning from you man, i like all the jackets you're wearing. Keep teaching.

[@endertev]

I'm a drummer who plays guitar and man, you have to see everyone's faces when I try to explain to the guitarists what they're doing wrong, they can't even notice there's anything wrong 😂

[@tomcordellmusic]

knowing KOL they just fucked up the intro in the studio and left the extra beat in there

[@LAZARO373]

Ewan Mcgregor is a guitar youtuber now ?

[@rockonileva]

OMG Is Sweet child o' mine really played without the pinky !? I'm trying now, but I'm so used to use it that the riff becomes weird to play... i'll keep the pinky AHAHHA

[@royalcat10]

Yeah, Slash tends to just not use his pinky a whole lot. Probably due to the size of his hands maybe, but not sure. I first started playing that riff using my pinky but then I switched to just 3 fingers because I found that my fingers were just way too close together to play it comfortably. And this was before I even knew about Slash not using his pinky. Not really a big deal either way though.

[@celticfury7328]

Just because Slash neglected to use all of the digits on his left hand while playing that riff doesn't mean we have to purposely limit ourselves and follow suit!

[@rockonileva]

yep.. that's the logic I'm using here ;)

[@Sauzeisawesome]

I've never used my pinky playing that riff

[@erskinepatton9637]

I also first learned the Sweet Child o Mine riff using my pinkie. Shortly after, I simply noticed that Slash doesn't use his pinkie in the video. So I copied him and now I play it without.

[@chloeacoustic9273]

I’m literally about to learn this riff with my band, and wondered what was going on with this riff. Glad I watched this video before getting into bad habits myself! Cheers ears!

[@waitin4winter]

Riffs that start on the “4-AND” really confuse people. I’ve witnessed the same with the intro to the Eagles Take it Easy.

[@stevens5541]

Learning music is harder than an alien language....wish I could understand and play a guitar

[@thedominator4796]

lone wrecche that scar face reference made me chuckle

[@lucasclavijo803]

Have you tried it?

[@stevens5541]

Lucas Clavijo ...yes...it just baffles me and it's to hard

[@Calilou52]

Steven S You can do it man, i was the same way when i first picked up a guitar. I couldn't understand how people made these insane beautiful sounds with strings but i didn't let that stop me. 5 years later and i'm not the greatest, but i can write my own songs that i really enjoy which is what playing an instrument is all about. Just don't get caught up in wanting to be the best and just develop your playing style.

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

Nothing is stopping you but YOU! the internet has all you need (just filter through information, because all good AND bad information is on the internet unfortunately). But don't make "arriving" or "becoming amazing" your goal. Make getting better than you are right now everytime you pick up the instrument your goal. If the heart is there, which it sounds like it is, I imagine you have some natural inclination. But very important, practice and hustle is more important. Steve Vai once said that he was never a natural at guitar. What made him become as good as he is was learning to love practicing. Another famous quote, can't remember the individual (he wasn't a guitarist), is "talent is overrated. Hustle and hard work is the real stuff." Take that and never make excuses. I believe in you! That's why I took the time to type all this!

[@jonathantylerjackson]

Yeah.. this is cool and all.. but where did you get that jacket..?

[@phillipt6345]

Deep in the closet with his sexuality.

[@jonathantylerjackson]

nice dude

[@jiros00]

Almost everyone plays house of the rising sun (The Animals version) incorrectly.

[@Pannemat]

I wonder what could go wrong with that one?

[@mackhomie6]

Uhh, really

[@flarkey]

What an amazingly pedantic video - and I loved it! Must mean that I'm a pedantic guitar geek too! Thanks

[@prestonbarr2358]

I am a musician. At home and some parties only. I'm not a master guitarist. I'm not even that great. My rhythm and timing get wonky sometimes. I understand how this confuses so many people. But this is one riff that I can ONLY hear the third guitar note falling on the down beat. Any other way feels so wrong, and all the videos you showed at first were painful to hear, lol. I love your videos. Technical and informative, trying your best to give us the real truths and actualities while explaining them in a way someone less versed in the subjects might still be able to follow. Kudos.

[@KingBlonde]

I don't get how people can seriously hate this song, it was like the last rock/alternative song I've heard on the radio that wasn't completely bland and uninspired. Not saying it's fantastic, but nothing warrants the crap it gets.

[@alienalibi2382]

R A T C H E T that's funny because it was boring and tedious for me,, like an imagine dragons song

[@KingBlonde]

Oh imagine dragons suuucks, but objectively there's nothing wrong with either band.

[@Joum92]

the anacrusis is actually a dotted quaver followed by a semiquaver

[@danielbindel7537]

Radiohead - Bodysnatchers Pixies - Bone Machine

[@alienalibi2382]

Daniel Bindel better than KOL and much more fun to play witj

[@danielbindel7537]

also Kanye West - Runaway

[@granthambeard]

Bone machine! Yes!

[@danielbindel7537]

thought of another one: Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism

[@wedgesalad3163]

Queens of the Stone Age - If I Had a Tail

[@dooleyfan]

Excellent post. I never could figure the opening count for this song. Another tricky one (although a bit more obscure) is Blow at High Dough by Tragically Hip.

[@grsdrm33]

Very nice. Where people go wrong is that the song STARTS on the "4" as heard on the album. Most people assume that first note is "1". So many songs like this that the actual first note/s is/are the pickup. What REALLY messes people up are when the pickups are 16th's. Drummer's fall into this trap too. All the time...

[@NidraxGaming]

Sooo, Ewan McGregor after finishing being Obi-Wan became a guitar player 🤔

[@sidneynascimento4470]

only for me that the title is in Portuguese?

[@canalrps]

p mim tbm man kkkkkkk

[@davidmohr1920]

Timing man without it you are screwed :-)

[@SleightlyPersonal]

I only watch your videos every once in a while (for no particular reason). I subscribe because every time I do watch, I enjoy it. You are always so calm and constructive, and I think every guitar enthusiast should hear what you have to say. So thank you for being a positive, constructive influence on guitarists and aspiring guitar players.

[@timhanson8556]

brother you are one great monster player !!! i always dig your corrections and very clear teaching style.. thank you for your time to make us better players.

[@deepanshusingal9207]

You re magical. I am lucky i find you..☺️

[@dezionlion]

like a unicorn? maybe yall can color together! that guitar sounds great. too bad all the songs you play on it are gay

[@dezionlion]

+Mark Seymour fuck off Mark wasn't talking to you

[@LeoSilva-sn3zo]

You are the man !!!!!

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

HEY AIN'T THAT THE DOS EQUIS GUY ?

[@raw5742]

I have seen a lot of performers avoid playing songs in their original key and chords if they are sharp or flat ones and just smack on a capo. or just hope it works in the standard major minor chords .

[@TheAgentAssassin]

I used to play highway star wrong. I used to play the first note open strings . I never used Barre chords to play it though like in the movie school of Rock which drove me nuts.

[@tathagatgaurav1046]

4:28.... When you see it XD

[@richardstone5096]

Hey all

[@celticfury7328]

Hi Richard!

[@luizhenriquevs3036]

Richard Stone,Hello!

[@jl1269]

Richard Stone Hey you

[@desmondoliver5436]

Out there in the cold...

[@kionihernandez356]

Sitting in the internet cafe all alone

[@carlalmonte4454]

Lmao was just jamming this song in the car

[@BTsMusicChannel]

One thing you might add is picking pattern. When you play Bluegrass, you always down pick on the beat and up pick the "ands." If you start this riff with an up pick, you will know it is an "and." I learned this idea when I studied double bass and my teacher showed me to upbow a pickup note, more often than not. When I learned to play Bluegrass guitar and the kind of picking required I quickly learned that there were very few exceptions to that rule. Rock has other kinds of picking (sweeps, rakes, and straight punk downpicking) but if you are doing alternate picking, consider that way of doing it. You can sometime break the rule and reverse it if the string crossings present a difficult problem, but you should be conscious of the pick direction.

[@joshuadawson6719]

Good video. Only started reading music recently and still have to mouth the numbers as I play to keep track.