Wicked Game Guitar Lesson - Chris Isaak - How To Play Wicked Game On Guitar

In this video I demonstrate how to play Wicked Game by Chris Isaak on guitar. This is a really cool song to learn and play on guitar. It has a very Tex/Mex vibe to it and some dreamy vibrato bar parts as well as chord voicing. I hope you enjoy the lesson!

[@Lotorc]

One of the benefits of being an intermediate guitarist going on 25 years now, is the occasional excitement of substantively reproducing something that sounds nothing less than magical coming out of my amplifier. I can’t believe I’m hearing myself play this! Thank you for providing a good quantity of lessons that require some effort but are still achievable for those of us who started playing in our 20s or much later - for whom shredding is largely out of reach. You effin’ rock, Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! You hit the nail on the head man. It's like creating magic and it's exciting!

[@jimmyz2098]

Wow. You just absolutely NAILED me in one paragraph! Thanks for putting the way you.... well.... put it! That's me. And yeah - this one is just soo cool. it oozes cool. Always has... always will. Magic coming out of an amp, and that sound.... wow! Rock on, Lotorc!

[@michaelw6277]

I have to mirror this statement. The first time I felt this excited about duplicating a sound was drawing Link Wray’s Rumble out of my Jazzmaster.

[@Lotorc]

@@michaelw6277 thanks for the comment. my first three times feeling that way (can’t remember the order) were AC/DC “highway to hell,” Zeppelin’s “what is and what could never be,” and the intro to VH “best of both worlds.” 1993 was so long ago now, but that feeling left a huge impact. I was hooked forever. Still can’t solo for shite, and anything harder than the “nothing else matters” solo makes me want to admit defeat in advance, but thank goodness there’s more than enough achievable music to play and keep me excited.

[@Lotorc]

@@jimmyz2098 dude, thanks. There’s not a lot of channels out there for people like us. I’m glad to know maybe I’m not in the minority of players. In the black hole between beginners and everyone else way better than me. Lol

[@papablue3015]

That song really hits home thinking back!🤔 all the paradise by dashboard lights days!! Lol! Full hollow body ibanez w/whammy electric I use is purfect! Thanks Marty!

[@sinnertrain7405]

James Calvin Whilsey is the guitarist who wrote and played those guitar parts. The guitar on this song is just brilliant and has become so iconic. Unfortunately, Whilsey's life came to a tragic, sad ending about 4-5 years ago. He gave me a copy of his "El Dorado" solo album (which is great).

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I read that. Sad to hear he passed when I did. I had no idea! ☮️

[@blakeburress]

YES! Dude I love this song. Got a whole pedalboard for this kind of twisted dark twin peaks surf rock.

[@jasonhoneman1272]

That’s cool man!! I am inspired by your peas board idea!!

[@stephenpemberton85]

I've always loved the mystique behind this song and I feel the reason is the guitart work.

[@gdroid5324]

Such a mellow person and a fantastic teacher for this attention grabbing tune that drips in reverb. Thank you Marty for sharing all of your passion for guitar with us!

[@jimmyz2098]

Incredible sound, Marty! Simple chords and progressions... but all that "oozy" sound coming out. Just magical. Absolutely killer. Always was, from the very first time I heard it. I'm going to pull out one of my Gretsch guitars, and see what I can do with this one! You're the best, Marty!! Rock on, Brother!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I bet it will sound great on the Gretsch! Have fun man. Thanks!!!

[@listairgin]

Excellent demo/ lesson Marty! Thanks 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠👌

[@Spaceman-jo5mz]

One of my favorite

[@paultownsend6043]

Such a awsome song, and it just shows what can be achieved with so little with regards the guitar part, so iconic.

[@jasonhoneman1272]

I loved this video and am so glad you covered it!! OMG this song has been on my bucket list to perform forever now and it was freaking awesome to see you deliver!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Wonderful! So glad you liked it and helped out. Thanks so much for watching man!

[@richieismyhero]

Such a good song, it has that shadows sound. Brings back so many memories, great lesson!

[@ohplezz]

Awesome song. Thanks for the lesson.

[@cantstartafire]

Thanks again for this lesson. I have to play this on Saturday and the only reason I agreed to it was that I remembered you had put this out. Cheers!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Wonderful man! Good luck and have fun. You got this!! 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵☮️

[@Terry4345.]

great lesson and video! Thank you!

[@eddaymusic]

Love your channel bud: Keep it up!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks My friend. I appreciate you watching and for the kind words.

[@douglaschristine8387]

How you doing Marty? Great song, I play and sing it alot. Great taste in music.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for watching man! All is good over here. 😎🙌

[@TheRockinDonkey]

Wow. You really nailed that tone. Well done!

[@jamesrexsannatracy8318]

Great song. Thanks buddy

[@timothyplonk2982]

Love that haunting guitar . Excellent song choice brother! Another great video bro!🎸🎸👍🎸🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much!☮️

[@rsvette123]

Awesome

[@richardbrody4302]

Really nice explanation of this terrific song. Your explanations are perfect.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Richard. I love to hear that my instructional videos have a positive impact and work well for others. Thanks for watching man! 😎☮️

[@sinnertrain7405]

PS - I really love your lessons. I learned VH's "Jamie's Crying" this morning.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Very cool man. Thanks so much for watching. Glad to hear you like the lessons! 😎🎵🎵🤟🏻

[@timemerson2691]

Wicked good video. Love that song. Thanks for your insight.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you!! 🎵☮️

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Love that song. Wilsey was really good at creating feel. I saw Isaac live a few years back in Wilmington, NC and the newer guy did great too. Had two twins on stage.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Never had a chance to see him live. Great tune and emotion all around. 👍🥂

[@geoffreylowery9730]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I recommend it if you get a chance. It was a very good show, much bigger than I expected. Seems like there were three drummers, stage was full. Like a Bob Seger show.

[@emdblues]

I thought he used the spring reverb on this. But it does sound great with hall I have the same guitar btw, just with rosewood neck :)

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Well spotted! “When the Saints Go Marching In”. I will hear that every time I listen to, or play, the song now 😂

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂 just my warped sense of humor.

[@plwill40cal20]

I'm learning on the lap steel, I like Larkin Poe version with lap steel .then I'll work on the Gibson Melody Maker for the 2nd track. Watching you make your hand drawn chords shapes, I thought I was the only one that did that. Great lesson thanks Marty 5150

[@lestorhaslam]

Nice!

[@nckwlch]

Yes interesting and informative. More than you usually get! I will be coming back often.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

I agree with you i think the chords are done down at the lower frets cowboy style. I don't see why he would play the 5th fret area for this? This song for me is one of those "I wish i wrote the guitar for this" pieces! Love the clean strat tone. Mark knopfler is a monster and is a influence so when i heard this track it reminded me of him a little.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

@MARTY, I just checked several LIVE versions of this tune and the yes the chords are all played at the 2nd-3rd fret area cowboy style.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It does have a knopfler vibe to it for sure! Love the big open broke up chords at the nut on this one. 😁

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker 👍 I wanted to ask which strat pu's do you have in the one you played?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@These_go_to_eleven_1959 they are the stock ones that come in the Fender American Pro II. V Mod II. 👍

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker they sound really nice!

[@simonpower4504]

Hey Marty great tutorial. The sound is also amazing what effect pedals are you using that reverb sounds incredible.

[@muleblues71]

check out the band H.I.M. do a version of this. especially a live version.

[@bradhienzachary]

Very nice sound! Well done

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you so much. 😎🥂

[@franzkafka77]

Thanks!

[@cddoughty]

Thanks for the lesson. I am trying to get that tone. My start sounds ok but not like yours. You have a thinner more treble tone. So wondering what strings you are using, also how are you setting the compressor and would these contribute to the tone you get.

[@PaoloC.]

always liked that song, really nice tutorial! BTW I'm looking to buy that exact guitar how do you rate it? and is that tremolo arm kind of higher than usual on the body? thank you.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love this strat. The trem does seem to sit a bit higher. It's the smoothest trem I've ever felt on a strat. It really sounds great. The VMod II pickups are excellent. 💯

[@jeffreyferenc3672]

Good lesson man on this classic. I am very jealous of your tone and especially tremolo. Cool reference to Saints riff. Lifeson uses a "riff" from 1812 overture in Rush's 2112 Overture. Not to nit pick but where's the chorus for Wicked?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I appreciate it. The chorus is the same pattern bm-a-e ☮️

[@wjewell63]

Ten points for Denmark 😃

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yes indeed!! Thanks man!

[@markeverson5849]

Brother I love that song I would like to try to learn to play it if I can it's not going to be easy on my old Gil acoustic anyways I wish you would have played the song in the beginning and in the end all the way through such a awesome song

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Enjoy man!! Hard to get the bend in an acoustic but you can certainly make it your own. Thanks for the kind words my friend.

[@markeverson5849]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I've been around for 67 years and I am learning that God gives different individuals different talents they're pretty much born with musical Talent others are wannabes no matter how much we practice or want to be we will never be like the naturals who have been given that particular ability:-) but that doesn't stop us from trying haha

[@ldhorricks]

I play this very different...especially the B minor arpeggio riff...I've seen this played live a few times back in the day...and not always Whilsey playing...Whilsey plays it different all the time...but the Bmin riff almost always the same. Anyway lots of ways to play this...some people have a problem with the timing and changes to play it Whilsey does but it's pretty straight forward.

[@cantstartafire]

Sweet!! Dude, that opening dive thing is epic... Love that tone.

[@The_Macaroon]

I'd have watched anyway, and your videos are great, but the picture of that girl had me clicking so fast lol

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! Hey, I guess it doesn't hurt to use a little eye candy to encourage views! 😂. I really appreciate the support and comment. Thanks again!! 😎🎵☮️

[@Jaloja]

Marty you keep cranking out the content and at some point the You Tube Algo will decide to promote you as it should and boom.. Overnight explosion. You may wonder how did all this take off so fast. It just got the views it deserves. I'm no expert on the subject but it seems it happens when you keep building the catalog. 10 new viewers see 20 older videos ... That is when the back catalog kicks in. The You Tube Algo goes oooo .. promote this channel. Build the back catalog and it turns into a bank. BTW the Pacer Classic I got just like your had Floyd Rose "Special" syndrome. The more it was miss adjusted the worse it got. So the first buyer returned it. It was a open box I got for $170.00 so I expected ti to be a problem child. It was the most common and expected problem. Of course the pivots in the body were scored. I made a Tremolo stop and got it to deck like a EVH and its just fine now. About 3 hours work and $170.00. Good to go.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Man that's a great score! Glad you got it set up and rocking. I love getting solid deals like that. Also, I'm going to keep cranking out the content man! I enjoy doing it and it's fun to see where it goes. I'd love for it to go somewhere bigger, but I am just shocked at the level it's at currently lol. Quite happy. Thanks for the support and encouragement. I appreciate it man!

[@pinkyfreud4338]

Considering the fact that Chris Isaak had two guitars and a bass going for the riff, to me, you're pretty damned close. I tried and tried to discern what was going on, but never quite got it exactly right... ESPECIALLY on one guitar. BTW... the other tutorials are not as true...Good ear... I'll be using your version.

[@brettjamz3]

She dated Michael Huthence

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Interesting!