Introduction
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An electric guitar lesson on how to play "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" by the Rolling Stones. This is from their 1971 album "Sticky Fingers."
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Thanks for watching. Cheers
Video
All right so can't, you hear me knocking by the stones.
This is from sticky fingers 1971.
And this is such an awesome song, really a great groove.
You know and Keith Richards part is in open G.
And it really shows his kind of mastery of that that tuning and it really, you know, his feel is so good.
And so unique really hard guy to copy just because he's so unique, right and I'm just doing the first bit.
The first couple of minutes before it goes into that extended jam.
And if you click down either or the link below in the description box don't think of my website and there's I'll, put a couple of quotes there from Keith and Mick about how that extended Jam came about and that's really interesting.
But for this lesson we're, just gonna I'm gonna work on Keith's part, mostly I'll show, you mix later like Taylor's, a little more simple in standard tuning.
But this is Keith's part, it's, an open G.
So you want to tune that E string down to a deep.
And then the a string down to a G, the next three stay the same and tune your hi-yi down birdie and Keith used to just take that east ring off when he played open G song, because you don't eat it, you never use it, but he's gonna leave it on like most of it as well.
Turn it down to a D.
And just in case, you accidentally hit it.
Okay.
So pretty well, 90% of it is all here it's based on that D court there.
And we've got these two notes, a tenth fret, Dean, G, night, fret, D, ng, tenth fret, maeín night, threat, Mandy so and that's 90% of the list.
So instead of me telling you frets and stuff like I'm, just gonna play, these looks slow, maybe a couple of times and because it's all there right, that's your first one.
And you know, you gotta use upstrokes than this song like some of it is downstrokes.
But if you use downstrokes and the whole song is gonna sound way too stiff and rigid.
Okay? And this has got a real loosey-goosey kind of feel.
So, you know, you got to get into that feel.
Okay, so we've done the first one now, the next one is right now.
The next one is right we're getting that string separate.
Now, you know, you'll see me doing that or that because that's the way I like to play doing that to me, it's super-awkward.
And if you can't do that, or that you're gonna have to do this, but preferable is to just do it with one finger.
Okay.
So that last lick was.
And then the next one is right so up stroking that D string there.
And then we get into this one right and that's just a bend there on the ninth.
We slide down that again, right and then start to get into the singing diverse range.
And that last one is just click Dino and then DNG and I use my third finger there because I can get my first there easily.
If I went, you know, I've got to do a fast move right? But if I do this right there? Okay, so let's do that whole intro a little bit slower and then we're gonna go a guess and what that is is we're seventh fret B barring here right? And the first one is that that's Ino and 75 on the beef.
And then three four one two.
And then we do it again, except this time instead of going we're gonna go right double stop, 75th, G and B.
So and now we're gonna go, which is a great open G lick.
And what we're gonna do is upstroke from the g-string back I'm, gonna go so slide into for a for open beach, gee.
And then in the G on d5, three open-air by seven right on the a.
So.
And now you could go opening same thing, I kind of prefer that one because you can kind of put a bit of vibrato on that note, if you want all right and then we're gonna go back here.
And when he does that like I would say, 99% of the time he's going that that one, you know, he can do either it really doesn't matter.
And he may even do things that are different than that it's hard to tell, but the key sometimes right because he's just into the feel of it.
So right, then, okay.
So what we do there is after this back to this that's, a great one love that one we're palm-muting here, right and we're separating those notes Rock going.
We were separating them.
Okay, uh, you know, I hope, this isn't moving too fast, but there's a there's, a ton of variations on these legs, right? Okay.
So let's go from here.
So so what you notice on that last one is you kind of lead in with that CC go.
You got same open G lick.
And then the very last one is two-for-one.
Okay, that's killer love that one it's all these looks are really similar.
And that they're always the hardest to learn, because if they're really different, then you can kind of in your mind.
You go that's this one then that this is this one.
But when they're similar, they all kind of jumbled together so nothing and then to finish it off so let's go over the whole thing so far, and it will play it a bit slower.
Okay now into the course and the choruses we lead it in again with every CG.
And we play this F chord, which is up here in we're kind of County, Navy and g-strings and upstroke, pinettes f, note on the B string, right? So and then right path and they'll be throwing that wick so right use that way very similar to the other one.
So we just end it there.
Okay, second time is that right so where D right and then we're back in this right? So then, okay, and that we do that bit, which is the open G.
Okay? Would you just love that it's so driving? You know so simple, but it works.
So well, what I did there is I just threw that one in again, that's, probably my favorite luck.
Then now this look here, I think it's, actually a mistake, but I could be wrong.
But instead of it going he goes, we did that like and then we're into that see that again, right, okay.
And then there does that like which to me is let's just kill her that's, a great open Qi lick.
So Fifth, Third, East, ring and open e and try with that ring and then band on the 3rd, fret of G d, put a little bend on them, right and that's.
How I ended it all right so that those are all key looks I know, there's a ton of likes there and I know, they're like confusing, but you know, if you put them together, one at a time, you'll you'll, get it you'll eventually, okay, I'm just gonna quickly go over a mixed part and I've just got to retune.
So just give me a second all right so we're in standard tuning them and Mick Taylor's part is gonna come in on when the singing starts and it's going to start on the D.
So we're, basically just going a D to a C a G right now.
We've got C so we're gonna go so that's, just it that's really all there is to it and we're.
You know, we're muting these strings to get that clicky thing and sometimes we'll do that right just done then and right and really staccato.
And this is one of those parts that's, super dead.
Easy, right? But the trick to this is not rushing because I found when I was doing my demo I'd, be like, you know, rushing it, but you kind of really try and play behind the beat with these kind of songs, right? So, dude, you okay.
So that's, just your G.
Yeah, see basically accents on every downbeat.
Okay.
And that's.
Pretty Rowlatt formic taylor's.
Part, really, straightforward, really simple, but combined with Keith.
And you know, that's kind of the magic of the stones right is the way they all those guitar parts sort of meshed together.
And a lot of people think that when I make Taylor was in the band that was the best version of the stones.
And that was a pretty good version.
You know, they came up with a lot of really good stuff with that version.
Anyways, that's it for this one Opie and joy, I.
Hope, you get something out of it learning.
Keith stuff is I think it's really really beneficial to any guitar player to kind of learn how he did all that stuff in open G and to try and get into that vibe that feel that the stones had, you know, which is kind of I mean, it's, weird, it's like it's, sort of a loose sloppy feel, but it's so powerful and so effective and so hard to duplicate just because of the uniqueness of those guys, you know, like Charlie watches, drumming that's a huge part of the stones.
He's kind of got that Ringo is sort of lazy beat back behind the beat sort of style.
You know, try and copy that right, try and sound like that it's really hard to do because it's unique to them it's, their own sort of fingerprint of playing right? Anyways, that's it for this one like I said, I, hope, you get something out of it and we'll talk to you next time.
FAQs
Keith Richards plays his Les Paul Custom Black Beauty with exquisite distortion, in open G tuning, for the iconic opening riff, panned hard right. This is very much in contrast to Mick Taylor's clean tone from his walnut brown Gibson ES-345 on both rhythm and -- later -- lead, panned hard left.
Can you hear me knocking Rolling Stones guitar? ›
What guitar did Keith Richards use for Can t You Hear Me Knocking? ›
Keith Richards plays his Les Paul Custom Black Beauty with exquisite distortion, in open G tuning, for the iconic opening riff, panned hard right. This is very much in contrast to Mick Taylor's clean tone from his walnut brown Gibson ES-345 on both rhythm and -- later -- lead, panned hard left.
How does Keith Richards tune his guitar? ›
Keith Richards tunes his guitar to D G D G B D. So start there first. Most of the classic 'Keef' riffs tend to be in Open G tuning. An open tuning is when the open strings of the guitar are tuned to match a specific major chord, in this case, G.
What tuning does the Rolling Stones use? ›
As far as The Rolling Stones go, a lot of their songs are in the open G tuning. From the bottom to the top string, it goes D-G-D-G-B-D. Some examples include Jumpin' Jack Flash, Honky Tonk Women, and Brown Sugar. However, some of the songs are in the open E tuning.
What is the open tuning for the Stones? ›
The Open G-Tuning
The low E string is tuned down to a D; the A string becomes a G; the D, G and B strings remain in standard tuning and the high E string is tuned down to a D. Play all open strings at once now and if all is well, you'll hear a familiar sound: the G chord.
Why did Keith Richards hit a fan with a guitar? ›
In an interview post-incident, Richards explained his actions by saying, “The only reason I did it was because the security was not there — They were two steps behind.
Who taught Keith Richards to play guitar? ›
Cooder is reputed to have taught Keith Richards to play in open-G tuning, now a Richards hallmark, as well as to have written the open-G signature riff of “Honky Tonk Women”.
What is Keith Richards Favourite guitar? ›
From 1970 onwards, Richards began using Telecasters as his main onstage guitar. His favourite model is nicknamed "Micawber" which he received on his 27th birthday (18 December) as a gift from Eric Clapton.
Does Keith Richards always use open G tuning? ›
Contrary to popular belief, Keith Richards did not always play in an Open G tuning, and when he did, he favored a 5-string tuning.
The root of that chord is on the fifth string. If he used a six string guitar, the sixth string would produce a note other than the root. Keith wants his lowest note to be the root of the chord, so he plays with only five strings.
Why do The Rolling Stones have two guitarists? ›
Getting A Bigger (Thicker) Sound
A second guitarist makes the band's overall sound “bigger,” with a sound that has fewer musical “gaps.” An excellent example is the Rolling Stones, which has always been a two-guitar band.
What chords does Keith Richards use? ›
Keith plays many riffs using two basic chord shapes: the major shape (e.g. D in bar 3), which you play with a one finger barre; and the slash chord shape (e.g., G/D also in bar 3). The G/Dshape looks exactly like an Em7 chord in standard tuning.
What is the most popular rock guitar tuning? ›
Standard tuning is the most commonly used tuning that has your guitar strings tuned (from lowest to highest) to E, A, D, G, B, E. Although standard tuning is, well, the standard for most guitarists to learn and play, alternate tunings open up a whole new world of sound.
What tuning does Chris Stapleton use? ›
This beautiful track from Chris Stapleton uses the classic drop D tuning system and has an incredibly full sound.
What is the saddest open guitar tuning? ›
Unofficially dubbed “the saddest tuning of all,” open D minor tuning is one of the easiest tunings to learn and also one of the most expressive. It allows you to play a D minor chord when you strum all six of your guitar strings in the open position.
What is the easiest open tuning to play? ›
Open G tuning is easy — all you need to do is detune the sixth, fifth, and first strings by a whole step. This tuning is great for rhythm or slide guitar playing in major keys.
What is the best open tuning for bluegrass? ›
Bluegrass banjo is played on a 5 string banjo. The standard tuning is Open G Tuning (G, D, G, B, D).
Who is Keith Richards best friend? ›
Bobby Keys was a fierce musician with marvellous talent, and of course, he is remembered for his partnership with Keith Richards, but he was so much more than that, and we should never forget it.
Does Keith Richards play lead or rhythm guitar? ›
Richards plays both lead and rhythm guitar parts, often in the same song, as the Stones are generally known for their guitar interplay of rhythm and lead ("weaving") between Richards and the other guitarist in the band - Brian Jones (1962–1969), Mick Taylor (1969–1975), and Ronnie Wood (1975–present).
He's effortlessly flashy, endlessly charming, and always good for a memorable quote or quip. But what has elevated him to legendary status is his guitar playing. Richards is where nearly every song the Stones have recorded begins: his continued, ongoing obsession with and exploration of his chosen instrument.
Can Keith Richards read and write music? ›
Like most other well-known musicians, Keith Richards couldn't read a note of music. He learned everything he knew about music from listening to records and attempting to replicate them on the guitar.
What is Keith Urban's favorite guitar? ›
Keith Urban is most known for playing his 1964 Fender Stratocaster as well as several classic Fender Telecaster guitars. Although he generally prefers Fenders, it's not uncommon to see Urban perform with his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior, as well as several other guitars.
Who taught Eric Clapton to play guitar? ›
Eric Clapton learned to play the guitar on his own. He acquired no official instruction and did not take any courses. Instead, he would imitate the riffs of his favorite blues performers, record them, and playback each phrase.
Does Mick Jagger ever play guitar? ›
3) In addition to being a crazy talented singer, Jagger also plays the harmonica, piano, guitar and tambourine.
Does Keith Richards use pedals? ›
"Aware as I am that I was the bugger that started the foot pedal [thing] with 'Satisfaction,' to me that was a one-off effect. "I'm not gonna go around on stage doing tip-toes on different machines. I expect my sound to be coming out of my amp, and I don't want to change it once it's there. I'm not fancy."
How many strings does Keith Richards play with? ›
But one thing, besides stories, that Richards is known for is his use of a five-string guitar and "open G" tuning, which gives every Rolling Stones song that signature sound.
What's the most popular open tuning on a guitar? ›
The most commonly used open guitar tunings are open E, D, G and A.
What is the most popular open tuning? ›
Open G (DGDGBD) and Open D (DADF#AD) are the most popular open tunings, though any tuning that can be achieved without making the open strings too loose or too tight can be used.
What tuning did Stevie Ray Vaughan use? ›
Some of the Blues legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan use Eb Tuning because the slightly looser strings make it possible to do big bends even with very thick strings.
The Phase 100 is a fantastic phaser pedal that can span a wide variety of different sounds, from rapid and glitchy, to slow and space-y. The Phase 100 can be heard on the song Shattered. And last, but certainly not least, Richards also uses an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
How do you get a creamy guitar tone? ›
Simply finding the right balance between your guitar's volume knob and the gain knob on a good tube amp can create all the cream you can handle. All of these sounds are about balance. Use compression properly and you can make your drums sound real punchy. Use too much compression and they'll sound squashed.
What amp does Rolling Stones use? ›
Richards is well known for his use of Marshall amplifiers. He has been using them since the early days of the Stones, and they are still his amplifier of choice today. He typically uses a 100 watt Marshall head with 4×12 cabinets. Richards' amp setup is fairly simple, but it is highly effective.
Why do guitarists leave their strings uncut? ›
There are a few reasons people might choose to cut their guitar strings. Maybe they're trying to create a new sound, or they're trying to make their instrument easier to play. Or, they could be trying to change the tension on the strings to better suit their playing style.
Why does Keith Richards wear handcuff bracelet? ›
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is almost as famous for his "rock star cool" as he is for his music. For the last couple of decades a "handcuff link" bracelet has been a regular accessory, to remind him "never to get arrested again".
What kind of strings does Keith Richards use? ›
Richards has been using Ernie Ball strings for decades; they even manufacture a custom five-string set (available in 11 string).
Who does Rolling Stone say is the best guitarist? ›
(Reuters) - Legendary musician Jimi Hendrix was named the greatest guitar player in history Wednesday by Rolling Stone magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music experts and top guitar players.
Who was bigger Rolling Stones or Beatles? ›
The Billboard statistics are actually overwhelming for The Beatles compared with The Stones (or anybody else). The Beatles spent 132 weeks at #1 on the album chart, and that's about double the next highest artist, Elvis Presley. Taylor Swift is a not-too-distant third. The Beatles had 20 #1 singles, The Stones had 8.
Do the Rolling Stones lip sync? ›
The Rolling Stones: It might seem a little weird that one of history's live bands would make this list. But in their “Start Me Up” video, they're supposed to be lip-syncing. But at a couple spots, the writhing Mick Jagger just stops moving his lips. It's the Stones — why should they care?
What is the secret chord? ›
The 'secret chord' is a biblical reference. David was a King from the Hebrew bible, and although we all mostly remember him for being the underdog who defeated Goliath, he was, first and foremost, a musician. So we know David played a 'secret chord', whatever that may be.
In music, the mystic chord or Prometheus chord is a six-note synthetic chord and its associated scale, or pitch collection; which loosely serves as the harmonic and melodic basis for some of the later pieces by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin.
What musical style is Rolling Stone? ›
The Rolling Stones are a British rock group, formed in 1962, that drew on Chicago blues stylings to create a unique vision of the dark side of post-1960s counterculture. The original members were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts.
What finger is best for slide? ›
Many guitarists opt to put the slide on their pinky, but some players (like the aforementioned Duane Allman) wear it on their ring finger, and other guitarists like Bonnie Raitt and Joe Walsh buck convention completely and play slide with their middle fingers.
Do you push down with a guitar slide? ›
To cleanly sound a note with a slide, you need to place the slide directly above that note's fret, not behind the fret, where you'd plant your finger when playing conventionally. Just remember, your slide rides on the string without pressing down against the frets—you'll simply be gliding from note to note as you play.
What finger do you use for a slide guitar? ›
The ring finger is the most common finger to use for sliding as it gives you the most control. However, if you put the guitar slide on the middle finger, it is easy to play power chords, notes, and scales. If you only want to use the guitar slide occasionally, use the pinky finger.
Who played lead guitar on can t you hear me knocking? ›
- Mick Taylor, 1979
As a lead, virtuoso guitar, Mick (Taylor) was so lyrical on songs like Can't You Hear Me Knocking, which was an amazing track because that was a complete jam, one take at the end.
Did Brian Jones play lead guitar for the Rolling Stones? ›
Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) was an English multi-instrumentalist and singer best known as the founder, rhythm/lead guitarist, and original leader of the Rolling Stones.
What guitar does Ronnie Wood play with the Rolling Stones? ›
In the Rolling Stones, Wood plays the slide guitar as Taylor and Brian Jones had done before him, adding both lap steel and pedal steel guitar.
Who played steel guitar for the Rolling Stones? ›
| Al Perkins |
|---|
| Born | January 18, 1944 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk, bluegrass, rock, country rock, country, contemporary Christian |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Pedal steel guitar, guitar, dobro, banjo, vocals |
4 more rowsKeith Richards' Amps
These days, however, he mostly plays Fender amps. He uses three different Fenders: A Fender Twin for live, and a Champ and Tweed Harvard for studio. These are all '50s models, making them quite expensive and difficult to come by these days.
” The lifestyle had become too much to handle for the younger band member, and aside from a few issues with songwriting credits, that is the primary reason for his departure in 1974.
What musician smashed his guitar? ›
Jimi Hendrix. Not only did Hendrix smash his guitars, he also lit them on fire. Hendrix set two guitars at three shows ablaze, most notably at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. (The Who had destroyed their instruments earlier at the same festival.)
Is Brian Jones a good guitar player? ›
Brian Jones was a gifted and talented multi-instrumentalist; he was comfortable playing any musical instrument. Jones expertly would play those instruments that weren't typical of a blues or rock and roll ensemble.
Who was the leading guitarist for the Rolling Stones? ›
As one of the most renowned and recognised 'hellraisers' in rock music for the best part of six decades, Keith Richards is the lead guitarist and founding member of iconic British band The Rolling Stones.
What guitar does Mick Jagger use? ›
Gibson Hummingbird
In his position as Stones frontman, Mick Jagger doesn´t play the guitar too often.
What gauge guitar strings does Keith Richards use? ›
Keith Richards Custom Gauge 11-42 Electric Guitar Strings, 5-String.
What guitar did Freddie Stone play? ›
The guitars he was most often spotted with included Gibson ES-175 and ES-5 Switchmaster hollowbodies, a Japanese-made Stratocaster copy called a Fresher Straighter, and a Gibson Les Paul Recording Model with single-coils.
Who are the two guitar players for the Rolling Stones? ›
This classic interview from the GP archive reveals some fascinating insights into the Rolling Stones' twin guitar sound. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood's musical partnership is one of the longest enduring high-profile guitar pairings in the history of rock 'n' roll.
Who was the first steel guitarist? ›
The steel guitar legacy begins in Laie
Joseph Kekuku, playing the Hawaiian steel guitar. Young Joseph Kekukuupenaokamehamehakanaiaupuni Apuakehau, who shortened his stage name to Kekuku, invented the steel guitar in 1885.
