Muddy Waters-Muddy as Can Be
June 26, 2010 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Guitar Central
Muddy Waters
Muddy as Can Be
Born McKinley Morganfield on April 4th of 1913, Muddy Waters has since then contributed greatly to the Blues genre, and to the music world in general.
A Chicago native, Muddy Waters was deemed the Father of Chicago Blues, and was ranked #17 in Rolling Stone’s Magazine list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Starting his career in 1941, Waters carried the sound of the Delta Blues to Chicago, where he adopted many Chicago Blues influences, and he himself inspired many of the great musicians of that era. His first recordings were destined to the Library of Congress, performing in a style similar to that of legendary artist Robert Johnson.
Waters was known for playing mean Chicago, Delta and Electric Blues that, since then, has influenced multiple generations of blues guitarists and blues inclined musicians. Also one of the most proficient guitar players in the history of music, Waters notable Gibson Les Paul and Fender Telecaster have sung classic tunes like ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’ and ‘Got My Mojo Workin”, just to name a few.
Lifetime Achievements
During his active years (1941-1983), Waters played with iconic blues performers such as Little Walter, Willie Dixon and Junior Wells; while inspiring the adoption of the blues by young, white artists like Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.
Also skilled at blues vocals and the harmonica, Muddy Waters recorded with popular Chicago record labels like Testament Records, Aristocrat Records and Chess Records (the label that also signed blues songwriter Chuck Berry upon Water’s recommendation). In his lifetime, Waters released more than 40 albums, and 40 singles, and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
After his Death: Waters Remembered
Waters died in his sleep in 1983, while at home in Westmont, IL. A year after his death, the city of Chicago honored his musical achievements and cultural influences by assigning a one street block near his former home on E. 43rd St. the ‘Honorary Muddy Waters Way’.
A true icon of music history, and one of the biggest contributors to blues based genres, Muddy Waters will be remembered not only for his immense talent and contagious tunes, but also for imminent effect he has had, and still has, on American music.
Lady Fantasy
June 5, 2010 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Tony Jones
Hi All.
I saw Camel in Cardiff about 1975, I was really taken with this song.
They just released their ”snowgoose” album
Well, I decided to do a “jam” to their Lady Fantasy from their “Mirage” album
Tony J.
Jimi Hendrix Story
March 13, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Guitar Central
Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942. Upon Hendrix’s debut in music, not only was the new genre of psychedelic guitar born but the music world was forever marked with Hendrix’s unusual, yet overly effective playing techniques.
Music Style
Jimi was known for offering the wildest shows, sometimes playing his guitar with his teeth, or behind his back. Even though he owned several left-handed guitars, Hendrix played regular, right-handed guitars that were re-strung from the regular AEDGBE to a more leftie-friendly EBGDEA.
Jimi Hendrix is claimed to have popularized the use of the wah-wah pedal upon being introduced to it by Frank Zappa in the early mid 60’s. Later in his career the wah-wah sound became a part of Jimi’s guitar signature. The trademark Hendrix sound was boosted by overdriven amps of high-gain and high-treble, as well as classic high bends that almost jumped out of his songs. Hendrix also changed minds about the reputation of feedback, using this generally unwanted effect to add that wild dreaminess so prominent in his performances.
Jimi’s guitar abilities mainly consisted of untamed electric bluesy riffs and a left-handed faculty that captured the planet’s attention. Hendrix’s talent didn’t remain unnoticed for very long. He was respected and praised by many guitarists shortly after his debut in music, with influences of blues and rock greats like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King and even Elvis Presley. It wasn’t long until Jimi (and his skill) fit right in to the top class of musicians that were then presided by Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Jeff Beck.
Early Days
Hendrix’s beginnings date back to the early 60’s, where he began playing with army friend Billy Cox in Fort Campbell, KT where stationed. He tried his luck out in the South by participating in various bands: from his first ‘The Velvetones”, to ‘Rocking Kings’ and the ‘King Casuals’. Jimi struggled to subsist but acquired the blues roots and experience that framed his inherent guitar skills.
Confident to climb up the music ladder, Hendrix moved to New York in 1964. Shortly he was part of the Isley Brothers, later becoming Little Richard’s band supporting guitarist.
Admired by many, Hendrix motivated special regard from fellow musician Chas Chandler of ‘The Animals’. Chandler convinced Jimi to move to London to build on his guitar-playing career. They signed a contract together, along with Michael Jeffery that represented them as Jimi’s managers.
The Peak Years
Soon after, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was founded with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The band released their first record ‘Are you Experienced’, a blues-filled, slightly melodic album with classic Hendrix songs like “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Purple Haze”. The band’s second release was equally as popular yet more melodic in nature, offering more structure in his songs, like in the masterpiece ‘Little Wing’.
The Experience’s 3rd album, ‘Electric Ladyland’ went beyond any of his previous works as a result of gaining total artistic control from Chas Chandler. Wilder and less restricted than his other albums, ‘Electric Ladyland’ broke many guitar rules while achieving admirable musical results.
During The Experience’s hiatus, Jimi formed ‘Gypsy Sun & Rainbows’ with old friend and bassist Bily Cox, and drummer Buddy Miles, later re-naming the group to ‘Band of Gipsies’.
Despite playing a few concerts, and even releasing a Live album It wasn’t too long after that, that the Jimi Hendrix Experience was reformed with Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell in a mix n’ match line-up between Hendrix’s two main groups.
During the time, Jimi was facing a number of lawsuits concerning recording contracts that were signed early in his carreer. This caused him to travel back and forth between London and U.S.A;, travels that allowed him to collaborate with artists like Steve Winwood and Bob Dylan while in the US, as well as to participate in the biggest music festival of the 60’s: Woodstock.
Close to the end of his life, Jimi played the two classic concerts Live at Monterrey and Live at the Isle of Wright, both under the exclusive recommendation of Paul McCartney. These live recordings, released after Jimi’s death in 1970, are probably the most legendary performances of the guitarist ever captured on tape.
Our Goodbyes
Jimi’s last show was on September 6th, 1970, the same day that Billy Cox quit The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He died on September 18th, of 1970 in London. Jimi’s gravesite is located at the Greenwood Memorial Park near Seattle, Washington where he rests accompanied by the carving of a 1965 Fender Stratocaster; his favorite type of guitar.
Hendrix’s presence in music was a short lived 10 or so years, halted by his death on September 1970 due to a presumed overdose. In the short time that he was with us, he not only managed to reinvent music and the possibilities that it offers but to open the eyes, ears and minds of many.
With his music Jimi has taught the world to be wild and free spirited; to try, explore, and discover new things, to overcome the limits that cause our restrain in an, almost, prophetic approach.
Rest in Peace Jimi. Rest assured you’ll transcend for as long as music lives.
Black Sabbath’s Bestselling Album ‘Paranoid’ for re-Release in April
Black Sabbath has been deemed to be one of the heaviest, darkest bands of all time. With more than 12 albums and a black metal dedicated line-up, the band set the bar for many metal groups that came, thereafter. Originally known as Polka Tulk and later as Earth, Black Sabbath is said to have been inspired not only by blues and metal, but also by the dark, gothic elements of 70’s horror movies.
The album Paranoid, set for re-release on April 8th, was Black Sabbath’s second album – follow-up to their 1st self-titled record – and second association with producer Rodger Bain. The record was released under their original line-up, Tony Iommi on guitar, Gezzer Butler on bass guitar, Bill Ward on drums and Ozzy Osbourne on vocals.
Upon release in September of 1970 in the UK, and later in the US on January of 1971, the band’s second album was everything that the fans and music critics wanted to hear. By 1995, ‘Paranoid’ had sold more than 4 million copies, acquiring a quadruple Platinum status and granting, since its release, monumental recognition to the group.
The album’s popularity was encompassed, perhaps, not only due to good music but also to the themes addressed in their tunes; a clear a representation and perception of a world in chaos prognosticated by the Vietnam War and the Cold War developing at the time. Aside from wartime references in many of their tracks, topics of mental disease and drug abuse are also exposed in many of Sabbaths songs ie.Planet Caravan, Hand of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots.
The band’s focus on the issues brought on by war was so that the album’s original title used to be ‘War Pigs’, alike the name of the album’s first track. In an attempt to reach a broader audience and refrain from directly offending any Vietnam War advocates, the title was changed to ‘Paranoid’, also a track in the album.
The story goes the song ‘Paranoid’ was an unplanned, improvised song Black Sabbath put together as a filler for the scarcely packed release. Much to the band’s surprise, the song had become so popular that it reached #4 on the UK charts.
The bestselling album’s re-release set for April 8th of this year will not only include the original 1970 version of the record on the 1st disc, but also a quadraphonic mix on the 2nd disc, and original studio recordings of each track on the 3rd one.
The track listing is set as follows:
Disc 1 – Original Version
1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Fairies Wear Boots
Disc 2 – Quadrophonic Mix
1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Fairies Wear Boots
Disc 3 – Unreleased Recordings
1. War Pigs – instrumental
2. Paranoid – alternative lyrics
3. Planet Caravan – alt. lyrics
4. Iron Man – instrumental
5. Electric Funeral – instrumental
6. Hand of Doom – instrumental
7. Rat Salad – instrumental
8. Fairies Wear Boots – inst.
Along with the new unreleased material, the album will also include rare photos and artwork of the band, as well as copies of the recording notes that gave place to it.
Black Sabbath toured with Ozzy Osbourne in a reunion world trek from 1997 to 2005. Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 and later replaced by Ronnie James Dio who took over vocals until the mid 80’s.
Presumed to have changed their name to ‘Heaven & Hell’ upon reuniting with Ronnie James Dio in 2007, the band is still expected to tour under the Black Sabbath name and original line-up in a near future.
Eric Clapton 2009 Confirmed Tour Dates
The musician is performing in Japan, with Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, and U.S.A to follow in his upcoming schedule.
Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, CBE and 18-time Grammy Award-winner Eric Clapton simply is a timeless icon of music history.
Known both for being a former member of great bands such as The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, as well as for his remarkable solo guitar work and collaborations, Clapton has played with stars like The Beatles, Roger Waters, Dire Straits and Joe Cocker, amongst many.
Clapton’s 2009 World Tour began this February in Japan, and it is currently 3 dates into the tour. Featuring special edition tickets due to Clapton’s 35th anniversary since his debut in Japan in 1974, the musician will be playing in Tokyo on February 18th and 19th, traveling to Saitama and Budokan for 2 shows with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck on the 21st and 22nd, only to return to Tokyo on the 24th for 3 more solo performances.
Along with Clapton, this year’s shows will feature musicians Doyle Bramhall II on guitar, Chris Stainton on keyboards, Willie Weeks on bass, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums and Sharon White & Michelle John on backing vocals as his supporting band.
After closing in Japan, Eric Clapton and his group will be then hitting New Zealand’s Vector Arena on March 4th, moving on to Australia from the 7th to the 14th of that month.
The Australian venues Clapton will be playing at include the Hunter Valley Hope Estate Winery (07/03), the Sydney Entertainment Centre (08/03) and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (11/03).
The songwriter will be taking a brief break before resuming his tour in Dublin’s O2 Arena, in Ireland, on May 11th, then moving on to the UK for two consecutive weeks of performances.
The UK Tour opening show will take place in Liverpool’s Echo Arena on May 13th, followed by one performance at the MEN Arena in Manchester on the 14th, and sixteen consecutive shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London from the 16th to 31st of May.
Along for the ride will be 1990’s blues group the Arc Angels (featuring Charlie Sexton) who will be presenting the supporting act for each of Clapton’s concerts in the UK.
Following the UK tour, Clapton will be stopping by 15 cities in the U.S.A. starting June 10th with former band mate and fellow guitarist Steve Windwood. Clapton and Windwood had formed the group Blind Faith in 1969 after Cream’s dissolution in 1968. Following the opening act in East Rutherford on June 10th, the performers will be moving down to Philadelphia, PA (12/06), Washington, DC (13/06), Columbus, OH (15/06), Chicago, IL (17/06); St. Paul, MN (18/06), Omaha, NE (20/06), Denver, CO (21/06), Dallas, TX (23/06), Houston, TX (24/06), Glendale, AZ (26/06), Las Vegas, NV (27/06), Oakland, CA (29/06) and Los Angeles, CA (30/06).
Clapton was born in Ripley in Surrey, England on 1945 and got his first guitar in 1960. In more than 45 years of musicianship, the artist has recorded many hits, both in his former bands as in his solo work. Deemed one of Rolling Stone’s ‘100 Guitarists of All Time’ and the only musician to be a triple Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Eric Clapton is one the most legendary, iconic and influential guitarists still active today.
Free – History of a Band
February 15, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Featured, Guitar Central, Play Guitar Like
Free was a British band that formed in Battersea, London during April 1968. An imminent result of the British Blues boom of the late 60’s, and influenced by the many artists that collaborated with the movement’s birth, Free adopted a hard blues-rock musical style. After having played together in the R&B band “Black Cat Bones”, 17-year old guitarist Paul Kossoff and 18-year old drummer Simon Kirke wanted to move forward. Having had recruited bassist Andy Fraser, who at 15 years of age had already performed with high profile bands such as John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, the band was only missing a lead singer. Found not long after at a Brown Sugar concert in Finsbury Park’s ‘Fickle Pickle’, Paul Rogers was summoned by Kossoff to complete the final lineup of the band.
In November 1969 the group recorded their first studio album, ‘Tons of Sobs’ which wasn’t released until the following year along with their second, self-titled album. The debut of the band, however, was overlooked until the release of their third follow-up ‘Fire and Water’ in 1970, featuring the song “All Right Now”. An exceptionally acclaimed hit, the song placed #1 in UK’s rock and single charts and #2 in the U.S.A’s; also setting the band in excellent musical standings. Later, in 1990, it was recognized by the ASCAP for amassing over one million radio plays and awarded by the British Music Industry when the two million mark was reached. The release of a #1 song and a #2 album facilitated Free the opportunity to land a spot in 1970’s Isle of Wright Festival. A 600,000 people event, with shows from notorious blues-inspired groups such as The Who, The Doors, and guitarist Jimmi Hendrix; the festival provided the band with an even bigger public exposure. In addition, it allowed them to exploit one of their best abilities as a musical group and for which they’re still renowned for; their live performance.
During September of 1970, Free released their fourth disc ‘Highway’. Not selling well and under-placing on the 
charts, the album forced the band into retreat. Due to the inconsistency of sales and reputation, personal differences between Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser, and the drug-abusing tendencies of Paul Kossoff the band broke up on April 1971. Despite their dissolution, the group still released their fifth, farewell album ‘Free Live!’, only to reform during early 1972 in an attempt to help Kossoff overcome his drug-addiction. In June of the same year they released their 6th album ‘Free at Last’, also lacking in popular recognition, at which point Andy Fraser left the band fed up at Kossoffs predictable unreliability.
In replacement of Fraser came in Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and an extra member, keyboardist John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick, was added. The new, short-lived lineup was called ‘Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit’ and released Free’s final album ‘Heartbreaker’.
In early 1973 Free ultimately disbanded. With Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke forming Bad Company, Andy Fraser creating the Andy Fraser Band and Paul Kossoff going solo as the Back Street Crawler; this was finally the breaking point of the group.
Three years later, on March 19th of 1979 and at the age of 25, Paul Kossoff died of a drug-related heart condition on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Roughly a month shy of the ‘reunion’ tour the former members had planned featuring the Backstreet Crawler headlining Bad Company; Kossoffs death marked the final chapter of the band.
A band of young members and fresh ideas, Free marked the post British blues boom period of the 70’s. Along with other bands and guitarists that emerged during and after the boom, Free experimented with and partly founded many of the various applications of a new genre that are still influencing musicians today.
Did you take that all in? Good! Then, on with the lesson
[Here is the backing track for you (to download backing track right click ’save target as’ )
A Minor Harmonic Scale Video
January 29, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Tony Jones
Hi All
This is the A Minor Harmonic Scale. It’s useful to use for improvising when playing blues in A minor.
A flavour of the Orient!
Have fun
Tony J
How To Play Guitar Like Lynyrd Skynyrd
January 24, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Featured, Play Guitar Like
Hi All,
This lesson is how to play guitar like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Its the ‘Freebird’ Intro & Chords. Before we start the video lesson of how to play ‘Freebird’ here is a bit of history of the band for you.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – The Show Must Go On
Lynyrd Skynyrd is a band influenced by rock-blues inspired groups of British music, as well as by their own southern foundations. The American Southern Rock band originated in 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida when Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (guitar) formed the group “The Noble Five.” Undergoing several name changes before settling on Lynyrd Skynyrd, the group identified as “My Backyard” when Larry Junstrom (bass) and Bob Burns (drums) joined in 1965, and later as “One Percent” when keyboardist Billy Powell united in 1970. The bands final and current name derives from a mocking homage to Robert E. Lee High School’s gym coach Leonard Skinner who enforced the school’s dress policy that didn’t allow boys to have long hair that would fall below the ear line.
The Discovery
In 1972 bassist Leon Wilkeson joined in replacement of Larry Junstrom and this same year, after playing at a club in Atlanta, Lynyrd Skynyrd was discovered by al Kooper of ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears” who signed them to MCA records. Under management of Allen Walden, the band produced their first album the following year, ‘(pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ’skin-’nérd)’ which included the hit song ‘Free Bird’. Eventually reaching #19 in the Billboard Hot 100, the hit is still acclaimed to be a rock & roll hymn to this day.
Rising Success
Lynyrd Skynyrd underwent rising success and gained a solid fan base throughout 1973 and 1974. Releasing their follow-up “Second helping” the group revealed their breakthrough hit ‘Sweet Home
Alabama” that placed #8 on the charts. The album itself reached #12, and ultimately went multi-platinum.
They released their third and fourth albums, ‘Nuthin’ Fancy’ and ‘Gimme Back my Bullets’ in 1974 and 1976, respectively. These, however, didn’t achieve as much recognition as the first two had accrued. Having lost guitarist Ed King midway through the tour of ‘Nuthin’ Fancy’, the band needed to recover the 3-guitar lineup that had been their hallmark during their earliest years.
Despite recruiting several high-profile guitarists, it wasn’t until Steve Gaines was auditioned that the band found their missing link. With him aboard, they released their 5th, double live-album ‘One More from the Road’ and toured the UK with the Rolling Stones. Selling half a million records upon release, 1977’s follow-up ‘Street Survivors” proved Gaines’ guitar and songwriting contributions to be the band’s ideal complement.
The Plane Crash
On October 20th 1977, three days after the release of ‘Street Survivors’ and four dates into the tour of said album, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashed close to their destination of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At around 6:42 PM, 2 hours and 42 minutes into the flight, the Convair 240’s engine magneto failed and, after loosing communication with the Houston Center, the aircraft went down 5 miles NE of Gillsburg, Mississippi.
Upon crashing, Pyle, the only ambulatory band member along with two other members of the crew, called for the help of nearby farmer Johnny Mote. Soon after, paramedics and rescue workers arrived at the scene to help the injured and move the dead.
Out of the 24 passengers on board, the accident claimed the lives of pilot Walter McCreary, co-pilot William Gray, Ronnie VanZant, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, Steve and Cassie Gaines. Allen Collins suffered two cracked vertebrae and severe injuries in his arms. Leon Wilkenson, another surviving band member, sustained a punctured lung and had most of his teeth knocked out. Gary Rossington broke both arms, both legs and his pelvic bone also suffering puncture wounds to his stomach and liver. Billy Powell virtually lost his nose due to severe facial lacerations upon impact and backup singer Leslie Hawkins broke her neck in 3 places, suffering a concussion. Artimus Pyle also endured several exposed fractured ribs.
The accident brought along some media and public attention, bumping ‘Street Survivors’’ placing up to #5 in the US charts. The group, however, found it a better decision to dissolve and disbanded following the tragedy.
More Tragety
Years after the plane crash, misfortune still seemed to haunt some of the remaining founding members of the group. Collins, who had joined Rossington, Wilkenson and Powell to become ‘The Rossington-Collins Band’ lost his wife and unborn son to internal hemorrhaging and complications during pregnancy. Later, in 1986 he crashed his car costing the life of his girlfriend and also resulting in his complete paralysis from the waist down. Pleading guilty to a charge on DUI manslaughter, he avoided jail time due to his condition. After reuniting with surviving members for a tribute tour, he contracted pneumonia and died on January 23rd 1990.
Supposedly a one time event due to legal band/band name ownership issues, the remaining members kept up with the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour and even settled in continuing the band under the Lynyrd Skynyrd name.
Rickey and Hughie
The band recovered an infallible 3-guitar-lead when Rickey Medlocke and Hughie Thomasson joined in 
1996. Medlocke, better known as the lead guitarist and front man of ‘Blackfoot’, had grown up with the founding members of the band and once already been a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1970. In 1971 he left in order to reform ‘Blackfoot’, joining Skynyrd once again 25 years later in replacement of Ed King. Hughie Thomasson, on the other hand, was a former member and main writer of ‘The Outlaws’. When they disbanded in ’96 he joined Lynyrd Skynyrd, where he remained as one of the 3 lead guitars, until 2005 that he left so as to reform his former group “The Outlaws”.
Leon Wilkenson
The group faced death once again when bassist Leon Wilkenson passed away at a Florida hotel due to lung and liver disease in 2001. More recently on the 9th of September 2007, Hughie Thomasson, former member of the band for over 9 years, died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack at the age of 55.
Despite being repeatedly surrounded by loss and misfortune, Lynyrd Skynyrd still manages to transcend, continuing the legacy of their names. Under the lead of original members Gary Rossington and Billy Powell and a little VanZant heritage, the band still records and tours today.
Before we go on I would just like to dedicate this video to my lost friend B.B.(Brian Bird) R.I.P.
On with the lesson
My version for Brian R.I.P.
Anybody want to have a go at the end lead break? Here are a set of video’s for you. Of course this is my version.
Free Bird Lead Break Part 1
Free Bird Lead Break Part 2
Free Bird Lead Break Part 3
Free Bird Lead Break Part 4
Free Bird Lead Break Part 5
Free Bird Lead Break Part 6
Free Bird Lead Break Part 7
Free Bird Lead Break Part 8
Have fun
Hope this helps
Tony J.
