Our Blues Roots – Killng Floor

[GnLguy]

Killing Floor is attributed to the late great Chester Burnett, aka Howlin’ Wolf. While the Wolf’s unique voice gave this song and all of his recordings a great edge, it was the guitar playing of Hubert Sumlin that laid down one of the greatest grooves in early Chicago Blues

If you’ve never learned this song, its a fun tune to perfect your timing. It has that single note line that is readily heard but there is a I IV V progression behind that single note line that really lays a solid foundation. You can switch between the 2 rhythms as the tune plays

There are a lot of good versions in this list but for me, it’s the Wolf all the way.

[Don D.]

Thanks for posting this!

Here’s Hubert Sumlin in an interview about what “Killing Floor” is about (Huffington Post, April 3, 2012).

That nice ascending A, A, C#, C#, D, D, D, D, D#, E bassline heard in Howlin’ Wolf’s original version was played on a gittar. It follows the chords. It can also be heard in Howlin’ Wolf’s “Ooh Baby (Hold Me)” and a couple other tunes.

Here’s Jimi Hendrix’s version.

Don D.

[6stringer Pete]

Wow! Keith, that’s quite a collection there. Thanks for posting.

The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete

It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete

Pete
Active Melody
Forum Moderator

[GnLguy]

Thanks for posting this!

Here’s Hubert Sumlin in an interview about what “Killing Floor” is about (Huffington Post, April 3, 2012).

That nice ascending A, A, C#, C#, D, D, D, D, D#, E bassline heard in Howlin’ Wolf’s original version was played on a gittar. It follows the chords. It can also be heard in Howlin’ Wolf’s “Ooh Baby (Hold Me)” and a couple other tunes.

Don

Thanks for posting Jimi’s version – I meant to include that but somehow overlooked it at the last minute

Hubert Sumlin, IMHO, is one of the most influential guitarists of that era. Elmore, Albert King, Ablert Collins, BB, etc get a lot of the accolade – and rightfully so – but Hubert shouldn’t be overlooked for the work that he did support Howlin’ Wolf

[charjo]

Thanks, Keith and thanks, Don for posting the Hendrix version. “The Lemon Song” on Led Zeppelin II borrows heavily from “Killing Floor”, the melody is the same in spots and and Plants sings the phrase “killin’ floor” more than once”. Page pretty much “borrowed” Sumlin’s licks verbatim and yet I don’t see any credit to Wolf or Sumlin on the Zep record cover.
John

[ranja]

There’s a David Johanson/ Hubert Sumlin version that gets an honorable mention too.
Another great set Keith!
Ron

[Doug T]

God I love this GREAT idea 🙂

[strattastic]

Love the history lessons.
Is there on for Key to the Highway?
This will be sacrilege to some but in my opinion EC’s version on Layla is as good a blues song as you can get. !!!!!

[GnLguy]

Love the history lessons.
Is there on for Key to the Highway?
This will be sacrilege to some but in my opinion EC’s version on Layla is as good a blues song as you can get. !!!!!

I’ll do one on Key To The Highway soon; to my knowledge, Big Bill Broonzy was the first to record it

When it comes to Clapton’s version, he has 3 takes on it. The acoustic version that he’s doing now, 2 versions with Derek & the Dominos: 1 with Duane Allman and 1 without.
I enjoy what he did with the Dominos but his recent acoustic versions, well,…. I’ll let someone else enjoy those.

[Don D.]

Here’s another smoking song based on the “Killing Floor” structure, by Taj Mahal with Jesse Ed Davis on the other guitar.

Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ are currently touring, with Jontavious Willis opening in quite a few places, including the free concert in Central Park next Sunday, August 13. I will be there.

I’ll do a complete post on the concert tomorrow, with links to their tour schedules.

Don D.

[Author]

Posts