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Bo Diddley Style Guitar Lesson – Rhythm and Lead – EP086

Description

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play a classic Bo Diddley inspired shuffle rhythm. You’ll also learn some Bo Diddley style leads which are mixed in with the rhythm using the “call and response” technique. This works on acoustic or electric guitar and is suitable for beginners.

Part 1

Part 2 (Premium Access Only)

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Slow Walk-Through (Premium Access Only)

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Comments

  1. Brian says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Live

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    • Izzy says

      October 5, 2015 at 11:32 am

      Wow.. Having a lot of fun with this one. First attempt at it ,and getting the hang of it. If i could just mute better. That seems to be an obstacle for me. I want this one under my belt real soon..!

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    • Geert V says

      January 31, 2022 at 11:13 am

      Hallo Brian ,
      I am from Belgium .
      Your site Active Melody is great !
      Should that be possible you add the tab’s to this song ?
      Kind regards
      Geert

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  2. Michael Allen says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Thanks Brian.  I love the Bo Diddly beat and any lesson that allows me to learn different rythm patterns

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  3. maradonagol says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    always excellent…….thanks!

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  4. Rock Star Daddy says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Wow Brian, I was looking back , believe it or not just last night and was playing your rhythm lesson from May of 2010 of Bo Diddley. I was really surprised to see this one today. I really like this style.
    Thanks,  Jim

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  5. reggie185 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Great Lesson Brian ….. The backing track sounds so good,  I was wondering if you created it with real instruments or if it’s generated from samples

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  6. Leep says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Very nice lesson. Are you deadening the high E string with your pinky finger when you hit the deadened strums? And are you playing that high E on the E and A chords?

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  7. lost says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    I Was just checking out the older Bo Diddly lesson of yours yesterday. surprised to see rock star daddy did also. What a trip? Really like these rhythm lessons. My rhythm needs work.

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  8. gudwill says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    You’re the first download teacher that (1) sounds so good and (2) makes me feel that I can do it. You have a great approach and I’m actually going out and using (and building on) your demonstrations at ‘open stage’ nights.

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  9. Rockinson says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    This lesson brought a big ole grin on my face! Fun, fun, fun!!

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  10. orient2k says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Brilliant as always.  Many thanks Brian.

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  11. Bri-UKLefty says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    I just had a great fun half hour and also learn your lessons at the same time. This was a real quickie with rhythm and I just came on from playing with your Wind Cries Mary, so an extra unplanned win. Great learning style and I will also go platinum by end this week, whey hey!

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  12. Bri-UKLefty says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Sorry getting carried away on last post, but you do get enthusiastic working with your lessons; I got mixed up and your premium membership will feel like platinum LOL!

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  13. Micky51 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Always wanted to play this, Brian., Now I can ! One of those riffs that just feels right. Many thanks.

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  14. sena g says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    It would be interesting to see how it looked lesson about JJ Cale

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  15. A. Minor says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Perfect timing lesson for nailing the fill licks between the riff. Just what I need. Thank you, Brian, and digging that Tele.

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  16. Lovell42 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Super little Ditty.  You are really added to my ability and I enjoy the way you teach.
    Jerry

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  17. Chirp says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Another great one! The last 2 were keepers. I almost have the drop D one mastered. Well as mastered as I’m going to get it anyway,

    I have to ask though, in the Bo Diddley song…

    Where’s the slide? I was like on the seat of my chair waiting for the slide part.

    Maybe it’s just me. Was anybody else waiting for the slide part the first time you listened? It’s probably me….

    Still great lively selection!

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  18. doug.balch@gmail.com says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    The riffs on Part2 are just great.  This is going to be a blast to learn.  Great balance of making it easy to play, yet challenging us with new (yet still familiar from pat lesson) stuff.

    And please keep talking about the major and minor scales.  One day I will get it and it won’t make my head hurt anymore.

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  19. Benny's got the blues says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Totally awesome Brian.

    I can’t wait to start playing it!!!!!

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  20. CliffordLance says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Brian, you do an excellent job of trying to put up lessons for everybody. Not an easy thing to do, but you do a fine job. I love your lessons and keep up the great work!

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  21. Ugly Eyes Bradley says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Thanks a bunch for this lesson, I am loving the different rhythm / lead or call and response lessons. The Winter Blues was great, and I am really wanting to get this one down, but for now I am stuck with an acoustic guitar, and when I try to practice the rhythm part I have so many notes ringing out that the rhythm gets lost. I was just wondering if there were any tips for those of us who want to rock this on an acoustic?

    Thanks again.

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  22. tommc says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    thanks for another good lesson.  Another fun element to play with this style is to add a tremolo pedal with the speed set to match the tempo of the track.

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  23. papajohn66 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Great lesson.  Any chance of getting a look at Johnny Winter style?

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  24. T. Frolicker says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Brian,
    This old duck (mid-70’s) is enjoying your guitar instruction as much as anything (almost) I have ever done in my life. You are a great teacher, and that Bo Diddley approach has opened up a great many variations to play on it in the same rhythm. Terrific stuff!

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  25. jeannot18 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Excellent as always. I am struggling with the E on the 7th fret and the D on the 5th fret. Any tip/suggestion to get that chord right?
    J

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  26. T. Frolicker says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    hey, jeannot 18,

    Very easy: bar the seventh fret and lay your third finger over these three strings: the B string, the G string, and the D string. Don’t strum the high E or the low E, so you will bend that third finger over those three strings.

    That’s a moveable chord, so when you bar the first fret and lay down your ring finger on the third fret, you are playing a B-flat. Move everything up one fret, and it’s a B, up one more is a C, and so on all the way up the neck.

    Have fun.

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  27. jeannot18 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Thanks Frolicker, I don’t think I made myself clear in my initial post. What I meant is i know where my fingers are supposed to go, but when I play the chord it does not sound clear. When I play a F chord for example, my barred finger frets the string really well, because i can turn slight my first finger on its side. But what the E or D, i can’t turn my first finger and then use my third finger (or pinky as well) to barre the second part of the chord. I know it is probably down to practice, but my question was, shall i position my finger(s) in a specific way in order to achieve a very clear chord,
    PS: I have started a post in the beginner forum if you want to reply
    J

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  28. seasick shaun says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Love all of these lessons with rhythm and lead. Sound great without a backing track too, so can play them anywhere and sound like I really know what I’m doing.  Thanks man, keep em coming your making me look good.

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  29. mikeanders says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Wonderful! I often play the riff in the Key of F. Sometimes I will capo the first fret and use the same or similar fingerings you did in the key of E, and other times I will play in F without the capo. It all depends on how I feel at the moment. I also find myself doing different things with the soloing and flourishes when I play it in E or in F. I have no idea why that is!  I have even played the same riff in the key of A. I get inspired each time and explore new musical notions here and there. Again, great lesson!

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  30. trapper42 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Fantastic lesson Brian !  Really appreciate your teaching style.

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  31. mikeanders says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    I am so glad I have a year round subscription! These little gems appear brightly in the night!

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  32. MickOrbit says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Groovy, nice.

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  33. Bri-UKLefty says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Hey I just got back into this lesson after moving between this, Winter Acoustic Blues and Lightnin’ Hopkins lessons; then just nailed the play along tracks!
    It’s great when the lessons are fun, then you realise how much you’ve learned and finally surprise yourself by keeping in time……………great!
    UK Bri

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  34. jahlins says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Enjoying this style rhythm its a great lesson,keep up the good work Brian

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  35. KajustheCat says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Great lesson! Been mostly practicing ‘single note’ riffs/licks and this really opens up ideas to strumming with chords and is really working out the call-and-response playing.

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  36. Scottbike57 says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Brian just love this, always wanted to learn this style of rock and roll……………hoping you will do more of this, great stuff mate, thanking you 🙂
    Regards
    Kim (Australia)

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  37. DAVID WILLIAMS says

    August 17, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    BRIAN,I REALY LIKE THIS ONE.WELL I LIKE THEM ALL BUT THIS ONE IS SORTA SPECIAL. THANK YOU

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  38. Nema B says

    January 25, 2016 at 11:34 pm

    I’m a new member, this si by far my favorite lesson…so far

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  39. Marty V says

    June 3, 2017 at 6:40 am

    Way to take all the mystery out of Bo Diddley’s magic, Brian

    (in other words….thanks!)

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  40. Neal L says

    July 12, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    Brian;
    Love the Bo Diddley beat. I have one question though ; how does he do that long walk down the neck after the E-D riff. I think it makes it SUPER COOL
    THANKS

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  41. Thomas M says

    April 10, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    Like it? Loved it!

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  42. Adam B says

    August 19, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    I was working on the ‘slow dark blues’ lesson – which I loved, but it had taken me to a dark place – I used this to get me out again.

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  43. David S says

    September 30, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    Brian, Found this one looking around.This was popular when I was teenager.Love the lesson on it. Love It , Love It, Love It!!!!

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  44. steve T says

    August 14, 2023 at 6:57 pm

    this is great Brian.

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