Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Chuck Berry Solo Guitar Lesson – EP060

Description

Chuck Berry is most famous for his double string solos – giving him a much fatter tone and more of a rhythmic quality. This lesson is full of Chuck Berry style double string solo licks which I hope you will learn and incorporate them into your own playing. Also, a great video to watch is called “Hail Hail Rock N Roll” which has Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Robert Cray, and Chuck playing Chuck Berry songs – a must watch for guitar players!

Part 1

Part 2

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Slow Walk Through

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Comments

  9. konk says

    Very cool! This must be telepathy! Yesterday night, when I was lying in my bed, Iwas thinking “it would be nice if Brian gave us a Chuck Berry-style lesson”!

  11. Soundbottoms says

    +1 Chuck Berry licks.  This can be applied to so many other songs.  It’s great.
    And thanks again for the “Slow Walk Through” clips.  They are perfect for refreshers.

  12. MikeG60 says

    Brian, Great lesson, lotta fun. But I think there’s something missing from the TABs,

    It’s in Part 2,where you walk down with the double stops in Bars 28 & 29 and get to the licks in the E Chord part. ———There’s no Tabs for those ‘E Chord Licks’ you do in the Video, they should be in Bar 30 but they’re not, that Bar has a Hammer On, Open strings, and an A Chord——-
    I replayed this section of the video a few times while following the Tab print out and I just don’t see the licks in the TAB.

    Can you double check this?
    Thanks

  13. DerekBlue says

    Finally!  I’ve always wanted to learn how to play Chuck Berry style double stops, but have never run across a decent lesson.  This was perfect.  Thanks Brian.  You let me kill another weekend on the couch.  I’ll never get those chores done!

    Hey MikeG60 - I used to get really hung up on the TAB being perfect.  I understand if you are a good/fast TAB reader that it can be a little frustrating when there are errors.  Based on some of the errors I’ve found (not many), I think Brian plays into TAB software and quickly proofs it.  I can’t imagine how long it would take to TAB these lessons out by hand. He cranks these lessons out one a week.  Bottom line is that the Blues isn’t a perfect science for sure, so the minor errors aren’t really that important.  I’ve learned to accept them and to play each piece with my own little variation (close but not exact).  That will help you put your own style stamp on things.

    Man, my hand is sore today!

  15. doug.balch@gmail.com says

    Can we do a Chuck Berry series?  How about a “in the style of” Brown Eyed Handsome Man?

    Love BTF also, but was a little put off that the black band member called his cousin “Chuck” so he could hear a white guy teach him how to play guitar.  Was the other way around, right?

  17. MJR1164 says

    Great timing again, Brian.  The BBC aired a show about the Guitar Riff on Friday and it suddenly occurred to me that I don’t know any Chuck Berry stuff (per se), so thanks for this.

    MIKE

  18. DerekBlue says

    BTW….“Hail Hail Rock N Roll” is available on YouTube.  It’s broken into parts, but it’s al there!  Very entertaining for sure.  Chuck was a bit onry, but I suppose it fits his legendary personality.

  19. Lance says

    This is terrific!  I love the Chuck Berry/Keith Richards/Bo Diddley stuff, dropping these dirty-sounding riffs and fills in between playing rhythm parts.  The Claption and Knopfler lessons are great, too, but for sheer bad-assery this is tough to beat.

    Brian, one minor suggestion: from watching your lessons, I know you don’t like to dive too deep into theory, but I think it might help a little with a lot of these great double-stop lessons you’ve put up recently.  The first thing I’ve been doing on most of them is figuring out “okay…this is in A major…he’s playing the root on the 1st string with the major 3rd on the 3rd string…then goes up 2 frets to the II note on the 1st string and since it’s a major scale he harmonizes with the minor 3rd on the 3rd string…”, etc.  It helps me to understand why you are doing what you’re doing. Not sure if others agree or disagree.

  21. mikeanders says

    I can see where focusing more on music theory might assist some people. I suspect that is because that is how they think about music. Theoretically.

    I agree it would be intellectually fascinating to see a music theory analysis of Chuck Berry’s work. I believe there is already some academic research in that area already. Even more challenging would be an in depth analysis John Lee Hooker’s entire body of work. It could provide the basis for a exceedingly ambitious Ph.D. thesis. For me, entertaining to be sure, but not very likely to improve the performance of their music. Not a criticism, just an observation.

  22. Retired Picker says

    Brian,
    I want to agree with Lance on his comment about adding some theory in your lessons.  That would really help those of us like to delve into music theory. 
    As always, keep,up the wonderful lessons you are providing us.

  23. lanndroo says

    Brian,
    I have to agree with Lance regarding music theory, but with a caveat…..
    I don’t think it is necessary to get too deep into the nuts and bolts of it, but a little bit of simplified theory would, in my opinion, greatly enhance not just this lesson but all of your lessons.  For example:  the barring of the 2nd and 3rd string at the 7th fret then hammering onto the 8th fret on the 3rd string is classic going from the minor 3rd to the major 3rd.  The beauty of describing it this way is that it is “movable”.  It works for any chord.  In G, you bar the same 2 strings on the third fret and hammer to the 4th fret on the 3rd string; in A it happens on the 5th fret; in C it happens on the 8th. Once it was explained to me in this manner a whole new universe opened up for me.  I no longer concentrated on this string and that fret and the process became more automatic.  I am sorry to get so long winded, but I saw this as an opportunity to help other guitarists the same way I was helped.

  24. Retired Picker says

    Hear, hear for Lanndroo.  Again, not a criticism, just something to kick around.
    Thanks for providing this forum for us to talk with you, Brian!

  26. Cor Kleijn says

    Thanks a lot Brian for these lessons! For over thirthy years i want to play Chuck Berry style, and thanks to you, now i can! The only thing is, when I’m in my bed trying to get some sleep, these licks keep going through my head….;)

  27. Sunjamr says

    Awesome lesson - I’m having great fun with it (after 2 weeks of practice).  There seems to be one tab error which briefly gave me some grief:  In tab 33 (5th tab from the end) for the 4th pair of notes it’s shown as 7,7 on strings 2 & 3, but I think you’re playing 9,9 on strings 3 & 4.  Once I figured that out, it all fell into place.

  31. Val Starr says

    Finally got the first half of this lesson worked out.  But for the life of me I still have trouble starting off with the backing track, can’t seem to come in on time, though when I play with Brian I can get the start okay.  I will preserve.  The problem with me is, I’m enjoying this so much that I’m learning three different lessons at once to break the pattern a bit. 

    Val Starr
    Canberra Australia

  32. scotty117 says

    Hi Brian, does the riff start immediately with the backing track or is there a lead in or count off of a few measure? Thanks an love the lesson…..scott

  33. jboy says

    Another beauty…i love the way you break down the riffs into small bites…and then put them in the “library”…ever since I started doing that , my playing really started to take off. …0

  34. lloydatt says

    As a 69 year old man who has lived during the Chuck Berry days, I now am beginning my journey as a new guitar player and these Chuck Berry lessons are great.

  37. paul s says

    Brian great lesson really enjoyed watching this one just curious that the tab says it goes to an F sharp the 5 chord in the key of B but it looks like you’re just playing an E chord and never go to the 5 is that correct?

  39. Peter B says

    Just caught up with this one now….Brilliant lesson, as always….but I also am having a bit of difficulty coming in at the right moment with the backing track. Any help would be useful.

    Have tried for years to get to grips with Chuck Berry double stops, but – (once again!) – Brian , you make it so easy to follow.

    THANK YOU.

  43. drlknstein says

    I have been back here several times since I started taking your lessons and now finally after several years under your tutelage I am able to get these licks down to where it sounds alot like it is supposed to…..when i first took this lesson- I wasnt even close..so I ve come a long way! so- thanks…
    this to me is the best lesson ever. just love it
    thanks

  44. Kevin N says

    PURE GENIUS arrangement. Totally nails the Chuck Berry solo style with licks that can be used in other stuff all over the place. Thanks for making this so EASY and accessible. Nothing like this anywhere else on the Web.

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