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Willie Nelson style guitar lesson – EP263

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, I’ll show you how to play several classic Willie Nelson style guitar licks. These licks all connect back to basic chord shapes so that you can play them in any key and incorporate them into your own playing.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. ranja says

    June 29, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    Great idea! Hard to keep up with all the lessons, but this one hits home.
    Thanks
    Ranja

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  2. Paul D says

    June 29, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Sweet sounding tune with lots of takeaways. Great lesson as always. Thanks Brian

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  3. jlg says

    June 29, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    Awesome lesson about a guitarist that is so good at everything that his guitar playing is sometimes overlooked. Kind of like Paul Simon. Hey maybe consider doing a Paul Simon lesson.
    Thank you.

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  4. JoLa says

    June 29, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    Another week, another sweet and wholesome lesson with must-know licks! It just can’t get any better, thank you, maestro!

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  5. San Luis Rey says

    June 29, 2018 at 9:42 pm

    Can’t wait to get on the road again with this one!

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  6. Tremelow says

    June 30, 2018 at 1:06 am

    Thanks for this one, Brian. I was hoping for a Willie Nelson lesson after you recently hinted at it. Jumps right to the top of my list. And again, lots of take-aways for me,

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  7. japie says

    June 30, 2018 at 3:13 am

    Thank you for this beautiful lesson!

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  8. JohnStrat says

    June 30, 2018 at 3:27 am

    Brian what an instrucive lesson this is and as ever a great piece to master.

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  9. Wayne B says

    June 30, 2018 at 6:30 am

    Hi Brian thanks for this lesson it really touches the soul

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  10. Will T says

    June 30, 2018 at 6:44 am

    Another great lesson. I have always been a Willie Nelson fan. He has a very distinct sound, and you nailed it. And thanks for explaining the sus2 and sus4 and the ascending and descending runs

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  11. Jim M says

    June 30, 2018 at 7:31 am

    “Roll me up and smoke me when I die” Thanks Willie and Brian.

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  12. Tom S says

    June 30, 2018 at 8:31 am

    Another excellent chord tone soloing lesson! I’ve always wondered how Willie gets his style of playing that sounds so good,
    now I know. Thanks Brian.

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  13. Raymond P says

    June 30, 2018 at 9:13 am

    Thanks Brian

    Great lesson. Great take-a-ways

    Ray P

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  14. kmdub44 says

    June 30, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    Wow! I love this one. Thanks.

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  15. Bobs Ultra-339 Electric Guitar Level 2 Vintage Sun says

    June 30, 2018 at 9:08 pm

    Thanks for a good look at one of the best Musician’s of our time.

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  16. kenny says

    July 1, 2018 at 3:03 am

    Ive never really rated Willie,but I really like this one as a sweet easy melody to play. Good work mate.

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  17. Wallace N says

    July 1, 2018 at 8:02 am

    Ok TONS of information—you’re the Sensai. Maybe teach the entire passage first, then do all the embellishments. The second part verbal was overwhelming. All the detours into where I could go was akin to you playing one chord of arpeggios on top of another on top of another. At about 5 minutes, it’s just all noise. Finally at the end you just finished the passage. Thankfully there was the slow groove clip too.

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    • James G says

      July 12, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      What do you know!!!!

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  18. sciencefiction says

    July 1, 2018 at 9:04 am

    Beautiful! It does sound exactly like Willie Nelson.
    Larry

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  19. sunjamr says

    July 1, 2018 at 3:46 pm

    Who could not enjoy the sound of those licks? I had visions of Willie Nelson in my head while listening to this lesson.

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  20. sunburst says

    July 2, 2018 at 10:09 am

    Hello Brian, this is very quality lesson , I hear you about Willi timing,, great tutorial !also, I noticed your thumb nail on you picking hand is positioned ( paralleled with the strings) hence the term “flat picking” on acoustic especially to get the acoustic strings to ring full and the best tone out of the string rather than as the angled diagonal sweep so many sweep picking shredders are practicing.. You should maybe elaborate more about holding the pick for flat picking these country acoustic tunes..as it does make a big difference and you demonstrate it here not sure if you explained it yet, pardon me if you have demonstrated different picking techniques.. anyways, enjoying this now in side too hot outside here in new jersey(air quality is one of the worst here in the country so are the taxes )lol

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  21. drlknstein says

    July 2, 2018 at 5:09 pm

    great lesson..with excellent info….thanks fro the micro lesson on pattern 5!. in part 2…………I didnt know it was so easy>>>

    HAPPY 4TH

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  22. Ian C says

    July 3, 2018 at 4:54 am

    Thank you Brian. You bring so much to enrich the lives of we budding, would be, guitarists and I guess you could feel quite alone at your end without feedback…’is anybody there?’ Well I for one am and look forward to your lessons every week. This is another great one, thanks again Brian, all the best to you.

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  23. Mehmet Erol G says

    July 3, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    At the beginning of this lesson I was’nt too convinced but after having followed both parts. I realised never to judge the book by it’s cover !!
    A very percuasive lesson, indeed;
    Thanks so much Brian.

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  24. Mehmet Erol G says

    July 3, 2018 at 1:39 pm

    Oh yeah; Happy 4th of July my American fellow music students, out there…
    & dont forget; Happy picking !

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  25. Steven m says

    July 3, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Another great lesson but I think the numbering of the “bars or measures” is a bit
    misleading. Structure wise this is a 12 bar blues. The first tabbed “bar” is leading
    us to ” bar 1 of a 12 bar structure. The E to A chord change normally takes place at
    the 5th bar and the B7 enters at 9th bar. I think its important to see the 12 bar blues
    map being followed. Those basic changes should become almost part of muscle
    memory I think.

    I chose to subscribe to you because your examples are so exceptional. Chalk up
    another one!

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  26. Spencer C says

    July 3, 2018 at 6:10 pm

    Lovely lesson, one that I know I can nail.. thanks very much Brian..
    Spence.

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  27. [email protected] says

    July 3, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    Thank you, Brian!! Your lessons are SO helpful – even for a novice like me … I cannot thank you enough!!

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    • James R says

      September 27, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      Great lesson and a good place to extrapolate from

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  28. Nick P says

    July 4, 2018 at 3:28 am

    Great lesson as always Brian – you’re getting a lot of bend on your strings which really adds to the feel of the piece. Can I ask what gauge strings you have on that super little guitar? I want to change my Taylor GS Mini to something more suitable.

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    • Brian says

      July 4, 2018 at 9:53 am

      Hey Nick, those strings are D’Addario .012 – .053 – EXP Coated

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  29. John E says

    July 4, 2018 at 4:21 am

    Great lesson as always, full of useful info

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  30. Paul M says

    July 4, 2018 at 4:52 am

    Brian, you have an extraordinary gift, which, fortunately, you are sharing with us. Thank you again.

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  31. Elijah J says

    July 4, 2018 at 6:40 am

    I totally love this. Awesome tutorial, thanks so much Brian.

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  32. Bill E says

    July 4, 2018 at 7:21 am

    Brian,

    My subscription is about to end. Will I be notified ? I want to continue as a member .

    Bill. [email protected]

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    • Brian says

      July 4, 2018 at 9:42 am

      Bill, unless your card has expired, it will automatically renew.

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  33. MYRX says

    July 4, 2018 at 7:53 am

    Another good one. First chance I have had in my busy schedule to review lessons in two weeks. This will be fun to learn on the 4th will grilling and chilling.

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  34. kevin m says

    July 4, 2018 at 8:10 am

    Thanks Brian,

    Another great lesson!! It is great to see others expressing the same sentiments about your skill
    that I feel. The week rolls around to fast to absorb all the great lessons..

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  35. randybiggers says

    July 5, 2018 at 9:08 am

    Another over the top lesson. I so admire your dedication and love that you have for what you do. Thanks once more for another great lesson. Happy belated 4th.

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  36. Luca P says

    July 5, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    I can’t find the word to express how wonderful this stuff is. It would take me 500 pages to explain why this is so awesome. Not even difficult, just awesome. Perfect, it brings tears to my eyes when I hear it and I can’t believe how well explained it all is. Thank you, I want a whole website of this kind of stuff.

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  37. Islamujeres says

    July 5, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    Chord shapes! Huge leap ahead for me! Screw the lawn..

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  38. Michael says

    July 5, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    Fun. Good job going to country roots music. It should be noted that your tutorials might sound disjointed to some because the jam track with the backing chords makes your embellishments and transitions make sense. But hearing them without the chord in the background makes getting lost easier. JMHO.

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  39. Jarl N says

    July 6, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    Fantastic lesson: so many takeaways, and such great integration of lead/chord work. I’m just learning to play again (decades of neglect), and your lessons are the greatest motivator ever. Believe it or not, this lesson resonated with an indie-rock song I heard being recorded, and I may just apply what you taught to that, for the fun of it (self entertainment only):). Your lessons work across styles.

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  40. Douglas N says

    July 8, 2018 at 4:54 pm

    great licks…explained in a way i can understand….are you Danish?

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  41. Michael H says

    July 8, 2018 at 10:10 pm

    Great lessons, I just can’t seem to get past the first part. The second parts always freeze. Any suggestions?
    Michael

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  42. Karl-Wilhelm S says

    July 11, 2018 at 9:45 am

    Hi Brian,
    I am writing from Germany. So I may be wrong in “wording” now and then.
    I love your lessons.
    But can you leave a Little space/time at the beginning of your playing Videos?!
    Sometimes my Setup like Computer + Speakers Need at least 4 seconds to join in on the Audio.
    So please dont start your Videos/playing at the first half of a second!
    Just a minor complaint.
    Keep up the good work you do, I learn a lot!
    Thankx

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  43. Scott B says

    July 17, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    Great lesson, one of my favorites

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  44. Frank A says

    July 25, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    Great little lead! I have found many useful licks..thank you.

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  45. Colonel Z says

    July 28, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    Most excellent Brian…I’ve been long waiting for you to do some Willie. Now, how about a Merle classic or two…may he RIP!!

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  46. Blind Lemon M says

    December 3, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Hi, I would like to see this part lesson expanded into a full lesson with the rest of the tune. I know this is not supposed to be Blue Eyes… per se but it is really and I would like to know how to get back into the routine strumming after the solo as well as other little bits and pieces. I know its the “easy” part thats missing but just the solo isnt enough to play the song (or a song) Just my 2 dimes worth.

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  47. Charlie S says

    January 16, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    I agree with the comment: it hit my soul! Is your interpretation “Like Willy” or is it based on one of his songs?

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  48. jack h says

    February 20, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Found this site–and joined as a premium member–because of the Willie Nelson lesson and it’s one of the best lessons I’ve found on line. Very well done.

    Would like to see more on Willie as well as the same type lessons on Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Gordon Lightfoot.

    Enjoying the lesson and happy to join the site.

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  49. Anthony H says

    October 24, 2019 at 9:20 am

    Now I understand a bit more about the Sus2 and Sus4 theory. I never get tired of you explaining how to use scales, chord positions, roots etc., you can repeat it over and over in every lesson, as it really helps my understanding. This is a lovely little composition and I have enjoyed learning it.

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  50. Tim N says

    November 14, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    Hi Brian, love the Willie style lesson and would really like more like this. I read somewhere Willie is a big fan of Django Rheinhardt, I think you can see that in his style. Thanks for all the great information and explaining everything so well. Cheers from Australia!

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  51. Peter B says

    December 14, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    Love that sound its just beautiful!

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