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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Video Tablature Breakdown
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ranja says
Great idea! Hard to keep up with all the lessons, but this one hits home.
Thanks
Ranja
Paul D says
Sweet sounding tune with lots of takeaways. Great lesson as always. Thanks Brian
jlg says
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.
JoLa says
Another week, another sweet and wholesome lesson with must-know licks! It just can’t get any better, thank you, maestro!
San Luis Rey says
Can’t wait to get on the road again with this one!
Tremelow says
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,
japie says
Thank you for this beautiful lesson!
JohnStrat says
Brian what an instrucive lesson this is and as ever a great piece to master.
Wayne B says
Hi Brian thanks for this lesson it really touches the soul
Will T says
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
Jim M says
“Roll me up and smoke me when I die” Thanks Willie and Brian.
Tom S says
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.
Raymond P says
Thanks Brian
Great lesson. Great take-a-ways
Ray P
kmdub44 says
Wow! I love this one. Thanks.
Bobs Ultra-339 Electric Guitar Level 2 Vintage Sun says
Thanks for a good look at one of the best Musician’s of our time.
kenny says
Ive never really rated Willie,but I really like this one as a sweet easy melody to play. Good work mate.
Wallace N says
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.
James G says
What do you know!!!!
sciencefiction says
Beautiful! It does sound exactly like Willie Nelson.
Larry
sunjamr says
Who could not enjoy the sound of those licks? I had visions of Willie Nelson in my head while listening to this lesson.
sunburst says
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
drlknstein says
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
Ian C says
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.
Mehmet Erol G says
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.
Mehmet Erol G says
Oh yeah; Happy 4th of July my American fellow music students, out there…
& dont forget; Happy picking !
Steven m says
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!
Spencer C says
Lovely lesson, one that I know I can nail.. thanks very much Brian..
Spence.
rbtfreeman@mac.com says
Thank you, Brian!! Your lessons are SO helpful – even for a novice like me … I cannot thank you enough!!
James R says
Great lesson and a good place to extrapolate from
Nick P says
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.
Brian says
Hey Nick, those strings are D’Addario .012 – .053 – EXP Coated
John E says
Great lesson as always, full of useful info
Paul M says
Brian, you have an extraordinary gift, which, fortunately, you are sharing with us. Thank you again.
Elijah J says
I totally love this. Awesome tutorial, thanks so much Brian.
Bill E says
Brian,
My subscription is about to end. Will I be notified ? I want to continue as a member .
Bill. Billedman79@gmail.com
Brian says
Bill, unless your card has expired, it will automatically renew.
MYRX says
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.
kevin m says
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..
randybiggers says
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.
Luca P says
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.
Islamujeres says
Chord shapes! Huge leap ahead for me! Screw the lawn..
Michael says
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.
Jarl N says
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.
Douglas N says
great licks…explained in a way i can understand….are you Danish?
Michael H says
Great lessons, I just can’t seem to get past the first part. The second parts always freeze. Any suggestions?
Michael
Karl-Wilhelm S says
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
Scott B says
Great lesson, one of my favorites
Frank A says
Great little lead! I have found many useful licks..thank you.
Colonel Z says
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!!
Blind Lemon M says
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.
Charlie S says
I agree with the comment: it hit my soul! Is your interpretation “Like Willy” or is it based on one of his songs?
jack h says
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.
Anthony H says
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.
Tim N says
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!
Peter B says
Love that sound its just beautiful!
Greg S says
Ok new subscriber and so far really like this but have a question relative to the full screen tabs. All have the wrong fret numbers!!?? Lesson ep263 what am i missing?
Greg S says
never mind somehow when i reloaded they were correct!!??
bob c says
i recently changed my credit card. what do i need yo do to ensureehat my subscri9ption is valid?
Curtis S says
I’m enjoying this lesson. It’s challenging for me but something worth working on. I love Willy’s sound and Brian is a great teacher.