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Wilson Pickett – Stax era Guitar Lesson – EP077

Description

I had a recent request from an ActiveMelody site member for a Wilson Picket style guitar lesson and so after thinking about it, I realized this could be a fun one to work up. I listened to a lot of those Stax recordings, classics like Midnight Hour, and Mustang Sally and pulled out several guitar licks and compiled them into this composition. This would sound even better with a horn section!

Part 1

Part 2

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Comments

  1. Brian says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Live

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  2. GnLguy says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals - some of the greatest music of our life time came from those recordings. Thanks for doing this lesson and any lesson in this style will be A-OK with me.

    Interestingly, it was Duane’s solo at the end of Wilson Picket’s version of Hey Jude that caught Clapton’s ear and paved the way to their meeting and recording the Layla album.

    Keith

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  3. raywilson says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Brian, Ray here, Great Lesson! Just wish I had an electric guitar so I could get that last part. Oh well one day, still a great style and you are a great teacher!

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  4. Michael Allen says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Thanks Brian.  It’s fun and informative.  Keep up the great work.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.  I’m sure a lot of people share my feelings of being thankful for you and everything you do for us

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  5. MJR1164 says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    I notice a nod towards this in there too:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXkS8ay6HVc

    Except he plays it in E.  I’d been working on that so thanks again.

    MIKE

    PS:  Next time Lawrence Jones tours the States, check him out.  Very Talented young man and a nice person.

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  6. MJR1164 says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    That was a lot of fun, Brian.  Had me boogieing around the living room. 

    Thanks for cheering up a wet miserable November afternoon.

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  7. doug.balch@gmail.com says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Another keeper!

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  8. cwyatt says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    When you get to the Cropper double stop run does that follow the key of G? I have always wondered this when playing some Country runs etc but only know a few rhythms where I can do them so question is: Double stop runs such as the one in this section, do they only follow the key you’re in (above G)? Or could it be in C major as well since its key of G?

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  9. Brian says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    @cwyatt - Great question.  You can actually do it either way.  Since the song is in the key of G, I could have done the same thing in the key of G and it would have worked.  You also have the option to do it in the key that the chord is (while that chord is being played in the song), which is what I did in this one as you pointed out (key of C).

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  10. Micky51 says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Hi Brian. Somehow I knew you would have a cat. Mine runs away whenever I pick up my guitar! Anyway great cat and cool lesson. Cheers.

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  11. randybiggers says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Hey Brain you are the best. Another great lesson. Have a great Thanksgiving. I would love to see a video of you playing with a band.

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  12. vivek.govil says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    That was a lot of fun..thank you

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  13. A. Minor says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Dig the fact that you introduce me to some of the more subtle players/contributors in music history. Never knew the Stax Records story until your Steve Cropper lesson, and now this. Brian, you never disappoint. Just checked out the Hey Jude with Duane—thanks for that suggestion!

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  14. DKB says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Thank You Brian,  this melody will be used with great pride to beef up everything I play acoustic ,electric, blues and rock folk, jazz, and of course country. Your lessons are very versital. You are starting to remind me of Sam Clemmons. Your music, as did Mr. Twain’s stories, say so much,on so many levels..and guide us on so many paths.. Have a nice thanksgiving!

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  15. Jimmybond says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Another brilliant lesson…. added to the list! Still working on EP069 dat rhythm be tricking me. lol Iwould

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  16. Jimmybond says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    … like to know of any chord progressions you guys would recommend for just bashing away on?

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  17. musiclover says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Yeah great lesson Brian. Great driving track and even got me interested in some of the theory as unfortunately I treat theory like doing exercise! Saying that I realize a basic understanding goes a long way.
    Cheers and thanks for your always patient hands on clear teaching!

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  18. josesolis says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    great lesson Brian , you make it so easy and fun..

     

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  19. Arturoman says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    More Alfie!

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  20. Kevin GA says

    November 22, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Thanks Brian - you are why I never get anything done on my days off! Going to give my son a subscription to your site for Christmas - he’s a beginner and I reckon he won’t get a better start to playing the guitar…

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    • JohnStrat says

      October 31, 2015 at 7:25 pm

      Hi Brian I had made a mental note of this lesson some time back and had not revisited it until now. Well this is one hell of good lesson. I revisited it because of Alfie but now I m going to get this one down. Ive got a crude version of the rhythm and will work on that to smooth it out, just what I need, I really like this sound its happy and gutsy cant wait to get the whole together .

      Kevin I totally agree with you. Brian really has created a tremendous web site. I haven’t seen anything to beat it; I’ve nearly completed a year of premium membership and I don’t feel any inclination to look elsewhere. If I get to the the stage where I can play any thing like the standard presented here I shall be a happy bunny. Your present will be a real gift and I’m sure it will bear fruit if your son is keen. I cant see that the tools made available here to learn with can be much improved upon. And plus as Brian says we seem to have a great community in Active Melody!

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  21. Paul S says

    December 5, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Cool cat 🙂

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  22. Charles S says

    January 31, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    love this, last year I couldn’t approach this lesson. This year feeling much more confident
    I circled back and got it under my fingers !

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  23. Elad L says

    September 29, 2022 at 2:31 am

    Great lesson Brian. It’s all coming together. Thank you.

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