Dude was just fucking around in a random tuning at age 21 and wrote a guitar part that still stands out as brilliant more than 40 years later. Truly a rare kind of guitar genius.
Loads of people are really creative and imaginative at a young age. Start playing guitar early and you’ve then got the technical ability to go along with it also.
Certainly a genius. Sure, he had technical ability, but he also had the ability to conceive something so timeless and the drive to repeat the process again and again. He was blessed.
I could so easily watch an entire series of "Johnny Marr teaches ..." What a great and down to earth legend. Fender and Mr Marr, please please please let me get what I want.
There is a restrained, uniquely British quality to his playing: its not flashy, its tastesful and eloquent, much more difficult than it sounds. Smiths were absolutely incredible: ever lp was a masterpiece
Yup and although I grew up in the states i have european parents and i think that sensibility was natural to me also as a budding guitarist in the late 80s and early 90s. While other american guitarists were buying Guitar magazine to learn how to 'shred' like Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen, I was using my ear to learn how to play like Marr and Robert Smith.
A riff like this in an alternate tuning would be groundbreaking even by todays standards and the fact he wrote this stuff in the 80s at such a young age is crazy. Johnny Marr is the king of melody and is such a great underrated guitar player.
@@walshstu1 No they aint. There are some insanely talented players around now but you probably wont hear of them as they are pretty obscure from the mainstream
@@uv77mc85 Cause the music they make is ass, you can be technically skilled like Polyphia but you also have to be talented at making catchy melodies like Van Halen
@@PinkFloyd1965hard disagree. van halen would never take off in today’s scene in any context. the bar for technicality and songwriting has gone way up in rock. boomers like to complain that rock is dead and the glory days are over but i believe rock is more sonically diverse, unique, and tasteful than ever before edit: the smiths, more specifically johnny marr’s style, is timeless and sounds just as fresh as it did in the 80’s
Such a remarkable musician! A truly brilliant guitarist who made his mark without relying on predictable / expected "guitar hero" lead solos. Johnny completely turned that formula on its head and came up with something so much more interesting and necessary. His guitar playing was infinitely more unique and creative than anything 99% of his contemporaries were offering. And still is to this day.
Totally agree: I look to this guy and his melodic/creative sensibilities much more than the "look at my smokin' hot solo" (...yawn...) guys from the same era.
I can hear Rourke's thunderous bassline pounding along with this. Mr. Marr.... You are a legend. One of the main reasons I ever picked up a guitar to play,
Hi All , one evening last summer my friend Heidi and I had the great pleasure of working with Johnny at one of his tour dates in Hull. During the evening he came over and personally thanked us for coming along to work with him,and chatted with us for a while . You wouldn't get that from most superstars , which is what Johnny Marr is in the true sense . Not only is he a genius, but true royalty, and a top human being . Thanks for the music Johnny 🤩.
Hearing it isolated really helps you understand the genius of the Smiths. Brilliant guitars and songwriting. I tried singing along and it just made me more impressed. No clue how Morrissey picked out the vocal melody that fits the guitars like a glove (no pun intended, hand in glove).
He has never, ever, sounded like anyone else. That is a very rare thing in a musician, particularly a rock guitarist. Even when he completely lifted chord sequences, as he did with T. Rex at least twice, it still sounded like the Smiths. One of the greats, old Johnny.
Been loving Johnnys Instagram stories of him chilling in his garden answering questions. Rock on out there people, play that song you said you couldn't and get something out of being stuck in your house.
As a melodic guitarist myself, I really Love this guys sound. His signature arpeggios with some open chords and weird jazz shapes. Throw some chorus and reverb over that and you’ve got yourself some of the most melancholy 80s riffs you’ve ever heard! Fun fact about Johnny Marr though, he is HEAVILY inspired by 1960s MoTown, Blues, and American Rock N Roll artists like Bo Didley. Wicked guitarist 🤘🏽 😎 🤘🏽
Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Waters-Gilmour, Page-Plant, and Marr-Morrissey is up there among the finest songwriting partnerships to ever exist in rock music!
@@maulanabayugallagher noel wrote the songs alone, liam just sang them. liam isn't a great composer, and the only amazing thing he's ever written is i'm outta time
At the time, I was pretty young and didn't really understand how revolutionary this was until much later. I'm really happy he took to TH-cam to show us just how revolutionary it really was.
I don't have a musical bone in my body, but I know what I like to hear, and I like to hear Johnny Marr play guitar. So clean. I'm old enough to have been around and listening to the Smith's during their time, bought everything. and time went on and they became "That great band from way back when" until recently, when I sought out Mr. Marr to see what he was up to, and boy am I glad that I did. Having a big old Smiths/Marr party in my brain.
Mr. Marr, you’ve taken great care of yourself and we appreciate it. Still the great guitarist I saw in 1986. Thanks so much for these songs. I would not have made it without them
A few days back I saw Buster Keaton's early work on TH-cam (1900's silent movies) and you can just tell he saw things differently... it seemed like there was another gear to his consciousness Johnny Marr is to music what Buster Keaton was to early cinema!
Born cool, ladies and gents the one, the only Johnny Marr, guitar god , non smoking non drinking vegetarian, he is a guy in the know, looks well, playing as good as ever, thanks Johnny stay well my friend, just made my night.
I could just listen to Johnny Marr play all of his guitar parts he's written, without any vocals or other instruments of any kind, all day long. What an absolute genius!
I remember when Meat came out. I was already a Smiths fan, and just about every written article about them talked about how completely impossible it was to figure out Marr's arpeggiated parts. Well, while they are a bit difficult, I've got to say that with this video, I hammered it out quite respectably in just about an hours time. The key for me was the tuning--I had no idea! What a beautiful tune with easy and harder parts that were a good stretch for me. Thank you Mr. Marr and Fender for posting this! I would LOVE to see more Marr videos. His guitar parts are absolutely golden and perfect but dangit if it's hard to figure out exactly what he's doing without some help.
Beautiful guitar part ... was amazed to see Johnny Marr play this part while singing lead vocals last year at the Fillmore in SF. What a great all around lead man and performer! My favorite of his guitar arrangements.
Thank you, Johnny! This is the first Smiths song I ever heard. A girl I had a crush on told me she had something I had to hear and popped Meat is Murder into the cassette deck of her car. After ten seconds I was in love. With your music.
Reading through many of your comments heartens me, so many articulate music lovers coming together through love and appreciation for Johnny Marr. It's refreshing to see this thoughtful, appreciative commentary in light of what we are exposed to in so much of today's world! Bravo Johnny Marr, thanks for moving all of us, from the early days right on through now!
This was the first album I bought by The Smiths. I never stopped loving them ever since. I was lucky to meet Johnny, such a nice person. I so wish they got back together…😢
Just the sound of angels playing harps of gold in clouds of silver rain. *Saves to favourites*. Johnny, you make it look so effortless. Big love and gratitude.
When I got my first guitar I spent ages trying to play this in it's most basic form and it wasn't until about 20 years later that I found out it wasn't standard tuning !
How on Earth did he create this and all the other incredible Smiths masterpieces? What I admire is the simplicity in which he teaches such a complex song, to the point where I feel confident many guitar players around the world will be able to add this to their arsenal. Johnny Marr, you are a fucking Wizard.
Johnny Marr: Take your Jags and record only your guitar parts for every Smiths song and put on iTunes. I’ll buy every last one. I’m certain I’d be 1 of many thousands. Thank you for being the humble rock god you’ve always been 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I love the way Johnny describes what he's playing, not by rattling off chord names but by fret number! Just shows you, his genius is utterly natural, he doesn't even need to know what chords he's playing.
Wow! I never would've thought you could create such contrary and complex chords by using open E tuning. I'd always just associated it with blues and slide players. Brilliant! And what a generous and unassuming guy he is. Sharing his technique in detail like this with everyone. So refreshing to hear from a truly skilled guitarist with none of the "great guitarist" ego or posturing. Thanks for sharing your craft Johnny!
Johnny Marr was perhaps to modest to note that he was merely 21 yrs old when this song came out in Feb 1985, which means he was literally younger than I am now (b. 1997), oh well at least we're both October babies! Brilliant, melancholy, unique guitar on this song, don't think I've ever heard anything like it in rock, and I listen to ALOT of music.
Absolute Genius use of an open tuning. Makes sense now why it’s impossible to duplicate the sound and chording (without tuning to Open E Major chord tuning). Thank you Johnny and thank you Fender! My self isolation isn’t so bad after all!
There you go folks simple as that!! Haha, what a star, quite simple to follow when the master breaks it down for you to learn, but can anyone imagine being able to of written a song of that caliber at the age of 18/19 let alone just learning to play. It’s clear to me that Johnny’s sole purpose in life was to play guitar and entertain us.
So this pops up on my feed after 11 months and I think “why haven’t I seen this before”? Whatever you may think about The Smiths (and I’m a big fan) there is no doubt in my mind that Johnny created some of the most inventive guitar parts ever recorded. I think that may be due at least in part to his influences. I have read that he was influenced more by acoustic guitar players ( notably Bert Jansch) than other electric guitar players, and that shows, particularly in his frequent use of open strings. This is a no nonsense, theory free lesson from the creator of the music. If only more artists were like him, and shared freely....Respect!
Im a Londoner studying in Manchester. This riff instantly transports me to Piccadilly gardens, Oxford Road and those red brick houses that line the streets of the suburbs. Amazing city, one I'm happy to call my second home and definitely the home of the best English music
Not one of my fave Smiths songs, but I love how this goes to show that it's all about doing what is right for the song, to make the song great. You don't have to be fancy and complicated and a big show off. Thanks, Johnny. Really appreciate this!
Found myself singing along "belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools....". Thanks Johnny. You are a true gentleman. I grew up in Australia listening to The Smiths and admiring your jaguar guitars (aesthetically and sonically the BEST GUITAR Fender ever made [Sorry strat fan boys])
Please, Fender......More, more, more Johnny Marr! Keep it up enough and I'll finally break down and purchase a new Johnny Marr Jaguar from you. Fair enough?!
@@joecvar, I'm so tempted to finally pull the trigger. Though I have several guitars already, there's something about the Johnny Marr Jags that just makes them special. Until then, I'll keep banging out JM riffs on my modified Squier Jaguar and Rickenbacker 360.
I wish Johnny had a TH-cam channel where he’d play and teach everything he’s ever written.
I would pay for that!
His instagram has a bunch of tutorials lately. Finally instagram is good for something....
We can only be so lucky...
Nice if he did more even stuff he likes other than Smiths and his other work.
Check out anyonecanplayguitar. Adrian teaches some Smiths songs and he nails the details every time.
Dude was just fucking around in a random tuning at age 21 and wrote a guitar part that still stands out as brilliant more than 40 years later. Truly a rare kind of guitar genius.
How could a 21 year old come up with this!? Pure genius 🙌
By accident, and by all means...Not Thinking! Lol.
I think he began writing songs at 13 or something.
Loads of people are really creative and imaginative at a young age. Start playing guitar early and you’ve then got the technical ability to go along with it also.
Certainly a genius. Sure, he had technical ability, but he also had the ability to conceive something so timeless and the drive to repeat the process again and again. He was blessed.
@@paddyotoole2058 Millions of people started playing when they were young. How many of them reach Marr's potential. Let me guess. None.
When Johnny Marr says ‘this is the tricky bit’ you know you’re screwed!!
Hahaha yeah! 😁👍🏻😬
How true how true Johnny the true Swiss army knife off all that has 6 strings or jangles what a maestro he is.......
I could so easily watch an entire series of "Johnny Marr teaches ..." What a great and down to earth legend.
Fender and Mr Marr, please please please let me get what I want.
johnny marr teaches knife fighting! johnny marr teaches landscape painting! johnny marr teaches you to ask questions!
He teaches at Manchester music college i think
Nice reference thanks for giving me a good laugh 😂
There is a restrained, uniquely British quality to his playing: its not flashy, its tastesful and eloquent, much more difficult than it sounds. Smiths were absolutely incredible: ever lp was a masterpiece
Yup and although I grew up in the states i have european parents and i think that sensibility was natural to me also as a budding guitarist in the late 80s and early 90s. While other american guitarists were buying Guitar magazine to learn how to 'shred' like Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen, I was using my ear to learn how to play like Marr and Robert Smith.
@@HerveBoisde American mentality is bigger, louder, more distorted, fatter, more bold, blatant, powerful is better. It's not.
@@johnharvey4448 dumb generalization
It's a very unique style he has...that's why is hard to imitate, you can play like him but not in a genuine way
@@johnharvey4448 go listen to my bloody valentine and come back to tell us how stupid you are
Hey kids,
This bloke is a living legend. Seek him out.
I'm surprised it didn't say "Johnny Foohkin Marr Teaches The Headmaster Ritual"
Al pacino gallagher teaches us some morisey instrumental
Most everybody who clicked on this probably knows who it is, and couldn't click fast enough to get here. Like me.
Legend ( we’re not worthy we’re not worthy)🙇🏼
just discovered him last week and have been non stop binging his videos
"anyway, goes something like this..." then proceeds to play literally one of the most insane progressions of all time
Living legend
I was just thinking the same thing. “It’s easy, just do this…”. Yeah, ok. Lol
Now all we need is a series teaching every Smiths song
That would be Allison Bennett's channel...
Check out Allison Bennet's channel if you haven't already. Lots of really great breakdowns for several Smiths songs.
Stevoguitar is a good channel too for the Smiths and recent Johnny Marr songs
Used to be a channel/website called "smithsonguitar" that was exceptional for helping people find how to play literally all the Smiths songs
Nick E. IIIIIIIIIIII TOOK MY MY SHIRT OOOOOOOFFF, IN THE YARDDDDDD
A riff like this in an alternate tuning would be groundbreaking even by todays standards and the fact he wrote this stuff in the 80s at such a young age is crazy. Johnny Marr is the king of melody and is such a great underrated guitar player.
"...even by today's standards..." Today's standards are much lower than they were back then.
@@walshstu1 No they aint. There are some insanely talented players around now but you probably wont hear of them as they are pretty obscure from the mainstream
@@uv77mc85 Cause the music they make is ass, you can be technically skilled like Polyphia but you also have to be talented at making catchy melodies like Van Halen
Nobody underrates JM...
@@PinkFloyd1965hard disagree. van halen would never take off in today’s scene in any context. the bar for technicality and songwriting has gone way up in rock. boomers like to complain that rock is dead and the glory days are over but i believe rock is more sonically diverse, unique, and tasteful than ever before
edit: the smiths, more specifically johnny marr’s style, is timeless and sounds just as fresh as it did in the 80’s
One of the smartest move Fender ever did was to endorse this guy and his signature Jaguar is the best new Fender in recent times.
Best guitars I've owned
KO checking in here
@@pablochinito I miss my KO. My #1 is an LPB so life is still good.
Johnny's signature Jag is probably one of the most personalized guitars ever made
That b major type chord in the chorus is beautiful.
God of Guitar Melodies..
Boy, that little progression from 2:03 to 2:10 is extra heart-melting.
He played this as I was reading your comment, that progression gives me butterflies genuinely
@@Jackaboss8 its soooo good so moving - that chord at 2.11 breaks my heart
I was 12 when heard the Smiths for the first time. Today, at 46, Johnny Marr's wonderful guitar continues touching me deeply.
the same thing happens to me .generation 73 .cheers sista
Such a remarkable musician! A truly brilliant guitarist who made his mark without relying on predictable / expected "guitar hero" lead solos. Johnny completely turned that formula on its head and came up with something so much more interesting and necessary. His guitar playing was infinitely more unique and creative than anything 99% of his contemporaries were offering. And still is to this day.
Spot on!
Totally agree: I look to this guy and his melodic/creative sensibilities much more than the "look at my smokin' hot solo" (...yawn...) guys from the same era.
As a guitarist playing since the 80's, I 110% agree!! Play what sounds cool NOT what is technically hard.
I can hear Rourke's thunderous bassline pounding along with this.
Mr. Marr.... You are a legend. One of the main reasons I ever picked up a guitar to play,
Matt is freakin amazing but I believe The Smiths were a sum of all parts…the four guys together were magical 👍
Love the way Johnny is relaxed about it, if a note doesn't sound for a minor mistake he just doesn't care.
Hi All , one evening last summer my friend Heidi and I had the great pleasure of working with Johnny at one of his tour dates in Hull. During the evening he came over and personally thanked us for coming along to work with him,and chatted with us for a while .
You wouldn't get that from most superstars , which is what Johnny Marr is in the true sense . Not only is he a genius, but true royalty, and a top human being .
Thanks for the music Johnny 🤩.
Hearing it isolated really helps you understand the genius of the Smiths. Brilliant guitars and songwriting. I tried singing along and it just made me more impressed. No clue how Morrissey picked out the vocal melody that fits the guitars like a glove (no pun intended, hand in glove).
You are totally right. This song (among others) demonstrates the brilliance of their songwriting partnership.
He has never, ever, sounded like anyone else. That is a very rare thing in a musician, particularly a rock guitarist. Even when he completely lifted chord sequences, as he did with T. Rex at least twice, it still sounded like the Smiths. One of the greats, old Johnny.
What are the examples I’ve heard him mention t trex as influences a few times
The fact he wrote those songs before he was in his mid twenties to me is astonishing. Genius is used too often but for Marr it's quite appropriate.
How freaking lucky we are that this freaking genius spends the time to teach his own classic-Respect!!!
“This is about when we were younger”
Thom Yorke
But we didnt write it
Juan David Porras I think he knows that, hence why he’s finished the quote.
For the uninitiated: th-cam.com/video/LtmS2ePSSdU/w-d-xo.html
RH did a bang-up cover. Respect.
This song turned me into a die hard Radiohead fan lmao.
Been loving Johnnys Instagram stories of him chilling in his garden answering questions. Rock on out there people, play that song you said you couldn't and get something out of being stuck in your house.
Thanks man, did not know about that :D
How can some people dislike this legend teaching us his songs?
I can legit dead ass watch this for hours...
Absolute guitar legend and totally cool guy. His autobiography "Set the boy free" is a total must read. (you are welcome JM)
Reading it at the moment, it's brilliant.
Not an easy childhood and even being in a band made him a target for violence.
As a melodic guitarist myself, I really Love this guys sound. His signature arpeggios with some open chords and weird jazz shapes. Throw some chorus and reverb over that and you’ve got yourself some of the most melancholy 80s riffs you’ve ever heard!
Fun fact about Johnny Marr though, he is HEAVILY inspired by 1960s MoTown, Blues, and American Rock N Roll artists like Bo Didley. Wicked guitarist 🤘🏽 😎 🤘🏽
He makes it look so simple but as Noel Gallagher said " he's so good not even Johnny Marr can play Johnny Marr"
He's not even as good as he is.
Typically inane comment from that idiot.
TrainInVain what are you moaning about?
@@AnarchyGuy6 You upload clips from FIFA amigo. Maybe sit this one out.
@@sratus You got real pretty mouth friend xx
Who better to demonstrate than the man himself - on how how those songs that saved your lives - are played !!?? Cheers Johnny !! Much love. RXxxxxxxx.
What a beautifully sophisticated guitar arrangement.
You can see why many guitarists and songwriters admire Johnny Marr.
that refrain starting at 2.04 I could listen to all day
same!!! and the bass during that part in the song is amazing too
Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Waters-Gilmour, Page-Plant, and Marr-Morrissey is up there among the finest songwriting partnerships to ever exist in rock music!
Don't Forget LIAM-NOEL Gallaghers
@@maulanabayugallagher noel wrote the songs alone, liam just sang them. liam isn't a great composer, and the only amazing thing he's ever written is i'm outta time
Butler-Anderson too
Johnny you are a perfect example of a proper human being...you have never left your honesty behind.
You can hear Morrissey singing in your head
And that sick bass line!
Diazepam onononolalalayjeeeee
‘Hear my voice in your head and think of me kindly’
@@MrSJSweet Nicely done.
I hear him singing to car alarms in my head all the time
At the time, I was pretty young and didn't really understand how revolutionary this was until much later. I'm really happy he took to TH-cam to show us just how revolutionary it really was.
The most melodic riff producer this universe has ever produced
I don't have a musical bone in my body, but I know what I like to hear, and I like to hear Johnny Marr play guitar. So clean. I'm old enough to have been around and listening to the Smith's during their time, bought everything. and time went on and they became "That great band from way back when" until recently, when I sought out Mr. Marr to see what he was up to, and boy am I glad that I did. Having a big old Smiths/Marr party in my brain.
Mr. Marr, you’ve taken great care of yourself and we appreciate it. Still the great guitarist I saw in 1986. Thanks so much for these songs. I would not have made it without them
A few days back I saw Buster Keaton's early work on TH-cam (1900's silent movies) and you can just tell he saw things differently... it seemed like there was another gear to his consciousness Johnny Marr is to music what Buster Keaton was to early cinema!
brilliant progressions, arpeggios, riffs, and melodies all in one package. LEGEND.
Born cool, ladies and gents the one, the only Johnny Marr, guitar god , non smoking non drinking vegetarian, he is a guy in the know, looks well, playing as good as ever, thanks Johnny stay well my friend, just made my night.
He's a vegan
And did smoke
I could just listen to Johnny Marr play all of his guitar parts he's written, without any vocals or other instruments of any kind, all day long. What an absolute genius!
Marr is so underrated. One of the best.
🙌
I remember when Meat came out. I was already a Smiths fan, and just about every written article about them talked about how completely impossible it was to figure out Marr's arpeggiated parts. Well, while they are a bit difficult, I've got to say that with this video, I hammered it out quite respectably in just about an hours time. The key for me was the tuning--I had no idea! What a beautiful tune with easy and harder parts that were a good stretch for me. Thank you Mr. Marr and Fender for posting this! I would LOVE to see more Marr videos. His guitar parts are absolutely golden and perfect but dangit if it's hard to figure out exactly what he's doing without some help.
Beautiful guitar part ... was amazed to see Johnny Marr play this part while singing lead vocals last year at the Fillmore in SF. What a great all around lead man and performer! My favorite of his guitar arrangements.
Thank you, Johnny! This is the first Smiths song I ever heard. A girl I had a crush on told me she had something I had to hear and popped Meat is Murder into the cassette deck of her car. After ten seconds I was in love. With your music.
The greatest guitarist/songwriter of the 1980s..
Got chills watching this. Marr is still a god.
Unlike many Johnny Marr doesn’t disappoint when he speaks
This guy is an absolute legend, amazing guitarist, got a great voice too
Wow I’ve been waiting for years for Johnny to do something like this thanks Johnny Marr you guitar god
Man, just brought to tears seeing and hearing him play this beautiful timeless tune. I just can't get enough of this. That first chord is brilliant.
A quiet, pure genius this guy
The living legend, Johnny Marr
I met Johnny randomly in the street about 10 years ago. He stopped and talked and had the time. Game changing songwriter and top bloke too.
Such a beautifully rich hauntingly glorious tune! You are a treasure and a genius!
I can just hear the bass in my head as he played through.. RIP Andy.
Johnny is a legend, and so is Andy.
RIP The Smiths, gone but never forgotten.
And he seems so humble and down to earth. Gotta love this guy!
Gorgeous track and unreal how artistically mature he was when he wrote this at the ripe old age of 21.
This man's talent is insane
not really much to say here except......JOHNNY FOOKIN' MARR!!!!!!!!!!
the incomparable humble and astounding master.....
Reading through many of your comments heartens me, so many articulate music lovers coming together through love and appreciation for Johnny Marr. It's refreshing to see this thoughtful, appreciative commentary in light of what we are exposed to in so much of today's world! Bravo Johnny Marr, thanks for moving all of us, from the early days right on through now!
This was the first album I bought by The Smiths. I never stopped loving them ever since. I was lucky to meet Johnny, such a nice person. I so wish they got back together…😢
Johnny F’ing Marr is the best❤️✌🏻
Just the sound of angels playing harps of gold in clouds of silver rain. *Saves to favourites*. Johnny, you make it look so effortless. Big love and gratitude.
When I got my first guitar I spent ages trying to play this in it's most basic form and it wasn't until about 20 years later that I found out it wasn't standard tuning !
How on Earth did he create this and all the other incredible Smiths masterpieces? What I admire is the simplicity in which he teaches such a complex song, to the point where I feel confident many guitar players around the world will be able to add this to their arsenal. Johnny Marr, you are a fucking Wizard.
And what, at 19 yrs old?
I remember driving coastal hwy in LA…mid 80’s…listening to “Meat is Murder” on cassette in my car…every song was fantastic …ahh, good memories 😎
Johnny Marr: Take your Jags and record only your guitar parts for every Smiths song and put on iTunes. I’ll buy every last one. I’m certain I’d be 1 of many thousands. Thank you for being the humble rock god you’ve always been 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I love the way Johnny describes what he's playing, not by rattling off chord names but by fret number!
Just shows you, his genius is utterly natural, he doesn't even need to know what chords he's playing.
Loved the Smiths growing up. How does a human being even write a song like that on guitar!
Wow! I never would've thought you could create such contrary and complex chords by using open E tuning. I'd always just associated it with blues and slide players. Brilliant! And what a generous and unassuming guy he is. Sharing his technique in detail like this with everyone. So refreshing to hear from a truly skilled guitarist with none of the "great guitarist" ego or posturing. Thanks for sharing your craft Johnny!
Johnny Marr was perhaps to modest to note that he was merely 21 yrs old when this song came out in Feb 1985, which means he was literally younger than I am now (b. 1997), oh well at least we're both October babies! Brilliant, melancholy, unique guitar on this song, don't think I've ever heard anything like it in rock, and I listen to ALOT of music.
Sinist3rWolf so nice to hear this music is in safe hands. Regards, an old duffer.
One of the things that Marr's work with the Smiths so refreshing was that he tried to avoid blues rock cliches and the pentatonic minor scale
"Cleaners From Venus" ... If you're already familiar, then you know. And, if not, you're about to have a great afternoon.
modest was a good choice of word
Crazy isn’t it. Was tiktok age when he put down some of the most classic albums in existence
How can one man write so many killer riffs and melodies.. sent by God !!!
Absolute Genius use of an open tuning. Makes sense now why it’s impossible to duplicate the sound and chording (without tuning to Open E Major chord tuning). Thank you Johnny and thank you Fender! My self isolation isn’t so bad after all!
There you go folks simple as that!! Haha, what a star, quite simple to follow when the master breaks it down for you to learn, but can anyone imagine being able to of written a song of that caliber at the age of 18/19 let alone just learning to play. It’s clear to me that Johnny’s sole purpose in life was to play guitar and entertain us.
This song is sooo intricate I learned it, and then forgot it. Will learn it again, now.....
He’s the greatest guitarist to walk the entire earth
He's just too f**** good. It's such a pleasure to see him play, I could watch him all day. I'd love one for "New Town Velocity", maybe one day.
Johnny Marr he plays guitar. What a legend. Thanks to Fender for recognising his contribution to music -
"This is the chord ere" what a legend
Talk about someone who needs to have his own Instructional Guitar Video! Long time coming! Thanks Johnny and Fender!
joesofia Agreed. Like on of those Masterclass video lessons
TomM69 Absolutely.
Would never have worked it out without open tuning in a million years. What a man JM for giving away the Crown Jewels wonderful man
I learnt this yesterday, time to relearn using the legend himself
So this pops up on my feed after 11 months and I think “why haven’t I seen this before”? Whatever you may think about The Smiths (and I’m a big fan) there is no doubt in my mind that Johnny created some of the most inventive guitar parts ever recorded. I think that may be due at least in part to his influences. I have read that he was influenced more by acoustic guitar players ( notably Bert Jansch) than other electric guitar players, and that shows, particularly in his frequent use of open strings. This is a no nonsense, theory free lesson from the creator of the music. If only more artists were like him, and shared freely....Respect!
I love how he has to tremolo a chord even when he’s just demonstrating it alone. The guys a total nut for the right sound.
Johnny is easily in my top 3 favorite guitarists of all-time.
I think it was riff wise the best song musically that johnny marr wrote.
Im a Londoner studying in Manchester. This riff instantly transports me to Piccadilly gardens, Oxford Road and those red brick houses that line the streets of the suburbs. Amazing city, one I'm happy to call my second home and definitely the home of the best English music
Not one of my fave Smiths songs, but I love how this goes to show that it's all about doing what is right for the song, to make the song great. You don't have to be fancy and complicated and a big show off. Thanks, Johnny. Really appreciate this!
Oh Mother! Johnny Marr is teaching how to play his songs! I've waited half my life for this... If he does What Difference I will die and go to heaven.
Fender has the greatest community involvement. MAkes me wanna buy a fender even though I already have a G&l Strat.
Things you didn't know you needed until you got it. Thanks, Fender....love you, Marr ♡
Beautifully intelligent, thoughtful and emotional guitar playing
the arpeggio in the second half of each verse might be my favorite alternative guitar riff of all time!
Well done and thanks for sharing brother! Great to see and hear Johnny! Thanks Fender! Be Well All!
Johnny,the inventor of Britpop,IndiePop.Legend.thanks for this broadcast.
Found myself singing along "belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools....". Thanks Johnny. You are a true gentleman.
I grew up in Australia listening to The Smiths and admiring your jaguar guitars (aesthetically and sonically the BEST GUITAR Fender ever made [Sorry strat fan boys])
I feel like I’ve known Johnny Marr for years. His music has been a part of my life. And to think he wrote that riff back in the meat is murder days..
Please, Fender......More, more, more Johnny Marr! Keep it up enough and I'll finally break down and purchase a new Johnny Marr Jaguar from you. Fair enough?!
Scot Purdy I’ve had one for over a year now and I can’t keep my hands off of it! It is an amazing instrument, I touch it more than my wife😂✌🏻
@@joecvar, I'm so tempted to finally pull the trigger. Though I have several guitars already, there's something about the Johnny Marr Jags that just makes them special. Until then, I'll keep banging out JM riffs on my modified Squier Jaguar and Rickenbacker 360.
Please please please let us get more Johnny Marr teaches the smiths this time
If they keep posting Marr lessons, we’ll ALL BUY ONE! Sounds gorgeously unique, just like Johnny. #gratitude Thanks Johnny🙏