Jason Isbell: My Life In Five Riffs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- A pair of Grammy awards underscores Jason Isbell’s reputation as a singer/songwriter, but his latest album, "The Nashville Sound" [X5 Music Group], also finds him flexing his 6-string strengths. Along the way to mastering his mix of melody, ferocity, and restraint, Isbell’s journey intersected some serious guitar techniques. Here are the five riffs that changed his life...
It’s unfair that a guy who is such a great songwriter and poet can also be such a great guitar player.
One of the greatest singer songwriters/ performers of the day. A truly talented dude.
Facts
6:38 "let me see if I can remember it." *proceeds to play every note perfectly*
I imagine well practiced guitarists get to a point where their fingers know more than they can remember
Easily in the top 3 greatest songwriters of this generation
Agreed
Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, Ray Lamontagne, etc.
John Moreland too
Just nobody knows him...
I've noticed that anyone that knows jason isbell knows John.
I absolutely agree. To be completely honest with you I've been listing to him for well over 10 years now and I've tried and tried to find a better singer/song writer but I just can't. He remains number 1 out of em all in my opinion. His songs, for me at least, have changed meaning over the years and I feel that is just one of SEVERAL talents that this man has.
For a guy that is pretty dang good at playing the guitar in several different genres, he’s extremely humble, acknowledging that he considers many better than himself.
Very modest for one of the best singer -songwriters in the industry today!
Honestly, he's the most underrated singer/songwriter of his generation. I saw him and his band live, and not many bands can go up on stage and pull off what they do.
Amy Grohman but they should not go electric dagonit
I got to open for this guy a few years ago. I've always loved his playing and music...but until you hear this guy perform live your truly missing out. Live bands should strive to be as polished as Isbell and his band.
TheSonicSolution just saw him last night in Huntsville. His vocals are strong as hell.
Saw him last month in Auckland. Was familiar with his music but kind of got dragged along expecting to be countryed....Jesus H Christ they rocked the venue to its foundations. Blistering!! Isbells guitar chops are unreal but his partner in crime (whos name I forget) was incredible. Heaviest country band on the planet!!
Daverlb I believe it's Sadler Vaden. He's wicked good.
@@jacobbeaty6997 Yes, its Sadler Vaden. I saw him December of 2016 i believe in Oklahoma. Him and Sadler went back and forth for probably 5-8 minutes doing kind of a dueling guitars kinds of thing. Absolutely shredded. Insane rock and roll badassery.
@@caribou2636 just seen him Tuesday at the Ryman and they did a similar thing on Never Gonna Change, and finished the show on Little Wing. It was absolutely phenomenal.
Just once, if like to make it through an Isbell concert without tears pouring down my cheeks from the sheer beauty of his music. It’s embarrassing.
@@TechGuy-sv3pt You’ve obviously not seen an Isbell concert: They’re joyous. The tears are from the beauty of the music-not from sadness. You’re an idiot, tough guy.
+1000000 for the David Lindley shout out. Tremendous musician. Great record.
Wow, and namechecks one of my heroes, the King of Polyester, David Lindley. DL’s work with Jackson Browne laid down a blueprint for lap and pedal steel in the rock/pop/folk contexts that has been unsurpassed since, although Sadler Vader and Jason pay wonderful respect in songs like 24 Frames. And the humility of Jason as he acknowledges the influences that brought him to where he is.....
Lucky enough to have seen him live in Australia, and have the set list to prove it. So glad I saw him play.
Along with Sturgill Simpson my favourite songwriter of this decade.
After watching this I’m torn between giving my guitars away and trying harder to be better.
Eric Tilley keep on trucking
Try harder to be better. You’ll regret it if you stop.
Do you like playing by yourself, like he's saying? If so then why not . . .
I feel your pain.
take away the expectations and just enjoy playing for the sake of playing. You'll get there. If you don't enjoy it and just want the result you're playing the wrong instrument.
Cool to see him wearing a cains ballroom shirt. I remember watching him and the 400 unit in 2009 on the side stage there, maybe 50 people at the show, now he’s playing the arena down the street. It’s been really cool to see him and the band get so big.
I love this so much....Jason is one of the best young talents these days and it so great to see him keep these names alive....I really love that he mentions Steve Gains......Most people dont know about him, Steve had only just begun his career and played on only one Lynard Skynard album and then died in the plane crash......Steve would have been right up there with Clapton, Page, Hendrix......there is no doubt ---Even Ronnie Van Zant knew there would be no way to hold that guy back, and that he would end up being a huge star on his own.
North Chas 2017 my bday gift from my wife saved my life seeing you JI. owe you one Brother. You took 4 deployments overseas off the brain for those 2 hrs.
Be good man
Representing Tulsa with that Cain's Ballroom T shirt! 👍🏻. Caught him there a couple times myself! 😁
5:44 has made me an Isbell fan for life
One of my favourite singer songwriters and great guitarist too.
Jesus man.
So interesting to get some insight on his approach, techniques and influences.
So not only is he a killer song writer lyrically, he also is a fantastic guitarist.
Wow...
Continuing to blow my mind.
Right the f on Jason.
RIP David Lindley always loved Jason giving a shout-out in this video
Jason is an awesome person. Singer and guitar player! Love his work!
Amazing writer and player. Love his work.
Isbell =====> blowing my damn mind every time. He is an incredible singer/songwriter. An incredible guitarist. A student of music and a lifelong lover of guitar music. When I consider that we are roughly the same age.....wow. Just wow.
I don’t care what style Jason plays a song as long as he continues to write such deep, reflective songs. He is, in my opinion - the James Taylor of my generation. But what do I know? I’m just another songwriter.
Jason: let me see if I remember how to do it..
followed by perfection.
Much respect Jason and thank you for the exceptional music!
Such an authentic and humble soul.
One of the greatest American musicians living today
Wow, just thought he was a great songwriter. Of course he learned the riffs he grew up with like we all did. I underestimated his guitar playing as it was overshadowed by his incredible songwriting. Good problem to have. You are the man, Jason Isbell.
Love Jason Isbell, i'm from a little town called Fort Payne, Alabama, A little known town, only one other country group has come from there lol. Anyhow, I love hearing another Alabamian that is so talented and such a great singer songwriter.
High class dude. Remember seeing him for free at hardley strictly in 2014. Great showman
Was driving home the other night and Running on Empty came on the radio and I was thinking what a great slide solo ,that growl with the Dynamics takes me to a place!Much like Jason's slide work growling and in your face.Awesome song writer!And he's right about Flat Picken you better bring some bacon grease LOL !
Wow, not sure what to really say about such an honest and open interview. He covered everything and took credit for nothing but the love of playing guitar. Humble Pie? Maybe, seemed that way to me. The clerk sacking your groceries it the nail on the head. There are so many Talented people out there who will never get the chance to shine because they don't have the name and or the money behind them. I am not one of them.... I just always loved playing and having a good time with music. The greatest thing about the internet is finding great talent.
This is probably a stupid thing to say, but I can never understand how a singer/songwriter/guitarist manages all the chord progressions along with the vocals. It seems like a monumental task.
Love Isbell... "Thought I had a good handle on bluegrass flatpicking when I moved to Nashville..." LOL
My absolute favorite guitar player. And songwriter.
What a well rounded player. He can do it all.
Love watching Jason play, especially slide. The fact Amanda had that guitar built for him shows just how perfect they are for each other!
Damn, now I want to hear him and the 400 unit play Running on Empty...
Great insight to a soulful player/artist. Dig how he really nails Lindsey’s lap sound on the ‘Strat’
and on a Coodercaster !
He has a lap steel pickup in that Stratocaster
Lindley :-)
Love the Gretch
Superb. Love the Running on Empty solo - I always thought it's in E so I learned something!
24 Frames totally makes sense once you hear play Jackson Browne
My goodness, this young man is talented!
Fantastic! Thanks Jason!
Unbelievable talent. Unmatched. But...you woke my dog when you were hitting those notes in the last minute 😄. Can't wait to see you in Cinci on July 18th!
Oooh Jason...so great to here. I am an airline pilot believe it or not. But I always take my guitar with me to hotels. Now I am blessed with a good voice but not so much playing. This is stimulating. Thank you, great words. I know you hate bar chords too... keep on picking and I do very much so doing that alternating bass and I am getting fairly good. I almost rock, but not like you, not yet. The sign of a realy good song is when you dont feel like something is missing when you play it on just an acoustic guitar tbh.
Jason, your music and style is timeless and true! Glad to see you look so much healthier now. Traveling alone is my all time favorite. Thank you!
I have a whole new respect for Mr. Isabel.
As a beginner fan I got caught up in the story tellin songs which is special indeed but this video proves that the basics of love of roots of music of where it comes from of who it comes from of where it might go......proves.....there is hope despite the billion dollar radio.
I know a little is an all-time favorite of mine!
I'm proud to remind people, Steve Gaines was from Oklahoma...💯👋😎
So good.
An awesome singer songwriter and 🎸 player...
"Let me see if I can remember it."
*Proceeds to fucking shred*
Love this...
So damn good! Thanks for sharing your talent and hard work.
Living Legend
When I heard "I Know A Little" by Skynyrd, I flipped out! Thought that was the coolest guitar riffs I'd ever heard! Wonderful stuff here!
Guy Spangenberg I recognized immediately as a long time skynyrd fan I’m just now discovering this guy as I don’t listen to much country anymore but love a great storyteller in the same vein as Springsteen Neil Young Seger
That was seriously great.
Yes that was really awesome, playing gtar for about 12 yrs off and on ive been starting to get into these styles,
Yes! I Know a Little. My favorite Lynyrd song from guitars. I've never tried to play it either.
This was great! I love artists who actually can play and the guitar isn't just a prop...cool guitar he uses for slide! No idea what it is...?
His slide guitar is a custom shop fender strat with a headstock overlay.He has a rig rundown video out now where he talks about it.
“ I never was good like my uncle, but let’s try it”.... blows the original away!!
Very cool to say Steve Gaines was a Monster player, always felt Very cheated to not get even 2 more years (Albums) to see where he’d have taken it... Thanks Jase!!
So it was a lapsteel on Running on Empty. I always overlook lapsteels in rock songs. Now what was the Amp. Because that thing is like crawling out of the speakers good tone.
I see a collaboration with Cortez in the future, hopefully!
Well, that’s impressive. I know less than nothing about guitar playing. Jason obviously has a PhD born of experience. Amazing.
Legend!
Jason is a product of those who choose to be real.
Getting that pick to work with the other fingers is a trick.
Couldn’t tell you one song this guy has written. That said, this is an awesome video and I will now check out his stuff
TheHeroicDoses you are in for a treat my friend. Check out “dress blues” “outfit” “cigarettes and wine” and go from there. All of his stuff with the 400 unit is sublime, truly.
You're in for a treat.
Damn, I wish I was you. I need something to get excited about. Is there someone out there similar that maybe I haven't heard of?
Nick Kyler
Tyler Childers? Sturgill Simpson? Chris Stapleton?
Thanks, I've never heard Tyler Childers.
Nobody else alive can nail I Know A Little like that. Holy shit.
So fuckin good
awesome
Jason is sucha fuggin hero. forget guitar. think music.
He is fucking great.
Big time talent right there
10 People must call what they're wearin' an outfit.
Finally created an account, just to say this comment made my day.
16 of those dipshits now!
Can't leave the house... all their cars are broke.
also they have no friends since they tell shitty jokes
@@ldwalker1493 The phones are down and it's his sister's birthday...
"Lemme see if I can remember this..." uh ya you sure did.
As a guy who plays guitar myself (not to be confused with a guitar player), I really appreciate the videos that show the player's hands. I know what the dude looks like...I want to watch him play. Love the video...disappointed in the camera angles.
Scott Bittner Yep, this. It's a common problem unfortunately.
The way he played Cortez the Killer reminds me a lot of Children of Children, you can tell it influenced him.
Dylan Lowers I thought the same!!
I kept hearing Goddamn Lonely Love
If you watch the footage close, there is a spec on the cameras sensor. Right side middle. It’s in like every frame- can’t unsee that 😂😂 (camera nerd)
kinda sounds like "25 frames" may have in part came out of "bells of St Mary"
That kids got a future I’m tellin ya
Dope shirt
I can relate
2:20 we can all relate lol
Fuck dude, you are so talented. Or you practiced so much, Awesome.
I know a little
I know a little 'bout it
I know a little 'bout g'tar
And baby I can guess the rest
ever
'
Sounds good to me.
Legit. Any one playing Chet...legit.
Cain's Ballroom!!!
fuck i really need to buy a martin
The rythom and melody at the same time came from the Carter family from a long time ago. The carter family before Johnny Cash ever came around had one of the best guitar players ever and SHE played rythom and the melody at the same time.
Yeah but the difference is that Maybelle Carter played melody in the bass and travis picking is playing the melody on the treble strings.
Neil Young plays 'Cortez the Killer' in Drop-D 6th string. The Em chord needs the 2nd fret/6th string to make the low E and when he goes to the D with the open 6th string, it goes "bwoooaarrgh".
Or, his guitar might have been out-of-tune...
@@12milesnorthalabama39 no sir. It goes bwoooargh.
Children of Children is child of Cortez.
It doesn't get much better than the Cortez from WSP 4/28/02.
I doubt any grocery store cashier is a better picker than him lol. I get the point though
this paradoxically makes me want to play for 20 hours straight, or to shoot myself b/c I suck so bad. Is that wrong?
Good lord, this man could lose his vocal chords, forget how to write songs, lose all his money & you bet your ass he still won't ever have to worry about finding a job with that kind of talent, hell of a lead guitar player but to throw in slide & Travis picking (sort of) I guess it's more hybrid but still quite impressive
I just bought the Jason Isbell Fender Telecaster and I thought it was so cool, now I here him against Jason Aldean's "Small Town" we lived through this horrific pain of watching our City's burn for nothing, people losing everything and he stands with the lot against Jason Aldean. I hope I can sell my new fender Isbell Tele before it becomes as worthless as he is now.
1
21 people are kinda weird.
Everyone’s strap falls off.