Why this riff is actually BRILLIANT! (BLUR)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ค. 2022
  • There's a little more to this riff than I thought! Let me show you why Song 2 by Blur is definitely an EPIC RIFF!
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  • @jwec9867
    @jwec9867 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3938

    The solo over the slowed down Song 2 sounded almost like Pink Floyd was doing a cover of it. (Specifically David Gilmour.) I'd love to get a full cover.

    • @BigEdWo
      @BigEdWo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

      it sounds completely awesome. does anyone know the trick how to set the delay? is there even a trick? tap tempo? i think i have never achieved such a nice tone yet.

    • @bronsoncarder2491
      @bronsoncarder2491 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      @@BigEdWo I'm no expert... But, from what I've seen in the past, the dotted eighth note delay is king. lol
      As for how specifically to dial that in... Not super sure. lol

    • @dcarpenter85
      @dcarpenter85 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Was just about to comment this same thing when I saw your commend haha. Totally felt the Gilmour vibes.

    • @jwec9867
      @jwec9867 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@BigEdWo Try the Andertons sound like Pink Floyd video. There may MAY be more than one. I'm not sure though. However, they could get you closer.

    • @discocat2500
      @discocat2500 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Haha that's exactly what I heard too!

  • @holistic_dan
    @holistic_dan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2203

    Can we just stop to appreciate how brilliantly researched, written and edited Paul’s videos are? Masterful.

    • @razmatazz9310
      @razmatazz9310 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      And then remember how shitty his titles are.

    • @garychisholm2174
      @garychisholm2174 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And so smooth.

    • @user-mj5zd3he8g
      @user-mj5zd3he8g ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I remember watching him way back when and have re-discovered him recently and so glad I have.

    • @johncollins5552
      @johncollins5552 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just when you think Paul can't get any better, he does 🎸
      I saw Blur play this in 1998 in Dublin and it was great but the crowd was weird full of young teenagers, the good thing was it was easy for me to walk through the crowd and see Graham with only 5 people in front of me, I think he noticed I was more into the few earlier songs than the kids who couldn't dance to anything that wasn't parklife! He digs into the older songs with more enthusiasm and looks real bored during parklife, he always uses a Rat for sure, it's not just for the song 2 video 😀

    • @superschmolz
      @superschmolz ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I sent his Top 80 video to my step-dad, his response, What a talent!

  • @jimsanger
    @jimsanger ปีที่แล้ว +284

    The biggest thing people miss is the distorted bass guitar which is a huge part of this track.
    As much as I love Graham, Alex is a very underrated bassist

    • @niceone1swe
      @niceone1swe 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      Alex writes about this in his book too, There's No Other Way

    • @nicolagenga3922
      @nicolagenga3922 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      When I used to play it with my band, 20 years ago, I just strummed an Ab chord (A shape with a bar at 11th fret) for the whole chorus, while the bass guitar did the distorted riff part. It sounded fine and close to the original.

    • @benfoster1018
      @benfoster1018 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      There's two bass guitars on the recording, if I'm not mistaken

    • @jimsanger
      @jimsanger 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @benfoster1018 Yeah I think you're right. One for the lows and one distorted and eq'd like a guitar

    • @The_Copper_Element_Itself
      @The_Copper_Element_Itself 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Yeah i felt a heavy chest pain as a begginer bassist when he mentioned "playing the GUITAR one octave down with distortion" for the sound

  • @petersavereux61
    @petersavereux61 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +65

    Graham Coxon has made so many off-the-wall unconventional, awesome riffs/solos/progressions. Awesome player and writer.

  • @Zzzeeetttaaa
    @Zzzeeetttaaa 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1615

    “Song 2’ was about the simplest thing we’ve ever done, and the quickest. Dave set up two drumkits and he and Graham played them both at the same time. The loud guitar in the chorus is actually a bass going through a home-made distortion box. The whole thing was done in about fifteen minutes.”
    "Bit of a Blur". Alex James

    • @lawyerbt
      @lawyerbt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +129

      That's what I always thought it was. I know the guitar was still playing in the chorus, but I felt that most of what I was hearing was the bass. Paul's video was helpful to fill in a few subtle things going on with the guitar, though.

    • @Durmomo0
      @Durmomo0 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I had always heard about the bass as well but I have no idea where I had heard it.

    • @holliswilliams8426
      @holliswilliams8426 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Alex seems like he would be unbearable.

    • @heter0flexual623
      @heter0flexual623 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      I KNEW IT WAS A BASS

    • @ArthurStephenHicks
      @ArthurStephenHicks 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I think I saw a recent interview with graham coxon where he said it was a bass through one of those battery powered marshall amps.

  • @scheggia
    @scheggia 2 ปีที่แล้ว +954

    Graham Coxon is one of the most underated genious of guitar: nothing as it seems with him, there's always a tricky, some spicy chords...

    • @PJBonoVox
      @PJBonoVox 2 ปีที่แล้ว +77

      The riffs in "there's no other way" deserve a video all of their own.

    • @dustystarr2297
      @dustystarr2297 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Absolutely!!!!

    • @ieatlegos
      @ieatlegos 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

      Him and Johnny Marr are in my supergroup of weirdo genius guitarists.

    • @Superdelphinus
      @Superdelphinus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      Charmless man next please :). Actually, parklife is another example of a deceptively simple blur riff that almost nobody plays properly

    • @alexkerr5804
      @alexkerr5804 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Blur - this is a low and blur - chemical world have great guitar work

  • @earlduffy
    @earlduffy ปีที่แล้ว +503

    Loved that solo you threw in there! Incredible!

    • @dhabu9017
      @dhabu9017 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Oh hell yeah; it was a great mini-example of what you can do over a good riff/progression. Enjoyed it, would be happy to see more of it or like it.

    • @keithhinchcliffe4377
      @keithhinchcliffe4377 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      He apologized; yet I was so disappointed he stopped.

    • @cobrasys
      @cobrasys ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I wish Paul would do a cover of Song 2 and add that solo at the end, it'd be epic.

    • @FIVEPANCAKES
      @FIVEPANCAKES ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Show off 🤣

    • @theshuriken
      @theshuriken ปีที่แล้ว +1

      nah it ruined the spirit of the joke and punk rock

  • @davlor86
    @davlor86 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +194

    I feel like Blur is such an underrated band, it’s not just song 2 their most amazing song, beetlebum, tender, girls and boys are absolutely bangers too

    • @pjhunton
      @pjhunton 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      I adore tender and again its another one that the little flourishes on the guitar really make it and it becomes so much more fiddly to play but Im slowly getting there. I remember now why I used to listen to them constantly while I was at college.

    • @TheLunarnotes
      @TheLunarnotes 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +39

      How are they underrated? They’re one of the most celebrated UK bands, they just played Wembley

    • @gman5218
      @gman5218 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      In the US maybe. In the rest world they been huge since early 90s. Same with Oasis Americans think everything started at wonderwall

    • @berndschreiber1167
      @berndschreiber1167 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      @@gman5218 Not being successfull in the USA, that's more of a compliment, isn't it.

    • @alexmacleod3728
      @alexmacleod3728 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Not in the UK they weren't

  • @Ben__David
    @Ben__David 2 ปีที่แล้ว +369

    6:08 for everyone who wants to hear that amazing solo again

    • @allc4ps
      @allc4ps 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      MVC for sure

    • @Superdelphinus
      @Superdelphinus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Unpopular opinion, but anyone plays solos like that over a coxon riff should be thrown in jail

    • @johnnyhammer
      @johnnyhammer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @@Superdelphinus You're absolutely right, that is unpopular!

    • @durv13
      @durv13 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      loved it .

    • @emremokoko
      @emremokoko 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I wonder if it was improv. :)

  • @ShallieDragon
    @ShallieDragon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +363

    Honestly, a lot what makes that riff hit so hard comes from the bass tone. The fuzz guitar mixes with the growly lows of the bass to make this giant wall of sound. It's one of those situations where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

    • @tomfrost2600
      @tomfrost2600 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      For the recording, Blur also used a bass guitar with a miniature guitar amp to get that explosive sound on the chorus. the mini-amps literally kept blowing up when trying to get that sound.

    • @01blaval
      @01blaval 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Exactly my thoughts. Def a bass with distortion there…

    • @Christopher-md7tf
      @Christopher-md7tf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Just wanted to write pretty much the same thing. You can try to get the riff to sound as massive as possible, and still, you'll never get there just with a guitar because the distorted bass drives the whole chorus and has the biggest part in the mix.

    • @Snandra66
      @Snandra66 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@tomfrost2600 I believe that's referring to the Come As You Are-esque bass overdub, the main bass track sounds pretty standard in depth and fullness while the "lead" bass has a really nasal quality to it that def sounds like a tiny practice amp like a Marshall MS-2

    • @tomfrost2600
      @tomfrost2600 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Snandra66 no it’s definitely song 2. I literally used to play in a band with Graham’s nephew - he told me that’s what they did to get that sound.
      Had the pleasure of meeting Graham too, lovely bloke

  • @poppat22
    @poppat22 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Graham Coxon was a genius. I especially like the guitar part of 'There's No Other Way'.

    • @trystandavies2469
      @trystandavies2469 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      such a cool song to play on guitar. Chemical World is another one

    • @warlockboyburns
      @warlockboyburns 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      RIP Graham Coxon

    • @randomcringeyyoutuber6750
      @randomcringeyyoutuber6750 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      ​@@warlockboyburnsGraham Coxon is still alive, dude

  • @AquarianAgeApostle
    @AquarianAgeApostle ปีที่แล้ว +77

    Alex James's understated distorted bass underlining the riff that bridges the tune to the outro is what really puts this tune into the next level. For me Alex James is possibly one of the greatest bass player ever. Being able to make beautifully crafted melodies, while maintaining a stand out air tight rhythm section is a rarity for bass players in a 4 piece electric analogue music band. Only a few come to mind, and Alex James is one of them. Coxon is a fantastic guitarist too. Him, John Squires and Johnny Marr are the best of the late 80s and early 90s British popular music scene.

    • @janetstreet7264
      @janetstreet7264 ปีที่แล้ว

      I completely agree with you!

    • @deletebilderberg
      @deletebilderberg 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Stephen Street was responsible for the bass effect.

  • @jameshamilton5703
    @jameshamilton5703 2 ปีที่แล้ว +217

    The guitar part on Boys and Girls is great as well. The way it comes in halfway through the first verse is genius

    • @no-rq7fp
      @no-rq7fp ปีที่แล้ว +15

      man Blur is so underrated it's a shame most people can only think of this song when asked abt them

    • @Cosmopavone
      @Cosmopavone ปีที่แล้ว +11

      ​@@no-rq7fp Blur is underrated only in Usa

    • @fellamilad
      @fellamilad 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@no-rq7fp I certainly don't think of 'Boys and Girls'!

  • @wilbertcook5076
    @wilbertcook5076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +87

    The slow down solo version….MAN THAT SOUNDS AWESOME

  • @jacobgutierrez864
    @jacobgutierrez864 2 ปีที่แล้ว +90

    I absolutely love Blur, I might not have picked up an electric guitar if it wasn't for Graham Coxon

    • @comedyfish
      @comedyfish ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Agree him and Adam Devlin made me learn guitar at uni

  • @saultfry501
    @saultfry501 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    Blur is a bunch of musical geniuses put together.

  • @chrisbauman2562
    @chrisbauman2562 2 ปีที่แล้ว +190

    Such a sick song. The two note power chords played on the higher register of the guitar is so unique. Normally ppl don't play chords or riffs up high,more first or second position. My older brother use to rock this song on a fender twin and a squier, awesome memories

    • @boejudden9011
      @boejudden9011 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Post punk bands: *Am I a Killing Joke to you?*

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@boejudden9011 AHHH HAHAHAH! NICE 1!

    • @night_fiend6326
      @night_fiend6326 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Heaps of Post Punk, Gothrock and Datkwave bands do that. It is just usually with a lot of delay, reverb, flange and chorus.

  • @liquidsofa
    @liquidsofa 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Song 2 is a song that spoke to me instantaneously. It commanded my attention from the first moment I heard it. Sometimes a song comes along that just hits you like a crossbow bolt.

  • @crundi
    @crundi ปีที่แล้ว +24

    I read somewhere that Blur used a Lovetone Big Cheese fuzz pedal for a number of their tracks. Lovely pedals.

  • @cesarv2804
    @cesarv2804 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Man turned a Blur joke into a Pink Floyd epic.

    • @jj9749
      @jj9749 3 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Turned a blur epic into a pink Floyd joke

  • @martinavizcomm
    @martinavizcomm 2 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    6:09-6:33 was just beast!! Do some more looped soloing like that please!! Absolutely loved it!!

  • @adamhammond6390
    @adamhammond6390 2 ปีที่แล้ว +196

    This is great!
    As a teenager in the late 90s we covered this and luckily had 2 guitar players.
    Distorted bass took care of the low end with one guitar playing the (inverted) power chords and the second guitar playing the A flat pedal note. It sounded epic!
    All the tabs missed this!

    • @memento4940
      @memento4940 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Lies 😂

    • @illwill9396
      @illwill9396 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Prove it buddy

    • @LUR1FAX
      @LUR1FAX ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, I tend to stay away from tabs unless there's some chord or part of the song that I can't figure out by ear. For solos I find that watching people play them is helpful if I can't figure them out.

    • @CottidaeSEA
      @CottidaeSEA ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@LUR1FAX Yeah, some tabs are decent, but holy shit do they miss stuff at times, and some are just blatantly incorrect.
      Then there's also the lack of time signature, poor representation of various notes, etc.
      Then there are some who have actual music notation with tabs along with them, those are usually better. They can still be wildly incorrect, but at the very least provide more crucial details that basic tabs miss.

  • @BadObsessionMotorsport
    @BadObsessionMotorsport 2 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    Terrific video Paul. Your little solo sounded awesome.

    • @JamesChurchill3
      @JamesChurchill3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A BOM comment here? Who let you two out of the shed?

  • @THIRTYONEFILMS
    @THIRTYONEFILMS ปีที่แล้ว +13

    The most enjoyable music theory and breakdowns on the internet. I'm always smiling ear to ear. Lovely work

    • @janetstreet7264
      @janetstreet7264 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I really respect Rick Beato, as well.

  • @reicollaku9311
    @reicollaku9311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    I listened to that solo like 10 times already. I would love if he did a cover of this song.

  • @jeantimmermans9516
    @jeantimmermans9516 2 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    we really need a full version of that solo! love it

    • @redmed10
      @redmed10 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Sometimes less is more.

  • @asmrvirgin
    @asmrvirgin ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Paul, I've been following your Channel for a couple of years now. Those almost 3M... fokin well rocking deserved, man! Hat´s off! 👏 ✊

  • @ArtIsMySin19
    @ArtIsMySin19 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    So much fun breaking down iconic songs like this. I've heard some of these parts but actually learning the chords with their appropriate names and the layering it all together it's so satisfying :) plus no need to apologize for that incredible solo on top of an iconic riff

  • @clyntonbreen906
    @clyntonbreen906 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I also liked the chords in their song Coffee & TV. Very complex sound, very cool.

  • @HMcQ7891
    @HMcQ7891 2 ปีที่แล้ว +90

    Graham Coxon is an alien guitar genius. The licks for tracks like "Charmless Man" & "Chemical World" are puzzleboxes for your fingers.

    • @peteskyrunner4845
      @peteskyrunner4845 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Agreed. Love his style. I got a Blur song book years ago as a present and learnt Charmless Man, such a great song to play with all the tricky bends and hammer ons/pull offs.

    • @luisduarte9020
      @luisduarte9020 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Charmless Man is one of the "seems so simple but there's so much here" best guitar tracks ever...

    • @aikighost
      @aikighost 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Love his solo albums. So much little known greatness in there.

    • @FCB-ez4fl
      @FCB-ez4fl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I really like Blur but often felt the musical style restricted him. He would have been great in an indie band.

    • @luisduarte9020
      @luisduarte9020 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@FCB-ez4fl slightly disagree, "blur" and 13 were experimental, and with those two they got out of the britpop category and (at least for me) proved their worth as a band. And, seeing how think thank turned out, I think that shift in the musical direction was guided by Graham

  • @StinkyWizzleTits
    @StinkyWizzleTits ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I always liked the way Charmless Man by Blur was written. The whole song is the same kind of elaborate guitar part but played twice. So if you learn the guitar part and then play it twice, that's the whole song. Im sure theres more going on but thats the way I hear it.

    • @Official_KC
      @Official_KC ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Charmless Man is one of the best showcases of how Graham Coxon's brain works. Never in a million years would I have thought of that guitar part of the piano melody. He's extremely underrated in the guitar world, I gotta say.

  • @KIllerOfBacon
    @KIllerOfBacon ปีที่แล้ว +8

    This is why Graham Coxon is one of my favorite under rated guitarists. His noodly fingers made some weird chords I’d never heard before as a young guitar player that were exciting to decipher. I still don’t have several songs down cause he’d also layer in so much. 💗

  • @simontemplar3359
    @simontemplar3359 2 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    holy crap! the slowed down version sounds INCREDIBLE! And I already love Blur, but the slowed down version demands attention! So good! thank you for this!

  • @Jeg08.
    @Jeg08. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Grahm coxon is one of my favorite guitarists and literally is underrated. Parklife and song 2 aren't the only gold riffs.. "bang" - "there's no other way" & "shes so high" have some of the greatest riffs ever.. imo

    • @isadoralindqvist7519
      @isadoralindqvist7519 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Damon came up with the song 2 riff actually, but graham finished it

    • @RayyanKhanRayyanKhan
      @RayyanKhanRayyanKhan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Beetlebum too

    • @isadoralindqvist7519
      @isadoralindqvist7519 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RayyanKhanRayyanKhan sweeet

    • @RayyanKhanRayyanKhan
      @RayyanKhanRayyanKhan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@isadoralindqvist7519 Not sure if Damon did it and Graham finished that, was replying to Lockheed above regarding great Blur riffs. Beetlebum isn't talked about enough.

    • @isadoralindqvist7519
      @isadoralindqvist7519 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RayyanKhanRayyanKhan damon wrote it as a dem

  • @elborbo7315
    @elborbo7315 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Absolutely awesome!!! That constant pedal note is so inviting to hear the song even more!!! From Crete in Greece, a big applause!!!!!

  • @EddyBlock
    @EddyBlock ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always heard something “more” than just the normal chords without tuning down and just played it like that so very cool to see you pick up on all the cool details of this “easy” looking but so much fun song!

  • @EVILJAMARR
    @EVILJAMARR 2 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I remember being 18 and figuring all of this out in my bedroom in those early days. Ahh, memories. Never tuned down, stumbled on the inversion from watching them live. I was always able to appreciate the Aflat screaming in the background, but didn’t want to believe they’d use overdubs in the studio! Haha it was fun being so naïve.

    • @aelahn
      @aelahn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      the live videos are so hazy and a blurry (no pun) mess that I dont know how come people always talk about being able to figure out stuff from them.. for me most of the time things are indistinguishable

  • @BulletDrummer
    @BulletDrummer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Paul, I feel like you’d love to dissect Blur’s track ‘No Distance Left To Run’. Non-standard tuning, lovely bluesy chords, and some very Coxon licks.

  • @LandonCahow
    @LandonCahow 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Damn! Not only was that an amazing breakdown, that slow version play at the end that you had the audacity to apologize for was incredible! I was sad that it ended so soon. Must. Have. More!

  • @NoahNobody
    @NoahNobody ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Yep, I could hear all these parts. The Blur guitarist is great. One of my the progressions is on "There's no other way".

  • @20centurygirl21
    @20centurygirl21 2 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    graham in particular or blur in general are super underrated, i can't say more, they are geniuses

    • @BendyDH
      @BendyDH ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Blur may have lost the 90s British rock rivalry to Oasis but Damon Albarn got the last laugh with Gorillaz, genius musician all around

    • @dootpooter4740
      @dootpooter4740 ปีที่แล้ว

      I can't respect anything written in 4 4

    • @candlewickheart
      @candlewickheart ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dootpooter4740 okay music elitist

    • @candlewickheart
      @candlewickheart ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dootpooter4740 well ok then buddy. Thank you Jewish people for 4/4 music. 😄

    • @dootpooter4740
      @dootpooter4740 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@candlewickheart whatever. The avg person can't even count 3/9 because they are stuck in 4/4 and you're over here thanking the people responsible for limiting your human experience.
      OK GOODGOY!

  • @robertpaul934
    @robertpaul934 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Great stuff. Graham also plays one (of two) drum kits on this track. Set up in the studio opposite each other and played together live, then a section of the drum track was looped. It’s a pretty clever bit of production all round.

  • @weaponsofmaskprojection6780
    @weaponsofmaskprojection6780 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate your ability to pick apart so many different iconic and unappreciated

  • @Tenzen06
    @Tenzen06 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I've discovered your channel a few weeks ago and it's a blast. I kinda stopped playing during my PhD and now i'm trying to get back to it as a routine during the writing phase, and watching you take so much pleasure is really motivating. Your energy is amazing and it makes me excited for guitar once again, so thank you.

  • @patrickfoster4586
    @patrickfoster4586 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I'll never forget the first time I heard this "joke". It was as if someone reignited the powerful energy we lost when Cobain died. I loved it then and still do.

  • @andytraverse
    @andytraverse 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Graham Coxon used those 'inversions' on lots of blur songs, way back on the early albums, even on clean guitar sounds, he's a very talented musician.

    • @Whiplashed
      @Whiplashed 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Basic stuff man

    • @JustinLesamiz
      @JustinLesamiz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Whiplashed But not really.

    • @petekay67
      @petekay67 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Whiplashed true, it's only rock n roll but we like it ....

  • @JoeSmith-zv4ic
    @JoeSmith-zv4ic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your talent never ceases to amaze me. Loved the solo. Love what you do, keep up the outstanding work

  • @mikusshebus
    @mikusshebus ปีที่แล้ว

    I have in fact picked up on the different chords that made such a layered sound, but never knew what they were til you broke it down!! Thank you so much

  • @jobhabraken445
    @jobhabraken445 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Great video again Paul! I had honestly no idea there were so many layers in that awesome riff. Absolutely love the solo!!

  • @terencecarter7793
    @terencecarter7793 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    The distorted bass really thickens up the sound and the little bass slides Alex James does in the outro are fantastic too. Great breakdown of the guitars!

    • @ProgrammedForDamage
      @ProgrammedForDamage ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not everyone picks those slides up too. When we used to play it as a warm-up when rehearsing I'd play the slides and the guitarist was like "I like what you did there" and I had to tell him that they were always there in the original. He just never noticed them.

  • @JordanSmith-lk9nn
    @JordanSmith-lk9nn ปีที่แล้ว

    I use to watch your videos whilst learning guitar for the first time as you were always engaging, a while later, I'm still here for these types of videos that are so intelligent and educational for the musicians mind! Keep it up Paul, spread your wisdom.

  • @mimilini1
    @mimilini1 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you so much for breaking this epic song down! I’ve loved this song since the very first time I heard it, back in the 90’s. I knew it was special but you’ve just shown me why!

  • @jimmyfuntime4378
    @jimmyfuntime4378 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Paul, that was a phenomenal video. Your content is always outstanding but something magical in this breakdown. And that solo at the end... more of these breakdowns!

  • @SolamenteVees
    @SolamenteVees 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Graham, Damon and the crew are brilliant. Thank you for the analysis...

  • @TheHardDark
    @TheHardDark ปีที่แล้ว

    Paul, I am watching your videos FOR YEARS now, never commented, but always liked them and enjoyed watching. I am nearly 30 now, playing the guitar for 23 years. You are leaving me mindblown and speechless so often, it's crazy and it's awesome. So I just want to say thank you for your awesome work, I learned A LOT and I am still learning a lot.

  • @deandarvin553
    @deandarvin553 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Never, ever, ever EVER apologize for putting down a solo like that

  • @oldmanfran5523
    @oldmanfran5523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    As a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I love listening to songs with different layers and try peel them back. There's something new to grab your ear when you re-listen the song.
    Great video as always. So much joy from music!!

    • @alexandrebier4581
      @alexandrebier4581 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      dude man. we should be friends

    • @oldmanfran5523
      @oldmanfran5523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sure. You seem to be a gentleman of impeccable taste

    • @jonathanbates5025
      @jonathanbates5025 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Billy and his stage band.

    • @joshs1533
      @joshs1533 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Johnny Marrs layers in The Smiths is a great example of this too.

    • @robertpaulchampagne27
      @robertpaulchampagne27 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Man Billy Corgan…talk about a very underrated guitarist. I absolutely love the distorted and heavy guitar sounds in Mayonaise and Cherub Rock

  • @kennethguitarfiend4493
    @kennethguitarfiend4493 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Graham is an underrated guitar genius.

  • @TimRobertsen
    @TimRobertsen ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The distorted bass guitar is what really gives the song that extra punch

  • @richardcsomor8262
    @richardcsomor8262 ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh man, thank you so much!! This is such a great video really entertaining and soo much information passed on in such a natural fashion! As a fellow guitarist for me this really captures that feeling when u really understand a song and why it sounds in a particular way! These tabs more often than not miss just the most interesting parts of a song like this, but that’s okay imo cuz figuring out nuances like this in a song by ear really feel’s like u found that last ingredient that u just couldn’t leave out, and that honestly kinda feels like u wrote it, of course u didn’t but u feel like ur a part of it, and that is amazing to me when u started improvising I was smiling and thinking to myself “you couldn’t hold back” haha and u said sorry but that’s just what makes music such a next level form of communication, it’s a feeling! and once u feel it u just wanna celebrate and share the feeling and that’s exactly why ppl make covers and videos like this and I can’t appreciate it enough cuz theres no better way to teach and inspire ppl to learn music and what makes music great! :)

  • @Heisenbinks
    @Heisenbinks 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Love those inverted 5th string power chords! I always called them weezer chords cause they use it in loads of their songs but I also found it to be a staple in punk/hardcode and doom/sludge genres

    • @ThePopShopStudio
      @ThePopShopStudio ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah I was going to say this video could be 5 seconds long and just say they used Weezer chords. Or Bach...

  • @daveguest6393
    @daveguest6393 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thanks for the vid! Billy Corgan used those inversions all the time to create those heavy chorus' (along with 1000 overdubs) I could always hear that high pedal note, but never the high F chord. Thanks again!

  • @AnWyMyles
    @AnWyMyles 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow just love how you got caught up in the moment and started soloing! AND KEPT IT in the video! I have played on repeat now haha

  • @mateuszprais854
    @mateuszprais854 ปีที่แล้ว

    That was amazing, I'm just starting my learning journey, but the additional perspective that your video gives is just melting my heart in a good way and makes me wanna play it.

  • @peterevans8598
    @peterevans8598 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Paul Davids = The ultimate “forensic” riff expert - genius ! Bravo Paul !

    • @Dreyno
      @Dreyno 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Him and Adrian on Anyone Can Play Guitar are the best for learning how stuff was really played.

  • @offset5989
    @offset5989 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Coxon called the chorus "the Weezer chord" during an interview with That Pedal Show (I think!) Definitely some Buddy Holly vibes.

    • @MaxPrehl
      @MaxPrehl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      wait, there's a weezer signature chord?

  • @williamjverhagen
    @williamjverhagen ปีที่แล้ว

    Paul, you have a lot going for you. Your playing is stellar. You have a great down to earth personality. Someone that everyone likes personality. I've been watching your videos for years. Thanks.

  • @rasputinsliver3196
    @rasputinsliver3196 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sweet breakdown and analysis of that whole sound. Loved it! And your jam at the end...nice.

  • @anne_4_u
    @anne_4_u ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I just love how this guy is totally vibing with what he's doing

  • @CallMeBigWorm
    @CallMeBigWorm ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Finally glad someone cleared this up. Cause I've always played it in standard tuning. However I was unaware of the F sharp and A at the end. Otherwise I was actually playing it right with the inverted chords. I seen them live in 1999-2000 and watched them from the 4th row.

  • @richfowler33
    @richfowler33 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another example for me would be Parklife. Played up after the 12th but with the high and low e kept as the open note. Rings so beautifully. Thanks for another great vid!

  • @CrymsonNite
    @CrymsonNite ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I don't know music at all, but playing guitar hero and rock band really made me able to hear and appreciate different parts of a song more.

  • @GGuitar
    @GGuitar ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That solo at the end 👌👌🔥🔥

  • @Mr.Nabil.Belhaj
    @Mr.Nabil.Belhaj ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I keep coming back to this video just to listen to that slowed down version solo, it gives me goosebumps, too bad you haven't decided to do a long version

  • @mplcausa
    @mplcausa 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    It is such a fantastic riff. Such a pleasure hearing your breakdown of it!

  • @wkk222
    @wkk222 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That outro/solo you nailed just made me love this video. 🤟

  • @bruce1106
    @bruce1106 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is absolutely terrific! On a related note, would love to see you dissect the intro to Blur's There's No Other Way 😁 I'm 100% confident you'd find all the subtleties to make it sound perfect.

  • @adamsteelproducer
    @adamsteelproducer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Nice Paul! I wanted to add though, most of the real power on the chorus comes from a very heavy bass distortion driving the mids forward, but since we’re not used to hearing bass drive, our ears combine it with the guitar to imagine the guitars being even more crazy than they are!

    • @ZoeThePirate
      @ZoeThePirate 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Always loved how Alex plays it safe on the first chorus, then turns the bass into a revving engine with all of his slides on the second.

    • @PaulDavids
      @PaulDavids  2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Thanks Adam! I actually played the bass for this vid through a cranked AC30 (it's not everwhere though) to get that gritty sound. We're reluctant, but all guitarists need to admit that we need the bass to sound heavy haha 🫶

    • @totallykoolyeah
      @totallykoolyeah 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@PaulDavids gimme gimme fuzz bass

  • @R0Y_boy22
    @R0Y_boy22 ปีที่แล้ว

    That little solo gave me acute waves of chills!

  • @KhyphenJ
    @KhyphenJ ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow thank you for this! I’ve been a power chord player for years and never learned about such simple additions to make everything sound bigger.

  • @ReasonStudios
    @ReasonStudios 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is next level TH-cam. Kudos Paul!

  • @XanderMohan
    @XanderMohan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Beetlebum and Charmless Man are the coolest Blur riffs. Just so unique. Coxon is a master

    • @pierovio7882
      @pierovio7882 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      london loves!

    • @XanderMohan
      @XanderMohan ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@pierovio7882 i also forgot "No distance left to run" tbf

    • @pierovio7882
      @pierovio7882 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@XanderMohan ahah surely, we forgot many ahahah Im a big fan of blur eh eh e h

  • @hakanaxlund4316
    @hakanaxlund4316 ปีที่แล้ว

    You’re a gem Paul! Love your enthusiasm, love what you do. Thanks mate! 🤘🏻👍🏻

  • @MrMejIT
    @MrMejIT ปีที่แล้ว

    Lovely dissection of this. Will appreciate this riff even more now. Thx

  • @xXdroogle13Xx
    @xXdroogle13Xx ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Power chord inversions sounding an octave lower is something I myself accidentally found while learning “It’s my Life” by Bon Jovi, and I remember thinking to myself, “huh, there’s gotta be a way to use that for a riff” and now here I find this video telling me I was right. Love your videos, they always cement and connect the stuff I already have in my brain in new and interesting ways.

    • @robovac3557
      @robovac3557 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey man, just so you know your comment about Bon Jovi is public. You might wanna edit that out. Looking out for a fellow bro is all. I ain't no hero.

    • @Nate-qb6qp
      @Nate-qb6qp ปีที่แล้ว

      It’s my life is so fire

  • @userdeleted4723
    @userdeleted4723 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Descendents does the same with a lot of their power chords, “I’m the One” is an amazing example of it

  • @-Batou-
    @-Batou- 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Figured this out quite recently and it changed everything ... I'm glad to see ppl noticing it !

  • @davidpapendorf6764
    @davidpapendorf6764 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hugely informative as always Paul. A brilliant analysis! Thank you.

  • @seadnamaccasarlaigh279
    @seadnamaccasarlaigh279 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I picked up on the 5th in the bass because when I was learning barre chords when I was 15, I struggled with moving from A shapes to E shapes, so I just barred across all the strings at all times and noticed that the low E string thickened up the A shaped barre chords so much! And so when it came to learning this song, it was just something I was already doing and didn’t think anything of it!
    I also noticed the pedal note, but not the F power chord! Pedals add so much complexity with very little effort, so it was a thing I really clung too from early on

  • @kylebarlow2977
    @kylebarlow2977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Graham Coxon underrated 🎸 hero. A British Frusciante

    • @DavidSmith-nk2rc
      @DavidSmith-nk2rc 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hello Kyle. How are you doing?

    • @DenerWerb
      @DenerWerb ปีที่แล้ว

      Now that's a nice analogy

  • @sagittarius_a3307
    @sagittarius_a3307 ปีที่แล้ว

    This song informs my song writing so much to this day... pedal notes, buzz saws, inversions...
    things that I thought were compensations, that turned out to be techniques! love it!

  • @christophergrundy4424
    @christophergrundy4424 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Incredibly interesting and useful insights - hats off to you sir and thank you for posting 👍

  • @thatRyzzle
    @thatRyzzle 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Honestly, in all those years since the song came out, I always thought the guitarist was only playing the so-called pedal note, while the bassist was providing the heavy, grungy, distorted fuzz during the chorus.

  • @holifeet
    @holifeet ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow, I came across this video as a recommended. I know bugger all about the technical terms but I love the sounds. And that last bit of slowed down Blur, with improv, was amazing.
    It explained to me, like I've not heard before, how different styles of alternative music come about. In that slowed down bit I first heard some of the shoegaze bands of the 90s, then I heard indie rock (I'll come to that) and then he moved into classic bands such as Zep, though I am sure that was just having fun.
    And what I said I'd come to is that I'm a huge fan of Sebadoh. They have a song called Gimme Indie Rock. In that song they sing "much slower, heavier". I heard that difference so clearly.
    Gonna watch more of this guy.
    And people will poss read what I said and go "pfft, what a layman" haha. I am.

  • @Sawer
    @Sawer ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your energy, also really enjoyable video format. Thanks for doing this!

  • @omardude39
    @omardude39 ปีที่แล้ว

    The slowed down version sounds perfect to soundtrack a pivotal scene in an epic movie, and then Paul drops an awesome solo in there as the icing on the cake!
    Awesome music and great to hear the breakdown of what is obviously quite a complex track

  • @KevinMerinoCreations
    @KevinMerinoCreations 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Love your methodology of reverse engineering the composition. Love your solo at the end even more! 👏👏👏

  • @spudvader
    @spudvader 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The released song is also just the demo that they done. Graham Coxon is for sure a guitar hero, his guitar work sounds so simple but there is always more going on than you think.

  • @TheGreatWallyG
    @TheGreatWallyG ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Paul, you are amazing and wow… I have always loved this song but wow! Definitely next level now!!! As you said… I can’t unhear this!!!

  • @JBarbarosa
    @JBarbarosa 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Absolutely brilliant..so simple but so effective