Hello Justin, My name is Ernie and I am from CA in the US. I am 51 years old and have been playing guitar since the age of 5. My father, who was a guitar player in a mariachi band, made me learn. Mostly mexican songs. Boleros and Rancheras. (good stuff)I am the youngest of 7 children so I was exposed to Beatles, Motown, Santana, Herb Albert, Lawrence Welk, Eddy Gorme, Steppinwolf and all of the other classic stuff from the 60's and 70's. A real broad range of music. I remember when this song came out. As a teenager, some of my friends learned this song as I watched in amazement in their talent. This is before youtube so theypicked it up via tabs. So i've always had a wanting to learn this classic hit, just never got around to it and honestly a bit humiliated that i never did. I came about this song again recently when a friend of mine, who told me that he wanted to sing this, his favorite song. So as a surprise for him, I took it upon myself to find an instructional vid on youtube that would show me how. I came across your vid, cuz it seemed to be the best in illustration and explanation. So, it only took me 46 years to learn this song and I have you to thank. Thanks and Cheers from California! (btw check out Los Tres Ases, the guitar work and the voice harmonies are tremendous).
This song came out it 1968, at the moment you wrote this comment it was 49 years old so you would've been 2 when they released it and it would not have been possible for you to remember this event
@@Gacug1 more than likely he heard it on the radio or something and thought it came out then, not everyone has the time to really check little details like that, point is he finally learned the song
In the past 35 (or so) years I've played this song so many different ways and you are playing a very classic version. You've done justice to the song and I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that will benefit from your instructions.
Hey, Justin. Just wanted to let you know that I have been going through this video over and over for the last 3-4 months trying to learn this song and I have to say that IT IS PAYING OFF. A fella at our church has been offering free fingerpicking classes last fall and winter and got me started on this song in the spring. He didn't have time to show me all the riffs before summer so I started looking for tutorials and found yours to be the best. You truly are a gifted instructor. It's taken a while but I am almost there with these riffs and the next step will be integrating the words. By the way, I am part of your website lessons and am going to be getting more serious with the fingerpicking style. It is rather enjoyable to be able to play a tune this way. One other thing... I am 73 years young and retired so have time to learn. played around with the guitar over the years but never got serious. Better late than never they say. So, thanks for putting these lessons out there for us. You have put in a great effort to help folks learn guitar and I just want to pass on a blessing to you as you continue to reach out to us. God bless, Wayne.
It's my opinion that we can only concentrate on one thing at a time, and that learning one part, either right or left hand first before the other is better for most people (there's the key point, most people, not all!) so I don't use the split screen. Seems to be going ok so far ;)
Drums are my main instruments, i learn everything on both hands so can attest that you're advice is sound, albeit slightly different, The principal is the same.
We're seven years further. And still so many people are enjoying these videos. As am I. I'm so thankful to you Justin. And it's so reassuring when you tell us to keep working on certain bits. By doing so, you're making sure we keep feeling confident about our abilities.
Justin, I want to thank you for helping me go from "terrible" to "not so bad!" I am really enjoying playing, thanks to you and your many beginner lessons. I can now play Blackbird.
ten years ago i was not interested at all in playing the guitar, but one year later, when i started learning, i discovered justin and this song. i stuck for years with him, learning so many things - as a matter of fact, he became a part of my guitar playing dna :) but, man, this song "black bird" i always thought i'll never be able to approach, it was way above my skill level... until today. nine years since i've started my guitar journey, i revisited this tutorial and got the song under my fingers; quite easily, i should say. unbelievable. thanks, justin, for everything! i felt indeed like going through a rite of passage
I've tried a few Blackbird tutorials on TH-cam now and this is by far the best (IMO). I usually tap my foot whilst playing, but with this being slightly more technical than I'm used to, I'd been neglecting it - focusing more on my picking and finger placement. Once I forced myself to tap along, making sure I was aware of it, eventually everything fell in to place, soon realised I relying on muscle memory and instinct. Great feeling once it all falls in to place and you find your rhythm!
Thank you, Justin. My guitar instructor has me learning to fingerpicking this with index and middle fingers but I noticed Paul flicking his index finger as he played it. Yours is the best explanation of Paul's method that I've seen. Well done.
Damn didn't know you could sing that well. When I first heard this song I was in a melancholic mood and I thought the song was about death and how it frees you from everything. Years later I saw an interview with Paul where he said that this song is basically a dedication to the first afroamerican students who were allowed to go to the same school/university as white americans. Very moving
I've always thought it was a particularly mediocre song, and not among Paul's best. It's a classic and people love it, and I love the Beatles, so I need to learn it, but I've never thought highly of it. I don't know what it means really. "Take these broken wings and learn to fly" - I take from that the idea that we must learn to deal with adversity, I guess. Fine. But "You were only waiting for this moment to arrive"? No idea how that fits with the rest of the song......
There's not much to say with a million subscribers but from a single soul in a room by himself, trying to generate a sound that could be called music by a generous fellow, I thank you for your companionship and guidance. And by the way, this is in Justin's Acoustic Songbook - a great bargain of a book that helps Justin continue what he does (so BUY IT!) - thanks.
After 4 years of playing the guitar with friends at jam sessions and alone at home, your videos always cheer me up when i am down. The last months i really struggled to improvise over jazz (Gypsy jazz) standards and my technique seems to be not there. But, after i learned this beautiful song in only one hour from your video im so happy to say: There´s no need to play complicated and difficult stuff to sound good. This song really warm up my heart and its just these 2 notes of the chord and the G ringing after. Thank u very much Justin, i really wish you the best :)
Hey Justin, your tutorials are excellent ! and for me the best thing about them is that they are not painfully slow and repetitive,you get straight to the music and technique in a really efficient way,thanks for the help : )
Having read the comments here - I'll just add my own nod - the methodical way you break down what's happening, I think for me, is the reason I think I'll even come close to getting this down. Even I can take apart what you're doing and put the small chunks into the larger piece... long way to go but really appreciate this structure of teaching. Thanks.
I have been watching Justin for nearly ten years now and learned so much from him. It's like having a friend without knowing him personally To all who like him as much as i do: Merry christmas and a happy new year!
Justin, thank you so much for all your hard work, dedication and sharing of your love of music and the guitar with all us novice players! I too had been playing Blackbird the wrong way for several years. Thanks again for all the great lessons you provide! May God Bless!
You met Paul and got to ask him about this! WoW! Love it Brother. I was amazed by this song as a kid when I got the White Album for Christmas and I've loved it ever since. Three years into my guitar playing, I feel like i might take a crack at this. Thanks so much Justin
This is so cool Justin. I love how you're teaching the unorthodox real way Paul plays this. It feels weird not using the RH middle finger at first, but then it becomes very free feeling. It's like a new little variant finger style technique. Thanks Paul, and thank you Justin. Cheers!
I’ve half known this song by ear and it drives my wife nuts to have it “almost” as it’s her favorite tune. Been playing guitar for +25 years and finally sat down to get it right. You video here is the best I’ve seen. Down stroke index finger pattern and it giving the backbeat. My wife my tolerate me for a few more years now…
Excellent focus on the strumming pattern. When you watch Paul play on videos recorded in the last 15 years or, so this seems like the closest tutorial on TH-cam of the way he plays. And certainly a different style to the tabs and many of the other videos out there. Thanks a lot
Just bought my first Martin guitar. Always been an electric player. Thank you for your excellent breakdown and help managing the thought process. Making things that sound complex simple. 👍👍👍
So that's how he does it! I've been pulling my hair out trying to work out what was going on, whether the chords were strummed or whether the guitar was double tracked. I've been teaching this picking strings 3 and 2 with the index and middle fingers. Sounded good but not quite right. Now I know, great lesson.
just got the Songbook today, thanks, its outstanding. together with the vdeo lessons it will keep me going for a long time. feel inspired to keep plugging away and improve.
Absolutely excellent video, Played guitar for over 20 years and have heard all types of renditions of Blackbird, all different types of tabs, and they all sound nice and similar to Paul's original recording and live version; but still just not perfect. This is spot on to how Paul plays in his recordings and live version, only thing missing is the foot taps lol. But even still amazed at how well you transposed the strumming pattern, and honestly that's where it's all at. You can play the notes easily enough when it comes to learning this song which I have numerous times over the years so much so I can do it in my sleep, but it's all about the strumming/picking, actually very impressed with the thumb taps as well to give it a bit of a mute prior to the strum. By far the best video on youtube if you want to learn blackbird as it's meant to be played in regards to how Paul plays it this is the one to learn, may take a while to get the strumming/picking down but after enough practice it'll finally click and you'll have it down. Thank you for the upload.
I've had to watch this repeatedly just because I drift looking at the guitar with the card suits for fret markers and lose track of where I'm up to. Love the guitar and the tuition as always is brilliant.
Man, I've been trying to learn this song for 2 years. And then you come along and make this video and I learn it in 15 minutes! Justin you are the best, I can't stress this enough. Thank you for helping me get to where I am today as a guitarist. I don't think I'd be able to play a note without your guidance through these videos!.
Justin, you're the man!! I've been practicing this and I just bought your acoustic songbook, which is my 3rd songbook from you. I'm learning this song for my mother, who unfortunately was diagnosed with leukemia 8 months ago. It's one of her favorites of all time. Cheers my friend!!
Thank you Justin ! Been a fan of yours for several years now. You are one of the best guitar coaches on TH-cam. I made somewhat of a NY resolution to challenge myself with harder acoustic songs and this song was on the top of my list ! This is BY FAR the best blackbird tutorial on TH-cam. On to the next song for me ! 2023 here I come :)
Great lesson - thanks for showing Paul's pick/strum technique. This is the clearest way I've ever seen or heard it explained. I play Blackbird my own way because so far I haven't been able to imitate Paul's way. Funnily enough, I've read and heard Paul say that he can't fingerpick the "right" way and made up his own version. In my opinion his makeshift way is really had to mimic - harder for me than "proper" fingerpicking, which I have done for years! Thanks for posting.
I was having a really difficult time changing chord positions during the "Take these broken wings and learn to fly.." part at 0:13 - 0:17 (C to A7thingy to D to B7thingy) but after messing around I found it a lot easier to take the shape at 3:11 with your index finger on the A string and your pinky the B string, and slide that exact shape up & down the fretboard while plucking the G string to keep the rhythm. You can play that whole sequence that plays during the line "Take these broken wings and learn to fly.." without moving your 2 fingers off the A & B strings, and it sounds almost exactly like when you play it changing chord shapes. It works nicely since you end up back on those strings anyways after playing that C-A7-D-B7 sequence anyways. I know it's not the "right" way to play it, but it sounds like it's the exact same notes and allows me to play at the speed of the song. I am working on learning to switch to those difficult chord shapes now in the meantime. Sorry I can't explain better or I'd put more detailed instructions for the other noobs struggling with that part of the song.
I think that Blackbird has to be in the top five best acoustic songs ever. I love it, it was one of the first songs I learned on guitar, and your lesson offers so much more. Thanks again for a brilliant lesson.
Justin!!! Ty, ty, ty for the original, Sir Paul version! I love that you call out the chords instead of just telling us where to fret...I love that you explained the pluck + finger strum thing easily... I love that you made us figure out that last little coda bit of the 2nd riff (pop quiz!) This, imo, is the best lesson available for this song. Please keep up the stellar work! (It's likely I would have tossed my guitar out of my window (Pat McCrea-style!) a long time ago, if not for your channel!
Thanks a lot from France Justin. P McCartney put a lot of joy in people's heart with this song, but you also did your part by teaching and sharing it so well :)
Amazing that you were able to teach me this as my first song choice. Thank you! I play it more slowly than you, but very pleased with my progress so far.
Thanks so much for this lesson Justin. Today I decided to finally learn this song, and I was lucky to start with this video. Within a couple of hours I could play along the original and have that very same kind of sound, thanks to how well you explained it. Brilliant!
Thanks a lot for this lesson!! I've just bought an acoustic guitar a couple of days ago (been playing electric for 5 years before) and thought it will take me at least a week to learn it, but somehow i spent only two evenings to nail it even with singing, so it gave a thought that maybe i should try more acoustic things) You're the very best teacher, watch your vids since i've started playing.
Just had to say how much i enjoy your love of music and how it shows in the way you teach these songs. Thank you for your attention to detail. If your ever in america, look us up.
Thank You So Much, You have my attention, You have taught me songs that I have struggled with for years, and made them super easy to follow. You have a gift for teaching , I feel blessed that I have had this chance to study one of your lessons.
Excellent lesson. You are a very good teacher! My 9 yr. old daughter is successfully working her way through this song thanks to you. We posted her current progress, and credited you in the info. I plan to get your intermediate lesson pack very soon. Thanks again.
Thanks Justin. I have been playing this for years and I had a mental block so I had to get to someone that I knew would refresh my memory and you are the man. Thanks again, not only for this but for all the lessons.
Justin you're a legend :) sucha strong and positive energy that's flowing from you, and huge love for music and teaching others, inspire me every day, not only just to take my guitar and play, but also to be a better man!
Thankyou so much Justin, I’ve played guitar on and off (more off in the last decade) and never tackled this classic thinking I’d have to spend hours over tab or days listening to the recording to end up murdering it. Now I can play it! Absolutely marvellous 😄 thank you
This really helped out a lot because I was having a little bit of trouble when sliding your fingers up to the 12th fret and that strumming motion. Thanks a lot!
This is the best tutorial on the internet for blackbird. There's another one titled 'the best' but he's doing it slightly wrong by using his thumb for the down strum instead of his index fingernail.
Thanks man. Been trying to figure out this John Mayer Chugga Chugga thing. Trying all sorts of stuff. Open hand slap, palm mute those strings. Kinda obvious to just slap it with the thumb... Got that straight up but which was nice, thanks to your instruction. I've been informed by watching my classical music playing wife and children on how to practise and how to commit to it. Break things down, slow the tempo and practise, a lot. My wife especially playing a couple of bars that i think already sound great , but she'll practise those few bans for hours for weeks... here I am throwing songs away and feeling defeated after a few minutes. looking forward to putting the time into this song. it's so easy without the chug and the chug is easy enough.... how to put them together. Think it with help me a lot with some other songs I couldn't figure out these 2 string mutes, other strings ringing out stuff. And yeah. I've heard John Mayer talk of lying down for hours ,playing bits he has come up with to get them sounding ' Liquidy'. Believe that was the term he used. Thanks again man.
I got to admit this song is hard to play, I just learnt this song within an hour and a half the whole guitar parts, and now I need to learn the words and that is not easy To put together. Thank you for this lesson mate, it very well accurate and well presented cheers brother 🎸
Not with all songs but many, I like to see what the right hand is doing... strumming and especially picking, with the exact timing of the left hand. Even so, your communication is great and what helps get me through. I guess beggars can't be choosers :) Thanks Again for your great FREE video lessons. I'll be catching up with you before the years out :) and Thanks for your reply!!
I've always wanted to know how to play this song, and learn playing guitar in general. A couple of months ago, I saw this video while I was just starting to learn the beginner's course from Justin. I thought this was too hard. Fast forward to today, I'm now currently doing the intermediate songs, and Blackbird is one of them. I'm still a little rusty, but I can play it now. I just want to take this time and thank Justin for all of this. I will continue to learn.
Thanks, Justin. I've used your vid several times to help people learn this song. You always do a good job and take the time to explain and show how to do things. And that Maton guitar is incredibly robust sounding.
I started practicing about a week ago and got the song down pretty good. Then i watched this video and learned about the strumming and it got tricky :D But soon enough i will get it down as well. Thanks for the great vids !
I like how the interactive audio script thing understands "Paul McCartney" but transcribes "blackbird" as "lab coat" at one point :D. What an age we live in. Great lesson, this! It'll take me some time to master, that's for sure.
I never thought I would be able to play this song! But I watched this video and had it down and like really smooth sounding in a matter of a couple of hours! This is a great lesson!
There is a fill after the first and verse and after the pause after the 2nd chorus and it is similar but not the same descending as the other parts and not taught in this lesson. It goes directly from the 3-5 C to the 2-3 Em, then to A7 and to only the 1 fret on B string, then to G bass. It is extremely easy to hear it on the remastered 2009 record posted on TH-cam. It is also the pattern during the repeat of "You were only waiting..." at the end.
It's so tempting to arpeggiate the chords rather than work on the 'strumming' technique. Annoyingly, the rhythm relies so heavily on it! Fantastic video!
Thank you loads, seriously great tutorial and I made sure to subscribe for more. This is the best video I've found to learn this song, and although at first I was worried I'd never get this song I've now nearly got it sorted. You explained it just the perfect amount, which is brilliant for me. Thanks :D
Thank you so much for this lesson. I've always wanted to learn this song and I'm finally at a skill level where this lesson was exactly what I needed to get a grip on it. I am doing my strumming a little different than the way you are teaching it. My foundation is more towards plucking the strings in a more bossa nova style using all of my fingers. It's not natural for me to strum the way you do it, lol! I've only spent a few hours on it but I have a good handle on all three sections. Love it! Cheers!
You’re simply amazing! Thank you! I picked up a guitar for the first time 2 months ago and you’re helping me learn things I thought it would take years to get to! Thank you!
Hello Justin, My name is Ernie and I am from CA in the US. I am 51 years old and have been playing guitar since the age of 5. My father, who was a guitar player in a mariachi band, made me learn. Mostly mexican songs. Boleros and Rancheras. (good stuff)I am the youngest of 7 children so I was exposed to Beatles, Motown, Santana, Herb Albert, Lawrence Welk, Eddy Gorme, Steppinwolf and all of the other classic stuff from the 60's and 70's. A real broad range of music. I remember when this song came out. As a teenager, some of my friends learned this song as I watched in amazement in their talent. This is before youtube so theypicked it up via tabs. So i've always had a wanting to learn this classic hit, just never got around to it and honestly a bit humiliated that i never did. I came about this song again recently when a friend of mine, who told me that he wanted to sing this, his favorite song. So as a surprise for him, I took it upon myself to find an instructional vid on youtube that would show me how. I came across your vid, cuz it seemed to be the best in illustration and explanation. So, it only took me 46 years to learn this song and I have you to thank. Thanks and Cheers from California! (btw check out Los Tres Ases, the guitar work and the voice harmonies are tremendous).
@Tom Wilks what?
@Tom Wilks do you mean the comment?
This song came out it 1968, at the moment you wrote this comment it was 49 years old so you would've been 2 when they released it and it would not have been possible for you to remember this event
@@Gacug1 oof lol
@@Gacug1 more than likely he heard it on the radio or something and thought it came out then, not everyone has the time to really check little details like that, point is he finally learned the song
In the past 35 (or so) years I've played this song so many different ways and you are playing a very classic version. You've done justice to the song and I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that will benefit from your instructions.
Thank you!
URDRWHO lol the lyrics has a few oopsies
you mean, he has done Justin to the song... which is actually the same thing. :D
Hey, Justin. Just wanted to let you know that I have been going through this video over and over for the last 3-4 months trying to learn this song and I have to say that IT IS PAYING OFF. A fella at our church has been offering free fingerpicking classes last fall and winter and got me started on this song in the spring. He didn't have time to show me all the riffs before summer so I started looking for tutorials and found yours to be the best. You truly are a gifted instructor. It's taken a while but I am almost there with these riffs and the next step will be integrating the words.
By the way, I am part of your website lessons and am going to be getting more serious with the fingerpicking style. It is rather enjoyable to be able to play a tune this way.
One other thing... I am 73 years young and retired so have time to learn. played around with the guitar over the years but never got serious. Better late than never they say.
So, thanks for putting these lessons out there for us. You have put in a great effort to help folks learn guitar and I just want to pass on a blessing to you as you continue to reach out to us.
God bless, Wayne.
It's my opinion that we can only concentrate on one thing at a time, and that learning one part, either right or left hand first before the other is better for most people (there's the key point, most people, not all!) so I don't use the split screen. Seems to be going ok so far ;)
you are right justin
Drums are my main instruments, i learn everything on both hands so can attest that you're advice is sound, albeit slightly different, The principal is the same.
We're seven years further. And still so many people are enjoying these videos. As am I. I'm so thankful to you Justin. And it's so reassuring when you tell us to keep working on certain bits. By doing so, you're making sure we keep feeling confident about our abilities.
Justin, I want to thank you for helping me go from "terrible" to "not so bad!" I am really enjoying playing, thanks to you and your many beginner lessons. I can now play Blackbird.
Well done!!
Want to learn a song? ----- put in a search ------- see a load of results ------ see Justin is among them ------ Search over!
The best TH-cam Guitar teacher!
Same😅
church
I aways search. "songname" justinguitar, always look for justins first! Thanks Justin!!!
True
Thank you, Justin. After 4 years I've finally attempted, and conquered, Blackbird by Macka. I have reached the top of the mountain :D
Thanks, Justin.
Haha, settle down kids
@@xx_sounds_xx5075 wait how old are you again?
Mackay! Love the mcnartey nick name
@@xx_sounds_xx5075 no one cares so stfu
@@xx_sounds_xx5075 Wondering who tf asked
ten years ago i was not interested at all in playing the guitar, but one year later, when i started learning, i discovered justin and this song. i stuck for years with him, learning so many things - as a matter of fact, he became a part of my guitar playing dna :) but, man, this song "black bird" i always thought i'll never be able to approach, it was way above my skill level... until today. nine years since i've started my guitar journey, i revisited this tutorial and got the song under my fingers; quite easily, i should say. unbelievable. thanks, justin, for everything! i felt indeed like going through a rite of passage
I've tried a few Blackbird tutorials on TH-cam now and this is by far the best (IMO). I usually tap my foot whilst playing, but with this being slightly more technical than I'm used to, I'd been neglecting it - focusing more on my picking and finger placement. Once I forced myself to tap along, making sure I was aware of it, eventually everything fell in to place, soon realised I relying on muscle memory and instinct. Great feeling once it all falls in to place and you find your rhythm!
+Luke Fryer Although I am struggling with the palm muting
th-cam.com/video/hYgVZ6fMuYU/w-d-xo.html
Ive been trying and I can't do it
Thank you, Justin. My guitar instructor has me learning to fingerpicking this with index and middle fingers but I noticed Paul flicking his index finger as he played it. Yours is the best explanation of Paul's method that I've seen. Well done.
Damn didn't know you could sing that well. When I first heard this song I was in a melancholic mood and I thought the song was about death and how it frees you from everything. Years later I saw an interview with Paul where he said that this song is basically a dedication to the first afroamerican students who were allowed to go to the same school/university as white americans. Very moving
💙
This is a beautiful rendition of one of the Beatles' most meaningful songs ever recorded. Thank you for singing and playing, Justin!
I've always thought it was a particularly mediocre song, and not among Paul's best. It's a classic and people love it, and I love the Beatles, so I need to learn it, but I've never thought highly of it. I don't know what it means really. "Take these broken wings and learn to fly" - I take from that the idea that we must learn to deal with adversity, I guess. Fine. But "You were only waiting for this moment to arrive"? No idea how that fits with the rest of the song......
@@humanbeing2420 I dont know if you're missing the black people/slavery angle?
There's not much to say with a million subscribers but from a single soul in a room by himself, trying to generate a sound that could be called music by a generous fellow, I thank you for your companionship and guidance. And by the way, this is in Justin's Acoustic Songbook - a great bargain of a book that helps Justin continue what he does (so BUY IT!) - thanks.
After 4 years of playing the guitar with friends at jam sessions and alone at home, your videos always cheer me up when i am down. The last months i really struggled to improvise over jazz (Gypsy jazz) standards and my technique seems to be not there. But, after i learned this beautiful song in only one hour from your video im so happy to say: There´s no need to play complicated and difficult stuff to sound good. This song really warm up my heart and its just these 2 notes of the chord and the G ringing after.
Thank u very much Justin, i really wish you the best :)
Hey Justin, your tutorials are excellent ! and for me the best thing about them is that they are not painfully slow and repetitive,you get straight to the music and technique in a really efficient way,thanks for the help : )
Having read the comments here - I'll just add my own nod - the methodical way you break down what's happening, I think for me, is the reason I think I'll even come close to getting this down. Even I can take apart what you're doing and put the small chunks into the larger piece... long way to go but really appreciate this structure of teaching. Thanks.
I have been watching Justin for nearly ten years now and learned so much from him.
It's like having a friend without knowing him personally
To all who like him as much as i do:
Merry christmas and a happy new year!
remember to donate or buy merch
This song is such a win. McCartney is so talented!
Justin, thank you so much for all your hard work, dedication and sharing of your love of music and the guitar with all us novice players! I too had been playing Blackbird the wrong way for several years. Thanks again for all the great lessons you provide! May God Bless!
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SHOWS THE GUITAR AT A GOOD ANGLE. Awesome job keep it up.
You met Paul and got to ask him about this! WoW! Love it Brother. I was amazed by this song as a kid when I got the White Album for Christmas and I've loved it ever since. Three years into my guitar playing, I feel like i might take a crack at this. Thanks so much Justin
This is so cool Justin. I love how you're teaching the unorthodox real way Paul plays this. It feels weird not using the RH middle finger at first, but then it becomes very free feeling. It's like a new little variant finger style technique. Thanks Paul, and thank you Justin. Cheers!
I’ve half known this song by ear and it drives my wife nuts to have it “almost” as it’s her favorite tune. Been playing guitar for +25 years and finally sat down to get it right. You video here is the best I’ve seen. Down stroke index finger pattern and it giving the backbeat. My wife my tolerate me for a few more years now…
Cheers 😊
| close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Moderator on JustinGuitar Forum
Excellent focus on the strumming pattern. When you watch Paul play on videos recorded in the last 15 years or, so this seems like the closest tutorial on TH-cam of the way he plays. And certainly a different style to the tabs and many of the other videos out there. Thanks a lot
Just bought my first Martin guitar. Always been an electric player. Thank you for your excellent breakdown and help managing the thought process. Making things that sound complex simple. 👍👍👍
So that's how he does it! I've been pulling my hair out trying to work out what was going on, whether the chords were strummed or whether the guitar was double tracked. I've been teaching this picking strings 3 and 2 with the index and middle fingers. Sounded good but not quite right. Now I know, great lesson.
just got the Songbook today, thanks, its outstanding. together with the vdeo lessons it will keep me going for a long time. feel inspired to keep plugging away and improve.
Many thanks for your easy-to-follow instructions and accurate rendition.
Absolutely excellent video, Played guitar for over 20 years and have heard all types of renditions of Blackbird, all different types of tabs, and they all sound nice and similar to Paul's original recording and live version; but still just not perfect. This is spot on to how Paul plays in his recordings and live version, only thing missing is the foot taps lol. But even still amazed at how well you transposed the strumming pattern, and honestly that's where it's all at. You can play the notes easily enough when it comes to learning this song which I have numerous times over the years so much so I can do it in my sleep, but it's all about the strumming/picking, actually very impressed with the thumb taps as well to give it a bit of a mute prior to the strum. By far the best video on youtube if you want to learn blackbird as it's meant to be played in regards to how Paul plays it this is the one to learn, may take a while to get the strumming/picking down but after enough practice it'll finally click and you'll have it down. Thank you for the upload.
I've had to watch this repeatedly just because I drift looking at the guitar with the card suits for fret markers and lose track of where I'm up to. Love the guitar and the tuition as always is brilliant.
Man, I've been trying to learn this song for 2 years. And then you come along and make this video and I learn it in 15 minutes! Justin you are the best, I can't stress this enough. Thank you for helping me get to where I am today as a guitarist. I don't think I'd be able to play a note without your guidance through these videos!.
Justin, you're the man!! I've been practicing this and I just bought your acoustic songbook, which is my 3rd songbook from you. I'm learning this song for my mother, who unfortunately was diagnosed with leukemia 8 months ago. It's one of her favorites of all time. Cheers my friend!!
Hows your mom doing?
Love the fret markers!
Thank you Justin ! Been a fan of yours for several years now. You are one of the best guitar coaches on TH-cam. I made somewhat of a NY resolution to challenge myself with harder acoustic songs and this song was on the top of my list ! This is BY FAR the best blackbird tutorial on TH-cam. On to the next song for me ! 2023 here I come :)
Great lesson - thanks for showing Paul's pick/strum technique. This is the clearest way I've ever seen or heard it explained. I play Blackbird my own way because so far I haven't been able to imitate Paul's way. Funnily enough, I've read and heard Paul say that he can't fingerpick the "right" way and made up his own version. In my opinion his makeshift way is really had to mimic - harder for me than "proper" fingerpicking, which I have done for years! Thanks for posting.
I was having a really difficult time changing chord positions during the "Take these broken wings and learn to fly.." part at 0:13 - 0:17 (C to A7thingy to D to B7thingy) but after messing around I found it a lot easier to take the shape at 3:11 with your index finger on the A string and your pinky the B string, and slide that exact shape up & down the fretboard while plucking the G string to keep the rhythm.
You can play that whole sequence that plays during the line "Take these broken wings and learn to fly.." without moving your 2 fingers off the A & B strings, and it sounds almost exactly like when you play it changing chord shapes. It works nicely since you end up back on those strings anyways after playing that C-A7-D-B7 sequence anyways.
I know it's not the "right" way to play it, but it sounds like it's the exact same notes and allows me to play at the speed of the song. I am working on learning to switch to those difficult chord shapes now in the meantime. Sorry I can't explain better or I'd put more detailed instructions for the other noobs struggling with that part of the song.
thats what I do but that rythm part in the middle is different
That's how I play it... Much easier and sounds the same
Marty is that you?
I think that Blackbird has to be in the top five best acoustic songs ever. I love it, it was one of the first songs I learned on guitar, and your lesson offers so much more. Thanks again for a brilliant lesson.
Justin!!! Ty, ty, ty for the original, Sir Paul version! I love that you call out the chords instead of just telling us where to fret...I love that you explained the pluck + finger strum thing easily... I love that you made us figure out that last little coda bit of the 2nd riff (pop quiz!) This, imo, is the best lesson available for this song. Please keep up the stellar work! (It's likely I would have tossed my guitar out of my window (Pat McCrea-style!) a long time ago, if not for your channel!
Thanks a lot from France Justin. P McCartney put a lot of joy in people's heart with this song, but you also did your part by teaching and sharing it so well :)
Amazing that you were able to teach me this as my first song choice. Thank you! I play it more slowly than you, but very pleased with my progress so far.
Thank you so much for all your tutorials! You are amazing! 👏😊
By far the best Blackbird guitar lesson.
Thanks so much for this lesson Justin. Today I decided to finally learn this song, and I was lucky to start with this video. Within a couple of hours I could play along the original and have that very same kind of sound, thanks to how well you explained it. Brilliant!
Thanks a lot for this lesson!! I've just bought an acoustic guitar a couple of days ago (been playing electric for 5 years before) and thought it will take me at least a week to learn it, but somehow i spent only two evenings to nail it even with singing, so it gave a thought that maybe i should try more acoustic things) You're the very best teacher, watch your vids since i've started playing.
You're such a great teacher! It's not one song from you that hasn't been made easy to learn. Thank you!
Just had to say how much i enjoy your love of music and how it shows in the way you teach these songs. Thank you for your attention to detail. If your ever in america, look us up.
Thank you Justin. This is as close to Paul McCartney's hand positions as any lesson that I've seen. You have a very pleasant way of teaching.
Thank You So Much, You have my attention, You have taught me songs that I have struggled with for years, and made them super easy to follow. You have a gift for teaching , I feel blessed that I have had this chance to study one of your lessons.
I've seen many tutorials for this song over years but this is by far the best
Excellent lesson. You are a very good teacher! My 9 yr. old daughter is successfully working her way through this song thanks to you. We posted her current progress, and credited you in the info. I plan to get your intermediate lesson pack very soon. Thanks again.
Elite - love your work Justin!!
You are a great teacher,Justin!!
Thank you for teaching us this beautiful song!!🎸🥰👍👍
Thanks Justin. I have been playing this for years and I had a mental block so I had to get to someone that I knew would refresh my memory and you are the man. Thanks again, not only for this but for all the lessons.
Justin you're a legend :) sucha strong and positive energy that's flowing from you, and huge love for music and teaching others, inspire me every day, not only just to take my guitar and play, but also to be a better man!
Thankyou so much Justin, I’ve played guitar on and off (more off in the last decade) and never tackled this classic thinking I’d have to spend hours over tab or days listening to the recording to end up murdering it. Now I can play it! Absolutely marvellous 😄 thank you
This really helped out a lot because I was having a little bit of trouble when sliding your fingers up to the 12th fret and that strumming motion. Thanks a lot!
I swear Justin does the best lessons, its crazy. Thanks so much!
What a brilliant chord progression! You have to love the beatles.
great lesson by the way, thank you
bloody brilliant. got it licked in 3 hrs. just going to drive everyone nuts now getting it perfect. thanks very much man
Nice singing! Good tone. Excellent instruction too. The fact that you spoke with Sir Paul about it is pretty incredible!
You are definitely the best teacher out there. Thanks for this.🙏
I appreciate the patience you give to your instructions...thanks
This is the best tutorial on the internet for blackbird. There's another one titled 'the best' but he's doing it slightly wrong by using his thumb for the down strum instead of his index fingernail.
Thanks man. Been trying to figure out this John Mayer Chugga Chugga thing. Trying all sorts of stuff. Open hand slap, palm mute those strings. Kinda obvious to just slap it with the thumb... Got that straight up but which was nice, thanks to your instruction.
I've been informed by watching my classical music playing wife and children on how to practise and how to commit to it. Break things down, slow the tempo and practise, a lot. My wife especially playing a couple of bars that i think already sound great , but she'll practise those few bans for hours for weeks... here I am throwing songs away and feeling defeated after a few minutes.
looking forward to putting the time into this song. it's so easy without the chug and the chug is easy enough.... how to put them together. Think it with help me a lot with some other songs I couldn't figure out these 2 string mutes, other strings ringing out stuff.
And yeah. I've heard John Mayer talk of lying down for hours ,playing bits he has come up with to get them sounding ' Liquidy'. Believe that was the term he used.
Thanks again man.
This is the only tutorial I’ve found that plays this song correctly ( like Paul McCartney) Great video 👍
Very, very good instruction. Learned this in one night, and played it over and over and over because it was so fun. Thank you!
I got to admit this song is hard to play, I just learnt this song within an hour and a half the whole guitar parts, and now I need to learn the words and that is not easy To put together. Thank you for this lesson mate, it very well accurate and well presented cheers brother 🎸
Fantastic Lesson Justin. Can't tell you how much joy this video has given me!
awesome Justin best teacher on the tube!
Thx Justin. You're a incredibly good teacher.
Thank you. You are the best teacher here.
Not with all songs but many, I like to see what the right hand is doing... strumming and especially picking, with the exact timing of the left hand. Even so, your communication is great and what helps get me through. I guess beggars can't be choosers :)
Thanks Again for your great FREE video lessons. I'll be catching up with you before the years out :) and Thanks for your reply!!
I've always wanted to know how to play this song, and learn playing guitar in general. A couple of months ago, I saw this video while I was just starting to learn the beginner's course from Justin. I thought this was too hard. Fast forward to today, I'm now currently doing the intermediate songs, and Blackbird is one of them. I'm still a little rusty, but I can play it now.
I just want to take this time and thank Justin for all of this. I will continue to learn.
you are the best guitar teacher on youtube.
two thumbs up because that's all I have :-)
Nice
Thanks, Justin. I've used your vid several times to help people learn this song. You always
do a good job and take the time to explain and show how to do things. And that Maton
guitar is incredibly robust sounding.
I keep coming back to your channel every couple of weeks for years and the content has been, is and will be brilliant! Thank u so much!
I just started yesterday and I can already play the intro, thanks to you. Just thinking about me playing this entire song is making me crazy...
It IS a rite of passage :) Outstanding lesson. Cheers Justin. Thanks very much!
I am so thankfully for your tutorial vid. I can play and finish it in one time sit. Incredible, and simply.
Sorry for my bad grammar :)
Wonderful singing and playing Justin.......and thank you for a terrific lesson!
thank you. Great lesson, been playing it wrong for years.. your mellow nice personality is relaxing for the soul too.. rock on..
I have the greatest guitar teacher! Thank you Justin!
I started practicing about a week ago and got the song down pretty good.
Then i watched this video and learned about the strumming and it got tricky :D
But soon enough i will get it down as well.
Thanks for the great vids !
I like how the interactive audio script thing understands "Paul McCartney" but transcribes "blackbird" as "lab coat" at one point :D. What an age we live in.
Great lesson, this! It'll take me some time to master, that's for sure.
You Sir just taught me an amazing song, took my roughly 1 hour to get the whole piece, still gotta work on the picking tho. You Rock!
Thanks! from yet another Blackbird disciple. Lots of work on your end. Lots of appreciation on mine! Best!
I never thought I would be able to play this song! But I watched this video and had it down and like really smooth sounding in a matter of a couple of hours! This is a great lesson!
There is a fill after the first and verse and after the pause after the 2nd chorus and it is similar but not the same descending as the other parts and not taught in this lesson. It goes directly from the 3-5 C to the 2-3 Em, then to A7 and to only the 1 fret on B string, then to G bass. It is extremely easy to hear it on the remastered 2009 record posted on TH-cam. It is also the pattern during the repeat of "You were only waiting..." at the end.
It's so tempting to arpeggiate the chords rather than work on the 'strumming' technique. Annoyingly, the rhythm relies so heavily on it! Fantastic video!
Fantastic as always, Justin! You explain things brilliantly!
Thank you loads, seriously great tutorial and I made sure to subscribe for more. This is the best video I've found to learn this song, and although at first I was worried I'd never get this song I've now nearly got it sorted. You explained it just the perfect amount, which is brilliant for me. Thanks :D
Hi Justin, your tutorial are top notch
Thank you so much for this lesson. I've always wanted to learn this song and I'm finally at a skill level where this lesson was exactly what I needed to get a grip on it. I am doing my strumming a little different than the way you are teaching it. My foundation is more towards plucking the strings in a more bossa nova style using all of my fingers. It's not natural for me to strum the way you do it, lol! I've only spent a few hours on it but I have a good handle on all three sections. Love it! Cheers!
Thank you so much Justin for letting everyone get to know the world of acoustic guitars! Greetings from Germany :)
Wow, cool, the happier version of blackbird. Earth, please give me strength to learn this.
how did it go
Sooo good and the meaning behind the song is amazing
You’re simply amazing! Thank you! I picked up a guitar for the first time 2 months ago and you’re helping me learn things I thought it would take years to get to! Thank you!