No Particular Place To Go Guitar Lesson (Chuck Berry)

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When it comes to the roots of rock and roll guitar, it all started with Chuck Berry. In fact, even John Lennon said on The Mike Douglas Show in 1972,
"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry."
In this post, I am going to dive deep into his guitar style and share key elements for playing the way he played. Specifically, we'll cover how he used classic blues progressions and double-stops in his iconic hits.
So grab your guitar and get ready to rock!
Who wrote No Particular Place To Go
“No Particular Place to Go" was written and performed by American musician Chuck Berry. It was first released in 1964 as a single and then later appeared on Berry’s album St. Louis to Liverpool.
The tune has a catchy melody and an upbeat groove that made it an instant hit, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking it as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
While the song was an original composition by Chuck Berry, its melody was inspired by the 1938 song "School Days" by Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards, which also featured the line "riding along in my automobile." Despite this, "No Particular Place to Go" remains one of Berry's most popular and enduring hits and a beloved classic of the rock and roll genre.
No Particular Place To Go Chords
As with many classic Berry songs, they follow standard blues progressions. You’ll only need 3 chords to play this song. It is in the key of G and uses the I, IV, and V chords.
I chord = G
IV chord = C
V chord = D
As I mentioned above the song follows a typical 12-bar blues chord progression that is used in millions of songs.
Start by strumming just once per bar and practice switching between the chords in the correct order of the progression like this:
G (4 bars)
C (2 bars)
G (2 bars)
D (2 bars)
G (2 bars)
If you already know the 12-bar blues, simply plug the chords into the progression. However, there is one key point to note that you'll see repeated in many of Berry's hit songs.
Take note of the last 4 bars of the turnaround progression, which end with 2 bars of D and then return to 2 bars of G. Berry often wouldn’t even incorporate the C or IV chord in the turnaround. On the other hand, incorporating the IV chord is another super common 12-bar blues progression that goes like this:
G (4 bars)
C (2 bars)
G (2 bars)
D (1 bar)
C (1 bar)
G (2 bars)
But again notice how Berry actually just keeps it simple with the D (V) chord for 2 bars and then back home to the G (I) chord for 2 bars.
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[@jonmaclennan]

👉Never get lost on the fretboard again with my FREE Fretboard Guide PDF → www.jonmaclennan.com/fretboardguide

[@garyzies3486]

The Chuck Berry man made millions with that......

[@drewdietz2115]

another fantastic lesson, thanks my man!!!

[@munsonHOF]

Another great lesson.

[@bobchristopher7383]

Great lessons…You are helping me learn a lot…Thanks…Cheers Bob 😊

[@Steve-dk7ec]

If I didn't particularly have to go to work........🎸

[@blackprince4074]

Hi Jon one question I am looking forward to you giving us the tutorial on Howlin Wolfs song 'do the do' I've been trying to learn it by ear.l.

[@naveedazam4566]

Great to see you back with a vid - I was getting worried!

[@williamnewkirk127]

Me too!!

[@SlowPersuit]

@@williamnewkirk127 You are back too?

[@williamnewkirk127]

@@SlowPersuit LOL No, I’m
glad to see Jon is back as well.

[@SlowPersuit]

@@williamnewkirk127 SO Jon is back as well as you! Yay!
Lol!

[@SlowPersuit]

@@williamnewkirk127 Thats three of you now!
;-)

[@UnpleasantChuck]

Enjoyed the video, Jon - thanks!
But you didn’t show that delicious, somewhat dissonant chord that kicks off the tune!

[@draster541]

You forgot the first chord at the beginning. Otherwise excellent Tutorial.

[@jonmaclennan]

D7aug here is a lesson th-cam.com/users/shortsMblrr7TGmus

[@Anne6621]

for 50 years i have been saying it should be a law that if you want to play the guitar you should be required to become proficient in playing Chuck Berry

[@harveyhensley875]

Chuck Berry's music always seemed dated and old-timey to me growing up, especially compared with what came right after (British invasion, Hendrix, Highway 61, etc.). Plus, Chuck never updated his sound or changed with the times. Appreciate his music much more now, as well as his influence as Jon points out. He was certainly a perfectionist as a musician. I don't think it is still on youtube, but there was a video of him making sure Keith Richards played the riff from "Oh Carol' properly.

[@Dontplayguatir]

😂😂everybody ripped off chuck he influenced everyone

[@harveyhensley875]

@@Dontplayguatir true, and Chuck borrowed from, and acknowledged his debt to, Louis Jordan. More controversial is the role of his pianist, Johnnie Johnson (who sued Chuck over songwriting credits to this very song).