Suzie Q Guitar Lesson (CCR) - MOST ACCURATE LESSON ONLINE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
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Are you looking to improve your rock and blues guitar skills?
If so, this step-by-step “Suzie Q” guitar lesson is your ticket!
In this post, I’ll share with you the history of the song, the chords, the iconic riff, and everything else you need to know to get playing in the style today!
Who Originally Sang Suzie Q?
The original version of "Suzie Q" was sung by American rock singer-songwriter Dale Hawkins. Hawkins was often credited as the architect of swamp rock boogie. He wrote the tune during a booming rockabilly era with fellow bandmate Robert Chaisson, and they recorded it in 1957. Hawkins's version featured the brilliant guitar work of James Burton, who worked with many famous artists such as Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson among others.
What key is Suzie Q in?
“Suzie Q” is in the key of E and features a blues riff and chord progression. The original version by Hawkins and the later version recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) are both in the key of E and follow the same progression. The CCR version is a little bit grittier and swampier. The guitar tones have more bite to them, as well as a raspier vocal style from John Fogerty.
Susie Q Chords
One of the first steps you’ll want to do to play the song is to learn the chords. There are only four you need to know, E7, A, C, and B.
Next, you’ll want to plug those chord shapes into the chord progression. The entire song is just one looping 8-bar progression. I would consider this an 8-bar blues.
E7 (4 bars)
A (1 bar)
C, B (1 bar)
E7 (2 bars)
To get familiar with the progression, I would recommend strumming just quarter notes, which means four strums per bar on each chord. Count out loud as you go 1, 2, 3, 4. Tip: take note of the use of two chords in bar 6 when you change from C to B. This is essentially the turnaround progression of this 8-bar blues.
How To Play The Signature Susie Q Riff On Guitar?
Once you have mastered basic chord progression and strumming patterns, it's time to take things up a notch and add in some riffs. The main riff to “Suzie Q” is all based on the E minor pentatonic scale in the open position.
This scale pattern is great for coming up with cool riffs for a number of reasons.
-You can use all the open strings of your guitar
-You conveniently play common open-position chords and mix in riffs without having to jump across the fretboard
-You can add in low pedal tone bass notes to sound like multiple guitar players
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Terrific lesson Jon...I would have pick it out but without the bass line, but the bass line adds so much more to the tune. Thank you Jon and thank you to James Burton and Dale Hawkins. Love it...RRnR
Originally done by Dale Hawkins in 1957 with a 15 year old James Burton on guitar.
How did those guys get away with it back then.
Marketed as a rustic blues southern band maybe Louisiana guys, but really just a bunch of guys from California
This is a doozy.... So badass. Love learning these finger picking techniques. Fun stuff.
Yep, James Burton came up with the riff in a studio session for Dale Hawkins in the late '50's but was never credited for it, Hawkins wrote the lyrics.
He was 15 at the time.
wow
Been there dun that
Hi Jon Mac, muchas gracias por éste presente musical ✌️
Thank you for your efforts. I've gotta work at it, there aren't any shortcuts ! 😮😊
Just gal darn great man thank you
Fantastic lesson Jon. Played exactly like Fogerty. Thanks for posting. Any chance to do a second video on John’s swampy guitar solo????? Cheers👍👍
John YOU ROCK! Thanks for the lesson
It’s an old James Burton riff
He played the original riff you're right
Thanks Jon, great video again! Works perfectly well for me. FUN!! More from John Fogerty, please
I'm 69. Been three years without practice because of health issues. Got together with a friend yesterday. Realized how much I miss playing. Not a finger stylist. Gonna figure out how to play it with a pick. That bass line will be tough!
James Burton was 15 when he recorded that with Dale Hawkins. Smokestack Lightning was first recorded in late 50s. The Hawkins record came out in 1958. I am sure this "riff" was highly influenced by Howlin. It was who common for white musicians under Chess to separate white players and use anything they wanted from black artists. His first single was a Willie Dixon tune and Roy Buchanan played guitar.
Ownership is a grey area in old blues music especially delta, It’s something I actually love about it, they pay homage to each other
When the history is known and documented, it is black and white.
great work, anytime you might show some solo on this piece? thanks
super ! thanks a lot !
👍
James Burton
You rite! "Awesome" some
awsome
nice
I seen John Fogerty do it you do it better than he does keeping that top string going Ain't No Easy Task I've tried myself doubt I'll ever be able to do that one
Correct
My rhythm is so bad rn. I focused only on lead for so long I forgot the importance of rhythm, make a video & help me out!
It’s kind of a tricky rhythm cuz of the syncopation with the melody notes
bon cours manque la traduction française
Wow, that's quite the headline though not true. I see other people already mentioned James Burton. He wrote that lick when he was 16 going on 17. The beginnings of chicken picking. Back then when he was played for Ricky Nelson we used to buy the albums but we guitar players back then called them James Burton albums.
Yeah, that’s a weird headline alright. There absolutely is a riff in Creedence’s Suzy Q that’s lifted straight out of Smokestack Lightning but it’s in the second guitar solo, about half way through the song. I’d never made the connection before this. But he doesn’t mention it in the video. 🤔
so.........if you play it like this you'll find that it has no KICK
because this guy is ON BEAT, and a square ...........lay back in it
be COOL, daddy-o
...give it some kick, kids
It's a lesson, not a stage performance.
So bitchen! Thanks for the vids!
😋nice
Как палкой по забору !
Wouldn’t call this an easy lesson as the picking is complex! What do I need? A guitar that doesn’t buzz, ha. Spending too much time on humid beaches.
oh my god man ... these kind of riff like smokestack lightnin bring out the absolute worst of me i just can't manage to keep the bass going while playing the melody, i can do travis picking just right, pretty fast at that, but this is too hard for me nothing made it click for me, no offense to your lesson or teaching style man, i love your videos
Don't think the claim would stand up in a court of law.
1st?
Well, aren't you a special little tiger? Bless your heart.
Did nt steal Learn your history Get off your self righteousness