Post by larryguitar54 on Feb 12, 2020 18:24:02 GMT -5
So my band wants to do "Stormy Monday". That led me on journey. Often times when I want to learn a cover I go ahead and review every version I can find on ITunes or Youtube.
The starting point was the usual Allman, BB King, TBone, Clapton et. al. First thing I noticed is how each guy did it completely different. The song is anywhere from G, to Ab to C which greatly dictates the lead patterns. Also there are different grooves out there.
So had to decide which version I preferred. I kept coming back to Duane's treatment. The more I studied it for performance purposes the more I came away completely blown away with the genius of Duane. And I use that word sparingly. It's not just that he changed the 1-4-5 but it's also his whole sensibility in that lead solo. It's completely controlled but as powerful as can be.
I thought about something else too. He was in Daytona Beach playing the strip about the same time I lived about 15 minutes away. I can remember first Daytona as the first place I ever actually saw live long haired hippies smoking pot and hanging out around bars playing live music. I might have even walked by the Allman Joys playing but I wouldn't have know it.
When I went to Florida State U in the early 70's there was a lot of Southern Redneck rock in the air and as a guitar player I was thoroughly impressed with the guys who could nail Whipping Post and "Melissa". But it really wasn't my thing. I was more of a Hendrix psychedelia kind of guy.
But I've come full circle. The more I listen and think on it, "Yeah Duane was the guy." What I find especially astounding is the thought that when he played at Fillmore East he was all of 24 years old and had actually only been playing slide for maybe 2 years and only playing guitar for barely more than 10 years. Yet somehow he was 'that good'. I don't get that.
The starting point was the usual Allman, BB King, TBone, Clapton et. al. First thing I noticed is how each guy did it completely different. The song is anywhere from G, to Ab to C which greatly dictates the lead patterns. Also there are different grooves out there.
So had to decide which version I preferred. I kept coming back to Duane's treatment. The more I studied it for performance purposes the more I came away completely blown away with the genius of Duane. And I use that word sparingly. It's not just that he changed the 1-4-5 but it's also his whole sensibility in that lead solo. It's completely controlled but as powerful as can be.
I thought about something else too. He was in Daytona Beach playing the strip about the same time I lived about 15 minutes away. I can remember first Daytona as the first place I ever actually saw live long haired hippies smoking pot and hanging out around bars playing live music. I might have even walked by the Allman Joys playing but I wouldn't have know it.
When I went to Florida State U in the early 70's there was a lot of Southern Redneck rock in the air and as a guitar player I was thoroughly impressed with the guys who could nail Whipping Post and "Melissa". But it really wasn't my thing. I was more of a Hendrix psychedelia kind of guy.
But I've come full circle. The more I listen and think on it, "Yeah Duane was the guy." What I find especially astounding is the thought that when he played at Fillmore East he was all of 24 years old and had actually only been playing slide for maybe 2 years and only playing guitar for barely more than 10 years. Yet somehow he was 'that good'. I don't get that.
