Easy Blues - John Martyn

by gffWillie 2. January 2010 15:59

Hello and Happy New Year!

If anyone ever elevated a live performance of the simple 3-chord blues to a different level it has to be John Martyn with his version of Easy Blues. I am sure I heard him play this the first time I heard him play but I could be mistaken. Whatever he did play was just as amazing, and literally blew me away. This was at a live gig at Les Cousins in Soho in 1960-something. I seem to remember someone saying they had heard him play it on a live radio broadcast about the same time, way before it was recorded on Solid Air, so I could be correct. The style used on Easy Blues is a bit unusual so here are some notes and a video I did a while back. Hopefully they will encourage you to give it a try.

Playing Notes

This version is in the key of A (or uses those chord shapes - the pitch may vary) so the chords are A, D7, E. You may prefer to use a capo and even de-tune the guitar for a different sound. The chords and fingerboard part are pretty easy to figure out. What makes John Martyn's offering so compelling is the extremely percussive, staccato picking technique. This is achieved mainly by rapid hammer-on and pull-off on the 4th and fifth strings and the trademark John Martyn right hand slap or tap.

If you want to have a go at playing this I would recommend you try just the picking first, without all the percussive embellishments I've just tried to describe. It can be tricky to include them and get the rhythm right.

Here is my rendition (no vocals). I learned it from the album and not his more recent live performances where I think he adapts his original version. I hope it helps you.

Video

(Originally recorded and posted on YouTube in summer 2008)

Willie

Tags: John Martyn, Solid Air, Easy Blues, video

1/15/2010 9:01:08 AM #

Willie, thanks for these notes. Can you tell me *exactly* what frets are involved in the hammer ons/pull offs on those 4th and 5th strings, assuming standard tuning (or one tone down from that maybe I reckon). I have *never*-despite many, many attempts- been able to get that 'roll/riff' he does correctly, tho' you have it down to a tee!! (in your video). Once I can get that roll off (which I reckon is pretty essential to the JM version of this blues), I will be more or less ok maybe, on this.
BTWay, I have a Les Cousins mp3 recording of him doing this if you are interested, along with a few other numbers (but maybe you have already?). He does it (Easy Blues/JRollBaker) somewhat differently to his SAir cover, much more basic and less 'fluid-rolling' with the hammer-on/pull-of sequence, tho' its still there, maybe in a prototype form.
-Cheers, Ian

Ian

1/15/2010 5:24:03 PM #

Hi Ian

Looking at later live versions by the man himself and video covers by others on YouTube there appear to be some differences from the Solid Air studio version. I don't know how accurate my interpretation of the picking hand is on this song. I just try to replicate the guitar sound on the Solid Air studio version, which is slightly obscured by the double bass so its difficult to be conclusive.

The hammer-on/pull-off action is a bit clearer both on this and live versions. With the Solid Air version its on the second fret of the 4th string, going to the 3rd fret of the 5th. So its:

4th string: 0 h2 p0 5th string: 3 4th string: 0 (where h and p are hammer on pull off)

and this is repeated and varied, also in the D7 chord.

I hope that doesn't sound too confusing but let me know if you are still unclear.

Re the Les Cousins recording, I would be really happy if you could send me a copy. Do you know what year it was recorded? This might confirm whether I really heard him play it there in '68/9 or whether it was just a hallucinatory experience induced by the thick fog of smoke there. I will send you my email address so you can attach it.

Thanks

Willie

gffWillie

1/29/2010 6:35:30 PM #

Unreal Willie, really wish you could do a breakdown of this, maybe a couple slower lessons.
I'd love to be able to play this, I am capable but just cannot work it all out.

Great one anyway.

Alan barton

1/30/2010 7:40:32 AM #

Hi Alan
A couple of other people have asked for this. Maybe I can give it some thought and put something together. Presumably you can get the chord shapes ok, just the picking hand causes confusion?

Willie

2/20/2010 5:54:34 PM #

Thanks for this. It's fantastic. But i'm slow. I need TABs. I know it's probably an arduous task but it would be brilliant. Any chance?

Justin

2/21/2010 6:22:42 PM #

Hi Justin. I am thinking of doing a few posts on Easy Blues, sort of breaking it down, first the chord shapes then the picking. I'm not entirely sure how I will do the latter, but I will give it a go.

Cheers

Willie

3/16/2010 1:57:46 PM #

Excellent website and a great resource. I would greatly appreciate any sort of tab that you could write up for this song.

Thanks a lot and keep up the good work!

Kevin

3/17/2010 3:05:00 PM #

Hi Kevin. Thanks for the comments. Been kind of busy of late but will attempt a few instructional posts soon.

Cheers

Willie

3/20/2010 9:49:47 AM #

Hello again Willie, well I have had some bashes..tentatively between attempting some other stuff of Johns..and I may have 'some improvement here', a bit from your message earlier to me. But..I agree with the other posters here...pinning down those elusive rolling-riffs (in respect of each chord change)on this one is much better with tabbed info', and I know how godforsaken a job that is, to sit down and start composing one, after finally working the stuff out-or even if played for many years!! So what present do you want me to send from Oz??!!
-All the best Maestro!
-Ian

3/20/2010 11:40:39 AM #

Ooooh let me think. .....If you could get me a Stepford wives version of Nicole Kidman whose only desire is to make me happy......."Hey Nicole, you couldn't run along to the kitchen and get me another tube of the ice cool amber liquid could ya?"
"Why of course Willie darling. And is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Well, now you mention it....."

Struth, that would be bonzo or even fair dinkum good mate!

Seriously though, I am trying to work get those posts together with some instructional videos which break the whole thing down. I've also started working on another post on JM's use of DADDAD but I might prioritise the Easy Blues stuff instead. Meantime keep working on that android Nicole for me.

speak to you later

Willie.

3/23/2010 2:13:25 PM #

Great stuff, this type of blues is incredible and I need to learn it! You've done a great job of playing it. When you do upload the posts will they be available from this website?

Liam.

Liam Smith

3/23/2010 2:33:36 PM #

Thanks Liam. Yes anything I post on gffWillie@YouTube will eventually appear here as well.

Willie

4/19/2010 8:41:22 AM #

Excellent version! Can I put my name down too on the request for some type of tab or much slowed down version - I'd love to get this piece down...

Barry

4/20/2010 3:34:33 AM #

Certainly Barry. Why don’t you register on the site and I will be able to keep you updated with an RSS feed or something.

In the near future I will be putting out a newsletter from time to time as well.

Best regards

Willie

6/20/2010 8:03:38 AM #

Nice work Willie,
i love the site, been working on easy blues, must have watched your video a hundred times, i'll get there in the end.
Put me on that list for a slowed down version,
all the best

Mark

Mark

6/29/2010 5:39:04 PM #

Thanks Mark. You are on that list.
Willie

3/3/2011 11:31:29 PM #

bon courage

programme vélo elliptique

3/15/2011 5:28:17 PM #

Do you conduct tutorials on this? I want to learn guitar!!! just post back to my site. thanks!

Facebooker

7/10/2011 6:05:55 PM #

I was searching in google for Easy Blues and landed to your page.Great post you got here. Very helpful and informative.I actually bookmarked your page for future reference.

Special Effects Equipment

7/14/2011 3:16:14 AM #

Great stuff

John

7/27/2011 3:10:31 AM #

Stumbled upon your website, and YouTube videos in my quest to learn Easy Blues. Good stuff so far, but please add my name to list of those who'd give anything for a tabbed, or slowed down version. Thanks for all the time and effort you're putting into spreading teh gospel on this fine guitarist.

Jack

Jack Powell

7/28/2011 9:51:34 PM #

Hi Jack. The best way to get added to the list is to register on the site.

Willie

8/18/2011 3:49:55 AM #

Just to say thanks for the video - it's taken me an awful long time to figure out what you're doing , but it has got me on the right track.

Bob Stockton

8/18/2011 10:39:09 AM #

@Bob Stockton. I'm glad to hear it Bob. Hope you will find more of interest here in the future.

Willie

1/11/2012 9:35:02 AM #

Hey Willie-great rendition of Easy blues? Really fluid & heartfelt. PLEASE indulge us in a Tab sheet of the song - it would mean so much to a lot of people, you'd be te first one in the WORLD to do so, & ....well I reckon John'd be proud of you!
Hopefully,
Jim

Jim

1/23/2012 7:21:51 PM #