JOHNNY B. GOODE – Guitar Lesson
Perhaps the most influential guitar riff in rock history. Some R&B purists considered Chuck Berry a traitor and sell out …. but it is undeniable that his riffing has formed the basis for countless solos in the years that have followed. Here's your vintage Johhny B. Goode guitar lesson!
Note: This set of tabs is in the original key of B flat:
NC Bb
e|----------5/6-6-6-5/6-6-6-6-6-6------------------------------------|
B|-------6--5/6-6-6-5/6-6-6-6-6-6-9-8-6-6----------------------------|
G|---6h7--------------------------------6h7--------------------------|
D|-8----------------------------------------8-6--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-----|
A|-----------------------------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-----|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb
e|--------------------------------6----------------------------------|
B|-6-----6----------------6-------6-------6-------6-------6----------|
G|-6-7-8-6h7----8b9--8b10---8b10----8b10----8b10-----8b10------------|
D|------------8------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb F Eb
e|-------------------------------------------6---9-8-6------------------------|
B|------6-------6------6------6------6---------6-------9-8-6-6---8---6--------|
G|-8b10---8b10----8b10---8b10---8b10---8b10------------------6h7-8---6h7-7----|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------8-----8----|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb F
e|------------------------------------|
B|---6---8-6--------------------------|
G|---6h7-8-6h7-7/---------------------|
D|-8-----------8/---10-10-10-10-10----|
A|------------------8--8--8--8--8-----|
E|------------------------------------|
A
Deep down in Louisiana, close to New Orleans,
A
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens,
D
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
A
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
E
Who never ever learned to read or write so well,
A
But he could play the guitar just like a ringin' a bell.
CHORUS:
A
Go! Go! Go, Johnny, go! Go!
D
Go, Johnny, go! Go !
A
Go, Johnny, go! Go!
A E
Go, Johnny, go! Go! Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack,
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track.
Old engineers would see him sittin' in the shade,
Strummin' with the rhythm that the drivers made.
When people passed him by they would stop and say,
'oh, my but that little country boy could play'
CHORUS
His mother told him, 'someday you will be a man,
You will be the leader of a big ol' band.
Many people comin' from miles around
Will hear you play your music when the sun go down.
Maybe someday your name'll be in lights,
Sayin' 'Johnny B. Goode tonight''
CHORUS
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Fantastic lesson! Two nights and I've got it! Way beyond what I thought was possible at my level of playing. If there is a perfect guitar lesson, then you just nailed it.!!! Every one of your lessons has pushed and challenged me along with teaching me new techniques. I guess it takes a genuine teacher to teach good guitar. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know how everyone else feels, but your lessons are perfect for my skill level. I'm in duck walk la la land tonight!!!
So happy to hear you are thriving Terry … thanks!
I feel kinda like Terry does, and I've been playing for 30+ years. It's a lot easier to let you show me what I'm missing in a song, than it is to sit and figure it out on my own. I don't read music, so the way you teach is perfect.
You taught me how to play JENNY, after all these years. You are making me a better player, Jackson…Thanks!!!
Richard
Makes me happy to hear stories like yours …. keep up the good work Richard!
now this is alittle more advance for me, but the way jackson breaks it down i know
i can do it,thanks for this great lesson
Thank you so much for your lessons. I got away from music for years because of juggling time for athletics and time for music. Your lessons make it easy to practice no matter what level because its actually songs you enjoy. I am also one of those people who learn much faster through visuals than reading song books, tabs, guitar magazines, etc…Plus, you seem to get that people want to learn songs that they love which leads to them practicing more which leads to better guitar players. Sadly, my 5th grade piano and guitar teachers could not figure out why I was not interested in Classical music teachings at 10/11 years old while Nirvana, Oasis, emerging Dave Mathews, were on the radio and having a mom who loved the Stones and dad who loved Merle Haggard, Hank, Hank Jr, Cash, etc… Thanks for keeping us interested.
Your story is a great but not uncommon one. I’m really glad to help re-spark your interest! Take care Dusty!
Man you are an awesome player and a great teacher. There are many teachers on the web, good and not so good but you are up there in the top level. Fantastic
Thanks a bunch Neil!
Jackson…great lessons, i love the way you play the guitar….you really Rock!!!! and the way you teach how to play classic song like Johnny B. Good, really makes me pratice a lot to become a great player like you are…thank you so much. By the way, what is the amp settings for this song??? Greeeting from Bogota, Colombia
Thanks Edgar …. depends on the amp really ….. a bit more overdrive than normal so preamp up a bit.
Hi, MENTOR!
Thumbs up & bravissimo !!! Just incredible! Your tutorials boost inspiration.
BR, Vladimir
Makes me want to go out and buy an electric guitar, as I only play acoustic, many thanks.
You are most welcome Bill …. and by all means … grab an affordable electric and have some fun!
Bravo majstore! Hvala!
You sent Johnny B. Goode again Jackson, I just got the lesson last Sunday!
A glitch in the matrix perhaps??
I have tried to learn Johnny B Goode on the original way, but somehow I can't play it. Your version of it ROCKS! And it encourage me to play different version of any song. I have always thought, that the original is the only way to learn songs, but this let me think – that my thinking may be wrong. You are a true teacher.
Thanks so much Petri!
Hi! Jackson,
I've just joined your website and I'm glad I have. I'm just practising Johnny B Goode. Your explanation of the lesson is in simple to understand language. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Colin!
Always been amazed by this song. Terrific riff and sound. Appreciate the lesson. I am very grateful
Thanks kindly Mike!
Jackson.
Thank you for sharing your talent as the Lord also bless you with a much greater talent and that is of giving. You are giving us so much hope for guys like me that I consider kind of intermediary guitar player, but I have play the guitar on and off through the years. Could you send me the tabs to Johnny B Goode in the Key of A? Thank you,
Thanks for the background to the song — Louis Jordan's guitar player, Carl Hogan. The song Ain't That Just Like a Woman is thankfully on Youtube. Louis Jordan's music is definitely worth checking out in it's own right as well as for the direct and indirect influence it had on the bands you mentioned and bands as diverse as the Sex Pistols and ACDC. Even BB King recorded an album in 1999 called Let the Good Times Roll The Music of Louis Jordan. It's also a good album.
It's too bad Chuck didn't benefit financially from other players using his music as much as they did. This may have been one of the reasons he kept touring until long after he should have stopped.
Thanks for the the thoughtful and well researched post!