This week folks we cover the second and third choruses of the guitar solo on Honky Tonk. The second chorus starts with an arpeggio on D minor which serves as the one chord here. Then we take the A on the high E string back a half tone to Ab to make the 4 change (Bb) while keeping the arpeggiated triplet going. Then moving back to the A note for the F arpeggio for one more measure before we go to the riff that everyone gets wrong. It is actually quite simple but unusual like all Billy Butler's solos. It's a perfect composition and one hardly anyone gets right so I am here to show you the correct way to play it. The rest of the chorus is simple blues riffs played with Billy's unusual sense of time and phrasing. The 3rd chorus is an exercise in right hand mandolin style tremolo picking and and sixth chord melody. Lots to work on here, good luck and enjoy!
Duke
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
roots
Billy Butler
Duke Robillard
Honky Tonk
Background listening: Honky Tonk by Bill Doggett
loop @ 1:00 solo 2nd chorus (D minor chorus) breakdown
loop @ 6:28 solo 2nd chorus slowly
$1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 | $1.4 $2.6 $3.7 $1.4 $2.6 $3.7 $1.4 $2.6 $3.7 $1.4 $2.6 $3.7 |
$1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 $1.5 $2.6 $3.7 | $1.10 $1.8 $2.8\6 $4.10 $4.9 $4.8 $4.7 $1.8^v 6 |
$2.8^v 6 $4.8 $3.6h7 $1.8^v 6 | $2.8^v 6 $4.8 $3.6h7 $1.3^v 1 |
$2.3^v 1 $4.3 $3.1h2 $5.3 $5.5 $4.3 $4.5 $5.5 | $4.3 $4.3 $4.5/7 $3.5 $4.10 $3.7 8 |
/9 $1.8 $3.9 $1.8 $3.9 $1.8 $3.9 $1.8 $3.9 $1.8 $1.7 $3.8 | $1.7 $1.6 $3.7 $1.6 $3.7 $1.6 $3.7 $1.4\1 4 1 $2.4 $1.1 |
$1.1 $1.1 $1.1 $2.4 $2.1 $1.1 $2.4 $2.1 $3./4 $3.3 $3.1 | $4.3 $4.3 $4.3 $4.3 $4.1 $5.3 |
loop @ 7:40 3rd chorus breakdown
loop @ 10:59 3rd chorus V chord
loop @ 13:39 3rd chorus slowly (2 times)
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$2./10.$1./8 $3. 7.$2.6 $2.6.$1.5 $2./10.$1./8 | $2./10.$1./8 $2./10.$1./8 $3. 7.$2.6 $2.6.$1.5 |
$2.9.$1.8 $2. 15.$1.13 $2. 9.$1.8 $2. 15.$1.13 | $2.9.$1.8 $2. 15.$1.13 $2. 9.$1.8 $2. 15.$1.13 |
$2./10.$1./8 $3. 7.$2.6 $2.6.$1.5 $2./10.$1./8 | $2./10.$1./8 $2./10.$1./8 $3. 7.$2.6 $2.6.$1.5 |
$3./9.$2./10.$1./8 $3./9.$2./10.$1./8 $3./9.$2./10.$1./8 $3.9.$2.10.$1.8 $3.8.$2.9.$1.7 $3.7.$2.8.$1.6 | $3./7.$2./8.$1./6 $3./7.$2./8.$1./6 $3./7.$2./8.$1./6 $3.7.$2.8.$1.8 $3.6.$2.7.$1.5 $3.5.$2.6.$1.4 $2.1 $3.4 $3.3 $3.1 $3.2 |
$4.3 $4.3 $3.h2 $2.1 $3.4 $3.3 $2.1 $2.3 $1.1 $1.3^v | 1 $2.3^v 1 |
Backing Track
Print Chords & Tab
Comments
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I think I'm comfortable with the meat of Honky Tonk, I know i need to tighten up the turn arounds which will be the focus for lesson 4, where again I am good with the main parts of the song. I'd really like to ease more into jazz/blues. I listened to Lester' Leap which i may no be ready for. Perhaps more 2,5,1 such as Satin Doll before the 6,3,5,1 (?) progressions.
Peter, When you say reference recording I am not sure what you mean? Duke
Hi Peter, I play that riff a bit slower at 7:10 and it might be eaiser to figure out from watching it from there. It starts with sliding down on the E string from Ab to F. Duke
Hi Daddyray, I use my thumb and index finger mostly but when I use a pick and fingers too I use my middle finger in combination with the pick. Duke