British guitarist attempts to play like Johnny Winter! (with little success!) 

Just like Billy Gibbons said: "When Johnny picks up a guitar, you never know quite whats gonna come at ya. But whatever it is, its gonna be good"

I've seen Johnny 6 times...and nobody can duplicate how complex his playing truly is/was. In my opinion...Johnny was the ultimate "master guitarist of the blues."

I opened for Johnny in Cours, France. It was the concert before his last show when he died. He was one of my hero's. Everyone after sound check went back to the hotel but Johnny stayed...so I stayed. There was a door between our dressing room. I could hear him quiet. So I slid my chair up to the door and sang to him with my hand drum for at least 30 to 40 minutes. He never said a word... he probably fell asleep. Lol. He was so old skinny and frail...they had to carry him about. As I was walking onto stage I walked by the bathrooms I looked and there He was sitting on the throne with the door wide open looking out. What a way to see him. But I have heard so many stories... he did one more concert and then he died. I loved his playing since I heard him when I was 12. I am 63 now. ❤

SRV came close but nobody was a faster, or better, blues rock player than Johnny Winter

I used to be a SRV freak.... Still am a fan..BUT When I started to REALLY PAY ATTENTION.... And my guitar playing got better.... THATS When I noticed what a badass Johnny Winter was!!! And a lot of what I heard on SRV. Songs came straight from Mr Winter!

You will never see or hear a musician like this again . Never runs out of licks, and loves playing low notes in his solos.

I saw Johnny play several years ago. He was very frail and had to be helped to a chair onstage. He was still fire!

I saw Johnny twice in the 70's after I had been playing for quite a few years myself. I remember how mesmerized I was staring at his hands on the guitar. I was blown away! Thanks for dissecting Johnny in such detail Fil, never saw anyone do that before. Only a fellow guitarist can really appreciate someone like Johnny and it's great to see someone your age that really "gets" a talent like his. I wish he was still around.

Saw Johnny in about 1980 and was blown away by his smooth and seemingly effortless playing.

my brother inlaw was a studio musician who played on Edgar winter albums. he took me to the studio one day and Johnny was there playing slide guitar. i was star struck and amazed by his playing. thanks for keeping the music alive. you rock Fil

I was lucky to grow up in the Tampa Bay Area in the 60’s-70’s and saw Johnny and Edgar both several times. Great musicians both of them. Johnny was a great showman. His concerts had so much energy. Rest in Peace Johnny.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I met Johnny and Edgar in New York in 1975. Edgar had to hold the pen upright so Johnny could sign my program. They were both very nice, though. And talent!--the brothers had that in spades! WOW. Saw Johnny later, 80's & 90's in the back end of his career, and he was still on fire! His fingers were slowed down a bit, but he could still rock the house with his voice! Miss you, Johnny Winter!

Very much underated

My Brother Steve got the Nod from Johnny in a Toledo Ohio interview when asked directly To Johnny Winter "is there any guitar players that play like you and Johnny answered Steve Foster plays a lot like me! What a beautiful compliment and may they both now be playing together in Heaven. Steve Foster 2-10-54 - 2-14-2023 RIP both of them!

I worked at Houston's Love Street Light Circus back in the early '70s, when Johnny's band was part of the regular rotation (one weekend a month). I still think he's one of the best guitarists I've ever had the pleasure of seeing and he had a great sense of humor. Just a really great guy and very much missed.

Saw the Guitar Slinger in every decade since 1969 till he passed away.One of my all time faves

Johnny is unsurpassed as a blues rock guitar player. As much as I enjoy SRV, Johnny could play circles around Stevie. JMHO... I can't hear Johnny without thinking of the Great Alvin Lee. Both speed demons, without shredding. Every note meant something with those two guys. Thanks Fil.. Good job.

Johnny was tight with Muddy Waters. In fact, Muddy called him "my white son"

The bass player Jon Paris needs a spotlight video also!

Johnny was just the epitome of "in the moment" playing! He was so fluent, and such an inspiration to me.

I saw him at a small outdoor concert after he got out of rehab. It was a grassy area and I was sitting on my butt on the front row. At one point he came up in front of me and stood on my toes while he played a solo. The way he plays, just comes from endless hours of practice. He clearly played so much that it's all muscle memory.

Since the 1960's Johnny Winter was playing like no one else. He would combine blues, jazz and rock so effortlessly (Hustled Down In Texas, I Love Everybody, I Hate Everybody). Thanks for spotlighting a very under spoken about guitarist.

TIME STAMPS - 1:03 Performance Start 4:59 Analysis Start 6:00 Singing/Playing Lead Riffs 8:20 Daisy Chaining Licks 10:18 Hearing the Turnaround 11:51 Repeating Phrases 16:12 Double Stops 17:00 Vibrato! 19:07 Runs 20:34 Performance Resumption 24:29 Analysis Resumption 25:57 More Repeating and String Skipping!

Great playing...that Bass player is savage too

Definitely a hugely influential player who you always heard the guitar players back in the day (60s through the 80s) always mentioning him as one of their influences. I didn't get it until I picked up one of his albums in the early 80s and then it all made sense.

Speed, finesse and tone. Wow. Great rhythm section as well.

Johnny’s playing is so clean… nothing blurry… just like Albert Lee

I’m a classically trained musician...(piano and Harp)....but I LOVE listening to Johnny Winter’s guitar playing. His phrasing and musical ideas are so fluent. There’s a recording on RU-vid of him playing “Red House”. It’s like listening to a complex conversation. Amazing what he could do with a pentatonic scale. I also love your videos....great analysis !

I feel fortunate to have seen JW about 4or 5 times.. man I tell ya, when you leave the venue you know that you just witnessed something special. R.I.P. John Dawson Winter lll Good job man, thanks for posting a icon

Love Johnny!

I saw "Johnny Winter And" in concert at my university just after "Rock and Roll Hootchi Koo" came out. I was a guitar player and was blown away. Years later we did that song in my band. Fun to play and went over well. (It was the only Johnny Winter song in which I could do a passable lead). What impressed me the most was the bottleneck guitar playing of which he was the master. I saw him years later playing solo at a local theater during which he played acoustic blues. There were only about twenty people in this huge theater and most left half way through. Johnny was basically three sheets to the wind and just gave an OK performance except for his last song where his brilliance shown through. My bass player's brother, who did some photography for one of Johmmy's albums, attended a birthday at which Johnny, Rick Derringer and the rest played a set for Johnny's guests. Robby told us that Johnny basically played guitar all day long. One would have to to maintain that edge I reckon. Johnny was a frequent visitor to a local showcase club and could often be seen bopping with the crowd, or so my friends claim. He lived only a few miles from my area so it's probably true. -dave

My first introduction to the blues was Eric Clapton "Have you Ever Loved a Woman," from the Layla album. I must have been 12 or 13. It was so easy for me to embrace those blues licks and turnarounds. After that I discovered Johnny Winter and he had me always striving to be a better blues player with his beautiful masterful technique. I like what you said, "He could pull out any of those guitar runs and phrases from his back pocket at any time..." So true, his playing is so down to earth and smoking hot!

His picking attack, articulation, timing and phrasing is just so great.

Fil, top notch breakdown of one of my guitar heroes, growing up!

Thank you so much for keeping the memory of my favourite guitarist alive. I noticed that you kept smiling in wonder at all the intricate parts just like I do - I even start laughing at the pure joy of it at times. I was fortunate enough to see him live a year or so before he died and although he was sitting in a chair, he still had it! Have you seen his performance of Jumping Jack Flash on the Old Grey Whistle Test - it's absolutely sensational!

One of my early guitar heroes, reviewed by my favorite reviewer. Thanks, Fil!

Master Bluesman and an amazing singer too.

Johnny was like Robert Johnsons white son, I play and was around 14 when I first heard his version and solo on the cover Jumping Jack Flash, it scared the hell out of me, he was a genius, pure Texas bluesman. I can see in your face Fil,you know.

One of my favorite artists of all time. In early 70s I’d go days without listening ing to anything else. His thumb picking style made him almost impossible to play. So glad to see people like you appreciate this true legend.

Johnny Winter had such a great sound and played with so much energy .

oh man, my band opened for Johnny in '86(nowhere south jersey(US)). Helped unload his truck because no local crew showed!He killed! My band was soooo different(which worked) we were a proggy female vocal thing. The doorman/security dude (my budat the time) did a rocketship tat on his arm that night.Epic mem, you rock, man!

Always glad to see somebody who appreciates this Master. Not only a great blues voice -- complete with shouts and growls at just the right times -- but lightning quick with the blues riffs, all over the fingerboard. My personal favorite is his work on "Be Careful with a Fool", slow tune, but such amazing fast guitar runs from the intro and throughout. Rock on

Played my second winter album so many times. Love it

Love Johnny Winter, I saw him 3 times. Check out his version of Rollin' and Tumblin'.

Thank you for this. Johnny Winter is so underrated. He was a phenomenal, brilliant blues man. No theatrics, playing behind his back. Just straight up talent.

Hello Pegasus .!! Thanks for this good moment with Johnny winter .!!!and you have Always si british attitude ..!!

I saw Johnny Winter at the 1970 Bath Festival in England. It was the before the start of the gig, the stage was still dark and suddenly this amazing guitar playing started. Someone said 'thats the best guitar solo you have heard'.

Saw Johnny in 60s at a warehouse near my apt in Boston. Left due to earsplitting volume! Saw him again in 80s. A true master.

I love how much you enjoy your job.

Johnny Winter, one of my absolute favorites. I bought his first album when it came out; such an amazing musician. Good job, Fil!

What an action-packed performance this is, from all of them! Just love the blues sound here. You demonstrate so well how much crazy technique there is to appreciate.Thanks Fil for tackling this.

JW snapped the strings against the frets using his fingers and had amazing vibrato. I saw him in concert in 1986 in Melbourne Australia. He was still fiery and reasonably healthy back then. He played about 6 songs in total !!. Each song lasted 15 minutes. So many guitar solos !!!

Hi Fil, although I’m not a musician, I absolutely love your videos! I have learned so much from you...you are amazing and keep up the fantastic work! The Winter brothers are from my home state. 👍

Before Stevie Ray, there was Johnny Winter!

Johnny was one of my guitar heroes back in the late sixties / early seventies. I can remember like it was yesterday how blown away I was the first time I heard his solo on "Be Careful With a Fool" off his debut album.

Saw him blow the doors out of Bogarts Nightclub in Cincinnati, Ohio back in 1990, and was listening to his music long before then. He was an incredible talent. Johnny makes my top 5 greatest guitarists of all time seven days a week and twice on Sunday. Along with (in no particular order) Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Allman, Alvin Lee, & Jimi Hendrix.

GREAT Analysis!! ROCK

In 1984, Johnny Winter did a recording session, actually a series of sessions, with Dr John. The sessions were also filmed and are available on RU-vid. It’s interesting to listen to these two masters talk about all kinds of things music wise, including who influenced their playing. They do an absolutely amazing version of Johnny B Good, which I would bet was mostly improvisation.

All time favorite blues album is "Second Winter" blues and much more.

Yeah, very well done Fil, very well done. As you've mentioned in other videos featuring the guitarists of the 60s and 70s they were all unique in their own ways/styles and I was fortunate to grow up, musically at least, during those years. Having attended many concerts over the years the memories fade over time but I saw Johnny at Filmore East when he also had Rick Derringer in his band and I can remember it like it was yesterday because it was so great. Up to that point I'd never seen two lead guitarists trade licks and compliment each other so well. This was before The Allman Bros. Thanks again Fil for keeping these great musicians relevant you are a true guardian of the classics!!!

My english is very bad but I do my best....and I have to say , I like and learn much with your video !!!! Mister Winter Is a so great musician I listen and love for man and many years ( I'am 65 years old...) Thanks so much .

Thank you for this!!! He was the best!!!!

A steady stream of inventive blues guitar licks, driven from the heart and all designed to make you feel good. That's the essence of good boogie and Johnny Winter is a boogie master.

My time is limited tonight Fil. I know Johnny Winter is and excellent guitarist musician and your analysis are excellent as well. without watching your video You get two thumbs up by me! 👍👍

He would play for hours if he could get away with it... One time at the Lone Star Cafe, NYC, Johnny was told 'last song" that neighbors were complaining. So he began his last song and played for a longtime and without stopping he asked someone in the audience to play his guitar so he could go use the bathroom. They did that without stopping the music and slipping the guitar off onto this guy. Johnny took his sweet time and came back and the song kept going while he slipped the guitar back on from the other guy as they played doing this. The audience ofcorse loved this and Johnny played at least another hour 😮... everyone went wild!! He was a big bad show boy always!! ❤

Fil, the look of delight on your face during the video is priceless, watching a modern day blues/rock master like Johnny is fantastic and is a big miss in the music universe, check out his "Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo" absolutely fabulous playing and vocals. Keep up the good work kid and always look forward to the next one.

Yipes! 2nd look thru it, this time paying more attention. Best I've seen/heard of Johnny, since Johnny Winter and Live.

At the same year for SXSW, we saw Jr Brown, and Jimmy Vaughn! Along with other great bands!!!

I saw him twice in little bars years apart after growing up loving his style of blues God he was really something to see,the amps so loud it made my ribs ache from the pressure,awesome!! What a legendary showman he was.

Freaking brilliant! Love it! Thanks! ...Love the strict analysis! Woo hoo!

I was just talking with a friend about Johnny Winter. We had seen him live in 1973 in a little club scene like this. He could really play, mixing pick, thumb pick, finger picking, slide - very hot. It's a shame he was only known for a few songs on the radio. This video really captures him LIVE.

Awesome video, Fil. Johnny was the best!👍😎🎸🎶

Everything about this video is fantastic

Johnny Winter is amazing! Thanks for the post Fil

I saw Johnny Winter live, many years ago. It was such a great concert. I still have my ticket stub autographed. Thanks for sharing this analysis video. Cheers, Fil! ✌️

Heard them all. Johnny was the one. The best.

The best fast blues player even to this day

Well done - I really enjoyed! Thanks for sharing and the cool, insightful analysis!

very nice, Johnny gets his due from a British dude! Kind of like Alvin Lee in that he's tough to copy. Love the line "to break it all down would take years"! Rock on dude!

I once saw Johnny and Alice hangin' out. It was cool. I like Johnny Winter "And" the best

Singing and playing leaves guitar always amazes me because I can’t do it… Johnny winner Pat Travers, a number of people are able to do it and do it well.. I’m thankful they are out there.

Saw him in 2010. I swear he never played the same lick all night. Amazing.

He changed up the rhythm single line at 20:45 into something not as off-set as what he opened with. It's amazing that Johnny could sing and do syncopated guitar at the same time. Astounding endurance, too.

When JW was a kid of 13 or 15 he said he knew he was good and it did it didn't come across as arrogant. He said B.B. King was jamming in Beaumont Texas and let 15yr old Winter come up and jam with him. Thanks Fil. ✌️

I’ve tried several times to play using Johnny’s technique. Never have been able to master thumbpick and can’t use a slide with pinky. The man was amazing in HOW he played.

Love watching your videos! As a longtime self-taught guitarist I really appreciate your lessons and humble personality, you've shed light on and given name to a lot of guitar theory that I've always known by ear but never formally learned. I think I've found a new favorite bluesman in Johnny Winter as well, thank you!

Every time I watch Johnny perform I’m totally blown away! I remember one time when Johnny sat in with G.E. Smith and Saturday Night Live Band! Wow! Tremendous guitarist!

I shared a cross country flight with his brother Edgar a fees years back. I didn’t recognize him but we had a great, wide ranging conversation all the way. Early in the conversation he introduced himself as Edgar. Later he asked where I was headed. I told him I had a gig in Kansas City. He replied he had a gig in Topeka opening for ‘the girls’ (Heart). I then put 2 and 2 together and knew he he was. He asked if I was free the next night and had me as his personal guest at the concert. Very, very nice humble man and talented just like Johnny. I was saddened to hear of Johnny’s passing and wish Edgar all the happiness and joy he and his brother brought all of us.

I have listened to Johnny Winter for 50+ years. He is my favorite and I never get tired of any thing he does. I particularly love the jumpin jack flash from the Johnny winter and album. Gives me chills every time I hear it. Thanks for the breakdown here. You rule!

Always appreciate your commentary. I have been a Johnny Winter fan since high school in the early 1970s and you help me to appreciate Johnny's amazing guitar even more.

Thank you Fil, You are so spot on and I enjoy your videos often. I had the good fortune to see Johnny live shortly before his death. He still had 'it." Also I dodged his security and got a one on one in his bus. And an autographed LP cover. RIP Great Bluesman. You were one of a kind!

Johnny was and always will be the ultimate badass on the guitar

Thanks for this detailed analysis, I'm a fan of Johnny Winter since a long time, and I transcribe his solos, and every time I am amazed with his extraordinnary guitar playing, really what a guitarist it was!

Hats off to anyone who can pull them off Alvin Lee Frank Marino Johnny Winter Lightning licks galore 😎

Ring the bell for Fil sending out Johnny Winter's Sound the Bell on Wings of Pegasus.

Great lesson! THANKS!

I am a big Johnny fan. Saw him too many times to remember. I recently found a Johnny Winter cover band called Winters Bone.

What people may not realize without listening closely is that bass player is kicking serious ass enabling Johnny to shine

Really enjoyed your work on this thanks Fil. Saw Johnny with this exact band in the mid 80s, playing this 'streaming' style of high energy blues. This was at the best concert venue in town with the full house all seated, theatre style. So it was kind of a strange setting, and it was mid-winter with Johnny seriously under-dressed as in Fil's video. The band threw themselves into it all the harder. For my money Johnny's backing of Muddy Waters on 'Mannish Boy' (Muddy's ' Hard Again album from 1977, which Johnny produced) takes the biscuit. A very different, call and response style of rhythmic slow blues, but some of the heaviest live blues ever laid down. Johnny's sparse selection of lead notes is outstanding. His 'hollering' vocals even more so.

I saw a Johnny back in Buffalo in the mid 1970’s. The whole crowd would yell with that Johnny growl. It was fun and he rocked all night. Probably around 10,000 people there. The old War memorial hockey rink. My buddy’s older brother was a killer guitarist and had a studio in his basement. He talked to Johnny backstage and Johnny came over and they jammed until sunrise. I had wished to have been there.