CAN: The Guitar Lesson 

Can, Wire, Gang of Four, Lush, John McGeoch, Link Wray, Felt...Adrian confirmed as coolest ever guitar teacher

If you weren’t certified as the greatest guitar teacher on RU-vid already, THIS seals the deal. Class act Adrian. Keep on keeping on

I WANT MORE CAN guitar lessons.

I never thought I'd see the day someone broke down Karoli's style!!! You rock mate

Oh man, I love Can! One of those bands where even if you are playing bass or guitar, you are basically playing a drum. Everything plays to the motorik beat; it’s just great!

Best band of all time

Appreciate these helpful hints from a fellow Can fan.. There's often a structural simplicity in a Can track.. They sound totally unique and yet so familiar like you have known them all your life.. I'm talking about their very accessible shorter foot tappers like vitamin C, moonshake, dizzy dizzy, I'm so green, she brings the rain, future days.. I love Can and they show us how much can be drawn out of a couple of chords when 4 musicians really listen to each other. CAN are inclined to mess around with stripped down syncopation and they developed a groove that put bass and drums front and centre with vocals more like another rhythm instrument and keyboards too. Michael karoli had a gift for understatement too.. With his love for using less notes he reminds me of Robert Fripp on Red especially.. You actually can say more with less.. The way Can will go Back and forth between 2 sustaining or clipped notes is something they do so effectively, that simple repetitive cyclical approach has given birth to the best music I know, the less each person plays the more room left for the others and it really sounds like tracks come about after jamming them for hours, days, weeks even.. Until playing less notes per bar is hard to imagine... Lots of rock musicians end up over playing, shredding I think they call it. Punk put back some DIY simplicity.. Here's 3 chords - now form a band! Can had a raw energy live and an immediacy they were getting from all the time they allowed themselves for improvisation.. Locking them selves away in an actual castle.. to jam and don't forget to press record. I've been listening to CAN loads lately, sometime before lovely DAMO died recently..The Infectious beats of Jaki plus the simple thunder from Holgers bass get strangers to CAN moving, I know this because I've taken to playing mother sky, you do right, red hot Indians, chain reaction etc etc in the streets on a little JBL wirelessly connected speaker to my phone.. Peoples faces light up!! CAN MUSIC, I swear down, moves through the air in slightly different way... It's that simplicity again... Even when karoli is throttling the neck til it screams, it'll be screaming in a just a couple of notes.. Why use a couple of notes when a few thousand will easily do?!! There's a lot of great music out there in the big wide world.. Of course there is. But CAN have an approach to music that is transferable across the generations and genres to a degree.. that is - to keep it simple because that helps you all listen to each other as you're playing together, If you stick at it, keeping it simple, your jamming will sound so much better.. You'll be able to churn out new music and in some ways dedicated NON - musicians have an advantage over many competent players who might be tangled up in their own knowledge and ability.. I have seen this in action and I'm only saying this to encourage non musicians to play rather than to deter competent musicians.! In CAN they were a mixed bunch with Ermin on keyboards and Holger on bass (and everything!) on the highly trained /virtuoso end of the scale and the others more intuitive. But they all wanted to create space and oxygen for each other. That seems to be the key to creating such brilliant music, that's the important transferable bit. It can work for you and me today. It is the same DIY approach that punk had, especially relevant for people with politics on their mind like Crass Patrick Fitzgerald or the poison girls but also brilliant enthusiastic amateurs like the Raincoats or the Slits, even Jake Thackeray and the Pogues who got very good quickly after being mainly self taught. Theres room for virtuoso players - they're everywhere after all! There is a unique energy in listening to the Raincoats live as you will them to get through a set without them completely falling apart!! For them it's not so easy technically but as a result of their bond they came up with excitement on stage and very original music that more traditionally trained musicians would perhaps struggle to arrive at. Their first album is especially genius and who else is brave enough to speed up and slow down so much?! I'm not asking for all music to start again from scratch following this set of principles.. It wouldn't if I did.. There's room for all sorts BUT this is my plea for a resurgence of the enthusiastic amateur bands to keep the torch alight... because(obviously in my opinion) it's created almost all the most vital, energetic sounds so far. Please (whatever your level) Keep on listening & making music together.

Adrian - I shouldn't be, but I'm still surprised when you do a lesson on one of my favorites. Love your easy-going expertise and the way you share it with us. CAN, Wire, Link Wray, Pavement, Gang of Four, The Stooges, VU and more! - it's as if you've been going through my record collection! And yeah Rob Thomas' giant CAN book (All Gates Open), is top notch.

Halleluwah! It's here!

dude I can't believe I'm now hearing of this band, you're right to be jealous of my new discovery, its gonna be fun. thank you

Great choice ! 'Mother Sky' is my favourite Can piece, especially the section early on when the whole mood changes and the big drum comes in - you know what I mean !

Super guitarist with great musical taste.

This video is great, part of me is a little sad that the magic of CAN can be found out and taught, i loved the mystery of their playing and its great you were able to do some lessons on some amazing songs, thanks.

I havent ever commented on a video before for anything. The excitement over this was too great for me to hold it in

Adrian remains the best guitar instructor on earth. Best thing about him is that he's incredibly easy to watch. He's just an all round pleasant individual.

I discovered your channel today and am really enjoying your trawl through some of the more obscure bands. What actually led me to your channel was seeing a documentary a few days ago about the Birthday Party called "Mutiny In Heaven" and in that Nick Cave talks about how Rowland S Howard was one of the most unique guitarists he's ever heard. Your video on Rowland S Howard really helped show off some of that uniqueness, Keep up the good work.

Anyone Can Play Can

I don’t think I can ever remember listening to a full Can album. I’ve either been too off my head or falling asleep to it. 😂

You're a lifesaver, dude! Thank you so much for showing how to play some of these! So few Can tabs exist because they're so technically complicated. Think I'll be learning Paperhouse and Mother Sky over the next few days :)

Not only do you teach, but you also educate. Since following you, you have broadened my taste and musical unfluences. Didn't know anything about this group. Cheers as always. Sorry if I'm repeating myself

Amazing!! I was 17 years old when, on a summer visit to England, I ran across a Can album called "Future Days" at a record store in Oxford (and it blew my mind). BTW, as many of you may know, Tagomago is an island northeast of Ibiza (I'm from Spain). You deserve huge amounts of kudos for your impressive stylistic versatility and good taste!!

That was a great positive surprise.I never expected Guitar Lessons for Can on RU-vid.Ein großes Dankeschön from Germany.

Thanks for such an informative video. My favourite band of all time, justifiably so I feel! cheers

Amazing Adrian! Great to see a guitar lesson dedicated to Can!

Brilliant work, Adrian! "I'm So Green" is one of the funkiest songs ever written. That and "One More Night" are probably my favorites from Ege Bamyasi, which has been my favorite Can album for many years. Thanks again for the A+ content. No one else is doing what you're doing, and it really is a breath of fresh air in the guitar YouTubiverse.

Thank you so much for this there is not enough guitar tabs online for CAN michael karoli is a very underrated guitarist

Brilliant video, so well done sir. As a huge fan love how you approached this. One thing you missed to say was the stated influence of Django Reinhardt. On reverb MK often really played with the effect referring to its 'green eye' as something he incorporated into playing

Really appreciate someone doing some Can. I'm inspired. Thanks.

I’ve got so many great memories with Can and collaborations involving Holger Czukay and Jaki Lieberzeit with other bands; Eurythmics, Jah Wobble, The Edge and David Sylvian of Japan. Thank you.

I have lately been waaaay down a CAN rabbit hole. This is a most welcome surprise!

WOW! I can't believe this. These days I've been founding many guitar songbooks that I haven't been able to find for years, for free. And all the time, I've been thinking - how bad that there are no songbooks of bands usually described as krautrock. And than you release this video, and once again prove my theory that you so often make videos that i need a lot, at the very moment i need them, like a telepathy. You are marvelous guitar teacher and irreplaceable for your continuous originality and quality of work.

Thank you for this. Not just for giving me some fun guitar parts to play but for spreading the word on CAN. I too am jealous of those who´ll be hearing them for the first time. Excellent lesson and equally excellent taste.

I really like the track Moonshake on the Future Days record. To me it’s like a precursor to the best Talking Heads material before Talking Heads even existed! Adrian plays this really well here.

You did us all a great favour, eternal thanks!

The mighty Can! What a treat, Adrian! Thank you!

This is amazing ,would love more lessons of can songs Can is my favourite band and even though i play guitar i hadnt learnt to play any of their songs becouse its challenging Please do more can

Proving again that you are the coolest guy on RU-vid. Thank you for teaching me something new.

👍👍 Brilliant "Oh yeah"

great list of songs, thank you

I think I‘m gonna learn some of these. They‘ll do me good. Thank you, Adrian.

What a surprise! One of my favorite bands with “Soon Over Babaluma” being my favorite album and Coma Sta my favorite track. On second thought, nothing you teach should really come as a surprise. Double thumbs up!

Thanks for reminding me of this great band, Adrian. I’ll re-aquaint myself with them.

What kind of guitar tutor are you? Adrian, the best! Never thought I'd witness a Can tutorial, brilliant stuff :). Karoli very underated imo

Moonshake sounds so good!

I discovered Can in the early 2000's and it was like a religious experience. The CAN LIVE DVD is amazing, and it was my "church" for a long time. Love the Karoli Strat, Adrian!♥

God, just a few weeks ago I was SEARCHING for a guitar tutorial of Paperhouse but no one had made a good one and I've been a subscriber for awhile. I eventually figured it out by ear. What a coincidence

Great video. The most obvious influence on that Outside The Door riff is Interstellar Overdrive.

I too, love Can!

Never got to see Can but was very lucky to see Holger perform years ago.

Thank you for this! 🎉

This came at such an apt time, I started listening to Ege Bamyasi again recently and I'm thinking I'm starting to get the album a lot, it's amazing that stuff came out in the early '70s

Adrian, your vids are so great, fun and helping me keep trying to learn...as we share a taste it seems in music I find your lessons especially helpful...also I want a Strat just like yours and Michael )....Ege Bamyasi has been a fave of mine since picking it up as a cutout at the college bookstore in 1977 !

Awesome band ! Thanks for the video 😎🙏

Adrian, it's almost as if you can read my mind (and see my record collection). Fantastic video!

Hey Adrian, your guitar channel is one of my favorites! I am very surprised and delighted (as a Cologne Native) so hear you talking in such a respectful way of the band Can! Yes the were one of a kind and I was lucky to meet Jackie Liebezeit himself, as in the 80ies I was hanging around with a Band called "Dunkelziffer" which is also worth listening too, in which Jackie played Drums. He was one of a kind! Unfortunately you forgot to mention Holger Czukay, whos was probably the mastermind behind can. Also his solo albums are absolutely stunning! If you haven't already, check out the album "Movies" one of my altime favorites! All the best and keep on doing your thing!!!

I concur; you picked the exact three records I would recommend 👌

Thanks a lot Adrian! Though living in Cologne for over thirty years (I used to frequent the same grocery store as Holger Czukay) and having bought all of their records on flea markets here, I never tried to play one of their songs before. And as always you picked the best riffs. Thanks again! (And I’m still hoping you’ll do a Richard Thompson video some day)

Thanks ace as ever.

Love Karoli and Can so much.

Love the white strat like karoli's

Love it, if you like, do the same for NEU! and Tangerine Dream.

She Brings The Rain was used in more than one German film actually; I went to a premier screening of one of them at the Toronto International Film Festival, back in the 1990s, and was pleasantly surprised when this piece of 'found' music came on over what I was watching. I can't recall the film's title, unfortunately, and wouldn't be at all surprised if it hasn't screened anywhere here ever again. I wasn't aware of the song's earlier film-related history.........** from an old-time Can fan (late '70s) , and an even older struggling 6-string fledgling

Amazing I love Can great video

Ohhh shit! Love this

Good stuff.

Adrian, I always look forward to your lessons. You've done a Danial Ash Bauhaus song but I'd love to see a Love and Rockets lesson. I'll be seeing them live soon.

What a coincidence. Can was referenced in a Steve Guttenberg "Audiophiliac" video yesterday. I had heard of this band but never listened to them. Steve's mention of "The Lost Tapes" prompted me to check it out on YT and I'm glad I did.

YES!

Perfect timing considering it is Michael Karoli's birthday today. Great video!

Thank you

some of the fastest clicking i've ever done in my life upon seeing this thumbnail

RU-vid is very absent of a lot of can covers or deconstructions. Thank you!

Thanks

Cool one

Can? Never heard it or of it. Will look for it now.

Everyone should play Can!!!

You’re such an important section of the guitar teaching community, along with people like Stitch Method etc with his more Grateful Dead and scales teaching, or Rick Beato kinda doing your style but more classic rock and pop analysis with an American presenting style.

9:00 this funky line reminds me the samba-rock rhythm guitar of jorge ben.

Hell yeah!!

Alright this is a big one.

What a lad

Finally

Can were The Grateful Dead for European leftist art hippies. I really identify with Michael Karoli and Snakefinger ( how about a lesson on him?) as a blues/rock guitarist who got into 'weird' music. Thanks for this video, Adrian.

I'd love to see Paperhouse in detail!

At 16:28 I see that as a kind of 1 6 2 5 progression using tri-tone substitutions for the 6 and the 5.

Brilliant….only you could have made this!

I am in for a treat

Never a bad lesson here. I would love to see your take on Amon Düül II’s Burning Sister/Soap Shop Rock from Yeti.

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Not a big Can fan although I really liked Hoger Czukay's work with David Sylvian. So I'm one of those people who has this band to discover. I just did a search on RU-vid for Can playing Paperhouse and Radiohead just jumps straight out that track at you and Radiohead are probably my all-time favourite band if I had to pick one. I always look forward to Adrian's videos on a Friday they just never disappoint.

You doo right ! Man, you got to move on ! You got to rock it tonigh!

Beautiful strat you got. What model is that?

My addled mind saw The Clean... so I'm here. Anything can happen

I believe he may have used a ring modulator too. Thought I read an interview about that. I think he built it with Irmin Schmidt.

Any chance you could do a lesson on Til Tuesday - Voices Carry (check out the live at the Ritz version). 80s dreamy chorused guitar riffs, pretty simple but there's some nuances and timing that could really use some explanation. I think it would suit your channel and style. Cheers!

Please please do Breadcrumb Trail

Listen to 'Mushroom' by Can Happy Mondays basically based their who sound/schtick on it. Not a Mondays diss BTW - I love the Little Hulton warriors

What were the Chords for paper house I see the em and d but can’t make out the one after

Yes we CAN 😂

It's Michael Karoli's birthday, he would have been 75 today.