Jason Isbell: My Life In Five Riffs 

6:38 "let me see if I can remember it." *proceeds to play every note perfectly*

One of the greatest singer songwriters/ performers of the day. A truly talented dude.

Easily in the top 3 greatest songwriters of this generation

For a guy that is pretty dang good at playing the guitar in several different genres, he’s extremely humble, acknowledging that he considers many better than himself. Very modest for one of the best singer -songwriters in the industry today!

+1000000 for the David Lindley shout out. Tremendous musician. Great record.

I got to open for this guy a few years ago. I've always loved his playing and music...but until you hear this guy perform live your truly missing out. Live bands should strive to be as polished as Isbell and his band.

After watching this I’m torn between giving my guitars away and trying harder to be better.

Honestly, he's the most underrated singer/songwriter of his generation. I saw him and his band live, and not many bands can go up on stage and pull off what they do.

Wow, and namechecks one of my heroes, the King of Polyester, David Lindley. DL’s work with Jackson Browne laid down a blueprint for lap and pedal steel in the rock/pop/folk contexts that has been unsurpassed since, although Sadler Vader and Jason pay wonderful respect in songs like 24 Frames. And the humility of Jason as he acknowledges the influences that brought him to where he is..... Lucky enough to have seen him live in Australia, and have the set list to prove it. So glad I saw him play. Along with Sturgill Simpson my favourite songwriter of this decade.

Just once, if like to make it through an Isbell concert without tears pouring down my cheeks from the sheer beauty of his music. It’s embarrassing.

Representing Tulsa with that Cain's Ballroom T shirt! 👍🏻. Caught him there a couple times myself! 😁

Cool to see him wearing a cains ballroom shirt. I remember watching him and the 400 unit in 2009 on the side stage there, maybe 50 people at the show, now he’s playing the arena down the street. It’s been really cool to see him and the band get so big.

Fantastic! Thanks Jason!

Love this...

5:44 has made me an Isbell fan for life

Damn, now I want to hear him and the 400 unit play Running on Empty...

Superb. Love the Running on Empty solo - I always thought it's in E so I learned something!

24 Frames totally makes sense once you hear play Jackson Browne

High class dude. Remember seeing him for free at hardley strictly in 2014. Great showman

Love Isbell... "Thought I had a good handle on bluegrass flatpicking when I moved to Nashville..." LOL

Jason is an awesome person. Singer and guitar player! Love his work!

So damn good! Thanks for sharing your talent and hard work.

Amazing writer and player. Love his work.

One of my favourite singer songwriters and great guitarist too.

Such an authentic and humble soul.

Wow, just thought he was a great songwriter. Of course he learned the riffs he grew up with like we all did. I underestimated his guitar playing as it was overshadowed by his incredible songwriting. Good problem to have. You are the man, Jason Isbell.

Love watching Jason play, especially slide. The fact Amanda had that guitar built for him shows just how perfect they are for each other!

That was seriously great.

Jesus man. So interesting to get some insight on his approach, techniques and influences. So not only is he a killer song writer lyrically, he also is a fantastic guitarist. Wow... Continuing to blow my mind. Right the f on Jason.

I love this so much....Jason is one of the best young talents these days and it so great to see him keep these names alive....I really love that he mentions Steve Gains......Most people dont know about him, Steve had only just begun his career and played on only one Lynard Skynard album and then died in the plane crash......Steve would have been right up there with Clapton, Page, Hendrix......there is no doubt ---Even Ronnie Van Zant knew there would be no way to hold that guy back, and that he would end up being a huge star on his own.

Unbelievable talent. Unmatched. But...you woke my dog when you were hitting those notes in the last minute 😄. Can't wait to see you in Cinci on July 18th!

One of the greatest American musicians living today

North Chas 2017 my bday gift from my wife saved my life seeing you JI. owe you one Brother. You took 4 deployments overseas off the brain for those 2 hrs.

Was driving home the other night and Running on Empty came on the radio and I was thinking what a great slide solo ,that growl with the Dynamics takes me to a place!Much like Jason's slide work growling and in your face.Awesome song writer!And he's right about Flat Picken you better bring some bacon grease LOL !

What a well rounded player. He can do it all.

Legend!

My absolute favorite guitar player. And songwriter.

Yes that was really awesome, playing gtar for about 12 yrs off and on ive been starting to get into these styles,

I don’t care what style Jason plays a song as long as he continues to write such deep, reflective songs. He is, in my opinion - the James Taylor of my generation. But what do I know? I’m just another songwriter.

Isbell =====> blowing my damn mind every time. He is an incredible singer/songwriter. An incredible guitarist. A student of music and a lifelong lover of guitar music. When I consider that we are roughly the same age.....wow. Just wow.

So good.

"Let me see if I can remember it." *Proceeds to fucking shred*

Jason: let me see if I remember how to do it.. followed by perfection. Much respect Jason and thank you for the exceptional music!

Living Legend

RIP David Lindley always loved Jason giving a shout-out in this video

An awesome singer songwriter and 🎸 player...

Love Jason Isbell, i'm from a little town called Fort Payne, Alabama, A little known town, only one other country group has come from there lol. Anyhow, I love hearing another Alabamian that is so talented and such a great singer songwriter.

As a beginner fan I got caught up in the story tellin songs which is special indeed but this video proves that the basics of love of roots of music of where it comes from of who it comes from of where it might go......proves.....there is hope despite the billion dollar radio.

awesome

Jason, your music and style is timeless and true! Glad to see you look so much healthier now. Traveling alone is my all time favorite. Thank you!

My goodness, this young man is talented!

Oooh Jason...so great to here. I am an airline pilot believe it or not. But I always take my guitar with me to hotels. Now I am blessed with a good voice but not so much playing. This is stimulating. Thank you, great words. I know you hate bar chords too... keep on picking and I do very much so doing that alternating bass and I am getting fairly good. I almost rock, but not like you, not yet. The sign of a realy good song is when you dont feel like something is missing when you play it on just an acoustic guitar tbh.

Great insight to a soulful player/artist. Dig how he really nails Lindsey’s lap sound on the ‘Strat’

Big time talent right there

Love the Gretch

Wow, not sure what to really say about such an honest and open interview. He covered everything and took credit for nothing but the love of playing guitar. Humble Pie? Maybe, seemed that way to me. The clerk sacking your groceries it the nail on the head. There are so many Talented people out there who will never get the chance to shine because they don't have the name and or the money behind them. I am not one of them.... I just always loved playing and having a good time with music. The greatest thing about the internet is finding great talent.

There are more of us than them. I'm pretty good with a thumbs up...... :o)

I have a whole new respect for Mr. Isabel.

I see a collaboration with Cortez in the future, hopefully!

I can relate

I know a little is an all-time favorite of mine! I'm proud to remind people, Steve Gaines was from Oklahoma...💯👋😎

This is probably a stupid thing to say, but I can never understand how a singer/songwriter/guitarist manages all the chord progressions along with the vocals. It seems like a monumental task.

The current torch carrier! x

People should be all over this shit! Great! x

Yes! I Know a Little. My favorite Lynyrd song from guitars. I've never tried to play it either.

Jason is a product of those who choose to be real.

When I heard "I Know A Little" by Skynyrd, I flipped out! Thought that was the coolest guitar riffs I'd ever heard! Wonderful stuff here!

10 People must call what they're wearin' an outfit.

Dope shirt

Jason is sucha fuggin hero. forget guitar. think music.

“ I never was good like my uncle, but let’s try it”.... blows the original away!! Very cool to say Steve Gaines was a Monster player, always felt Very cheated to not get even 2 more years (Albums) to see where he’d have taken it... Thanks Jase!!

"Lemme see if I can remember this..." uh ya you sure did.

This was great! I love artists who actually can play and the guitar isn't just a prop...cool guitar he uses for slide! No idea what it is...?

He is fucking great.

As a guy who plays guitar myself (not to be confused with a guitar player), I really appreciate the videos that show the player's hands. I know what the dude looks like...I want to watch him play. Love the video...disappointed in the camera angles.

Getting that pick to work with the other fingers is a trick.

So it was a lapsteel on Running on Empty. I always overlook lapsteels in rock songs. Now what was the Amp. Because that thing is like crawling out of the speakers good tone.

Nobody else alive can nail I Know A Little like that. Holy shit.

Well, that’s impressive. I know less than nothing about guitar playing. Jason obviously has a PhD born of experience. Amazing.

Couldn’t tell you one song this guy has written. That said, this is an awesome video and I will now check out his stuff

Sounds good to me.

If you watch the footage close, there is a spec on the cameras sensor. Right side middle. It’s in like every frame- can’t unsee that 😂😂 (camera nerd)

The way he played Cortez the Killer reminds me a lot of Children of Children, you can tell it influenced him.

2:20 we can all relate lol

kinda sounds like "25 frames" may have in part came out of "bells of St Mary"

Fuck dude, you are so talented. Or you practiced so much, Awesome.

I know a little I know a little 'bout it I know a little 'bout g'tar And baby I can guess the rest

That kids got a future I’m tellin ya

Legit. Any one playing Chet...legit.

Cain's Ballroom!!!

Neil Young plays 'Cortez the Killer' in Drop-D 6th string. The Em chord needs the 2nd fret/6th string to make the low E and when he goes to the D with the open 6th string, it goes "bwoooaarrgh".

fuck i really need to buy a martin

ever '

It doesn't get much better than the Cortez from WSP 4/28/02.

Children of Children is child of Cortez.

The rythom and melody at the same time came from the Carter family from a long time ago. The carter family before Johnny Cash ever came around had one of the best guitar players ever and SHE played rythom and the melody at the same time.

I doubt any grocery store cashier is a better picker than him lol. I get the point though

21 people are kinda weird.

this paradoxically makes me want to play for 20 hours straight, or to shoot myself b/c I suck so bad. Is that wrong?

Everyone’s strap falls off.