I've loved the Beatles since they first arrived here in the United States. I certainly have achieved a deeper appreciation for their artistry watching your videos.
Paul is indeed an unsung guitar hero. I am a jazz guitarist used to navigating complex harmonies, playing up-tempo stuff, etc. Paul can't do any of that. But it took me 3 days of good work to learn the guitar part for "Her Majesty" to make it sound half-decent and I still can't play it as well as he does it on the recording. It's tricky to make it sound as natural and effortless as his version. Paul isn't a very technical musician but his musical instincts and feel are second to none.
Very informative, Galeazzo. It's great to see you uploading so frequently. Mull of Kintyre would have been a career defining hit for most people, but for McCartney it was just another song. He will be remembered as the Mozart of our time...
I am from NY and on a whim my best friend and I heard he was playing in Toronto the same weekend as the Buffalo Bills game we were attending. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see him and so we went. We were in standing room only seating and I hoped I'd hear this song. I wasn't aware that he never played it in the states at the time. Suddenly this intro starts and out come the Toronto Scottish Pipe Band to back him up and I still get chills to this day thinking back on how amazing that concert was for us.
THEY created this magic and YOU help us understand how and whats going on and what really makes it so fantastic. You do that very well and in a interesting way! Keep on the good work/Johan
Wow! Of all the songs Paul has written I would have said this is one of the most simple, and yet even in a fraction of such a song there is all this complexity. Respect to you, sir, for bringing this to light.
I have nothing to say except I more than greatly admire your absolute devotion to what is after all the best sounds that were ever committed to tape ... those of Lennon and McCartney. I started watching you years ago with your Beatles singing lessons ... somehow (to my discredit!) I lost track ... I'm sooo happy you have somehow randomly popped up on my phone! Thank you for all you do!
I'm currently learning it on the violin. On a violin made in Campbeltown in 1904 (that's where the song was written). I've named it The Mull of Kintyre Violin. It's definitely a great song that has hidden complexity in it.
I am so grateful to have found your posts. Being a Beatles ultra fan, as I know you are, makes your incredible explanations of their works all the more beautiful. I’ve watched every one of your posts in total awe. From Martha My Dear, Lady Madonna to Mull of Kintyre, your sharp hearing is amazing! I too play bass and a little guitar, so I maybe appreciate your explanations more. Thank you!
Just when you think you play it perfect…well it is deeply interesting and fascinating. And I totally agree with you, The Beatles had a way of making their music sound simple only if you did not pay enough attenton. Great video!
What you're talking about is not something hidden, or complexity, but the fine detail which exists. And indeed your observations are well made. Good stuff.
Galeazzo, I’m so glad to see you back on RU-vid; I’ve watched you for years. This one was fascinating. I went straight to my HD-28 and found that spot just outside of the rosette for the pick. Sure enough, there’s that tone! As they say, it’s the little things…
Sempre mi domandavo come un semplice A chord poteva suonare cosi' magico nella canzone ma non quando io lo facevo... Hai sciolto il mistero, l'hai azzeccato!! bravissimo!
It was number one on the UK charts for weeks in 1977. In the US the DJs were so blasé' about it they played the b side instead and turned Girl's School into a turntable hit.
This is so very true, I'm glad you pointed this out, there are so many gentle complexities behind the scenes As a guitar player who treats each string as an individual,,, like So many voices in a choir. I know when I sit and play everything matters and I paid close attention to the subtleties. I know for myself, the emotional element within you has a profound effect also as you bring forth style and music and especially the tones you wish to let sing out From your instrument...
I started learning guitar and I love this song - so was excited that it was relatively "easy". Ha! Your video is helping me improve my musical ear and better fine tune my playing. Excited to watch the Band on the Run video. Glad you're doing more solo Beatles.
Galeazzo, another labor of love from you. Please know that you connect with us around the world who love and appreciate the Beatles. I can always trust that you are going to share your comprehensive ear for detail with us.
Your second point: I have heard it all the time though I rather thought there were two guitars involved, also, the sound seems to be processed somehow - though I might be wrong with that. However, when I saw the title of your video I knew that you will talk about that particular change between c sharp and e as top of the chord. Great stuff!
wow, well done!! I can't believe how technical and detailed Paul went into this when making this intro... how long did it take him to come up with that combination to make that sound for just a small part of the song? Knowing him, was just second nature, like breathing lol
I think the first two clues were instinctive and the last one (muting the first high E string) was more of a "production" embellishment that came out after relistening to a previous take. These are not the only tricks in this intro, there are two or 3 things that I left out because it was too much and it's better TO LEAVE SOME MYSTERY AROUND ;)
I think Paul played without using a pick. You can hear how bassy his plucked notes are from the flesh of his thumb and you can also hear how it sound like a similar playing style to 'Yesterday' which was played without a pick.
Galeazzo - you have a beautifully sensitive ear! And your generous sharing of your insights enriches our understanding and appreciation of the very special music of the Beatles. Thank you.
Wow... I couldn't agree more: while playing, dynamics, accents and articulation (how a note or any other musical event is sounded) make all the difference in the world... when you get those things right, anything you play is infinitely more pleasant to hear. And only practice can make you good at it. Now... since the Beatles didn't have any sort of formal training, I suppose that they (all of them) were simply blessed by innate 'musicality', which is the gift that makes your playing sound catchy and appropriate. My compliments, dear Galeazzo, for the ear, the skills, the passion (and the English) 😊.
I believe he plays guitar this way; it is style that repeats . On piano he plays in a style alternating left bass notes on off beat of treble melody, Ie: Let It Be… he seems to play that style on many things. Back to his guitar style , the muting before beat 1 so as the clearly accent beat 1. I automatically do such things too, but I never really notice it is just a style. The sixties folk things had a lot of interesting things going on with strumming styles and grace notes. I agree with moving along the string for particular sound quality /timbre. Last six or so years I use different picks for different sounds : such as a very very thin pick-I like the percussive click the pick adds. Microphone placement is a whole other thing… Paul really is very hard to copy when it gets right down to it.
You're thinking of his first album "McCartney" on which he overdubbed all the parts himself. On Ram, he contracted session musicians in both London & NYC.
Hello. Could you make a video on how play correctly "I Will" ? Because it's hard to find video who show us the most trully way to play this song. Thanks !
Amazing! I bever noticed any of this but, being an amateur guitar player myself I can tell I consciously apply some of this "tricks" when playing! When I want a crunchier sound , specially when I play a riff originally meant for electric guitar but in an acoustic one, I hit the strings closer to the bridge. And I always emphasize the sound of specific strings by hitting them harder than the rest, like trick no. 2. Very interesting to see that Paul applied this to this song that I always loved.
ive always noticed that on the first notes of the song he strums twice but then kinda hits a string and it makes a third noise? do you think this was intentional or what
thats amazing, i woulda never asociated some of those tricks, as 'mechanical'. With the unique blends of talents possessed by the beatles, and chemistry between them, its no wonder I love them so much. Either way, particularly when seeing how you break things down, I'm always wondering how much of that was due to George Martins influence. Thank you for this, and all your posts!
Well this was amazing. I love "Mull of Kintyre" and I have loved it for years. But I saw the title of this video and thought it must be a joke. "Complexity?!" It's just an "oom-pah-pah" waltz rhythm - this is one of the easiest introductions of any song ever written! Or so I thought. Your video made me truly hear that opening for the first time. I always thought "Only Paul McCartney can get away with being so simple." Now, I'm almost embarrassed-especially that I never noticed your 2nd point here. Actually, I've noticed it, but never really thought it through. I must have thought my ear was playing tricks on me. "Obviously, it's just root-strum-strum, right?" is what I thought. Well, I thank you for clarifying what is really going on, and doesn't it further underscore how brilliant Sir Paul is? Most composers/musicians wouldn't have bothered to add that "complexity," that little extra something that makes a song stand out from the crowd.
Galeazzo, firstly I love your work, so much. I have a special request for you ... could you please make a video all about the exquisite, most beautiful John Lennon song "Out Of The Blue" .. this song has a magic all of its own .. it is so, so moving .. please do seriously consider doing this. All the best.
I became a lifelong Beatles’ fan when I purchased the 45 rpm A Side single, “Eleanor Rigby” and B Side single, “Yellow Submarine” - both on one tiny record (for those who don’t know what 45s are - not being condescending, just informative). At the time, I felt that any group capable of creating two distinctly different masterpieces, in their own right, deserved to be taken seriously. Shortly thereafter, I heard the song “Here, There, and Everywhere” plus the album “Magical Mystery Tour”, and I was hooked! At the time, I didn’t know that most of these creations were Paul McCartney’s, but that didn’t matter because I loved the music (and lyrics). All of this inspired me to begin the lifelong process/pursuit of learning the guitar, with the goal of walking in the musical footsteps of my heroes. Playing their music has only enhanced my appreciation of their individual playing styles, and of the creative genius of each. I listen to their music (as Beatles and solo artists) with my heart and my mind. To be totally honest, I would have to say that many of their songs touch me deeply into my soul too. Songs like, “The Long and Winding Road” (McCartney) can still bring tears to my eyes. So can “Little Willow”, “So Bad”, and “I Don’t Know” by McCartney and “Girl”, “Woman”, and “Oh My Love” by Lennon to name just a few. I think what we analyze today re: Beatles and their solo music, is the intellectualizing of what they intuitively did naturally. I thoroughly enjoyed your video about the introduction to “Mull of Kintyre”, another one of my myriad favourites, but I feel/think that this is just the way that Paul plays guitar - hit the bass note, and his particular strumming style (with limited high “e” string because he is setting the tone or mood with his intro, and the high “e” is a sound that gets introduced later in the song). The Beatles, John Lennon in particular, were very adept at making one acoustic guitar sound like several just by how and where they strummed, plucked, or picked. Their music is challenging to play - to get their sound and style just right, but to try to do so is fun and fulfilling. I can not say enough positive things about Paul McCartney the musician and the person. I’m just happy that The Beatles happened during my lifetime! Thank you for your excellent video. I look forward to your future videos that analyze Beatles’ songs. Ted
I appreciate the kindness of your comment and your appreciation on my work on the Beatles. Your comments on the next videos are apppreciated. They were genius and played and sing a lot intuitively but they hugely dedicated on refinements. People in general give for granted that the Beatles were strumming randomly but you cannot even imagine how complex are the Beatles recordings and their performances on record. This Ticket to Ride performance is so complex that it is almost impossible to get rid of how many guitars it finally contains. Proof is that from 1964 on, they (especially John) simplified their part a lot during live shows.
Ted McComb, I really enjoyed reading your comment. One thing I believe that I would like to share with you : both John and Paul were off-the-scale talented but there is a difference. Paul's consciousness is more conventional. He is a wonderful tunesmith, melody pours out of him, but he lives in a less deep, more mental world than John did. John on the other hand was a deeper, more spiritual soul. John's best compositions are a journey more soulful, closer to the soul, deeper, than Pauls. The haunting, otherworldly beauty of the opening part of 'A Day in the Life' only John could have written (and sung so mesmerisingly), for example.
IMO the first two clues were instinctive while muting the first high E string was more of a "production" embellishment that came out after relistening to a previous take. Consider there were other hints in the intro without which you'd barely could achieve the sound of the original recording, especially one on the tuning, but I left them out because it was too much. Better TO LEAVE SOME MYSTERY AROUND ;)
Have you realised by now that paul was influenced by many folk tunes as he grew up in Liverpool? Of course old folk tunes if trad have no copyright to be worried about..handy.
Do you think it sounds very like 'the Scottish Air'? I think he definitely got the melody from that but I do feel he improved it massively with the opening notes so an acceptable nick!
Galeazzo, one thing I believe that I would like to share with you : both John and Paul were off-the-scale talented but there is a difference. Paul's consciousness is more conventional. He is a wonderful tunesmith, melody pours out of him, but he lives in a less deep, more mental world than John did. John on the other hand was a deeper, more spiritual soul. John's best compositions are a journey more soulful, closer to the soul, deeper, than Pauls. The haunting, otherworldly beauty of the opening part of 'A Day in the Life' only John could have written (and sung so mesmerisingly), for example.
