What Difference Does It Make? In-Depth Smiths Guitar Lesson 

Not a guitar teacher anywhere across the RU-vids with music taste as fine as yours sir

Adrian, as a callow youth of 18 we met Andy, Mike and Johnny at the hotel they were staying after the gig in Aberdeen. We were three young kids and they joined us for a drink in the bar. Johnny didn't stay for long, but Mike and Andy got a round in. Like most kids, we had our little band and couldn't work out how they played Barbarism Begins At Home (our cover was shite!) that they'd played on the Tube a few weeks before. Andy, explained they always tuned to F maybe he said F# (1984 is a long time ago). The reason, Andy said, was that it was to tune to Morrissey's vocal. Certainly remember that live, JM didn't play with a capo, so they must have tuned and played the first and most of second album in that tuning (as that was what they were playing at the time). Love your work mate, great stuff.

"The capo comes from the early days of Morrissey and me writing together. I'd go round to his house, play him a tune, and he'd hum along. I soon realized it made sense for me to tune up a whole tone as he was singing very much baritone at the time. Also, I was writing on my Gretsch Super Axe, which just sounded better tuned up." - Johnny in the January 1997 issue of Guitar Magazine

My 19 year old daughter is home from college due to COVID-19 and, like me, loves the Smiths. She and I will be learning this together this weekend. Thank you for supplying quality father/daughter time.

You consistently teach the great songs that nobody else does, and if they do ...definitely not with such detail. Thank you brother and stay safe during this pandemic

Adrian , your taste in music: just wow. Your sense of humour: wonderful and cheeky (although non-brits might not always get it), your ability to teach: impeccable. Your love of your art: undeniable. And I just don’t get how a guy (seemingly) as young as you has (obviously) a love affair with such brilliant (yet old) songs. Just keep ‘em coming!

Your blend of guitar teaching skills, humbleness (and sense of humour, btw) plus good taste for music is second to none. Thank you for that, Sir!

You’re 100% the best guitar teacher/channel on here! The only one who teaches interesting songs by unique guitarists & breaks them down fully. If I might make a request, I’d really like some Bends-era Radiohead songs. Maybe My Iron Lung?

I have watched a dozen times now, but I still can't figure out how you can switch guitars so quickly?

Thanks Adrian, I learnt 'this charming man' from you close to when you originally posted it, it was how I luckily found you. I had been playing the 'Em' part for years and getting by with the 'G' section. It was a revelation to me, even though I was doing a that'll do version, the years had convinced me that it was right. It seems that this is also true with today's lesson, the main licks are so memorable that you couldn't fail to 'hear' it. I can't thank you enough for breaking down the initial part of the chorus. Now for the first time ( once I've got it stored ) when I perform live, it will be right, what a wonderful gift you have given me. Also I'd never picked up on the harmonies in the end, only the high ones which the other guitarist did as double stops. Unfortunately we can't use a looper as our drummer says he can't hear it or ( get this ) that it is speeding up or slowing down, whichever fits the excuse. 😂😂😂😂 Brilliant, once again, many thanks 😎🎙🎸✅

Please make more Smith's tutorials! I love them so much and you are the only player that goes into depth

Brilliant thanks. There’s a lovely lady called Allison Bennett who plays in a Smiths tribute band and has posted a few tutorials on RU-vid, worth checking out.

Still patiently waiting for Aztec Camera’s ‘Oblivious’ 😉

YESSSS Thank you so much! Always coming with theese great lessons.

Awesome as always - love it 🤘

Noice. I learned this as a simplified one guitar arrangement ages ago so this detailed breakdown is invaluable for learning it properly.

Can’t believe you’re doing this song. I’ve trying it for years. Once again you come through with greats songs and a great lesson, thanks.

Fell out of quarantine chair at 1:49. Too funny. That was spot on! So much fun to watch and learn. Thank you Adrian I appreciate your time and effort!! Quickly becoming a big fan.

Ive been here since you had 1k subs, so great to see you as a teacher your personaility and attitude develop. Keep it up friend.

i genuinenly squealed with happiness when i spotted this in my subsription box aaaaaaaargh!!! looking forward to learning this one, thanks so much

Thanks for the new lesson. I always enjoy your selection of songs.

This might be the best breakdown of this song I've ever seen. Fantastic stuff brother

Quality Adrian as always mate, thanks

Thank you, thank you. Great job on layering song parts and showing how they come together to produce awsome music. Love this.

Your level of detail in these lessons is incredible! Thank you so much for these! Especially love the smiths lessons

Cheers for doing this, Adrian. The Smiths are my all time favourite band, this song has been on my 'to learn' list for the longest time.

This is the stuff I keep coming back for. Thanks for geeking out and showing us how our favorite songs are really done!

Thanks for the lesson. Love The Smiths.

Another brilliant video. Keep it up!

Adrian, thank you SO much for bringing back the actual fun and joy of guitar playing to me. Love from Hamburg.

Excellent job Adrian with the playing and production on this. Clearly took time and effort....thank you!

FINALLY I can learn the overdubs couldn’t find them ANYWHERE amazing lesson as usual can play the whole song now. Thank you

Big thanks for this I’ve always wanted the chorus unlocked. fantastic detail everyone wants the Smiths. Thank you for taking the time.

You're amazing. These videos keeps me playing

What a classic, my favourite Smiths song. Great vid mate 👍👌

I really love your recording of this, the clarity of the bass part against the guitar parts brings out another dimension that is a bit lost in the original. Thanks again for a great, great lesson.

Brilliant choice. Many thanks What a genius Johnny Marr was. And creating this genius at such a ridiculously young age, He must have been about 19 or 20 when he did this?

Nailed it as always.....reel around the fountain next please....

Thank you , thank you, thank you, my favourite song of all time I’ve been waiting for this for years. Just gotta learn it now. One again Thank you 🙏

A great breakdown Adrian. I've fumbled a bit with the chorus for years myself.. this is spot on cheers !

That was great! Cheers, Man.

Brilliant... as always!

Adrian, your playing is fantastic and I am so jealous of your excellent recording quality and engineering skills! Rock on man. I am a huge Johnny Marr fan and player myself and I always love your stuff because you nail it!

Thanks! One of those songs I used to listen to repeatedly when I was a teenager (not so long ago 😁) and I listen to repeatedly nowadays. One of my favourite riffs of all times. "Handsone Devil" deserves a lesson to, It would be great if you could share it with us!

Let’s go! Thanks Adrian!

So awesome! Thank you!

Looks like I will have to relearn this once again. It may be hard to deprogram, but I do thank you for sharing your gifted ear and all the hard work as always!

Outstanding, sir. Thank you so much for this.

Great lesson. Thanks.

Brilliant work sir!

Great tutorial. Always wanted to play this, and now I can. Many thanks.

You've made my day thanks.

Far too difficult for me, but it is always a pleasure to see (and listen to) Adrian performing in the beginning. Thanks!

I’m digging the enhance video production!

I literally just started learning This Charming Man from the lesson you posted a few years back.. This is next!

Thanks Adrian, another good lesson of really a nice song !

You're the man pal. love it.

Agree Adrian, definitely one of Marr's finest and the first song that got me into The Smiths. Great tutorial. Thanks

That sounded so stinking good!!!! Great video

thanks a lot mate, would love if u made more of these

Lovely stuff

Dude you nailed it!

Just brilliant. Again.

I went to the guitar institute for 4 years in London. Have been searching to add to my indie repertoire. Great video! Fantastic!

Thank you for making this. I've never been able to get that opening riff quite right!

Incredible thanks!

This guy is the best!!!!!!!!!! 💯🤘🏻👏🏻🤙🏻

Best teacher of the best music. Thanks again

Total legend.

Thank you!

I'm an outlier in never having gotten into Smiths, so maybe it's time for some dedicated listening. In any case, while watching your multi-tracked guitar video in the playthrough, I'm struck again by the real love that you put into these lessons.

Totally awesome! 🤘🐶🎸

You are my hero!

Thanks Adrian, I couldn't click on this faster, Great lesson. Keep it up.

It's great how much effort is put in, what with the guitar parts and all.

Great choice. Good song to learn.

The demo sounds better than the real thing. Outstanding inspiration. Keep it up mate.

Thank you!!!

Can’t remember where I read it, but yes, Johnny tuned up for Morrisey’s range. Thanks for the tutorial. Good stuff

Wish I seen this video before paying a membership to someone's Patreon, only to find they didn't do a tutorial they just did the cover with tabs on the screen 😭 thank you so much for this. Best tutorial I've come across

I remember seeing an interview Johnny did around the time he launched his Jaguar with Fender where he mentions he wished he used Jags in the Smiths day because the shorter scale neck would have been handy for tuning up as he did. He never did mention exactly why he tuned up in the first place

Thank you!! I've been playing the 2nd part of the chorus further down. I like the sound up at the 11th fret better! (Hoping someday you'll cover Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - simple, but not easy - gorgeous...)

Well done.

Damn, I consider myself pretty good at guitar but I found learning the main riff for this really tricky. Appreciate this!

Awesome work here. Great, five stars 😎

Nice work breaking down a tricky tune!

Thank you

Will need to get my nano 360 looper out of the box that it’s been in for over a year! Great lesson.

I saw Johnny Marr at Irving Plaza NYC on his last tour , Call the Comet. Omg was it brilliant. To hear some Smiths songs live after all these years was surreal. He’s a unique player. So different from the rock/blues guys that I also go see often ..(Bonamassa, Shepherd, Guy, Gibbons etc...)

fantastic. i have been waiting for you to do this song. thank you very much. another song i would really appreciate is barbarism begins at home. really difficult to find that song taught well on youtube. cheers!

Had to rewind and listen again @ time 5.43 Adrian says “for me that’s the way to do it most SMITHLY”. Excellent,hopefully this word can be officially recognised by the OED in latest edition. Great Lesson.I have to adapt this as I play with thumb pic and finger style,and decided to use a finger barre variation instead of capo for main riff.

I want to hear that Moz impression.

This guy is a pure stud.

I haven't seen this video before looking good bro .thank you from Roland J Gutierrez from Magdalena New Mexico USA.

brilliant

unbelievable good to understand even for a beginner. playing it at speed is not as easy but you are a great teacher

You should have singed along ! :)) I couldn't play 2 notes on a guitar but I watch your videos for the sheer pleasure of watching and hearing you playing.

Fuck yeah! I love this one!

Damn. I love you!

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