Wichita Lineman | The greatest song ever? | Guitar Lesson 

I can still here it crackling over the AM radio as we drove. It drove a spike in my soul that has never left. Love playing it.

Carole Kaye on page 290 of her book "Studio Musician" says that Glen Campbell borrowed her six-string Dan Electro bass to do the solo. Thank you for all the great lessons!

“And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time.” The most romantic lyric ever written. Thanks, Jimmy Webb.

Glen was an incredible guitarist

This is a perfect example of one of those songs that I didn't appreciate until decades after I started playing guitar.

Glen Campbell First concert I ever went to Lubbock Municipal Auditorium, Aug 30, 1968. He sang Wichita Lineman and said it was new and to watch for it coming to the radio within days. A very personable show. I think the tickets were $5 or less. Can’t tell you what I saw as a second concert but never forget the first one you go to.

This song is just amazing, and your arrangement does it more than justice, wow! This is a tearjerker, no joke

"Wichita Lineman" received more radio play than any other song in the 20th Century. They could have played even twice that amount and it still would have been welcome. For 3 minutes this song transports whomever the listener is, into the world of the Lineman. He is stoic, he is noble and he carries the love for his woman in his heart no matter how far he must go.

Great rendition!! And to think...decades ago in a small New Jersey town with my clock radio going off to wake me up for high school early dawns with freezing, miserable weather awaiting me for the frigid bus ride to teen angst school....this song more than any other would be the culprit forcing me awake! I detested this song for years but now.......I've come full circle and it actually brings bittersweet tears to my eyes with memories going back over half a century to losing Glen fairly recently..... I owe it to Glen, Webb and these memories to learn this nice arrangement! Jim C.

I saw in an interview Eddie Van Halen saying that if he could take a guitar lesson from anyone, it would be Glen Campbell. Although many here in the US associate him with country music, Campbell was incredibly versatile and a very technical musician. He also had the charm and presence to frequently be a feature on TV variety shows. I have warm memories of watching him play on television growing up.

Witchita Lineman is in my top 3 songs of all time. Possibly no.1 & rightly so. What a song.

It is the greatest song . My all time favorite. Glen was a master musician and jimmy Webb was a master songwriter

The most beautiful rendition I've heard! Your a master.

Holy shit. This sent me searching out the Glen Campbell version, which brought me to other artists, and every time I hear it, I start tearing up. This is a magical chord progression. Really shows the power of music. Rock and roll makes you want to move, this one stirs up emotions, amazing. Thanks

That is absolutely fucking beautiful. Bravo.

People tend to give all the credit for Wichita Lineman to Jimmy and Glen -a great songwriter; and a talented singer, no argument. However, it was producer Al De Lory who was the creator of the lush arrangement and beautiful soundscape that is the recording we all have come to know and love. His contribution can't be overstated.

You have done an amazing arrangement of the song.

Magnificent. Just had the best guitar player I know listening to you. He said "It just don't get any better" J

An undoubted classic song that shows off Jimmy Webbs incredible song writing genius. It's always been one of my all time favourites songs. Thanks for sharing how it all goes together.

I can hear Glen sing as you play. That's a tribute to your relaxed playing. Beautiful.

This lesson is a testament to your musicality. An absolutely beautiful arrangemnent of this song, Adrien. The emotion in your playing guts me. I am in awe.

The 6-string bass and baritone guitar in 60's country music lingo are the same instrument. They started using baritone guitars (6-string basses) in the late 50s to create that tic-tac bass sound and it really took off in the 1960s. There would have been plenty of baritone guitars in a studio that recorded country or surf music. B-E-A-D-F#-B tuning. They played these muted behind the regular bass lines because "real" country music didn't use a lot of drums if any. This created a replacement for percussion, and it really became an integral part of that sound. Country artists and players just called them basses, so if he said he recorded on a bass, it was actually a baritone. They used Danelectro UB-2, Gibson EB-6, Hagstrom Coronado, Hoffner 188, and Fender Bass VI models. The most likely culprits are the Fender Bass VI or the Danelectro UB-2. I know way too much about this because I had to do some research on tic-tac bass for a project a while back.

That was a wonderful arrangement ! Even 10 years ago I’d have given Glen Campbell zero ear time. Now, a compilation of his more popular tracks and his album of modern covers features regularly on my playlist. Masterful singing, brilliant song writing and great playing - Glen was the complete musical package.

Hat's off to you, Adrian, for showing Glen Campbell (and Jimmy Webb) some love; this man may well have been one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th century, and this song in particular highlights the value of phrasing and note selection in a way that few other hit records ever have. He was a fixture of my formative years in the '60s and early '70s, and I can't count the number of times I watched him wail away on the TV, doing things on his guitar that I've seldom seen done elsewhere. More, please...

It is a great song. I think I read that Jimmy Webb was driving somewhere in the country and saw a lineman up on a pole, and thought that must be the loneliest job in the world, and was inspired to write the song. And he nailed it. Any human soul can relate to the intense loneliness and longing.

brilliant! Glen was a member of the wrecking crew before he went solo...he also played with the Beach Boys before his career took off

Yes, probably the greatest song ever written. Jimmy Webb wrote some great songs but this is just on another level! You really do it justice! My compliments.

If it's not the greatest song ever, it's definitely high up in the conversation. It's simply superb in every way.

A beautiful combination of chords and melody. You did a great job on it, too. Thanks Adrian.

“Wichita Lineman” is a magical song on many levels. And if I really try to explain to you exactly why… I can’t ever do it justice. The couplet “And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time” might be the greatest moment in music ever. It just relates this intense feeling of love and wanting. The whole song is just magical. This leads me to one of the best books on music I’ve ever read. It’s by Dylan Jones and it’s called “The Wichita Lineman: Searching in the Sun for the World’s Greatest Unfinished Song”. It really tells the whole tale around the song as well as the connection between Jimmy Webb & Glen Campbell. It makes this beautiful song even more unique and mysterious. ✌🏽❤️🎸🍄

Adrian...this is something special. Your melodic sensibility is first class. Thank you for sharing this with us. And, yes, I am most definitely stealing your riffs when I play this.

The melody of this song is just devastating

This one of those songs that no amount of pulling apart or analyzing tells us anything about its magic. Jimmy Web and Glen made so much music around this time where where the total was so much greater than the sum of its parts. To me, that is the beautiful mystery of a masterpiece!

So glad I stumbled across this video. I've never seen anyone explain the how-to of this song better. Your video is clear, concise, and so easy to follow. You 'de-mystified' WL for me! Thanks

Wow Adrian. You knocked it out of the park (or should I say "pitch") with this lovely version of amazing song. It hasn't aged a bit. And seconds to all the praise for Glenn Campbell and Jimmy Webb.. Can't wait to dive into this one.

👏👏I remember hearing this song so many times on the ‘wireless’ when I was growing up. My dad was a fan of Glen Campbell so he played his records too. I shall enjoy working through this one, thank you!

Chords mixing with licks is my favourite all time guitar lessons, so thank you man!

Super fabulous breakdown of, yes, a really tremendous and sneakily interesting song. Sublime in subtlety and your take on it does worlds of justice. AND this is a fab way to really work through so many essential techniques playing, and more so, hearing. Thanks as always for your tutelage.

Such a great guitar instrumental tribute to an absolute classic. Thank you Adrian. Just catching up with all the gems on your Patreon channel. Much respect and appreciation.

If Wichita Lineman isn't the greatest song of all time it's certainly near the top of the list. Such a brilliant song. And your arrangement is simply sublime. So beautiful.

Ace, absolutely ace. Truly great song, fantastic arrangement. Thanks Adrian.

Arrggghhh Looooove it... I'm crying.... Thank you Adrian !!! You're the best !!!

Fabulous arrangement of an all time classic. Great job!

Amazing arrangement! You never overplay and the beauty of the melody shines through. Bravo!

What a GREAT Tone. Your "Arrangement" is fantastic, kinda brought a tear to my eye. I've watched many of your videos, so I think it's only fair I make a donation. Keep up the GREAT work. Cheers

As always, your choice of material is excellent 👌👌👌

Adrian your brilliant! This song always brings a tear to my eyes. Your arrangement brought out those emotions too. I was 8 when I first heard it playing on the AM radio of my Father’s new 68 Bel Air station wagon. Can’t wait to learn your arrangements to play for my family. Thanks again!

Have been singing and playing this song since it first came out and still learning to this day how to play it better, GR8 instructional video!!!

Excellent work! Really lovely version of a song I've been listening to for decades.

Your arrangement is beautiful. And inspirational.

Tremendous all around! Thank you for breaking it down and putting your incredible touch on it

Gorgeous chords & gorgeous lyrics. Pure magic.

Bravo, thank you for your arraignment, you let the song breath on its own and really highlighted the very best of it all.

Thanks for this wonderful analysis of a classic. This tune is a set list staple for me. Thanks for the theory and so many great creative ideas in your arrangement. I look forward to incorporating them to make my performances better.

Somebodys been watching Rick Beato.....:) but this is a wonderful song for sure. A true classic - and very well played by Adrian.

Awesome arrangement of something truly beautiful ...and yes, this is a true classic

Very cool lesson. I was 12y/o when the Glen Campbell album was released, an Aunty gave me the album as a Christmas present. I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I did and I still consider the song and album one of my all-time favorites. I really like your arrangement. Looking forward to working on learning this. Thank you for this lesson.

Great song. Fabulous arrangement Adrian.

Absolutely fabulous! Awesome job!

simply amazing. it nearly made me cry.

Wow! Fantastic Adrain, thanks for doing this one. 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🕊

I love your tutorials so much! You're easily one of my favorite guitar teachers out there :)

So many good musical ideas with this one, spent 2 hours going through this one, getting carried away with the musical ideas! Thanks again!

Jimmy Webb is a genius songwriter

Thanks for another great lesson. You have kept me enthusiastic about the guitar. I'm 67 and still learning new things since I first started playing at 12. You're the best.

Great song, great channel, love your interpretation.

My friend , it warms my heart so much that someone with such a wide spectrum of musical influences as yourself , should be so appreciative of what could ultimately be my favourite song of all time . Having had the pleasure of seeing glen campbell performing on more than one occasion , it never ceases to amaze me , that each time I hear it , my spine runs cold knowing now that there are certain “items” somewhat embedded now into my cultural dna .

Well thought through,tasteful and just right! Excellent!

I was given a Glen Campbell best of cassette when I was 12 maybe. Great songs Jimmy Webb is a legend. Another standout was Galveston as one of my earliest memories being next to a jukebox in Oz near the beach. Epic and thank you so much for your eclectic good taste sir.

Great playing as usual and I loved the sound of your guitar. Thanks for posting.

Man, you are so in the moment. Incredible job!

Fantastic arrangement! And thank you so much for the lesson.

Glen Campbell was a phenomenal guitarist. I watched the Documentary I’ll Be Me about his struggle with Alzheimer’s it’s a very moving and very sad documentary but shows how determined a person not just a guitarist he really was, it’s really worth watching.

One of the greatest songs ever. Just love this. Thanks very much.

What a fantastic job you did with this gem of a song. Thank you

Absolutely brilliant, thanks for this

Top notch as always. Thank You.

you have a real talent for music and playing and teaching, thank you

Absolutely beautiful!

Awesome that this beautiful song is getting the love, respect and analysis it deserves. I can never do it justice, but when I hear it, I’m always moved

Just plain Wonderful!

Masterfully done mate!

Just beautiful!

Great version. I loved Glen Campbell and you captured the small bends and the tremolo was spot on. Love you playing, thanks for the lesson.

Fantastic playing and lesson, great video. Thank you!

Fantastic arrangement, great playing, and love that guitar, Thanks

Well, this song got me wanting to play the guitar when it came out. Thanks for this great arrangement!

You know what I love about your channel, your not just some smelly hipster that covers old music because it makes you look cool and sophisticated, you cover it because you love it and appreciate a well crafted song no matter when it was recorded 😅

Thank you for producing this video.

Great, great job! IMO this is the best improvised / and lesson of this great song. Again nice job! Thanks :-)

outstanding lesson, great work.

You nailed it. You created a beautiful arrangement and played it flawlessly. Bravo.

Great song choice for your video and nice that you include some history of the tune. Oh and, great playing, too! 👍🏽

It's certainly up there. As a fairly old man, this was one those songs that I fell in love with when I was still a horribly young man. You've got to love Jimmy Webb's songwriting and Glen's vocals are just amazing. I'll be trying this out tomorrow. I'll try and do it some justice. Might even try some singing!

I love it - well done

Lovely stuff Adrian and a stellar breakdown of the song. Thanks so much. 👏👏👏 Having only just recently "got" how to derive chords from the key of a song and the major scale, and having had a lot of fun playing around with triads - it was really interesting to hear about the theory behind this song and how it doesn't fit my currently simplistic understanding. But these are the kind of chords and progressions I love to hear - sweetly melancholic and resisting simple resolution. Jimmy Webb mainlined the music Gods with this one.

its impossible to express just how evocative the interaction of voicings are it can only be intentional to make it work so effectively to inspire emotion, brilliantly rendered also by your variation on its theme, 😎👍

Mate, you really have got the most impeccable taste in the world!

One of my absolute favorites!

This is an exceptional lesson. You should take a huge bow. You even delved into the theory, which in itself is sooooo informative. I have to say that, when at around 15:58 you said " I'm just keeping simple" I did have a little 'snot-laugh'.😂