Chordplay - The Chords Of Pete Townshend

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords Of Pete Townshend. I've had several requests to feature the music of The Who and reveal a little of Pete's chord-based mastery, so I figured it was finally time to hit some essential and pioneering moves from this complete icon of rock guitar.

This lesson features chord-based moments from several classic hits from The Who such as 'Behind Blue Eyes' and 'I Can't Explain' along with some lesser-known "fan favorites," such as 'Tattoo,' 'Imagine A Man,' and much more!

Needless to say, with a guitar legend like Pete Townshend, you know there's plenty of new ideas to pick up and explore as he's historically known as a guitar chord wizard, so get your fingers ready for some challenges and dive in! There's a lot of acoustic moments in this lesson, but I made sure to include some electric guitar examples to try and balance it out.

Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[bryanstaddon]

Really sick of all the “he’s not a lead player” comments. His soloing is completely original, listen to Young man blues, or almost any of his solos. He didn’t sound like anyone else on purpose! Like we really needed another endless riff hog in the late 60s early 70s! Not! When he was the only guitar player in The Who (before The large band tours) Everything he did WAS the lead guitar! This video is great and really shows how unique he was in relation to his peers.

[jasonalbert]

Townsend has always been my favorite guitarist

[huskvarsm]

Pete’s chord work is pure musical alchemy……and there is no other guitarist/songwriter that comes close to his all encompassing use of partials half Barr and drone chords.

[bricelivoti]

Yes ! I have been a Pete fan for 50 years now. I absolutely love his style of rhythm play as a lead guitarist. I am just an aspiring intermediate guitarist, but you have really opened some doors for me with this video. There is a reason his music has found its way to many other media destinations, movie, tele. ... He is truly a master at his craft... Thanks...

[driver]

Here 5/19/22!! Happy 77th Birthday Pete Townshend

[chrisgrabowski]

Thank you for that "Dreaming from the Waist" lesson. I've always liked that song, but never even attempted playing it. Now I've got another gem to practice on. Over the last few years, I've seen Guitar Snobs dismissing Townshend as a quality guitarist. Because he didn't/doesn't play like BB King, Clapton, Lukather, Knopfler, Malmsteen, Van Halen...they don't think playing lead via rhythm is deserving of recognition. They should realize Entwhistle primarily played the lead lines and Pete had the job of bringing the power fills without washing out everything sonically. As you showed, acoustically he did very interesting things and came up with quality songs from them. Thanks again!

[dodgedandle]

Townsend Really is a tour de force as a Guitarist Songwriter and all round visionary, I grew up from an early age Listened to The Who as my older brother was a massive fan, they were mind blowing for me and still are after all these years 🌞⭐️❤️

[davidbaron]

He also invented the Marshall stack. Pete's a genius. You could do 10 chordplays on Pete.

[MrEspo]

I have to agree with you.Who by Numbers is one of the great Rock recordings. Always enjoy your playing and perspective.

[williambradford]

Been playing The Who since the 70s, and you make it as relaxed as it gets. I like your style of teaching. Thanks man.

[gianpaolousai]

Who and Pete Townshend is pure magic. When they ask you who you prefer among Beatles and Rolling Stones you have to say: The Who

[stratorarious]

Great lesson, he is a master at making chords mean something.

[peterforget]

That was a very enjoyable performance. More Townshend please!

[monkface]

I was so glad you mentioned the acoustic side. Because he kills it.

[mountain_girl]

The Who are one of those bands that were so good it was/is actually scary. And talk about historic and iconic rock and roll moments. I forget which show (or perhaps it was more than one) it's all over youtube....Keith has broken headphones duct-taped on his head....cymbals are strwen about....JE is in a just enough drugs kinda-groove-sweet-spot silently killing it, Pete is like, grinding his jaw and literally bleeding....windmills abound....and then Daltry launches in to the opening scream on Won't Get Fooled Again...doesn't get more rock and roll than

[sotirios]

I am "The Seeker "/ "Won't get fooled again" Also great songs. There was a movie out in 2000 called Hendrix. In one part The Who n Hendrix were playing at the Monterey festival in Cali. Pete walks back stage after smashing his guitar looks at Jimi n smiles, Jimi yawns n says Peter Peter Jimi Hendrix baby n don't you forget it n laughs. Then Jimi comes out with the experience n cranks out some massive feedback n goes into Wild Thing lights his guitar on fire n smashes it at the end of the song. That was awesome . ROCK ON.🎸

[cinpa]

FINALLY credit is given to “The Who by Numbers”! Disc 1 of Quadrophenia is my all time favorite but “Numbers” comes in 2nd. If “Squeeze Box” was eliminated it would be a perfect album.

When “Numbers” came out I sent my mom to buy it for me while I held down the front desk at our family’s bowling alley (Bell Bowl in Queens, NY) since I didn’t have a driver’s license yet. She came back with the import version and in shock asked why it was so expensive ~$15 instead of the $6-7 I said it would be. I still have that album and am still in love with it.

Thank you soooo much for the acoustic lessons from this album! As soon as I drop my grandson off (retirement job) I’m grabbing my guitar and gonna “Dream from the Waist”!

[ollid.]

A great selection of Pete’s chords, thank you indeed David! „Behind Blue Eyes“ is such a great piece of music.
Btw, Pete was/is of one of Ace Frehley‘s main influences. Just watched your previous Ace/KISS lessons again and I could detect some similarities. That is what students should do, right? Get interested in a topic and start researching on their own. Looking forward to your next lesson, Professor Brewster! 😂😂👍🏻👍🏻

[georgemurphy]

Excellent video! What a great breakdown of Pete Townshend’s creative genius. I will be watching this many times.
Much gratitude.

[johnnymossville]

behind blue eyes has some of the most beautiful chords. It's pure ear candy.