EPIC RIFFS: Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Hardest Blues Riff?!

Epic riff time! Today we take a closer look at the man himself: Stevie Ray Vaughan. We analyse one of his most iconic blues riffs ever and find out why it's so difficult to play.

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Hi, my name is Paul Davids! I am a guitar player, teacher, producer, and overall music enthusiast from the Netherlands! I try to inspire people from all over the world with my videos, here on YouTube.

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[memng]

i saw srv play in memphis on the river ampitheater. it was an epic blues show sure, but ill never forget that in tbe middle of the show, he paused, this is what he said, and its worth repeating. "if you are struggling with addiction or know anyone who is, please go get some help. you dont have to do this alone. There are people out there who want to help " or something like that. i learned later that some of my friends happened to be in an aa meeting with him earlier that day. so he was speaking from his heart. He helped me that night, maybe i can help him help you too? help is available, you are worth it. pass it on. peace.

[Luchocr]

SRV passed away today 30 years ago. Let's take our hats off for a legend.

[daveedson]

Three things:
1. Scuttle Buttin means gossiping.
2. Thanks for breaking this down.
3. There is still something elusive, something magically mysterious happening with Stevie’s hands in this song that no lesson can capture. And that’s OK!

[lowrising]

This is a masterclass in how editing makes things so watchable.

[leebatt]

I strung a strat with 13s six years ago trying to get that “stevie tone” . I played them for about an hour and i swear my fingers still hurt from that foolish, tragic day.

[CAZ]

Paul, your approach to teaching far exceeds so many wanabe instructors.
I'm 72 years old so I won't have much time to even get close to this.
But I'm gonna give it one hell of a try....Great job Paul

[johnboleyjr.]

A "Scuttlebutt" is a Naval term that refers to a water fountain, in the days of olde, the buckets which held drinking water. Sailors would often congregate around the scuttlebutt and pass gossip. The act of gossiping became known as "scuttlebutting." Here in Texas, amongst other places, we have a tendency to drop the "g" from the "ing" ending of words. Thus, "scuttlebuttin'" was a word for gossiping, or just talkin' 'bout whatever comes to mind, meanderin' from subject to subject. Stevie's use of the word here is referencing the idea that this was just a quick little improvisation riff with no real intent to flesh out to something more substantial. Just a riff. A glorious riff. I tell you what.

[Deathshuck]

I vividly remember the first time I heard Scuttle Buttin'. I was a teenager metalhead who only listened to death and thrash metal, but hearing that lick was the most in-your-face and unapologetic thing I ever heard on guitar, it had so much attitude that it just made all the metal music I was listening to lame in comparison. It blew my balls so high into the ceiling that I'm still scraping them off today. SRV is a legend.

[mlankford]

I saw Stevie play twice, was a huge fan. Was driving home from his concert when I heard his helo went down. Just when he hit it big, he died. So happy to see that he's not been forgotten. RIP SRV.

[num]

Bending, not sliding, is how I was taught to play Scuttle Buttin' over 20 years ago. Glad to see my teacher was on the money.

[minermike]

Many years later, Stevie is still badass. There are plenty of guitarists who can "shred" but Stevie poured hot sauce and bacon grease all over it and then turned the volume up.

[austinbmoon]

I’ve seen guitar teachers struggle to teach this riff for years. This man did it in less than 14 minutes. Legend.

[noiemaker]

When I saw the title, I knew it was THAT riff. Here's why.... When I first started playing, I got a copy of Guitarist magazine which had a transcription for Scuttle Buttin, by some guy called Stevie Ray Vaughn, whoever he was. It took me DAYS to learn it note for note, but I got it down, and was very proud of being able to play it at 80bpm. Shortly afterwards, I was in the library and found a cassette of Couldn't Stand the Weather. I took it home, dropped it in my cassette player and pressed play. And waited... then I got hit by this barrage of notes, the likes of which I had never heard before. Of course, Stevie was playing it WAY faster than I had learned it, and I spent the entire track with my mouth wide open. I was in shock! But I've been hooked on his playing ever since. Thirty four years later, I still wrestle with the lick. It's a beast!

[Spuzzmacher]

This is the first riff I learned how to play, by slowing it down and figuring it out. 20 years later I can still do it! …and still at half speed.

[aashishkhadka]

Hey Paul,
The quality of this video is *MAGICAL* ;)



Edit : Actually all of your videos

[solarflare]

This is hands down, the best, most educational, most fun to watch, intersting guitar channel on youtube. And the editing is fantastic, props to you Paul, fantastic work!

[Bartfieldsmusic]

Okay… great video! You totally get the 99.99% correct. I was actually blessed to have had Stevie personally show me this song and how to play it. (I still have a hard to getting it right) however, in the opening part of that riff, he used a third finger pull on that 1st e string. When I was trying to accomplish this, he tells me, “it’s so easy. It’s hard”. I commented back… “yeah, for you!” And we laughed about it. Keep it up brother! Stevie would be proud!

[fytakytemusic]

Aha! #1 is spot on! I learned to play the bend from a Guitar Player TAB way back in the early 90s, and it always sounded and felt right. Then, around 20 years later, a guy who had learned it from YT said "No! It's played with a slide"... I was: "What?!?!? No way!" He was so adamant, I started to second guess myself. Glad you finally put that to rest!

[maitrybajracharya]

I'm a simple man. I see Stevie Ray Vaughan, I click.

[mischeviouslingo]

In the US Navy a scuttlebutt was the water bucket, later the water fountain. Hanging out by the scuttlebutt was a good way to waste time.
I was SRV play his last show in Dallas. These is still a break in my heart.