Guitar Lesson 4: 'FIRE & RAIN' - Official James Taylor Guitar Tutorial

Learn to play James Taylor's iconic "Fire & Rain" directly from the man himself!

Every aspect of this classic guitar piece is demonstrated in a gorgeous, moving instrumental performance by Taylor that is a joy to watch even if you are not a guitar player.

With innovative camera angles and slow motion demonstrations, students at all levels can clearly see every move and hear every individual note that goes into creating Taylor's iconic songs.

[glitteringmultitude]

That intro has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of acoustic guitar ever.

[ambu]

I can't believe I found a YouTube channel on guitar instructions by James Taylor!! I was born in 1955 and your music has been at the top of my list for most of my life. Thank you so much... can't wait to get started!!!

[Mrthfret]

James, in 1970, that was one of the most beautiful songs I had ever heard. It still is in 2020. I'm 63 now and never get tired of hearing you play that. Thank you so much for sharing the ins and outs of it.

[charlesford]

JT: "It's a simple tune."
I spent several hours smattered over a 3 week period to "learn" this song. Even going to the trouble of re-training my muscle memory to grip the A and D chords like Mr. Taylor. Years later, I have finally got it down so well that if you close your eyes and listen to me play it, you would swear you weren't listening to James Taylor. Really sweet song and thanks a million for all these great lessons.

[AAdaydreaming]

I am struck by the fact that this presentation was not necessarily really very easy to set up. It's not like somebody said "Hey JT, can you play us "Fire and Rain" and we'll put a camera on you so the rest of us mortals can try to pick up how you make that signature sound". Nope, James went all the way. He's like "well...if we are going to go to the trouble, let's mount multiple cameras, including one actually INSIDE the guitar looking out through the soundhole, as well as a "point of view" camera mounted directly above the fretboard and looking down at it, just like you would see it if you were playing it. Then add his insightful commentary. We are talking about James Friggin Taylor here...not some random guitar teacher. And I have a ton of respect for guitar teachers who spread their talent and craft through lessons and experience. But I have never met one of them who is also a legend and multi-million unit sales recording artist. So...lets set all of this up and then just post it up for free on You Tube for anyone who is interested to see it and study it for free. Then let's turn around and do it again with other songs. These videos say more about the man than his music even does...and the music says a ton about the man. Is there anybody more generous in the music business than James Taylor? Until you show me someone else making this kind of effort to educate his fans on their secrets and techniques, I would have to say no...nobody had ever taken the time and the effort or has ever been this cool. Thank you, James. I would love to be able to play like you. People that don't know guitar listen to me play and think I am good. I know enough to know that, in reality, I suck. But I try to get better and you have no idea what it means to guys like me to know that someone like you took the time to film these videos.

[heatherreed]

Dear James, I am so grateful for your taking the time to give me my first guitar lessons. I am 62 and have wanted to play since I was a little girl and I first heard "Something in the way she moves". It gave me confidence as a challenged teenager. You are the only live concert I have ever been to. As an iron miner's grandaughter, Thank you for the love in your music; for Millworker. I am honored to finally be able to start playing. Who would have ever thought I could afford you as my teacher. Chorus: THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[bosco]

Just consider the enormous grit and inspiration required to sit down and write these songs from nothingness. The unique approach to fretting combined with advanced finger picking and understanding of theory. Then wrap in the lyrics and beautiful arrangement. All from thin air. As a young kid too.

James taylor wont be around forever. These 10 videos are an incredible gift to the world. This is an example of the beautiful side of the internet.

[dand]

He put his camera inside the guitar, how thoughtful.❤

[AAdaydreaming]

Not too many living legends would take the time to put something like this together. hey...we all know about the talent of James Taylor. This kind of effort demonstrates the character of the man behind all of that talent. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I have admired your music for years. Thank you giving back to guys like me who will never be able to come close to replicating your guitar style...but it's sure fun to try!

[Crouchman]

Yes, an absolute gift! I used to play JT songs acceptably well, impressed my friends and such. I got ot of finger picking in favor being in a rock cover band. Then 2 years ago a spine surgery went bad, and I became a paraplegic. I just picked up my guitar after 4 years, as much for hand therapy as just enjoying playing again if I can get my dexterity back. Thank you JT! I’ve seen you in Dayton, OH, live at the Fraze Pavilion and such.

[noiseintheoffice]

I learned to play Fire and Rain in about 1976. Of course I've been playing it wrong. I didn't know it had an Em7 in there, and the walk-down from D I've done wrong. Now to re-learn this...

[PhillipRemaker]

3:33 ""I've seen fire, and I've seen rain. Not recently. But once." A great message of hope, right there..

[shaunsummerfield]

What a champion human being to go to all this trouble for us mere mortals. Happy to share his Widom, magic and secrets. Power and blessings to you James Taylor

[stevecollins]

The way he plays his A chords is most unusual, but i see it enables the finger to "move about" in ways that are more dexterous to the baseline technique that jt is famous for...if i had seen this 45 years ago, i would have had the 'aha moment " i just now had! I knew he was doing something funky with that finger, just needed a peek at the hand! Thanx jt!

[marybrewer]

This made my guitarist hubby so happy. He loves playing this song, but needed to know some chord details. Thank you so much for making an old picker happy.

[dmmurillo]

His concerts will blow you away. Guy is a musical genius and an absolute God-send to the people who love his music.

[carolyncolinhogarth]

I find this soothing to listen to before I go to sleep. Thank you...you give me suchbpeacexwhen I listen to you. I have seem Firexand Rain too. That is one.k. we can handle it. Faith. Thank you James....Carolyn

[natemyhre]

What an incredible legacy this man is leaving.. it's not enough that he's written some of the most beautiful music the world had known, but here he is laying it bare. I'm just beside myself. My only question is, wth when I search for a James Taylor song guitar lesson does this not show up first?!?!?!

[Lance]

It’s truly a blessing not only to hear this song and to be able to play it for others to hear. Thank you Mr. Taylor for this gem.

[wesbellmore]

Learning the "secrets" of how James plays guitar is like asking the secret to his vocal timbre...chances are, we are not going to sound like him. I see by these lessons that his immediately recognizable sound comes from the unique way he forms chords and moves between them...things that are horrendously difficult for another guitar player to emulate, as these elements are already ingrained in our fingers in a different way. But we can do our own versions of his songs, and be happy about it. Beautifully presented and so very humbling.