You've Got A Friend by James Taylor | Guitar Lesson

👉 Video Chapters
00:00 Demonstration
01:46 Introduction
03:12 Chord Progression
05:17 Play Through 1
05:49 Chord Progression 2
07:40 Play Through 2
08:40 Chord Progression 3
11:40 Chord Progression 4
13:11 Play Through 3
15:23 Fingerstyle Intro
22:04 Play Through 5
22:25 Playing Tips
30:20 Conclusion

[MrNikibilly]

Why all the down thumbs this man takes his time out to teach everyone and you give him a down thumb so sad you should thank him he plays so beautiful and sings so great and is the best teacher Thank you Justin for everything you do for all of us May god bless you and your family You got a friend in me :):)

[AnhNguyen-hzrw]

Justin is the most caring teacher on the Youtube. He clearly has a passion for what he is doing as he wants his students to be succeed. Thank you so so much.

[SibeDad]

Thanks Justin. I am working on this as tribute to my best friend, who has been recently diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. I want to be able to play it for him before he leaves this earthly world.

[JohnsMusicClasses]

"Just close your eyes and B7 me..."

That's a good friend.

[matthewkeeley]

I was a JT fanatic fifty years ago. There were no teachers around { at least not for a fifteen-year ole long hair kid...} that could teach the intricacies of this song. I could play Beatles and Kottke but not the few JT songs I wanted to learn. This is intermediate work done exceptionally well. Maybe the dislikes are from beginners frustrated with not being able to coordinate yet, but Justin nails this better than any online teachers or live folks I've heard play it. So, after many years we'll just do this!

[Piratetude]

Whenever I find a song that I want to Iearn, and I find that Justin has a video on it, I do my happy dance. Justin, I know you won't actually read this, but I'll say it anyway...you are the best guitar teacher on the internet. I'm 69 years old, retired cop, crappy voice, but you've made this so fun for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of this song. A song I grew up with, and always warmed my heart. Thank you for sharing your talent with us mear mortals.

[robertkovar]

Hi Justin, i am a 68 Year old Guy from Salzburg/Austria who loves to sing and play the favorit songs that were influtial parts of my life. Now since a few days i spent my days to sit with you to learn one of my favorits, You`ve got a friend. i want thank you so much for your exellent lessons. You are really a great instructor.
So many guitar instructors are not also good singers. so after a few days i´m quite through with the song and there is still some fine details to work on.

[jurgenmuller]

As a guitarist who grew up with the music of James Taylor, Carol King, Joni Mitchel....I can only tell you: absolutely well done, no, let me say perfectly done !
It doesn't matter at all if all your cover versions are 100 or 99, 9999....% close to the original - Thank you so much for presenting your professional competence combined with such an enchanting modesty.

I take the liberty to tell all those who gave a "thumb down": Please, work incessantly hard to learn how to hold your guitar the right way up and try to get rid off your two left hands - if this doesn't work I would recommend to try to learn another instrument ( for example child's rattle as gripping and holding something with one's fist does not mean such a challenge as well for the cerebrum as the cerebellum ) and / or to consult a psychotherapist in order to learn how to avoid self-imposed frustrations.

[joelnilespeterson]

Justin is a real blessing to guitar players who have not reached his level of advanced playing. Added to this I think he's just a really good guy. As with most players, I love to sing but have less than a stellar set of cords. Singing is fun and makes us feel good, so why would we get all balled up over not being professional quality? I like the way Justin puts it all out there, no excuses or apologies. It makes me more comfortable singing along with him, and singing around others. Where did we get this crass idea that one has to be a high quality singer to just belt one out? Thanks Justin. And thanks for this great lesson and taking your own time to help us out. The world needs more people like you.

[JM-sfrl]

Justin - thank you for taking the time to go over this song in detail. Your patience and repetition of the cord progressions is a great teaching method. I don't understand how anyone can give your teaching method a thumbs down. Perhaps some of the beginner players should take some time to go through the basics and develop some additional skill before attempting to learn JT songs. This is not in my estimation a song for beginners! There are lots of versions of this song with simple strumming patterns that may be more suitable for novice players. I would offer some advice to those just staring out - please play to your skill level and progress to the more advanced levels when you are ready to do so. I think this is why so many people get discouraged and quit playing, you can't pick up a guitar for the first time and reasonably expect to play James Taylor songs. Enjoy the way you play at what ever skill level you are at - then come back in a couple of months and let Jason show you how to advance your skill. Thank you again Jason for your thoughtful teaching approach! Keep up the good work!

[johnhunter]

been playing since I was 8. Now aged 61. Haven't picked up a guitar in 15 years. One hour playing this tune as taught here brought all the old playing styles and muscle memory back. Now I just need to work on timing and practice. My first guitar teacher in 1966 said - I can teach you how, then you need to practice to do it right. Great teaching here, I now need to learn again. Thanks.

[eriknorberg]

My sister always sang this song when she was in her teenage and it has been running in my head for a while whenever I heard it on the radio since then. But it't not anoying, but rather the opposite, very refreshing... yes, I love the melody and the text as well! You are an excellent teacher Justin! Thanks!

[stephenlerog]

Thank so much sir for patience and for not being selfish!

[greenturbo]

Great Lesson, especially the way you sing the cords.

 But HOW COME THERE ARE NO BEAUTIFUL SONGS LIKE THIS written anymore !!

[troe]

Can't understand the thumbs down either. I'm always learning from you, often times going back for a review. Right from the beginning it sounded like the record. Thanks for all I continue to learn from you (and I've been playing for 50 yrs).

[OrbisonTributeArtist]

Thanks Justin! Great lesson. This is one I have wanted to learn for years, but was a bit lazy. As for some of the comments, I think this is just a slightly more advanced song for many, especially considering the finger-picking style. Don't let their comments hurt you. I have learned through my years that comments usually reflect how a person is feeling and not the reality of the situation. Cheers!

[antoniomanzoni]

FINALLY someone who plays the entire song at full speed at the beginning. Songs like this are not for beginners, so most of those who want to learn it just need to see it played at full speed. Thanks Justin

[juana]

Thinking of The 70s with all those: Sweet baby James, and Carol King songs....love these heartfelt chords..really touches the heart ❤

[richardnewman]

What a gem! You give just enough, but give lots of freedom for figuring things out. Thanks for devoting the time for this. I'm getting it!

[Escape]

thanx Justin...now is the moment to show us "something in the way she moves", a great way to exercise in fingerstyle