Blackbird Guitar Lesson | The Beatles - Accurate & Detailed :)

👉 Video Chapters
00:00 Blackbird - Playthrough
00:46 Blackbird - Introduction
03:08 Blackbird - Riff 1 - Intro & Verse
04:46 Blackbird - Riff 1 - Finger Picking
06:34 Blackbird - Playthrough Riff 1
06:51 Blackbird - Extra Tips
07:27 Blackbird - Riff 2 - Bar Chords
11:21 Blackbird - Riff 2 - Finger Picking
11:55 Blackbird - Playthrough Riff 1 & Riff 2
12:57 Blackbird - Riff 3
14:45 Blackbird - Extra tips

[Jayp-rgzn]

Hello Justin, My name is Ernie and I am from CA in the US. I am 51 years old and have been playing guitar since the age of 5. My father, who was a guitar player in a mariachi band, made me learn. Mostly mexican songs. Boleros and Rancheras. (good stuff)I am the youngest of 7 children so I was exposed to Beatles, Motown, Santana, Herb Albert, Lawrence Welk, Eddy Gorme, Steppinwolf and all of the other classic stuff from the 60's and 70's. A real broad range of music. I remember when this song came out. As a teenager, some of my friends learned this song as I watched in amazement in their talent. This is before youtube so theypicked it up via tabs. So i've always had a wanting to learn this classic hit, just never got around to it and honestly a bit humiliated that i never did. I came about this song again recently when a friend of mine, who told me that he wanted to sing this, his favorite song. So as a surprise for him, I took it upon myself to find an instructional vid on youtube that would show me how. I came across your vid, cuz it seemed to be the best in illustration and explanation. So, it only took me 46 years to learn this song and I have you to thank. Thanks and Cheers from California! (btw check out Los Tres Ases, the guitar work and the voice harmonies are tremendous).

[urdrwho]

In the past 35 (or so) years I've played this song so many different ways and you are playing a very classic version.  You've done justice to the song and I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that will benefit from your instructions.

[JustinGuitarSongs]

It's my opinion that we can only concentrate on one thing at a time, and that learning one part, either right or left hand first before the other is better for most people (there's the key point, most people, not all!) so I don't use the split screen. Seems to be going ok so far ;)

[pup]

Want to learn a song? put in a search see a load of results see Justin is among them Search over!

[KarenKitching]

Justin, I want to thank you for helping me go from "terrible" to "not so bad!" I am really enjoying playing, thanks to you and your many beginner lessons. I can now play Blackbird.

[Scrufflebag]

We're seven years further. And still so many people are enjoying these videos. As am I. I'm so thankful to you Justin. And it's so reassuring when you tell us to keep working on certain bits. By doing so, you're making sure we keep feeling confident about our abilities.

[Jongo]

I've tried a few Blackbird tutorials on Youtube now and this is by far the best (IMO). I usually tap my foot whilst playing, but with this being slightly more technical than I'm used to, I'd been neglecting it - focusing more on my picking and finger placement. Once I forced myself to tap along, making sure I was aware of it, eventually everything fell in to place, soon realised I relying on muscle memory and instinct. Great feeling once it all falls in to place and you find your rhythm!

[ObiBong_Kenobi]

Thank you, Justin. After 4 years I've finally attempted, and conquered, Blackbird by Macka. I have reached the top of the mountain :D

[wayneshufelt]

Hey, Justin. Just wanted to let you know that I have been going through this video over and over for the last 3-4 months trying to learn this song and I have to say that IT IS PAYING OFF. A fella at our church has been offering free fingerpicking classes last fall and winter and got me started on this song in the spring. He didn't have time to show me all the riffs before summer so I started looking for tutorials and found yours to be the best. You truly are a gifted instructor. It's taken a while but I am almost there with these riffs and the next step will be integrating the words.

By the way, I am part of your website lessons and am going to be getting more serious with the fingerpicking style. It is rather enjoyable to be able to play a tune this way.

One other thing... I am 73 years young and retired so have time to learn. played around with the guitar over the years but never got serious. Better late than never they say.

So, thanks for putting these lessons out there for us. You have put in a great effort to help folks learn guitar and I just want to pass on a blessing to you as you continue to reach out to us.

God bless, Wayne.

[AnnShea]

This is a beautiful rendition of one of the Beatles' most meaningful songs ever recorded. Thank you for singing and playing, Justin!

[andrewjames]

Thank you, Justin. My guitar instructor has me learning to fingerpicking this with index and middle fingers but I noticed Paul flicking his index finger as he played it. Yours is the best explanation of Paul's method that I've seen. Well done.

[charaiveti-charaiveti]

ten years ago i was not interested at all in playing the guitar, but one year later, when i started learning, i discovered justin and this song. i stuck for years with him, learning so many things — as a matter of fact, he became a part of my guitar playing dna :) but, man, this song "black bird" i always thought i'll never be able to approach, it was way above my skill level... until today. nine years since i've started my guitar journey, i revisited this tutorial and got the song under my fingers; quite easily, i should say. unbelievable. thanks, justin, for everything! i felt indeed like going through a rite of passage <3

[TheSimonhack]

Hey Justin, your tutorials are excellent ! and for me the best thing about them is that they are not painfully slow and repetitive, you get straight to the music and technique in a really efficient way, thanks for the help : )

[Kman]

Justin, thank you so much for all your hard work, dedication and sharing of your love of music and the guitar with all us novice players! I too had been playing Blackbird the wrong way for several years. Thanks again for all the great lessons you provide! May God Bless!

[Rynaylorguitar]

So that's how he does it! I've been pulling my hair out trying to work out what was going on, whether the chords were strummed or whether the guitar was double tracked. I've been teaching this picking strings 3 and 2 with the index and middle fingers. Sounded good but not quite right. Now I know, great lesson.

[s.jackson]

Damn didn't know you could sing that well. When I first heard this song I was in a melancholic mood and I thought the song was about death and how it frees you from everything. Years later I saw an interview with Paul where he said that this song is basically a dedication to the first afroamerican students who were allowed to go to the same school/university as white americans. Very moving

[kimshaw]

You are a great teacher, Justin!!
Thank you for teaching us this beautiful song!!🎸🥰👍👍

[Dejure]

After 4 years of playing the guitar with friends at jam sessions and alone at home, your videos always cheer me up when i am down. The last months i really struggled to improvise over jazz (Gypsy jazz) standards and my technique seems to be not there. But, after i learned this beautiful song in only one hour from your video im so happy to say: There´s no need to play complicated and difficult stuff to sound good. This song really warm up my heart and its just these 2 notes of the chord and the G ringing after.
Thank u very much Justin, i really wish you the best :)

[rlews]

There's not much to say with a million subscribers but from a single soul in a room by himself, trying to generate a sound that could be called music by a generous fellow, I thank you for your companionship and guidance. And by the way, this is in Justin's Acoustic Songbook - a great bargain of a book that helps Justin continue what he does (so BUY IT!) - thanks.

[rookiemonster_m]

Thank you Justin ! Been a fan of yours for several years now. You are one of the best guitar coaches on YouTube. I made somewhat of a NY resolution to challenge myself with harder acoustic songs and this song was on the top of my list ! This is BY FAR the best blackbird tutorial on YouTube. On to the next song for me ! 2023 here I come :)