Wichita Lineman | The greatest song ever? | Guitar Lesson

They don't come much more classic than this one. In this video I take you through the basic chords, do a bit of a theoretical analysis of this famously unusual progression, and show you my own instrumental arrangement.

Hi 00:00
Play-through 00:36
About the song 03:27
Basic chords 05:08
A bit of theory 09:31
My arrangement 13:40
Gear used in this video 24:50
Bye 26:23

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[julianwilsonsongwriter]

Magnificent. Just had the best guitar player I know listening to you. He said "It just don't get any better" J

[dgib]

Carole Kaye on page 290 of her book "Studio Musician" says that Glen Campbell borrowed her six-string Dan Electro bass to do the solo. Thank you for all the great lessons!

[talkingdogmusic]

So glad I stumbled across this video. I've never seen anyone explain the how-to of this song better. Your video is clear, concise, and so easy to follow. You 'de-mystified' WL for me! Thanks

[Jeff-mxj]

“And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time.” The most romantic lyric ever written. Thanks, Jimmy Webb.

[dooleyfan]

This is a perfect example of one of those songs that I didn't appreciate until decades after I started playing guitar.

[dannymiller]

The most beautiful rendition I've heard! Your a master.

[drew]

Witchita Lineman is in my top 3 songs of all time. Possibly no.1 & rightly so. What a song.

[motioninmind]

This song is just amazing, and your arrangement does it more than justice, wow!

This is a tearjerker, no joke

[NickHughes-blvv]

People tend to give all the credit for Wichita Lineman to Jimmy and Glen -a great songwriter; and a talented singer, no argument. However, it was producer Al De Lory who was the creator of the lush arrangement and beautiful soundscape that is the recording we all have come to know and love. His contribution can't be overstated.

[jbffalcon]

Glen Campbell First concert I ever went to Lubbock Municipal Auditorium, Aug 30, 1968. He sang Wichita Lineman and said it was new and to watch for it coming to the radio within days. A very personable show. I think the tickets were $5 or less. Can’t tell you what I saw as a second concert but never forget the first one you go to.

[cerclesvicieux]

This lesson is a testament to your musicality. An absolutely beautiful arrangemnent of this song, Adrien. The emotion in your playing guts me. I am in awe.

[jimc]

Great rendition!! And to think...decades ago in a small New Jersey town with my clock radio going off to wake me up for high school early dawns with freezing, miserable weather awaiting me for the frigid bus ride to teen angst school....this song more than any other would be the culprit forcing me awake! I detested this song for years but come full circle and it actually brings bittersweet tears to my eyes with memories going back over half a century to losing Glen fairly I owe it to Glen, Webb and these memories to learn this nice arrangement! Jim C.

[charlie-obrien]

"Wichita Lineman" received more radio play than any other song in the 20th Century.
They could have played even twice that amount and it still would have been welcome.
For 3 minutes this song transports whomever the listener is, into the world of the Lineman. He is stoic, he is noble and he carries the love for his woman in his heart no matter how far he must go.

[stevetruth]

I can still here it crackling over the AM radio as we drove. It drove a spike in my soul that has never left. Love playing it.

[Troubadourdan]

That is absolutely fucking beautiful. Bravo.

[kswannie]

Adrian...this is something special. Your melodic sensibility is first class. Thank you for sharing this with us. And, yes, I am most definitely stealing your riffs when I play this.

[coreymihailiuk]

An undoubted classic song that shows off Jimmy Webbs incredible song writing genius. It's always been one of my all time favourites songs. Thanks for sharing how it all goes together.

[tomlarosa]

Holy shit. This sent me searching out the Glen Campbell version, which brought me to other artists, and every time I hear it, I start tearing up. This is a magical chord progression. Really shows the power of music. Rock and roll makes you want to move, this one stirs up emotions, amazing. Thanks

[fishyfish]

You have done an amazing arrangement of the song.

[chrisdrake]

That was a wonderful arrangement ! Even 10 years ago I’d have given Glen Campbell zero ear time. Now, a compilation of his more popular tracks and his album of modern covers features regularly on my playlist. Masterful singing, brilliant song writing and great playing - Glen was the complete musical package.