Tom Petty - You Wreck Me - Cover

You Wreck Me, baby! Man, there is not a single mediocre song on Wildflowers! It's an album produced by a songwriter at the top of his game. Every single song. The reissue of this 25 year old reocrd was incredible. There are more songs! It should have been a triple album. I bet that's what Tom wanted to release. Still, this is about You Wreck Me. It was originally titled, "You Rock Me." But, that seemed kind of ordinary, so he changed it to what you have, and it's so much cooler! This tune also hearkens back to You're Going to Get It - the Heartbreakers second album from '78. It's just like the way he used to write.

These videos serve as lessons on how I play this bunch of Pop, Rock, and Reggae songs - sometimes as a single guitarist playing the only guitar part, though that's rare. And sometimes if there is more than one guitar part, then trying to find the single good path through the tune. I complete one pass, demonstrating different Rhythm parts, styles, and techniques. There is no talking. No discussion. No note-for-note explanations. As such, for clarity, my guitar is supposed to be louder in the mix than it would ever be in a live setting. But, if you really want to hear what I hear, do what I do and put on a good pair headphones with great bass response! It's worth it.

Why this is important to Rhythm Guitar:
It's easy. That's a big part of this lesson. Sometimes the best sounding things are easy! Yay!

But, then you get in to the nuances. This song is a perfect example of how some repeated riff chords are the same in the intro as in the verse. This is a musical problem, because you will walk over the vocal on each verse if you don't take it down a notch. Watch the video again and see how taking the level down at the beginning of each verse makes room for the vocal.

The other thing about this song is every chord is a down-stroke. There no up-strokes at all in this song. That's probably Tom's guitar doing that. But if you don't do what he did, it sounds wrong.

Took me years to figure that out on this song.

25 of them.

#artofrhythmguitar #echohead #rhythmguitar #youwreckmeguitar

[TheUlesifah]

Your description was amazing, couldn’t agree more …. Tom & Mike were the first guitar players that gave me that hook line sinker music bug as a young kid … I remember my parents got me full moon fever with my first double cassette Sony boombox. To this day Mike Campbell is still in my mind one of the most amazing musicians ever and without him Tom would not have had the career he had…. Great video

[derekfisher]

Tuned up to F to play along in key. Early on, Tom and Mike used to throw on the capo for this tune. Later on they just switched to guitars tuned up a half step. Tom always rocked the blonde Esquire for this tune. Good stuff. Thanks for the video.

[mcoon]

Great cover! Man I totally love this song, I’m a Tom Petty fan. Never knew this was up a half step. Thanks so much for posting.

[billonbass]

Pretty Tele. I'm a bass player with only limited guitar skills - so thanks for posting this. I'm sure even I can play this. Much appreciated. Thank you. Well done!

[hapax]

I like that you tune up 1/2 step for this song. I've considered it, but afraid of breaking a string when you do the bends in the solo. Great use of dynamics too, that's something I noted on the recording and incorporated it into my rhythm during the verses. Great job my friend !

[dirtyharry]

Great playing thankyou. Are they triads at 2:08? Im a beginner but cant quite see what you are

[bruce]

Which telecaster is that? Memory escapes me.

[b.wiggins]

I thought that was a damn good copy of Mike Campbell’s solo!