Seventh chorus
Lesson time: (2min 33sec)
Paddy Milner breaks down the seventh chorus of "Honky Tonk Train Blues", with its fat octave-and-third voicings and the steady groove that keeps it from rushing.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Learn Three Classic Boogie-Woogie Songs
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Chorus Breakdown
So, yeah, let's move on to the next chorus, which has this figure.
- It's got these kind of big fat sounds.
- It's possible, you know, you could play them just as thirds.
- I think it adds something to add that bottom octave.
- But you could quite easily play like that and you wouldn't lose anything by it.
It's just all about really feeling that groove. It's just really about sitting on that groove and placing those in the right place, not rushing.
Speeding Up
So, just sped up, and we got this bit:
- So I'm, yeah, just, you know, sliding off all of those notes.
- I guess I'm pivoting between the bottom G and then the other notes on top, which is forming the G at a C7.
There are some, you know, slightly different voicings I think that Meadlux Lewis is doing on these.
- So that one sounds more like it's kind of got this crunchier top end.
About the instructor
Paddy Milner is recognised as one of the leading blues piano players in the world - he is currently keyboard player of choice for Sir Tom Jones, following several years with the late, great Jack Bruce - but he is also a superb original songwriter and a distinctive singer. Just read the praise from the likes of Dave Brubeck below! His playing was featured on the soundtrack for the hit 2019 film 'Rocketman'. He has twice won the award for Best Keyboard Player in the British Blues Awards, and he holds a long-standing residency as a founder member of the Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion at the world-renowned Ronnie Scott's club. His current group LONDONOLA plays homegrown British music with a strong dose of New Orleans spirit, and his collaborative group JAWBONE goes from strength to strength following the release of their self-titled debut album. "I love it... there's a guy who can really play the piano" - Dave Brubeck "I highly recommend it. Somehow things start to feel much better!" - Jack Bruce "The best blues piano player in Europe..." - Blues Access, USA "Impressive & original" - The Times "Dazzling" - The Independent Across his courses, Paddy breaks down authentic blues shuffle, slow blues, boogie-woogie, rock 'n' roll and New Orleans piano - right down to three classic boogie-woogie songs - so you can learn these styles from one of the very best in the business. read more