How to play Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top - The right way!

[bartzzz]

I just put this up. It's my lesson on how to play Sharp Dressed Man. I see a lot of guys playing this a lot of "different" ways on youtube so I thought I'd do a lesson on it. IMHO it's a pretty accurate tutorial on the rhythm parts. If you're looking to learn this tune for your cover band or just for fun I'm pretty sure this will help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Cxov0Mn_0

I hope that you get something out of it.
cheers

 

[Mudder]

Sounded good. I didn't watch the whole thing, do you need two guitar players to pull off that arrangement? I've seen ZZ Top live and Gibbons isn't all up and down the neck on that tune.

 

[rupe]

I'll be playing that song tonight...my way

Cool lesson

 

[Econ]

Hey man, what kind of pickups do you use in your Gibson?

 

[Mudder]

You know what? I looked for live vid and I'm mistaken, BFG does cover parts all over the neck.

 

[bartzzz]

Sounded good. I didn't watch the whole thing, do you need two guitar players to pull off that arrangement? I've seen ZZ Top live and Gibbons isn't all up and down the neck on that tune.

Hey mudder, yeah later in the vid I show how to play it with just one guitar. The studio version is clearly 2 guitars and you'll never be able to sound like it unless you do it that way because the parts overlap. But live obviously they're a 3 piece so he has to compromise the lick a little bit. I actually try to do quite a bit of research before I put up these vids and part of that is watching as many live shows as possible via youtube. This one shows fairly clearly what his hand positions are during the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA2Y8R_r8mU

cheers

 

[skoora]

Nice one. I always try myself to really listen to what's goin' on with a guitar part and not just assume the typical bar/power way of doing things. You definitely start hearing the subtle differences in feel and sound once you get the tweaked ways the originals do certain simple voicings. I noticed this a lot when I was doing an AC/DC tribute many years ago where I was doing Malcolm's parts and found quite a few interesting things on how he played counterpoint to what Angus was doing and when me and the other guy got our parts down that way, the band sounded noticeably more authentic.

 

[bartzzz]

I'll be playing that song tonight...my way

Cool lesson

Hey rupe, no way man! You have to play it the way I say!

 

[rupe]

I'll be playing that song tonight...my way

Cool lesson

Hey rupe, no way man! You have to play it the way I say!

 

[bartzzz]

Hey man, what kind of pickups do you use in your Gibson?

Hey Econ, yeah the pickups are Suhr Aldrich. I really love those things bro! The best pickups I've ever had in my LP.
cheers

 

[bartzzz]

Nice one. I always try myself to really listen to what's goin' on with a guitar part and not just assume the typical bar/power way of doing things. You definitely start hearing the subtle differences in feel and sound once you get the tweaked ways the originals do certain simple voicings. I noticed this a lot when I was doing an AC/DC tribute many years ago where I was doing Malcolm's parts and found quite a few interesting things on how he played counterpoint to what Angus was doing and when me and the other guy got our parts down that way, the band sounded noticeably more authentic.

Hey skoora, yeah it's all the little details in these guys playing that sets them apart. As a guitarist I feel it's really important to learn these classic songs the way they were played. It's fantastic for your development of not just your chops and expanding your toolbox, but also and probably more important developing your ear, which to me is the most important tool you need to be a good musician.

on the surface there doesn't seem to be a big difference between the weekend rocker and the pros, but look a little closer and you realize the difference is huge. Again, it's all in the details. All those little things that make those guys sound like they do and why most of us sound like we do!
cheers

 

[laneychris]

Great job! I enjoyed the video you did no short cuts or lazy playing

 

[XSSIVE]

Great vid! Technically I play it correct, I just use way too much gain and a pinch harmonic on the last note of the main riff lol.

 

[bartzzz]

Great job! I enjoyed the video you did no short cuts or lazy playing

Thanks bud. You mentioned the two things I really hate about a lot of guitar players, shortcuts and laziness! I know it's only rock'n'roll, but IMHO these songs are classics no different than anything that Beethoven or Mozart wrote and you kinda owe it to them to at least attempt to play them properly right?
cheers

 

[King Guitar]

Very cool, welcome to the forum.

 

[bartzzz]

Very cool, welcome to the forum.

Hey King Guitar, jeez man, I feel honored to be welcomed by the owner of RigTalk! Thanks bro.
cheers

 

[timeroo]

Is anyone else constantly reminded of that youtube video with the overplaying drummer when they hear this song? He ruined this song for me.

 

[bartzzz]

Is anyone else constantly reminded of that youtube video with the overplaying drummer when they hear this song? He ruined this song for me.

Hey timeroo, do you have a link for that? You got me all curious now!
cheers

 

[bartzzz]

Found it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVbt5W-DNc

Hahaha, that's awesome! What a clown man! Do you realize HOW TIRING that would be?
cheers