Chuck Berry's guitar style
Chuck Berry is one of the most influential artists in the history of rock & roll. In addition to the songs, there is the guitar style. Every rock guitarist learns to play Johnny.B.Goode!

But what about his guitar style? There are three areas:

  • The intros - typically like Johnny.B.Goode. It has been suggested that this pattern was created by Chuck's one-time pianist Johnny Johnson
  • The accompanyment whilst singing - this is a standard blues riff
  • The solos - typically as in Johnny.B.Goode. I thought that this kind of solo was totally original, but recently, I was listening to some old Sonny Boy Williamson (II) albums - in particular 'King Biscuit Time' recorded in 1951. There is a track called 'Stop Now Baby' with Joe Willie Wilkins on lead guitar.

    Here is an extract from the second instrumental break.

    Chuck Berry - yes?

    Johnny.B.Goode was written in 1955 and released in 1958. dollarrule The Trail of the Hellhound site has info on Joe, plus other delta blues musicians.