While to some folks The Blues and Christmas don’t exactly go hand in hand, there have been some truly great Christmas blues songs recorded throughout the years.
Honestly I really didn’t know about this until one of my students brought it to my attentionand I started to investigate further all of the Christmas songs out there done by blues artists.
This particular one, “Merry Christmas Baby” was recorded by Elvis Presley. It’s such a perfect example of one of the Blues Guitar Unleashed lessons at work, that I just had to make a video out of it and show you how it’s put together.
Granted, this is not a note-for-note transcription of the tune, that would be illegal. This is, however, very much in the style of Merry Christmas Baby and is a common idea that could be used for dozens of blues songs. Enjoy and Merry Christmas Everyone!
Downloads:
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…well, I’m not sure if its the original (I shouldnt have said that) but it is an early version anyway.
Griff,
Thank-you for the lessons that you have given to us. There are little subtle tricks that you give away and you explain exactly what is going on fingering and picking, and without explaining when you mute the strings, that it happens so fast…it is as if you are watching a magician doing slight of hand tricks right in front of you…over and over, you can\’t see what is done unless it is explained and slowed down. And so it is with what you present to us on the guitar…slight of hand tricks that we watch Clapton and Gilmour doing right in front of us over and over…once in a while being rewarded for being very diligent, we will actually learn a riff. Thanks again for taking the time. Have a Merry Christmas! Maurice
Merry Christmas Griff
Griff,
Thanks for the instruction on the guitar.
Maurice
Thanks for breaking this down into manageable pieces, Griff.
Merry Christmas to you from snowbound England.
Hi Griff,
Thanks for the lesson sounds really cool.The beginners course i have just about mastered and i am on the last page. Sorry i haven\’t been on the forum for a very long time but my father has been seriously ill. Have been telling him about the course as he is an avid music lover of all kinds.Have a very merry christmas and a happy new year.
gerry [from scotland]
Thanks for all your wonderful videos Griff. Merry Christmas to you and your family from a very snowy southern England.
Currently my mornings start with breakfast with family and then 30 minutes with Griff. I’ll miss U when I’m through the lessons.
Merry Christmas from a yesterday snow white, today rainy eastern Austria.
Hi Griff,
I think Merry Christmas, Baby is by the late great Charles Brown. I saw him several times in a NYC club back in the 80′s and he’d do this tune every year even in the middle of July. It’s snowy and very cold in London!
Be well,
John
Thanks Griff and the season’s greetings to you and yours from yet another follower in snowy England!
Thanks for the lesson Griff. Back when I was a teenager finding \\"jam partners\\" wasn\\\’t hard. Now that I am middle aged with college age kids it\\\’s not so easy. Thanks also for the convienience of this forum, I can loop it or pause if necessary….(keeps me from having to ask for technical help from the kids lol!)
And from a very cold Ireland,Happy Christmas!
Thanks… Merry Christmass!!
Always great to receive these little extras Griff, though I’ve fallen a bit behind recently with the course, it’s always there when there’s time and, before you know it I’m back on track again, Brilliant!
All the Very Best Season’s Greetings to you and your family, together with, as always, my heart-felt thanks,
Stuart (from England)
Hi Griff, merry christmas and happy new year to you and your family
Griff,
I know we never really talked on here but I see you every day when I practice.
I have all the solos learned and now working on DVD #4, its been rough but fun working and learning from the BGU course,I know your busy, so just a quick Marry Christmas to you and your family!!!
Ray
P.S. BGU 2???
This Video worked OK but who knows if the Next/1 will………………
Wal of the`RAPIDS` `CEDAR` that is………………………………….
LATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Thanks Griff,…Merry Christmas from sunny Florida…looking forward to improving with your help in the New Year!
Thanks Griff, it is always good to hear from you. It is always a pleasant surprise when I hear from you. It is always good. I say that because of all the crap mail everyone gets and we know if it is from you it will be good. For that I thank you. And Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all.
thanks thats great merry xmas from down under oz 45celcius here no white xmas in outback opal country cooler underground rock on see ya .Nitro Mac
Hi Griff
Thanks it\\\’s always good to hear from you and thank you for a nother
Grate lesson i dont know if you celebrate christmass but all the best to you and your family
Regards Graham and stay safe
Have A Merry Christmas Griff and Family!
Thank You Very Much for all the Info! I plan to purchase your course after things settle down from the Holidays. You are a Great Teacher (best I have seen on the net)
Thanks Again Scott
Merry Christmas Griff,
Really love your teaching style, laid back,cool or whatever superlative you like. Just one thing where were you when I first started. Keep up the easyways for us thicko’s. More power to your elbow, hope the new year brings you even more succes and lots more learners.
Merry Christmas Griff and thanks for all your knowledge.
Griff.. This sounds like the riff from Allman Bros “Stormy Monday”..
Can we use 2nd & 3rd fingers for the slide? – I have a recalcitrant pinky..
Thanks for the great free stuff.. I am about to pull the trigger on your lessons..
Need a DVD player first.. BEST to All!
I think this little rythum is pretty kool! It’s easy and not frustraiting to learn.
Thank you.
Hi Griff, as a UK senior citizen I\’m still hoping and trying to play blues, finger joints an\’t what they used to be. videos great thank you. Best Regards Peter.
Hi Griff,
I’m still new to guitar, but absolutely love your lessons. Your teaching style blows away the ‘competition ‘ and makes it so much more fun, as in, less frustrating. I’m getting your beginner’s course in the new year. There is so much ‘noise ‘ available on the web, but I’m satisfied you are the real deal. Merry Christmas from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Mike T
have a very merry bluesy Christmas and a rocking new year
from a no snow island in the uk.
hope you and your family have a good christmas.
i’ve learned so much from you
Thanks for the cool blues riff. Merry Christmas.
Thank\\\’s Griff,
the best to you & and your family.
cvc
Hi Griff, Thankz for all the tips you have have left me with over the year 2009.I hope to see more in the new year. Merry X-Mass and a Happy New ,Thankz again, Jeff.
Hey Griff….
Thanks a bunch for the Bluesy Merry Christmas lesson!!
Enoyed as always!!
You and your family please have A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!!!
All the best!!
Tom P.
“In the now, Very Christmasy West Virginia courtesy of the recent snow storm” : )
hi Griff
i wish u very nice holidays
and also thankyou for yet another great lesson
best wishes
merry christmas griff thankyou for all the outstanding lessons keep up the good work
Just a quick note to say thanks for all the great stuff you have sent me i am still in the early leraning stage but have enjoyed trying your stuff .
have a great christmas to you and yours
Garry
Thanks,
Enjoyed the video of you and Bob Murnahan, and this lesson.
I am working my way through \"PTTB\" and \"Pentatonic Power\" and learning a lot from both. Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Thanks for all the great material that you keep putting out for us. Have a safe and Merry Christmas from here in Canada…..where we have lots of snow and cold weather that we would be glad to share with you.
Bill
Thanks for videos and tips you shared with all of us through the year.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!
Griff thanks for the riff its a good one!!!! and marry christmas to you and yours.
George.
Hi Griff,
I just recently received both of your blues courses and I’m trying to retrain myself with your help. I am a 52 and I have always enjoyed picking up my guitar. This will be the first time that I have someone show me the right way to play my girls (my guitars). I got my first guitar thirty some years ago and the only tune that I know is House Of The Rising Sun. But I think I got it, so when I seen your courses I thought to myself that you will be the ONE that will get me out of this circle that I seem to be stuck on. I like what I see and I hope that sometime in 2010 I will be playing my girls with the sounds of B.B. King, Robert Johnson or Son House in the background. So thank you very much and a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you and your family.
p.s. If you need some snow for your nice warm winter, there’s plenty here in Ontario and my friend your welcome to take as much as you want. Peace!!:)
Thanks Griff for your wonderful instruction and videos. Hope you and your family have a great Christmas.
Best wishes, Dawn
Griff thank you so much for all the fine lessons this past year. I have learned a lot. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and A Happy Healthy Prosperous New Year.
Hey Griff,
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for all you’ve done for us out here. It’s been fun and very satisfying.
Tim
Hey Grif,
Nice lesson on bass walk ups. However, “regretablly, sunny southern California”????? Here in Iowa we have 14 inches of snow on the ground and are currently getting freezing rain on top of it. I can only hope my wife can drive home from work safely. You can have our white Christmas!!! Thanks for all the guitar instruction and have a great holiday, white or not!
Merry Christmas Baby was written by Charles Brown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0pjd3jbWiA
Thanks for all your video instructions!
Also in sunny California
MJB
Hi Griff Merry Chrismas And Happy New Year
Griff,
I have really enjoyed the lessons that you sent, I haven\’t had much time to use them yet but I have saved them all. Sometimes other things must come first, I am a young 60 years old and still have this great urge to learn to play lead Guitar, the rhythm come sort of easy but I have a real problem with solo lead.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Thank for you efforts,
Randy
Hi Griff
Thanks for the course, the emails and help…I am getting there slowly but surely.
Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Griff,
Thanks for that – Really like the \’Merry Christmas Elvis\’ tune, it\’s fun to play too.
Have a great Christmas,
Regards, Will
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