FENDER PLAYERS CLUB JAMES BURTON

Lesson & audio from: Tab & notation from:

Power Studies 2
by Wolf Marshall The Decade Series:
The 1950s
The Wolf Marshall Guitar Method
# HL 690543. Book $14.95 (US).
# HL 697261. Book/CD $17.95 (US).
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SUSIE-Q Words & Music by D. Hawkins, S.J. Lewis and E. Broadwater

Copyright 1957 (Renewed) by Arc Music Corp.
Dale Hawkins International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved

AUDIO CLIP

This 1957 recording was a breakthrough hit for Louisiana-based rockabilly singer Dale Hawkins. An
essential piece of the rock and roll genre, "Susie-Q" has received covers from the likes of Creedence
Clearwater Revival and the Rolling Stones.

The piece has also endured as a kind of musical touchstone for the working guitarist, influencing scores of
players, among them Jimmy Page, Johnny Winter, Albert Lee, and Brian Setzer. Why? Because "Susie-Q" has
the double distinction of having also been the official vinyl debut for a teenage James Burton. Burton, in
case you didn't know, went on to found a generation of "Telemasters" through his work with Rick Nelson
and Elvis Presley, and on countless recording sessions.

"Susie-Q" is filled with numerous rock and roll cliches, many of them definitive Burtonisms. Check out the
propulsive, swampy rhythm he gives the track with his unique hybrid picking style. (see Wolf Marshall
Guitar Method, Basics 2, Chapter 5). James uses a combination of pick and finger (pick) to pluck simple
bluesy licks and arpeggiation while simultaneously producing a constant quarter-note thump on the bass
notes. This is heard throughout the tune's signature riffs in the intro and verses.

Learn the two "halves" of this part separately before joining them as a whole. First establish a steady
quarter-note pulse on the bass notes with your pick. Next learn the upper melody as a second step. Finally
combine the two elements and focus on keeping good solid time. To keep the parts in perspective, try to
visualize the open E or E7 chord as you play the riff.

The basic accompaniment parts are also based on simple open chords: E7, A7, and B7. (See Basics 2,
Chapters 5 and 6.) Note that the B7 shape is slid up a fret in the verses to create the C7 ( bVI) voicing. This
technique and sound is commonly found in blues, folk, and country music. The form of the song is
essentially a loose 12-bar blues progression in E. (See Basics 1, Chapter 4.) It would be helpful as
preparation to practice hybrid picking using the exercises in Basics 2, Chapter 6 (Figures 17-19) before
tackling this song in its entirety. You'll get a better grasp of the basic shapes and changes and their relation
to the 12-bar blues form.
 Susie-Q
Words and Music by Dale Hawkins, Stan Lewis and Eleanor Broadwater

Intro
Moderate Rock = 152
*
AUDIO CLIP
E7
Gtr. 1 (clean)
(drums & bass)

w/ pick & fingers

** P.M. throughout

3 3
3 2 0 3 2 0
2 2 2 0 2 2
0 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
* Chord symbols reflect overall tonality.
** P.M. refers to downstemmed notes only.
Verse
E7

1. Su zie Q.

simile on repeat

3 3
3 2 0 0 3 2 0
(2) 2 0 2 2 2 0 2 2
0 2 0 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gtr. 1: w/ Rhy. Fill 1, 2nd time

A7

Oh, Su zie Q. Oh, Su zie Q, how I love you,

Oh, Su zie Q. Oh, Su zie Q, ba by, I love you,
3

1/4

3 3 3 2 0
3 2 0 2 3
(2) 2 0 2 2 2 0 2
0 2 0 2 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Verse
C7 B7 E7 E7

my Su zie Q. 2. I like the way you walk.

my Su zie Q. 4. Well, say that you'll be true.

0 3 3
(3) 2 0 3 2 0 3 2 0 1
2 2 2 0 2
3 3 2 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Copyright 1957 (Renewed) by Arc Music Corporation (BMI)

International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
Used by Permission