Playing Johnny B Goode

[Misterwogan]

What arpeggio do you use - major or dominant 7th?

I'm finding that major works ok on the I and IV chords and dom 7th on the V (all with 6th added), but I can't find a reliable lead sheet.

[warnergt]

I rarely, if ever, use the 7 in that tune. It's usually more like a:
1 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 3

When I get to the V chords (two bars), I play:
1 - 2 - 3 - 5 and 1 - 2 - 3 - 1

[Misterwogan]

Originally Posted by warnergt

When I get to the V chords (two bars), I play:
1 - 2 - 3 - 5 and 1 - 2 - 3 - 1

Thanks for that.

[Zootsuitbass]

When you walk up to the 7th on the V cord that can easily be timed to be hitting the root of the IV...ie 1,3,5,6,(7)Root of 4.

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by Zootsuitbass

When you walk up to the 7th on the V cord that can easily be timed to be hitting the root of the IV...ie 1,3,5,6,(7)Root of 4.

Why would you do that?
The V chord doesn't go to the IV chord in Johnny B. Goode.
Johnny B. Goode is 12-bar blues progression with the exception
that there are two V bars (i.e. V - V instead of V - IV).

Johnny B. Goode
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I

[Misterwogan]

Originally Posted by warnergt

Why would you do that?
The V chord doesn't go to the IV chord in Johnny B. Goode.
Johnny B. Goode is 12-bar blues progression with the exception
that there are two V bars (i.e. V - V instead of V - IV).

Johnny B. Goode
I I I I
IV IV I I
V V I I

That's correct - from the final V it's back to the I.

[Deathblade Eric]

Many moons ago, I had a stab at transcribing Willie Dixon's line in the original. This was as far as I got:—

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8453031/JBG_2.pdf

Make of it what you will.

[BayStateBass]

FWIW we do that song a lot......

I have the best luck with using the major pentatonic scale.

We do it in the key of A.

Basically root, M3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th(octave), 6th, 5th, M3rd, repeat, depending on root chord. In the short areas stay with the root, M3rd, 5th.

Stick with keeping that one simple. Don't overthink it.