Guitar on "Satisfaction" (original recording)

[ElectroVibe]

I've always loved this song by the Rolling Stones.

But later, I began to notice the rhythm guitar track that Keith Richards played. You can hear hear it whenever the "fuzz" tone is off, because it's the same guitar he is playing the main riff on. Sometimes you can even hear the "click" where I he switches the pickup (?) from lead to rhythm. You can hear it at the 35 second mark. Near the end, you hear the switch made a second too early and there is one stray fuzz note.

Has anyone else noticed this almost hidden guitar track? It's a combination of chords and cool little runs as only Keith could conjure up.

 

[Slater]

Sometimes you can even hear the "click" where I he switches the pickup (?)

Probably the foot switch on the Maestro Fuzztone FZ-1 pedal.

 

[Michedelic]

I've always loved this song by the Rolling Stones.

But later, I began to notice the rhythm guitar track that Keith Richards played. You can hear hear it whenever the "fuzz" tone is off, because it's the same guitar he is playing the main riff on. Sometimes you can even hear the "click" where I he switches the pickup (?) from lead to rhythm. You can hear it at the 35 second mark. Near the end, you hear the switch made a second too early and there is one stray fuzz note.

Has anyone else noticed this almost hidden guitar track? It's a combination of chords and cool little runs as only Keith could conjure up.

That ‘clean’ stuff was a particular style of fills found in gospel and soul music of the time that he had picked up on at that point, to add to his Jimmy Reed and Chuck Berry-isms. Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper employed similar riffage. It’s all over the Stones’ take on Don Covay’s “Mercy Mercy”(recorded roughly at the same time as “Satisfaction”)...

Compare/contrast to the original...

Main guitarist on that was...wait for it...Jimi Hendrix.
Oddly enough, Keith(or Brian)didn’t employ a fuzzbox all that much after that, just occasionally here and there. This is my favorite fuzz track of theirs, because it’s a big frantic, sloppy, over the top mess. The way it should be with those guys...

 

[TomB]

Good observations! Just for the record, those Jimmy Reed-isms you mention were played by the great Eddie Taylor.

 

[ElectroVibe]

That ‘clean’ stuff was a particular style of fills found in gospel and soul music of the time that he had picked up on at that point, to add to his Jimmy Reed and Chuck Berry-isms. Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper employed similar riffage. It’s all over the Stones’ take on Don Covay’s “Mercy Mercy”(recorded roughly at the same time as “Satisfaction”)...

Compare/contrast to the original...

Main guitarist on that was...wait for it...Jimi Hendrix.
Oddly enough, Keith(or Brian)didn’t employ a fuzzbox all that much after that, just occasionally here and there. This is my favorite fuzz track of theirs, because it’s a big frantic, sloppy, over the top mess. The way it should be with those guys...

Cool.

 

[ElectroVibe]

What I would love to see an actual clip of the actual original recording, which I know is impossible.

But there are a few performances from around 1965 where you see Keith playing that same rhythm style and positions, since I guess he was trying recreate what he did on the recording for a short while. Yet none of them match the inspiration and the way he played on the original. I love it because it was like a perfect blend of the earlier gospel/blues influences, mixed with his unique rock style.

 

[Killing Floor]

Cool catch.
Off/on topic but I am buried in love with some of the alternate tunings of Richards and Wood. Just shows you how many little secret ingredients make the recipe of their lasting success.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Cool catch.
Off/on topic but I am buried in love with some of the alternate tunings of Richards and Wood. Just shows you how many little secret ingredients make the recipe of their lasting success.

He used standard tuning on Satisfaction. But really loved the open G tuning that he used on a lot of other songs.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

The open G thing came after Keith listened to Ry Cooder supposedly.

I agree 'Satisfaction' never seems to sound the same as the original...what i find interesting is how the snare stands out and the bass line was very apparent even on crappy AM radios back in the day.

 

[jerry]

The open G thing came after Keith listened to Ry Cooder supposedly.
.

Or Gram Parsons.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Apparently the guitar part was never meant to stay on the track. The riff was supposed to be a horn part I have heard.

 

[Philonius]

FWIW:

 

[ElectroVibe]

The open G thing came after Keith listened to Ry Cooder supposedly.

I agree 'Satisfaction' never seems to sound the same as the original...what i find interesting is how the snare stands out and the bass line was very apparent even on crappy AM radios back in the day.

The bass does stand out. And it's all just something the band probably threw together at the last minute.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Apparently the guitar part was never meant to stay on the track. The riff was supposed to be a horn part I have heard.

Yes. The recording itself was supposed to be a demo.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Now on to the ACOUSTIC guitar that Brian Jones played. In this particular clip you can see him strumming exactly the same pattern on his electric. It looks note perfect.

 

[ElectroVibe]

The open G thing came after Keith listened to Ry Cooder supposedly.

I agree 'Satisfaction' never seems to sound the same as the original...what i find interesting is how the snare stands out and the bass line was very apparent even on crappy AM radios back in the day.

I have always wondered about the drums on this. It sounds like there might also be a tambourine through out the entire song. It kind of matches what Mick is clapping at the beginning of that last video I posted.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Keith's guitar Isolated

 

[Pauly 4001]

That ‘clean’ stuff was a particular style of fills found in gospel and soul music of the time that he had picked up on at that point, to add to his Jimmy Reed and Chuck Berry-isms. Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper employed similar riffage. It’s all over the Stones’ take on Don Covay’s “Mercy Mercy”(recorded roughly at the same time as “Satisfaction”)...

Compare/contrast to the original...

Main guitarist on that was...wait for it...Jimi Hendrix.
Oddly enough, Keith(or Brian)didn’t employ a fuzzbox all that much after that, just occasionally here and there. This is my favorite fuzz track of theirs, because it’s a big frantic, sloppy, over the top mess. The way it should be with those guys...

I believe some of those sloppy leads on Amanda Jones were played on a fuzzed electric dulcimer by Mr Jones.

 

[klattman]

Listen to the horns on Otis version. Nice.

 

[ElectroVibe]

I believe some of those sloppy leads on Amanda Jones were played on a fuzzed electric dulcimer by Mr Jones.

The fuzz Chuck Berry style rhythm is definitely Keith.