Johnny Cash 7-Pack

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Folsom Prison Blues - Guitar Lesson

  Folsom Prison Blues is one of Johnny Cash’s most recognized songs. It follows a simple 12-bar blues progression with a standard country-style strumming pattern. Most of the difficulty here is hitting the bass notes accurately as the beats are moving very quickly. This lesson also covers some bass runs and a bit on the lead.

• Lesson 2: I Walk The Line - Guitar Lesson

  I Walk The Line is one of Johnny Cash’s earliest hits and a great example of a simple chord progression and strumming pattern expanding into a very interesting example of moving through different keys (modulating). This lesson goes into cut time (2/2), alternate bass note patterns, connecting chords with passing bass notes, and even why he hums a sustained note before each verse.

• Lesson 3: Ring Of Fire - Guitar Lesson

  Ring Of Fire is one of Johnny Cash’s biggest hits, originally released in 1963. The song is credited to his soon-to-be wife June Carter but the real origins appear to be a bit sketchy, particularly according to Johnny’s wife at the time. This lesson covers a Campfire Version as well as a version that incorporates the mariachi horn parts in Johnny’s arrangement.

• Lesson 4: Ghost Riders In The Sky - Guitar Lesson

  Ghost Riders In The Sky is a cowboy classic from the 1940s. It has been done by innumerable artists over the years, ranging from the original done by Burl Ives to surf, country, pop, trance, and even alt and metal bands. This lesson goes over Johnny Cash’s version, released in 1979 on his album Silver. It is pretty standard country strumming but we take a short look at the lead and even a bit on incorporating it into the strum.

• Lesson 5: Hurt - Guitar Lesson

  Hurt is a song originally done by Trent Reznor and his project ‘band’ Nine Inch Nails and it was first released in 1994 on the album The Downward Spiral. This lesson looks at the way Johnny Cash arranged it for his 2002 album American IV: The Man Comes Around. It uses an easy set of open chords along with very simple strumming patterns.

• Lesson 6: Personal Jesus - Guitar Lesson

  This song was originally written by Depeche Mode, but covered by Johnny Cash. His haunting voice corresponds perfectly to the driving, rhythmic guitar playing.
  
  Although only utilizing a few standard chord shapes, it is the rhythm of the guitar that makes this tune so enjoyable to play.
  
  Master the main riff and your rhythm, timing and precision will all be instantly improved.

• Lesson 7: A Boy Named Sue - Guitar Lesson

  This Johnny Cash classic is a prime example of simplicity and masterful song writing.
  
  Based on easy chords and a standard arrangement, this is one tune you’ll be able to learn easily, and relatively quickly.
  
  By incorporating the bass line into the guitar riffs of the song, you can capture the essence of Cash’s playing in a very short amount of time.
  
  This lesson will highlight the chords used, how to include the bass line while simultaneously playing the chords, as well as a few pentatonic licks that can help fill out the song.
  
  By the end, you’ll have everything you need to perform this song live!