[www.youtube.com]

When I first heard Lowdown, I was blown away. It opens with a masterful sweep of the hand by Keith on his guitar. It is simple yet complex. This has always been one of my favorite openings for a Stones song. I could listen to this opening twang everyday and not get tired of it.

Making it look simple is the complicated part


The guitar is an amazing instrument,
flesh on strings and all of the subtleties involved.

Touch, timing and his ear are Keith's great strengths as a guitar player and are what make him a truly great player.

Is it in open tuning?

Maybe it is my connection, but the audio on that seems choppy ?


Reminds me of Wicked as it Seems.

Open tuning on both Keith guitars. The sounds of those guitars are complimenting eachother nicely, imo.

It's not your connection. It's the video.

This one is better : [www.youtube.com] .... even though it's a 2009 remaster.

Low Down is in that group of songs that Keith has found with open G in the key of A or involved A that works so well:

Wicked As It Seems
Love Is Strong
It Won't Take Long

One Hit is another one but isn't nearly as good.

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Winning Ugly VXII
It's not your connection. It's the video.

It's not a video, but thanks, good to know

Indeed, often the simplest riff is the best riff. The Stones are proof of that and Keith Richards is the master of the art form.

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."

It's Charlies entrance that does it for me.
You can not sound more Charlie Watts.

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BowieStone
It's Charlies entrance that does it for me.
You can not sound more Charlie Watts.

Yes, and IMO you can't sound any more Keithian than that intro.

Love it! ... Lowdown, Gunface, Too Tight, these are some underrated Stones songs from their later years.

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LeonidP
Love it! ... Lowdown, Gunface, Too Tight, these are some underrated Stones songs from their later years.

Later years indeed, but these are not recent songs. I often think of B2B as a recent album, but I have a daughter who was born the year it came out. She just turned 19! Time waits for no one...

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."

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HonkeyTonkFlash

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LeonidP
Love it! ... Lowdown, Gunface, Too Tight, these are some underrated Stones songs from their later years.

Later years indeed, but these are not recent songs. I often think of B2B as a recent album, but I have a daughter who was born the year it came out. She just turned 19! Time waits for no one...

Same here! Time flies..

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DandelionPowderman

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HonkeyTonkFlash

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LeonidP
Love it! ... Lowdown, Gunface, Too Tight, these are some underrated Stones songs from their later years.

Later years indeed, but these are not recent songs. I often think of B2B as a recent album, but I have a daughter who was born the year it came out. She just turned 19! Time waits for no one...

Same here! Time flies..

Indeed, and having kids marks the years in an odd way. My son was born when Voodoo Lounge came out and I can't believe it's been 22 years since both events...

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."

Lowdown is a great song, one of my favorites.

I'm listening to Heartbreaker 1973 whilst reading this. I just wanted to comment about the funky section that comes in at about 3:15....incredible!! Ok, back to simple riffs

Sometimes the Simplest Riff is the Best Riff...or the riff that got some attitude...

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The best example being Honky Tonk Women, particularly live in the early-mid 70s. That super simple opening riff that just keeps rolling hypnotically.

Also gotta mention Jumping Jack Flash. A very simple riff, but one that is powerful and propels the whole thing to euphoric heights, especially on the best live versions. And of course, the Stones discography is super heavy on songs driven by simple but fantastic riffs...Satisfaction, Under My Thumb (1981 style), HTW, Start Me Up...I could go on but we all know them....

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-08-19 15:36 by HonkeyTonkFlash.

Keith turns a good riff into a hook that has you humming it to yourself. With other bands I'll hum the song, but with Keith I hum the riffs. Genius.

ROCKMAN

ROCKMAN

ROCKMAN

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HonkeyTonkFlash
Also gotta mention Jumping Jack Flash. A very simple riff, but one that is powerful and propels the whole thing to euphoric heights, especially on the best live versions. And of course, the Stones discography is super heavy on songs driven by simple but fantastic riffs...Satisfaction, Under My Thumb (1981 style), HTW, Start Me Up...I could go on but we all know them....

Under My Thumb is more of a lick than a riff... don't'cha think? It's a sneaky little lick. Goes from minor to major without being noticeable.

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GasLightStreet

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HonkeyTonkFlash
Also gotta mention Jumping Jack Flash. A very simple riff, but one that is powerful and propels the whole thing to euphoric heights, especially on the best live versions. And of course, the Stones discography is super heavy on songs driven by simple but fantastic riffs...Satisfaction, Under My Thumb (1981 style), HTW, Start Me Up...I could go on but we all know them....

Under My Thumb is more of a lick than a riff... don't'cha think? It's a sneaky little lick. Goes from minor to major without being noticeable.

Hmmm...I guess to me licks and riffs are pretty much the same thing but I see yer point!

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."

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Lowdown

It Won't Take Long

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