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We must also consider the movements of Ringo, Macca & Preston as a lot of those licks and the main line may have become repetitive. This is a great unit song with everyone playing their parts to the best of their ability imo.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
It's not so much an Indian technique as a blues technique, which goes back many years into the Beatles' early influences. I'm not discrediting anyone's perspective; it's just a reminder that playing and singing the same notes is a major blues thing.
Anyway, to answer the question, John played lead guitar throughout the song. This was done live, along with his singing. (Timing an overdub would've been incredibly difficult, considering his varying inflections.)
During the coda (the ominous, musical equivalent of torturous male lust -- cut off "instantly" in the only way it can be; I needn't go into detail), John and George are playing the repeating arpeggio, on several overdubbed tracks. George didn't play any "soloing" parts.
I'm not discrediting anyone's perspective; it's just a reminder that playing and singing the same notes is a major blues thing.
Thanks for the input, and feel free to correct anything I say about the technical aspects of music; my ignorance of the whole subject is nearly complete. I must have been the only kid in 1977 who couldn't work out the two chords you needed in order to call yourself a guitar player and start your own band.
Cheers, Chris. I didn't know blues used the same technique. I suppose John could have been influenced by either blues or Indian music, as both influences were floating about. Do you know anything specific about it regarding this song?
In any case, I expect Fendertele got his question answered. The winner is: John!
Man, this was fun. Somebody ask something else!
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
I don't know anything specific about the inception of the song, if that's what you mean (well, I don't know anything, of course, not being a Beatle; I've just read all this stuff ); lyrically, it was about Yoko, and was recorded at both Trident and Abbey Road. Beyond that, I could type out the more intriguing bits of the section in Recording the Beatles that deals with the song, if you like. (It includes the overdub-by-overdub studio board plan...pretty fascinating, for an obsessive recording-stuff nerd like me.)
An exception to what we've ascertained so far is that great, super-strong lick that opens the song (just before the vocals). Just that bit might be both John and George; it sounds like the same notes on two guitars, doesn't it?
An exception to what we've ascertained so far is that great, super-strong lick that opens the song (just before the vocals). Just that bit might be both John and George; it sounds like the same notes on two guitars, doesn't it?
I can hear two guitars, but playing different notes. Unless my old ears are deceiving me!
I just want you to reassure him - talk to him, make him see the error of his ways. Then I'll hit him.
Don't the recording records indicate that John and George played together on this song (per Geoff and Rick's notes from page 1)? It makes sense that George would play the opening lick (and long coda) if he devised it. They were probably playing together, but who knows how many overdubs and permutations went into the final product?
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
I can hear two guitars, but playing different notes. Unless my old ears are deceiving me!
Sorry; I wasn't very clear. There's the arpeggio thing going on in the background (the same repeating notes heard in the "she's so heavy" sections and the long ending), but on top of this, there's a much louder "solo" line, unique to the intro, which doesn't come in until a few seconds have passed.
Don't the recording records indicate that John and George played together on this song (per Geoff and Rick's notes from page 1)? It makes sense that George would play the opening lick (and long coda) if he devised it. They were probably playing together, but who knows how many overdubs and permutations went into the final product?
George didn't devise it; John wrote the song. (Which book are you talking about? Just curious.)
Again, yes, John and George are playing the repeating notes that continue throughout the entire last section. They're also multi-tracked several times.
By "lead" guitar, I meant the notes being played along with John's vocals (and in the similar instrumental verses). That's all John.
This is an exception on the album; George plays most of the other guitars on Abbey Road.
George didn't devise it; John wrote the song. (Which book are you talking about? Just curious.)
Chris, hop back and read page 1 of this thread. Several of us looked up various published sources about who might have played what. I was quoting Simon Leng, who listened to the Abbey Road tapes to figure out what Harrison contributed. Yes, John wrote the song and played the lead guitar (along with the voice), but George apparently did the lick. Repeating part of it here:
Quoted Text
Critically, he [Harrison] worked tirelessly on the guitar parts for "I Want You" to help realize Lennon's vision. Harrison contributed the climactic opening lead salvo, and the main counterpoint riff that defines the lengthy coda.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
i'm quite sure i've read in lewisholm's recording sessons that the repeating guitar riff is certainly george and john. what's much more interesting to me are the very jazzy, distinctive, leads in this song. i've asked on several boards who the owner was, and most agree on lennon, who rarely showed such tasteful work.
i'm quite sure i've read in lewisholm's recording sessons that the repeating guitar riff is certainly george and john. what's much more interesting to me are the very jazzy, distinctive, leads in this song. i've asked on several boards who the owner was, and most agree on lennon, who rarely showed such tasteful work.
Oh, really? Would you like to step outside and discuss that? Huh?
Oh, sorry about that . What I meant to say is, what do you think about those little riffs in "Honey Pie"? I was amazed to hear (via general consensus) that was John doing that.
Not quite as tasteful, but his solo in "Get Back" is smooth too. Who knows about any others?
I love John, I love Paul, And George and Ringo, I love them all!
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); lyrically, it was about Yoko, and was recorded at both Trident and Abbey Road. Beyond that, I could type out the more intriguing bits of the section in Recording the Beatles that deals with the song, if you like. (It includes the overdub-by-overdub studio board plan...pretty fascinating, for an obsessive recording-stuff nerd like me.)