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Are you looking to improve your rock and blues guitar skills?
If so, this step-by-step “Suzie Q” guitar lesson is your ticket!
In this post, I’ll share with you the history of the song, the chords, the iconic riff, and everything else you need to know to get playing in the style today!
Who Originally Sang Suzie Q?
The original version of "Suzie Q" was sung by American rock singer-songwriter Dale Hawkins. Hawkins was often credited as the architect of swamp rock boogie. He wrote the tune during a booming rockabilly era with fellow bandmate Robert Chaisson, and they recorded it in 1957. Hawkins's version featured the brilliant guitar work of James Burton, who worked with many famous artists such as Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson among others.
What key is Suzie Q in?
“Suzie Q” is in the key of E and features a blues riff and chord progression. The original version by Hawkins and the later version recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) are both in the key of E and follow the same progression. The CCR version is a little bit grittier and swampier. The guitar tones have more bite to them, as well as a raspier vocal style from John Fogerty.
Susie Q Chords
One of the first steps you’ll want to do to play the song is to learn the chords. There are only four you need to know, E7, A, C, and B.
Next, you’ll want to plug those chord shapes into the chord progression. The entire song is just one looping 8-bar progression. I would consider this an 8-bar blues.
E7 (4 bars)
A (1 bar)
C, B (1 bar)
E7 (2 bars)
To get familiar with the progression, I would recommend strumming just quarter notes, which means four strums per bar on each chord. Count out loud as you go 1, 2, 3, 4. Tip: take note of the use of two chords in bar 6 when you change from C to B. This is essentially the turnaround progression of this 8-bar blues.
How To Play The Signature Susie Q Riff On Guitar?
Once you have mastered basic chord progression and strumming patterns, it's time to take things up a notch and add in some riffs. The main riff to “Suzie Q” is all based on the E minor pentatonic scale in the open position.
This scale pattern is great for coming up with cool riffs for a number of reasons.
-You can use all the open strings of your guitar
-You conveniently play common open-position chords and mix in riffs without having to jump across the fretboard
-You can add in low pedal tone bass notes to sound like multiple guitar players
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