Learn to Play "Born Under a Bad Sign" by Albert King on the Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Born Under a Bad Sign on the guitar. This track is the title song from one of the greatest blues albums ever. Interestingly, this song wasn't written by Albert King. It was penned by William Bell and Booker T. Jones of the renowned Booker T. and the MGs, the house band at Stax Records, where the song was recorded.

While you might expect to learn Albert King's part, we'll focus on the rhythm guitar part. This part was played by the all-time legend Steve Cropper, an incredibly tasteful player and a favorite among many guitarists.

Born Under a Bad Sign might initially sound a bit complicated, but there's a pattern to it. Nearly all of the cover versions of this song follow the same pattern, making it easier to learn. I encourage you to check out some of the awesome covers of this song. My favorite is probably the one by Robin Ford from the "Talks of the Daughter" record. The guitar playing there is fantastic. There's also a great version by Cream, a couple by Eric Clapton, and one by Joe Bonamassa.

The Chord Progression and Song Structure

The chord progression of Born Under a Bad Sign is unique and interesting. The song is usually played in the original key of C#, although some versions, like the Robin Ford one, move everything up one semitone to the key of D. As you go through the lesson, you'll discover how the progression and structure of the song work together to create its distinctive sound.

If you're listening to the original recording, it has the verse, chorus, and verse. The verse is a four-bar section, and the chorus is the other eight bars. It's a good idea to break the song into these sections when learning it.

After the solos, it does another verse and chorus, and then it goes into this little pattern that does the scale, the pauses, the low E, then the pauses, low E, pauses, alternating between those two at the end.

The Importance of Rhythm

In this song, rhythm is crucial. Understanding when to start and when to finish is essential to keeping the song flowing smoothly. We'll pay close attention to this aspect of the song as we go through the lesson.

Wrapping Up

Once you've learned the bare bones of the tune, you'll be able to rock along with it. It's a great one to add to your repertoire and fun to play at jam nights.

Remember, it's not about getting it perfect - it's about having fun and expressing yourself through music. So don't stress if it feels a bit complicated. Take your time, practice regularly, and soon enough, you'll be confidently playing Born Under a Bad Sign.

In the video, we'll break down the song step by step and provide detailed explanations of each part. Remember, learning to play a song isn't just about knowing where to put your fingers — it's about understanding the music and making it your own. So, grab your guitar, and let's get started!

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