Guitar Noise

Listed in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, George Harrison died at the age of 58 on November 29, 2001. Sometimes characterized as the “quiet Beatle,” he wrote such Beatles classics as Something, Here Comes The Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps (see the Guitar Noise While My Guitar Gently Weeps lesson).

All Things Must Pass

Like other members of the Beatles, George Harrison came from a working class family in Liverpool in northwest England. He was born on February 25, 1943, the youngest of three sons. Harrison began to show interest in music when he was 14. He bought a second-hand guitar from a classmate and learned a few chords. Soon afterwards he teamed up with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They were discovered by record store owner Brian Epstein, who later became their manager. A rapid succession of hit singles and albums from 1962 onwards turned the Beatles into the most famous rock and roll group in the world.

The wave of “Beatlemania” – massive media coverage of their every move and the hysterical screaming of their concert audiences — led the four to give up touring in 1966 to concentrate on recording. After the group’s breakup, Harrison scored remarkable success with the single My Sweet Lord and a series of albums reflecting his meditative and philosophical approach to life. He shied away from media publicity and sometimes refused to promote his own albums or films. In 1987, Harrison emerged again, this time to promote his new album Cloud Nine. The failure of his two previous albums, after he refused to give any interviews or promote them, had, he said, made him wonder if he had any fans left. The album was a
hit, as was the single Got My Mind Set On You. This spurred Harrison into making his first tour in many years in Japan during 1992, supported by Eric Clapton.

But his post-Beatles years were marked by tragedy too. He fought a long and tough battle against cancer. In 1998 he overcame throat cancer, which he blamed on smoking. He was given the all-clear after radiation therapy. In 1999, he was lucky to escape with his life when a man broke into his country home west of London during the night and stabbed him in the chest. Only the swift action of his wife Olivia, who hit the attacker on the head with a poker and a table lamp, saved him.

George Harrison died at the age of 58 on November 29, 2001 in Los Angeles. For those not familiar with Harrison’s work, among other things he taught John Lennon how to play guitar. His public image was summed up in the first Beatles song he wrote, Don’t Bother Me, which appeared on the group’s second album. He preferred being a musician to being a star.

Completed and released posthumously, the 2002 album Brainwashed is the last complete work of George Harrison’s that is available. The album was completed by George Harrison’s son Dhani and Jeff Lynne of the Traveling Wilburys.

George Harrison Guitar Lesson

The follow patterns show how to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps, written by George Harrison. This mini lesson was provided by Guitar Alliance. Don’t miss Guitar Noise the solo guitar arrangment of While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

The chord progression is as follows: Am, Am/G, Am/F#, Fmaj.7, Am, G,D, E. As you can see, it is a fairly involved progression. If you don’t know how to play all of these chords that’s okay. Here they are in tab:

When you’re playing the riff below, just keep the chords in mind when you’re trying to determine the best way to finger it. To hit the low notes on the 2nd and 1st fret of the low E string in the Am/F# and Fmaj.7 chords I use my thumb.

External links

• George Harrison Wikipedia entry
• George Harrison – Music at Last.fm
• George Harrison Official Website
• His Magical, Mystical Tour from Time Magazine
• George Harrison on Rolling Stone