In this video
Happy uses the same setup as Jumpin' Jack Flash – open G tuning with capo at fret 4 – making this a perfect companion lesson. This is Keith Richards through and through.
What You Will Learn:
How the same tuning/capo setup works for multiple songs
The signature opening riff using Keith's two chord shapes
The sliding technique from open position to fret 5
The Chuck Berry-style blues riff in open G
B major pentatonic licks (using the "My Girl" sound)
The held-back verse rhythm with strategic emphasis
Keith's Song
Keith Richards wrote it, he sings it, and it couldn't be more representative of his style. The brass section adds colour, but the guitar work showcases everything you've learned about open G technique.
The Two Chord Shapes
Everything Keith does in open G uses either the third-finger-only shape or the middle-and-ring-finger Keith Richards chord. This song demonstrates both: starting at fret 9 with the third finger shape, then adding middle and ring fingers.
The Intro Riff
The opening uses: bar at fret 9 with third finger, then middle and ring finger join. Followed by open strings, sliding to fret 5 with a flat first finger. The middle two strings are picked together, down to string 5 root, finishing with a power chord strum.
The Verse Feel
The verses hold back rhythmically – "one, two, three, four, one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and, wham bam." This restraint creates tension that makes the fills and chorus hit harder.