Look Who it Was Random video

More of That Jazz - Queen - guitar tutorial

3,571 views · Published 30 October 2013 · 3:51 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: James Rundle · 2013 · Music

Watch on YouTube

How to play on guitar More Of That Jazz by Queen taken from the 1978 album Jazz

Dive into the gritty, experimental side of Queen with this guitar lesson and play-along for "More Of That Jazz"! As the closing track of the 1978 album Jazz, this song is a masterclass in Roger Taylor’s unique songwriting and Brian May’s heavy, multi-layered guitar work.

In this lesson, James Rundle breaks down the dark, syncopated riffs and the dissonant chords that give this track its avant-garde edge.

🎸 What You’ll Learn:

• The Main Groove: How to play the heavy, blues-influenced main riff with the right "Red Special" grit.

• Experimental Chords: A look at the unusual chord choices and intervals used to create the song’s tense atmosphere.

• Layering Techniques: Understanding how the guitars interact with the loops and Roger’s powerhouse drumming.

• Full Play-Along: Sync up with James for a full play-along to master the timing of those tricky transitions.

🎵 Song Facts & Trivia:

• A Roger Taylor Composition: Not only did Roger write the song, but he also sang lead vocals and played almost every instrument on the track (drums, bass, and rhythm guitars), with Brian May adding the lead guitar flourishes.

• The "Collage" Ending: The song is famous for its "medley" outro, which features snippets of other tracks from the Jazz album, including "Dead on Time," "Bicycle Race," "Mustapha," and "Fat Bottomed Girls."

• Self-Referential Lyrics: The song serves as a cynical commentary on the rock and roll lifestyle and the music industry of the late 70s.

• Experimental Production: The track is one of Queen's most sonically experimental, utilizing loops and deliberate dissonance that pre-dated the "industrial" rock sounds of later decades.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Performance Demo
1:00 - The Heavy Main Riff
3:30 - Verse Structure & Timing
5:45 - The Dissonant Bridge Section
8:00 - Brian May’s Lead Fills
10:30 - Full Play-Along with James Rundle

Dust off your guitar and get ready to master this deep cut! If you found this tutorial helpful, please Like and Subscribe for more Queen guitar secrets.

Which track from the Jazz album is your personal favorite? Let me know in the comments!

#Queen #MoreOfThatJazz #RogerTaylor #BrianMay #GuitarLesson #RedSpecial #JazzAlbum #ClassicRock #GuitarTutorial #JamesRundle

More from this channel