Mr. Jones by Counting Crows

"Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows is one of the most iconic alternative rock songs of the 90s, combining memorable lyrics, catchy melodies, and intricate guitar work. This guitar lesson from Licklibrary.com offers a detailed, note-for-note breakdown of the song, focusing on essential guitar techniques that will enhance your playing and deepen your understanding of musical composition.

In this lesson, we cover various techniques that not only teach you how to play "Mr. Jones" but also develop your overall guitar skills. From chord progressions to slides, this song offers a great opportunity for intermediate players to push their abilities while playing along with an all-time classic. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in "Mr. Jones"

Chord Progressions

The foundation of "Mr. Jones" lies in its open and arpeggiated chord progressions. The main chord progression in the song alternates between simple, open chords and more complex arpeggiations. Learning these chord progressions allows guitarists to understand how chord movement can create dynamic changes in the song. In addition to the emotional weight that chords add to the song, mastering chord progressions also improves your ability to shift smoothly between different shapes and voicings.

Benefit: Practicing chord progressions strengthens your overall rhythm playing, enhances hand coordination, and helps you transition effortlessly between chords, which is essential for any guitarist looking to improve their fluency on the fretboard.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Throughout the song, the guitar incorporates arpeggiated chord progressions, especially in the verses. These sections require you to pick individual notes of a chord rather than strumming, providing the song with its signature melodic lines. This technique adds texture to the piece and challenges your picking hand to maintain accuracy while keeping a smooth flow in the music.

Benefit: Playing arpeggiated chord progressions improves your finger dexterity and accuracy. It’s a fundamental technique for those looking to develop fingerstyle or hybrid-picking abilities.

Slides

Slides feature prominently in the instrumental portions of "Mr. Jones," particularly when transitioning between chords and melodic lines. Slides give the song a fluid, seamless quality and are used to connect various melodic sections, adding both expressiveness and nuance.

Benefit: Mastering slides helps improve your ability to move between notes smoothly, creating a more expressive and flowing sound. Slides are a key part of many guitar solos and melodic passages across genres, so this technique is invaluable for developing emotional expression in your playing.

String Bending

String bending is a subtle but crucial part of "Mr. Jones." While it may not dominate the song, it's used to add emotional flair, particularly in some of the fills and melodic embellishments. This technique allows you to bend the pitch of a note to reach a desired sound, adding tension and release to your playing.

Benefit: String bending is an essential technique for guitarists, particularly in blues and rock music. It allows for more expressive phrasing and adds vocal-like qualities to your solos, making your playing sound more dynamic and alive.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

"Mr. Jones" uses hammer-ons and pull-offs to embellish its melodic lines, particularly in the chorus and bridge sections. These techniques allow for smooth transitions between notes without needing to pick each one, giving a fluid and flowing sound to the song’s melody.

Benefit: Hammer-ons and pull-offs are critical techniques for any lead guitarist, as they allow for faster and smoother note transitions. Incorporating these into your playing can help build speed and fluidity, especially in lead lines or improvisational playing.

Alternate Picking

Throughout the song, especially during faster sections and arpeggios, alternate picking is employed. This technique requires a consistent, down-up-down-up motion with the pick to play notes quickly and efficiently, ensuring a smoother performance.

Benefit: Alternate picking is a fundamental skill that enhances speed and precision in your playing. Mastering alternate picking will help you tackle faster passages and intricate melodies with ease.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is subtly used in the song to create dynamic contrast, particularly in the rhythm sections. By resting the palm of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge, palm muting dampens the sound, creating a more percussive effect.

Benefit: Palm muting adds rhythmic control to your playing, allowing you to control dynamics and add texture to your rhythm work. This technique is particularly useful in rock and metal genres but is a versatile skill for any guitarist.

Guitarists on "Mr. Jones"

"Mr. Jones" features the talents of Counting Crows guitarist David Bryson. His playing style, characterised by its intricate chord work, melodic embellishments, and tasteful use of techniques like arpeggios and alternate picking, forms the backbone of the song's signature sound. Bryson's approach is rooted in the alt-rock style, with influences from folk, rock, and pop. His ability to blend acoustic and electric elements creates a rich sonic texture that helped shape the sound of the 90s alternative scene.

Bryson's work on "Mr. Jones" has influenced many guitarists, particularly in the way he uses arpeggiated chords and melodic fills to complement the vocal melodies without overshadowing them. His playing is a masterclass in balancing complexity with accessibility, making the song both challenging and enjoyable to play.

Guitar Techniques in This Lesson

• Chord Progressions
• Arpeggios
• Slides
• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Alternate Picking
• Palm Muting