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AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way To The Top” Malcolm’s Rhythm Elements, Older Tutorial Video

06 Nov AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way To The Top” Malcolm’s Rhythm Elements, Older Tutorial Video

Posted at 22:12h in AC/DC Tutorials, Guitar Tutorials, Premium, Tutorials, Tutorials by SoloDallas 27 Comments
0 Likes

This video was shot in my former recording studio, Studio58a.

Guitar used here was my 1963 Gretsch Firebird played on a reissue Marshall head and cabinet, being a 1987XL Modified by David Bray and a 1960B cabinet with reissue (at the time) G12Ms.

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Fil "SoloDallas" Olivieri
sd@solodallas.com

We Are Rock 'N Roll People.

27 Comments
  • avatar
    Exeyoung
    Posted at 23:45h, 15 January

    Hi Dallas i’m new here it’s amazing to look at you, my english it’s so poor but here i am… thanks for all. Salute you….

  • avatar
    30CalGunner
    Posted at 02:43h, 15 December

    I play this song with a capo on the A chord. So it’s the first fret then the third fret so it’s like this
    E——————-
    B——————-
    G–1–h3–3–x–3
    D–1–h3–3–x–3
    A–1—1–1–x–1
    E——————-

    I think this is alot closer just by sound even with standard or flat tuning. I have seen in the videos Malcolm playing an A chord and with the capo. Btw I know they mimic it. It is just another one of those recording mysteries.

  • avatar
    NooberToober247
    Posted at 04:42h, 19 October

    It would be so awesome if you did angus’s guitar too

  • avatar
    Niklaws
    Posted at 18:44h, 07 May

    Well that was a great tutorial. Very strange that they tuned their guitar a half step up. Its very uncommon to do, especially for AC/DC.

    Next time, try not to too talk so long and slow in the beginning. The rest was awesome.

  • avatar
    burntguy
    Posted at 00:38h, 13 March

    no mentions of the odd tuning used on this song in the studio version…probably had something to do with the bagpipes. and that’s another video we need -a break down of the bagpipe solo!

  • avatar
    badcompany74
    Posted at 17:18h, 09 March

    Here is the cost of that guitar, from the GRETSCH official website !!
    $2,825.00
    http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2400502815

    • avatar
      Thundersnook
      Posted at 17:27h, 09 March

      You have to know that the linked guitar is a totally different one 🙂 Of course its a Gretsch too, but thats all with the similarities.
      The one you see in the Video is a 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird which is quite different from todays Jets. But the price is about the same if i remember the last ebay-auctions correctly

      Greetings! =)

  • avatar
    badcompany74
    Posted at 17:06h, 09 March

    Oh my God I love the sound of that Gretsch guitar, absolutely too sexy !!!! You sing very well Fil, great tutorial thank you

  • avatar
    Jakubek3
    Posted at 02:06h, 06 February

    When Youtube removed this, I was like :-O. This sound and this kind of playing is my drug 😀 I need to have it in ears, in fingers, in guitar , in amp all the time ;-).

    • avatar
      Devil'Fingers"
      Posted at 17:12h, 06 February

      Polak?? 🙂

      • avatar
        AveX
        Posted at 01:57h, 08 February

        Najwidoczniej 😉

        • avatar
          Jakubek3
          Posted at 21:22h, 08 February

          I’m from slovakia, so I can’t understand you.

          • avatar
            currentpeak
            Posted at 00:34h, 16 January

            Little Central European circle we got here 🙂

  • avatar
    oskara67
    Posted at 11:17h, 12 December

    This video tutorial is one of the best ever. I was very sad then i discovered it was gone on YouTube, but now I’m glad it is here again! I really missed it. Very nice talk about the soul of rock’n’roll in the beginning. Thanks SoloDallas!

  • avatar
    Rhythm Rocks
    Posted at 18:48h, 20 November

    For this guitar need you two things luck to find this beauty and enouth money

  • avatar
    rjofig
    Posted at 21:17h, 12 November

    Hello all – this is a bit too specific, but maybe I can get some insights from those who like playing this song.

    When I listen to the original studio recording, many times I hear the C# – D – A#5 lick that Fil highlights (3rd and 4th fret of A string, then power A chord, but the guitar tuned a half step up) – for example, at around 20 seconds.

    But then, starting at around 40 seconds into the song, to my ears it seems to me to go more like: open A# string, downstroke A#4 chord (A and D strings open, 2nd fret G string), then downstroke A#5. It has the same ‘rolling’ vibe, but punchier. Anyway, this is kind of an elusive part of the song to me, so comments/suggestions would be helpful.

    • avatar
      headwhop26
      Posted at 23:34h, 12 November

      You know, I hear what you mean, and I wonder if its because this song was kind of pieced together in a frankenstein kind of way. One time I heard an interview where they said that Its A Long Way was actually just a studio jam that they really liked, so they cut and pieced it all together. You can hear the change in distortion and timing and such if you listen to the intro and then skip immediately to the end.

      That could explain the change in sound.

      • avatar
        LeroyKincaid
        Posted at 03:23h, 13 November

        Really? That’s some very interesting information!

        Come to think of it, the song always sounded like a bit of a jam.

        • avatar
          headwhop26
          Posted at 06:54h, 13 November

          Ive looked for a bit here, and I cant find the interview, but I remember what they said. George just said to keep going, and they spliced it together later.

          • avatar
            rjofig
            Posted at 16:45h, 13 November

            Alright, if you eventually find it, let us know, that’d be interesting to read. Thanks!

  • avatar
    sirgreggins
    Posted at 23:12h, 09 November

    Could you post another video giving a slow break down of what to pluck and when. I’m a beginner and I LOVE this song. I want to learn it but i’m still learning tabs. If you could post a beginner friendly version tat’d be amazing. Great stuff though already

  • avatar
    rjofig
    Posted at 15:27h, 07 November

    Fil, glad you reposted this! One of my favorite tutorials (and I’m glad it seems you’re getting into tutorial mode full-speed 🙂
    You spend some much time and energy on them, and I (like many of us here) learn a lot from them.. so, as one of your “pupils” I feel the very least I owe you is show how much your tutorials have mattered. So, here’s a little track showing where I am now:
    http://soundcloud.com/rjofig/longway1
    Much, so much to learn yet (it’s a long way, and I’m enjoying the ride), but I’ve learned a good deal since last year when I started, and much of it from you. Thanks, man, what you do means a lot.
    Renato

  • avatar
    headwhop26
    Posted at 04:46h, 07 November

    I always felt that to play this song correctly, each finger has to really have a life of its own, like you see on your hands.

    This is my favorite AC/DC jam. By far. And you get an amazing tone out of it.

  • avatar
    guitarlord26
    Posted at 02:56h, 07 November

    Fil, can I ask you a very in depth question?

    Back then when you were making your first youtube videos, did you ever, EVER, imagine the possibility if you having your own site, or as some might say; you’re own home for other classic rock guitarists?

    also, will you be uploading the AC/DC playing tips tutorial?

  • avatar
    Michael91
    Posted at 22:22h, 06 November

    This is my favourite video of you.

    Im glad you’ve posted it back

    • avatar
      SoloDallas
      Posted at 22:26h, 06 November

      Thanks Mike 🙂

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