Francis Scott Key - Advanced Star-Spangled Banner Guitar Lesson
Advanced Star-Spangled Banner
In this lesson David MacKenzie teaches an advanced arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner." This lesson includes a backing track to jam with.
Taught by David MacKenzie in Songs with David seriesLength: 37:12Difficulty: 3.0 of 5
Supplemental Learning Material
Songs with David
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsDavid MacKenzie will teach a wide variety of songs from genres such as metal, rock, punk and more.
Lesson 5
The Star-Spangled Banner
David MacKenzie teaches you how to play "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Electric Eye Part 1
This lesson is based on the song "Electric Eye" which was recorded by Judas Priest in 1992. Learn the song's signature riffs.
Length: 24:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Electric Eye Part 2
Learn the rest of "Electric Eye" as recorded by Judas Priest in 1992.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Closer to the Heart
In this lesson David MacKenzie covers "Closer to the Heart", a classic song by Rush.
Length: 44:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Advanced Star-Spangled Banner
In this lesson David MacKenzie teaches an advanced arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner." This lesson includes a backing track.
Length: 37:12 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Canon Rock in D
David Mackenzie teaches a rock oriented interpretation of Pachelbel's classic "Canon in D."
Length: 80:12 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Carol of the Bells
DMac teaches a Trans-Siberian styled rendition of "Carol of the Bells."
Length: 35:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About David MacKenzie
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Dave MacKenzie has been playing guitar for 30 of his 45 years on this earth. Starting back when he was 14 years old, Dave picked up the guitar and started to learn from his oldest brother, who had played some guitar as well. Dave was hooked, and couldn't learn fast enough! Everything from the Beatles, Chicago, Ted Nugent, The Eagles, you name it, Dave was trying to play it.
Then as with a lot of players out there, Eddie Van Halen came along and changed the way guitar was played! Dave has been influenced by anyone he has heard play guitar, literally! Always keeping an open mind and a humbleness about him has helped him to keep learning new things on, and about the guitar.
Dave has mostly played in top 40 rock, country, and pop bands. He is most recently playing guitar and keyboards in a 80's metal band called Open Fire. They have opened for Warrant, Firehouse, Winger, and LA Guns
within the 3 and a half years they have been together, and are now jumping into original music.
Dave believes you should have internal motivation, and passion to play guitar, and most definitely, it should be fun!
As with his playing, Dave will find new ways to show you how to get the most out of your time learning guitar!
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Hey, great lesson! Can I play this in E flat tuning? I play most of my tunes in E flat and since I have only one guitar don't want to changed tuning every time I play this. Would I sound too off? Thanks!
tabs now match the performance scene.
Hi Dave, This is gorgeous and inspirational! I can play it but not getting the tone I like. What effects are you using exactly? Ive bee playing Jazz the last year, but do hv a Marshall available,fender strat too. Any tips welcome. You are a great teacher too!,
Did you change the lesson in the middle of the song? On the second video lesson, when your playin the high notes you do it one way, but then as you recap what you played, you play it differently.... or I may just be seeing things (4:36-4:50).
I seen you playing your arrangement and loved it so much that even though I knew I am way out of my league as a beginner I was so impressed and emotionally moved I decided I have to learn this as my first real accomplishment I have heard other versions of THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER but this is the absolute best I have heard.
love this version Dave!! ive pretty much got the whole song down except for that last litttle riff, but i love the way you've mapped this out!! continue the great work
Dave...you can play that on my parade deck anytime...you have every right to do so. Being that we both did time during the Persian Gulf crisis...and my deepest respects to your son. I will add this to my guitar footlocker. And when I play the Banner I will do so as with much feeling as you have shown...so that those who are listening will know it is being played in honor of your son and to our comrades who have fallen in the line of duty. Greatly appreciated and respectfully submitted....Semper Fi! The Gunny.
What guitar are you playing?
busted song plez
david your a awsome guitar player and more so a great teacher i first saw you on youtub and had to join jamplay i've almost got the entier song down and looking fowerd to learning more from you . thank's tracy hastings
hey dDave I have mastered half of this song, working your ending, but just want to let you know this is the best version of the song i have ever heard
well thank you very much! i am humbled to hear you say that! I am glad your getting something out of ths lesson, and this song is very close to my heart!
Watching the Song Demonstration and the way Dave Plays it does not match the Tabs provided in several spots. This makes learning the song very difficult
i have to apoligise, as i think afterwards looking at the break down of riffs, i did perform it slightly different for the actual performance. in reality, most peoples styles do not mesh, such as, i dont sound like eddie van halen, or slash, etc, therefor i wont be able to put forward all the techniques perfectly like them. what i am getting at is NOT an excuse but that you SHOULD allow your own style to come out in this piece. i gave examples of licks/riffs to play, but please add your own as well.
where can I get a copy of the backing track?
great arrangement dave, one question i always played intro 2-0,3-1,4-2,3-1,2-0,1-0 don't it makes notes ring longer because open strings
Hey Matt, Did you ever get the backing track tabed out?
The backing track still doesn't operate. It would be coool if it did. Also the tabs still aren't completed correctly.
Well I haven't been on since I wrote last but it's working now. Before I would just click the backing track and nothing would happen but now it worked. The tabs were good for the song itself but the riffed out ending wasn't there. But it is now. Thanks
Hey there, I just tested the backing track on a few pcs and it has worked on all of them. Are you getting an error? have you tried downloading it to your computer to see if that helps? as far as the tab do you know which part you feel is incorrect?
PS Dmac rocks!
can you put the jimi hendrix version up as well
Just watched it twice in a row.......awesome.
on the supplemental content, on the second part of the tab, instead of star-spangled banner, its playful popoki in the slack key lessons. just thought i should bring that up.
Tabs tabs tabs!
Tabs will be up by tomorrow...sorry for the delay, everybody!
I'll transcribe the backing track sometime tomorrow for those of you that want to learn the rhythm parts as well.
I recommend that you all master the easier DMac version of this song and memorize it. Then, start adding in the embellishments and advance techniques that Dave is teaching in this lesson.
i agree with matt, especially if you are a beginner. that way you'll have the foundation of the song down, and then can add all the extra riffs. good call matt.
Matt's working on it :) I'm sure it's not gonna be fun to notate this, lol.
nice song dave is it yours
this is my rendition of the SSB. i put it together on my digital recorder. used my roland keyboard and did the drums. played my bass, and added the rythm guitar. then added the strings to add some higher end to it.
it is nice!!
Thank you for the nice compliments! i really tried to do it justice! i played it so much i think i can do it in my sleep now! lol!
Dmac laying it down and taking names. Good job, almost made me wish I was American.
Nicely done, DMac - you're the BOSS!
cool arrangement
Sounds like Eric Johnson jumped in there for a few riffs near the end.
Dave, that was absolutely an incredible version of The Star Spangled Banner....It is truly inspiring listening to you play. Thanks for sharing that with us.
oooo! that rocks! you rock! In fact, everything about it just ...rocks!
I am tuned up this time in standart tuning, i got it right, in tune... Ahah couldn't be more right! I am going to lern this now and then i will let you know... Great Lesson...
Damn, very nice!!!
Wow!! You pumped alot of energy into this versionI hope I can get it down for the 4th. Great job as always man!!
Dmac, YOU ROCK!!!