Lesson Notes for Suzie Q

BackgroundSuzie Q was written by a singer from Louisiana named Dale Hawkins. He

had a hit with it in 1957. The guitar riff was created by his guitar player, JamesBurton, but writing credit went to Hawkins and a couple of non-musicalmembers of the Nashville music scene in order to get them songwriter’sroyalties. This was a common and yes, crooked practice at the time.

The most popular cover of the tune was done by John Fogerty and his band,Creedence Clearwater Revival on their 1968 debut album. It became one of theirbiggest hits, and the only one not penned by Fogerty. Their version clocked in atover 8:00, most of which was loose jamming over the chord progression. Theyhad gotten in the habit of stretching songs out on stage in order to lengthen theirsets with fewer songs.

The recording is also one of very few that includes vocals by other membersof the band. John’s brother, Tom sings the second verse, and background partsare thrown in by drummer Doug Clifford and bassist Stu Cook.

After they sing a few verses the song becomes an instrumental jam thatincludes a harmonica solo, as well as a guitar solo that borrows the main rifffrom another blues classic, Smokestack Lightning by Howlin’ Wolf.

The BluesSuzie Q is an example of a blues tune that is not in the 12-bar format. It is an

8-bar progression that features a 2-measure riff based on the E blues scale. This8-bar phrase is really a mini version of the A-A-B-A form that was common injazz and standard songwriting starting in the 1920’s and is still popular today.The ‘A’ section is the riff over an E7 chord and the ‘B’ section runs quicklythrough A7, C7, and B7.

AccompanimentThe rhythm guitar part is a very simple backbeat pattern (accents on beat 2

and 4 of the measure) and the lead guitar part is more of a blues fill that answerseach vocal phrase. The lead should be played using the alternating pickingtechnique.

This is a good song to use a C7 shape at the 5th fret for the E7 chord, then barforms for the other 3 chords, although the A7 can be played in 1st position (open)as well.

As the jam extends into the second half of the song a few other chordsequences appear briefly- D, C, Em, and then D, C, G, Em. It ends with a spacey,chromatic ascent through chords somewhat related to the key of E minor.

Suzie Q

VerseE7 / E7 /A7 C7 B7 E7 /

Oh Suzie QOh Suzie QOh Suzie Q baby I love youSuzie Q

I like the way you walkI like the way you talkI like the way you walk I like the way you talkSuzie Q

Oh say that you’ll be trueOh say that you’ll be trueOh say that you’ll be true and never leave me blueSuzie Q

Oh say that you’ll be mineOh say that you’ll be mineOh say that you’ll be mine baby all the timeSuzie Q

Oh, Suzie QOh, Suzie QOh, Suzie Q baby, I love youSuzie Q

I like the way you walkI like the way you talkI like the way you walk I like the way you talkSuzie Q

Oh, Suzie QOh, Suzie QOh, Suzie Q baby, I love youSuzie Q

Suzie QCreedence Clearwater Revival

Music by Dale Hawkins & James BurtonWords by Dale Hawkins

44

1

!

E7

Q $ Q# !

!

Suzie QCreedence Clearwater Revival

Music by Dale Hawkins & James BurtonWords by Dale Hawkins

# #! #

!

$

?¼

Suzie QCreedence Clearwater Revival

Music by Dale Hawkins & James BurtonWords by Dale Hawkins

!

E7

Q $ Q# !

!

Suzie QCreedence Clearwater Revival

Music by Dale Hawkins & James BurtonWords by Dale Hawkins

# #! #

!

$

?¼

Page 1/1

5

P

A

###!

Q P ###!

Q

Page 1/1

P

C7

!"$#$

Q P

B7

#!#"#

Q

Page 1/1

!

E7

Q $ Q# !

!

Page 1/1

# #! #

!

$

?¼