Wilson Pickett Guitarist On 'Hey Jude' | Live vs Recording, Riffs & Breakdown

ZUNNO is currently making new rock music with Kenny Aronoff, Tony Franklin, and Chuck Leavell. 🎧 Listen here: https://ffm.to/zunno.OYD 🛒 Shop: https://zunno.rocks In this video, ZUNNO breaks down Wilson Pickett’s version of “Hey Jude” by the Beatles — how it was cut on the record with Dwayne Allman and how it changed when Wilson played it live. Paul talks about the famous Dwayne Allman guitar parts, why players love that major/minor blues blend, and how the gospel energy of Pickett’s voice reshaped the Beatles tune into a soul anthem. He walks through the riffs, positions, and voicing that made the recording so memorable, and explains how the live version opened up with tempo, feel, and more call-and-response fire from the band. He also shares a story about performing “Hey Jude” with Wilson in France, how rarely it appeared in the set, and why it always felt electric when Pickett played it live. Timestamps 0:05 Pickett vs Beatles Version + Duane Allman Context 0:49 Live Opening Lick + Gospel Setup 2:44 First Verse (Soul + Gospel Arrangement) 3:07 Duane Allman’s Guitar Language (Major/Minor R&B Blues) 5:53 Bridge Section + D♭7 Colors + Call-and-Response 7:03 Gospel Build + Outro Improvisation (“Nothing but a feeling”) 8:03 How Pickett “Cooked” the Ending Live 8:26 Reflection + Session Lore + Appreciation Gear in this video: • 1976 Fender Stratocaster • 1979 Marshall JMP 50-watt head For players who want to understand: • Why live arrangements diverge from studio recordings • How gospel, R&B, and rock intersect onstage • What makes the Dwayne Allman approach so musical If you’re into guitar breakdowns, studio history, and classic soul from someone who lived it on tour, subscribe for more stories, tutorials, and new rock + soul music with Kenny Aronoff, Tony Franklin, and Chuck Leavell. Drop a comment if you’ve ever played the Wilson Pickett or Beatles versions of “Hey Jude” — and how different they felt under your fingers. Here is a link to a behind the scenes story of how the Hey Jude was made - The Worst Program On The Internet ... The Blues https://youtu.be/9HD-KnkZsvk?si=ENrLSZfduEiyGobB

Added 9 Apr 2026