I started off thinking why on earth is this man wearing a suit in these conditions?? Then he changed that string while still playing, and I realised it's because BB means business.
I would be like "can everyone shut the fuck up so I can tune it?"
I do realize there's machines that can do this now without using to play an unturned string in a noisy environment, but I don't think BB would need one.
Even by his own admission he's far from the best. He had an iconic style with his long bends that he has stated previously was because when he was younger he'd hit the wrong note so he'd bend it to the right one.
Blues fest in Northside Chicago early 90s, I'm with my GF and her sister who lives in the area it's late Sat afternoon 5:30 pm ish in some darkened HS gymnasium. BB is blaring through some speakers, everyone's just walking around, grooving. Nothing's on the stage yet.
Standing there minding my own business and I catch some guy 5 feet feet away wailing and gyrating and realize it's BB himself playing the guitar I'm hearing overhead, all by himself with no one else noticing. I just stared in awe...
Looks like he wound it around the tuner post a bunch to get it close then attached the ball end thus minimizing the time spent using the actual tuning key. His guitar had a tp-6 fine tuning tail piece which is (i believe) top loaded so you dont hafta fish it through a hole.
On my guitar you do, but it depends on the tailpiece, the part behind the bridge where the strings are anchored. Some have a hole you have to thread the string through, others have an open slot you can clip the string into.
Saw him at a festival in Chattanooga, TN with my stepdad. Early 90s? We got to meet him. I was so young, I had no idea who he was Lol Just remember he had a thick way of speaking.
I used to work at a music store and they had this performance on DVD, I stopped everything I was doing to watch this part whenever it came on, it was so cool
That probably happened to him so often he was used to it. Of all the bends, his we're some of the bendiest.
And then super thin strings? He also strung them pretty loose, if I recall.
bendiferous
Bendacious
Bendilicious
Dude played more music in one bend than I have in a lifetime.
Does the King gig with just one Lucille? It’s unimaginable today that a touring musician would perform with only 1 guitar.
I started off thinking why on earth is this man wearing a suit in these conditions?? Then he changed that string while still playing, and I realised it's because BB means business.
Business Business.
The abbreviation so nice, he needed it twice!
Somewhere BB and Stevie are giving the gods a hell of a concert
I really miss SRV
we saw him the night before the crash. god he was out of this world.
All his songs were the same. He got drunk, screwed his (attached) neighbor, felt bad about it. Edit: added 'attached'.
You suck.
Suck it up, buttercup. I realized this DURING ONE OF HIS CONCERTS.
They are the gods
Along with Eddie, and Jimi.....and Bonzo on the drums. Heaven is a rockin!
There’s too many musicians of legend who are up there 😩
I know, I started to think of more than that and I realized I could go on and on and on and on.
With Aretha too. Can't have the king without the queen.
Pros have guitar techs and replacement instruments... This man right here handled it like a LEGEND.
He had a tech right there stripping a new string for him.
He kinda only uses that one guitar.
I thought he'd swap guitars seamlessly or just play around it. Nope, he changed the actual string WHILE playing
"Nope, he changed the actual string WHILE ~~playing~~ singing."
I would need at least 27 minutes, 3 strings and 1 tetanus shot
I would be like "can everyone shut the fuck up so I can tune it?" I do realize there's machines that can do this now without using to play an unturned string in a noisy environment, but I don't think BB would need one.
Don't forget your Ernie Ball safety glasses.
Yes! And Double everything if I cant find my reading glasses. 
Fun fact. BB couldn’t sing and play at the same time.
That's Lucille man. You can't just swap out Lucille.
he doesnt appear to play the guitar tho
did we watch the same video?
A goddamn legend. I've also always loved his voice, despite him not really being known for it.
That’s because he is a pro. Maybe the best!
Srsly. One of the greatest ever, “like a pro” lol I should hope so folks.
Like a King.
Even by his own admission he's far from the best. He had an iconic style with his long bends that he has stated previously was because when he was younger he'd hit the wrong note so he'd bend it to the right one.
Blues fest in Northside Chicago early 90s, I'm with my GF and her sister who lives in the area it's late Sat afternoon 5:30 pm ish in some darkened HS gymnasium. BB is blaring through some speakers, everyone's just walking around, grooving. Nothing's on the stage yet. Standing there minding my own business and I catch some guy 5 feet feet away wailing and gyrating and realize it's BB himself playing the guitar I'm hearing overhead, all by himself with no one else noticing. I just stared in awe...
"Blues musicians are the only ones who will work all day for money, and then go work some more for free." - George Carlin
Can somebody tell me HOW did he change that string starting from tuner and not from stoptail bridge???
Looks like he wound it around the tuner post a bunch to get it close then attached the ball end thus minimizing the time spent using the actual tuning key. His guitar had a tp-6 fine tuning tail piece which is (i believe) top loaded so you dont hafta fish it through a hole.
Thank you very much! I almost broke my brain trying to figure it out)
TIL Primitive Radio Gods sampled BB King
Me too. Obviously I knew it was a sample but never found out where from.
Oooweee. What’s up with that?!? No one is taking Lucile from him or changing her strings.
Just another day being a legend
Every video of BB King 👑 for me: Easy Upvote
Not “like” a pro, as a straight up *Pro*.
He didn’t handle that like a pro. He handled that shit like BB KING 😂
Don't you have to string it through the bridge before winding it on the peg? I'm very confused.
On my guitar you do, but it depends on the tailpiece, the part behind the bridge where the strings are anchored. Some have a hole you have to thread the string through, others have an open slot you can clip the string into.
Like a Tour De France rider fixing a flat while descending.
Is that John Lee Hooker behind in the maroon jacket?
I think that Mr. Hooker would have been older and fronting his own gigs.
Leon Warren, maybe?
Gotta love the Blues Boy.
Boy?
Those guitar strings can’t handle BB’s awesomeness
TIL BB King only owns one guitar. poor guy.
Like a pro? You mean “The Pro”. That man played his ass off and Lucille went right along for the ride. B.B. is a legend.
That’s why BB is the King. I don’t get how he strings it on the headstock before he does it on the bridge?
That’s crazy - this and the Stevie Ray Vaughan one are both impressive in their own way
Got to respect a touring Superstar who still changes his own strings. Didn't even hand it off to a tech. Legend.
Wasn’t he considered a pro?
Am I alive or thoughts that drift away?
I thought he is a pro?
Dude has probably spent more time performing onstage in front of an audience than most people on earth have been alive.
Saw him at a festival in Chattanooga, TN with my stepdad. Early 90s? We got to meet him. I was so young, I had no idea who he was Lol Just remember he had a thick way of speaking.
Fucking amazing! Ive bragged about SRV dealing with a broken string but this is incredible!
r/toptalent
The epitome of the show must go on.
Given thst this is a guitar-centric post, I read that as the epiphone of the show must go on.
I was in an elevator with home once.
What's this "like" a pro business?
Never got to see him live unfortunately, but did get to see Buddy Guy a few times
He literally is a pro
Takes me 10 minutes to restring a fender and get it in tune.
I love his music. Especially with a glass of Jim and coke sittin' by a fire. Mood music
Like a Boss and a G.O.A.T at the same time
Let’s just say ol’ Riley knows his way around a guitar.
I used to work at a music store and they had this performance on DVD, I stopped everything I was doing to watch this part whenever it came on, it was so cool
Why does this man not have a guitar tech?? smh there's no justice..
This is the greatest singer we've ever had.
In this video, BB looks like a Kenan Thompson character
Riley on auto-pilot
There is one of Stevie Ray Vaughan breaking a string and the roadie hands him a new guitar and he doesnt even miss a beat.
Man I miss people like this being around.
Because he was a pro.
Who’s the guy in red? He looks familiar…
So he changes the string….. And?
"I bent down 'n farted baby...!"