Jean Bonnefon is a childhood friend of Francis Cabrel. “His touch is unique and it is the first time that a renowned artist has revealed his expertise as a musician and artist.” Cabrel’s guitar tutorial is a hit on YouTube. Meet those who had the idea and made it happen.
“Hello everyone, I’m going to do a series of tutorials to explain to you how I accompany myself on some of my songs, how I play the guitar. I’m going to tell you about the Corrida which is played in D minor.” Francis Cabrel thus presents the first episode of guitar tutorials for his Youtube channel dedicated to the famous song “La corrida”.
Astaffort where the artist resides is not very far from the Agen lands; a land of rugby too. Sébastien and Vincent Inigo dragged their crampons to the stadiums of Colomiers, Bayonne and Castres. From now on, they are the photographers of the French Rugby teams (men’s and women’s French XV, under 20 years old). This is where the idea of doing tutorials with Francis Cabrel came from. “We talked about it in 2017, recognizes Vincent Inigo. I play a little music, I was watching guitar tutorials and I said to him: Francis, it would be great if you did some on his own songs. This year, when we made the last music video. He told me: I’m ready, we’re going to do them.”
Modest, the singer did not expect to arouse such enthusiasm. “Francis thought no one would be interested, declares Jean Bonnefon his childhood friend and accomplice. But there is an important return. More than 400,000 views in the first week.”
“You already make this chord and you wait… So far it’s not too complicated. That’s a D minor.” As usual, the artist does not lack humor. It’s all about nuance and touch. “Francis always tells me that on stage, when he plays this D minor from the start, people immediately applaud. They recognize the piece at the first chord, it’s incredible. Maybe that’s the way he plays it. ring.”
A guitarist himself, Jean Bonnefon knows well that it is not that simple. Cabrel says it himself in his tutorial: “you have to have done a little music theory anyway”. And it’s not Cabrel who wants it!
Jean Bonnefon and Francis Cabrel in the studio
•
© DR
The author of “La corrida” from the magnificent album “A Saturday evening on earth” is not the first to come. “He took some guitar lessons around the age of 13-14 with a classical guitar teacher in Agen. But that didn’t last. He then discovered Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin!”
On his desk is a photo of the legendary black American bluesman Robert Johnson, also the idol of God himself: Eric Clapton. “I’ve never seen a famous star do that. They don’t give their plans. It’s really good, simple and well done. Francis gave a conference in Chateaudun on how to play the guitar. I was there. It was very interesting but it wasn’t piece by piece.”
Jean Bonnefon had produced a series of 6 episodes for the Deezer platform with the artist. He explained his way of writing and playing the guitar. “His right hand fascinates me: the touch, the rhythm. I saw a concert where he was in a trio in Montreux (Switzerland). The first song, he attacks solo on “A each love that we will do”. There we hear how he plays really well. He has a fucking touch that fascinates me. A unique way of making his guitar sound that comes especially from his right hand.
13 episodes (including “The Fisherman’s Cabin” which comes out this week with the chord charts in the video) are already in the box. “He had never done that. He plays naturally and didn’t realize it. I trained afterwards to play them. I was lulled by Francis but to play them, it’s enormous. It’s a rhythm genius. It’s an incredible opportunity for people to have access to these videos. Lots of young people are following him now. He’s gained 40 to 50,000 subscribers on YouTube.”
Enough to encourage Vincent and Sébastien Inigo to continue the adventure.
For Jean Bonnefon, singer and guitarist of the group “Peiraguda”, there are no mysteries. “He’s a worker, a very hard worker. It’s no coincidence that he plays so well. He plays every day, for several hours. He’s a real guitar junkie.”
On his YouTube channel, comments are flourishing. “But is it real? This gentleman knows how much of a legend he is? He calmly takes the time to do an unpretentious tutorial just out of passion. Respect, I’ve been a fan since my childhood thanks to my mother who listened to him all the day.”
In the program “C à vous” on May 3, 2025 on France 5, columnist Patrick Cohen commented on this first post. “For guitar players, it’s a fantastic asset. Can you imagine: a private lesson with Francis Cabrel? It’s great!”
The singer has just released a new clip for the same song “La corrida” to mark the 30th anniversary of the album’s release. He is currently touring smaller, more intimate venues. After Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Poland, Belgium and Holland, it is now time for the States in June. Los Angeles San Francisco, Miami, New York and 4 or 5 dates in Canada. And it goes on and on and on.
Meanwhile, it can also be in your living room. “It’s written” on YouTube.
