All Along The Watchtower- Jimi Hendrix

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Bob Dylan reportedly refused to play his song “All Along The Watchtower” anymore at concerts after hearing Hendrix’s soaring version. “It’s his song now” said Dylan.

Hendrix really brings out the big guns for the multiple solos featured in the song. Here’s a detailed look at the first solo.

Notes

  • A pickup is a note or sequence of notes which precedes the first downbeat in a bar in a musical phrase
  • The first solo has three pickup notes beginning in the fifth measure
  • A musical rest means the instrument is at rest- in other words, don’t play!
  • The lead guitar rests for the first four measures of the song

Lesson Resources

The following downloads are for Lead Workshop students only:

MP3 Jam Track

Solo 1 Tab/Music

Wanted (Dead Or Alive)- Bon Jovi


Difficulty: Easy – Intermediate

The song is meant to be played on a 12-string, but you can still play it on your standard acoustic. Also note that there are a few times that you would technically need an electric for the lead guitar, but again you can play this song using only your acoustic. You just may have to alter a few tiny techniques to make it work. (Such as the tremolo dive, a FEW harmonics, etc.)

Intro Theme 1

Download The Guitar Tab For Wanted Dead Or Alive

Wanted (Dead Or Alive) PDF

 

Life By The Drop- Stevie Ray Vaughan

“Life By The Drop” Song Facts

The song’s tempo is at about 98 beats per minute. It’s in standard 4/4 time and the rhythm uses a shuffle pattern. Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded the song using a 12 string acoustic guitar. If you don’t have a 12 string, that’s okay. It sounds great on a six-string acoustic, too. It’s one of those rare SRV songs in standard tuning.

In this lesson, we’ll be looking at the intro lick to the song which takes place in the measures 1 and 2.

Intro Lick

Wouldn’t you know it! The hardest part to play of Life By The Drop is the very first part. Stevie sets things up nicely with a tasteful two measure lick.

This lick seems straightforward but it is deceptively difficult. It’s not real fast, but that’s not the problem. It’s got a certain swing to it and accents that give it character.

The main thing to keep in mind when learning it is to maintain the steady triplet pattern. That’s what gives it that swing.