👉Discover the 5 MUST-KNOW chords and scales to play in ANY style anywhere on the neck FREE PDF GUIDE → www.jonmaclennan.com/fretboar...
Step-by-Step Guide to All Along the Watchtower Guitar Lesson
Let’s dive into one of the most iconic guitar performances of all time: Jimi Hendrix's version of 'All Along the Watchtower.' In this guitar lesson, I'll walk you through step-by-step some of the key elements in Hendrix's guitar style, with the hope that you can discover how to incorporate some of Hendrix's magic into your own guitar playing.
Who wrote All Along The Watchtower?
This legendary song was originally written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and was transformed into a masterpiece by Hendrix's innovative guitar playing and unique interpretation. It was first released on Dylan’s eighth studio album, John Wesley Harding, in 1967. A year later, Hendrix released his version on the album Electric Ladyland in 1968.
All Along The Watchtower Chords
You only need to know 3 chords to play 'All Along The Watchtower,' C#m, B, and A.
The entire song is played with one looping chord progression of C#m, B, A, B, essentially spending two beats on each chord.
To get started, practice playing one strum on each chord, counting 1, 2, and then moving on to the next shape. This would be practicing a half-note rhythm with the progression and will help you get your fingers comfortable with the chord shapes.
What key is All Along The Watchtower in?
Dylan’s original recording of 'All Along The Watchtower' is in the key of C#m. However, when Hendrix played the song, he often played his guitar tuned down ½ step. So even though he was fretting the chords C#m, B, and A, they were sounding as Cm, Bb, and Ab in concert pitch. It's important to note this difference in tuning when playing Hendrix's version of the song.
How to play All Along The Watchtower Solo
Hendrix's solos on 'All Along the Watchtower' are some of the most iconic guitar solos of all time. They beautifully demonstrate his virtuosity and innovative playing style. To start playing your own guitar solos in this style, the first thing you want to become familiar with is the blues scale. This is the scale that Hendrix is primarily pulling from to improvise over the progression.
👉Read the full blog here: www.jonmaclennan.com/blog/all...
👉Never get lost on the fretboard again with my FREE Fretboard Guide PDF → www.jonmaclennan.com/fretboar...