Honky Tonk Woman Tab Guitar Bend Country Lick Major Pentatonic Scale

[Toner12]

It's "Women" - plural. Always was, always will be.

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

@Toner12 But I did a little research and discovered that most people search "Woman" and I wanted the video to come up for these search results. ;)

[alangriff1]

If all you guys think that the gats out of tune ,I suggest you get a hearing check right away!

[raysmusic49]

Thank u for sharing......I hate negative comments...Everyone needs to realize there's more than one way to do the same thing on guitar...Lots of poetic license...

[cosbyutube]

as for the video i think you did a good job.

[cosbyutube]

i couldn't teach Keith how to play this in standard tuning. he just doesn't get it. like the man said........ you can play most songs in standard tuning, so if you EVER got to play LIVE , meaning not in your basement, you wouldn't have the crowd leave cause you're tuning to open G & back to standard. improvise people. learn what works for you. not for other people.

[DonniDeVille]

Thanks! This was easy and fun to learn. I play rhythm guitar, but this little riff sounds great! Thanks!

[Nyquilcoma]

Not going to jump in on the open G debate here, except to say that damn near everything played in open tunings can be played in standard tuning-only certain tonal and harmonic characteristics are more emphasized in one tuning than another. That being said, the guitar in this vid is horribly out of tune. Also, if you go back and listen carefully to the studio version of this tune, I think you'll discover it's actually played in G#.

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

@Nyquilcoma I purposely ignored the recording and left my guitar in standard tuning so that viewers didn't have to re-tune to me.

[rockmindmusic]

very well explained, thanks a lot.

[bklyntigr]

wrong tuning homeboy

[kammhron]

Nice! I learned alot about that riff that i could not get . Using the two fingers on the bend helps alot.

[karanvaish93]

does anyone know anything about country flute ? :S

[cgraber]

If its not in Open G tuning its wrong right off the bat. You cannot get the open ring from the High E (now G) which is how the intro is played. This is a bad bad lesson for beginning guitar players. Keith simultaneously plays the lick on the G and D strings while plucking the open high E (now G) at the same time to get a chorus ringing effect. Its 101 for Open G playing, which is what you should be learning first before playing most songs recorded in the 1968-1972 period of the Stones.

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

@cgraber This is not intended to be an accurate demonstration of how the original recording was played. I use this as an example of how to use major pentatonic scale patterns to play country style licks.

[clapton1965]

@cgraber

blah blah I am exactly looking for this because we just play this for fun in our concert and I don't want to change or retune my gutar....

[JigglinGem]

@cgraber You dont have to be a dick u know? I talked to Keith Richards and he said it he plays it in standard tuning sometimes just like this. I have been playing and touring professionally for 20 years. I have been thru Open D open G Open A phases. Now I play them all in standard tuning with slide. You know what the best technique I have found? The music people will PAY you to play. Ha! :) Dont be a dork.

[iSagada42]

@cgraber How is it "wrong" to play a song differently than the original? Ever hear Taj Mahal play this? You'd better go tell him he's doing it "wrong"; I don't think he knows. People change songs up all the time. Sometimes for musical reasons; they want to put their own spin on. Sometimes for practical reasons, like not wanting to re-tune all the time. Sometimes a bit of both. Nothing "wrong" about it at all.

[CptCool44]

@iSagada42 abso-fuckin-lutely. people dont get it. if you play something exactly the same way as someone else, whats the point?

[wiecbb11]

@cgraber

buddy There are many factors that limit us from making an authentic stones lick.

not everybody has time to change guitar tuning to open g

and trying to get an authentic sounding stones lick is hard to do yourself since most of the songs are written in two guitars. And as far as the sound on the record. Keith most likely layered the song with many guitar.s

[MeyerVW]

Thanks for doing that! I'm a fingertstyle acoustic player that just got drafted as a lead player and have no history to build on. You just gave me a great shortcut for learning this song. Keep up the good work!

[villafane12]

Como suena esa viola!!1

Is that a Telecaster?

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

@villafane12 I assume Keith Richards recorded this song on a Tele, but I'm playing a Paul Reed Smith CE24.

[fudgingtonshitsworth]

A lot of guitarists stretch the G string for that intro lick, but keith just does finger slides on the record.

[Static121]

@fudgingtonshitsworth

hows he hold the b string 3rd fret and slide?

[cgraber]

@Static121 because he's playing it incorrectly, for one. You can't slide to the fourth fret on the G string and hold the third fret B string simultaneously. In open G you play the High E sting tuned to G which gives you the same note as holding the B string on the third fret. Thats how Keith wrote it and plays it.

[CptCool44]

@cgraber You seem like you know.

what color was kieth's undewear when he wrote honkey tonk women? cause i want to do it right, and if i have the wrong colour im just wasting my time.

[russellrivera1]

I like the way you play these songs in standard tuning, it's a great learning tool to show how the same thing can be played 2 different ways. I know what you mean about the pitch...sometimes even though you're in A440 some bands/producers speed up the final master for tempo reasons after the fact. Even "My Girl" the great song by the Temptations is a bit sharp of A440.

[Enaud1234]

VERY NICE!

[christianplysgtr]

ur outta tune not et recording

[XTdarkgainTX]

I preffer licking in G tuning :D

[rockville79]

I know Keith tuned to open G, but I thought Taylor kept in standard tuning. This appears to be the way Mick is playing at the Hyde Park concert.

[SuperOlds88]

song is called "honky tonk woMERn

[lyerlyman]

I always played it in Amajor. It doesn't really matter which chord you choose. Originally it was played with the guitar tuned in open G.

[xfoster30x]

song is called Honky Tonk WomEn...

[Scritley]

this song is not played in standard tuning. it's done in open-G (DGDGBD).

well, it would be those notes if the guitar were in tune ;)

[sedliak18]

nice burn;)

[tomobigfeller]

grosss! fucking tune that guitar before my ears explode!

[celticmonk]

It's actually played using the open G tuning. This is how Keif was able to be stoned and still play guitar. He uses only 2 chord forms throughout the peice.

[TheOASISsucks]

@celticmonk i ccan sttil play rreeall ee stoned and i can use mmore chordss. but yeeah this is tuned open g chord so miss informed teacher but its cool the teaacher just didn't do his own homework to figure out the recordin was in open g dumbass

[iSagada42]

@TheOASISsucks So what if the original was in open G? You can play any song in any tuning and any key. A lot of us prefer to play it in standard because we only use one guitar and don't feel like re-tuning it all the time. Besides, he's demonstrating a lick, not teaching the song... and as already pointed out, the strings he's playing on are the same in standard and in open G. So... I think the dumbass here is the one making the dumbass comment!

[vox1003]

@celticmonk kieth richards drunk tunning

[priestfielddom]

I was happy when he said that he found the bend hard with just one finger and to keep his ring finger stationary as I can do both of those things ^_^

[berherbi]

people people: it should be in open G , all other stuff is weird

Berher

[tjfitzpatrick10]

k since we can't seem to agree the deal is seriously in Open G there would still be a bend on the 3rd string. 3rd is G and Keith or Mick Taylor or Brian Jones, whoever it was, bend the second fret (A note) to the major third (B)... a very country sounding lick, you can do it in standard or open G, christ half the standard tuning is open G for any of you theory nuts out there D G B is a G major triad voiced 5 1 3 respectively. hope that helps anyone, don't really care if it doesn't/

[B7aug5]

I should have clarified that last statement. On the studio version there are 3 guitars and at least one is open tuned. But, live, Keef does it in standard spanish tuning

[B7aug5]

It's not in open G, Keith does this in standard tuning, I've seen him do it live at least 5 times.

[mcashlv]

All wrong..terrible. Original was played in open G. No string bending.

[resoblues]

What going on with the nut on the guitar?? Is it aluminum? Whats that do compared to bone?

[Avalon365]

get yourself tuned man

[Fruscianteistheman]

@Avalon365

ask keif to get tuned and tell me what he says

[mobotje2]

Gitaarke stemmen

[elvetio]

women, not woman

[leafhater1]

Keith had only 5 strings on his guitar mostly during the 70's

[vanvimon]

OPEN G.

[brymacbluesband]

He probably never knew he had any strings with all the drugs he was on man..lol

[relw3]

The D, G, and B (2,3,4) strings are the same for both normal tuning and open G tuning. True, you can't strum an open G major - but he's not trying to do that in this video is he? So....

[dkrasney]

this is how you do it if you want it to sound like SHIT

[chiefhalftown]

This is how you do it if you don't want to tune to open G and do it like Keith. This is a good primer on doing country stuff in the pentatonic though. Very common and always sounds good.

Open G versions on probably to your right.

[oscarmmf]

Are you playing in G tuning?

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

No, this is a simplified version in standard tuning which is intended to demonstrate how to use pentatonic scale patterns.

[ukphonebook]

Ry Cooder...no talent hack!?!? Is this the same Ry Cooder he's talking about?

[NearlyNormalSteve]

I don't know why ukphonebook is getting flamed, he's NOT saying Ry Cooder is a hack.

[DBCrowns]

Thanks

[xttraffic]

Sounds spot on,not going to be easy but I want it so bad. Thanks for sharing and you are going in my hot list.

Piece and love and honkey tonk woman

[MC165]

Well I "gotta tell ya"...I have a blister on my middle finger from working those licks - played over and over again a couple of dozen or more times - ouch!! and I've been playing guitar for over 30 years!!!! Many times I've worn my finger nails to the quick, fretted over cracked skin on my thumb..(that's an ouch too) but never had a blister - until now, lol - thanks for the great video - and workout - been playin' that song for years...and now I have it right - sounds great - thanks again. MC

[iluvmyaxe]

thats not all the song lol

[dmuffler4]

fed1776......You're just stupid. That's all. Uninformed, nonresourceful, and stupid about facts.

[frdtorino]

Hey dude ,whats stupid about it,hes helping people out for free,also your a bad f@##%%^^ apple that ruins good things for people,so if you dont know what your talking about keep your mouth shut,compuor geek...

[elvis41795]

Dude I cant thank you so much for this video you actualy take the time to break down the history behind the notes!!!Your not like other vids that people just show off on.

Thankxxxxx Mann

[1012nyjets]

your instructions are great would you show me how to play Johnny Rivers "Mountain of Love"

[LewisKiernan]

How do you advise to play this song finger-less. I lost mine in a mining accident.

[GinAndChess]

Wow. That sounds dead-on.

[MaxRadin]

nice breakdown of this lick - I was missing the pinky finger on string 2 part - thanks

[rotolo]

l o n g fingers

[Tineluss]

Well done.

Just to set things right, it wasn't Keith that invented the riff, it was Ry Cooder. Here's the quote from his Into The purple Valley CD jacket. The album is from 1972 but this is the CD reedition : " A legendary session musician Ry Cooder played with a wide range of artists, from Randy Newman to Crazy Horse to the Rolling Stones. He made notable contributions on the latter's 1969 release Let It Bleed providing the central riff to the group's smash hit Honky Tonk Women in the process.

[fed1776]

Ry Cooder was a talentless piece of trash. He has to take credit for other peoples riffs because he has contributed none of his own. Keef has written countless riffs, I doubt he needs to steal from one from this asshole.

[Tineluss]

Oh, my... I wish I have a shotgun to put you out of your misery.

[dmuffler4]

Dude, you're totally right about Cooder.

He taught Keith the open G tuning. Soon after his contributions to several Stones recordings they also invited him to be a Stone. He said no thanks. I'll stick with my roots. Mick Taylor took over from there once he declined. But don't tell fed1776.

He'd just have a hissy or something. Hope he found that shotgun. Long Live Ry!!!

[fed1776]

I think you two better find the shotgun, you both must be steaming piles of monkey shit if you idolize a no talent hack with zero hits to his name.

[bucklerfoxton]

OPEN G, FIVE STRINGS

--KEEF

[eschmitty]

well done mate. I like your style. Really liked your hey joe video.......make sure you check it out.

Schmitty

[marshmelow]

the audio has a flange sound to it due to the upload quality, the quality being not very good. He's in tune/not flat, it's the sound compression that screwed it up.

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

Actually, the original recording is not in tune. I should have adjusted my guitar to match it.

[frazer1ho]

its true, i know from frustration at wanting to play along with the recording haha

[zp4eva]

i love how you guys teach the song as kind of a theory lesson good job guys i love learning songs from you guys

[pazzmanmusic]

Can you teach how to play in open tuning? Like Keith does?

[stealthdkm]

this guy knows more about playing than any of you all.

[Singlpilot]

And his g string is flat

[sakalan]

Not more than me.

[bigguvnor]

u aint got vids up nab

[keywordlove]

ron wood plays in standard

[torrentsforme]

This is a terrible lesson - the song is in open G not standard moron - FAIL

[68ComebackSpecial]

The opening riff sounds better when the G note (on the 6th)is plucked with the other two notes (open 3 & 4) as shown at the start. It gives it a 'fatter' open tuned sound similar to the recent live versions.

[ezellje]

Do you assholes know that the strings he is playing are tuned exactly the same in open G as they are in standard tuning? Standard tuning EADGBE. open G- DBDGBD....

[korgtri]

Well I never realised that. Thanks for pointing it out. Mind you I dont think you need to abuse people. Epecially when they are sharing their time and knowledge

[cbarber1067]

sometimes the only way to get people's attention is to be a little abrasive. i'm glad it was pointed out this way, and i'm glad that you responded in a receptive way, with a grateful attitude.  we need more like you in the world. but don't worry so much about being offensive, some people only get it when it's presented that way, or with a 2 by 4 up side their heads!:.)>

[tjfitzpatrick10]

haha i realize i'm a bit late, but you've got your open G a bit twisted. from what it looks like you're going heavy strings to light strings. there's not two B's in open G, though you're right there technically could be. usually you want to have a root note on one of the heavier strings. try this (heavy to light) D G D G B D

see something like "in my time of dying" by zeppelin or honky tonk woman for examples. that B (major 3rd in the key of G) should really only turn up once in open G tho.

[MiguelSuicide]

ist not tuned. shit, it's an open g song.. cmon, this is bad information. bad lesson. sorry.

[GuitarMusicTheoryTab]

Yes, the guitar in the original recording is tuned to an open G chord, but it sounds nearly the same in standard tuning. This lesson is meant to be an example of a country style bend using the major pentatonic scale.

[johnlespaulstrat]

The solos and overdubs are in standard though

[regwhitecalf]

for an intermediate player doin early gigs, and only carrying one guitar to the gig...thats who'd benefit from this...no time to be open-tuning on the fly...

[teden20]

no, no, no. the song is in open G

[CollyStrings]

Great job. Love the lesson.

Go check out my version!!

[hedroom01]

It sounds strange, and he even comments on it, because the stones play a half step down!

[Jomkiatz]

No, not even a clean half step - then it'd be in F# major, and that'd be easy to compsensate for. The Stones did what was common practice at the time - slightly speeding up or slowing down the master recording to just barely change the tonality. The song is like a quarter step flat. Hell, probably not even. It's not an exact science.

[MusicMedic5150]

You nailed it Jom.

[xraymond10]

Wow -- your's is the best. Upclose video, nice and slow and you have the lick perfect.

This is the way to learn -- post more !

[dioxin22]

so was I ;-)

[coolaidmanlol]

Great lesson, my dad was pleased with this.