Walking Down The Line - a little Dylan

Lcjones · #1 January 26th, 2007

On strumming again.....

Dylan is one of those guitarist who can take the simplest of two chord songs and make it a snappy tune. His unique abilities in strumming just amaze me. For those guitarists who are working on strumming or different styles of strumming you really should spend some time with Dylan. Especially his early works, '63 - '67 or so. As well, his "Open D" years with 'Blood On The Tracks' and 'Desire' is just incredible work.

Walking Down The Line Hi-Fi[3.3Mb @ 3:27]

The chords here are G an C. Thats is. But listen to the rhythm that's made between the two chords. The G chord is a down stroke only. The C chord is up and down stroke. Listen how it creates such a heart beating rhythm. You'll also hear what sounds like a different chord in there but it is a G. Here are the tab'd chords.

G..........|C...............|2nd G
E-------3--|------3---------|----------------E
B----------|-1--------------|-----3----------B
G----------|----------------|-------4--------G
D----------|---2------------|---------5------D
A---2------|------3---------|----------------A
E-------3--|----------------|----------------E

As you'll notice in the tune he uses his signature G/C Chord hammer-ons. If you're playing Dylan, you really need to learn that method.

Also to note, in my recording of this tune, I tuned down one full step and then capo'd up to the second fret and into standard tuning. The reason I did this was to get that almost out of tune guitar sound that "all" early Dylan recordings have.

I've rambled. But thanks for listening!

**
Les

tomg123 · #2 January 27th, 2007

Never heard that before it sounded great. I was lookin at some dylan chord songs yesterday. Your right he sure could strum a mean guitar

737blues · #3 January 27th, 2007

Nice little song and useful little lesson that LC. Took me a minute to twig that I needed to anchor my pinky on that top G and use the 3-finger G chord. Been using the 4-finger G for so long I started with it automatically and your ears might have been burning for a bit ... how the h*ll is he doing that change so smoothly? Course, if I'd read the instructions first ......

737blues · #4 January 27th, 2007

Ah ha! .. Got it with all four now. Just needed to overcome some muscle memory. Because I also normally play a four-fingered C, my ring and pinky fingers kept wanting to come over for that change. Powerful stuff that muscle memory!