All Along the Watchtower Guitar Lesson (Jimi Hendrix)

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.

For C#m play this:

B play this: 

And finally, for A play this:

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.

Hendrix also would often play the C#m chord as a C#m7 like this:

This allowed his pinky finger to be free to play chord embellishments in the fretting hand.

Rhythm Patterns

Once your fingers feel comfortable switching between the chord shapes, try adding more rhythm. The underlying groove of this song is a combination of eighth-note rhythms and syncopated chords. 

The song comes in on a pickup rhythm on the 'and' of 3 with the B chord. This leads you into the C#m7 chord and then starts the looping chord progression. Here is an example of a groove in this style:

Notice how the chords change on the off-beats. This gives the song a forward motion and creates a perfect looping progression for Hendrix to improvise his soaring leads over.

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. The first place I would recommend learning it is at the 9th fret in the key of C#m like this:

This scale is so important to know and is key to being able to get a sound similar to Hendrix.

Here would be the frets to play on each string:

• 6th string frets = 9, 12
• 5th string frets = 9, 10, 11
• 4th string frets = 9, 11
• 3rd string frets = 9, 7, 11
• 2nd string frets = 9, 12
• 1st string frets = 9, 12

Hendrix’s solos are primarily based on those same notes all over the neck. Example 1 demonstrates how he might take some of those notes and group them together in a blues phrase. 

Hendrix was incredible and building in “Call and Response” into his guitar solos. This is the technique of playing one phrase and then having the next phrase answer the previous. Example 2 demonstrates an answer to Example 1.

Also notice the hammer-on, pull-off in the final bar, and the use of the note A#. This note is not in the C#m blues scale or the C#m pentatonic scale, another scale that Hendrix was known for. This note actually comes out of the C#m Dorian mode. In Hendrix’s style, he would often choose different notes from different scales, and combine them all together to create his own signature sound.

Another key to Hendrix’s sound was his use of bends and vibrato. These techniques made his playing incredibly expressive and emotional. Throughout all his solos in “All Along The Watchtower,” he used combinations of half-steps, whole-steps, and step-and-a-half bends. This combined with his floaty-sounding vibrato helped him create a vocal-like quality to his playing.

How to get a Jimi Hendrix Tone

It’s important to keep in mind that even if someone had Hendrix’s exact rig, they would still not be able to come close to sounding like him. In fact, I think this is a huge myth about guitar playing in general. In my opinion, everyone sounds like themselves. I’ve never heard anyone and been like, 'Is that Hendrix?'

Sure, people can be influenced and play in the style of others, but when it comes to copying someone’s sound, it's just impossible. With that said, let's take a look at some of Hendrix's common gear. The goal is to understand how you can incorporate similar tones and sounds into your own music.

• Fender Stratocaster - While Hendrix did play a number of guitars throughout the years he was most known for playing a Fender Stratocaster. It’s important to note that the majority of the time he tuned his guitar down ½ step. Doing this immediately gets you closer to his sound.
• Coiled Cable - Coiled cables have a big impact on your guitar tone. This style of cable removes a lot of the top-end frequencies, which overall gives you more of a vintage style tone. Using a straight cable tends to retain more of those higher frequencies.
• VOX wah pedal - Hendrix was a master at incorporating the wah-wah into his music. From classics like “Voodoo Child” to “All Along The Watchtower” Hendrix used this to create a vocal-like quality to his playing.
• Marshall 100w Superlead Plexi heads with 4×12 stacks - Hendrix played loud! Marshall amps have a biting edge to them, this combined with a Stratocaster, the coiled cable, and a lot of playing on the neck pickup is key to his signature sound.

All Along The Watchtower Guitar Lesson (Dave Mason Version)

Dave Mason's 1974 version of "All Along the Watchtower" takes a whole different turn. Imagine funky blues guitars dancing with a grooving rhythm section, all while keeping an eye on the darker themes of the lyrics. Mason's smooth vocals, a world away from Dylan's grit, add a new layer to the story. Sure, Hendrix's version is iconic, but Mason's groovy take deserves a seat at the "Watchtower" table. So next time you want a unique spin on Dylan's classic, give Mason's version a listen – it's a laid-back, funky journey you won't soon forget.

Conclusion:

Hendrix's version of 'All Along the Watchtower' is a timeless masterpiece that has inspired countless musicians and guitar players around the world. His innovative playing style, combined with his unique interpretation of this Dylan song, created a musical experience that continues to captivate audiences today. If you enjoyed this lesson, check out “Crossroads” next!