Jumpin’ Jack Flash Chords And Guitar Lesson (The Rolling Stones)

Keith Richards is a master at creating simple riffs that evoke strong primal energy.

I know that may sound a bit strange but there’s something about his guitar parts and rhythms that hit you right in the gut. 

As of the time of me typing this, the song I want to share with you has over 13 million plays on YouTube. Apparently, I’m not the only one who can relate to this.  

So grab your axe, and let’s unpack this "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Jumpin’ Jack Flash?

"Jumpin' Jack Flash" was written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger two founding members of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones. It’s one of their most iconic songs, first released as a single in 1968 it marked the Stones' return to their blues-rock roots after a brief departure into psychedelia.

The song was recorded at Olympic Sound Studios in London and is a great example of the raw and driving sound that became a staple of the band’s identity. Richards described the chords as almost archaic, evoking an ancient, primal energy. 

In my opinion, this was the use of power chords and whatever open tuning he conjured up. The song topped charts in several countries, including the UK, and peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. 

Next, let’s dive into the…

Jumpin’ Jack Flash Chords

To play "Jumpin’ Jack Flash” as recorded by The Rolling Stones you only need to know 5 main chord shapes B, E, A, D, and C#5. Let’s take a look at a few options for how these can be played on the fretboard.

B is a bar chord played in 7th position like this: 

E is also played as a bar chord in the 7th position, but with a root on the 5th string like so:

A is played the same way as B it’s just shifted down 2 frets:

D is played the same way as E again only shifted down 2 frets:

Note: We’ve covered 4 “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” chords. Yet you only need 2 shapes to play them because B and A are the same shape, and E and D are the same too.

Finally, we have a C#5 power chord played like this:

A power chord is a simplified chord that’s used in rock all the time. It’s built using just two or three notes: the root note and the fifth, and often includes an additional octave of the root note like you see above.

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it faster and in the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

All right, now that you know the "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" chords, let’s now talk about…

What key is Jumpin’ Jack Flash in?

The recorded version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash" is slightly between the keys of Bb and B major. My guess is that they recorded it in B major and then slowed down the tape machine to get it to sound a little beefier. Slowing down the tape can fatten up the guitars and produce a different feel. Many artists like The Police and The Beatles did used this unusual recording technique.

Let’s take a quick look at how each chord relates from the perspective of the key of B major.

B Major (I Chord):

Role: The tonic (I) chord, the "home base" in the key of B major.

Notes: B, D#, F#

Function: Provides resolution and stability. Most progressions in the key of B will resolve to B.

E Major (IV Chord):

Role: The subdominant (IV) chord.

Notes: E, G#, B

Function: Acts as a pre-dominant chord, leading naturally to the dominant (F#) or back to the tonic (B). It often introduces a sense of movement or tension. You can hear this right away in the introduction of “Jumpin Jack’ Flash”.

A Major (bVII Chord):

Role: Borrowed from the key of B Mixolydian or you can think of it as a blues move. 

Notes: A, C#, E

Function: It doesn't belong to the diatonic key of B major. Instead, it’s likely used as a blues effect. The blues scale has the bVII in it. 

D Major (bIII Chord):

Role: Like A major, D major is not diatonic to B major.

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: This is another borrowed chord. It again reflects the blues scale with the bIII. 

C#5:

Role: A power chord based on the 2nd scale degree (C#) of B major.

Notes: C#, G#

That’s the theory, but remember it doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

Jumpin’ Jack Flash Riff

Richards has called "Jumpin' Jack Flash" one of his most cherished riffs. It’s heavily rooted in the B minor blues scale and is a great example of how The Rolling Stones blended blues and rock. The B minor blues scale can be played in the 7th position like this:

The notes in the B minor blues scale are:

• B (root)
• D (minor third)
• E (perfect fourth)
• F (diminished fifth or "blue note")
• F# (perfect fifth)
• A (minor seventh) 

In terms of scale degrees:

1, ♭3, 4, ♯4/♭5, 5, ♭7

This scale is widely used in blues, jazz, and rock. Here’s an example in the style of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a driving 8th-note rock feel. This keeps the energy up and the momentum moving forward. Straight 8th notes involve dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into two equal parts, creating a driving and steady rock rhythm. 

In 4/4 time, where each measure has four beats, subdividing into 8th notes results in 8 notes per measure. To count them, you can use: 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

1, 2, 3, 4: These are the primary beats in the measure.

&: The midpoint between each beat, providing the "offbeat."

When counted aloud, it would sound like:

"One and Two and Three and Four and." 

To play this type of feel, start with consistent downstrokes on each 8th note.

Here’s an example of a “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” style strumming pattern:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” has an incredible primal energy to the song. It’s a combination of rock guitar and rhythm & blues.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

Jon MacLennan