Guitar playing: Like a rolling stone - hendrix monterey

[cokecan]

I've been trying to learn this for months now but im just not getting anywhere with it

no matter how many time i watch the vid, listen to the song etc just can't do it. Im startin to wonder if its the tabs i'm using or if its somethin im doing/not doing??

can anyone offer any advise, tabs, pointers etc?

 

[Naffa]

Post the tab and I'll compare it for you.

 

[cokecan]

its this one i've found on guitaretab (also probs the same on ultimate guitar and fretplay etc)

intro just doesnt sound right to me??

also for the verse, is it best to do barre chords or not?

The Hendrix version played at Monterey is virtually identical to the one
posted below with the exception that he starts the song by playing the
chorus in power chords. Get the rhythm off of the album It's
approximately:

E|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------
G|--5---X-------------------555555/7-|--5--/9----------------------55555-5--
D|--5---X---3-3----3/5--5---555555/7-|--5--/9------XX3-3---5---5---55555-5--
A|--3---X---3-3----3/5--5---333333/5-|--3--/7------XX3-3---5---5---30303-0--
E|----------1-1----1/3--3------------|--------12\0-XX1-1---3---3------------

Then into the C F G progression for a few bars before beginning the
actual song as transcribed below by Rajarshi Gosh ([email protected])

-------
~Date: 8 Jul 1994 17:43:20 -0500

Here's the first verse. As I'm transferring the stuff from the left part of
my brain to the right (or is it vice versa?) it's probably a bit flawed :

4/4 | C | Dm | Em | F | G | G7 |

C Dm
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Em F G
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you
C Dm
People called you, said "Beware doll,
Em F G
You're bound to fall", you thought they were all kidding you
F G
You used to laugh about
F G
Everybody else that was hanging out
F Em Dm C
Now you don't talk so loud
F Em Dm C
Now you don't seem so proud
Dm F G
About having to be scrounging around for your next meal
C F G
How does it feel,
C F G
How does it feel
C F G
To be on your own
C F G
In no direction home
C F G
Like a complete unknown
C F G G7
Like a rolling stone.

 

[Naffa]

After listening to it again (haven't in a while), I've remembered that there's a lot of improvisation within the song. If you want to play something that sounds similar (as it'll be very very very difficult, nigh on impossible, to sound exactly the same), then learn the chords and try and improvise around them. If you're not to good with improvision then you could just noodle around with the arpeggio.

If you listen, Hendrix doesn't just play the chords, there's a lot of improv around them within the arpeggio and scale, and you'll need to do some of that if you want to progress.

 

[cokecan]

yeah my improvisation sucks lol i am working on it though

i guess if i could get the intro fairly close i'd be happy with just playing through the verse as normal withlittle or no improvisation. it will still sound great

 

[Naffa]

Well, just having a mush through those chords. I think that if you just syncopate them slightly, use a little bit off beat strumming, you can make it sound alright. If you really can't improvise around the chords, then you could try palm muting part of the chord or playing the bass note, muted strum, then rest of the chord. Remember to utilise up and down strokes and not just strum the chord and leave it be.

I know my explanations are a little messy, but if you want anymore help then just say.