Video lesson
Strum version (#301)
Timestamps for my strum-only video lesson:
- 0:00 Lesson overview
- 2:06 Basic chord shapes
- 5:48 Basic chord progression & strumming
- 9:28 Basic playthrough of verse & chorus
- 11:38 Adv. chord shapes
- 15:13 Adv. progression & strumming
- 16:35 Adv. walking bass lines & transitions
- 19:46 Adv. playthrough of verse & chorus (full strum)
- 20:53 Adv. playthrough of verse & chorus (w/o a pick)
- 22:22 Farewell
Fingerstyle version (#303)
Timestamps for my fingerstyle video lesson:
- 0:00 Lesson overview
- 2:49 Chord shapes & progression, basic
- 4:29 Chord shapes & progression, advanced
- 13:09 Intro riff, v1 (super basic)
- 15:11 Intro riff, v2 (traditional fingerstyle)
- 17:46 Intro riff, v3 (Dylan’s exact version)
- 21:49 Intro riff, v4 (my secret stash version)
- 24:17 Verse & chorus: general fingerpicking tips
- 28:18 Verse & chorus: full fingerstyle playthrough
- 30:49 Farewell
Note, the same 6-page PDF chord sheet (linked below) works for both of video lessons shown above.
Get the PDF chord sheet (6 pages)
- Support me on Patreon.com to get access to this and 200+ other PDF chord sheets I've made, plus new PDFs I make going forward (1-2 added each week).
- The cost is $3/month (one month minimum, cancel anytime). Annual plans also available. Here's a free sample if you're on the fence. Thanks!
After clicking the button and logging in to Patreon, look for the PDF attached to the bottom of the post.
Editor’s notes
Hey friends! Here’s two video lessons I’ve made teaching you how to play the Bob Dylan classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. My first video teaches a strum-only version, while the second goes deep on fingerstyle & Travis picking technique – which is what Bob uses in his original album version. Both lessons include both beginner-friendly (as much as is possible) variations of the more difficult chords & techniques, while also going deep into advanced topics for those who are interested. I hope you enjoy!
My other lessons for Bob Dylan songs
Looking for other lessons I’ve made for songs by Bob Dylan? Here you go!
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Like a Rolling Stone
You’re Gonna Make me Lonesome When You Go
Lyrics with chords
Capo 4th fret. See the PDF chord sheet for a print-friendly version of these notes.
INTRO
| C | G | Am Am/G | F |
| C | G | C | C |
VERSE
C G Am Am (Am/G)
Well, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
F F C G7
...If'n you don't know by now
C G Am Am (Am/G)
And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
D7 D7 G (G6) G7
....It'll never do somehow
CHORUS
C C C7 C7
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
F F D7 D7
...Look out your window and.... I'll be gone
C G/B Am Am/G F
You're the reason I'm travel-ing on
C G7 C C
But don't think twice, it's all right
HARMONICA BREAK
C G7 Am Am/G F F C C C C
And it [C] ain't no use in [G] turning on your [Am] light babe...
The [F] light I never [C] know'd [G7]
And it [C] ain't no use in [G] turning on your [Am] light, babe...
[D7] I'm on the dark side of the [G] road [G6] [G7]
But I [C] wish there was something you would... [C7] do or say
To [F] try and make me change my [D7] mind and stay
But [C] we never [G/B] did too much [Am] talking anyway [F]
But [C] don't think [G7] twice, it's all [C] right
No, it [C] ain't no use in [G] calling out my [Am] name, gal
[F] like you never done [C] before [G7]
And it [C] ain't no use in [G] calling out my [Am] name, gal
[D7] I can't hear you any [G] more [G6] [G7]
I'm [C] a-thinking and a-wondering, [C7] walking down the road
I [F] once loved a woman, a [D7] child I'm told
I [C] give her my [G/B] heart but she [Am] wanted my [F] soul
But [C] don't think [G7] twice, it's all [C] right
So [C] long---[G]--- honey [Am], babe
Where I'm [F] bound, I can't [C] tell [G7]
[C] Goodbye is [G] too good a [Am] word, babe
[D7] so I'll just say fare thee [G] well [G6] [G7]
[C] I ain't saying you treated [C7] me unkind...
You [F] could have done better but [D7] I don't mind
[C] You just kinda [G/B] wasted my [Am] precious [F] time
[C] Don't think [G7] twice, it's all [C] right
Chord shapes (basic)
Looking for the easiest possible chords? Here you go! For the F, I’ve included some alternate versions that don’t require the full 6-string barre.
E ––0–––3–––0–––1–––2–-–0–– –––––0––1–––––
B ––1–––0–––1–––1–––1–-–1–– ––1––1––1–––––
G ––0–––0–––2–––2–––2–-–3–– ––2––2––2––2––
D ––2–––0–––2–––3–––0–-–2–– ––3––3––3––3––
A ––3–––2–––0–––3–––––-–3–– ––3––––––––3––
E ––––––3–––––––1–––––––––– –––––––––––1––
C G Am F D7 C7 F (alt voicings)
Looking for more complicated chord voicings? Here’s what I use and recommend. These are in addition to the basic chord voicings shown above. Many of these work great for Travis-style fingerpicking (e.g., the D7/F# and the F voicing I use).
E ––1–– ––0––0–– ––x––x–– ––x–– ––x––
B ––0–– ––1––1–– ––0––0–– ––1–– ––1––
G ––0–– ––2––2–– ––0––0–– ––2–– ––2––
D ––0–– ––2––0–– ––2––3–– ––3–– ––0––
A ––2–– ––x––x–– ––x––x–– ––x–– ––0––
E ––3–– ––3––3–– ––3––3–– ––1–– ––2––
G7 Am/G G6 G7 F D7/F#
Chord progression (basic)
If you’re learning this song for the first time, I recommend learning the progressions shown here first. This will help familiarize you with the foundation of the song, upon which you can add plenty of complexity if you wish (which I’ll show later). But if all you want is a campfire easy-strum version of the song, this is all you need.
Verse part 1:
| C . . . | G . . . | Am . . . | Am . . . |
| F . . . | F . . . | C . . . | G . . . |
Verse part 2:
| C . . . | G . . . | Am . . . | Am . . . |
| D7 . . . | D7 . . . | G . . . | G . . . |
Chorus:
| C . . . | C . . . | C7 . . . | C7 . . . |
| F . . . | F . . . | D7 . . . | D7 . . . |
| C . . . | G . . . | Am . . . | F . . . |
| C . . . | G . . . | C . . . | C . . . |
Chord progression, slightly more advanced
Same structure as the “easy” version, but with a bit more detail added around bass notes and walking bass lines. I recommend starting with the prior version & getting a grasp of the main foundation, which will make the additional detail shown in this version easier to spot & understand. Whether you strum or play fingerstyle, the progressions shown here will apply.
Verse part 1:
| C . . . | G . . . | Am . . . | Am . Am/G . |
| F . . . | F . . . | C . . . | G7 . . . |
Verse part 2:
| C . . . | G . . . | Am . . . | Am . Am/G . |
| D7/F# . . . | D7/F# . . . | G . G6 . | G7 . . . |
Chorus:
| C . . . | C . . . | C7 . . . | C7 . . . |
| F . . . | F . . . | D7/F# . . . | D7/F# . . . |
| C . . . | G/B . . . | Am . Am/G . | F . . . |
| C . . . | G7 . . . | C . . . | C . . . |
Intro fingerstyle riff
See my PDF for 4 ways to play the intro riff, fingerstyle.
Fingerpicking the verse & chorus
See my PDF for complete tabs on how to play these sections in a Travis picking style.
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
You can also support me on Patreon. For only $3/month you'll get access to a print-friendly PDF of my notes for each new lesson (view free sample).
Thanks!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent video lessons:
📝 Print-friendly PDFs now available for all new lessons I make, including all those listed below. Get a free sample »
-
Long Haul (stripped version)
by Ian Munsick
Apr 18, 2021 • Lesson #360
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Mary Jane's Last Dance
by Tom Petty
Apr 11, 2021 • Lesson #85
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Sound of Silence
by Simon and Garfunkel
Apr 7, 2021 • Lesson #358
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Kodachrome
by Paul Simon
Mar 31, 2021 • Lesson #357
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Understanding the 12 Notes
Practical Music Theory Ep. 1
Mar 27, 2021 • Lesson #356
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Saskatchewan in 1881
by Colter Wall
Mar 20, 2021 • Lesson #318
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Pancho and Lefty
by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
Mar 14, 2021 • Lesson #57
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Keep 'Em on They Toes
by Brent Cobb
Mar 13, 2021 • Lesson #355
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
How to "See" Walk-Ups & Walk-Downs on the Fretboard
Mar 7, 2021 • Lesson #354
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Souvenirs
by John Prine
Feb 28, 2021 • Lesson #353
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Feathered Indians
by Tyler Childers
Feb 26, 2021 • Lesson #107
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Starting Over
by Chris Stapleton
Feb 20, 2021 • Lesson #352
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Lonesome Town
by Ricky Nelson
Feb 14, 2021 • Lesson #38
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Simple Twist of Fate
by Bob Dylan
Feb 12, 2021 • Lesson #351
Watch Video & Get PDF »
Browse my all lessons
By lesson type
By song decade
By musical genre
By guitar technique
By musical key
By popular artist
- Johnny Cash
- Tyler Childers
- Tom Petty
- Neil Young
- Nirvana
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Willie Nelson
- John Denver
- Guns N' Roses