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Editorβs notes
This lesson shows you an easy way to play βKnockinβ On Heavenβs Doorβ by Bob Dylan. This is an absolutely classic song that only uses 4 chords (G, D, C, and A minor). Iβll teach you these chords, explain the strumming pattern, how to play the chords in the right order, and finally show you some flourish & fills you can add.
Video timestamps:
- 0:00 Playthrough & Lesson Overview
- 1:18 Chords needed
- 3:50 Strumming pattern
- 5:20 Chord progressions
- 6:50 Adding flourish & fills
Lyrics w/ chords
INTRO
G D Am Am
G D C C
....play twice
VERSE
G D Am
...Mama, take this badge off of me
G D C
...I can't use it anymore
G D Am
...It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
G D C
...I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
CHORUS
G D Am
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
VERSE #2
G D Am
...Mama put my guns in the ground
G D C
...I can't shoot them anymore
G D Am
...That cold black cloud is comin' down
G D C
...I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
CHORUS
G D Am
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
...Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
[repeat chorus as desired, end]
Chords needed
The entire song uses these four chords. There are plenty of ways you could embellish and modify these chords, such as turning the A-minor to a Am7 (x02010) β which is what it sounds like Bob Dylan does. Obviously feel free to do that if you wish.
E ββββ3βββββ0βββββ0βββββ2βββββ βββ0βββ βββ3βββ βββ3βββ
B ββββ0βββββ1βββββ1βββββ3βββββ βββ1βββ βββ1βββ βββ1βββ
G ββββ0βββββ2βββββ0βββββ2βββββ βββ0βββ βββ0βββ βββ0βββ
D ββββ0βββββ2βββββ2βββββ0βββββ βββ2βββ βββ2βββ βββ2βββ
A ββββ2βββββ0βββββ3βββββββββββ βββ0βββ βββ0βββ βββ3βββ
E ββββ3βββββββββββββββββββββββ βββββββ βββββββ βββββββ
G Am C D Am7 Am7 C
As I note in my video lesson, if youβre having trouble with the chord transitions, realize that for some of the transitions youβre keeping fingers on the same note. This makes changing much easier, since it is one less finger to move. For example:
E ββββ3βββββ2ββββ
B ββββ3βββββ3ββββ <-- left ring finger plays 3rd fret for both chords
G ββββ0βββββ2ββββ
D ββββ0βββββ0ββββ
A ββββ2ββββββββββ
E ββββ3ββββββββββ
G D
Chord progression
Repeat this for the entire song. Intro, verse, and chorus β they all use this basic progression. Remember, 4 counts per measure.
G D Am Am
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
G D C C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Strumming pattern
The ideal strumming pattern you should strive to play is:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U
If youβre having trouble with this, start simple. Begin with a single downstrum on the β1β count of each 4-count measure:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D
When you can do that, add another down strum to the 3 count:
1 2 3 4
D D
After that, add yet another down strum on the 4 count:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D
And finally, when you can do whatβs above reliably well enough, add a single upstrum on the β4 andβ count:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U
Repeat this pattern for the entire song. Though of course, should you wish, you could get creative and use any strumming pattern you like.
The Triple UpStrum
One final variation of the strumming pattern, to be used as you please β is as follows. The idea here is to play the same accented note (3rd fret of high-E string) for all three of the up-strums. Iβll often use this on the 4th measure and 8th measure, using normal strumming patterns for the other measures.
G D Am Am7
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U D D D U D D D U D D U U U
and/or:
G D C C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U D D D U D D D U D D U U U
Flourish and fills
Hereβs a few simple ways to spice up the simple chord progression used in this song.
Walk down from C to G
At the end of every chorus, I often like to βwalk downβ from C to G, meaning Iβll play each individual bass note that connects to C to G. This sounds quite nice. Quite simply, you just need to play this. See my video lesson for reference.
E βββ0βββββββββββββ3ββββ
B βββ1βββββββββββββ3ββββ
G βββ0βββββββββββββ0ββββ
D βββ2βββββββββββββ0ββββ
A βββ3βββ3ββ2ββ0βββ2ββββ
E βββββββββββββββββ3ββββ
C G
Using your pinky on the high E-string
In the Bob Dylan version, as well as my video lesson, you can hear times when thereβs the high-E string ringing nicely β itβs because of an added pinky on either the C or the Am chord. Listen along for context, but quite simply, hereβs how you play it:
E βββ3βββββ3ββββ <-- add your left pinky on this 3rd fret note
B βββ1βββββ1ββββ
G βββ0βββββ2ββββ
D βββ2βββββ2ββββ
A βββ3βββββ0ββββ
E ββββββββββββββ
C Am
These are just two of many possible ways you can spice up the song, but I hope this helps get you started.
Good luck!
I hope this helps, and as always let me know if you have any questions.
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