Take Me To The River Guitar Lesson

Learn how to play Take Me To The River on Acoustic Guitar!

There are two different approaches used in this song and they are the product of adapting to the shapes each key offer.

The original key gives us the ability to incorporate the bass line, open strings for the main chords and all those open position E chords. Use major and minor pentatonic scales to mess around with.

Palm muting and “chugging” on the low strings work well for a one guitar arrangement.

However, should you play this in a band, stick to stuff further up the neck.

The second video in G use a more British The Rolling Stones/The Who vibe with the big G chord fully strummed.

In this key, the bVII becomes an F, notice how this is differently played in each version.

Rhythm Guitar Changing Key

As you can see, Take Me To River is played i two different ways, not just keys.

This is due to what the chord shapes offer us, should you want to maintain the original vibe in the key of G, simply place a capo on the third fret.

Once you worked out how to adjust to keys like this, try it in the key of A and D as well, you might come up with something.

One can only imagine how many times a classic riff has been stolen by simply adjusting it to a new chord shape…

Layering Guitars Using Inversions

By understanding how each key signature effects the sound of a riff you can take the next step into layering guitars.

It’s not a bad place to be when the producer says:

“Can you play something like that but further up the neck?”, and you actually can!

An over all understanding of the fretboard is vital in such situations so you don’t panic.

Switching key should be a positive journey, you should be thinking:

What new things can I discover by using this shape?

Not: I need to go home and practice that!