All Along The Watchtower | Chords + Lyrics (tune down 1/2 step)
Intro
| N.C B ||: C#m B | A B :|| x4
Verse 1
||: C#m B | A B :||
There must be some kind of way outta here.
Said the joker to the thief.
There’s too much confusion.
I can’t get no relief.
Verse 2
Businessmen they, they drink my wine.
Plowmen dig my earth.
None will level on the line.
Nobody offered his word, hey, hey.
Solo 1
||: C#m B | A B :|| x4
Verse 3
No reason to get excited.
The thief, he kindly spoke.
There are many here among us.
Who feel that life is but a joke. But, uh.
Verse 4
But you and I, we’ve been through that.
And this is not our fate.
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now.
The hour’s getting late, hey.
Solo 2
||: C#m B | A B :|| x16
Verse 5
Oh, all along the watchtower.
Princes kept the view.
While all the women came and went.
Barefoot servants, too. Well, look.
Verse 6
Outside in the cold distance.
A wildcat did growl.
Two riders were approaching.
And the wind began to howl, hey.
Solo 3
||: C#m B | A B :|| x8 repeat to fade
All along the watchtower…
All Along The Watchtower Chords: Unpacking the Iconic Progression
Jimi Hendrix’s version of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower is, in my opinion, the greatest recording ever made.
When it was released, the way the guitars were layered was groundbreaking.
The track is packed with so many iconic guitar licks to learn that it can only be compared to other legendary tunes such as Wish You Were Here, Stairway to Heaven, Sultans of Swing, Like A Hurricane, and Hotel California.
The song is played over a simple yet powerful chord progression of VI–V–IV–V. Interestingly, this is the same progression used in Stairway to Heaven and Sultans of Swing! In the key of C#m, the progression spells:
||: C#m (VI) B (V) | A (IV) B (V) :||
This progression is especially popular for guitar solos. If you listen to almost any Iron Maiden track, you’ll likely hear them using this progression—usually in E minor—with blues-scale solos soaring over it.
I’ve created some TAB ideas to help you play the rhythm guitar part in C#m, as well as an option with a capo, thinking in Am. You can find that part of the lesson here: All Along The Watchtower – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you’ve worked through the TAB, all you’ll need is a chord chart. Here’s one I made for you.
All Along The Watchtower Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
While All Along the Watchtower features just one chord progression, the intro positions the chords slightly differently.
Typically, a chord chart doesn’t display rhythm, but I’ve devised a way to show this. During the intro, the chord before the next bar is delayed, and played after the rest.
If you’d like to download the chart, here’s a PDF: All Along the Watchtower chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, and here’s the iReal Pro file: All Along the Watchtower chord chart iReal Pro. With the iReal Pro app, you can even change the key.
Speaking of key changes, don’t forget that Hendrix tuned down a half-step. When he plays a C#m chord, it sounds like Cm. Be sure to confirm with your band before starting the song!
All Along The Watchtower covers
Jimi wasn’t the only artist to cover All Along the Watchtower. However, it’s safe to say that most others were inspired by his version. Even Bob Dylan admitted he preferred Jimi’s rendition to his own.
In the playlist above, I’ve included covers by Dave Matthews Band, U2, Jeff Healey, Eric Clapton with Lenny Kravitz, and of course, Bob Dylan’s original version.
There’s also a lesson on how to play those unforgettable licks Jimi so masterfully crafted on this legendary track.
If you’re playing along with Jimi’s version, note that apart from tuning down a half-step, setting your tuner slightly sharp to 444 Hz will match his frequency.
If tuning down isn’t an option, you can use the Digitech drop pedal.
All Along The Watchtower Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: