From Folk Roots to Cultural Icon
Bob Dylan has been covered and copied by almost everyone who’s ever attempted to write a song. Some even say he invented modern songwriting.
His influence is so profound that it’s difficult to find an artist who emerged after the 1960s who wasn’t influenced by him in some way.
With such a vast catalogue of classics, it’s nearly impossible to pick just a handful of tunes to summarise Dylan’s legacy—but let’s begin at the start and see how we go.
Dylan’s first albums were largely made up of covers, traditional songs, and reworked material. His debut, Bob Dylan (1962), included Song to Woody, an original tribute to his songwriting hero Woody Guthrie.
There were also traditional songs such as Man of Constant Sorrow and the legendary House of the Rising Sun, which remains a favourite for beginner guitarists.
A year later came The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, the album that really announced him as a songwriter. It included Blowin’ in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall, and the surprisingly challenging Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.
When Peter, Paul and Mary took Blowin’ in the Wind into the charts, the world suddenly started paying attention to Dylan.
Blowin’ in the Wind
Blowin’ in the Wind became one of Dylan’s defining songs, despite the fact that he was still primarily performing covers when it was released.
The song asks a series of deceptively simple questions about peace, war and freedom, and it quickly became associated with the folk movement and the political atmosphere of 1960s America.
Peter, Paul and Mary’s version became a hit before Dylan’s own recording had really made its mark. Their success helped bring the song to a much wider audience.
It’s a good example of something that runs throughout Dylan’s career: his songs often became bigger than his own recordings of them.
Dylan would write the song, someone else would reinterpret it, and suddenly an entirely new audience would discover his work.
That’s something worth remembering if you’re a songwriter. You don’t necessarily have to be the person who creates the definitive recording of your own song.
Blowin’ in the Wind has since become a standard, and it remains one of the songs most closely associated with Dylan.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Another early Dylan classic that has travelled a long way from its original recording is Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. This one has been covered by Elvis, Peter, Paul and Mary, Eric Clapton, John Martyn and Joan Baez.
Perhaps the most unexpected version comes from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
The title has also appeared with slightly different punctuation and wording over the years, including Don’t Think Twice (It’s Alright).
Whatever you call it, the song is not particularly easy to play, it’s actually a great guitar lesson in itself. Slow it down, learn the picking pattern and work through it carefully. With the right TAB and enough patience, it becomes manageable.
That’s another recurring theme with Dylan: some of his apparently simple acoustic songs are much harder to play properly than they first appear.
The Times They Are A-Changin’ and Learning the Craft
In 1964, The Times They Are A-Changin’ was released. The title track became the album’s enduring classic, although it wasn’t created in a vacuum.
Its melody and structure draw heavily on traditional folk music, including the Celtic song Come All Ye Bold Highway Men. That’s a useful lesson for aspiring songwriters. Start by rewriting. Borrow ideas. Study old songs. Change them. Combine them.
Songwriting is a craft, and Dylan’s career is a pretty good demonstration that inspiration is only part of the equation. You need the work ethic to keep writing.
That same year came Another Side of Bob Dylan, with It Ain’t Me Babe standing out as one of its most memorable songs. Then everything accelerated.
Dylan Goes Electric
Between 1965 and 1969, Dylan released a remarkable run of albums and songs.
There was Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie’s Farm, Mr. Tambourine Man, It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue, Like a Rolling Stone, Highway 61 Revisited, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, I Want You, Just Like a Woman, All Along the Watchtower, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, and Lay Lady Lay.
For many, this is Dylan’s golden era.
But the most important developments wasn’t simply the number of great songs he was writing. It was the way he was changing what a folk singer-songwriter could sound like.
Mr. Tambourine Man
Dylan’s original Mr. Tambourine Man appeared on Bringing It All Back Home in 1965. The Byrds then transformed it into an electric pop record, using a Rickenbacker 12-string.
Their version became a huge international hit, even naming their album after the song. The Byrds’ recording also provides an interesting link between Dylan’s songwriting and the emerging sound of electric rock.
Some have suggested that hearing an electric interpretations of his song helped encourage him to move further towards the electric guitar and all that comes with it.
Either way, Mr. Tambourine Man is a fascinating example of what happens when a serious songwriter’s lyrics meet the sound of a pop band.
It’s also a reminder that, as guitarists, we shouldn’t always think of learning a song as simply copying the original recording. Sometimes the arrangement is the interesting part.
My personal favourite version of Mr. Tambourine Man is Helios Sequence’s 2010 rendition. Stevie Wonder also recorded an interesting version in 1966.
Like a Rolling Stone: From Waltz to Hammond Organ
If there’s one song that captures Dylan’s transformation during this period, it’s Like a Rolling Stone.
When Dylan first brought the song into the studio, it was unfinished and hadn’t been played for the musicians. Even more unusually, it was originally in 3/4 time—a waltz.
The hired musicians struggled with it, and after several unsuccessful takes they called it a day. The following day, when they tried again, Dylan played guitar instead of piano.
That changed the arrangement, and Paul Griffin moved from organ to piano. 21-year-old guitarist Al Kooper wasn’t originally supposed to play on the session. Feeling intimidated by lead guitarist Mike Bloomfield, he jumped onto the Hammond organ.
When the band listened back to one of the takes, producer Tom Wilson wasn’t convinced by the organ part. Dylan was. “Turn it up,” he reportedly said. And just like that, one of the most recognisable organ parts in rock history became part of the record.
That’s a great lesson for musicians: sometimes the part that wasn’t supposed to happen becomes the part everyone remembers.
Like a Rolling Stone also marked a major turning point in Dylan’s career, arriving at a time when he had apparently considered walking away from music altogether.
All Along the Watchtower: Dylan’s Song, Jimi’s Version
Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower is another perfect example of a song being transformed by another artist. Jimi Hendrix recorded his shortly after Dylan’s original, turning it into an electric guitar classic.
Dylan himself has said that he preferred Hendrix’s interpretation to his own. And Hendrix certainly left his mark.
The unforgettable guitar licks have become essential study material for guitarists, which is why my guitar lesson focuses not just on the song itself but on those distinctive Hendrix rhythm parts.
Of course, Hendrix wasn’t the only artist to cover the song. Dave Matthews Band, U2, Jeff Healey, even Eric Clapton with Lenny Kravitz version are all worth investigating.
That’s a lot of different arrangements of one song—and that’s exactly why Dylan is so interesting to study.
From Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door to the 1970s
The 1970s produced plenty more Dylan classics, including If Not for You, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Tangled Up in Blue, Idiot Wind, Shelter from the Storm, Hurricane, and One More Cup of Coffee.
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door was written for the 1973 film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, Dylan’s only soundtrack project of this kind.
He wrote the songs for the film and also appeared in it as the character Alias. The lead role was played by another singer-songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, known for songs such as Me & Bobby McGee and Help Me Make It Through the Night.
The film was a revisionist Western and became surrounded by controversy when director Sam Peckinpah lost control of the editing process.
Whatever its problems as a film, Dylan’s tune became a classic. And, once again, other artists helped turn it into something even bigger. Guns N’ Roses later recorded one of the most famous rock versions.
Wagon Wheel
There’s another fascinating story from these sessions. Wagon Wheel was never actually completed by Dylan.
He recorded a rough version of the chorus during the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid period, and a bootleg recording eventually circulated.
Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show discovered it and wrote new verses around Dylan’s chorus. Old Crow Medicine Show released their completed version in 2004, turning it into the band’s signature song.
Nathan Carter later had success with it in 2012, followed by Darius Rucker in 2013. It’s now a staple for solo acoustic acts and country-influenced working bands.
Most people who sing along have no idea that the song began with Bob Dylan who didn’t even have to finish the song for someone else to turn it into a hit.
Desire: Chaos, Collaboration and One More Cup of Coffee
Desire from 1976 is one of my favourite Bob Dylan albums, alongside Time Out of Mind.
It represented a different approach to recording, with Dylan working with a much larger and more collaborative group of musicians. It could also be chaotic.
Violinist Scarlet Rivera was reportedly spotted walking down the street with her violin case when Dylan, passing in a limousine, invited her to join the sessions. She ended up playing on much of the album.
Eric Clapton also briefly joined the sessions but left after one day, apparently advising Dylan to reduce the size of the band. On the day Clapton was there, he had five guitarists in the room. That’s perhaps not the worst problem to have—but it does give you an idea of how unconventional the sessions could become.
On One More Cup of Coffee, Emmylou Harris improvised her harmonies, helping create one of the album’s most distinctive moments.
The album also contains Hurricane, Dylan’s song about Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who had been wrongfully convicted of a triple murder. Carter’s charges were eventually dropped decades later.
Desire is a fascinating album because the rough edges are part of its character. It doesn’t sound like a carefully polished collection of studio musicians playing everything perfectly. It sounds alive. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
The 1980s: A Difficult Decade
The 1980s were, for me, the weakest period of Dylan’s career. The decade began with his born-again Christian phase and continued through albums such as Infidels, which had some interesting material but, in my opinion, suffered from poor production.
The only tune I can recall from this era is Jokerman which is a fantastic tune, still, the production is dreadful…
Towards the end of the decade, Dylan returned to a bluesier sound with Everything Is Broken—a title that seemed to sum up quite a lot of his 1980s output rather neatly. But Dylan’s career was far from over.
Time Out of Mind: Dylan Finds His Sound
The 1990s didn’t initially produce much to match the earlier classics. Then, in 1997, came Time Out of Mind. For me, this is Dylan’s ultimate masterpiece.
For the first time in a long while, the songwriting and production felt equally strong. Daniel Lanois created a distinctive, atmospheric sound that suited Dylan perfectly.
The standout tracks include Not Dark Yet, Tryin’ to Get to Heaven, Cold Irons Bound, and Make You Feel My Love, another example of how Dylan’s songwriting legacy continuing through other artists.
Make You Feel My Love: A Modern Standard
Make You Feel My Love has become a modern standard. Dylan released it on Time Out of Mind in 1997, but Billy Joel actually recorded and released his version a month earlier.
Since then, it has been recorded by hundreds of artists, with Adele perhaps having the most famous modern version.
Other artists who have recorded the song include Michael Bolton, Pink, Joan Osborne, Neil Diamond, and Garth Brooks.
The song has repeatedly charted through these different interpretations, reaching audiences who may never have discovered Dylan through his original recording.
And that is perhaps Dylan’s greatest lesson for a songwriter: Write a song strong enough that somebody else can make it their own.
The Dylan Songbook: Interpretation Is Everything
Dylan’s catalogue is enormous, the most useful thing about studying his songs isn’t simply learning the chords. It’s learning how different musicians interpret them.
Take All Along the Watchtower. Dylan’s version and Hendrix’s version are recognisably the same song, yet they feel completely different.
Then look at Mr. Tambourine Man: Dylan’s acoustic folk performance becomes a jangly electric pop classic through The Byrds.
Make You Feel My Love becomes something completely different again through Adele.
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door can work as a simple acoustic song, a country-rock number, or a huge rock arrangement with Guns N’ Roses.
That’s invaluable for a working guitarist. You don’t always need to reproduce the original arrangement note for note. You need to understand the song underneath the arrangement.
What are the chords? What is the rhythm? What does the vocal need? What can the guitar add? And what can you leave out?
Bob Dylan and the Working Guitarist
If you’re building a repertoire, Dylan is impossible to ignore. You can play Blowin’ in the Wind with an acoustic guitar and a singer. You can play Don’t Think Twice as surprisingly tricky solo fingerstyle piece.
You can arrange Mr. Tambourine Man with a full band. You can learn the Hendrix guitar parts from All Along the Watchtower.
You can use Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door as a simple acoustic crowd-pleaser or build a much bigger rock arrangement around it.
And then there’s Wagon Wheel—a song that has become almost unavoidable in acoustic and country-influenced sets.
That’s what makes a songwriter like Dylan so valuable to study. You’re not just learning tunes. You’re learning how tunes survive, change and evolve when different musicians get hold of them.
The Songwriter’s Songwriter
Throughout his career, Dylan’s songs have often found enormous success in the hands of other artists. That doesn’t diminish his own recordings. Quite the opposite. It shows just how adaptable the tunes are.
From Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin’ to Like a Rolling Stone, Mr. Tambourine Man, All Along the Watchtower, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, One More Cup of Coffee, Make You Feel My Love and Wagon Wheel, his songwriting has reached far beyond the folk scene where he started.
If you’re an aspiring songwriter, there may be no better artist to study.
Look at how Dylan borrows from traditional music. Look at how he changes arrangements. Look at how other musicians reinterpret his songs. Look at how simple chords can support extraordinary lyrics.
Most importantly, keep writing. Songwriting is a craft. Dylan’s career is a reminder that you don’t need to wait for inspiration. You need to do the work, learn the songs, listen to other musicians, and keep developing your own voice.
That’s why Bob Dylan belongs in every guitarist’s repertoire—not just because of the songs he wrote, but because of what those songs can teach you about writing, arranging, interpreting and playing music.
To explore Dylan’s remarkable career in greater depth, there are countless books available. A particularly insightful guide can be found at Bob Dylan Come Writers and Critics.
Bob Dylan Tunes | Related Pages
All Along The Watchtower | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C#m B | A B |
There must be some kind of way outta here…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Blowin’ In The Wind | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Blowin’ In The Wind by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G C G/B | D/A D G | G C G/B | G |
How many years can a mountain exist, before it’s washed to the sea…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Blowin’ In The Wind – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C C/G G G7 | Am7 Am/G |
Well, it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Bob Dylan) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
End Of The Line | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play End Of The Line by the Traveling Wilburys using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D D/A | D | D A | G |
Well, it’s alright, ridin’ around in the breeze…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: End Of The Line (Traveling Wilburys) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
House Of The Rising Sun | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| Am | C | D | F |
There is a house in New Orleans…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Knocking On Heaven’s Door | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Knocking On Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G D/F# | Am Am7 |
Mama take this badge off of me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Knocking On Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Like A Rolling Stone | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C Dm |
Once upon a time you dressed so fine…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Make You Feel My Love | Chords + TAB
You can learn Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan (and Adele) using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Bb | F/A |
When the rain is blowing in your face…
Mr. Tambourine Man | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G/B A | D G/B |
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
One More Cup Of Coffee | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play One More Cup Of Coffee by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Am | G |
Your breath is sweet, your eyes are like two jewels in the sky…
Start learning with the full lesson series: One More Cup Of Coffee – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Wagon Wheel | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | (Dsus2) D | Em | (Csus2) C Csus2 |
So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel, rock me mama any way you feel…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Wagon Wheel (Darius Rucker) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Bob Dylan on the web
