Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A key to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
[intro]
[Dm] [Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]
[Opening]
Seen the [Dm]arrow on[A7]the doorpost[Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Saying, “This [A7]land is [Dm]condemned [Am] [Dm]
All the [A7]way from [C]New [G]Orleans
[Bb]To [C]Jerusalem.” [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
I [A7]traveled through East [Dm]Texas [Am] [Dm]
Where many [A7]martyrs [Dm]fell [Am] [Dm]
And I know [A7]no one can [C]sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[verse 2]
Well, I [Dm]heard the [A7]hoot owl singing [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
As they were [A7]taking down the [Dm]tents [Am] [Dm]
The stars [A7]above the [C]barren trees[G]
Were [Bb]his only [C] [Dm]audience [Am] [Dm]
Them [A7]charcoal gypsy [Dm]maidens [Am] [Dm]
Can strut their [A7]feathers [Dm]well [Am] [Dm]
But [A7]nobody can [C]sing the blues [G]
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[verse 3]
[Dm]See them [A7]big plantations [Dm]burning [Am] [Dm]
Hear the [A7]cracking of the [Dm]whips [Am] [Dm]
Smell that sweet [A7]magnolia [C]blooming [G]
(And) see the [Bb]ghosts of [C]slavery [Dm]ships
I can hear them [A7]tribes [Dm]a-moaning [Am] [Dm]
(I can) hear the [A7]undertaker’s [Dm]bell
(Yeah), no[A7]body can [C]sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[verse 4]
There’s a [Dm] [A7]woman by the [Dm]river [Am] [Dm]
With some [A7]fine young handsome [Dm]man [Am] [Dm]
He’s dressed up [A7]like a squire [C] [G]
[Bb]Bootlegged [C]whiskey in his [Dm]hand
There’s a chain [A7]gang on the [Dm]highway [Am] [Dm]
I can [A7]hear them rebels y[Dm]ell[Am] [Dm]
And I know no [A7]one c[C]an sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like [C]Blind Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[Closing]
Well, [Dm]God is [A7]in [Dm]heaven [Am] [Dm]
And we [A7]all want what’s [Dm]his [Am] [Dm]
But power and g[A7]reed and [C]corruptible seed[G]
[Bb]Seem to be [C]all that there [Dm]is
I’m gazing [A7]out the window [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Of the St. [A7]James [Dm]Hotel [Am] [Dm]
And I know [A7]no one [C]can sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
How to play Blind Willie McTell on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell on guitar requires 6 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Blind Willie McTell uses these transitions most often: Dm → A7 (31), Am → Dm (26), and Dm → Am (26). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Dm - A7 chord transition.
1. Dm → A7 chord transition
To move from Dm to A7;
- While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
2. Dm → Am chord transition
To move from Dm to Am;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
3. A7 → C chord transition
To move from A7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. G → Bb chord transition
To move from G to Bb;
- Slide your index finger on A string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Place pinky on B string fret 3.
6. Bb → C chord transition
To move from Bb to C;
- While playing Bb, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
Blind Willie McTell chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Blind Willie McTell.
- Blind Willie McTell includes 154 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Blind Willie McTell contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Blind Willie McTell connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
- Dm → Am: 14%
- Dm → A7: 1%
After A7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (41%), D7 (18%), and Dm (13%).- A7 → Dm: 13%
- A7 → C: 2%