How to Play Hesitation Blues on Guitar?

Ralph McTell - Hesitation Blues can be played in the key of C using the C, F, G, G7 chords. For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D. For F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G. For G, To play G, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute low E, high E. For G7, To play G7, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute A, high E. Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat. You can play Hesitation Blues with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.

Ralph McTell - Hesitation Blues Chords

Chord reference C, F, G, G7

Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

[C]I got my hesitation stockings, my Hesitation Shoes [C]God Almighty got the Hesitation Blues Oh tell me [F]how long (how long) must I [C]wait Oh can I [G]get you now, [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate?

[C]I got my hesitation stockings, my Hesitation Shoes [C]God Almighty got the Hesitation Blues Oh tell me [F]how long (how long) must I [C]wait Oh can I [G]get you now, [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate? [G7]

A [C]nickle is a nickle, and a dime is a dime, [C]I got a house full of kids, one of them must be mine. Oh how [F]long, must I have to [C]wait? Can I [G]get you now, [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate. [G7]

[C]Standing on the corner with a dollar in my hand, [C]I’m looking for a woman who’s looking for a man, Oh tell me [F]how long (how long) must I [C]wait Oh can I [G]get you now, [F]or must I hesi[C]tate? [G7]

[C]Never been to heaven, but I’ve been told, [C]Old Saint Peter knows how to jelly roll, How [F]long, must I have to [C]wait? Can I [G]get you now, [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate. [G7]

[C]Hesitation, got my hesitation, [C]Lord almighty got my hesitation. How [F]long, must I have to. [C].. Can I. [G].. , [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate. [G7]

[C]Standing on the corner with a dollar in my hand, [C]Looking for a woman who’s looking for a man How [F]long, Good God must I [C]wait? Can I [G]get you now, [F]oh no, must I hesi[C]tate. [G7] [C]

Artist Ralph McTell

Album Eight Frames a Second

Genres Folk

Year 1968

Key C

Ralph McTell - Hesitation Blues can be played in the key of C using the C, F, G, G7 chords.

For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D.
For F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G.
For G, To play G, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute low E, high E.
For G7, To play G7, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute A, high E.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Hesitation Blues with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.