Knockin' on Heaven's Door

How to play Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan on guitar

This is a great beginner song because the groove is relaxed, the tempo is slow, and the changes feel familiar fast. You can settle into the song and focus on clean chord changes without rushing, which makes it a good confidence builder.

Most of the chart uses open shapes, so your left hand stays comfortable on G, D, Am, C, A, and Em. The main thing to watch is the move into Gm, since that shape is harder and can break the flow if you tense up. The opening progression G - D - Am - G is a good place to lock in the feel.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly until each change sounds even. Then add the rest of the chart in short sections, keeping your strumming relaxed and your chord switches small. Once the shapes feel automatic, bring it up to tempo and aim for smooth transitions over speed.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.