The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower

How to play The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower by JimiHendrix on guitar

This song is a great one to learn because the groove feels steady and dramatic, and you get that classic rising tension without needing a lot of flash. At about 120 BPM, you can focus on clean changes and let the progression do the work. It feels strong and driving once you settle into the pulse.

You can lean on the open shapes G, A, F, and Em, but the harder part is the barre shapes Cm, Fm, G#, D#m, A#, and F#. The change to watch first is the opening move from G to A to Cm to F, since it shifts you from easy shapes into a barre chord quickly. Keep your fretting hand relaxed so the switch stays smooth.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly, one change at a time, until your fingers land cleanly. Then add the rest of the chord set in small chunks, checking that each barre shape rings clearly before you speed up. Once the changes feel automatic, play along with the full tempo and keep your strumming even.

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.