Doctor My Eyes (Jackson Browne) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this Guitar Lesson, we explore how to play the piano part on guitar, giving you the essence of the keyboard part as if the pianist didn’t show up for the gig - Try it with Backing Tracks!

Doctor My Eyes | TAB

Let’s work out how to play this piano tune on guitar. Think of it as stepping in for the keyboard player at the last minute.

Intro

This section works surprisingly well on guitar. Notice that the rhythm isn’t consistent throughout — sometimes you won’t come in on the 4+.

Verse

For the verse, short strums down the neck work best, letting the bass provide the energy. Just before each new bar, add a short muted strum.

I initially planned to move up the fretboard for the next verse to build intensity, but keeping it low and simple actually works better.

Chorus

In the chorus, moving up and playing an Am shape for the Dm and a C shape for the F gives enough lift. Muted strums disappear, replaced by a few more upbeats.

During the instrumental section, the rhythm changes from the intro — the chord isn’t held into the new bar anymore.

Solo + Outro

The chords in the solo and outro are held. If your band is just bass, drums, and you, move between these chords and add licks. If there’s a saxophone, let them play the blues licks.

On the original recording, the guitar enters here, using a D minor blues scale or an F major blues scale — essentially the same notes, just viewed differently. Try thinking in F versus Dm to experiment.