Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix & Billy Roberts) Guitar Lesson with TAB

Hey Joe Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this guitar lesson, you get a complete analysis as well as TAB for the intro, both as Billy Roberts (acoustic) and Hendrix (electric) played it!


Hey Joe | TAB


Here’s the TAB of the intro, both of Billy Roberts and Jimi Hendrix versions. When you play along with Jimi, tune slightly sharp to 442 Hz.

Hey Joe TAB, Intro.

Do try both versions, Billy’s is better for the acoustic, and Jimi’s is better for the electric. I find it interesting how the chord names differ, even though, to the untrained ear, they probably sound the same.

I didn’t put a chord name on the last two beats as this is an E Minor Pentatonic lick.

Here’s TAB for the chromatic bass line, it’s the same intervals every time (R 3 4 b5), but we alternate if we find a lower or higher 3rd – genius!

Hey Joe TAB, chromatic bass line.


Hey Joe TAB | Related Pages


Hey Joe | Chords + Lyrics

Hey Joe chords lesson.

You can learn how to play Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix (and Billy Roberts) using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recordings.

C G | D A | E7 | E7 |
Hey Joe, ah where you goin’ with that gun of your hand…


Five Similar Tunes | Chords + Lyrics

When you can play the TAB for Hey Joe', try these five tunes from the songbook.


Jimi Hendrix tunes

Jimi Hendrix covered Hey Joe.

The world’s most famous guitarist, Jimi Hendrix had a short career spanning only 4 years and as many albums before he joined the 27 Club following misadventure.

His best tunes include Hey Joe, All Along The Watchtower, Little Wing, Foxy Lady, Purple Haze, Crosstown Traffic, The Wind Cries Mary, and Voodoo Chile.


Jimi Hendrix on the web

Listen to Jimi Hendrix on Spotify.


About me | Dan Lundholm

Dan Lundholm wrote this guitar lesson and TAB for Hey Joe.

This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm featuring TAB covers Hey Joe. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.

Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.


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