Hound Dog | TAB
Let’s look at a few ways you can play Hound Dog. Here’s a good starting point, what Scotty Moore played!
I’m not sure what you think but to me, this is a bit much. That low G over the C7 chord may have worked with a double bass and a guitar sound that is thin in the low end, but these days, it’s gonna get muddy down there.
So if you want to play like Scotty, perhaps scrap the 6th string.
Once we hit the F chord, it does feel empty, or maybe I just need time to get used to it… The G7 – F7 are buried in the mix below all those backing vocals.
Let’s look at an alternative, I like this and think you should at least try it.
That C7 riff is now much less busy, I’ve elaborated slightly on the F. The G7 to F7 is nice and compact. Overall, this version is more repetitive rhythmically.
Here’s a third idea, perhaps use this if someone else is soloing.
This is extremely repetitive rhythmically. I feel you should try all three ideas, play along to the original, and then start mixing stuff up. Remember, this is Blues/Rock ‘N’ Roll/Country. It needs to be improvised, at least to an extent!
Finally, the solo. This is extremely important. In 13 bars, this entire style is explained!
Yes, you should learn it note for note but (much) more importantly, you must learn from it. Let’s look at what’s going on here
- Phrase 1 – C Minor Pentatonic, starting on the 1 +
- Phrase 2 – Identical, but starting on the 3 + (this is rhythmic displacement!)
- Phrase 3 (bar 4-8) – C Major Blues and Minor Blues scales mixed, make sure you can see all intervals
- Phrase 4 (bar 9-11) C Minor and C Major Pentatonic, no Blues notes
- Phrase 5 (last two bars) C Major Pentatonic only
If you can learn from it, you can play 100 variations on this solo, which is what Scotty Moore did when he recorded Hound Dog and worked as a Country/Blues/Rock ‘N’ Roll guitarist.
To conclude, don’t just memorize it – Learn from it!
Hound Dog TAB | Related Pages
Hound Dog | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play Hound Dog by Elvis Presley using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C7 | C7 | C7 | C7 |
You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Elvis Presley tunes
Elvis Presley didn’t just change music by popularising Rock N Roll and becoming the world’s first superstar, he changed the world.
Hits include Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel, Blue Suede Shoes, In The Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, and (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.
Elvis Presley on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm featuring TAB covers Hound Dog. 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.