Islands In the Stream (Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers) Guitar Lesson with TAB

Islands In The Stream Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this guitar lesson, you get TAB for a test to see if being a professional guitar player is for you. Playing Islands In The Stream is a test in not overplaying!


Islands In the Stream | TAB


This is a test to see if being a professional guitar player is for you.

Most guitar players want to prove themselves and tend to overplay, being too loud and focusing mainly on solos, when it comes to playing a song they “just play the chords”.

A professional guitarist who works regularly instead aims to fit into the band, as if they played any instrument, be it the tambourine, keyboards or bass.

The goal is to fit in and make the whole band sound great, not to stand out.

Playing Islands In The Stream is a perfect opportunity for you to test this, here’s the intro.

Islands In The Stream TAB, intro.

I’m including the guitar stab on the 3+, but also play a big chord to fatten up the first chord, helping the keyboards out, without getting in the way.

The F/A is very important, you need to join in here as well, and take responsibility.

Here’s the verse.

Islands In The Stream TAB, verse.

The rhythm on the 2 is joining the snare, the 3 + is the guitar stab. The F/A riff only happens in the first verse, before we go to a bridge it’s not there. Getting details like that right is imperative.

Notice how the rhythm is extremely consistent and uses 3 or 2 strings, not more. This makes you sit in the mix, it relaxes not just the listener but the bandmates – Oh my god, a guitar player that behaves!



Here’s the bridge, now we go off-piste.

Islands In The Stream TAB, bridge.

The first four bars I’ve made up. I want this bridge to take off so I change the rhythm, although it’s still consistent once established. When the C comes back it’s almost the same as the verse, just one more stab.

Here’s the chorus. now the new rhythm is maintained.

Islands In The Stream TAB, chorus.


After this chorus, we go back to a verse but change the key, unusually up a tritone. This is done because Dolly is taking over and this fits her register better. The original demo version didn’t have a key change (check the playlist above).

I’m not keeping the new rhythm, I go back to the original verse. I felt the key change was enough excitement.

Islands In The Stream TAB, verse new key.

When you feel comfortable, start experimenting with different chord shapes, but still maintaining the rhythm.

Here’s the bridge in the new key, I’ve stuck to the same concept as before, just in a new key. The challenge is to stick to the basics!

Islands In The Stream TAB, bridge new key.


Finally, here’s the chorus and instrumental section.

Islands In The Stream TAB, chorus new key.

Being this disciplined throughout and then fitting in that horn line tells everyone that you’re a team player who has done his/her homework. This is what people want, not loud outside note solos and invisible rhythm parts.

The question is two-fold:

  • Can you do it along to the original recording without getting lost, making no mistakes?
  • Do you enjoy it?

If the answer is two yeses, you have a great chance to become a professional guitar player. You simply have to consider what the song and band want, not how you can show off.



Islands In The Stream TAB | Related Pages


Islands In The Stream | Chords + Lyrics

Islands In The Stream chords lesson.

Learn Islands In The Stream by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.

| C | C |
Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown…


Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics

When you can play the TAB for Islands In the Stream, try these five tunes from the songbook.


Bee Gees tunes

Bee Gees wrote Islands In the Stream.

Starting out in 1955 as the Rattlesnakes, Bee Gees would go on to become the Disco Kings and write Barbra Streisand’s best-selling album.

Their best tunes include Massachusetts, How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, Tragedy, Words, Jive Talkin’, and You Should Be Dancing.


Bee Gees on the web

Listen to Bee Gees on Spotify.


Dolly Parton tunes

Dolly Parton sang Islands In the Stream.

With 44 top-ten country albums and 110 chartered singles, Dolly Parton is the most famous country singer in the world.

Hits include I Will Always Love You, Jolene, 9 To 5, and almost 4 decades after her first release, Creepin’ In with Norah Jones.


Dolly Parton on the web

Listen to Dolly Parton on Spotify.


Kenny Rogers tunes

Kenny Rogers sang Islands In the Stream.

Starting out already in the 50s, Kenny Rogers became one of the most beloved country storytellers, by mainly singing covers.

His best tunes include The Gambler, Islands In The Stream, Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In), and She Rides Wild Horses.


Kenny Rogers on the web

Listen to Kenny Rogers on Spotify.


About me | Dan Lundholm

Dan Lundholm wrote this guitar lesson and TAB for Islands In The Stream.

This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features Islands In The Stream. 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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