Jolene | TAB
There’s only one chord progression in Jolene, it goes from VI – I – V – VI, followed by V – VI. As it’s best to play this using a capo, let’s focus on this being in the key of Am, making it this for the chorus:
||: Am C |2/4 G |4/4 Am11 |
| G | Am11 | Am11 :||
And this for the verse:
||: Am C | G Am |
| 1. G | Am (Am/E) | Am (Am/E) :||
| 2. G | Am11 | Am11 :||
The main difference is the 2/4 bar. The first verse also goes to a straight Am, rather than the chord lick which can be described as an Am11.
Before we look at playing these two sections using TAB, let’s first investigate that chord lick. You can play it fingerstyle, with a pick and even without a capo (C#m), it looks like this:
The first riff is what the original guitar plays. It’s fingerstyle and fast.
The second riff is adapted for playing with a pick, still using an acoustic and a capo, thinking in the key of Am.
The final riff is if you play on the electric in a band, without a capo, using a pick and taking as much out of the riff as possible.
I strongly feel that you should play this using a capo and a pick so here’s TAB for a chorus doing just that.
And here it is for the verse.
Practice slowly and accurately before you attempt to play along with Dolly.
Jolene TAB | Related Pages
Jolene | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play Jolene by Dolly Parton using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Am C |2/4 G |4/4 Am |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- 9 To 5 chords by Dolly Parton
- Creepin’ In chords by Norah Jones
- Folsom Prison Blues chords by Johnny Cash
- Me and Bobby McGee chords by Janis Joplin
- Ring of Fire chords by Johnny Cash
Dolly Parton tunes
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
Jack White tunes
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jack White formed The White Stripes in 1997 and The Raconteurs in 2006.
His best tunes include Fell In Love With The Girl, I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself, Seven Nation Army, and Steady, As She Goes.
Jack White on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Jolene chords, by Dan Lundholm. 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.