The Joker | TAB
Below is the TAB for how to play The Joker’s bass line in the key of F, without tuning down a tone.
Let’s turn this into a guitar part, here’s TAB.
If this is not a tune you play with a band all the time, I’d just stick to playing it like that and not start arguing how the band should play a tone up so you can play in the key of G, nobody will like it.
Should you want to get closer to the original, you could bring a guitar tuned down a tone, that will impress your bandmates! Or buy the Digitech drop pedal, it’ll do the job even though it feels a bit weird.
The Joker | TAB (tune down a tone)
If you’re determined to get it perfect and have a spare guitar to tune down, or you managed to convince the band to play in the key of G, let’s look at some TAB for this scenario.
First of all, a new chord has appeared, a G/B in the verses. With chords and lyrics, I’ve put it in brackets as it’s not 100% clear it’s there!
Anyway, let’s start with playing the bass line in the key of G, here’s the TAB.
Steve is a blues guitarist, he’s always changing his part. With that in mind, I doubled the length of the riff. Learn this and then start varying it a little bit here and there, that’s what Steve does!
Clearly, this sounds better than playing in F. I guess if you’re the only instrument, and you’re playing with a singer who doesn’t have perfect pitch, you could just not tell them you’ve changed key!
The Joker TAB | Related Pages
The Joker | Chords – Lyrics
You can learn to play The Joker by Steve Miller Band using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| F Bb | C Bb |
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay chords by Otis Redding
- Angie chords by The Rolling Stones
- Bad Moon Rising chords by Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Me and Bobby McGee chords by Janis Joplin
- Stuck In The Middle With You chords by Stealers Wheel
Steve Miller Band tunes
Steve had his first success with a Blues band in Chicago but soon moved to San Fransico to set up what was to become the Steve Miller Band.
Their best-known tunes include The Joker, Abracadabra, Take the Money and Run, Fly Like An Eagle, and Rock’n Me.
Steve Miller Band on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers The Joker. Discover more about him and learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.