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Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro - Guitar Lesson

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Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro guitar lesson video
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South Saturn Delta
1968 4:01
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Jimi Hendrix Psychedelic Rock 1968 C# minor
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About All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro

"All Along The Watchtower" is a song originally written by Bob Dylan, but Jimi Hendrix's electric guitar interpretation became the definitive version and a landmark in rock history. Hendrix transformed the folk song into a layered, expressive showcase of electric guitar technique, featuring iconic riffs, fluid solos, and inventive use of tone and dynamics. Learning this song offers electric guitarists a deep study in phrasing, vibrato, and how to make a guitar truly sing.

  • Jimi Hendrix's version is widely considered one of the greatest electric guitar performances ever recorded.
  • The intro establishes a signature guitar riff that is immediately recognizable and essential learning for any electric guitarist.
  • Bob Dylan reportedly preferred Hendrix's interpretation of his own song over his original recording.

How to Play All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro

Key: C# minor · Tempo: 114 BPM

The intro riff in C# minor is built around a repeating chord progression using moveable shapes, and the challenge lies not in the chord changes themselves but in nailing Hendrix's rhythmic feel: the slight behind-the-beat swagger that makes it groove rather than chug mechanically. Tune down to Eb Standard before you start, since the riff sits in a specific register that sounds noticeably thin at concert pitch. Pay close attention to how Hendrix mutes and releases between chord hits to create that choppy, percussive attack. A common pitfall is rushing the transitions and losing the pocket, so loop the intro at reduced speed until the rhythm feels natural before pushing the tempo toward 114 bpm.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 114 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Hendrix's reversed left-handed Strats with stock single-coils delivered bright, articulate tone with pronounced string separation that sang when driven through cranked tubes. The in-between pickup positions created his signature quack tones, while the volume knob let him dynamically shape fuzz in real time.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Hendrix pushed the Marshall 1959's power tubes to natural saturation, generating thick, harmonically rich overdrive that became his signature sound. The amp's aggressive breakup complemented his single-coils perfectly, delivering singing sustain without compressing his dynamic touch.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

In the studio, Hendrix used the Twin Reverb's cleaner headroom to capture sparkling, articulate tones and explore different breakup characteristics than the Marshall. Its built-in reverb added spaciousness to tracks like 'Little Wing' without relying on external effects.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Hendrix treated the Cry Baby as an expressive tone-shaping tool, rocking it rhythmically mid-riff on 'Voodoo Child' rather than just switching it on and off. The pedal's resonant sweep perfectly complemented his fuzz textures and added vocal-like expressiveness to his soloing.

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