Practice Studio

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Pride and Joy - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Speed Control

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100%

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Key E major
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Pride and Joy


"Pride and Joy" is a blues rock track by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released as his debut single in 1983 on the album Texas Flood. Rooted in Texas blues, the song showcases Vaughan's signature rhythm and lead guitar interplay, making it a staple study piece for electric guitarists. Its driving shuffle groove, expressive string bends, and dynamic phrasing offer players a solid entry point into the Texas blues style.

  • The song's chord structure is built on a shuffle blues pattern, an essential rhythm feel every electric guitarist should master.
  • "Pride and Joy" was adapted from Johnny Acey's 1962 recording "I Go Into Orbit," showing how blues musicians reshape earlier material.
  • Released on Texas Flood in 1983, this debut single immediately established Vaughan as a major force in electric blues guitar.

How to Play Pride and Joy

The song moves through: Intro, Verse 1, Verse 2, Verse 3, Solo, Verse 4, Verse 5.

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 120 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

The core challenge here is locking in the shuffle groove at 126 bpm in Eb standard tuning while simultaneously weaving in lead fills the way SRV does throughout the verses, blurring the line between rhythm and lead playing. Begin by isolating the rhythm part alone until the shuffle feel is automatic, then add the signature intro riff, which requires precise string bends and a firm grip on dynamics. The solo demands expressive bending in tune on heavy strings, so spend extra time with the speed control on those bent phrases. A common pitfall is rushing the shuffle by flattening it into straight eighth notes, which immediately kills the Texas blues feel.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

SRV's heavily worn '63 'Number One' with thick .013-.058 strings and responsive single-coils defined his expressive, dynamic tone. The guitar's worn frets and responsive pickups let him control saturation purely through picking attack and volume knob, a cornerstone of his finger-driven style.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

SRV used the TS9 as a clean boost with minimal drive, maxing the level to push his cranked tube amps into heavier saturation while adding midrange focus. This approach preserved his dynamic control and kept the tone transparent, letting his fingers shape every nuance of sustain and breakup.