Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf - Little Red Rooster guitar tab
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Author/Artist: Willie Dixon/Trad./Howlin' Wolf Burnette Version Title: Red Rooster Album: London Sessions/Rocking Chair Arrangement Transcribed by: John M. (Dadfad) Email: duolian@msn.com This transcription is based mainly on the London Sessions version. Several others were done by Wolf over the years, including his 1962 Rocking Chair version, which I have incorporated into this tab, making a few minor re- arrangements so this transcription would be more suitable for both solo and band arrangements with only one or several guitars. The London Sessions used at least two. That version was done in Open-A tuning (EAEAC#E). It could also be done (and was done) in Open-G tuning (DGDGBD), often used instead of A because it puts less tension on the guitar neck and strings. This same tab would work for either Open-A or Open-G tuning using the same fingerings. It would just be one step lower in pitch. It is suggested that when starting to learn this tune, that notes be fingered first rather than slid in order to become familiar with the "target notes" for sliding. Slid notes will be shown with a / before the fret number. A suggested start-from fret may be shown, such as 3/5, meaning slide from the 3rd to the 5th, but when shown these are only suggested approximations. This is a very improvisational style and tab is, at best, only a guide to playing it. Some repetitive licks will be numbered and shown where to repeat this lick in its approximate location. A good rule in these styles is "If it sounds good to you, that's the way you should do it." ----------/5|--------------------/5-|----------------------------------------- ------------|--1--1--1--0-----------|----------------1--------1---------1----- --/3---0----|--0--0--0--0--/3--0----|----------------0--------3---------0----- --/3---0----|--2--2--2--0--/3--0----|----------------2--------2---------2----- --/3---0----|--0--0--0--0--/3--0----|----------------------------------------- ------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------- (INTRO)(#1) Repeat 4 times (#2) > (Lick #3) Repeat lyric and -----------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------- -----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---1---3--|-1-1---1---1-1------ -----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---2---2--|-3-3---0---3-3------ -----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---0---0--|-2-2---2---2-2--/3-- -----------------------|--------------0----0-------------|----------------/3-- -----------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------- tab between > |'n when he struts into the barnyard the hens begin t' ------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- ------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- ---0--|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- ---0--|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- ---0--|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- ------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------- lay (Repeat Lick #3) -|-------/5--/5----------------/5--/5----------------------------/5----------- -|--3/5----------4/5-----3/5----------4/5------------------------------------- -|--3/5--------------5---3/5--------------5--0--/3--0---/3---0------------0--- -|--------------------------------------------------0---/3---0-------/3---0--- -|------------------------------------------------------/3---0-------/3---0--- -|-------------------------------------------------------------------/3------- Solo Slide Part A ......................................................... ---------/5-|---------------------------|------/7-/7----------|--------------- ------0-----|---------------------------|-6/7---------6/7-----|--------------- -/3---0-----|---------------------------|-6/7--------------/7-|--------------- -/3---0-----|---------------------------|---------------------|--------------- -/3---------|---------------------------|---------------------|--------------- ------------|---------------------------|---------------------|--------------- ........ | Repeat Solo Slide Part A -------/5--/5----------|----------------------/5-------------------/5-| -4-/5---------4/5------|----------------------------------------------| -4-/5--------------/5--|--0---/3---0---/3--0------------0---/3--0-----| -----------------------|--0---/3---0---/3--0-------/3---0---/3--0-----| -----------------------|------/3---0-------0-------/3---0---/3--------| -----------------------|---------------------------/3-----------------| Verse 2 The dogs begin to bark, the hounds begin to howl. The dogs begin to bark, the hounds begin to howl. You better lock up all your chickens, Red Rooster's on the prowl. Verse 3 So if you see my little red rooster, won't you please now drive him home. Ya' you see my red rooster, won't you please now drive him home. There's been no peace in the barnyard Since that rooster's been gone. THIS WILL BE AN ALTERNATIVE SLIDE SOLO FOR A MORE DRIVING SOUND BEST ON ELECTRIC WITH A SECOND GUITAR PLAYING RHYTHM. APPROXIMATE LOCATONS OF CHORDING TO LEAD WILL BE SHOWN AS BEST AS IS POSSIBLE. IF SHOWN IT IN THE KEY OF A. BY SUBSTITUTING A=G, D=C AND E=D IT CAN BE TRANSPOSED TO KEY OF G. --------/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5-------/8--/8--/8--/8--/8-/8--/8-|---------- ----/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5---/8--/8--/8--/8--/8--/8-/8--/8-|---------- ----/5-------------------------------/8----------------------------|---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------|---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------|---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------|---------- ------------------/5-----------/12--/12------------|-----------------------|-- ---------------0----------/12------------/12-------|-----------------------|-- --------0--/3--0-------------------------------/12-|-----------------------|-- ----/3--0--/3--0-----------------------------------|-----------------------|-- ----/3--0--/3--------------------------------------|-----------------------|-- ----/3---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-- Now repeat those 4 bars --/7--/7--/7---------/10------|-------/12--/12-------/12----------------|----- --/7-----------/10--------/10-|--/12------------/12-----------/12-------|----- ------------------------------|--------------------------/12-------/12--|----- ------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----- ------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----- ------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----- --------------------/5------------/12--/12----------|------------------------- --0------0---/3--0----------/12---------------------|------------------------- --0--/3--0---------------------------------------/2-|------------------------- --0--/3--0----------------------------------/12-----|------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------|------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------|------------------------- (Now totals 12 bars)