Chords for How To Play Eric Clapton Key To The Highway Acoustic (intro only)
Tempo:
111.75 bpm
Chords used:
Eb
E
A
F
G
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[Eb] In part one of Key to the Highway we're taking a look at the introductory sequence and then verses one and two.
They all follow the same chord progression.
This song is an 8 bar blues.
Less common than 12 bar [A] structures [Eb] but still pretty common.
And the chord sequence that you see [B] in this song is absolutely standard for an 8 bar blues.
It starts, as so many blues do, bars 1 and 2 of your tab with a [Eb] turnaround.
Let's look at bar
well, let's play bars 1 and 2.
[A] [Gbm] [F] [E]
That's our turnaround that takes us into the first [Eb] chord of the 8 bar sequence.
We want this A7 [Bbm] chord, effectively, is what it [Eb] is.
It's the first and second strings of the fifth fret and the fourth string of the fifth fret.
Don't worry about the count right now, we'll come [C] back to that.
But you want 4, 2 and 1, followed by 2 and 1.
Then your index finger to the [G] fourth string, fourth fret, and play the same sequence with the right [A] hand.
And now, letting the thumb drop and the left hand open up, [G] have this index finger come down to the [Eb] third fret.
Still the same pattern.
Actually, no, this is a triplet, so we want 4, 2 [F] and 1 and 2 and 1 [Am] twice more.
[Eb] And the rhythm of that first bar, it's as if there is no first beat.
So we're counting from the 2 beat.
[Am] [A] 2 and 3 and 4 and a
[Dm] [Eb] Now come down to this end of the net.
We want an E chord.
Now, I tend to make a full E chord here, but you only need the fourth string [G] [Eb] and the third string at the [Gm] first fret.
You don't need the fifth string.
So if you want to, just make that two-finger chord if you prefer.
We want 4, 2 [E] and 1.
Third string.
Open first.
Now your little finger drops in on the second string, [Eb] third fret, to turn that chord into E7.
[D] Play that note.
First [E] string.
And then a block chord [Eb] from this chord shape.
So 6, 3, 2 and [E] 1.
3, 2 and 1.
And 6, 1.
Finishes that bar.
[Eb] The rhythm of that's a little more complicated.
[E] 1 and 2 and a 3 and 4 and
[Em] It's not really so complicated.
The second beat is a triplet.
Here's that turnaround [Eb] again.
1 [C] and 2 [Gbm] and 3 [F] and 4 [E] and a
1 and 2 and a 3 and 4
Now the 8 bar [F] cycle begins.
We want an A7 chord, but we're going to play it up at the neck at the 9th fret.
Notice that it's a D7 shape.
You brought the D7 chord up the neck until these two fingers reach the 9th fret.
That [Gb] creates the chord of A7.
And your bass note there is [N] the 5th string, the open A note.
We're going to play this at bar [A] 1.
It's simply out of this chord shape, mostly [Eb] in triplets.
5, 3, 2 and [A] 1.
And then 3, 2 and 1 twice more.
That's your triplet.
1 and a.
Do that twice more.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a
Then do it once more, pinching 5, 3, 2 and 1.
And then the 5th string open.
This is teaching it the way Eric Clapton's doing it.
[Eb] There would be other ways you could accomplish the same thing.
[A] 1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and
Now this E7 [F] chord.
Make a half bar at the 9th fret, top 3 strings.
And with [Eb] either your middle or ring finger, [E] drop in on the 10th fret of the 1st string.
We're going to start with the 6th string open.
Let me play this bar first.
So we want the 6th string, top 3 strings.
Then pinch 6 on the top 3 strings.
And the top 3 strings twice more.
[Abm] Now add the little finger at the 12th [F] fret of the 1st string.
And [E] pinch 6, 3, 2 and 1.
And then I tend to play 3, 2 and 1 again here.
You could just play the 1st string, which is what the tab says.
And then 6, 3, 2 and 1, 6.
Those are the notes.
Now let's check out the rhythm.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a.
The key to that is the triplets, [Em] beats 2 and 4.
[Eb] Now we want to come right down the other end of the neck.
[E] So that last open 6th string is buying you just the time you need
to [Eb] get into a D7 shape.
Plus, if you want to play it just like Clapton,
hook that thumb over on the 6th string, 2nd fret.
Very important to the sound of this [Fm] song.
If you really can't do it, you're going to [D] have to play the 4th string of the bass note here.
[Eb] But he uses this note and some [Dm] little mini [F]-runs of this note.
So you'll see what I mean
They all follow the same chord progression.
This song is an 8 bar blues.
Less common than 12 bar [A] structures [Eb] but still pretty common.
And the chord sequence that you see [B] in this song is absolutely standard for an 8 bar blues.
It starts, as so many blues do, bars 1 and 2 of your tab with a [Eb] turnaround.
Let's look at bar
well, let's play bars 1 and 2.
[A] [Gbm] [F] [E]
That's our turnaround that takes us into the first [Eb] chord of the 8 bar sequence.
We want this A7 [Bbm] chord, effectively, is what it [Eb] is.
It's the first and second strings of the fifth fret and the fourth string of the fifth fret.
Don't worry about the count right now, we'll come [C] back to that.
But you want 4, 2 and 1, followed by 2 and 1.
Then your index finger to the [G] fourth string, fourth fret, and play the same sequence with the right [A] hand.
And now, letting the thumb drop and the left hand open up, [G] have this index finger come down to the [Eb] third fret.
Still the same pattern.
Actually, no, this is a triplet, so we want 4, 2 [F] and 1 and 2 and 1 [Am] twice more.
[Eb] And the rhythm of that first bar, it's as if there is no first beat.
So we're counting from the 2 beat.
[Am] [A] 2 and 3 and 4 and a
[Dm] [Eb] Now come down to this end of the net.
We want an E chord.
Now, I tend to make a full E chord here, but you only need the fourth string [G] [Eb] and the third string at the [Gm] first fret.
You don't need the fifth string.
So if you want to, just make that two-finger chord if you prefer.
We want 4, 2 [E] and 1.
Third string.
Open first.
Now your little finger drops in on the second string, [Eb] third fret, to turn that chord into E7.
[D] Play that note.
First [E] string.
And then a block chord [Eb] from this chord shape.
So 6, 3, 2 and [E] 1.
3, 2 and 1.
And 6, 1.
Finishes that bar.
[Eb] The rhythm of that's a little more complicated.
[E] 1 and 2 and a 3 and 4 and
[Em] It's not really so complicated.
The second beat is a triplet.
Here's that turnaround [Eb] again.
1 [C] and 2 [Gbm] and 3 [F] and 4 [E] and a
1 and 2 and a 3 and 4
Now the 8 bar [F] cycle begins.
We want an A7 chord, but we're going to play it up at the neck at the 9th fret.
Notice that it's a D7 shape.
You brought the D7 chord up the neck until these two fingers reach the 9th fret.
That [Gb] creates the chord of A7.
And your bass note there is [N] the 5th string, the open A note.
We're going to play this at bar [A] 1.
It's simply out of this chord shape, mostly [Eb] in triplets.
5, 3, 2 and [A] 1.
And then 3, 2 and 1 twice more.
That's your triplet.
1 and a.
Do that twice more.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a
Then do it once more, pinching 5, 3, 2 and 1.
And then the 5th string open.
This is teaching it the way Eric Clapton's doing it.
[Eb] There would be other ways you could accomplish the same thing.
[A] 1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and
Now this E7 [F] chord.
Make a half bar at the 9th fret, top 3 strings.
And with [Eb] either your middle or ring finger, [E] drop in on the 10th fret of the 1st string.
We're going to start with the 6th string open.
Let me play this bar first.
So we want the 6th string, top 3 strings.
Then pinch 6 on the top 3 strings.
And the top 3 strings twice more.
[Abm] Now add the little finger at the 12th [F] fret of the 1st string.
And [E] pinch 6, 3, 2 and 1.
And then I tend to play 3, 2 and 1 again here.
You could just play the 1st string, which is what the tab says.
And then 6, 3, 2 and 1, 6.
Those are the notes.
Now let's check out the rhythm.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a.
The key to that is the triplets, [Em] beats 2 and 4.
[Eb] Now we want to come right down the other end of the neck.
[E] So that last open 6th string is buying you just the time you need
to [Eb] get into a D7 shape.
Plus, if you want to play it just like Clapton,
hook that thumb over on the 6th string, 2nd fret.
Very important to the sound of this [Fm] song.
If you really can't do it, you're going to [D] have to play the 4th string of the bass note here.
[Eb] But he uses this note and some [Dm] little mini [F]-runs of this note.
So you'll see what I mean
Key:
Eb
E
A
F
G
Eb
E
A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [Eb] In part one of Key to the Highway we're taking a look at the introductory sequence and then verses one and two.
They all follow the same chord progression.
This song is an 8 bar blues.
Less common than 12 bar [A] structures [Eb] but still pretty common.
And the chord sequence that you see [B] in this song is absolutely standard for an 8 bar blues.
It starts, as so many blues do, bars 1 and 2 of your tab with a [Eb] turnaround.
Let's look at bar_
well, let's play bars 1 and 2.
[A] _ _ [Gbm] _ [F] _ [E] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ That's our turnaround that takes us into the first [Eb] chord of the 8 bar sequence.
We want this _ A7 [Bbm] chord, effectively, is what it [Eb] is.
It's the first and second strings of the fifth fret and the fourth string of the fifth fret. _
Don't worry about the count right now, we'll come [C] back to that.
But you want 4, 2 and 1, followed by 2 and 1. _ _
_ Then your index finger to the [G] fourth string, fourth fret, and play the same sequence with the right [A] hand. _ _ _
And now, letting the thumb drop and the left hand open up, [G] have this index finger come down to the [Eb] third fret.
Still the same pattern.
Actually, no, this is a triplet, so we want 4, 2 [F] and 1 and 2 and 1 [Am] twice more.
_ _ [Eb] And the rhythm of that first bar, it's as if there is no first beat.
So we're counting from the 2 beat.
[Am] [A] 2 and 3 and 4 and a_
_ _ [Dm] [Eb] Now come down to this end of the net.
We want an E chord.
Now, I tend to make a full E chord here, but you only need the fourth string [G] [Eb] and the third string at the [Gm] first fret.
You don't need the fifth string.
So if you want to, just make that two-finger chord if you prefer.
We want 4, 2 [E] and 1.
_ Third string.
_ Open first.
Now your little finger drops in on the second string, [Eb] third fret, to turn that chord into E7.
[D] Play that note.
First [E] string.
_ And then a block chord [Eb] from this chord shape.
So 6, 3, 2 and [E] 1.
3, 2 and 1.
And 6, 1.
Finishes that bar.
_ [Eb] The rhythm of that's a little more complicated.
[E] 1 and 2 and a 3 and 4 and_
[Em] It's not really so complicated.
The second beat is a triplet.
Here's that turnaround [Eb] again.
_ 1 [C] and 2 [Gbm] and 3 [F] and 4 [E] and a_
1 and 2 and a 3 and 4_ _
_ _ Now the 8 bar [F] cycle begins.
We want an A7 chord, but we're going to play it up at the neck at the 9th fret.
_ Notice that it's a D7 shape.
You brought the D7 chord up the neck until these two fingers reach the 9th fret.
That [Gb] creates the chord of A7.
And your bass note there is [N] the 5th string, the open A note.
We're going to play this at bar [A] 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It's simply out of this chord shape, mostly [Eb] in triplets.
5, 3, 2 and [A] 1.
And then 3, 2 and 1 twice more. _
That's your triplet.
1 and a.
Do that twice more.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a_
Then do it once more, pinching 5, 3, 2 and 1.
And then the 5th string open.
This is teaching it the way Eric Clapton's doing it.
[Eb] There would be other ways you could accomplish the same thing.
[A] 1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and_
_ Now this E7 [F] chord.
Make a half bar at the 9th fret, top 3 strings.
And with [Eb] either your middle or ring finger, [E] drop in on the 10th fret of the 1st string.
We're going to start with the 6th string open.
Let me play this bar first.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
So we want the 6th string, top 3 strings.
_ Then pinch 6 on the top 3 strings.
And the top 3 strings twice more.
_ _ _ [Abm] Now add the little finger at the 12th [F] fret of the 1st string.
And [E] pinch 6, 3, 2 and 1.
_ And then I tend to play 3, 2 and 1 again here.
You could just play the 1st string, which is what the tab says.
And then 6, 3, 2 and 1, 6. _
_ Those are the notes.
Now let's check out the rhythm.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a.
_ The key to that is the triplets, [Em] beats 2 and 4.
_ _ _ [Eb] Now we want to come right down the other end of the neck.
[E] So that last open 6th string is buying you just the time you need
to [Eb] get into a D7 shape.
Plus, if you want to play it just like Clapton,
hook that thumb over on the 6th string, 2nd fret.
Very important to the sound of this [Fm] song.
If you really can't do it, you're going to [D] have to play the 4th string of the bass note here.
[Eb] But he uses this note and some [Dm] little mini [F]-runs of this note.
So you'll see what I mean
_ [Eb] In part one of Key to the Highway we're taking a look at the introductory sequence and then verses one and two.
They all follow the same chord progression.
This song is an 8 bar blues.
Less common than 12 bar [A] structures [Eb] but still pretty common.
And the chord sequence that you see [B] in this song is absolutely standard for an 8 bar blues.
It starts, as so many blues do, bars 1 and 2 of your tab with a [Eb] turnaround.
Let's look at bar_
well, let's play bars 1 and 2.
[A] _ _ [Gbm] _ [F] _ [E] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ That's our turnaround that takes us into the first [Eb] chord of the 8 bar sequence.
We want this _ A7 [Bbm] chord, effectively, is what it [Eb] is.
It's the first and second strings of the fifth fret and the fourth string of the fifth fret. _
Don't worry about the count right now, we'll come [C] back to that.
But you want 4, 2 and 1, followed by 2 and 1. _ _
_ Then your index finger to the [G] fourth string, fourth fret, and play the same sequence with the right [A] hand. _ _ _
And now, letting the thumb drop and the left hand open up, [G] have this index finger come down to the [Eb] third fret.
Still the same pattern.
Actually, no, this is a triplet, so we want 4, 2 [F] and 1 and 2 and 1 [Am] twice more.
_ _ [Eb] And the rhythm of that first bar, it's as if there is no first beat.
So we're counting from the 2 beat.
[Am] [A] 2 and 3 and 4 and a_
_ _ [Dm] [Eb] Now come down to this end of the net.
We want an E chord.
Now, I tend to make a full E chord here, but you only need the fourth string [G] [Eb] and the third string at the [Gm] first fret.
You don't need the fifth string.
So if you want to, just make that two-finger chord if you prefer.
We want 4, 2 [E] and 1.
_ Third string.
_ Open first.
Now your little finger drops in on the second string, [Eb] third fret, to turn that chord into E7.
[D] Play that note.
First [E] string.
_ And then a block chord [Eb] from this chord shape.
So 6, 3, 2 and [E] 1.
3, 2 and 1.
And 6, 1.
Finishes that bar.
_ [Eb] The rhythm of that's a little more complicated.
[E] 1 and 2 and a 3 and 4 and_
[Em] It's not really so complicated.
The second beat is a triplet.
Here's that turnaround [Eb] again.
_ 1 [C] and 2 [Gbm] and 3 [F] and 4 [E] and a_
1 and 2 and a 3 and 4_ _
_ _ Now the 8 bar [F] cycle begins.
We want an A7 chord, but we're going to play it up at the neck at the 9th fret.
_ Notice that it's a D7 shape.
You brought the D7 chord up the neck until these two fingers reach the 9th fret.
That [Gb] creates the chord of A7.
And your bass note there is [N] the 5th string, the open A note.
We're going to play this at bar [A] 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It's simply out of this chord shape, mostly [Eb] in triplets.
5, 3, 2 and [A] 1.
And then 3, 2 and 1 twice more. _
That's your triplet.
1 and a.
Do that twice more.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a_
Then do it once more, pinching 5, 3, 2 and 1.
And then the 5th string open.
This is teaching it the way Eric Clapton's doing it.
[Eb] There would be other ways you could accomplish the same thing.
[A] 1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and_
_ Now this E7 [F] chord.
Make a half bar at the 9th fret, top 3 strings.
And with [Eb] either your middle or ring finger, [E] drop in on the 10th fret of the 1st string.
We're going to start with the 6th string open.
Let me play this bar first.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
So we want the 6th string, top 3 strings.
_ Then pinch 6 on the top 3 strings.
And the top 3 strings twice more.
_ _ _ [Abm] Now add the little finger at the 12th [F] fret of the 1st string.
And [E] pinch 6, 3, 2 and 1.
_ And then I tend to play 3, 2 and 1 again here.
You could just play the 1st string, which is what the tab says.
And then 6, 3, 2 and 1, 6. _
_ Those are the notes.
Now let's check out the rhythm.
1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a.
_ The key to that is the triplets, [Em] beats 2 and 4.
_ _ _ [Eb] Now we want to come right down the other end of the neck.
[E] So that last open 6th string is buying you just the time you need
to [Eb] get into a D7 shape.
Plus, if you want to play it just like Clapton,
hook that thumb over on the 6th string, 2nd fret.
Very important to the sound of this [Fm] song.
If you really can't do it, you're going to [D] have to play the 4th string of the bass note here.
[Eb] But he uses this note and some [Dm] little mini [F]-runs of this note.
So you'll see what I mean