How To Play Beasts Of Burden
by The Rolling Stones

On this page I'd like to explain to you how to play Beasts Of Burden by The Rolling Stones. Check out my acoustic demo clip and grab some free tabs in the lower right hand menu.

Beasts Of Burden was a hit single from the 1977 album "Some Girls" and peaked at #8 on the US charts. Ron Wood plays the main lead riff although the song was recorded with both Richards and Woods kinda sliding back and forth between high and low parts on the guitar.



Keith Richards wrote the music and most of the lyrics but when the song was recorded, Jagger improvised some of the lyrics. The song has been released on other albums and there is a live version out there as well. Bette Midler did a cover in 1983 and featured Mick Jagger in her video of the song.



I play this song with 4 chords in the main verse which is a hammer-on to an E major on the 4th fret. That is followed by covering the bottom 4 strings on the 4th fret ... followed by a Db minor and finally a hammer on to the A chord on the 9th fret. Once we get into the chorus Im playing an A then an E/Ab back to the A, back to the E/Ab followed by a B. That's it for chords.

There is a small lead break in the background when the song takes a break ... but for this demo, I decided not to try and work that in as it disrupts the rhythm when playing this alone. But it could easily be put in with a second player.

All of this is fully covered in my full instructional tutorial from the link below.

                 
Free Tab Available


-- $3.25 --

Full Tutorial - .wmv format - 10 min 19 sec

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The beginning rhythm is dn-up-dn-up-dn-up(1st chord change on the last up) but starts with a hammer on on the first up. Then on the Db you can play an up-up-dn .... and finally on the 9th fret, play an up-dn-up, while using the hammer on. Once you get it you'll never forget it.

On the chorus you can play all down stokes.

Check out the classic video in the right hand menu and grab the free lyrics and tab as well.

I hope you found this How To Play Beasts Of Burden by The Rolling Stones useful and informative.

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