How To Play City Of New Orleans
By Willie Nelson

On this page you'll find resources on how to play City Of New Orleans by Willie Nelson, a song written by Steve Goodman, who passed away at the young age of 36 back in 1984.

Steve Goodman wrote this song while travelling on a train between Chicago to New Orleans enroute to visit in-laws. He played the song for American folk singer Arlo Guthrie who began performing the song at the clubs. Eventually Guthrie recorded the song for his 1972 album Hobos Lullaby.

Willie Nelson selected the song in 1984 and used it as the title track for the album "City Of New Orleans". Willie had two #1's from that album. "To All The Girls Ive Loved Before" and "City Of New Orleans". Because of that #1, Steve Goodman also won a posthumous Grammy award.

A few covers were done on this song over the years, including one by Johnny Cash and June Carter.



I've heard numerous versions of this song but I must admit I really like Willie's version. My demo video on this page is patterned after this version. The chords in this one are D, Dsus A, Bm, G, Gbm, A7, D7, E, E/G#, and a C. Yes, not your typical 3 chord country tune.

                 

Free Tab Available


-- $3.25 --

Full Tutorial - .wmv format - 10 min 24 sec

Over 1000 Tutorials Here

---

The Dsus in this version I really like. When you strum this if you follow a note-dn-up-note-up-dn-up ... note-dn-up-note-up-dn-up sequence you'll find the song moves along quite smoothly. I didnt put any main picking in this one but instead decided to hum that part. But you can work out an acoustic break.

There are a few slides and riffs which in here which I fully expain in detail in my full version instructional tutorial (link is below).

I hope you found this How To Play City Of New Orleans by Willie Nelson useful and informative. Feel free to tweet about it (bottom of the page) or like it on Facebook from the "Like" button above or below as that is also most welcomed.

Rtn to Willie Nelson Biography fm
How To Play City Of New Orleans By Willie Nelson

Rtn to Classic Rock Songs