Rollin' and Tumblin' - Tutorial + Tab

 


I want to have a look at the blues standard Rollin' an Tumblin'. The original version of this song was written in 1929 by Hambone Willie Newbern and was titled ' Roll and Tumble Blues' and since then has been covered by many different artists and has adopted the more common title 'Rollin' and Tumblin'. The song can now be considered a blues standard and is one of the most famous and instantly recognizable blues songs there is. 

In this video I will have a look at the structure of the music and then have a playthrough of the guitar part which includes an intro, main section and outro. Since there are so many versions of the song out there, the structure and music can vary. However, in this video I want to do a version very close to the Muddy Waters version, which is one of the most famous versions of this song. In addition, I will show you two variations on the main riff. The first is a crunchier, rockier version. The second is similar to the riff played by Eric Clapton on his Unplugged album. This music is played on a guitar in Open G tuning and although a slide is used, you could play it without one, although it wont sound as good. You play this with a plectrum if you prefer, or just fingerpick it.

Below are some tips to help you play this piece, and links to download the tab.

Rollin' and Tumblin' Tab -                                 Power Tab - PDF - TXT
Rollin' and Tumblin' Main Riff Variations Tab - Power Tab - PDF - TXT
  • Keeping Time - Although it is quite a straightforward piece of usic to play, it can be easy to get the note durations slightly off and lose the timing. This is especially true when playing with the slide as you often find the notes can be mistimed when allowing time for sliding into them. If you are finding the notes are not just quite right and there are some problems with timing, try practising it slower and then building up the speed. Or perhaps, try practising it without using a slide and once you get the notes with the correct timing, introduce the slide then.
  • Slide (or not) - To give the guitar part it's distinctive sound you have to use a slide. However, although the tempo of the music isn't that high, the notes have to be played quite quickly and thus you have to be quite nimble with the slide. If you are not comfortable playing with the slide at this speed, you can just omit it and fret the notes normally with your fingers. Although you will lose a lot of this distinctive sound which gives the music it's character, it will be playable for you.
  • Making it your Own - In the video I show 3 different variations on the main riff. Although they are all similar, they are also individually distinctive. From the tab you will see the small handful of notes that make up the main riff, so it worth trying to modify this main riff to your own taste. Try varying note durations or adding or removing some of the notes. Also try playing around with the tempo too. You may be able to come up with a unique version of this song.

This is about all I need to say about this piece. It is quite a simple piece to play if you are comfortable playing with a slide.
 
Thanks for Reading,
Neil

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