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Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro - Guitar Lesson

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Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro guitar lesson video
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About All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro

Few covers have overtaken their source material as completely as Jimi Hendrix's take on "All Along The Watchtower," and the intro is where he immediately signals that this version belongs to him. The part lives in C# minor, which puts you in slightly awkward territory on a standard-tuned guitar: barre chord shapes and single-note runs that sit just one half-step up from the friendlier key of C. That half-step shift means nothing rings open naturally, so clean fretting and consistent left-hand pressure matter from the very first note. The intro also rewards close attention to dynamics and vibrato, two things that are easy to rush past when you are focused on hitting the right pitches. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the intro slowed down and listen for exactly where Hendrix places his phrasing within the beat. Getting comfortable with that behind-the-beat feel is what separates a note-accurate run-through from one that actually sounds right.

  • The intro sits in C# minor, meaning standard-tuned players have no convenient open strings to lean on and must rely entirely on fretted notes and barre shapes.
  • Hendrix's signature vibrato and subtle string bends are central to the feel of this intro, so isolating those moments with a slow loop will pay off quickly.
  • Precise dynamic control matters here: the intro builds tension through volume and touch variation, not just note choice.

How to Play All Along The Watchtower Pt.1 - Intro

Key: C# minor · Tempo: 114 BPM

The intro riff in C# minor is built around a repeating chord progression using moveable shapes, and the challenge lies not in the chord changes themselves but in nailing Hendrix's rhythmic feel: the slight behind-the-beat swagger that makes it groove rather than chug mechanically. Tune down to Eb Standard before you start, since the riff sits in a specific register that sounds noticeably thin at concert pitch. Pay close attention to how Hendrix mutes and releases between chord hits to create that choppy, percussive attack. A common pitfall is rushing the transitions and losing the pocket, so loop the intro at reduced speed until the rhythm feels natural before pushing the tempo toward 114 bpm.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 114 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Hendrix's reversed left-handed Strats with stock single-coils delivered bright, articulate tone with pronounced string separation that sang when driven through cranked tubes. The in-between pickup positions created his signature quack tones, while the volume knob let him dynamically shape fuzz in real time.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Hendrix pushed the Marshall 1959's power tubes to natural saturation, generating thick, harmonically rich overdrive that became his signature sound. The amp's aggressive breakup complemented his single-coils perfectly, delivering singing sustain without compressing his dynamic touch.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

In the studio, Hendrix used the Twin Reverb's cleaner headroom to capture sparkling, articulate tones and explore different breakup characteristics than the Marshall. Its built-in reverb added spaciousness to tracks like 'Little Wing' without relying on external effects.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Hendrix treated the Cry Baby as an expressive tone-shaping tool, rocking it rhythmically mid-riff on 'Voodoo Child' rather than just switching it on and off. The pedal's resonant sweep perfectly complemented his fuzz textures and added vocal-like expressiveness to his soloing.

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