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The Doobie Brothers - Listen To The Music - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
The Doobie Brothers - Listen To The Music guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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The Doobie Brothers Funk Rock E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Listen To The Music

At 120 BPM in E major, "Listen To The Music" sits in a comfortable tempo range that still demands tight rhythm work. The backbone of the song is its clean, rolling guitar groove, built around open and first-position E-based chord shapes that ring openly and give the track its bright, jangly character. Getting that feel right means locking into a steady strum pattern with a relaxed but precise right hand, since any sloppiness in the rhythm shows immediately at this tempo. The Doobie Brothers were well known for their twin-guitar approach, so listen carefully for how the rhythm parts layer against each other. The song is played in E Standard tuning, which means no retuning needed. If the chord transitions feel rushed at first, use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse or chorus section slowed down until the changes become automatic. This is a great early-intermediate song for building Funk Rock rhythm feel.

  • The song sits at 120 BPM in E major, making it approachable for intermediate players building rhythm guitar stamina.
  • E Standard tuning is used throughout, so no retuning is needed before you start working on the part.
  • The twin-guitar arrangement rewards close listening: identifying which rhythm layer you are learning helps you play your part correctly.

How to Play Listen To The Music

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Tom Johnston used Stratocasters in studio sessions for their versatility and bright character, complementing his aggressive strumming style with cutting clarity perfect for layered rhythm parts.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter's Telecasters delivered the snappy, cutting top end essential to The Doobies' guitar ensemble, with single-coil bite that cut through on country-influenced leads and funky rhythm accents.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Patrick Simmons' Les Paul provided thick midrange character for lead work, anchoring the band's tone with warm sustain that complemented his fingerpicked acoustic parts.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Gibson Les Paul Custom offered Simmons enhanced tonal depth and presence for studio leads, delivering the thicker, more saturated sound needed for the band's harmonic complexity.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

Tom Johnston's semi-hollow ES-335 with PAF humbuckers gave The Doobies their signature warm, percussive rhythm tone, letting his muting technique shine through without excessive compression or sustain.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Johnston's pushed Fender Twin Reverb defined the band's studio sound, delivering bright, percussive clarity with just enough grit for rock edge while maintaining the clean headroom that made The Doobies' intricate harmonies possible.

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