The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want - Guitar Lesson

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The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want - Guitar Lesson

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Classic Rock

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You Can't Always Get What You Want


"You Can't Always Get What You Want" is a song by the Rolling Stones, released on their 1969 album Let It Bleed. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it blends rock with orchestral and choral elements, creating a layered arrangement that rewards electric guitarists studying Keith Richards' signature open-tuning style and rhythm work. Its ranking among Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time makes it a landmark track worth studying for any serious guitarist.

  • The song appears on the Rolling Stones' 1969 album Let It Bleed, a key record for studying classic rock guitar tones.
  • Keith Richards' rhythm guitar work on this track is a strong example of his signature loose, groove-driven playing style.
  • Rolling Stone magazine ranked it the 100th greatest song of all time in its 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Ronnie Wood relies on the Strat's versatile single-coil tone for bright, cutting leads that complement Keith's darker textures. The guitar's natural snap cuts through the Stones' dense arrangements without losing warmth.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Keith Richards' modified butterscotch Telecaster, fitted with a Gibson PAF humbucker, delivers the fatter, warmer attack that defines his rhythm work while maintaining the instrument's natural twang and cutting presence.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

This guitar anchors iconic Stones tracks like 'Sympathy for the Devil' and 'Gimme Shelter,' providing the thick, sustained tone and natural breakup Keith needs for his open-tuning chord work.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not specifically mentioned in Keith's primary rig, the Custom's thicker body and hardware enhance sustain and warmth, making it an alternative for achieving the deeper, more compressed tones the Stones occasionally pursue.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Keith's preferred amp, the Twin Reverb's headroom and natural breakup create that sweet spot where tubes work hard without full distortion, perfectly complementing his open-tuning dynamics and pick attack sensitivity.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

For live shows requiring more gain and punch, this amp provides the boosted output the Stones need while maintaining the moderate tube breakup that's central to Keith's tone philosophy.