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Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son - Guitar Tab

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Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son - Guitar Tab

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Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son guitar tab video
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Leftoverture (Expanded Edition) album cover
Leftoverture (Expanded Edition)
1976 5:23
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Kansas Progressive Rock 1976 A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

Carry On Wayward Son

"Carry On Wayward Son" is a rock track by Kansas, released on their 1976 album Leftoverture and written by guitarist Kerry Livgren. It became the band's first top 40 hit, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977. The song is a rewarding electric guitar study, combining a hard-driving riff-based intro with melodic lead lines and the dynamic shifts characteristic of Kansas's progressive rock style.

  • The iconic opening riff is played in unison by multiple guitars, making it a great exercise in tight rhythm precision.
  • Writer Kerry Livgren was Kansas's lead guitarist, and the song reflects his signature blend of hard rock and progressive elements.
  • "Carry On Wayward Son" was released as the opening track on Leftoverture, the album that broke Kansas into mainstream commercial success.
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Kerry Livgren's primary weapon for Kansas's classic era, the Les Paul Standard delivered thick humbucker warmth and sustain essential for both the crushing riffs of 'Carry On Wayward Son' and intricate lead passages. Its moderate-output PAF pickups maintained clarity and dynamics even when pushed through cranked Marshalls, letting every picked note cut through live.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Rich Williams relied on the Les Paul Custom's dual-humbucker platform to anchor Kansas's dual-guitar attack with warm, articulate tone that complemented Livgren's lead work. The Custom's versatility and noise-rejecting humbuckers made it ideal for both driving rhythm parts and soaring melodic solos in the band's complex arrangements.

MXR Phase 90
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MXR Phase 90

Livgren deployed the MXR Phase 90 sparingly for textural color on rhythm guitar passages, adding subtle swirling movement to Kansas's layered arrangements without cluttering the core Marshall-driven tone. This minimal-effects philosophy kept the focus on the guitarist's technique and the natural breakup of tube amplification.

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