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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man - Guitar Tab

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Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key C major
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Pronounced' Leh-'Nerd 'Skin-'Nerd album cover
Pronounced' Leh-'Nerd 'Skin-'Nerd
1973 5:57
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Classic Rock 1973 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

About Simple Man

Few songs reward a beginner guitarist quite like this one, yet "Simple Man" has real depth to pull out as you grow. The foundation is a repeating C, G, Am chord progression played with a steady, unhurried feel that sits perfectly at 96 BPM in E Standard tuning. Getting that groove right is the first challenge: the strumming pattern needs to breathe and stay behind the beat rather than rush, which takes more discipline than it looks. The lead work layered over that progression is where Lynyrd Skynyrd show their command of Classic Rock phrasing, bending and sliding within C major in a way that feels vocal and unhurried. Pay close attention to how the lead phrases resolve back to C, since that resolution is what gives the song its emotional weight. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the lead fills slowed down until your bends land cleanly in pitch before bringing them back up to tempo.

  • The entire song sits on a C, G, Am progression in C major, making it an ideal vehicle for learning to connect rhythm and lead playing over a static key.
  • Bending in tune within the C major pentatonic scale is the core technical challenge in the lead parts, so slow practice with the Practice Toolbar pays off quickly.
  • E Standard tuning and a moderate 96 BPM give you room to focus on tone and phrasing rather than speed, making clean note production the real goal here.

How to Play Simple Man

The song moves through: Intro, Verse, Interlude, Chorus, Solo.

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C major · Tempo: 96 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Once the main sections feel solid, isolate the solo, which is usually the steepest jump.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 96 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Ed King wielded this bright, single-coil voiced guitar on 'Sweet Home Alabama' to cut through Skynyrd's thick humbucker wall with sparkling clarity and snap. Its tonal contrast against Rossington and Collins' darker Les Paul and Explorer provided essential width and separation in the band's legendary three-guitar blend.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Gary Rossington's 1959 'Berniece' delivered the warm, sustaining foundation of Skynyrd's sound through its original PAF humbuckers and mahogany body, producing fat tones with clear note definition even under heavy amp gain. This guitar became Rossington's voice, defining tracks like 'Free Bird' with its glassy, dynamic character.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not explicitly Rossington's primary choice, the Les Paul Custom shares the same PAF-era humbucker warmth and sustain that defines Skynyrd's core rhythm and lead tones. Its slightly higher-output pickups would maintain the band's rich, mahogany-driven character across their catalog.

Gibson Explorer
Guitar

Gibson Explorer

Allen Collins grabbed the Explorer's aggressive midrange and cutting humbucker bite to slice through Skynyrd's dense three-guitar mix with sharp, confrontational lead lines. Its set-neck construction and thick tone complemented rather than duplicated Rossington's Les Paul, giving Collins a distinct voice within the band.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Rossington switched to this amp for cleaner tones and slide work, exploiting its glassy headroom and natural spring reverb to achieve shimmering, ethereal textures on ballads. The Twin's breakup characteristics provided a sonic contrast to the thick Peavey overdrive, essential for Skynyrd's dynamic range.

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