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Tom Petty - Love is a Long Road - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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SECTIONS

Select a Loop

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End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key G major
Tom Petty - Love is a Long Road guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Tom Petty Rock G major
Capo Advisor 0 G major · Original key

About Love is a Long Road

At 96 BPM in G major and standard tuning, "Love is a Long Road" sits in a comfortable mid-tempo pocket that still demands real rhythmic discipline. The backbone of the track is a driving, chord-based groove where keeping your strumming locked to the beat matters more than flashy technique. The chords themselves are approachable, but getting that crisp, slightly aggressive Tom Petty rhythm feel, tight and on top of the beat, is where most players will need to put in the work. The Rock sensibility here is less about distortion and more about attitude in the pick attack and how cleanly you mute between changes. If a particular chord transition feels sloppy at speed, use the Practice Toolbar to loop that passage slowed down until the movement becomes automatic. Pay attention to dynamics too, the verses benefit from a slightly lighter touch before the chorus opens up.

  • The song sits in G major at 96 BPM in standard tuning, making it a solid vehicle for building confident mid-tempo rock rhythm guitar.
  • Nailing Tom Petty's rhythm style here is about a firm, consistent pick attack and clean chord muting rather than technical complexity.
  • Looping the verse-to-chorus transitions slowed down in the Practice Toolbar will help you lock in smooth changes before bringing it to full tempo.

How to Play Love is a Long Road

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

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

The arrangement runs through 6 distinct sections, and the solo is the steepest jump, so isolate it on its own.

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

Mike Campbell uses the Stratocaster for its versatile single-coil tones, delivering the jangly chime and smooth lead work central to Heartbreakers songs. Its bright character complements his minimalist effects approach, letting natural tone shine through.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Tom Petty's blonde Telecaster became iconic for its raw, twangy bite and natural attack on rhythm parts. Campbell's 1950 Broadcaster (proto-Telecaster) uses its original single-coil for that signature edge-of-breakup crunch heard across classic Heartbreakers tracks.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Mike Campbell's 1959 Les Paul Standard with PAF humbuckers delivers warm, fat lead tones with smooth sustain for solos. Its thicker voice contrasts beautifully with his single-coil guitars, giving the band tonal variety across different songs and moods.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not specifically documented in Campbell's main arsenal, the Les Paul Custom shares the humbucker warmth and sustain that defines the band's heavier lead tones. Its darker character works similarly to the 1959 Standard for creating fuller, more aggressive solos.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's clean, sparkling reverb tone provides the crystalline foundation for Petty's rhythm work and ballads. Running at moderate volume, it delivers natural tube compression while preserving the bright attack of his Rickenbackers and Telecasters.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp

Fender Deluxe Reverb

Campbell relies on the Deluxe Reverb for its sweet, responsive reverb and manageable wattage that breaks up naturally at performance levels. Its warm, slightly compressed tone pairs perfectly with both single-coils and humbuckers across the Heartbreakers' catalog.

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