Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones

Dive into the classic Rolling Stones song, "Honky Tonk Women," with a detailed, note-for-note guitar lesson that captures the essence and energy of this legendary track. This guitar tutorial covers the specific techniques that define the song, making it both iconic and a rich learning experience for guitar players. By mastering these techniques, players not only get closer to the sound of the Stones but also build valuable skills that can be applied to a wide range of blues-rock and rock ‘n’ roll songs. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarists: Keith Richards and Mick Taylor

"Honky Tonk Women" features the distinctive styles of Keith Richards and Mick Taylor, two influential guitarists who shaped the Rolling Stones' sound in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Known for his gritty, blues-infused playing, Richards is a master of rhythm guitar and open tuning, bringing a raw, authentic feel to each track. Mick Taylor’s virtuosic lead work complements Richards perfectly, adding melodic lines, slides, and bluesy bends that give the song its soulful, signature sound. Together, Richards and Taylor created a dual-guitar dynamic that left an indelible mark on rock music, inspiring countless guitarists with their combination of rhythm and lead interplay, tone, and raw energy.

Key Techniques in "Honky Tonk Women"

Our "Honky Tonk Women" guitar lesson guides players through each technique used in the song, focusing on building the skills needed to capture the Rolling Stones' unique style. Below are the main techniques emphasised in the lesson, along with their benefits.

1. Open String Riffs

Technique Description: Open string riffs make use of open strings to add a fuller, resonant tone, ideal for creating a rhythmic, percussive sound. In "Honky Tonk Women," this technique is essential in building the infectious rhythm that drives the song.

Benefits: Learning open string riffs enhances timing, coordination, and rhythmic feel. It also teaches players how to add richness and depth to their sound, making simple riffs sound more dynamic.

2. String Bending and Bluesy Bends

Technique Description: String bending, particularly bluesy bends, is used by Mick Taylor to give his lead parts a soulful, expressive quality. These bends add an emotive "cry" to the guitar that defines much of the blues genre.

Benefits: Mastering string bending improves finger strength, control, and pitch accuracy. Bluesy bends specifically help players develop their ear and a better sense of phrasing, key to expressing emotion in blues and rock solos.

3. Slides

Technique Description: Sliding between notes, as heard in Richards' rhythm parts and Taylor's leads, provides a smooth transition that connects phrases. Slides contribute to the song's fluid and continuous feel, adding texture to the overall groove.

Benefits: Practicing slides enhances finger dexterity and precision. It also encourages a smoother playing style, which is essential for genres like blues and classic rock.

4. Double Stops

Technique Description: Double stops involve playing two notes simultaneously, creating a fuller, harmonised sound. Keith Richards frequently employs this technique, adding depth and complexity to his rhythm playing in "Honky Tonk Women."

Benefits: Double stops improve coordination between fingers and help build harmonisation skills. They allow players to add richer textures to their playing and are a useful tool for rhythm and lead work alike.

5. Alternate Picking

Technique Description: Alternate picking, or alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes, is used to maintain a steady, driving rhythm throughout the song. This technique is crucial for the faster, rhythmic sections in the song’s verses and chorus.

Benefits: Alternate picking develops speed, timing, and consistency. It is a foundational technique for all styles, helping players increase precision and endurance over long playing sessions.

6. Chord Progressions

Technique Description: The chord progressions in "Honky Tonk Women" are blues-based, with a distinct country rock twist. These progressions use open chords in conjunction with sliding transitions to create the song’s classic rolling groove.

Benefits: Learning these chord progressions strengthens understanding of song structure and chord transitions. It also helps players gain comfort with common chord shapes used in blues, rock, and country.

7. Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Technique Description: Hammer-ons and pull-offs add ornamentation to the main riffs and lead lines in "Honky Tonk Women." These techniques are used to give the song its characteristic rolling, free-flowing sound.

Benefits: Practicing hammer-ons and pull-offs builds finger strength, speed, and accuracy. These techniques are key for adding embellishments to solos, making them sound more fluid and expressive.

8. Palm Muting

Technique Description: Palm muting involves resting the palm lightly on the strings near the bridge, muting the strings to create a percussive, rhythmic sound. Richards uses this sparingly but effectively to add dynamics to the rhythm section.

Benefits: Mastering palm muting improves control and dynamic variation. It helps players create contrasting tones within a piece, adding depth and expressiveness to their rhythm work.

9. Vibrato

Technique Description: Vibrato involves subtly bending and releasing a note to give it a "shaking" effect. Taylor uses vibrato on key notes to make his solos more emotive and resonant, which adds an extra layer of depth to his leads.

Benefits: Vibrato helps players develop a more expressive sound, as it allows them to sustain notes with added richness. This technique also strengthens finger control and helps build a personal playing style.

Techniques List

Below is a list of guitar techniques covered in our "Honky Tonk Women" lesson, with links to additional resources to help you master each technique:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Palm Muting
• Open String Riffs
• String Bending
• Double Stops
• Chord Progressions
• Slides
• Bluesy Bends

By following our "Honky Tonk Women" guitar lesson, guitarists gain practical, hands-on experience with essential techniques used by the Rolling Stones. Whether you're looking to nail the iconic sound of the Stones or simply add powerful, blues-inspired elements to your playing, this lesson provides the skills needed to elevate your playing style.