Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones’ "Wild Horses" is an iconic track known for its emotive chord progressions and expressive guitar work. At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson dives deep into this classic song, guiding players through the techniques that shape its haunting beauty. Whether you’re an aspiring guitarist or an experienced player, mastering "Wild Horses" is an excellent way to improve your control, expressiveness, and technique. This lesson covers the essential techniques used in the song, helping you achieve that authentic Rolling Stones sound and enhancing your guitar skills. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarists

"Wild Horses" was originally performed by the legendary Keith Richards and Mick Taylor, whose unique styles helped shape the sound of The Rolling Stones. Keith Richards, known for his gritty, blues-inspired playing and open-tuning arrangements, brings a signature sound that is both raw and intricate. Mick Taylor adds a fluid, lyrical quality to the track, providing depth and colour with his precise finger-work and melodic approach. Together, they create a soundscape that’s both rich and restrained, giving "Wild Horses" its timeless feel. Learning the guitar parts for this song not only lets you capture their style but also provides insight into the artistry that defined a generation.

Song Techniques Breakdown

Open Chord Progressions

The song’s signature sound is built on a foundation of open chords, which give "Wild Horses" its warm, ringing tone. Open chords, especially in altered tunings like open G, offer a fuller resonance that captures the song’s emotional depth. Practicing open chord progressions enhances your familiarity with fretboard shapes and helps improve finger strength and accuracy. For this lesson, we'll break down each chord change, making it easier to transition smoothly between shapes.

Slides

Slides play a vital role in connecting phrases and adding fluidity to the song’s main melody. By sliding into notes, you create a more connected, legato feel that suits the song’s relaxed rhythm. Learning slides is excellent for developing hand coordination and control. It also brings a vocal-like quality to your playing, making it ideal for conveying the expressive feel needed in "Wild Horses."

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are subtle yet powerful techniques found throughout the melody lines of "Wild Horses." These techniques give a natural flow to the notes, helping to create smooth, lyrical phrases. Mastering hammer-ons and pull-offs can help you increase finger agility and independence, making it easier to play faster, more complex lines.

Finger-Picking

In "Wild Horses," finger-picking is used to deliver a soft, intimate sound. This technique allows you to control dynamics and add more expression to your playing. Finger-picking involves alternating between the thumb and fingers, which can be challenging but rewarding as it helps develop rhythm and precision. As you practice, you'll build a sense of timing and flow that is essential to mastering the song's intricate parts.

String Bending

String bending, especially with a bluesy touch, brings a soulful, expressive quality to the lead guitar parts in "Wild Horses." Bending adds tension and release, allowing notes to "sing" with emotion. Practicing bends not only strengthens your fingers but also trains your ear to recognise pitch. This skill is invaluable for capturing the expressive nature of the song and for adding personality to your own playing.

Barre Chords

Barre chords are essential to achieving the full, resonant sound in "Wild Horses." While they require finger strength and stamina, mastering barre chords opens up the fretboard and allows you to play a variety of chord shapes across different keys. Working through the barre chords in this song will help build endurance and enable smoother transitions between chord positions.

Vibrato

Vibrato is subtly used to add emotional depth to sustained notes in "Wild Horses." This technique, which involves a controlled wobble in pitch, enhances the resonance and sustain of each note. Developing a strong vibrato can significantly improve your tone control and adds a professional quality to your playing. Vibrato is a versatile technique that, once mastered, can be applied across different genres and styles.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Learning the techniques in "Wild Horses" offers numerous benefits for guitar players of all skill levels. By practicing open chords and finger-picking, you develop a more nuanced understanding of dynamics and rhythm, while hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides build finger strength and coordination. String bending and vibrato teach you to add emotional depth to your playing, essential for blues and rock genres. Each technique not only contributes to your ability to play this classic song but also enriches your overall guitar skills, making you a more versatile and expressive guitarist.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Open Chord Progressions
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Finger-Picking
• String Bending
• Barre Chords
• Vibrato

Our "Wild Horses" guitar lesson offers a comprehensive look at these techniques, allowing you to capture the essence of this Rolling Stones classic while enhancing your guitar proficiency. Dive into the lesson and begin your journey into mastering the song’s soulful guitar work today!