Learn to play Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line on Guitar and Harmonica

Difficulty: Medium

Lesson Length: 54:33

For a relatively easy sounding song, there's actually a lot going on. For one thing, the key of the song modulates so that there are actually three different keys. Then there's the famous Chick-A-Boom rhythm required to get the sound right. Plus there's a guitar solo as well as an added harmonica solo based on the melody.

The following link supplies the chords, lyrics and guitar tabs for the opening guitar riff as well as the melody line in the key of A.

I Walk The Line Chords and Tabs download pdf link - for educational purposes only.

Takamine EG541SC
I am playing my black tak in this one.

This is a Takamine G Series EG541SC bought in North Carolina when I was playing in a band called Double Take.
Specs:
Top - Solid Spruce
Back - Nato
Sides - Nato
Finger Board - Rosewood
Electronics - TK40
Finish - Gloss Black
Check out more Takamine G Series Guitars

G7th Newport Guitar Capo

With its light weight and low profile, the G7th Newport allows for fast, accurate capoing with fine tune adjustment - in position - on the fretboard of your instrument.

An advancement on existing designs, the Newport's refined adjustment means that only the right amount of pressure needs be applied to clamp the strings - dramatically improving tuning problems and without the loss of sustain associated with the thick rubber of other capos.

Its classic G7th styling will also look great on your guitar.
Fast and accurate
Can be fine tuned
Sleek design
Applies just the right amount of pressure
Maintains intonation and sustain

Hohner Harmonica Holder

The Hohner Harmonica Neck Holder fits harmonicas up to 7-1/2" long. With a long-lasting nickel-plated finish, this harmonica rack is adjustable and fits any neck shape.

Hohner Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica in F*

If you are using a capo on the first fret, then choose the key of F. If you are not going to use a capo make sure that you choose the key of E.

With their excellent response and great tone, diatonic harmonicas from HOHNER have earned a worldwide reputation for the finest quality. They are frequently referred to as "Blues Harps" and are primarily used as melody instruments in blues, rock, pop, country and folk as well as other styles.

Single notes for the harmonica isn't required but something to work towards.

The Guitar Essentials, Harmonica Essentials, and Rhythm Guitar and Strumming courses can help get you up to speed if  you're having troubles.

• Guitar Essentials Course
• Harmonica Essentials Course
• Rhythm Guitar and Strumming Course

3:17 - Capo On The First Fret

To be in key with the original recording, we need to put a capo on the first fret.
Now, when I make reference to positions on the neck, I make them in respect to the position of the capo. Though the capo is on the first fret, I treat it as the nut or the 0 position.

3:58 - Chords In First Key

This song does something that I haven't seen/heard in any other song. It modulates to three different keys so that the second verse is played in an entirely different key than the first verse and the third verse is played in an entirely different key again.
So, although there are only three different chords for a verse, there are three different keys for the verses.
You can see this when looking at the pdf link above.
The first verse is in the key of E and the chords are E, B7 and A.

5:48 - Chick A Boom Rhythm

This is a classic Johnny Cash rhythm which he uses in many of his songs.
It is counted as 1 &a 2 &a 3 &a 4 &a.
The down strokes land on the down beat and &. The 'a' is an upstroke.
In terms of strumming, you could refer to it as down, down, up for every beat so that a four beat measure would be:
down down up| down down up| down down up| down down up

Often times the down beat will only be the root note of the chord or the fifth of the chord.
The &a will be full chord strums.

You can use the syllables Boom Chick A Boom Chick A to verbalize the rhythm.

You can find the lesson for this particular melody in the rhythm guitar video series here:
Eighth Sixteenth Note Rhythm

8:26 - Humming The First Pitch, Pickup, and Progression

When Johnny changes key for each verse, he needs to find his new reference pitch and if you listen closely you can hear him humming the root note of the new key. This is the first note of the melody in the new key.

The melody starts on the second half of the third beat - & 4 & = I Keep A (first three words of the lyric).
These notes are part of the I chord. The progression then goes directly to the V chord.

Each chord lasts for a single bar.

The progression is as follows (chords for the first verse):
V7 I = B7 E
V7 I = B7 E
IV I = A E
V7 I = B7 E

The second verse is in the key of A.
The third verse is in the key of D.
The fourth verse is back to the key of A.
The first verse is then repeated in the original key of E. On the recording, this verse is sung a full octave lower than the first time through. Good luck with that.

18:55 - Transitioning Between Keys

To transition smoothly from one key to the next, a short three note melody is used.
The transition starts on the & of 3 similar to the start of all the verses and happens right after the previous verse.

25:04 - Lead Guitar Intro

There's a great and relatively simple guitar lead right off the top.
Below are the guitar tabs for this lead taken from the pdf link above.

30:25 - First Full Play Through

Taking it slow and working through what we've learned.
There's no harmonica yet. That comes next.

34:50 - Melody On Harmonica

Learn how to play the melody on harmonica.
We'll pick out a key and go through the tabs.
The guitar is playing chords in the key of E but because the capo is on the first fret, that puts us in the key of F.
Therefore, since I am playing in first position, I am playing an F harmonica.

40:04 - Putting It All Together: Full Play Through With Harmonica

Now let's put everything we learned all together including lead intro, all verses with transitions and ending it off with a harmonica solo at the end.

43:43 - Lead Guitar Melody

If you'd like to learn how to play the melody on lead guitar, we'll pick out a key and then work through the melody.

And there you have it - Johnny Cash's I Walk The Line.

Stay In Tune. Peace.
George