Learn to play Kris Kristofferson's Me and Bobby McGee on Guitar and Harmonica

Difficulty: It can be nice and easy

Lesson Length: :

Instructor: George Goodman

Help File:

Download the Chords, Lyrics, Guitar and Harmonica Tabs here: Me and Bobby McGee - 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

The key you play Me and Bobby McGee in is going to determine which key harmonica you use. A C harmonica is the first one you need to follow along with the lessons on the site and works great for Me and Bobby McGee if you stick to playing the song in C.

Playing along with Janis - G and A harmonica

Playing along with Kris Kristofferson early live version - A and B harmonica

The Outlaws - C and D harmonica.

I often play a Hohner Special 20 Harmonica through a Shure Green Bullet microphone Model 5200 and Fender Super Champ amplifier

Seydel Gecko

The Seydel Gecko Harmonica Holder is high-quality. Seydel offer much more flexibility. You feel comfortable while playing harmonica with this holder. Great design; simple to use; changing harmonicas is quick and easy. The position isn't friction dependent, but rather on a "stop," you get a consistent, easily adjusted rack. The leather pads not only make it more comfortable, but also reduce slipping.

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.

The harmonica does not require single notes or bending.
The challenge will be playing both instruments together.

The Guitar Essentials, Harmonica Essentials, and Rhythm Guitar and Strumming courses can help with any difficulties you're having.

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

Hey George here for harpnguitar.com, the website that helps you sound great on guitar and harmonica.

Today we're going to look at that old folk classic by Kris Kristofferson; Janis Joplin covered it and I had a subscriber say ‘hey can you show me how to play Me and Bobby McGee?'

I said, 'Great idea. Whose version, Janis or Kris?'

Reply: 'Kris, absolutely. He's my favorite.'

So I dialed up Me and Bobby McGee on YouTube. The first three results were Kris' early live recording, Janis' version and The Highwaymen live.

All three recordings were in different keys and all employed different strumming rhythms.

So I thought that would be a great lesson - teaching how to play the song in different keys so that you can pick the best key for your voice, making sure you get the right key harmonica and working out different rhythms.

Guitar Chords - in G

Strumming Pattern

1 2 & (3) & 4 &

Down Down Up Up Down Up

Guitar Chords - in A

Strumming Pattern

1 2 & 3 & 4 &

Down Down Up Down Up Down Up

Guitar Chords - in C

Strumming Pattern

1 &a 2 &a 3 &a 4 &a

Down Down Up  Down Down Up  Down Down Up  Down Down Up

Harmonica Tabs for Chords

C Major (I Major): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

G Major (V Major): -1 -2 -3 -4 6 -7 -8 9

F Major (IV Major): 4 -5 -6 7 -9 -10 10

Things To Note

This was recorded in Ike, just outside of Cawson, British Columbia in February 2024.

Join the conversation - Let me know how it goes - Leave a message below.

Right on. See you in the next one.

Peace,

George