1:19 - Key of the Song and Using a Capo

In order to get the song into a key that is more comfortable for my voice, I use a capo.
The original recording is in the key of C but I move it down a minor 3rd to A.
If you want to play along with the original, move the capo up to the 5th fret.

2:07 - Guitar Chords: Verse and Chorus

There are four chords that are used throughout most of the song.
I'm choosing some chords that add a little flavor.
It starts with Cadd9 followed by Dsus4.
Then comes G followed by Em7.

4:14 - Rhythm 1: Intro and Verse 1

To emulate the opening piano, I'm going to employ a simple finger picking pattern which can be used over the quiet sections of the song.
Let's call this rhythm 1.

7:46 - Rhythm 2: Chorus 1 and Verse 2

Heading into the first chorus, it's time to pick things up a notch.
For rhythm 2, I'm using a full chord finger pick with syncopation and a hand slap percussive feel.

12:20 - Rhythm 3: Chorus 2

Things build up even more here and I'll employ a full chord strum with a syncopation similar to rhythm 2 and use this through the second chorus. This will also require using a pick.

17:19 - Verse 3: Muriel Plays Piano

Let's bring it down a bit and use rhythm 2 for verse 3.

18:19 - Chorus With Full Gusto

A powerful line sung powerfully brings us back into the chorus where we'll use rhythm 3 to bring the dynamics back up again.

18:42 - Let's Add Some Harmonica

Memphis is in the land of the Delta Blues so let's add a bit of Blues harmonica to the song.
I am playing in the key of A and to add a Blues feel I want to play in second position.
In order to do that, I'm going to use a D harmonica.
I can still play the melody in second position and I can also utilize the Blues scale and associated riffs.
When I improvise, I often take bits of the melody or rhythm and incorporate them into a solo.
I'll try that here.

Here are the harmonica tabs to the melody of the chorus in the upper and lower octaves
-7 -7 -7 7 -7 -6 6
-7 -7 7 -7 -6 6 6 6 6 5 6 5
-7 7 -7 -6 6
-7 -6 -6 6 -6 -6 -6 6 6

-3 -3 -3 4 -3 -3bb 3
-3 -3 4 -3 -3bb 3 3 3 2 3 2
-3 4 -3 -3bb 3
-3 -3bb -3bb 3 -3bb -3bb -3bb 3 3

26:13 - Final Note On Adding Syncopation to Rhythm 1

To more closely reproduce the piano part at the beginning you need to turn the beat around.
This is easier said than done.

Good luck with that.
See you in the next one.

If you're looking for piano sheet music, you can find Walking In Memphis in this collection -
26 hit songs arranged for piano, including:
• Breathe (Faith Hill)
• Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
• (Everything I Do) I Do It for You (Bryan Adams)
• Fallin' (Alicia Keys)
• I Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly)
• I'll Be (Edwin McCain)
• Listen to Your Heart (D.H.T.)
• A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton)
• Walking in Memphis (Marc Cohn)
• You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban)
• and more

I hope you enjoyed the lesson.
Let me know how you make out with it.

Peace. Stay In Tune.
George