Home ❯ Songs ❯

Willin'

by Little Feat • Lesson #306 • Jun 13, 2020

Add to My Favorites

Adding to my favorites…

Added (View All Favorites | Remove)

Added (removing…)

Video lesson

Song Sheet with Lyrics 4 pages

A printed arrangement with the lyrics, chords, and other guitar parts taught in my video lesson. Available for purchase through Musicnotes.com.

Have questions? Read this help page to learn how buying & printing works, with answers to many common questions about my song sheets.

Buy at Musicnotes.com

Editor’s notes

Hey friends – here’s a new lesson where I teach you how to play Willin’ by Little Feat (1972). Half of this song is a rather straightforward key-of-G acoustic classic rock, while the intro & verse utilize chord shapes similar to what you heard in Blackbird to create a distinctive “open” sound. Learning these together can be tricky at times, but rewarding!

In my video, I break everything down step by step, in this order:

0:00 Lesson overview
1:44 Chord shapes needed
9:44 Strumming pattern
12:01 Intro riff (step by step)
18:15 Verse, pre-chorus & chorus
26:03 Full playthrough

Lesson #265

One is this video showing you 4 tips on getting started with the Beatles classic Blackbird which uses the same chords as the intro to this one.

Lesson #249

Another is this lesson showing you 2-finger chords in the key of C, which is the same exact type of chord this lesson uses. Even though Willin’ and Blackbird are in the key of G, there’s a lot of overlap here. Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You” is an example of a song using these chords thatsi n the key of C.

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Recently Added

Featured Courses

Travis Picking Essentials

An overview of all techniques needed to get started with Travis-style fingerpicking! Alternating Bass notes, filler notes, melody, the "pinch", and more.

13 lessons

View

Practical Music Theory

A general overview of must-know theory concepts. The goal here is practical, easy-to-understand explanations — all of which provide clarity to your everyday guitar playing.

14 lessons

View

Guitar for Beginners

A guide to getting started with guitar! Everything you need to know to begin your journey. Choosing a guitar, other gear you'll need, fretting notes & chords, learning your first songs, and more.

14 lessons

View

Beginner Chord Guide

A guide to the must-know chords you'll need when getting started with guitar! The quickest way to learn major chords, minor chords, the chords in each key, and more.

22 lessons

View

Blues Starter Kit

A guide to must-know elements of beginner blues guitar! I'll walk you through the essential topics, showing you fun things to play along the way.

18 lessons

View

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learn to read tabs, chord charts, fretboard diagrams, strumming patterns, and more! This course explains how to understand all of these must-know notation styles.

6 lessons

Walk Ups & Walk Downs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!

Recent Lessons

October 12, 2026

"Love Me Two Times" by The Doors

Learn to play this bluesy classic from 1967! This tune features ~4 guitar riffs, each of which is tricky to learn... but I'll walk you through it all, step by step, as per usual.
September 30, 2026

Shuffle vs. Straight Rhythm... Hear the Difference!

Learn to identify the rhytmic feel of a song, just by listening! In this lesson I break down the straight vs. shuffle rhythm, using 5 different riffs... each of which is played both ways.
September 25, 2026

Red River Valley - Travis Picking Deep-Dive!

Behond! 10 new videos from my Travis Picking Essentials course, focusing on the classic tune Red River Valley. Includes print-friendly tabs for everything taught in each of the videos.
September 16, 2026

"Sweet Jane" by Velvet Underground

Let's dive into the 1970 classic by the Velvet Underground! This one mostly uses a two-measure progression from start to finish, but there's a ton of strumming & rhythm nuance you'll need to capture the sound. I teach it all, including several different ways to play the chords needed.
September 14, 2026

Practical Music Theory: 1-4-5 Chords & Why They're Important

An explanation of the three most commonly used chords in each musical key, and why they're important. Say hello to the one, four, and five chords!
September 9, 2026

Q&A: Understanding Secondary Dominants (ft. Sierra Ferrell)

I answer a member question about chords that seem to fall outside the key, using secondary dominants to explain what’s happening. Featuring the catchy opening riff to Sierra Ferrell's Bells of Every Chapel.
August 28, 2026

Learn Riffs Faster with Chunking (ft. Johnny Cash)

Here's a must-know technique that will help you learn any riff, solo, or extended tab much more quickly! The secret is breaking things into manageable chunks. I demonstrate using Johnny Cash's classic I Walk The Line.
August 20, 2026

[Updated] Chord Changes & Learning New Chords

Over in my Beginner Chord Guide, I've updated the Chord Changes lesson page to include a ton of new written detail giving context to my video lesson. If you struggle with learning new chords or changing chords smoothly, check it out!
August 19, 2026

Practice Guide for "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash

Check out my brand new visual companion to help you learn Johnny Cash's 1956 classic! 6 pages, including step-by-step tips for chords, strumming, walking bass lines, and more.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage

Willin'

Video lesson

Song Sheet with Lyrics 4 pages