Oh, Pretty Woman

by Roy Orbison • Lesson #441 • Jun 25, 2022

Description

Hey, friends! New lesson today for Roy Orbison’s 1964 classic Oh, Pretty Woman. This song is tremendously fun to play, featuring an all-timer guitar riff that’s integrated quite seamlessly with the intro, verse, and chorus of the song. With a solo acoustic guitar, I’ll teach you to play it all: the riff, the strumming, and everything in between. It took me a few days of serious practice before I could sing + strum + play the riff all without missing a step, but I finally able to get there — and I’m excited to show you the way. Let’s check it out!

Free Video Lesson

Slow Playthrough

Requires membership to Song Notes Premium. If you’d like to see a slowed-down version of this song, check out this additional video. I play the entire song (ending included) at 100 beats per minute, which is quite a bit slower than Roy Orbison’s 127bpm. I also use simple strumming pattern (down strums on the 1 and 3 counts only), and the simplified version of the riff (no pinky used). After the playthrough, I’ll also give some general performance tips & advice not included in my full-song lesson above. I hope you find this helpful!

Licensed Song Sheet 3 pages

Follow along with my print-friendly guide for this song! It’s available for purchase at Musicnotes.com, the web’s leading provider of licensed sheet music.

On the fence? Here's a guide I made showing the purchase & print process, including answers to common questions about my song sheets.

Buy at Musicnotes.com

Backing Track Available

I made a drum backing track for you to use while playing this song (or, when practicing just the riff). The track is a relatively simple drum beat matching what you hear on Orbison’s recording. This particular drum beat is very quarter-note heavy (e.g. ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR), repeating for ~5 minutes or so. The idea is you can practice the main riff, or strumming the full song, while this track is helping you keep time. I made two separate backing tracks:

127 bpm

Roy Orbison’s actual tempo. Download.

100 bpm (slower version)

Slower version, if you’re working up to Roy’s tempo. Download.

How to use the backing track to practice the riff

Play the track. Begin counting in a 1-2-3-4 manner (four beats per measure).
When you’re ready, play the “tease” version of the riff on the beat, and remember the “tease” last six counts total. Then, play the tease one more time. Finally, play the “full” intro riff – and repeat it 4 times total.
If you want, you can continue to play over the track during the verse. You can even play over it for the chorus, but this is where it may sound a bit different than Orbison’s album version — as his drum track changes during the chorus section.

Listen to Roy Orbison’s Album Recording

Played at 127 beats per minute. Key of A, standard tuning.

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Oh, Pretty Woman

Description

Free Video Lesson

Slow Playthrough

Licensed Song Sheet 3 pages

Backing Track Available

127 bpm

100 bpm (slower version)

How to use the backing track to practice the riff

Listen to Roy Orbison’s Album Recording

Additional Lessons To Help With This Song

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Guitar for Beginners

Beginner Chord Guide

Reading Music for Guitarists

Blues Starter Kit

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Key Master

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons