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.

Additional Lessons To Help With This Song

Here’s instructional lessons I’ve made teaching concepts that are useful in this song.

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

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

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

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

Strumming & Rhythm

Learning Lead Guitar

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Practical Music Theory

Walk Ups & Walk Downs

Practice Tips

CAGED Shapes

Barre Chords

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!

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

August 29, 2025

"Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett

After dozens and dozens of requests over the last few years, the time has come! Learn to play Jimmy Buffett's 1977 classic Margaritaville. Intro riff and melodic strumming fills included!
Aug 22, 2025

First Steps with Double Stops — 16 Page Handbook Included!

Take your first step with double stops — specifically harmonized 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths. These are useful in fingerstyle, lead guitar, improvsation, and more! Don't miss my Double Stop Handbook, which has over 15 pages of tabs, diagrams, and easy-to-digest theory.
Aug 3, 2025

Fingerstyle Fun feat. Ozzy Osbourne's "Mama I'm Coming Home"

Learn a bite-sized fingerstyle groove, inspired by the opening intro & verse of Ozzy Osbourne's 1991 hit "Mama I'm Coming Home."
July 31, 2025

[Updated] "Lola" Instrumental Intro, with Melody

I've updated my practice notes teaching an extended intro to Lola by The Kinks. "Part 2" video teaching the lead guitar fill riff also added.
July 25, 2025

"Sloop John B" by The Beach Boys

Let's dive into this Bahamian folk-rock classic made most famous by The Beach Boys! It's a somewhat simple to get the hang of, but I'll show various ways you can make it your own.
July 22, 2025

[Updated] Beginner Blues Groove in A minor

I've added a new video jam track to this beginner blues lesson — which lets you play along with a minor 12-bar blues, showing the chords on screen. Check it out!
July 18, 2025

Minor Key Handbook – Now Available!

I’m so excited to release the Minor Key Handbook – featuring 8 print-friendly pages with the must-know essentials for playing guitar in minor keys!
July 11, 2025

Melody & Chords, Together! ft. Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

Learn to play the Hallelujah melody, with chords, at the same time! This is an incredibly satisfying way to play one of the all-time great songs.
June 30, 2025

FretMonster Update! New Features & PDF Handbook Now Available

I've made a bunch of updates to FretMonster, along with a free PDF ebook teaching you how to use my interactive fretboard tool. Check it out! An updated video tour is available too.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage

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