Mr. Tambourine Man

by Bob Dylan • Lesson #578 • Jan 9, 2025

About This Lesson

In today’s lesson I’ll teach you how to play Bob Dylan’s folk classic Mr. Tambourine Man. At its core, this can be played as a 3-chord song that’s quite beginner friendly. But as per usual, I’ll also include a handful of ways you can level things up. This includes several ways you can add flourish to various chords, as well as utilized drop-d tuning as Dylan does himself. Let’s get into it!

0:00 Overview
1:49 Verse & Chorus Basics
5:17 Strumming Patterns
7:57 Flourish with Dsus2
10:14 Flourish with Asus4
11:15 Flourish with Gadd6
12:23 Sneaking in an E-minor
14:18 Using Drop D Tuning

Quick Links

Practice Notes 4 pages

Lesson Discussion

Single-Strum Demonstrations

Here’s a few zoomed in videos, with tabs, showing me slowly playing through the chorus and verse progressions. I do a single strum of each measure, which is what I recommend when getting started. Master this, and then add whatever strumming pattern you like!

Standard Tuning

Drop-D Tuning

Play-Along Covers

Here’s some playthroughs where I put everything I teach together into one package, with lyrics on screen for context. The standard tuning example uses an intermediate strum (down-strums on each quarter note), while my drop-d video plays through the entire song from start to finish, using a “full” strumming pattern and chord flourish added throughout.

Standard Tuning (with intermediate strum)

Drop-D Tuning (with full strum)

Watch Bob Dylan Play It Live

Note, his guitar is tuned down one-half step. If you’re in standard tuning, you can play along with him by adding capo 2nd fret and using the chords I teach.

Required Chords & Techniques

Here’s a few suggested lessons if you need help with the chords this song uses, including the chord variations (Dsus, Asus, Gadd6, etc). Likewise I show my quick tip for tuning down to Drop-D without a tuner… it’s a good one to practice!

How to Tune to Drop-D By Ear (Without a Tuner)

Strumming & Syncopated Sus Chords

★ Instructional PDF

Looking for More Bob Dylan Lessons?

I’ve got a bunch – here’s the full list! Any additional materials I’ve made (licensed song sheets, practice notes, bonus videos) are available via the links below.

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Mr. Tambourine Man

About This Lesson

Quick Links

Practice Notes 4 pages

Lesson Discussion

Single-Strum Demonstrations

Standard Tuning

Drop-D Tuning

Play-Along Covers

Standard Tuning (with intermediate strum)

Drop-D Tuning (with full strum)

Watch Bob Dylan Play It Live

Required Chords & Techniques

Looking for More Bob Dylan Lessons?

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Blues Starter Kit

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learning Lead Guitar

Beginner Chord Guide

Practical Music Theory

Using a Capo

Walk Ups & Walk Downs

CAGED Essentials

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Key Master

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons