Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[intro]
[Dm] [Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]
[Opening]
Seen the [Dm]arrow on[A7]the doorpost[Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Saying, “This [A7]land is [Dm]condemned [Am] [Dm]
All the [A7]way from [C]New [G]Orleans
[Bb]To [C]Jerusalem.” [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
I [A7]traveled through East [Dm]Texas [Am] [Dm]
Where many [A7]martyrs [Dm]fell [Am] [Dm]
And I know [A7]no one can [C]sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[section 2]
Well, I [Dm]heard the [A7]hoot owl singing [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
As they were [A7]taking down the [Dm]tents [Am] [Dm]
The stars [A7]above the [C]barren trees[G]
Were [Bb]his only [C] [Dm]audience [Am] [Dm]
Them [A7]charcoal gypsy [Dm]maidens [Am] [Dm]
Can strut their [A7]feathers [Dm]well [Am] [Dm]
But [A7]nobody can [C]sing the blues [G]
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[section 3]
[Dm]See them [A7]big plantations [Dm]burning [Am] [Dm]
Hear the [A7]cracking of the [Dm]whips [Am] [Dm]
Smell that sweet [A7]magnolia [C]blooming [G]
(And) see the [Bb]ghosts of [C]slavery [Dm]ships
I can hear them [A7]tribes [Dm]a-moaning [Am] [Dm]
(I can) hear the [A7]undertaker’s [Dm]bell
(Yeah), no[A7]body can [C]sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[section 4]
There’s a [Dm] [A7]woman by the [Dm]river [Am] [Dm]
With some [A7]fine young handsome [Dm]man [Am] [Dm]
He’s dressed up [A7]like a squire [C] [G]
[Bb]Bootlegged [C]whiskey in his [Dm]hand
There’s a chain [A7]gang on the [Dm]highway [Am] [Dm]
I can [A7]hear them rebels y[Dm]ell[Am] [Dm]
And I know no [A7]one c[C]an sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like [C]Blind Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[Closing]
Well, [Dm]God is [A7]in [Dm]heaven [Am] [Dm]
And we [A7]all want what’s [Dm]his [Am] [Dm]
But power and g[A7]reed and [C]corruptible seed[G]
[Bb]Seem to be [C]all that there [Dm]is
I’m gazing [A7]out the window [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Of the St. [A7]James [Dm]Hotel [Am] [Dm]
And I know [A7]no one [C]can sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind [C]Willie [Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
How to play Blind Willie McTell on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell on ukulele requires 6 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Blind Willie McTell uses these transitions most often: Dm → A7 (31), Am → Dm (26), and Dm → Am (26). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Dm - A7 chord transition.
1. Dm → A7 chord transition
To move from Dm to A7;
- While playing Dm, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
2. Dm → Am chord transition
To move from Dm to Am;
- While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
3. A7 → C chord transition
To move from A7 to C;
- While playing A7, lift your index finger from C string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on C string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. G → Bb chord transition
To move from G to Bb;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
6. Bb → C chord transition
To move from Bb to C;
- While playing Bb, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C to Dm;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
Blind Willie McTell chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Blind Willie McTell.
- Blind Willie McTell includes 154 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Blind Willie McTell contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Blind Willie McTell connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Dm, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
- Dm → Am: 14%
- Dm → A7: 1%
After A7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are D (41%), D7 (18%), and Dm (13%).- A7 → Dm: 13%
- A7 → C: 2%