Song practice guide
How to Practice Mr. Tambourine Man
Bob Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man' is one of the most-played folk-rock songs ever written. The simple chord progression, the imagistic lyric, and the universally familiar chorus have made it a cornerstone of folk and singer-songwriter repertoire for sixty years.
Song Details
- Key
- D
- Tempo
- 115 BPM
- Time
- 4/4
- Style
- boom-chuck
Structure
This song is still under copyright, so we publish its form rather than its chord chart. Add it to your library and you can enter or attach your own chart, and Repertoire will schedule it either way.
What to Focus On
Simple chord changes through G major. Steady acoustic strumming. Singing the imagistic lyric with reflective phrasing.
Practice Tips
- 1
Three or four chords, no excuses. Master the changes and the lyric is what's left.
- 2
The Byrds' arrangement is the more-streamed reference; Dylan's original is the songwriter's reference.
- 3
The chorus is what people sing along to. Practice it confidently.
Why This Song
It's the great Dylan folk-rock standard, and a singer-songwriter milestone.
Practice Mr. Tambourine Man Daily
Repertoire uses spaced repetition to keep your songs sharp. Add this song to your collection and the system schedules your practice automatically.
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