Knockin’ On Heavens Door is an iconic classic song with only four chords needed for playing it. This lesson will cover open G, D and A minor chords with an easy strumming pattern.
Starting off, your chords may not sound powerful or clear; that is normal as your finger strength and technique grow over time.
G Major
G major is one of the first chords beginners learn on stringed instruments such as guitar, ukulele and bass. This chord features G, B and D which can all easily be found using open strings on your fretboard. Sharpening its seventh note produces F sharp – however it is rarely used due to sounding too dissonant and disconcerting for modern popular music.
Numerous songs feature chords written in the key of G, from those from classical music to contemporary compositions. Twelve of Joseph Haydn’s 106 Symphonies are written using this chord progression; as are several piano sonatas by Edvard Grieg and Camille Saint-Saens.
Bob Dylan’s song Knockin’ on Heavens Door provides an ideal opportunity for beginner guitarists to practice chord progression. All four chords required to perform this classic are G, D, A minor and C – easy open chords which can be fingered easily on the fretboard.
D Major
This chord serves as the base for many classic rock guitar riffs that many beginning guitarists may have grown up playing. Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 single, Spirit in the Sky” sold over 2 Million copies and remains one of the most iconic rock guitar riffs worldwide.
This song provides a great introduction to the D major barre chord with only four basic chords, making it easier for beginners to switch between chords as they practice switching them on their instrument. Furthermore, its straightforward rhythm makes learning this chord simple.
The D major chord has an exquisite melody, but you should also experiment with adding dissonance to it. Even just one note clashing against its companion notes can add tension and darkness to an otherwise beautiful sound, so familiarize yourself with these discordant sounds as part of playing music.
Am Major
Knockin’ on Heavens Door by Bob Dylan is one of his classic hits that resonates with both experienced and novice guitarists alike. Utilizing only four easy chords strummed along with lyrics, this tune makes for great playing at parties, jam sessions, or simply for fun – and is a wonderful opportunity to experiment with how major and minor chords can create different moods in a song.
In this video I will demonstrate the guitar chords for Knockin’ on Heavens Door and demonstrate its strumming pattern as well as some variations to enhance it further. You can make this song sound either like Dylan or Guns N’ Roses-like depending on your personal preferences; I will be playing the song in folk G (X0003) so be aware of muting string 5 with finger 3 and lifting off finger 1 from Am chord to form an Asus2 chord for added dynamism.
C Major
Knockin’ on Heavens Door is one of Bob Dylan’s best-known hits and was famously covered by Slash from Guns N Roses. This song is perfect for beginning guitarists as there are no complex chords or licks; also its simple rhythm and strumming pattern is easy to master.
Dan Farrant, founder of Hello Music Theory, has helped thousands of students tap their musical potential through practice and developing a solid learning regimen. According to Dan, practicing is the key to success and that creating a daily schedule for learning will lead to optimal results.
Understanding the chords behind a guitar solo and their effect on note selection, mood and dynamics will allow you to better interpret what each riff is trying to express. Focusing on chord tones can help enhance your playing and produce a more melodic sound – for instance, in Knockin’ on Heavens Door solo transition between 5th and 1st positions of G major scale scale for its opening lick.