Chris Stapleton’s country song ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ sent shockwaves through the music world when it made its debut in 2015. That first performance marked only the start of an incredible rise for both him and the song itself.
Tennessee whiskey must meet specific legal requirements, including grain mixture, distillation proof and the Lincoln County process that filters new-make spirit through charcoal filters prior to barreling.
1. The Whiskey Song (Alison Krauss)
This song tells a sad love story and features some interesting guitar chords. The rhythm guitar part consists of only two chords: A major and B minor – which make this beginner friendly.
One day, a man walks into his home and finds his wife with another man. To escape his sorrow, he attempts to drown it with whiskey – but ultimately succumbs to its effects, and dies under a willow tree.
Alison Krauss and Union Station’s live performances interweave seamlessly into the unfolding storyline, lending them their trademark bluegrass virtuosity and playing live alongside narration of events as they occur. Considered instrumental to the revival of American roots music, this Grammy award winning group includes Alison Krauss (fiddle, vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar/mandolin/bass/banjo), Barry Bales (bass), and Ron Block (banjo), known for bridged roots/country genres with ease.
2. The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Alison Krauss)
Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton is an emotive country song about overcoming addiction and finding true love, featuring an inspiring intro riff and stellar solo. Perfect for beginners as the rhythm guitar only uses 2 chords!
Strumming pattern for this song is straightforward, though there are a few considerations you’ll need to keep in mind. As the song is set in 6/8 time, count “1 2 3 4 5 6”.
As well, there are other chord symbols that may not be familiar to you, like “h” for hammering on notes with your fretting hand and “p” for pulling off notes, while “bend” indicates to bend notes while “/” suggests using vibrato.
3. I’ll Be There For You (Alison Krauss)
Chris Stapleton adds his own spin to this classic country drinking song by singing to a woman and not drinking for happiness.
Stapleton’s rendition takes a more modern approach to the song, adding R&B and jazz influences for an atmospheric rendition evocative of sitting in an intimate bar and watching a band perform live.
Alison Krauss is one of the most influential musicians in country music, and her 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant on Raising Sand has cemented traditional Americana into mainstream consciousness. As such, she continues to push the limits of her genre.
4. The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Alison Krauss)
Chris Stapleton’s version of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” is an emotive country song about overcoming alcohol abuse and finding true love, with an engaging intro riff for beginners, an incredible solo for intermediate players, and an inviting rhythm guitar part consisting of just two chords! Perfect if you’re new to guitar!
This song is in A major and uses standard tuning. If you are having trouble reaching higher notes, a capo may be useful in reaching them more quickly. The tablature above provides instructions for placing fingers on fretboard; also included is how and which notes should be strummed/held/strummed and held. Sliding to the next note might also be effective here.
5. Tennessee Whiskey (Alison Krauss)
Chris Stapleton’s country song is an ideal song to learn for beginner guitar players, featuring straightforward chords and strumming patterns that are straightforward. Additionally, its fun intro riff offers beginners plenty of fun!
This easy country tune boasts a relaxing groove and should be straightforward for anyone to play on guitar. Only simple chords are used, including one barre chord in one spot. If you want an additional challenge, try using a capo at the 2nd fret instead!
For effective tablature reading, it’s essential to understand what each chord symbol signifies. For instance, seeing “h” above a note means you should hammer on that note, while seeing an “s” indicates you should slide towards it.