The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” is a classic that resonates with guitar players of all levels. Its intro, seemingly simple, is rich with acoustic textures and subtle guitar layering. If you’ve been looking for a way to capture the essence of this iconic song on your acoustic guitar, especially focusing on a solo performance, you’ve come to the right place. This lesson breaks down the intro of “Wild Horses” for acoustic guitar, providing you with easy-to-follow instructions and guitar tabs to get you started. We’ll explore strumming patterns, chord variations, and essential guitar riffs that will enhance your understanding and playing of this timeless piece.
Mastering the Basic Chords: G and Am
The foundation of the “Wild Horses” intro lies in the simple yet beautiful progression between G major and A minor chords. You’ll be alternating between these two chords, spending one measure (four counts) on each. This repetitive structure is perfect for practicing rhythm and exploring variations.
Then, play some Strum... Strum... Strum... lead riffs here!
v v v v v v v v
E |––3––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
B |––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
G |––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
D |––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|– ...repeat
A |––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
E |––3––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
G Am
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aThis basic chord sequence provides the canvas upon which we will build more intricate acoustic guitar arrangements. The simplicity is deceptive, allowing for a deep dive into rhythmic and melodic variations.
Exploring Different Strumming Patterns
To truly capture the feel of “Wild Horses” on acoustic guitar, experimenting with strumming patterns is key. Let’s start with a few options, progressing from simple to more nuanced rhythms.
Simple Down Strums
For beginners, a straightforward approach is to use all down strums on each beat. This provides a solid rhythmic foundation and allows you to focus on smooth chord changes between G and Am.
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
D D D DThis basic strumming pattern is easy to grasp and provides a fundamental rhythm for the song.
Album Version Inspired Strumming
If you want to emulate the strumming pattern heard in The Rolling Stones’ recording, try this:
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
D D U D D U D UThis pattern incorporates downstrokes and upstrokes, adding a bit more complexity and groove that’s closer to the original song’s feel.
Adding Up-Strums for Spice
To add a little more flair while maintaining simplicity, incorporate an up-strum just before beats 1 and 3, while keeping down strums on the main beats.
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
U D D U D DThis variation adds a subtle syncopation, making the rhythm more engaging without being overly complex.
Strumming with a Lead-in Bass Note
For a richer acoustic texture, try leading into each strum with the bass note of the chord. Play the bass note on beats 1 and 3, and then strum the full chord on beats 2 and 4. This technique adds depth and a melodic element to your strumming.
E ––––––––––3–––––––––––––––3––––––––|––––––––––0–––––––––––––––0–––––––|–
B ––––––––––0–––––––––––––––0––––––––|––––––––––1–––––––––––––––1–––––––|–
G ––––––––––0–––––––––––––––0––––––––|––––––––––2–––––––––––––––2–––––––|–
D ––––––––––0–––––––––––––––0––––––––|––––––––––2–––––––––––––––2–––––––|–
A ––––––––––2–––––––––––––––2––––––––|––0–––––––––––––––0–––––––––––––––|–
E ––3–––––––––––––––3––––––––––––––––|––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
G Am
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aThis strumming variation provides a more dynamic and interesting rhythmic feel, perfect for solo acoustic performances.
Spicing Up the G Major Chord
Beyond strumming, you can add subtle nuances by altering chord voicings. Let’s explore a way to spice up the G major chord. Try using a two-finger voicing for G, muting the 5th string with your ring finger.
E ––3–––By lightly touching the 5th string with your ring finger without pressing down, you mute it, creating a slightly different tonal color for the G chord. From this position, you can easily transition to a G* variation by shifting your index and middle fingers into the standard C major chord shape within the G chord form.
E ––3–––––––3–––3–––3–––––––3––––––––
B ––0–––––––0–––1–––0–––––––0––––––––
G ––0–––––––0–––0–––0–––––––0––––––––
D ––0–––––––0–––2–––0–––––––0––––––––
A ––x–––––––x–––x–––x–––––––x––––––––
E ––3–––––––3–––3–––3–––––––3––––––––
G G G* G G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aIncorporating this G* voicing adds a subtle melodic movement within the G chord measure, providing a touch of elegance and variation.
Adding Guitar Riffs to the A Minor Chord
The real magic of the “Wild Horses” intro comes alive with the addition of subtle guitar riffs played during the A minor chord measure. These riffs, inspired by the Rolling Stones’ recording, are played in the latter half of the A minor measure, adding melodic interest and connecting each chord change back to the G chord.
Here are six different riffs you can experiment with. Feel free to mix and match them, or even create your own variations!
Riff #1
E ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
B ––1–––––––––––––––––––3–3–3–––1––––|––0–––
G ––2–––––––––––––––––––4–4–4–––2––––|––0–––
D ––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0–––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––2–––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aRiff #2
E ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
B ––1–––––––––––––––1–0––––––––––––––|––––––
G ––2–––––––––––––––––––2–0–2–––2––––|––0–––
D ––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0–––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––2–––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aRiff #3
E ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
B ––1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
G ––2–––––––––––––––2–––0–––––––0––––|––––––
D ––2–––––––––––––––––2–––––0–2––––––|––––––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aRiff #4
E ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
B ––1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
G ––2–––––––––––––––2–0–––––––––0––––|––––––
D ––2–––––––––––––––––––––––0–2––––––|––––––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aRiff #5
E ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
B ––1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
G ––2–––––––––––––––––––––––0––––––––|––––––
D ––2–––––––––––––––––––0–2–––2–0––––|––––––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––––––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aRiff #6
E ––0––––––––––––––––––10––10–––8––––|––3–––
B ––1––––––––––––––––––12––12––10––––|––0–––
G ––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0–––
D ––2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––0–––
A ––0––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––2–––
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––
Am G
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + aDownload the Printable PDF for Offline Practice
To further enhance your learning experience, a printable PDF document is available. This PDF includes all the guitar tabs and notes from this lesson, allowing you to practice at your own pace, even without an internet connection. Download, print, and take your “Wild Horses” guitar tab lesson with you anywhere.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Learning the “Wild Horses” intro on acoustic guitar is a rewarding endeavor. By mastering these strumming patterns, chord variations, and riffs, you’ll not only be able to play a beautiful intro but also gain valuable techniques that you can apply to countless other songs. Remember to practice consistently, experiment with the different elements we’ve explored, and most importantly, enjoy the process of learning and making music. Good luck, and happy playing!
