Bob Dylan – Blowin In The Wind (Guitar Tab)
Versions
(8)
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Speed:
1.0x
Chords
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Written by: Bob Dylan
From: "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" (1963)
Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
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Dylan has performed this song live more than 1,500 times between 1962
and 2019 (https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/blowin-wind/), often in very
different arrangements. This is probably why people disagree so much
about keys, chords, and capo positions: Dylan keeps changing them
constantly, so it all depends on which version you’re listening to.
Official live releases include:
• The Concert for Bangla Desh (1971 – G)
• Before the Flood (1975 – C)
• Live at Budokan (1978 – D)
• Live 1975 (2002 – G, duet with Joan Baez)
• No Direction Home (2005, recorded 1963 – C)
Plus there are countless bootlegs — an audience tape from Oslo 2013,
for example, has a beautiful version in A major.
Studio recordings:
• The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963 – D, capo 7th fret, played as G)
• The Witmark Demos (2010, recorded 1962 – Db)
• The Basement Tapes (2014, recorded 1967 – A)
This tab follows the Freewheelin’ version. There’s a basic strumming
pattern used throughout, with small variations, some of which are shown
in the tab, especially in verse three. Dylan even hits a wrong chord
(“G” on the word “free”) in verse two before quickly correcting to “D”,
barely noticeable, but charming, I think. The lyrics are included with
chord symbols so you can play and sing along. Once you’ve learned this
version, try making it your own - Dylan does the same.
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capo: 7th fret
play: G
key: D
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BASIC PATTERN
capo 7th fret
INTRO G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------| B|----0-----0-0---|----------------| G|----0-----0-0---|--------%-------| D|----0-----0-0---|----------------| A|----------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------| VERSE G C G/B D/A D G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----------------| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0---0-0-0---|----0---0-0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|3---------------| G C G/B G/B G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|----------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|3---------------|3-------3-------| G C G/B D/A D G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0---0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|3-------3-------| G C G/B D/A D D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----2-----2-2---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----3-----3-3---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----2-----2-2---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0---0-0-0---|0---0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|----------------| G C G/B D/A D G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----3-----3-3---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0---0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|3-------3-------| G C G/B G/B G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----3-------3---|----------3-3---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|----------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|3---------------|3-------3-------| CHORUS (part 1: vocals) C C/B D/A D/F# G C C/G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| B|----1-----1-1---|----3-----3-3-3-|----0-----0-0---|----1-----1-1---| G|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----2-----------|----------0-0-0-|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2---| A|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------|3---------------| E|----------------|--------2-------|3---------------|--------3-------| C C/B D/A D/F# G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----3-----3-3---| B|----1-----1-1---|----3-----3-3-3-|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----0-----0-0---| D|----2-----------|----------0-0-0-|----0-----0-0---| A|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|----------------|--------2-------|3---------------| (part 2: harmonica) C C/B D D/F# G C C/G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| B|----1-----1-1---|----3-----3-3-3-|----0-----0-0---|----1-----1-1---| G|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2-2-|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----2-----------|0---------0-0-0-|----0-----0-0---|----2-----2-2---| A|3-------2-------|----------------|----------------|3---------------| E|----------------|--------2-------|3---------------|--------3-------| C C/B D D/F# G G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|----3-----3-3---|----3-----3-3---| B|----1-----1-1---|----3-3---3-3-3-|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----2-----------|0-----0---0-0-0-|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|--------2-------|3---------------|3---------------| CODA (= CHORUS 3, part 2: harmonica, last three bars) C C/B D D/F# G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 e|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|3 B|----1-----1-1---|----3-3---3-3-3-|0 G|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|0 D|----2-----------|0-----0---0-0-0-|0 A|3-------2-------|0---------------|- E|----------------|--------2-------|3
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VARIATIONS
VERSE 1 (line 2 “Before you call him a man?”) G C G/B G/B G e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0-0-0-0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0h2-------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|0h3-----3-------| VERSE 2 (line 1 “How many years can a mountain exist” and line 3 “How many years can some people exist”) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + G C G/B D/A D D/F# G e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----3-----3-3---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------0---|----0---0-0-----|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|------------2---|3-------3-------| CHORUS 2 (part 2: harmonica, last 4 bars) C C/B D D/F# G G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|----3---3-3-----|----3-----3-3---| B|----1-----1-1---|----3-3---3-3-3-|----0---0-0-----|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----2-2---2-2-2-|----0---0-0-----|0---0-----0-0---| D|----2-----------|0-----0---0-0-0-|----0---0-0-2---|----0-----0-0---| A|3-------2-------|0---------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|--------2-------|3---------------|--------3-------| VERSE 3 (line 1 “How many times must a man look up“) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + G C D D G e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----3-----3-3---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------1---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------2---|0---0---0-0-----|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|----------------|----------------|3-------3-------| VERSE 3 (line 3 “How many ears must one man have”) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + G C C/G D D/F# G e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----3-----3-3---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------1---|----3-----3-3---|----0-----0-0---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----0-----0-0---| D|----0-----0-0---|----2-------2---|0---0---0-0-----|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3---------------|----------------|----------------| E|3-------3-------|--------3-------|------------2---|3-------3-------| VERSE 3 (line 4 “Before he can hear people cry”) G G/D C G/B D/A D/F# D D/F# 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----2-----2-2---|----2-----2-2---| B|----0-----0-0---|----1-------0---|----3-----3-3---|----3-----3-3---| G|----0-----0-0---|----0-------0---|----2-----2-2---|----2-----2-2---| D|----0---0-0-0---|----2---0---0---|----0-----0-0---|----0-----0-0---| A|----------------|3-------2-------|0---------------|0---------------| E|3---------------|----------------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
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capo 7th fret
SPECIAL VOICINGS
E-A-D-G-B-e G/B x-2-0-0-0-3 D/A x-0-0-2-3-2 C/B x-2(2)0-1-0 D/F# 2-x-0-2-3-2 C/G 3-x-2-0-1-0
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[Intro]
| G | % |
[Verse 1]
G C G/B D/A G
How many roads must a man walk down
G C G/B G
Before you call him a man?
G C G/B D/A G
How many seas must a white dove sail
G C G/B D/A
Before she sleeps in the sand?
G C G/B D/A G
Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
G C G/B G
Before they’re forever banned?
C C/B D/A G C C/G
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
C C/B D/A D/F# | G |
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
[Interlude] harmonica
| C C/B | D/A D/F# | G | C C/G |
| C C/B | D/A D/F# | G | G |
[Verse 2]
G C G/B D/A G
Yes, ’n’ how many years can a mountain exist
G C G/B G
Before it is washed to the sea?
G C G/B D/A G
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
G C G/B D/A
Before they’re allowed to be free?
G C G/B D/A G
Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head
G C G/B G
An’pretend that he just doesn’t see?
C C/B D/A D/F# G C C/G
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
C C/B D/A D/F# | G |
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
[Interlude] harmonica
| C C/B | D/A D/F# | G | C C/G |
| C C/B | D/A D/F# | G | G |
[Verse 3]
G C D G
Yes, ’n’ how many ... times must a man look up
G C G/B G
Before he can see the sky?
G C C/G D D/F# G
Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have
G C G/B | D/A D/F# | D/A D/F# |
Before he can hear people cry?
G C G/B D/A G
Yes, ’n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
G C G/B G
That too many people have died?
C C/B D/A D/F# G C C/G
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
C C/B D/A D/F# | G |
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
[Coda] harmonica
| C C/B | D/A | G | C C/G |
| C C/B | D/A | G