Guns N' Roses – Knockin On Heavens Door (Guitar Acoustic Tab)

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Song: Knockin On Heaven's Door Artist: Guns N Roses (Bob Dylan Cover) Tabbed By: bmchrestoff (June 1996) IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE NOTES 1) I used to perform this song as an acoustic solo w/ a Loop Pedal and Vocal Harmonizer because it lends itself quite well to do so. I have marked places to step on the Record Pedal and then where to drop the loop in so you can play the solo over the rhythm by yourself. 2) I tabbed Slash's first solo but skipped the second because that was how I performed it 24 years ago. In about 2005(?) the first Loop Pedals came out and I used one to perform this song. 3) Slash's first solo is for the most part acoustic friendly but I still found it necessary to drop down an octave towards the end because my Yamaha acoustic did not have 20 usable frets. 4) I tend to use slides rather than bends on acoustic solos because I find it easier to adapt it from an electric performance. 5) The song is as GNR played it except f/a few better sounding chord grips when played acoustically. NOTE: THE ONLY LIBERTY I TOOK WAS THE ADDITION OF AN Fadd9 CHORD IN THE CHORUS DURING THE "HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY YEAH". What makes it cool is you can keep the Cadd9 chord shape and slide up to 8th fret and the tonality of the Cadd9 w/ the Fadd9 works well together. 6) The Outro I played pretty much as tabbed. I would make a loop of the Outro and then play over it w/ octave slides and anything else I could think of. Chords Used In This Song: G5 3 X 0 0 3 3 D X X 0 2 3 2 C X 3 2 0 1 0 Cadd9 X 3 2 0 3 X Dadd4add9 X 5 4 0 5 X Am X 0 2 2 1 0 Dadd9 X X 0 7 7 0 C6/A X 0 10 9 8 X Fadd9 X 8 7 0 8 X G5/D X X 12 12 X X D5 X X 12 11 X X C X X 9 10 X X [Intro]
Eb|---3-----3----------------2--0------------------------------0---------------------|
Bb|---3-------3---3--------3------3---3-----------------1-------------1--------------|
Gb|---0---------0--------2----------2-----------------0---0---------0---0-----0------|
Db|---0----------------0-------------------0-h-2----2-------2-----2-------2----------|
Ab|---X-------------------------------------------3-------------------------3--------|
Eb|---3------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Eb|---3-----3----------------2--0----------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---3-------3---3--------3------3---3-----------------1-------------1--------------------|
Gb|---0---------0--------2----------2-----------------0---0---------0---0-----0--0--0--0---|
Db|---0----------------0-------------------0-h-2----2-------2-----2-------2---2--2--2--0---|
Ab|---X-------------------------------------------3-----------3---------------3--3--3--0---|
Eb|---3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 More Aggressive
Eb|---3-------3-----3-------2-------------------X-----X---------X-----X---X-----------------|
Bb|---3-------3-----3-------3-------------------3-----3---------3-----3-/-5-----------------|
Gb|---0-------0-----0-------2------7-/-9-\-7----0-----0---------0-----0---0-----------------|
Db|---0-------0-----0-------0-------------------2-----2---------2-----2-/-4-----------------|
Ab|---X-------X-----X--------------5-/-7-\-5----3-----3---------3-----3-/-5-----------------|
Eb|---3-------3-----3-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                                   N.C.
Eb|---3-------3-----3-------2------2---2--------X-------------------------------------------|
Bb|---3-------3-----3-------3------3---3--------3-------------------------------------------|
Gb|---0-------0-----0-------2------2---2--------0-------------------------------------------|
Db|---0-------0-----0-------0------0---0--------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|---X-------X-----X---------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|---3-------3-----3-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
Eb|----3----3-----------2-------0--------0----------0-----------------0------------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3----3---------3----3------------1-----0-h-1-------------1------------------------------|
Gb|----0--------0-------2------------2--------------2---2-------2---------2----2--------0-----0----0-------|
Db|----0----------------0---------------------------2-------------2-----2--------0-h-2-----2-----2---------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------------0------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
          Mama         take this    badge   from     me

Eb|----3----3---------------0----0-------0------X-----------------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3--------7------7---7--------8------------8----------------------------|
Gb|----0---------0----------7--------7----------9----------9---9---7-/-9--9-9-\-7---------|
Db|----0--------------------0-------------------10------10--------------------------------|
Ab|----X----------------------------------------0-----0------------5-/-7--7-7-\-5---------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                  I can't use it             anymore

Eb|----3----3-----------2-------0--------0----------0-----------------0------------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3----3---------3----3------------1-----0-h-1-------------1------------------------------|
Gb|----0--------0-------2------------2--------------2---2-------2---------2----2--------0-----0----0-------|
Db|----0----------------0---------------------------2-------------2-----2--------0-h-2-----2-----2---------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------------0------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
           Its getting dark too   dark     to       see

Eb|---------3---------------0----0-------0------X----------------------------10-----------|
Bb|----3------3----3--------7------7---7--------8------------8------------8---------------|
Gb|----0---------0----------7--------7----------9----------9---9-------9------------------|
Db|----0--------------------0-------------------10------10----------10--------------------|
Ab|----X----------------------------------------0-----0-----------0-----------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
            Feels like I'm knockin' on Heaven's door

[Chorus 1]  Punch In a Digital Loop at *G5 and stop at *G5 to play during Solo
      *G5              D5                  Cadd9          Cadd9
Eb|----3---------------X----------------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3---------------3----------------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0---------------2----------------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0---------------0----------------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,    hey,   hey,   hey hey

      *G5
Eb|----3---------------X--------------------0--------------X------------------------------|
Bb|----3---------------3--------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Gb|----0---------------2--------------------0--------------0------------------------------|
Db|----0---------------0--------------------2--------------7------------------------------|
Ab|----X------------------------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

Eb|----3---------------X----------------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3---------------3----------------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0---------------2----------------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0---------------0----------------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
          Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

      G5
Eb|----3---------------X--------------------0--------------X------------------------------|
Bb|----3---------------3--------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Gb|----0---------------2--------------------0--------------0------------------------------|
Db|----0---------------0--------------------2--------------7------------------------------|
Ab|----X------------------------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey
[Solo] (#Hit "Play" pedal on Loop Box and play Solo over as created backing track
     #G5                     D5                  Cadd9
Eb|----3----------------------X---------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3----------------------3---------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0----------------------2---------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0----------------------0---------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                              ~~~~~~~~~
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|-------------------------15-------------------------------------15/17---15-------------|
Gb|------12--12/14--12--14------14/15--12--12-12----------------12------------------------|
Db|-------------------------------------------------------13/14---------------------------|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

    #G5                     D5                  Cadd9
Eb|-------------3-----------------X---------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|-------------3-----------------3---------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|-------------0-----------------2---------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|-------------0-----------------0---------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|-------------X---------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|-------------3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eb|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15----|
Bb|-----------15/17---15---13p12/14-----13p12-----13---p---12--------------------12--13----13-|
Gb|--------12---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|--13/14-----------------------------------------------------14-----------------------------|
Ab|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

     #G5                     D5                 Cadd9
Eb|----3----------------------X-------------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3----------------------3-------------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0----------------------2-------------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0----------------------0-------------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X------------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

        ~~~~~~
Eb|------------------15--17/19--17---17/19--17/18--15-----------------------------------------|
Bb|----12-----15/17---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Ab|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

       NOTE I dropped the solo down an octave here
     #G5                     D5                 Cadd9
Eb|----3--------------------X-----------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3--------------------3-----------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0--------------------2-----------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0--------------------0-----------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                              ~~~~~~~~
Eb|----8--8p7--8----7--8/10-------8---8---8-----------------------------------------------|
Bb|------------------------------------------5--------------------------------------------|
Gb|----------------------------------------------------7/9\7/9\7--------------------------|
Db|--------------------------------------------------------------7/9\7/9\7---5--5---------|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 2]
Eb|----3----3-----------2-------0--------0----------0-----------------0------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3----3---------3----3------------1-----0-h-1-------------1------------------------|
Gb|----0--------0-------2------------2--------------2---2-------2---------2----2--------0-----0----0-|
Db|----0----------------0---------------------------2-------------2-----2--------0-h-2-----2-----2---|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------------0------------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
          Mama     put my guns   in    the    ground

Eb|---------3---------------0----0-------0------X--------------------------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3--------7------7---7--------8-------8------------------------------------------|
Gb|----0---------0----------7--------7----------9-----9---9-------0-----0-----0---- 0--------------|
Db|----0--------------------0-------------------10------------0h2---0h2---0h2---0h2----------------|
Ab|----X----------------------------------------0--------------------------------------2-----------|
Eb|----3-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
            I   can't  shoot    them       anymore

Eb|----3----3-----------2-------0--------0----------0----------------------------------------------|
Bb|----3------3----3----3---------3----3------------1-----0-h-1-----------1------------------------|
Gb|----0--------0-------2------------2--------------2---2-------2-------2----2--------0-----0----0-|
Db|----0----------------0---------------------------2-------------2---2--------0-h-2-----2-----2---|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
           That cold    black cloud is coming down

Eb|---------3---------------0----0-------0------X------------------------------10-----------|
Bb|----3------3----3--------7------7---7--------8------------8---8----------8---------------|
Gb|----0---------0----------7--------7----------9----------9---9---------9------------------|
Db|----0--------------------0-------------------10------10------------10--------------------|
Ab|----X----------------------------------------0-----0-------------0-----------------------|
Eb|----3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
            Feels like I'm knockin' on Heaven's door
[Chorus 2]
       G5              D5                  Cadd9          Cadd9
Eb|----3---------------X----------------------0----------------0----------0-----------------|
Bb|----3---------------3----------------------3-------------------3----------3--------------|
Gb|----0---------------2----------------------0----------------------0----------0-----------|
Db|----0---------------0----------------------2--------------0----------0-------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3---------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,    hey,   hey,   hey,   hey

       G5
Eb|----3---------------X--------------------0--------------X------------------------------|
Bb|----3---------------3--------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Gb|----0---------------2--------------------0--------------0------------------------------|
Db|----0---------------0--------------------2--------------7------------------------------|
Ab|----X------------------------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

Eb|----3---------------X----------------------0----------------0--------0-----------------|
Bb|----3---------------3----------------------3-------------------3--------3--------------|
Gb|----0---------------2----------------------0--------------0-------0--------0-----------|
Db|----0---------------0----------------------2-------------------------------------------|
Ab|----X--------------------------------------3-------------------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
          Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

       G5
Eb|----3---------------X--------------------0--------------X------------------------------|
Bb|----3---------------3--------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Gb|----0---------------2--------------------0--------------0------------------------------|
Db|----0---------------0--------------------2--------------7------------------------------|
Ab|----X------------------------------------3--------------8------------------------------|
Eb|----3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

[Bridge] Use Harmonizer
   N.C. (G5)            (D5)                (Cadd9)
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
          Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

    N.C. (G5)            (D5)                (Cadd9)
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
         Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

[Chorus 3]
      * Punch in this chord progression from *G5 to *G5 using your Record Pedal on your Loop Box
     *G5/D                    D5                     C
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---|
Db|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
     Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door,      hey, hey, hey hey

     *G5/D                    D5                     C
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---|
Db|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
               Knock, knock, knocking  on  Heaven's  door, hey,     hey,    hey,     hey

[Outro] Hit Play Pedal on Loop Box and use track to Improvise the Outro
     G5/D
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---|
Db|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--|
Ab|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
              Knock, knock, knocking  on  Heaven's  door, hey,     hey,    hey,     hey

Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gb|--12----12----12----12---11----11----11----11----9----9----9----9----9----9----9-/-11--12----------|
Db|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Ab|--10----10----10----10---9-----9-----9-----9-----7----7----7----7----7----7----7-/-9---12----------|
Eb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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