WWW.AZCHORDS.COM | Blackberry Smoke - Holding All The Roses Chords | Ver. 1
How to play "Holding All The Roses" by Blackberry Smoke on guitar
Intro and Verse Riff:
This starts out with a D5/A chord and quickly moves through F, then Em, and back to D5/A—hence instantly setting a punchy, propulsive pattern.
The strumming begins with well-articulated power chords, where one is required to have confidence in his/her strumming, making the
feel of rock overall punchy.
Verse Chords:
It also makes use of F5 and G5 power chords, which are so common in rock music. You might want to strum these with powerful,
smooth down-strokes and perfectly timed with the rhythm of the lyrics.
"You look like you've seen a ghost"
"I don't think it's even gonna be close"
These lines should be played with a consistent rhythm on F5, moving to G5 on the turns of the phrase.
Chorus Chords and Strumming:
You might want to move to the chorus using D5 and Bb5. From here, you could strum as either a down or an upstroke to gain
a much fuller, more ringing sound that really backs up the anthem-like shout:
"Here I am see me comin' around"
"Swinging out wide with the hammer down" The shift between D5, Bb5, and G5 needs to be smooth and swift, driving the
energetic vibe of the chorus.
Guitar & Fiddle Solos:
Play through the sequence A5, C5, A5, Bb5, D5, Bb5, G5, D5 and back to Bb5 for the solos. Use the A minor pentatonic
scale to improvise over the chords.
The intent would be to focus on catching the mood of the solos with bends, slides, and vibrato.
General Tips:
Tuning: Standard tuning works well for this song. Ensure each string is in tune before playing.
Tone: Use an amp setup that gives a clear rock tone with slight overdrive, not to lose the gritty texture.
Practice: Start slow to get comfortable with the chord changes and the strumming patterns, then work it up to the speed of the song.
After mastering these parts, combine them with the singing, if applicable, to perform the complete song.
Additional Song Information:
- Album: "Holding All The Roses" is the title track from Blackberry Smoke's album released in 2015.
- Lyricists/Composers: The song was composed by the members of Blackberry Smoke.
Did You Know? One of the key representative sounds that this track portrays with efficiency is the ability to interpolate
Southern Rock and Country elements, something for which this band is best known.
- Lyrics Meaning:
The lyrics give a metaphor that represents surmounting something that was destined to happen
and coming out winning against such predicaments, signified by "holding all the roses" as one does when they
have emerged victoriously from a competition. Hopefully, this tutorial could enlighten and help play
"Holding All The Roses" effectively, feeling in touch with the musical style of Blackberry Smoke.
[Intro]
D5/A F Em D5/A
[Verse 1]
F5
You look like you've seen a ghost
F5
I don't think it's even gonna be close
G5
Your rabbit's foot and your four leaf clover
G5
Throw them away and start all over
[Chorus]
D5 Bb5
Here I am see me comin' around
G5 D5
Swinging out wide with the hammer down
Bb5
There I go watch me leave you behind
G5 D5
Holding all the roses on the other side
[Interlude]
D5/A F Em D5/A
[Verse 2]
F5
The odds against me were 20 to 1
F5
Carry that weight like it weighs a ton
G5
Ain't no luck in a gasoline rainbow
G5
Come on drop that rag away we go
[Chorus]
D5 Bb5
Here I am see me comin' around
G5 D5
Swinging out wide with the hammer down
Bb5
There I go watch me leave you behind
G5 D5
Holding all the roses on the other side
[Guitar & Fiddle Solos]
A5 C5 A5 Bb5
D5 Bb5 G5 D5 Bb5
G5 D5
[Chorus]
D5 Bb5
Here I am see me comin' around
G5 D5
Swinging out wide with the hammer down
Bb5
There I go watch me leave you behind
G5 D5
Holding all the roses on the other side
Bb5 G5 D5
Here I am ain't a thing you can do
Bb5 G5 D5 F Em
There I go it's the end of the line
[Outro]
D5/A F Em D5/A F Em D5/A
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