Blowin In The Wind
by Bob DylanTranspose
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Capo
None
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Blowin' in the Wind – Bob Dylan
Written by: Bob Dylan
From: "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" (1963)
Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
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.
capo: 7th fret
play: G
key: D
BASIC PATTERN
capo 7th fret
VARIATIONS
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
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
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