Wild Horses Guitar Lesson - The Rolling Stones - Acoustic

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Released in 1971 on The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album, "Wild Horses" has become one of The Rolling Stones' most beloved ballads.

Primarily acoustic based, "Wild Horses" also includes some rather unique guitar layering including a Nashville tuned acoustic. Nashville tuning requires you to re-tune the EADG strings on your guitar up an octave.

However, in this Wild Horses guitar lesson I will demonstrate a nice condensed version of the song that can be played on just one standard tuned acoustic guitar.

Wild Horses is a gorgeous song with some very nice chord progressions that aren't very difficult to play at all. In fact, if you can at least play barre chords, I think you will be playing the entire song in minutes after watching this video lesson.

My aim for this tutorial is not to recreate all the little solos or fill or whatever. I just wanted to demonstrate a way to play this beautiful acoustic based track with one guitarist. Hopefully you will enjoy the results.

There actually is a guitar on the recording playing pretty much exactly what I am demonstrating in this video lesson. It is that guitar part that forms the foundation of the song that all the other guitar layers are complimenting and playing over. That kind of guitar layering is a Rolling Stones trademark.

In any case, The Rolling Stones themselves don't do all of the guitar layers live either. It would be impossible to do so.

So sit back and strum some nice chord progressions with this one. It is all you need to convincingly play "Wild Horses".

There are only a few chord progressions to learn, so hopefully you will have the entire song up and running in no time. I suggest trying to play along with the original recording when practicing since The Rolling Stones seem to treat this song differently just about every time they play it live. This lesson is based off of the original studio recording. :)

OK have fun everyone!

Carl...

[PamEric]

I once read that Keith preferred the open tuning so he could enjoy his smoke during the song...lol  Great lesson by the way, outstanding.

[MichaelSmith-igbw]

Thanks for simplifying this, Carl. I can't play two guitars at once, one in open G and one in Nashville tuning. You da man!!! So simple even I can play it.

[morbixkillerxz]

Carl has taught me enough to be able to play this song by just watching to intro.

[JonDunnmusician]

Style & detail- Just missed your wonderful singing voice to tie it all together Carl

[teresa]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO! 😭 this song was played at my cousins funeral in 2015 it's gonna be a year in a couple of months that he's been gone and I was determined to learn it. And I am glad this video was made there are so many layers to it and I appreciate you took the time to condense it into a one guitar version 🐴🎸🎼🎶❤️

[Robert]

That Keith sure can write them and Mick can sing them. Thanks.

[JL-fswh]

You are a phenomenal teacher! Awesome lesson.

[aviator]

I'm getting guitar soon, until then I'm aimlessly watching tutorials lol. Btw I love the rolling stones, tysm for this video!

[tstoneami]

Never played a g that way! Need to re-learn it! Good vid!

[henryleon]

You are very good. I finally could play something
Thank you

[jjret]

Excellent acoustic lesson.  Thank You.

[chaketzcruz]

Fantastic, Thanks a Lot For This One ☝🏼🎸

[alfredeneuman]

Your instruction is good. You can also play this in Open G tuning like Keith Richards. It's pretty easy.

[ravensaid]

What an interesting way to play the G chord. Tough on the pinky plus A string gets muted, now wondering whether I have sausage fingers or it just needs practice. but thanks heaps for the lesson 👌

[kennyperschau]

Can you, please, do a lesson on how to play, "Salt of the Earth" by the Rolling Stones?
Is it in Open D tuning, for example, etc.

[ugointroini]

hallo Carl, I'm Ugo from milano, just joined GL365 and must say it's really eautifull. is there any place here where I can find tablatures of the lessons? thank you, ugo

[NateDouden]

Please do a lesson on the solo!!!! Really like the song!!

[ugointroini]

really grate video. beautifull ans easy explain.

[jeremy]

Hellow, Thanks for a leason, what about of the solo?

[biaiznaich]

cool....thanks bro....quite the time saver! cheers! : )