The Guitar Zone

Originally released on the 1979 Damn the Torpedoes album, the song Refugee as made famous by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers put the band on the map. To many this classic rock guitar song was a first glimpse into the genius of Tom Petty, who went on to become a major influence for those deciding to learn guitar.

Much of what makes Refugee such a timeless and beautiful track is its songwriting and arrangement. The track offers a world of subtle nuances that play a big part in achieving the iconic rock guitar sound that’s so familiar. Because of this, Tom Petty tabs and more specifically Refugee tabs are given to guitar students by guitar instructors, in an effort to learn guitar techniques that are often overlooked.

While the song might sound relatively simple to play, it took the band a very long time to finish recording in the studio. In fact, guitarist Mike Campbell has stated that there were times during the production of the song when he didn’t think it would ever be finished. Take after take went by, and the song just didn’t feel right to Tom Petty and the band. In fact, it took over one hundred takes before it really took shape into the timeless song people are familiar with today.

The Refugee recording process wasn’t the start of the Damn The Torpedoes album struggle, as the business end of the band was also in trouble. The record company that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were signed to allegedly tried to sell the band’s contracts to another record label without any band approval, which had a strong impact on Petty. He has stated that in hindsight he hears his more defiant side on songs from this time, especially Refugee.

Despite the tumultuous process that Refugee went through in studio, the finished product helped launch the band into the limelight. The guitar heard in Refugee uses interesting techniques like guitar vibrato, which adds personality to the guitar without getting in the way of the vocals or other instruments. Ascending melodies are created with double stop guitar riffs, and are a good transition to the multiple guitar solos in the song. These solos incorporate rock and blues guitar licks using the pentatonic scale, making Tom Petty tabs like Refugee tabs great for people trying to learn guitar in nearly any genre.

The pentatonic blues scale outlined in the notes of many Tom Petty tabs is one of the most popular scales heard in rock and blues. Consisting of just five notes, the scale is the foundation for not just refugee guitar solos, but many of the short licks that can be learned with refugee tabs.

For Tom Petty tabs, including refugee tabs, learn guitar by visiting GuitarTricks.com

For most guitar players, musicians, and just about everyone else, the term “southern rock” instantly makes you think of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It is probably also true that when people think of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, they hear that famous Sweet Home Alabama guitar hook, that the band became popular for. Sweet Home Alabama changed rock and roll, and has become a southern rock guitar anthem.

Back in 1974 when Sweet Home Alabama was written, Lynyrd Skynyrd was just starting to get people’s attention. During the previous year the band had opened for The Who on its Quadrophenia tour across the United States, and their first big single Free Bird was really taking flight, so to speak.

Bass player Ed King had begun to learn guitar for the band, joining guitar player Gary Rossington in the six-string department. Inspired by a guitar riff he had heard Rossington playing at rehearsal, King actually had a dream the same night about a full song based on the riff. The next day, King sat down to learn guitar parts and other sounds he heard in his dream, and later presented the idea to the band. Little did he know, the Sweet Home Alabama guitar part that came to him in a dream would become a huge hit song for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

As it gained popularity, musicians everywhere were inspired to learn Lynyrd Skynyrd guitar riffs as they were practically a guitar lesson in a totally new sound. Using Sweet Home Alabama guitar tabs and video guitar lessons, pickers still seek to learn guitar from the song today. Featuring elements of blues, country, and rock guitar, it molds many different musical styles and techniques together. Some of the guitar licks even take cues from bluegrass, with the “boogie” rhythm heard during the song’s chorus sections. For guitar players, the song offers a great example of useful techniques like ghost notes, interesting chord tones and pentatonic lead playing that can be deconstructed with good guitar tabs.

Lyrically, Sweet Home Alabama has strong references to “Southern Man” and “Alabama” by folk/rock guitar player Neil Young. While this style of lyrical back and forth is commonplace today, in 1974 it was quite revolutionary.

Despite the song being released over thirty years ago, it still remains very relevant today. In 2007 the state of Alabama announced that it would be using the song title and music in advertising campaigns for tourism in the state, and it is even printed on all Alabama license plates. Even today beginning guitar players often start out by trying to learn Sweet Home Alabama guitar lessons or use online guitar tabs for the song, as it teaches not only basic guitar chords but also the style and techniques of southern rock.

For Sweet Home Alabama tabs, visit GuitarTricks.com