Beast of Burden Guitar Lesson (Rolling Stones)

Keith Richards said, "Music is a great healer, a great diffuser of things. It's a great way to express yourself." 

I couldn’t agree more. And that’s why today I wanted to share with you a classic Rolling Stones tune that hits on all 3 of these points.

The groove and vibe will give you a healing feeling. 

The lyrics are about diffusing any problems and tensions within a relationship. 

And finally, the chords and solo sections are a great way to express yourself on the guitar.

So tune up, and get ready, as we dive into this “Beast of Burden” guitar lesson.

Who wrote Beast of Burden?

"Beast of Burden" was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood. The song was recorded for their 1978 album titled Some Girls, which is considered one of the band's most successful and iconic albums.

The recording of "Beast of Burden" took place at the Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris, France, and overdubbed at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, California. The song features Mick Jagger on lead vocals, Keith Richards on guitar and backing vocals, Ronnie Wood on guitar, Bill Wyman on bass guitar, and Charlie Watts on drums.

"Beast of Burden" has received critical acclaim over the years and is considered one of The Rolling Stones' greatest songs. It has been praised for its catchy melody, soulful vocals by Mick Jagger, and the interplay between Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood's guitar work. The song has also been featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials, contributing to its enduring popularity. 

Also, there have been a number of other famous covers of this song as well. For example, Bette Midler's cover of "Beast of Burden" was released in 1983 as a single from her album No Frills. Her rendition of the song received significant radio airplay and became one of her signature songs. 

The American rock band Pearl Jam has also covered "Beast of Burden" in their live performances. Eddie Vedder's distinctive voice adds a unique touch to the song.

While "Beast of Burden" may not have won specific awards like Grammy Awards, it remains a fan favorite. Plus it has also been covered by numerous artists. And it continues to be a staple in The Rolling Stones' live performances.

Beast Of Burden Guitar Lesson Chords 

There are just a handful of chords to know to play “Beast of Burden” on guitar. However, a number of the chords involve a technique of reaching your fretting hand thumb over the top of the neck to play bass notes. This is something that both Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards do in their guitar styles. But unfortunately, it is not the easiest technique to do if you have not practiced it before.

There are two main sections to the song. The A-section and then the B-section.
Let’s first take a look at the chords of the A-section. You’ll need to know B, E/B, C#m, and A. 

For B we’ll start with a thumb chord in 7th position like this:

Then we’ll bring our ring finger down to get a bar, but keep the fretting hand thumb still on the 7th fret of the 6th string like this:

Tip: In the recording, the transition from B to E/B (the first two chords of the song) is done by using a hammer-on. See the video above for a demonstration of this.

Then we’ll shift up 2 frets to the 9th position and play C#m also as a thumb chord like this:

Finally, the last chord we’ll need for the A-section is an A major chord. This is also played in 9th position like this:

So just to recap, the 4 chords needed to play the A section are B, E/B, C#m, and A. 

The next part you’ll need to know is the B-section. The B-section is a 6-bar long chord progression that introduces a few new chord shapes. The new chord shapes are A, E/G#, and Bsus4. All of the chords in the B-section are played as thumb chords.

Remember a thumb chord refers to a chord where you use your thumb to fret a note on the fretboard, particularly on the low E string (the thickest string). That is what you’ll see in these chord shapes. This technique is common in various styles of playing, including blues and rock, and it allows you to play chords with a bass note that is different from the usual root note.

Using your thumb in this way can create a fuller and richer sound, especially when you want to emphasize a specific bass note or create a walking bass line within your chord progression. However, it can take some practice to develop the dexterity and strength needed to use your thumb effectively for fretting on the guitar. 

For A we’ll play this the same way as the B chord just shifted down to the 5th position like this:

Then E/G# can be played in the 4th position like this:

Then the Bsus4 just makes a slight adjustment to the B chord by adding the pinkie finger down on the 9th fret of the 3rd string like this:

What Key is Beast of Burden in? 

“Beast of Burden” by the Rolling Stones is in the key of E major. The whole song revolves around 4 main chords, E, B, C#m, and A.

If we take a look at how all those chords relate in the key of E major. That would look like this:

• E Major (I chord): E major is the tonic chord in the key of E major. It serves as the home base or the starting point for chord progressions in this key. E major consists of the notes E, G#, and B. However, remember from above that the song actually starts on a B chord and hammers into the E/B chord. So this would be the I chord with the V in the bass. 
• B Major (V chord): B major is the dominant chord in the key of E major. The V (5th) chord typically adds tension and leads back to the tonic (I) chord, E major. In the key of E major, B major consists of the notes B, D#, and F#. The D# is the leading tone, which has a strong tendency to resolve up to the tonic note, E. Like what you hear in the progression for “Beast of Burden”
• C# Minor (vi chord): C# minor is the relative minor chord in the key of E major. It is often used to add some variation to the progression. In E major, the vi chord (C# minor) consists of the notes C#, E, and G#. It provides a slightly different mood compared to the major chords and can be used to create emotional depth in your music.
• A Major (IV chord): A major is the subdominant chord in the key of E major. It adds a sense of stability and can be used as a transition chord between the tonic (E major) and the dominant (B major) chords. In the key of E major, A major consists of the notes A, C#, and E.

Understanding the theoretical relationships between these chords can help you create chord progressions in the key of E major. Pay attention to the movement of individual notes within chords when transitioning between them. For example, notice how the note D# in the B major chord naturally resolves to E in the E major chord. This is called voice leading can make your chord changes sound smoother and more musical.

Also, note how the Rolling Stones experiment with chord inversions to create smoother transitions between chords. Inversions involve changing the order of the notes within a chord, often by moving the root note to a different position. Inversions can add variety and create interesting bassline movements. 

By understanding the theoretical relationships and experimenting with these chords, you can create compelling and musically satisfying jams and arrangements in the key of E major on the guitar. 

How to solo over Beast of Burden

The primary scale that Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood use to create solos over this song is the E major scale. The E major scale is a diatonic scale that consists of seven notes and follows a specific pattern of whole and half steps. It is an essential scale.

Here are some things to keep in mind about the E major scale… 

Notes in the E Major Scale:

The E major scale consists of the following seven notes:

E (the tonic or root note)

F# (the major 2nd)

G# (the major 3rd)

A (the perfect 4th)

B (the perfect 5th)

C# (the major 6th)

D# (the major 7th)

E (octave, the tonic an octave higher)

Formula for the E Major Scale:

The E major scale follows a specific pattern of intervals (measured in half steps or whole steps):

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half 

This means that between each note in the scale, you have either a whole step (two frets on the guitar) or a half step (one fret on the guitar), following this pattern.

Conclusion:

To wrap it up, "Beast of Burden" by The Rolling Stones is not just a classic rock song; it's a testament to the power of music as a healer, a diffuser of tensions, and a means of self-expression, as aptly stated by Keith Richards. This iconic track has an amazing groove and is a great one to work into your repertoire.

For guitar players, dissecting the chords, understanding their relationships within the key of E major, and mastering the use of thumb chords can all be huge benefits you can gain from learning this tune. 

Plus jumping into the E major scale and doing some improvisation is a great way to practice expressing yourself on the guitar. 

So, keep practicing, and for another great Rolling Stones-style guitar song check out this “I Know It's Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It) Guitar Lesson” next!