The ULTIMATE Can't You See Guitar Lesson

If you like playing along with your favorite recordings or even jamming songs with friends, then here’s a quick and easy tune to add to your setlist and have blast playing.

You only need 3 chords to get through it. And, you’ll potentially unlock a lot of powerful guitar skills like:

• Improving your rhythm
• Improving your fingerpicking
• Improving your strumming
• Combining licks and chords
• Playing lead guitar

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Can’t You See” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Can’t You See?

"Can't You See" was written by Toy Caldwell, the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the classic Southern rock group the Marshall Tucker Band. Caldwell was known for his distinctive guitar playing and made big contributions to the band’s iconic sound.

He wrote "Can't You See" while recovering from a motorcycle accident. The song's bluesy tone and reflective lyrics show Caldwell's emotional state during his recovery.  

“Can’t You See” was released in 1973 on the group's debut album The Marshall Tucker Band. It was recorded in 1973 at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia. This studio was a hub for Southern rock at the time, hosting sessions for bands like the Allman Brothers Band and Wet Willie.

The lineup original lineup featured Toy Caldwell (guitar, vocals), Doug Gray (lead vocals), Jerry Eubanks (flute, saxophone), George McCorkle (rhythm guitar), Paul Riddle (drums), and Tommy Caldwell (bass). 

The Marshall Tucker Band album was produced by Paul Hornsby, who also played keyboards on the track. "Can't You See" has become a signature song for the Marshall Tucker Band and a staple of classic rock radio. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Kid Rock. 

There is an extended version lasting 6:05 and then a single edit for radio that was about half the length coming in at 3:20. But the band was known for its extended live versions. Live, Toy Caldwell's guitar solos would go to the moon featuring the band’s improvisational skills and epic energy.

The song has appeared in various movies, TV shows, and commercials, including the 2001 film "Blow" starring Johnny Depp.

Can't You See Guitar Chords

If you want to play “Can’t You See” on guitar you only need to know 3 main chords D, Csus2, and G. Let’s take a look at some common ways these can be played on guitar.

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

Csus2 is played from the 5th string down like this:

If that chord is awkward, the Csus2 can also be played similarly to a G chord like this:

For now, just choose one of the chord shapes for C and get your fingers down on it.

Finally, we have the G chord which is played using all 6 strings like this:

If you’ve struggled to learn chords anywhere on the neck grab my free fretboard guide and boost your guitar neck knowledge overnight right here:

The chord progression for this song is very simple. Which is great for everyone (especially beginners), so let’s move on to this… 

Can't You See Guitar Lesson Easy

The chord progression for “Can’t You See” just repeats the same thing over and over. These types of one chord progression songs are a blast to jam over because you can (hopefully) start to turn off your brain and just play without thinking. 

By one chord progression, I simply mean you don’t have to learn a new chord progression for each section of the song. This song just stays the same. This means you just learn ONE set of changes and then repeat it for the ENTIRE song. 

The progression is  4-bars long. Each chord lasts 4 counts or one bar and goes D, Csus2, G, D. 

That’s it!

Then rinse and repeat.

Once you have the chord shapes down, next try adding in a…

Can't You See Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove to “Can’t You See” is a 16th-note feel. This means we are dividing up each beat into 4 parts. In a 4/4 time signature, one measure (bar) has 4 beats. Each beat can be divided into four 16th notes. 

So, there are 16 16th notes in one measure of 4/4 time. The counting on these notes goes:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Here’s how it breaks down:

1: The downbeat

e: The first 16th note after the downbeat

&: The halfway point between the beats (the upbeat, often associated with 8th notes)

a: The second 16th note after the upbeat

This is the main “feel” for “Can’t You See”, however, we will NOT strum all 16th notes.

Instead, start with three 8th notes, followed up by two 16th notes like this:

This simple 2-beat pattern can be strummed as down, down, down, down, up.

This is just one example. But it will work throughout the entire song.

What Key Is Can't You See In?

“Can’t You See” as recorded by The Marshall Tucker Band is in the key of D major. However, if I was writing a key signature on sheet music I would write the key of G major to get as few “accidentals” in the sheet music as possible.

This seems confusing because many think it is a 5-4-1 chord progression in the key of G major. But it’s actually a 1-b7-4 in D major.

This is a common progression borrowing from the blues which has a big influence on the sound of this song. Let’s dive deeper into how the chords relate to eachother in the key of D major.

In the key of D major, the chords D, C, and G serve different functions compared to their roles in the key of G major. First, let's look at the D major scale:

D major scale: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C# 

Each note of the scale can be the root of a chord built from the scale. The chords built on each scale degree in the key of D major are:

I (D major): D, F#, A

ii (E minor): E, G, B

iii (F# minor): F#, A, C#

IV (G major): G, B, D

V (A major): A, C#, E

vi (B minor): B, D, F#

vii° (C# diminished): C#, E, G

However, in this context, we are incorporating a chord (C major) that is not diatonic to the key of D major. This chord is the flat 7 (♭VII) chord, which adds a unique color and harmonic function to the key. In the key of D major, the chords D, C, and G have the following functions:

D Major (I chord):

Function: Tonic

Notes: D, F#, A

The tonic chord is the home chord, providing a sense of resolution and stability. It’s the central chord of the key.

C Major (♭VII chord):

Function: Subtonic or flat seven

Notes: C, E, G

The flat seven chord (C major) is not diatonic to the key of D major but is often used in rock, blues, and folk music. It provides a modal interchange and gives a distinctive sound, often creating a sense of unexpected resolution or movement.

G Major (IV chord):

Function: Subdominant

Notes: G, B, D

The subdominant chord provides a sense of movement away from the tonic, preparing for the return or moving towards the dominant chord. In this context, it helps connect the tonic (D) with the flat seven (C).

Common chord progressions in the key of D major using these chords:

I-♭VII-IV (D-C-G):

This progression is popular in many rock and pop songs. This progression starts with a strong tonic, moves to the subdominant, and then introduces the flat seven along the way. But at the end of the day D is “home” not G.

Can't You See Solo Guitar Lesson

Toy Caldwell, the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the Marshall Tucker Band, was known for his distinctive guitar style, which blended elements of Southern rock, country, blues, and jazz. His solos were melodic. Rather than playing fast, flashy runs, Caldwell focused on crafting memorable, singable melodies that complemented the song’s structure and emotion.

Here’s an example of a bluesy lick in the style of Caldwell: 

Conclusion

To wrap it up, "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band is a classic tune! You can have a truckload of fun playing it along with the recording or jamming it with friends. By learning this song, you can enhance your rhythm, fingerpicking, strumming, and lead guitar skills. 

Plus understanding the chords D, C, and G in the key of D major, and how they function as I, ♭VII, and IV, respectively, gives you valuable insight into chord progressions and harmonic relationships. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan