What tempo should I practice

95 bpm. Begin at 80, then return to 95.

Do I need thumb-over for D/F#

No. Use 20023x and mute high E, or gentle thumb if comfy.

How do I lift the chorus without volume

Broaden the brush for one beat, then play smaller next bar.

Where should the pinky go on Am

High E3 for a sweet upper voice that mirrors the vocal.

Any tasteful fill between phrases

G bass walk to D/F#, then a tiny brush into the next bar.

Blues Man - Hank Williams Jr

Hank Williams Jr Chords Hank Williams Jr Lyrics

Blues Man chords

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How to play "The Blues Man" Chords
on acoustic guitar

Slow burn. Big heart. Small motions. This is a porch-friendly Guitar Lesson for a tender ballad that lives in the pauses. The Tutorial keeps shapes simple and the phrasing honest, so you can carry the story without crowding it.

Song Overview:

The Blues Man chords & tabs by Hank Williams Jr. — Hank Williams Jr. is playing the 'The Blues Man' tabs / chords in the music video.

Key: G major on the classic studio cut. Capo: no capo. Difficulty: intermediate, because control matters more than speed. Original release: June 1980 on the album Habits Old and New. Writer: Hank Williams Jr. Producer: Jimmy Bowen. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Strumming: 95 bpm. Count slow 4-4. Think half-time breath with gentle swing.

Alan Jackson’s 1999 cover reintroduced the tune to a new crowd, but the core feel stayed intimate and unhurried. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Chords Used:

Hank Williams Jr. performing The Blues Man — Performance in the music video.

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Keep the attack tiny. Let bass notes bloom, then get out of the way. Here are the working shapes with comfy alternates.

G (320003) Anchor pinky on high E3 to steady the right hand height.
C (x32010) Slip middle off for Cmaj7 breath.
D/F# (200232) Thumb or index on low F#. Smooth link between G and Em flavors. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Am (x02210) Add pinky to high E3 as the tab note suggests for a sweet top line.
D (xx0232) Curve ring so high E2 rings clear.

CHORD BOX SNAPSHOTS

G   3 2 0 0 0 3  |  C   x 3 2 0 1 0  |  D/F# 2 0 0 2 3 2

Am  x 0 2 2 1 0  |  D   x x 0 2 3 2  |  Cmaj7 x 3 2 0 0 0

Small swaps for comfort:

G as 320033;  D/F# grab with thumb on low E2 if hand allows.

Voice-leading trick: G to D/F# to Em (implied) makes a gentle falling bass. Even if you never hit full Em, that D/F# step sells the mood.

Strumming Pattern:

Strumming: 95 bpm. Swung 8ths, but whisper-soft. Count a slow 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a. Accent the lyric syllables, not the click. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

BEDSIDE SHUFFLE (minimal)

Count: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a

Pattern: B  -  b  -  B  -  b  -   (B=bass pluck, b=light 2-3 string brush)

Alternate bass map:

G: 6→4   C: 5→4   D/F#: 6(F#)→4   Am: 5→4   D: 4→5

Option: arpeggiate p-i-m-a slowly on beats 1-2-3-4 for hush.

Let one string ring longer than the rest. Space is your lead instrument here.

Sections Breakdown:

Roadmaps only, not full tabs. Use these cells to place chords under the story.

Verse cell

G  | C  | D/F# | G  |   (breathe between bars)

G  | Am | D/F# | G  |   pinky on high E3 during Am for the sparkle

Pre-chorus feel

C  | C  | Am | D  |   last D is a softer setup, not a shout

Chorus lift

G  | Am | D  | G  |   keep brushes tiny; let vowels bloom

Solo bed (one pass)

C  | G  |  (repeat the verse pocket; do not overfill)

Transitions: hold ring finger on B3 as a home base. For D/F#, keep D-shape and reach the low F# with thumb. If that hurts, play D/F# = 20023x and mute high E.

Common Mistakes:

Over-strumming. This song wilts if you go wide. Aim for 3-4 strings max.
Flat time feel. Let the offbeat swing a hair behind the click.
Forcing vibrato on every held note. Pick two moments, not ten.
Skipping D/F#. That bass step is the emotional hinge into lines.
Too much reverb live. Keep it short so words stay present.

General Tips:

Count at 95, then rehearse at 80 to practice breathing between phrases.
Pick: thin to medium, or bare fingers for warmth.
Thumb-over D/F#: use it only if relaxed. Pain means adjust the voicing.
Sing-while-playing: land downstrokes under key syllables of each line.
Record a one-take phone memo. Listen for extra strums you can delete.

Song Facts:

Hank Williams Jr. wrote and recorded The Blues Man for Habits Old and New in June 1980. Credits list Jimmy Bowen as producer. The album landed on Elektra/Curb, with the track running about 4 minutes 21 seconds in G major. The tempo clocks near 95 bpm. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

The song became a calling card for his confessional streak and blended country, blues, and a storyteller’s shrug. Alan Jackson cut a faithful cover for his 1999 album Under the Influence, releasing it as a single that reached the country charts and brought the lyric to late 90s radio. Multiple databases and discogs entries keep pointing to the same backbone details: 1980 release, G major key, and a relaxed, unhurried pulse suited to small rooms. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

A neat historical aside: the piece shows up on best-of sets and streaming pages with the same timing and key metrics, confirming the studio grid players feel onstage. You can practice to 95 bpm, or lay it back slightly when singing solo to let the vowels breathe. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Song Meaning:

Whole picture: a weathered musician speaks plainly about mistakes, numbing out, and being seen by someone who refused to step away. It’s confession without theater. The melody stays narrow, so the truth stays close.

Opening idea: self-portrait. “Singer,” “guitar ringer,” “old clinger” to sad songs. Harmony G→C→D/F#→G mirrors looking back, then returning home.

Middle turns: substances, spotlight fatigue, and a hand that pulls him out. The Am color darkens the scene, then D/F# steps him back toward light.

Refrain energy: the partner’s voice reframes him, not as a lost case, but as a person worth steady love. That’s why the chorus leans on G and Am, not fireworks.

Final stance: gratitude with a tired smile. He names the cost, thanks the guide, and steps forward careful and soft. The quiet ending is the point.

Comparisons to previous works:

Put it beside Family Tradition and Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound from 1979: those swing harder, joke bigger, and party louder. The Blues Man chooses hush and slow time. Same pen, new register. It is closer in spirit to later reflective cuts, but this is the early, razor-honest template many covered later. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Questions and Answers

What tempo should I practice: Strumming: 95 bpm. Start at 80 for control, then return to 95 for feel. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Do I need thumb-over for D/F#: No. Try 20023x and mute high E, or shift the thumb lightly only when relaxed. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
How do I lift the chorus without volume: Open the pick angle, brush two extra treble strings, then shrink the next bar.
Where should the pinky go on Am: High E3. It adds a tender top note that echoes the vocal turn.
Any tasteful fill between phrases: From G: walk low E3→open D→D/F# bass, then brush lightly into the next bar.

Cite all song tabs-chords as they were: base practice uses G, C, D/F#, Am, D, matching common chord sheets and what you provided. Tempo references point to 95 bpm in G major. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

TINY TAB IDEAS (not full tabs)

Intro breath on G:

low E-3  D-0  D-4  | land D/F#  then brush G softly

Am embellish (pinky on high E3):

E-3  B-1  G-2  | release to standard Am on the next beat

Turn to chorus:

C  (A-3  D-2)  →  D/F# (low E-2)  →  G  | hush the brush

Right hand mantra:  Bass... brush... space... repeat.

General north star: play like you’re leaving room for a friend to breathe. That is How to play a ballad without breaking it.

G-Am7-D-G G I'm just a singer Am7 A natural born guitar ringer D kind of a clinger G to sad old songs G I'm not a walk behinder Am7 I'm a new note finder D but my names a reminder G of a blues man thats already gone G so i started drinkin' Am7 took thinks that messed up my thinkin D i was sure sinkin G when you came along G i was alone in the hot light Am7 not to much left in site D but she changed all that one night G when she sang me this song chorus: D C G hey baby i love you Am7 hey baby i need you D hey baby you aint got to prove to me your G some kinda macho man C G you've wasted so much of your life Am7 runnin through the dark nights D let me shine some love light G down on this blues man small guitar break: e-6-6/5---------------- b-------8----6-6/5----- g-----------7-------7-- D---------------------- A---------------------- E---------------------- G i got so sick from speeden Am7 all the stuff they said i was needen D if i was to keep pleasen G all of my fans G i got cuffed on dirt roads Am7 i got sewed over no shows but she came and took D all that old load G down off this blues man C D G hey baby i love you to Am7 hey baby i need you D hey baby i do get tired G of this travelen band C D G im 30 years old now Am7 nights would be cold now D if you hadn't stuck it out G with this blues man G I'm 30 years old now Am7 nights sure would be cold now D if you hadn't hung around G with this blues man [Thanks to Dylan for corrections]

Hank Williams Jr CHORDS

Hank Williams Jr LYRICS