19th Nervous Breakdown: Guitar TAB

Keith Richards' guitar work defines these songs, and this collection captures the authentic voicings, tunings, and fingerings that made them classic. Guitar students get to learn from the actual parts rather than simplified interpretations, building real facility with rock idioms while tackling repertoire they're genuinely excited to play.

Swagger and swagger alone. These songs capture the raw energy and groove that made The Rolling Stones immediate and dangerous, from the insistent tick of "Satisfaction" to the blues-soaked weight of "Sympathy for the Devil." Playing these parts puts you inside the songwriting itself.

Intermediate guitarists ready to tackle classic rock riffs with historical accuracy and proper technique. This collection works well for students who want to expand beyond beginner chord-based playing into single-note work and varied tuning systems.

• Pay attention to the tuning notation for each song. Several tracks use open or alternate tunings that significantly affect the resonance and playability of the riffs.
• Use the TAB as a guide to fingering, but refer to the notation to understand rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing. The combination reveals Richards' approach to timing and articulation.
• Lock in the riff with a backing track or metronome before adding any embellishment. These parts benefit from precise rhythmic placement, especially in the syncopated sections.

Build a rock concert around this collection, programming songs thematically (blues influences, social commentary, love songs) rather than chronologically. Pair performances with listening and discussion about how Richards' guitar choices changed across decades, giving students context for the technical choices they're making.

• Reading and executing open and alternate tunings
• Playing syncopated rock rhythms with precision
• Translating guitar TAB and notation together for accuracy
• Executing blues-influenced riffs and embellishments
• Understanding call-and-response phrasing in rock composition