How to Play Werewolves of London Chord by Warren Zevon on Guitar
Werewolves of London is a classic rock song by Warren Zevon, released in 1978. The song is known for its catchy piano riff, humorous lyrics, and howling chorus. It was a hit single, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by many artists, such as Grateful Dead, Kid Rock, and Adam Sandler.
If you want to learn how to play Werewolves of London on guitar, you will need to know some basic chords, strumming patterns, and guitar techniques. In this article, we will show you how to play the song in three different ways: using standard chords, using alternate chords with a capo, and using power chords.
Using Standard Chords
The easiest way to play Werewolves of London on guitar is to use standard chords. The song is in the key of D major, and the main chords are D, C, and G. You can also add some variations, such as Bb and F, to spice up the song.
The chord progression for the intro and the verses is:
D D C C G G G G (repeat four times)
The chord progression for the chorus is:
D C G (repeat four times)
The strumming pattern for the song is:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D U U D U
where D is downstroke and U is upstroke.
You can also add some palm muting to create a more percussive sound. To do this, lightly rest the side of your palm on the strings near the bridge while you strum.
Here is an example of how to play the first verse and chorus using standard chords:
D D C C G G G G
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
D D C C G G G G
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
D D C C G G G G
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
D D C C G G G G
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein
D C G
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
D C G
Ah-ooooo
D C G
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
D C G
Ah-ooooo
Using Alternate Chords with a Capo
Another way to play Werewolves of London on guitar is to use alternate chords with a capo. A capo is a device that clamps onto the fretboard of your guitar and changes the pitch of the strings. This allows you to play different chords with the same finger shapes.
To play Werewolves of London with a capo, you will need to place it on the second or fifth fret. This will change the key of the song from D major to C major or A major, respectively.
The chord progression for the intro and the verses with a capo on the second fret is:
C C Bb Bb F F F F (repeat four times)
The chord progression for the chorus with a capo on the second fret is:
C Bb F (repeat four times)
The chord progression for the intro and the verses with a capo on the fifth fret is:
A A G G D D D D (repeat four times)
The chord progression for the chorus with a capo on the fifth fret is:
A G D (repeat four times)
The strumming pattern and palm muting are the same as before.
Here is an example of how to play the first verse and chorus with a capo on the second fret using alternate chords:
C C Bb Bb F F F F
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
C C Bb Bb F F F F
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
C C Bb Bb F F F F
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
C C Bb Bb F F F F
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein
C Bb F
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
C Bb F
Ah-ooooo
C Bb F
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
C Bb F
Ah-ooooo
You can find more alternate chords for the song at Ultimate Guitar or E-Chords.
Using Power Chords
The third way to play Werewolves of London on guitar is to use power chords. Power chords are two- or three-note chords that consist of the root note and the fifth interval. They are often used in rock and metal music, as they create a powerful and distorted sound.
To play power chords, you will need to use your index finger to press down the root note on the low E or A string, and your ring or pinky finger to press down the fifth note on the next string. You can also add your middle finger to press down the octave note on the third string.
The power chords for the song are:
D5: 5th fret on A string, 7th fret on D string, 7th fret on G string C5: 3rd fret on A string, 5th fret on D string, 5th fret on G string G5: 3rd fret on E string, 5th fret on A string, 5th fret on D string Bb5: 6th fret on E string, 8th fret on A string, 8th fret on D string F5: 1st fret on E string, 3rd fret on A string, 3rd fret on D string A5: open A string, 2nd fret on D string, 2nd fret on G string
The chord progression for the intro and the verses using power chords is:
D5 D5 C5 C5 G5 G5 G5 G5 (repeat four times)
The chord progression for the chorus using power chords is:
D5 C5 G5 (repeat four times)
The strumming pattern and palm muting are the same as before.
Here is an example of how to play the first verse and chorus using power chords:
D5 D5 C5 C5 G5 G5 G5 G5
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
D5 D5 C5 C5 G5 G5 G5 G5
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
D5 D5 C5 C5 G5 G5 G5 G5
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
D5 D5 C5 C5 G5 G5 G5 G5
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein
D5 C5 G5
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
D5 C5 G5
Ah-ooooo
D5 C5 G5
Ah-ooooo, werewolves of London
D5 C5 G5
Ah-ooooo
You can also play power chords with a capo, but you will need to adjust the finger positions accordingly.
Conclusion
Werewolves of London is a fun and easy song to play on guitar. You can choose from three different ways to play it: using standard chords, using alternate chords with a capo, or using power chords. Whichever way you choose, you will need to practice the chord changes, the strumming pattern, and the palm muting. You can also sing along with the lyrics or howl like a werewolf. Have fun and enjoy playing Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon!
