Willin Chords: How to Play the Classic Song by Little Feat
Willin is a song written by Lowell George, the founder and leader of the American rock band Little Feat. It was first recorded by the band in 1970 for their self-titled debut album, but was rejected by the record label for being too controversial. The song was later re-recorded by the band in 1972 for their second album, Sailin’ Shoes, and became one of their most popular and enduring songs.
The song is a tribute to the truck drivers who travel across the country, facing various hardships and temptations along the way. The lyrics mention several places in the western United States, such as Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah, as well as the substances that the narrator consumes, such as weed, whites (amphetamines), and wine. The chorus expresses the narrator’s willingness to keep moving, as long as he is given a sign by his lover, Alice.
Chords and Tuning
[Intro] G D* (see notes) Em C G C C* (see notes) C G x2 [Verse 1] G I've been warped by the rain D* Driven by the snow Em C Drunk and dirty - don't you know G C C* C G But I'm still.. ..willin [Verse 2] G (And I was) Out on the road D* Late at night Em C Seen my pretty Alice in every headlight G C C* C G Alice.. ..Dallas Alice [Chorus] G C D And I been from Tucson to Tucumcari D G Tehachapi to Tonapa G C Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made C D D** Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed And if you give me (No chords again but I use a stepping C) C step down to G Weed, Whites and wine G D And you show me a sign D G C C* C G I'll be willin' to be movin' [Verse 3] G Kicked by the wind D* Robbed by the sleet D* Em C Had my head stoved in but I'm still on my feet C G C C* C G And I'm still .... in a whole lot of trouble [Verse 4] G D* Smuggled some smokes and folks from Mexico Em Baked by the sun C G Every time I go to Mexico C C* C G And I'm still.... [Chorus] G C D And I been from Tucson to Tucumcari D G Tehachapi to Tonapa G C Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made C D D** Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed And if you give me (No chords again but I use a stepping C) C step down to G Weed, Whites and wine G D And you show me a sign D G C C* C G I'll be willin' to be movin'
The Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for Willin is fairly simple and consistent throughout the song. You can use a basic down-up-down-up pattern for each chord, with some accents on certain beats. For example, you can emphasize the first and third beats of each measure, or add some syncopation by skipping or muting some strums. You can also vary your dynamics and intensity depending on the mood of the song.
The Intro and Outro
The intro and outro of Willin are played on slide guitar in open G tuning. The slide guitar parts are based on the vocal melody and follow the chord progression of the song. You can use a glass or metal slide on your ring or pinky finger and slide it along the strings to create different notes and effects. You can also use your other fingers to pluck or mute the strings as needed.
The intro starts with a slide from G to D on the third string, followed by an Em chord on the first three strings. Then it slides from C to G on the fifth string, followed by a C chord on the first three strings. Then it repeats this pattern with some variations and embellishments. The outro is similar to the intro, but ends with a slide from G to D on the sixth string.
Conclusion
Willin is a classic song by Little Feat that showcases their unique blend of rock, blues, country, and folk influences. The song is easy to play on guitar with some basic chords and strumming patterns, but also offers some room for creativity and experimentation with different tunings, capo positions, chord variations, and slide guitar parts. If you want to learn how to play Willin on guitar, you can check out some of the online resources
