------------------ Walking Blues by Robert Johnson ------------------ From: stuart@comserver.canberra.edu.au (Stuart Christopherson) Robert Johnson recorded this tune in the key of B, with his guitar tuned up to A-tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) and a capo on the second fret. This transcription is in the key of A. This song apparently has its roots in the rhythyms of work songs that were used continuously from slave times up through Reconstruction and preserved on the prison workfarms. "Walking Blues" is an example of an 'axe song'. / = slide Introduction A A/G A/F# A/F E--/12-12-12-/12-12-12-/12-12-12-/12-------|--------------------| C#-/12-12-12-/12-12-12-/12-12-12-/12-------|----0---------------| A------------------------------------11-12-|-12---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-| E------------------------------------------|-12---3-3-2-2-1-1-1-| A------------------------------------------|----0---------------| E------------------------------------------|------3---2---1-----| A I woke up this morning, feel round for my shoes E----------------0-----|---------------|---------------| C#---------------0-----|---------------|---------------| A--0-------------------|--0-----0------|--0------------| E--0-----0---0---------|--0-0-0-0------|--0-0-0-0------| A----2/4---6/7-----2/4-|----0-0-0-2/4--|--0-0-0-0-2/4--| E--0-----------0-------|---------------|---------------| N.C. Know bout got these, old walkin blues. Woke up this mornin E-----------------------|-----5--5--5-5----------|-----------------| C#---------0------------|--0---------------------|-----------------| A-----------------------|--0---------------------|-----------------| E--0---0---0---0--------|-------------0--0-------|-----------------| A--0---0---0---0---2/4--|--------0----0--0--3/5--|-3/5-3/5-3/5-3/5-| E-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------| feelin round for my shoes E------------------------| C#-----------------------| A------------------------| E------------------------| A--3/5----3/5----5----0--| E------------------------| A But you know bout at I E----------5---5-------|----------5---5-------|---------------------| C#---------------------|----------------------|---------------------| A------------0-------0-|----------------------|-----0---------0-----| E--0-----0---0---0---0-|--0-----0---0---0-----|-3/5-0-3/5-3/5-0-5/7-| A--0-2/4-----0---0-----|--0-2/4-----0---0-3/5-|---------------------| E--0---------------2---|-0--------------------|---------------------| E----------------|---------5---5-------|---------5---------| C#---------------|---------------------|-------------------| A------0---------|-----------0-------0-|-------------------| E------0-------0-|-0-----0---0---0---0-|-0-----0---0-0-----| A--5/7-0-3/5-5-0-|-0-2/4-----0---0-----|-0-2/4-----0-0-2/4-| E--------------2-|-0---------------2---|-------------------| Ending E---/12-12-12-/12-/12-------------|--------5-5-| C#--/12-12-12-/12-/12-------------|----3-3-----| A---------------------12--12\-3/4-|-/4---------| E---------------------------------|----------0-| A---------------------------------|------------| E---------------------------------|------------| I woke up this mornin - feelin round for my shoes. Know bout at I got these - old walkin blues. Woke - Up this mornin - feelin round all for my shoes. But you know bout at I - got these old walkin blues. Lord, I - feel like blowin my - woh-old lonesome home. Got up this mornin, my little Bernice was gone, Lord. I feel like - blow-oowin my lonesome home. Well, I got up this mornin - woh-all I had was gone. Well-ah - leave this mornin if I have to - woh, ride the blind-ah. I feel mistreated and I - don't mind dyin - Leavin this mornin-ah - if I have to ride a blind. Babe, I been mistreated - baby, and I don't mind dyin. Well, some people tell me that the worried - blues aint bad. Worst old feelin I most - ever had - Some - people tell me that these - old worried, old blues aint bad. Its the worst old feelin I most - ever had. She got a - Eglin movement from her head down - to her toes. Break in on a dollar most any - where she goes, Ooooo-ooo - From her head down to her toes - Oh, honey - Lord, she break in on a dollar - most anywhere she goes. ******************************************************************* Walkin' Blues by Robert Johnson From: ecummin@nma.mnet.uswest.com (Ed Cummings) Open G Tuning = D G D G B D low to high ~~ = slide or slide vibrato / = slide up \ = slide down Played fingerstyle w/ slide 1 G ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ d |-10/12-12-12-12-12-12--11/12-12-12--11/12-12-12-| B |-10/12-12-12-12-12-12--11/12-12-12--11/12-12-12-| G |------------------------------------------------| D |------------------------------------------------| G |------------------------------------------------| D |------------------------------------------------| 2 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ d |-------------------------------------0-| B |-11/12--11/12--11/12--11/12-----0/12---| G |-11/12--11/12---------------12--0/12---| D |----------------------------12--0/12---| G |---------------------------------------| D |---------------------------------------| 3 ~~~~~ d |-10/12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12-| B |-10/12----------12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12-| G |---------------------------------------------------| D |---------------------------------------------------| G |---------------------------------------------------| D |---------------------------------------------------| Gb F/(G) 4 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ d |-------12-------12----------------------|-----X-----| B |-11/12----11/12----11/12-------12-12-11-|-10--X-----| G |-------------------------12-12-12-12-11-|-10--0-----| D |-------------------------------12-12-11-|-10--0-----| G |-------------------------------12-12-11-|-------3/5-| D |----------------------------------------|-----------| 6 C ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |-----------|----------------------------------| B |----5------|--3/5-----5-----------------------| G |-5--5--0---|--3/5--5--5--5--5\3--0--3/3--0----| D |-5--5--0---|--3/5--5--5--5--5\3--0--3/3--0----| G |----5----0-|-------5-----5--5\3-------------0-| D |---------0-|----------------------------------| G 8 ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |-------------------------------|------------------------| B |-------------------------------|-------5----------------| G |-0-----------------------------|-------5----------------| D |-0-0-------0-3/5\3-0-2/3-0-2/3-|-0-3/5-5-5-5-0-------0--| G |-------2/4-----------2/3-0-2/3-|-0-------------0-2/4----| D |-----3-------------------------|------------------------| D C 10 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ d |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------| B |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------| G |-------------5/7-7\5\--------|-------------------------------------| D |-5/7-0-----0-5/7-7\5\------0-|-3/5-5\3\-0-----0-3/5\3-0-------/2/3-| G |-----0-2/4-----------0-2/4---|-3/5-5\3\-0-2/4-----------2/3-0-/2/3-| D |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------| G G7 G6 G#5 G D 12 ~~~ ~~~~~ d |------------------------|-------------------X-------| B |-----0-0--0-0-0--0----0-|-0-----------------X-------| G |-----0-0--0---0--0----0-|-0-----------------X-------| D |-0-----3----3-2--2-1--1-|-0------0---0-5--0-0-------| G |-0----------------------|----2/4-------0------2/3/4-| D |------------------------|---------------------------| G5 G7 G6 G G G7 G6 G 14 ~~~~~ ~~~ d |---------------------------------|---------------------------------------| B |-------0-------0-0---0-0---------|--------0--------0-0---------0-0-------| G |-------0-------0-0---0-0---------|--------0--------0-0---------0-0-------| D |-0-----3-------3-2---2-0---------|-0------3--------3-2---------2-0-------| G |-0-----0---------0---------2/3/4-|-0---0--0----------0---------------3/4-| D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------------| Woke up this morn - in' feel 'round for my shoes. G7 G6 G 16 ~~~ d |------------------------------------------| B |------------0------0----------------------| G |-----0------0------0-----0---0----0-------| D |-------0----3------3-----2-----2--0-------| G |-0----------0------------0--------0---3/4-| D |------------------------------------------| You know a-bout that, babe G5 G7 G6 G 17 ~~~ d |------------0------------------------------| B |------------0-----------0------0---0-------| G |-----0------0-----------0------0---0-------| D |-------0----3-----------2------2---0-------| G |-0-------------------------------------3/5-| D |-------------------------------------------| had them old walkin' blues. C 18 ~~~ ~~~ d |-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------| B |--------5----------------X---------|--------5----------------------------| G |-5---5--5-------5--5-----X---------|-5---X--5--------------5--5----0-----| D |-5---5--5-------5--5-----0---------|-5---X--5---------5----5--5----0-----| G |-------------------X-----X-----3/5-|--------------3/5-5----5--5----------| D |-------------------X---------------|-------------------------------------| Woke up this morn - in' I feel 'round for my shoes. G 20 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |------------------------|-----------------------------| B |------------------------|-----------------------------| G |------------------------|-----------------0-----------| D |--------0--3/5--0-------|-0-------0--3/5----0-------0-| G |-0-3/4------------0-----|-0--/3/4-----------0--2/4--0-| D |--------------------2/5-|-----------------------------| G7 G6 G 22 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ d |----------------------------------------| B |---7------------------------------------| G |---7------------------------------------| D |-4/7----------------------------0-------| G |--------------------------------0---3/5-| D |----------------------------------------| You know a-bout that, baby C 23 ~~~ d |--------------------------------------------| B |--------------------------------------------| G |-5--------X-------------5---5---5\0---------| D |-5--------X-------------5---5---5\0---------| G |----------X-------------5-------------------| D |--------------------------------------------| Woo-Lord, I had them old walk - in' blues. 24 ~~~ ~~~ d |----------------------------|---------------------------| B |-------0----0--0--0--0------|---------------------------| G |---0--------0--0--0--0------|---------------------------| D |-----3---3--2--2--1--1------|-0-----0--0-----------0----| G |-0--------------------------|---3/4----------0--X--3/4--| D |----------------------------|-------------X-----X-------| G5 G7 G6 G G G7 G6 G 26 ~~~~ ~~~~ d |--------------------------------------|------------------------------------| B |--------------0-----------0--0-0------|--------0--------0-0-----0-0--------| G |--------------------------0--0-0------|--------0--------0-0-----0-0--------| D |-0-----0------3-------3---2--2-0------|-0------3--------3-2-----2-0-0------| G |-0------------------------0------/3/4-|-0---0--0----------0-------0--------| D |--------------------------------------|-------------------------------/3/4-| I'm leavin' this morn - in' I have-ta go ride the blinds. G5 G7 G6 G 28 ~~~~ d |-----------------------------------| B |------0----0-----0------0--0-------| G |---0--0----0-----0------0--0-------| D |------3----3-----2------2--0-------| G |-0----0--------------------0--/3/4-| D |-----------------------------------| I been mis - treat ed. G5 G7 G6 G C 29 ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ d |--------------------------------------|-----------------------| B |------------0----0--0---0--X----------|------------5----------| G |-------0----0----0--0---0--X----------|------------5----------| D |------------3----3--2---2--X----------|-5----------5----------| G |-0----------0--------------X-----/3/5-|-5----/3/5------/3/5---| D |--------------------------------------|-5---------------------| I don't mind dyin' this a morn - in', 31 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ d |-----------------------------------| B |-------------------5---------------| G |-------------------5---------------| D |-5-----------------5---------------| G |-5------------3/5------------------| D |-5---------------------------------| If I have-ta go ride a blind 32 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |-----------------------------| B |-----------------------------| G |-----------------------------| D |-0------0--3/5----0----------| G |-0--2/4----------------------| D |----------------------2/4----| D 33 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |-----------------------------|-----------------------------| B |-----------------------------|---------------------X-------| G |-----------------------------|---------------------X-------| D |-0------0--3/5----0----------|---------------------X-------| G |-0--2/4-----------------0--0-|-5/7-----------------X--3/5--| D |--------------------0-2/4----|-----------------------------| I been mis-treat ed. C 35 ~~~ G G7 G6 G#5 d |-------------------------------------|------------------------------| B |-------------------------------------|-----0--0--0-----0---0--0---0-| G |-5------5-------5--5------5\---------|-0---0--0--0-----0---0--0---0-| D |-5------5-------5--5------5\---------|-0---0--3-----3--2---2--1---1-| G |-----------------------------0-------|------------------------------| D |-------------------------------------|------------------------------| Woo-Lord, I don't mind dyin' G D 37 ~~~~ d |-----------------0-0---0-| B |-0---------------0-0---0-| G |-0-----------------0-----| D |-0-------0---0-----0-----| G |----2/4/-----------------| D |-------------------------| GUITAR SOLO G 38 ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ d |-/12----12-12-12-12-11/12-12-12-11/12-12-12-|---------------------------0-| B |-/12-12-12-12-12-12-11/12-------11/12-------|-11/12--11/12-11/12-----0--0-| G |--------------------------------------------|-11/12--------------12--0----| D |--------------------------------------------|------------------------0----| G |--0-----0--0-----------------0-----0--------|-----------------------------| D |--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| 40 ~~~ ~~~~~ d |-/12----12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11/12-12-12-| B |-/12-12-12-------------------11/12-12-12-| G |-/12-------------------------------------| D |-----------------------------------------| G |-0------------------0--0-----------------| D |-----------------------------------------| C 41 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Gb F/(G) ~~~~~ d |-------12-------12-------------------------|------------|----| B |-11/12----11/12----11/12----------12-12-11-|-10---------|-5--| G |-11/12-------------------12--12---12-12-11-|-10---0-----|-5--| D |----------------------------------12-12-11-|-10---0-----|-5--| G |----0--0-----0---------------0--0----------|------x---2/|-/5-| D |-------------------------------------------|------------|----| 44 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ G ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ d |---------------------------------|----------------------------------| B |---------------------------------|----------------------------------| G |-------------------------2/3-0---|----------------------------------| D |-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5\3-0-2/3-0---|-0--0----2/4-0-3/5\3-0-2/3-0-2/3/-| G |-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5\3-0-------0-|-0-----0-2/4-----------2/3-0-2/3/-| D |---------------------------------|----------------------------------| D 46 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ d |------------------------------|---------------------------------| B |--------(5)---(5)-------------|---------------------------------| G |------------------------------|---------------------------------| D |-0--3/5--5--5--5---0---2/4--0-|-5/7---0--2/4-0-5/7--7\--------0-| G |-0-------------------0-2/4----|-------0--2/4-----------0--2/4---| D |------------------------------|---------------------------------| C 48 ~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ d |--------------------------------------| B |--------------------------------------| G |--------------------------------------| D |-3/5--5\-------0-3/5\3--0-2/3--0-/2/3-| G |--------0-2/4-------------2/3--0-/2/3-| D |--------------------------------------| G G7 G6 G#5 G D 49 ~~~ ~~~ d |--------------------------|-----------------------------| B |-----0-0--0-0---0--0-0--0-|-0---------------------------| G |-------0--------0--0-0--0-|-0---------------------------| D |-0---0-3------3-2--2-1--1-|-0-----0--0---0---0--0-------| G |-0------------------------|--2/4-------------------3/4--| D |--------------------------|-----------------------------| G5 G7 G6 G G5 G7 G6 G 51 ~~~~ ~~~~ d |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| B |---------0---0--0---0--0------|-------------0-----0-----0-----0-0-------| G |------0--0---0--0---0--0------|------0------0-----0-----0-----0-0-------| D |------0--3---3--2---2--0------|------0------3-----3-----2-----2-0-------| G |-0---(0)-0---0--0------0--3/4-|-0-----------0-----------0-----0-0-------| D |------------------------------|------------------------------------/3/4-| Peo-ple tell me the walkin' blues ain't bad. G5 G7 G6 G 53 ~~~~ d |-------------------------------------------| B |---------------0-----0-----0-----0-0-------| G |--------0------0-----0-----0-----0-0-------| D |--------0------3-----3-----2-----2-0-------| G |-0-------------0-----0-----0-----0-0-------| D |--------------------------------------/3/4-| The worse old feelin' G5 G7 G6 G 54 ~~~~ d |---------------------------------0-------| B |---------------0-----0---0-----0-X-------| G |--------0------0-----0---0-----0-X-------| D |--------0------3-----3---2-----2-X-------| G |-0-------------0-----0---0-----0-X-------| D |------------------------------------/3/5-| I most ever had C 55 ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ d |----------------------------|---------------------------------------| B |-5---X------------0--0------|---------------------------------------| G |-5---X---5----5---0--0------|-5-------0------/5--5-------X----------| D |-5---X---5----5---0--0------|-5-------0------/5--5-------X----------| G |----------------------------|-5-------0------/5--5-------X----------| D |-----------------------/3/5-|----------------------------------/3/4-| Peo-ple tell me the old walkin' blues ain't bad. G 57 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |----------------------|----------------------------------| B |----------------------|----------------------------------| G |----------------------|----------------------------------| D |--------0--3/5--0-----|-------0--------------------------| G |-0--2/4---------------|-0--2/4----3/5--0-----------------| D |------------------3/5-|------------------------------5/7-| Well it's the D 59 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ d |---------------------------------| B |-------------------------0-------| G |-7--------------------7--7-------| D |-7--------------------7--7-------| G |-7--------------------7--7-------| D |-----------------------------3/5-| worse old feelin' 60 C G G7 G6 G#5 d |----------------------------------|---------------------------| B |----------------------------------|---------0----0---0--0---0-| G |-5--------X-------0------------X--|-------0------0---0--0---0-| D |-5--------X----------0---------X--|-----0-3---3--2---2--1---1-| G |-5--------X--------------------5--|-0-------------------------| D |----------------------------------|---------------------------| Woo-Lord, the most I ever had. G D 62 ~~~ d |------------------------0---| B |-0-------------------0--0---| G |-0-------------------0------| D |-0------0--0------0--0------| G |---2/4--------0-------------| D |----------------------------| GUITAR SOLO 2 G 63 ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ d |-/12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12\10-|------------------------0--0-| B |-/12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12\10-|-10/12--11/12-11/12-12--0--0-| G |-----------------------------------------|--------------------12--X--0-| D |-----------------------------------------|------------------------X----| G |--0--0--0--------0--0---------0-----0----|------------------------X----| D |-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------| G 65 ~~~ d |-/12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-| B |-/12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-| G |--------------------------------------| D |--------------------------------------| G |--0-----------------------------------| D |--------------------------------------| Gb F/(G) C 66 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ d |-------12-------12----------------------|-------------|----------| B |-11/12----11/12----11/12----12-12-12-11-|-10--0-------|-5--------| G |-11/12----11/12----11/12-12-12-12-12-11-|-10--0-------|-5----0---| D |-------------------------12-12-12-12-11-|-10--X-------|-5----0---| G |----------------------------------------|--------3/5--|----------| D |----------------------------------------|--------3/5--|----------| 69 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ G ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ d |---------------------------------|----------------------------------| B |-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5\3-0-2/3-0---|----------------------------------| G |-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5\3-0-2/3-0---|-0--------------------------------| D |-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5-4/5\3-0-2/3-0---|-0--0--------0-3/5\3-0-2/3-0-3/4--| G |-------------------------------0-|-X-----0-2/4-----------2/3-0-3/4--| D |---------------------------------|----------------------------------| D 71 ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ d |------------------------------|---------------------------------| B |------------------------------|---------------------------------| G |----3/5--5----5-5-------------|---------------------------------| D |-0--3/5--5----5-5--0--------0-|-5/7--7\-------0-5/7--7\-------0-| G |-0-------------------0-2/4----|--------0--2/4----------0--2/4---| D |------------------------------|---------------------------------| C 73 ~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ d |--------------------------------------| B |--------------------------------------| G |--------------------------------------| D |-3/5--5\-------0-3/5\2--0-2/3--0-/2/3-| G |--------0-2/4-------------2/3--0-/2/3-| D |--------------------------------------| G G7 G6 G#5 G G G 74 ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ d |------------------------|-----------/9/12-----------------0--| B |-----0----0----0--0-0---|-----------/9/12--11/12----------0--| G |-----0----0----0--0-0---|-----------/9/12--------12-----0----| D |-0---3---------2--2-1---|-0------0----------------------0----| G |------------------------|---2/4/--------------------2/3-0----| D |-0----------------------|------------------------------------|