Bob Dylan is renowned as Rock’s Poet Laureate, a songwriter whose lyrical prowess surpasses that of his contemporaries. However, one facet of his musicianship is often neglected – his guitar skills. A new addition to the Bootleg Series is on the way, and the recently released track ‘Moonshiner’ features a clever fingerpicking technique he employed during his folk club era.
‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963’ will be released soon, promising an enticing exploration of Dylan’s early years, showcasing his transition from high school rock bands to becoming a significant commercial player.
His early performances lacked polish but revealed an artist eager to stretch the boundaries to achieve his desired sound. While Bob Dylan may not have been the most technically proficient guitarist in the Greenwich Village scene and his harmonica skills are often debated, he did employ intriguing techniques to craft his unique sound.
Featured in the upcoming box set, ‘Moonshiner’ is a remarkable rendition of an old folk song, believed to have Irish roots. It was initially intended for his album ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ before being shelved, and Dylan’s arrangement became a staple in his sets at the Greenwich Village clubs in the early 60s.
Dylan places the capo at the fourth fret to create a C# Minor root, and then utilizes slash chords – essentially picking the bass note of a different chord. This technique creates a sense of tension and release emotionally, while also expanding the melodic options within each chord.
It’s quite straightforward – some critics have dismissed it as “lazy,” but in reality, necessity breeds creativity, and Dylan executed it effectively.
As a guitar piece, ‘Moonshiner’ serves as a blueprint for some of Dylan’s other notable fingerpicking compositions from this era – for instance, slash chords play a significant role in ‘Girl From The North Country,’ and ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ reflects some of the fingerpicking methods demonstrated here.
Dylan’s version of ‘Moonshiner’ first appeared on ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 – 3,’ the collection that launched this ‘shadow catalogue,’ and it has since grown into a cult favorite – here’s a pre-fame Phoebe Bridgers covering it, for example.
There’s a reason guitarists continually revisit this chording technique – it’s remarkably effective. Take a listen to ‘Moonshiner’ below.
And here’s a full tutorial for ‘Moonshiner.’
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Bob Dylan is renowned as Rock's Poet Laureate, a songwriter whose command of language surpasses that of his contemporaries. However, one facet of his artistry is frequently ignored -