Green Onions Guitar Tutorial (Beginner Blues Rhythm) Booker T. & The MG’s

Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions

Green Onions Guitar Tutorial

Welcome to my Green Onions Guitar Tutorial by Booker T. & The M.G.’s. This simple blues riff is tons of fun on acoustic or electric guitar.

There are a million ways to play this tune, but I’ve chosen a really easy way that’ll help build the strength in your hand for eventually working your way into more intermediate/advanced riff and rhythm playing.

Green Onions Chords

green onions chords
Green Onions uses a SINGLE shape – moved around the fretboard

The lesson begins with the only chord shape that we’ll need for this entire tune: the power chord. I show you how to make it, and talk about some tips that’ll make it easier and make sure you’re doing it right.

Following that, we learn the riff in 3 parts. One of them is centered around E, using E, G and A power chords. Then we take that same riff and move it over to the next set of strings to get A, C and D power chords. Finally, we move that up by 2 frets to get the final part of the riff.

Assembling this one is simple. I made a basic chord chart, outlining the changes. It just follows a 12-bar blues, and uses the 3 riffs we learned in a certain order.

I hope you enjoy the lesson. See you soon!

-James

Don’t let finger strength or technique prevent you from learning this essential skill! Take this gradual path that can help ANYONE learn how to play them!

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