Logo for GuitarTabsExplorer
Hesitation Blues Tab by Hot Tuna

Hesitation Blues tab by Hot Tuna

Guitar Tab

HESITATION BLUES (trad., after J. Kaukonnen, as recorded on the LP
"Hot Tuna", ca. 1972).  Tab by Tim Keenan

This is in response to a request last week.  It is a great country
blues tune, in "swung" 4/4, i.e. every quarter is subdivided in 3
(or you can think of it as 12/8, if you'd rather).  When this sort
of thing is written down, it is traditionally written as dotted
time, but the eighth note is really only 1/3 of a quarter note, not
1/2.  Clear as mud? Count it as ah 1 and ah 2 and ah 3 and ah 4,
with all syllables the same length, and you'll do fine.  Quarter
notes are at a normal walking speed.

Notes:

1. Low notes, on the beat, are always played by the thumb
2. I use the chord positions marked above the tab to play all the
   other notes--just use the most obvious convenient finger within
   the chord (or nearby) to fret the tabbed notes
3.
/= 1-fret rising slur, //= 2, etc.
^= 1/2 tone push
x= damped note
h= hammer on
!= Broken chord (rapid arpeggio, bass>treble)
==== sustained note
🎸
Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -
4. The vamp in the first line shows h's before the treble notes in the
   Am and E7 chords: these are hammered on on the beat, but not plucked.

5. There are probably some errors-- if it doesn't sound right, you'll
   know.  It is pretty obvious, once you get the feel.  I never play it
   exactly the same, two verses running, so this is just a template.

I'm not at all sure of the first line of that last verse, but it's
my best guess.  I'd be happy to hear alternate "translations".

Tim Keenan
Department of Forest Resources
UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK

I hope someone enjoys this--let me know.


        Am          E7           Am          E7
e-----|-----------------O-------|-----------------O-------
B-----|h1x----1-----O---3-------|h1x----1-----O---3-------
G---O-|h2x----2---Oh1---------O-|h2x----2---Oh1---------O-
D-----|h2x----2----h2-----2-----|h2x----2----h2-----2-----
A-----|-Ox---------h2-----------|-Ox---------h2-----------
E-----|-------------O-----------|-------------O-----------
4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a

a       ..

 Am           E             C          C7
|-----------------O-1---2-|!3---O-------------------
|h1x----1-----O-----------|!1-----1---------3-1-----
|h2x----2---Oh1---------O-|!O---------4-3---------O-
|h2x----2----h2-----2-----|-------2-----------2-----
|-Ox---------h2-----------|!3-----------3-----------
|-------------O-----------|-------------------------
  1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a

     I ..

Chorus:
   F           F              F          F
e|-------------------------|-------------------------
B|-1x----3x----3^====3---1====x----3x----3^====3---1-
G|-2x----2x----------2---2====x----2x----------2---2-
D|-3x----------3-----------|-3x----------3-----------
A|-------------------------|-------------------------
E|-------------------------|-------------------------
   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a

     How ..

   C7                        C7
e|-------------------------|-------------------------
B|-------1x----------------|-1x----------------------
G|-------3x----2-/-3====x--|-3x----2-/-3====---------
D|-------2x----1-/-2====x--|-2x----1-/-2====---------
A|-3x----------2-/-3====x3x|-------2-/-3====--------- OR:-----O---1--|-2
E|-------------------------|-----------------O-1---2-    ---3--------|--
   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a        a 4 + a

   G7                        G7
e|-------1---------1-------|-------------------------
B|-----------3-------------|-----------5-4-----3-----
G|-----O-----------------O-|-----O-----------O-----O-
D|-------O-----------O-----|-----//5-----4-----3-----
A|-------------------------|-------------------------
E|-3x----------3-----------|-3-----------------------
   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a

Can I    ..

   C     C7    F     Fm6     C           G7
e|-------------------------|-----------1===========--
B|-----1-------1-----1-----|-1---------O===========--
G|-------3-----2-----1-----|-O---O-----O===========--
D|-------2-----3-----O-----|-------------O-----------
A|-3-----------------------|-3-----------------------
E|-------------------------|-------3-----------3-----
   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a   1 + a 2 + a 3 + a 4 + a

  -tate?

Well, ..
You ..--
(Chorus)
If ..,
You ..
(Chorus)
Rocks ..
knows ..
(Chorus)
Well..
Lord..
How ..
Can ..
Said..

Last updated:

Your last visited songs

Hot Tuna tabs for Hesitation blues

What is this?

Learn how to play "Hesitation Blues" by Hot Tuna with our easy-to-follow guide. Build confidence, sharpen your technique, and enjoy playing guitar.

Who Is This Page For?

This guitar tabs tutorial for "Hesitation Blues" by Hot Tuna is crafted for all musicians players ready to learn and grow. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, this guide meets you where you are.

Why This Page Is Perfect for You

No matter your skill level, this page is a valuable resource for improving your guitar tab playing.

What You Will Gain

By using our guitar tabs, you’ll not only learn to play "Hesitation Blues" by Hot Tuna with accuracy and style, but you'll also elevate your overall musicianship. Explore our full archive of guitar tabs for more songs, skills, and inspiration.

Find guitar tabs and chords

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

×