Song Rig

Honky Tonk Women

Keith Richards · Through the Past, Darkly · 1969

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The open G cowbell anthem — one of the simplest and most effective guitar riffs in rock history. The open G tuning makes the two-string slide riff and the chord voicings feel natural and resonant. Keith plays through a Gibson/Marshall setup here, and the tone is dirtier and more open than the later Sticky Fingers tracks.

Signal Chain

1Gibson Les Paul (or Telecaster, open G tuning)
2Marshall Super Lead (moderate gain)
3open G tuning (DGDGBD)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume7

Bass6

Mid7

Treble7

Moderate Marshall crunch — the open G riff benefits from enough gain to give the chords sustain and weight. The tone is grittier than the ballad tracks, more mid-forward. The single-string riff slides feel more aggressive with a crunchier amp.

Technique

How to Play It

Open G slide riff on the G and B strings — the main riff uses a slide (or just a barre) moving up the neck on two strings, which in open G creates the characteristic two-string power chord movement. The right hand plays a specific rhythmic pattern: chord stabs followed by silence.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Guitar in open G tuning (low E removed, or all 6 strings) → any Marshall-type crunch amp → the riff is immediately recognisable once the tuning is correct.

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