More Dwight Yoakam Guitar Songs to Play
If you're a fan of Dwight Yoakam’s unique blend of honky tonk, Bakersfield twang, and California country rock, you’re in the right place.
This second volume continues where our first left off — with more timeless guitar-driven songs from one of the genre’s most influential voices.
From upbeat toe-tappers to introspective ballads, these tracks are fun to learn and full of feel.
Scroll down to explore all 13 lessons with chords, rhythm patterns, and full video demos to help you master each tune.
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More Dwight Yoakam Guitar List
1. Pocket Of A Clown2. Population Me
3. Purple Rain
4. Sloop John B
5. Sorry You Asked
6. Stop The World And Let Me Off
7. The Back Of Your Hand
8. The Streets Of Bakersfield
9. Things Change
10. Turn It On Turn It Up Turn Me Loose
11. Two Doors Down
12. You're The One
1. Pocket Of A Clown - Learn To Play On Guitar
Pocket Of A Clown is from the 1994 album "This Time" and was released as a singl. There were five singles from the album and three went to #2, one went to #14 and this one peaked at #22 in the US and #4 in Canada.
The song was written by Dwight and a music video was also produced for the song.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 2nd fret here and in drop D tuning. Play a down up down up down up and repeat with walking bass rhythm pattern. Some lead here with the chords G, D, C and A.
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2. Population Me - Learn To Play On Guitar
Population Me is a track from the 2003 album of the same name but there were only two singles released from the record, and this song didn't make the cut.
Chords And Strumming
Soon.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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3. Purple Rain - Learn To Play On Guitar
Purple Rain of course is a song initially recorded by Price back in 1984 and the song peaked at #2 on the charts in the US.
Dwight Yoakam put this track on his 2017 album "Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars" but he performed the song bluegrass style.
Below are the Dwight Yoakam Purple Rain chords needed for this one.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 3rd fret in standard tuning and some lead required. Play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with the chords G, D, Em, C and a D7.
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4. Sloop John B - Learn To Play On Guitar
Sloop John B ... Dwight did a cover of this Beach Boys classic back in 2012 at The Live Room at EastWest Studios in Holly California.
I don't believe he ever recorded the song for an album or single.
Chords And Strumming
The chords here are G, D, D7, C, G6, Am with a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern. A small picking break is in the middle of the song following the melody line and played in standard tuning.
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5. Sorry You Asked - Learn To Play On Guitar
Sorry You Asked was a single from the 1995 album entitled "Gone". It managed to climb to #59 in the US and #73 in Canada.
Chords And Strumming
In this one I play a drop D tuning and a capo 1st fret is the original key. Play a root down up bass up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead with the chords D, G, A and C.
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6. Stop The World And Let Me Off - Learn To Play On Guitar
Stop The World And Let Me Off was played by Dwight in concert as a tribute to Waylon Jennings who had success with this song, but Waylon wasn't the first to record this song. In fact it was by Carl Belew who wrote and recorded it back in 1957. And then later that year Patsy Cline did a version and had success with the song.
Waylon did his version in 1965.
Dwight's version can be found on the compilation album "Dwight's Used Records" from 2004.
Chords And Strumming
Play this one n standard tuning with a root down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead required with the chords D, A and G.
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7. The Back Of Your Hand - Learn To Play On Guitar
The Back Of Your Hand was one of two singles released in 2003 but neither song cracked the top 40 country singles chart. When an artist signs with a label, those labels have influence on getting your songs on the radio. The larger the label, the more influence.
Dwight changed labels from Reprise to Warner Bros and for this album to a much weaker label called Audium out of NYC. They never had the clout to get much airplay for this album called "Population Me".
It was also the last album with guitarist and producer Pete Anderson after a 20 year friendship which ended up in a court battle.
Chords And Strumming
I play a standard tuning here with some single note arpeggio playing with this song and use a root down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. No lead but a G, C, D, Em and a D/Gb for chords required.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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8. The Streets Of Bakersfield - Learn To Play On Guitar
The Streets Of Bakersfield was Dwight Yoakam's first #1 in the US but his first #1 was Honky Tonk Man in Canada two years earlier.
From his "Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room" album of 1988, The Streets Of Bakersfield was a duet with his mentor Buck Owens. Homer Joy wrote the song years earlier and it was recorded by Buck back in 1972, but he had little commercial success at that time.
This duet version was the first time Buck Owens had seen a #1 in 16 years.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 2nd fret in standard tuning with a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead required with the chords G, C and D.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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9. Thinks Change - Learn To Play On Guitar
Things Change hails from the album "A Long Way Home" which was the 9th album from Dwight Yoakam and hit the airwaves in 1998. This song was one of two singles from that album and reached #17 on the US country charts.
This song was also written by Dwight Yoakam.
Chords And Strumming
The chords here are A, E, D and Gbm with some lead. Play a root down up down up down down repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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10. Turn It Up Turn Me On Turn Me Loose - Learn To Play On Guitar
Turn It Up Turn It On Turn Me Loose is one of five singles that came off of this one album in 1990 with Dwight's "If There Was A Way" album. Two songs were in the top 10 and the other three were in the top 20, including this one, which peaked at #11 in the US and #5 in Canada.
The song was co-written by Kostas and Wayland Patton.
Chords And Strumming
Played with a root down up bass up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning with the chords E, B7, E7 and an A.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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11. Two Doors Down - Learn To Play On Guitar
Two Doors Down can be found on the 1993 album "This Time".
Dwight co-wrote this song with Nashville writer Kostas.
Of the 5 singles released from this album, this song was not one of them.
Chords And Strumming
This one played in standard tuning with no lead with the chords G, D, C and A7. Play this with a root up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
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12. You're The One - Learn To Play On Guitar
You're The One was a 1991 single which was was released from the album "If There Was A Way" and peaked at #5 in the US and #4 in Canada. There was also a music video created for the song.
This is another song that Yoakam had written 9 years earlier and it sat and gathered dust until it found it's place on this album.
Chords And Strumming
Play a root up down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with some lead and in standard tuning. Play the chords G, C, D, Am, D/Gb, D7, Adim, Em, E/Eb, E/D, A7 and Am7.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & Lyrics
Back To Song List
Whether you're strumming through the Bakersfield shuffle of “Streets of Bakersfield” or sinking into the emotion of “I Sang Dixie,” these songs offer a great mix of energy and storytelling.
Each guitar tutorial captures the essence of Dwight Yoakam’s sound while remaining accessible for acoustic players. Be sure to visit our first volume for even more favorites — and check back often as we continue expanding our collection of classic country artists.
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