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Simple Man By Lynyrd Skynyrd & More
On The AcoustiC
Welcome to my Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd section of the site. Below are some rhythm pattern tips to help you play rhythm to some of these Lynyrd Skynyrd top songs.
There are also free demos and free downloadable chords and lyrics sheets. If you'd like to purchase a full lesson tutorial, there are links for those also for a small fee.
I'm using Lynyrd Skynyrd album covers below so you'll know where the songs originated.
Ronnie Van Zandt - Steve Gaines - Cassie Gaines -- Died Oct 20th, 1977
Simple Man By Lynyrd Skynyrd & More
Chords, Lyrics. PDF's & Tutorials
Use these jump links for quicker access.
1. All I Can Do Is Write About It
This song hails from the 1976 album "Gimmie Back My Bullets".
The song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = two patterns here - main one is down down down up and repeat and use a shuffle where you see fit
- Picking = Yes - and a few riffs
- Chords = G, C, D, Em, A, D, E
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2. Call Me The Breeze
JJ Cale wrote and recorded this song back in 1972.
Two years later Lynyrd Skynyrd covered the song for their "Second Helping" album.
This song was never a single release.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = There is a shuffle going on and when the vocals kick in it changes to a root down root up down up ... or root down bass up down up
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, D7, E7, A#, A6, A7
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3. Don't Ask Me No Questions
In 1974 the band released their album "Second Helping".
Don't Ask Me No Questions was written on a fishing trip by Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington but failed to chart.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = this one has an odd pattern once it gets going using an up up down down up down - change chord - up up down down up down and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = F, F#, G, C, C#, D, A, B, C, A#, Am
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4. Down South Jukin
The album "Skynyrds First And Last" came out in 1978 after the plane crash involving the band. The original album is no longer i print.
This song Down South Jukin was a single release but just failed to chart in the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Ronnie Van Zandt and Gary Rossington co-wrote this one.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = the best pattern here would be a down down up down up down down up and repeat .. as it works with the hammer-on ... but you'll see me playing various patterns - but the one here will get you thru
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G-C-C+-D
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5. Free Bird
This song hails from the 1973 debut album.
Free Bird managed to reach #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975 and was the song they usually ended live concerts.
Girlfriend of Allen Collins asked him one day "If I leave here will you still love me" which of course became the opening line, but the song took more than two years to construct.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down up
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, D/Gb, F, C, D, A#
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6. Gimmie Three Steps
Gimmie Three Steps was a single release from the groups debut album in 1973 but the song failed to chart.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = mostly downstrokes in this one
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, D, E, E7, G
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7. Heartbreak Hotel
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8. One Day At A Time
This song is featured on the 2012 album "Last Of A Dying Breed" but the song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a steady up and down shuffle for this one with some accents
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Am, C, G, Fmaj7, D, F, E
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9. Simple Man
Although this song was never released as a single from their debut album in 1973, this song has the 3rd most digital downloads of all Lynyrd Skynyrd song behind Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird.
Download the free Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man lyrics sheet below.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No but tuned down 1 fret below pitch
- Rhythm = some arpeggio then - down up down up down up - change chord and repeat will get you through this one.
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G, Am
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10. Sweet Home Alabama
This song can be found on the 1974 album "Second Helping". The song peaked at #8 in the US and #6 in Canada.
Neil Young later added in an interview that the jab the band took at him over two of his songs called "Alabama" and "Southern Man" were well deserved and that he never should have written those lyrics.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a down down up down up and switch chords will get you thru this one but there are riffs happening and quick downstrokes to the F chord.
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, C, G, F
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11. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew
The original Lynyrd Skynyrd band tried this song once on stage after the album release in 1974 and never played the song again on-stage.
Download the free Curtis Loew Lynyrd Skynyrd lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = if you play a down down up down up down up and repeat that should work. As in all songs there will be place you'll want to play all dwonstrokes or shuffle rhythm.
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, C, G, A, E7, F
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12. Tuseday's Gone
This track can be found on the bands debut album from 1973 but for some reason the drummer, Bob Burns, played on the demo for the song but when it came time to play on the actual recording, Atlanta Rhythm Section drummer Robert Nix played on the track.
Download the free Lynyrd Skynyrd Tuesday's Gone lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a down down down up down up down up and repeat as you change chords will work ... I'm also playing all downstrokes over the riff and shuffle strumming in places ... but feel it out with the first pattern first.
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, G, Em, C, F
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13. What's Your Name
This song hails form the 1977 album "Street Survivors" and reached #13 in the US and #6 in Canada in 1977.
Download your free Lynyrd Skynyrd What's Your Name lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down down up down down up and repeat will work, but as you'll see, there are some quick jumps to the chords
- Picking = Yes a little
- Chords = C, C#, D, G, A, E, Gbm
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14. White Dove
Skynyrds First And Last was the album released in 1978 after the plane crash that killed several members of the band.
This song White Dove was on that album but the song was never released as a single. Rickey Medlocke, guitarist in the band, wrote this song.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = arpeggio arcoss the chords all the way
- Picking = Yes a little
- Chords = - D, A+, G, A, Bm, A7
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I hope you found this Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd page helpful. The next time someone at a party yells out "play me some Lynyrd Skynyrd", you'll be prepared.
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If you liked this Lynyrd Skynyrd page, you might like ... (click images)
Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary
Official Lynyrd Skynyrd Website
List Of Classic Rock Bands