Hey Joe

Q: How to play the easy chords for Hey Joe (Willy DeVille)?

To play the Easy Chords for Hey Joe, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords with Capo on Fret 2 to make transitions easier without barre chords.

Q: Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

Willy DeVille verified

Key: A

Tuning: Standard

🎸 Original Version Easy Chords

Transpose

Notation

Capo

Instrument

speed

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Easy Chord Tip: Place Capo on Fret to play open chord shapes ().

CHORD DIAGRAMS

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tune Transposed: semitones

[Verse 1]
[A] [D] [E]
They Joe, where you going with that money in your hand?
[D] [A] [D]
I say hey Joe, where you going with that money in your hand?
[E]Well I'm going [D]to see my woman
[A] [D] [E]
You know I heard she done messed around with some other man, I heard she did
[D] [A] [D]
You know I'm going downtown, I'm gonna buy me a Blue Steel '44
[E] [F] [C]
You know I'm going downtown, I'm gonna buy me a Blue Steel '44
[G] [D] [E]
I'm gonna catch up with that girl, she won't be messin' 'round on me no more
[F]♪
[C] [G] [D]
Well I say hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?
[E] [F] [C]
They hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?
[G]I'm gonna [D]shoot my woman
[E] [F] [C]
I found her messin' around with some other man
[G] [D] [E]
They Joe, I heard you shot your old lady down
[F] [C] [G]
They Joe, you know I heard that you shot your old lady down
[D] [E] [F]
Yes I did, 'cause I caught her messin' 'round, messin' 'round, messin' 'round town, well all right
[C]♪
[G] [D] [E]
I said hey Joe, you better lay low and get out of town
[A] [D] [E]
I said hey Joe, where you gonna run to now?
[D] [A] [D]
He said I'm going downtown and I'm gonna get me a passport, see (oh see)
[E] [D] [A]
Well I'm going down South, way down Mexico way
[D] [E] [D]
And there ain't no hangman gonna put no noose around me, hu-hu
[A] [D] [E]
Just 'cause I shot her, just 'cause I shot her down, all right
[F]♪
[C] [G] [D]
Well I'm going down South, way down Mexico way
[E] [F] [C]
I'm going down South where a man can be free
[G] [D] [E]
No there ain't no hangman gonna put no noose around me

[Outro]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [F] [C]
[G] [D] [E] [F]
[C] [G] [D] [E]
[A] [D] [E] [A]
[D] [E] [A] [D]
[E] [A] [D] [E]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [F] [C]
[G] [D] [E] [F]
[C] [G] [D] [E]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D]

Found an error in chord or lyrics for this song?

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Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album Backstreets of Desire

Released 1992

Genre

American Native

Songwriter Willy DeVille

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

Chord Mudah Basic Chords • Capo Fret 2 Open chords (C / G) without barre chords

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info About This Song

Song Fundamentals

Key A (A Major)

Tempo / BPM Tempo: Not available

Tuning Standard

Time Signature 4/4

Difficulty Level Easy

Capo Position Capo Fret 2

Chord Count 6 Unique Chords

Genre American

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Hey Joe by Willy DeVille is played in the key of A. Progresi ini menciptakan pergerakan harmoni alami: A (I) sebagai Tonic (Pusat Nada/Stabil), diikuti D (IV) sebagai Subdominant (Gerak Maju/Tensi Sedang), diikuti E (V) sebagai Dominant (Tensi Kuat Menuju Tonic).

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Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips

Theory Guide

Guitar playing guide for Hey Joe by Willy DeVille: sounding in A (Capo Fret 2, shape G) at 92 BPM (4/4) featuring beginner-friendly strumming ('↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑').

check_circle Key & Tempo: Sounding in A (Capo on Fret 2 (played in G shape)) at 92 BPM in 4/4 time signature.
check_circle Voicing & Barre Bypass: Contains barre shapes (F) with open cowboy substitutions (Fmaj7 or 4-string small F (xx3211)) to eliminate finger fatigue.
check_circle Critical Transition: Transition from E to F requires anchoring index or ring finger as a stable pivot.
check_circle Strumming Pattern: Master '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' by starting at 66 BPM before accelerating to studio 92 BPM.

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

Harmonic Progression

Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)

I – IV – V – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII

Song chords:

star Primary Chords (Song Foundation)

A D E F

Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.

more_horiz Auxiliary / Transition Chords

C G

Used as harmonic transition variations in intro, bridge, or outro.

tune Why Use a Capo?

Capo & Sounding Key

Sounding Key A Acoustic pitch of original recording

Capo Fret 2 sync_alt Raises the pitch of open strings

Fingering Shape Key G Open chord finger positions

Placing a Capo on Fret 2 transforms fingering into G, maintaining A sound without complex barre chords.

lightbulb Alternative Capo Positions for This Song:

piano Chord Family A

Diatonic Matrix

This song is built on the key of A. Here are the 7 diatonic chords (Chord Family) that harmonize according to music theory:

I A Tonic

ii Bm Supertonic

iii C#m Mediant

IV D Subdominant

V E Dominant

vi F#m Submediant

vii° G#dim Leading

speed Difficulty Level: Easy

Difficulty Determinants for This Song:

check_circle Uses 6 unique chords throughout the song

check_circle Requires 1 barre chord shapes (F)

check_circle Capo on fret 2 is recommended for optimal finger comfort

dna MUSICAL DNA:

KEY: A • TEMPO: Tempo: Not available • PROG: I – IV – V – ♭VI – ♭III – ♭VII • DIFF: 2/5 • CAPO: 2

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ Hey Joe

FAQ & Tips

quiz How to play the easy chords for Hey Joe (Willy DeVille)?

To play the Easy Chords for Hey Joe, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords with Capo on Fret 2 to make transitions easier without barre chords.

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for Hey Joe?

The original recording key for Hey Joe by Willy DeVille is A. You can use the Transpose (+ / -) feature anytime to adjust the pitch to match male or female vocal ranges automatically.

quiz Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

info Video playback is restricted by the content owner outside YouTube.

Open on YouTube →

Hey Joe - Willy DeVille

Official Audio

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Listen to official audio for Hey Joe by Willy DeVille on streaming platforms:

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Hey Joe expand_less

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YouTube Spotify

Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album Backstreets of Desire

Released 1992

Genre

American Native

Songwriter Willy DeVille

Chord Version Options

2 Versions

Chord Mudah Basic Chords • Capo Fret 2 Open chords (C / G) without barre chords

View →

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[Verse 1]
[A] [D] [E]
They Joe, where you going with that money in your hand?
[D] [A] [D]
I say hey Joe, where you going with that money in your hand?
[E]Well I'm going [D]to see my woman
[A] [D] [E]
You know I heard she done messed around with some other man, I heard she did
[D] [A] [D]
You know I'm going downtown, I'm gonna buy me a Blue Steel '44
[E] [F] [C]
You know I'm going downtown, I'm gonna buy me a Blue Steel '44
[G] [D] [E]
I'm gonna catch up with that girl, she won't be messin' 'round on me no more
[F]♪
[C] [G] [D]
Well I say hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?
[E] [F] [C]
They hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?
[G]I'm gonna [D]shoot my woman
[E] [F] [C]
I found her messin' around with some other man
[G] [D] [E]
They Joe, I heard you shot your old lady down
[F] [C] [G]
They Joe, you know I heard that you shot your old lady down
[D] [E] [F]
Yes I did, 'cause I caught her messin' 'round, messin' 'round, messin' 'round town, well all right
[C]♪
[G] [D] [E]
I said hey Joe, you better lay low and get out of town
[A] [D] [E]
I said hey Joe, where you gonna run to now?
[D] [A] [D]
He said I'm going downtown and I'm gonna get me a passport, see (oh see)
[E] [D] [A]
Well I'm going down South, way down Mexico way
[D] [E] [D]
And there ain't no hangman gonna put no noose around me, hu-hu
[A] [D] [E]
Just 'cause I shot her, just 'cause I shot her down, all right
[F]♪
[C] [G] [D]
Well I'm going down South, way down Mexico way
[E] [F] [C]
I'm going down South where a man can be free
[G] [D] [E]
No there ain't no hangman gonna put no noose around me

[Outro]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [F] [C]
[G] [D] [E] [F]
[C] [G] [D] [E]
[A] [D] [E] [A]
[D] [E] [A] [D]
[E] [A] [D] [E]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [F] [C]
[G] [D] [E] [F]
[C] [G] [D] [E]
[F] [C] [G] [D]
[E] [F] [C] [G]
[D] [E] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D] [A] [D]
[E] [D]