How to Play "Matchbox" on Guitar

Learning to play "Matchbox" by Carl Perkins on the guitar can be a rewarding journey, even for beginners. This song, popularized by The Beatles, is rooted in rockabilly and blues, making it an excellent choice to work on your rhythm, timing, and fingerpicking skills. Let's dive right into it.

Starting with the Main Riff

The beauty of “Matchbox” lies in its simplicity and groove. It’s built around a 12-bar blues progression in the key of A, one of the most popular blues patterns. Before we get to the chords, it's essential to get comfortable with the rhythm. The key to capturing the feel of this song is nailing down the shuffle rhythm—this is what gives it that toe-tapping quality. Let’s break it down.

The 12-Bar Blues Structure

The song is based on the classic 12-bar blues progression, which forms the backbone of many rock 'n' roll and blues songs. This structure uses three primary chords:

• A (I)
• D (IV)
• E (V)

Here’s the breakdown of the pattern:

1. | A | A | A | A |
2. | D | D | A | A |
3. | E | D | A | E |

Once you familiarize yourself with this structure, you can play the rhythm part throughout the song. Let’s start by playing the chords in an open position.

Chord Shapes

The primary chords—A, D, and E—are quite beginner-friendly, and you likely already know them. If not, here’s a quick guide:

• A Major: Press the second fret of the D, G, and B strings, leaving the other strings open. Strum all six strings.
• D Major: Press the second fret of the G string, the third fret of the B string, and the second fret of the high E string, avoiding the top two strings.
• E Major: Press the first fret of the G string, the second fret of the A string, and the second fret of the D string. Strum all six strings.

Start by playing each chord in time with the shuffle rhythm.

The Shuffle Rhythm

A shuffle rhythm is essential for capturing the classic rockabilly and blues sound. To achieve the shuffle, you’ll be playing a swung eighth-note rhythm, which sounds like “da-da-da-da” instead of straight eighth notes (“da-da-da-da”). This gives the music its signature groove. Try counting “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…” as you play the chords, emphasizing the upbeat slightly.

Playing the Song’s Intro

The introduction to "Matchbox" is iconic and kicks off the song with energy. Here’s how you can play it on guitar:

Intro Riff:

Start by playing an open A chord and then incorporate a boogie-woogie-style bassline that alternates between the A and E strings. This creates a walking bassline effect that drives the rhythm.

---------------------	----------------------
-----------------2---	-----------------2----
---2---4---5---------	---2---4---5-----------
---0---0---0---0-----	---0---0---0---0-------
---------------------	----------------------

This is the simplified version of the intro. You can add slides and hammer-ons to give it more of that rockabilly flair.

Adding Fills and Solos

To give your performance an edge, you can add some lead fills between chord changes. Here are a few easy licks to play over the 12-bar progression:

|-------------------------5--------|---------------------------5--|
|-----------------5--7b(8)--7b(8)--|-------------------5--7b(8)----|
|-------5--7b(8)-------------------|----------5--7b(8)-------------|

---7-------------------------------	--7-----------------------------
-----------------------------------	---------------------------------

Use these simple licks to add flavor during chord transitions, especially between the A and D chords.

Strumming Patterns

For beginners, the basic strumming pattern should be a simple down-up-down-up, but with a shuffle feel. Once you get comfortable, try muting the strings slightly with your right hand to add a percussive quality.

Advanced players can experiment with alternating bass notes, walking bass lines, and even adding hammer-ons and pull-offs during the chord changes. The key is to keep the rhythm tight and consistent.

Breakdown of the Solo Section

The solo in "Matchbox" is a hallmark of rockabilly style. It's relatively simple but has some essential bends and slides. Most of it can be played using the A Minor Pentatonic scale, which fits perfectly over the 12-bar blues in A.

Here’s a basic solo to get you started:

|-------------------5---------------|---------------------------5-----|
|-----------------5---7b(8)--7b(8)--|---------------------------5-----|
|---------5---7---------------------|---------5---7-------------------|

---7-------------------------------	---7-----------------------------
-----------------------------------	---------------------------------

Practice Tips for Mastery

1. Start Slow: Focus on accuracy before speed. The rhythm and timing of “Matchbox” are vital, so start slow and gradually increase your tempo as you become comfortable with the changes.
2. Use a Metronome: Practicing with a metronome helps ensure your timing is spot-on, which is especially important for shuffle rhythms.
3. Jam Along: Playing along with the recording can help you get a feel for the groove and the overall vibe of the song.
4. Learn by Ear: If you can, try to listen closely to the original recording and pick out subtle nuances like bends, slides, and rhythmic variations.

Advanced Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start adding more advanced techniques such as:

• Palm Muting: Lightly resting the palm of your strumming hand on the strings to create a muted, percussive sound.
• Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs: Use these techniques to embellish your chords and fills, giving your playing more expression.
• Sliding Between Chords: Add slides to transition between chords smoothly, which is a staple of the rockabilly style.

Conclusion

Playing "Matchbox" on guitar is a great way to develop your skills in blues and rockabilly. With its simple 12-bar blues structure and catchy shuffle rhythm, this song offers the perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment. Whether you're strumming along with the chords or throwing in some lead guitar licks, "Matchbox" is sure to become a favorite in your repertoire.

So grab your guitar, turn up the amp, and start rocking out to "Matchbox"!