Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds, 1965, from Mr. Tambourine Man. Solo by Roger McGuinn.

McGuinn's Rickenbacker twelve-string intro became the defining sound of American folk rock.

Mr. Tambourine Man opens with one of the most recognisable guitar sounds of the 1960s: Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker twelve-string, chiming and bright, playing a descending figure that sounds instantly familiar. The intro and short break are compact rather than showy, but the tone itself was the revelation, shimmering and jangly in a way that became the defining sound of American folk rock. McGuinn's approach turned a Bob Dylan song into a radio-ready pop single without losing its poetry. Listen for the ringing overtones of the twelve-string in the opening bars; the paired strings create a halo around each note that countless jangle-pop bands would chase for decades.

Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds is featured in our Folk Rock (#10) list. The solo is played by Roger McGuinn and the song was released in 1965.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Folk Rock Guitar Solos — #10
• The Best The Byrds Guitar Solos — #2

Sources