The Devil Went Down to Georgia
by Charlie Daniels Band
Album: Million Mile Reflections
Released: 1979
Genre: Country Rock / Southern Rock
Difficulty Analysis
Overall
ExpertRhythm
IntermediateLead
ExpertBass
IntermediateMusical Analysis
Key & Tonality
Song Structure
Understanding D minor:
D minor has a darker, more introspective character. The Aeolian (Natural Minor) with Harmonic Minor inflections mode creates tension and emotion. This key is perfect for expressing melancholy or aggressive themes in rock music.
Pro Tip: Power chords (5ths) work exceptionally well in this key for rock/metal, as they avoid the major/minor quality and focus on raw power.
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in D minor
D natural minor (Aeolian)
Notes: D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D
Application: Primary scale for rhythm guitar and the dark verse sections
Fretboard Pattern
Chord Progressions
Main Progression
Dramatic descending minor progression creating the dark, driving energy of the verses
Theory Insight:
This progression creates a specific harmonic movement that defines the song's emotional character. Understanding the relationship between these chords helps in improvisation and songwriting.
Chord Shapes Used:
Dm
C
Bb
A
Harmonic Functions:
- Dm (i):Dark tonic center establishing the story's tension and drama
- C (VII):Subtonic providing unstable movement away from tonic
- Bb (VI):Submediant creating a half-step tension above the dominant
Key Techniques
Fast Alternate Picking
ExpertRapid alternate picking technique required to execute the fiddle-inspired melody lines at 138 BPM, demanding precision and speed
Uses chords:
See chord diagrams in the Chord Reference section above
Progression:
Over Dm - Gm - Dm - A - Dm solo section
Tips:
- • Start at 50% tempo (70 BPM) and build speed over weeks/months
- • Focus on pick economy - keep pick strokes small and controlled
- • Anchor your picking hand lightly on the bridge for stability
- • Practice with a metronome and only increase tempo when clean at current speed
- • The key to speed is relaxation - tension kills velocity and accuracy
- • Use thin picks (0.60-0.73mm) for faster string response
String Skipping Passages
ExpertFiddle-inspired passages requiring skipping over strings to replicate the wide intervallic leaps of the violin melody
Progression:
Over Dm solo section
Tips:
- • Mute skipped strings with available left-hand fingers
- • Keep the pick angle consistent through string skips
- • Practice string skipping exercises separately from the song
- • Use rest strokes on the target string to develop accuracy
- • This technique takes months of dedicated practice to master at full speed
Power Chord Rhythm
IntermediateDriving power chord rhythm guitar part that supports the vocal narrative and solo sections
Uses chords:
See chord diagrams in the Chord Reference section above
Progression:
D5 - C5 - Bb5 - A5
Tips:
- • Keep the palm muting consistent for the driving feel
- • Accent the first beat of each chord change
- • This part is the backbone - keep it steady and locked with the drums
- • Use downstrokes exclusively for heavier attack
Rapid Position Shifts
AdvancedQuick left-hand position changes necessary to cover the wide range of the fiddle melody across the fretboard
Progression:
Throughout solo sections
Tips:
- • Map out all position shifts before attempting to play the full passage
- • Keep left-hand thumb mobile behind the neck during shifts
- • Look ahead in the music - anticipate the next position before you need to be there
- • Smooth shifts come from practicing the motion, not just the notes
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of D minor. Practice these patterns to build the skills needed for this song.
Intro
0:00-0:20Power Chord Movement Exercise
Dramatic opening with driving minor key rhythm establishing the dark narrative atmosphere
Power Chord Movement Exercise
- • Driving eighth-note rhythm sets the intense pace
- • Descending chord progression creates dramatic tension
- • Palm-muted power chords with accent hits
Verse (Narrative)
0:20-1:00Power Chord Movement Exercise
The storytelling verse sections with spoken/sung narrative over the driving minor chord progression
Power Chord Movement Exercise
- • Charlie Daniels' vocal delivery is half-spoken, half-sung
- • Rhythm guitar provides the harmonic bed under the narrative
- • The descending progression builds dramatic momentum
Devil's Solo
1:00-1:30Alternate Picking Exercise
The devil's fiddle solo section - dark, aggressive runs through D harmonic minor adapted for guitar
Alternate Picking Exercise
- • Dark, aggressive fiddle runs adapted for guitar
- • Uses D harmonic minor with emphasis on the raised 7th (C#) for sinister tension
- • Rapid sixteenth-note passages with chromatic embellishments
Johnny's Solo
1:30-2:20Alternate Picking Exercise
Johnny's triumphant fiddle response - the most demanding section with blazing fast runs through D minor and harmonic minor scales
Alternate Picking Exercise
- • The most technically demanding section of the entire song
- • Wide-ranging runs spanning two octaves with rapid position shifts
- • Combines D natural minor, D harmonic minor, and D minor pentatonic
Chorus/Hook
2:20-2:50Power Chord Movement Exercise
The memorable chorus hook the iconic vocal hook with the full band driving the energy
Power Chord Movement Exercise
- • The most singable, memorable section of the song
- • Brief lift to F major (III) provides harmonic brightness
- • Full band unison creates maximum energy
Outro
2:50-3:36Alternate Picking Exercise
Final section with Johnny's victory theme, reprising solo material and ending on a triumphant Dm resolution
Alternate Picking Exercise
- • Reprises Johnny's solo material as a victory lap
- • Combination of fast runs and rhythmic hook material
- • Band builds to final climax
Equipment & Tone
Guitar
Recommended:
Pickup Type:
Humbuckers for rhythm; bridge pickup for lead runs with clarity at speed
Alternatives:
- • Fender Telecaster Deluxe
- • PRS Custom 24
- • Epiphone Les Paul
- • Any versatile electric guitar with fast neck
Amplifier
Recommended:
Settings:
Gain: 5-6 (moderate crunch for rhythm, boost for solos)
Treble: 7 (clarity for fast runs)
Middle: 6 (presence without mud)
Bass: 5 (tight low end for palm-muted rhythms)
Presence: 7 (articulate note definition at speed)
Effects
Distortion:
Moderate overdrive for rhythm; boost pedal for solos (e.g., Ibanez Tube Screamer)
Reverb:
Light room reverb - too much reverb blurs fast passages
Other:
Compression helps even out dynamics during fast runs; noise gate useful for high-gain sections
Learning Path
Time Estimate: 2-3 weeks for rhythm part basics
- • Master Dm, C, Bb, and A power chord shapes
- • Practice the i-VII-VI-V rhythm progression with palm muting
- • Learn the song structure and chord changes for each section
- • Develop basic eighth-note rhythm at slow tempo (90 BPM)
Time Estimate: 2-4 months for simplified lead parts
- • Learn D natural minor and D harmonic minor scale patterns across the neck
- • Practice alternate picking exercises at increasing tempos
- • Learn simplified versions of the solo melodies at 50% speed
- • Work on position shifts between key fretboard areas
Time Estimate: 6-12 months for full performance-quality execution
- • Build alternate picking speed to handle sixteenth notes at 138 BPM
- • Master string skipping passages with clean execution
- • Achieve seamless position shifts across the full fretboard range
- • Develop the stamina to perform the extended solo sections without fatigue
- • Work on expressive dynamics that convey the narrative's drama
Practice Notes
Common Mistakes
- • Attempting the solos at full speed too early - this leads to sloppy technique habits
- • Neglecting the rhythm guitar part - it must be rock-solid before adding lead
- • Using too much gain, which masks sloppy picking technique
- • Ignoring the harmonic minor raised 7th (C#) which gives the solos their characteristic sound
- • Tensing up during fast passages - relaxation is critical for speed
- • Not learning the melody accurately - approximating notes instead of playing exact pitches
Practice Routine
- • Warm up with D minor scale runs at comfortable tempo for 10 minutes
- • Alternate picking exercises on single strings at increasing tempos for 10 minutes
- • String skipping patterns isolated from the song context for 10 minutes
- • Work on one 4-bar phrase of the solo at 50% tempo, building to 75%
- • Practice the rhythm guitar part to maintain balance between lead and rhythm skills
- • End with full song play-through of sections you can execute cleanly
Focus Areas
- • Alternate picking speed and accuracy
- • D harmonic minor scale fluency across all positions
- • String skipping precision at increasing tempos
- • Position shift smoothness and timing
- • Right-hand and left-hand synchronization at speed
- • Endurance for sustained fast playing sections
Metronome Work
- • Start solo passages at 70 BPM (50% of performance tempo)
- • Increase by 5 BPM increments only when current tempo is clean and relaxed
- • Target milestones: 90 BPM, 110 BPM, 125 BPM, then full 138 BPM
- • Practice rhythm guitar at 100 BPM building to full tempo
- • Use subdivisions (eighth notes, then sixteenth notes) to build speed incrementally