Call Me The Breeze
Track Your Progress
Call Me The Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Call Me the Breeze is a Lynyrd Skynyrd staple from their 1974 Second Helping album. It’s a cover of a J.J. Cale blues tune that the band gave a sunny, Southern rock makeover. In the studio, Skynyrd captured a loose, live-in-the-studio vibe, with Ed King adding a slide-inspired guitar line over a tight shuffle and a punchy rhythm section that helped define their signature sound. The track became a mainstay on classic rock radio and a crowd-pleasing live staple, epitomizing the road-trip swagger that defines 70s Southern rock.
On stage and on record, the breezy groove invites the listener to tap along; its memorable riff and simple chord skeleton make it a gateway tune for players who want to dig into blues-rock rhythm and tasteful single-note fills. The song's lasting cultural footprint comes from Skynyrd's status as a Southern rock touchstone and its enduring use as a sunset-drive anthem through the decades.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, you'll lock in the classic bluesy shuffle that drives Call Me the Breeze. We’ll break down the main two-bar groove and the simple A-D-E-based chord cycle that forms the backbone, then guide you through the signature rhythm riff that interlocks with the groove. You'll learn palm-muted power-chords, clean double-stops, and light slide embellishments to emulate Skynyrd's tone. We'll also cover the 12-bar blues structure, tempo, and how to stay loose and swingy without rushing the beat. The tricky parts include keeping the swing feel consistent across the changes and maintaining clean muting on off-beats.
Intermediate — helpful to have solid rhythm-chord technique, control of palm muting, and some experience with blues-rock shuffle.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Start with a metronome at a slow, swaying tempo to lock in the swing feel, then gradually increase to the target groove around 90 BPM.
- 💡Keep your palm lightly resting on the strings near the bridge to maintain tight muting on the off-beats and avoid string wash.
- 💡Practice the main riff and the A-D-E rhythm separately, then loop them together while focusing on staying in the pocket with the drummer's feel.
More Lynyrd Skynyrd Tab Lessons
Want More Lessons?
Subscribe to DadRock Tabs on YouTube for free guitar and bass lessons every week!
Subscribe – It's Free!💬 Comments & Ratings
Loading comments...