Guitar & Bass Tabs
The Who
About The Who
The Who formed in London in 1964, rising from the vibrant Mod scene with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. Townshend and Daltrey quickly established a fearless, high-energy dynamic, pairing Townshend's inventive guitar ideas with Daltrey's powerhouse vocals. Their early years fused rhythm and blues with mod swagger, anchored by Entwistle's thunderous bass and Moon's volatile percussion.
They became one of rock's most influential bands, pushing the boundaries of what a rock band could be on stage and in the studio. Albums like Tommy (1969) and Quadrophenia (1973) redefined rock as a narrative, theatrical experience, while Who's Next (1971) captured their raw energy in a lean, stadium-ready sound. The band earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and left an enduring imprint on generations of players and fans.
Even as lineups shifted, The Who's influence endured: their blistering riffs, explosive live energy, and the idea that rock could be both art and anthemic entertainment helped shape punk, hard rock, and megasized concerts. From My Generation to Won't Get Fooled Again, their music remains a blueprint for dynamic dynamics and fearless experimentation.
🎸 Want to know what gear The Who used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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I Can See For Miles
The Who
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Baba O'Riley
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Pinball Wizard
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I Can't Explain
The Who
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Love Ain't For Keeping
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My Wife
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Behind Blue Eyes
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Won't Get Fooled Again
The Who
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The Real Me
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The Punk And The Godfather
The Who
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Love Reign Over Me
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Who Are You
The Who
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The Who’s core sound rests on Townshend’s rhythm guitar and Entwistle’s melodic bass, anchored by Moon’s ferocious, high-energy drumming. Townshend bleeds power chords and aggressive down-stroke riffs, with open-string drones and explosive feedback shaping crescendos. His signature windmill strum became a stage hallmark, while his use of dynamic shifts, palm-muted chugging, and occasional arpeggios kept riffs sharp and memorable. Entwistle’s bass lines weave between lead-like melodies and solid grooves, adding color and punch to songs that jump between intimate verses and explosive choruses. The band’s tight interplay—driving drums, cutting guitars, and Daltrey’s soaring vocal lines—creates a sound that is instantly recognizable and endlessly influential.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Pete Townshend’s iconic rig over the years included Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster variants, often run through big tube amps from brands like Marshall and Hiwatt to deliver punch and headroom. The Who also explored fuzz, tremolo, and other effects to push textures on hits like My Generation and Won't Get Fooled Again. John Entwistle’s thunderous bass tone often came from a Fender Jazz Bass or a Precision-style instrument, sometimes complemented by Alembic models for richer sustain. For live shows, the group relied on robust amplification and large cabinets to sustain their legendary volume, while in the studio they experimented with keyboards and early synthesizers that would color tracks on Who’s Next and beyond.
Why Learn The Who Songs?
Learning The Who's catalog is a crash course in classic rock energy, rhythm, and stagecraft. Players will develop tight rhythm-guitar timing with power chords, palm-muting, and aggressive strumming, while also uncovering melodic bass interaction and dynamic song structure. These songs span approachable staples like I Can't Explain and My Generation to more advanced, groove-heavy tracks such as Won't Get Fooled Again and Pinball Wizard, offering builds in technique, phrasing, and arrangement. Mastering these tunes builds your endurance, tone, and confidence for performing with volume, feel, and storytelling—all essential building blocks of foundational rock guitar.
Did You Know?
- 1Pete Townshend popularized the windmill guitar strum, a signature live move that became instantly recognizable.
- 2Keith Moon’s explosive drumming and on-stage antics helped redefine what a rock drummer could be in a live show.
- 3The Who emerged from the Mod movement and named themselves in the spirit of youth culture and wild energy.
- 4Tommy, the 1969 rock opera by The Who, reshaped expectations for rock albums by telling a fully realized story through music.
12 The Who lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
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