Riders on the Storm the Doors (Key: Em)

Riders On The Storm – The Doors (Key: Em)

Quick Notes: Truth be known, basically this entire song revolves around Em. If you want to play the REALLY easy version of this, you'd basically avoid this part, which is a simple fill guitar run. It is playable as the singer/strummer in this song.

Chords Used:

Em: 022000
Am: x02210
C: x32010
D: xx0232

Here is the fill guitar that is played during the verse after the Em:

This run will be shown in the reference as “N.C.” to avoid confusion. You can also play THIS:

This isn't really a chord, but the focus is on the D string. It alternates between the notes of D (open) – E (2nd fret). On the video you'll see I show it as an “A/D Theme” - indicating the open A string (which runs through the progression) and the D string note run itself.

The easiest way to think of this is really that the movement is all on the D string.

Now, if you already checked out “Mary Jane's Last Dance” then you know the deal with the hammer-on there. It's not strummed, but it's basically tied to the previous note. The strumming pattern will reflect that.

Strumming Patterns

Feel free to take SOME liberty with these, but basically these are the patterns used in the song:

The Intro Pattern (JUST playing the Em – all downstrokes)

Continuation (same as above, adding the “theme”)

(remember that arch indicates both a hammer-on as well as a “tied” note/chord – it's not actually strummed)

The Am – C-D (quick change)

The D – C

You CAN experiment with this part, but if you just follow the same thing you did with Am from before it'll work.

[ Intro: Em (with or without the “theme fill” ) ]

[Verse 1]

Em N.C. (A/D)

Riders on the storm

Em N.C. (A/D)

Riders on the storm

Am C - D

Into this house we're born

Em N.C. (A/D)

Into this world we're thrown

D C

Like a dog without a bone – an actor out on loan

Em N.C.

Riders on the storm

[Verse 2]

Em N.C. (A/D)

There's a killer on the road

Em N.C. (A/D)

His brain is squirming like a toad

Am C - D

Take a long holiday

Em N.C. (A/D)

Let your children play

D C

If ya give this man a ride – sweet family will die

Em N.C.

Killer on the road, yeah

[Bridge/Solo: FULL chord theme as above ]

[Verse 3]

Em N.C. (A/D)

Girl ya gotta love your man

Em N.C. (A/D)

Girl ya gotta love your man

Am C - D

Take him by the hand

Em N.C. (A/D)

Make him understand

D C

The world on you depends – our life will never end

Em N.C.

Gotta love your man, yeah

[Bridge/Solo: JUST Em – A/D Theme (repeated) ]

[Verse 4]

Em N.C. (A/D)

Riders on the storm

Em N.C. (A/D)

Riders on the storm

Am C - D

Into this house we're born

Em N.C. (A/D)

Into this world we're thrown

D C

Like a dog without a bone – an actor out on loan

Em N.C.

Riders on the storm

[Outro – w/ or without any lead but JUST Em – A/D Theme (repeated) ]

Em N.C. (A/D)

Riders on the storm (repeat as desired – end on Em)