Learn to Play Ol’ 55 by Tom Waits

Ol’ 55 is one of my all-time favorite songs—and for good reason. Written by the legendary Tom Waits (and later covered by The Eagles), it’s a gentle, soul-stirring tune about late-night drives, sunrise reflections, and the bittersweet feeling of heading home from something you don’t quite want to leave.

In this lesson, we explore a thoughtful and playable acoustic arrangement using a capo on the 6th fret—not exactly how it’s done on the original recording, but it beautifully captures the feel of the song. If you’d like to play along with The Eagles’ version, simply move the chords to open position with no capo—it’s the same shapes!

What we learn:

Basic open chords: C, E minor, F, G, A minor, D7
How to add emotional depth with Gsus and Csus variations
Tips on switching between chords smoothly for a flowing sound
A simple strumming pattern using the thumb and index finger
How to emulate piano-style embellishments on the guitar
That signature descending bass line captures the feel of "freeway cars and trucks"

We also discuss some subtle touches—like when to use a regular G vs. a Gsus, how to bring out that sweet Csus hammer-on, and how to make your version sound more like you. Justin walks through fingerstyle and strumming options, encouraging you to explore what feels right for your hands and your ears.

This is one of those songs where the melody is so strong, you don't need to overthink it—just let the chords breathe, stay close to the groove, and let your emotion do the heavy lifting. So whether you're a die-hard Tom Waits fan or just discovering the magic of Ol’ 55, this lesson gives you the tools to play it in a way that feels personal, expressive, and deeply satisfying.

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