Learn to Play "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane on the Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane on the guitar. This fantastic tune was featured in the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It's a fun and engaging song for beginners, especially with a capo placed on the second fret, which allows for mostly open chords. Let's dive right in!

Basic Strumming and Chord Progressions

We'll begin with a simple run-through using basic strumming. Later, we'll look at strumming in more detail and even discuss some little things you can add to make your performance sound slicker.

The song starts with an E minor chord for a bar, changes to an A for 2 beats, to a D, and then lands on two bars of E minor. This verse sequence is repeated for each verse in the song.

Next, let's explore the chorus. It's a catchy sequence of G for half a bar, D, E minor for half a bar, and then A for half a bar. This sequence is played three times in a row, followed by D for half a bar and A for half a bar, leading us into a new section.

Pushing the Beat and Strumming Pattern

One of the really important things in this song, especially in the chorus, is a technique called a 'push' where we play a chord a bit earlier than usual.

The main strumming pattern is a two-bar sequence. The way it works with the chords, particularly with the E minor and the A to D bit, is what really brings this tune to life. We start with the E minor, down, down, up, down, then the A, down, up, and now the next up is where we change to the D chord. This means the D chord is not exactly falling on beat 3–it's being pulled a little earlier. We call this a push.

This sequence and the pushed chord also happen in the chorus. So, in the chorus, we've got G, D, E minor, and the A chord pushed this time. This different flavor really adds to the overall sound of the song.

Extra Tips and Tricks

A little trick I like using in this song is a little pop stop just before the chorus. On the E minor chord on beats one and two, I play the chord and then use the outside part of my hand to mute it. These nice little stops just before the chorus make a difference.

Another thing I sometimes do is a little hammer-on with the E minor. I strum without the chord on at all and then hammer the E minor chord down. While this isn't on the original record, it adds a nice stylistic touch.

Final Thoughts

Somebody to Love is a truly cool, fun tune. It's a great one to play along with the record and a good introduction to the technique of pushing the beat. Most importantly, take your time, enjoy the process, and remember confidence is vital when it comes to rhythm.

Now that we've gone through the basics, you're ready to watch the video, pick up your guitar, and start learning Somebody to Love. Let your enthusiasm guide you, and remember, practice makes permanent. Most importantly, have fun!

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