Learn to Play "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger on the Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger on the guitar. This lesson is perfect for beginners but also offers insight for more advanced players.

This song is an excellent example of an 8-bar blues form, offering a lot of flexibility for different skill levels. It uses three simple chords, and the strumming is really straightforward. As your skills progress, you can try using the rock n roll shuffle (covered later in the beginner course) or even give rock and roll picking a go!

Chord Progression

The song's chord progression is straightforward, making it a great option for beginners. It follows an 8-bar blues form of A, A, D, D, E, E, A, E. That's two bars of A, two bars of D, two bars of E, one bar of A, and one bar of E. This progression is the backbone of the song, and we'll be returning to it again and again.

In the verses, the song stays on the A chord all the way through. After that, the progression starts again for the chorus. The chord sequence is a key part of this song, and getting comfortable with it is essential.

Intro Riff

All on the thickest string - here's a little tab for you!

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
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5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 . . X . . . X .

Strumming and Rhythm

Strumming is a crucial part of playing any song on the guitar, and Old Time Rock and Roll is no exception. If you're a beginner, your goal is to keep the rhythm consistent and smooth out the transitions between chords.

You can explore different rhythm patterns once you've got the hang of that. This song is flexible, and you can try out many strumming patterns that will work well. One example is playing continuous down and up strums, then putting an accent on beats two and four.

Wrapping Up

Old Time Rock and Roll is a fantastic song for beginners to explore new concepts and techniques. Its simple chord progression and flexible rhythm patterns make it a fun and engaging piece to learn. Plus, it's a classic tune that's sure to impress your friends at your next jam session!

Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced player looking to revisit a classic, this song has a lot to offer. So, pick up your guitar and give it a go! Remember, practice makes permanent, and the most important thing is having fun while learning.

Don't forget to watch the video for a more detailed walkthrough of how to play Old Time Rock and Roll. Happy strumming!

👉 Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitarTabs!