Learn How to Play "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club on Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Karma Chameleon by Culture Club on the guitar. This classic 80s hit is a great choice for beginner guitar players, with its easy chord progression and catchy melody.

We'll start with a beginner-friendly version of the song. This version avoids the tricky B minor chord that only pops up a few times in the bridge so you can play almost the entire song without it. This song is perfect for practicing your open chords. We'll also discuss simple strumming techniques and ways to add variety to your playing between the verses and the chorus to keep things interesting.

Chord Progressions

The song starts with an intro that consists of four bars of G. You could strum down on beats one and three or experiment with a different strumming pattern or riff. The verse starts with a G chord, followed by D, and then goes back to G. This pattern is repeated twice. Then, we move to a C chord followed by D, repeated three times. Then we move on to A minor for two bars, followed by one bar each of G and D. The chorus is slightly different, starting with a G chord for one bar, then D with an F base (or a regular D if you prefer), E minor for two bars, A minor for two bars, and then G to D and again G.

It's really helpful to play with the original recording or an acoustic version to familiarize yourself with the rhythm and chord changes.

Strumming Techniques

How you strum the guitar can greatly affect the song's feel. For beginners, it's recommended to start with simple strumming patterns and gradually build up to more complex patterns as you get more comfortable. For instance, you could start with strumming on beats one and three, then continue to strum on every beat once you're comfortable.

Another great tip is to use different strumming patterns for the verses and choruses. This adds variety to the song and keeps it from sounding monotonous. If you're feeling adventurous, try picking out individual notes during the verses for a different sound.

The Bridge

The song also features a bridge, which includes a B minor chord. If you're struggling with this chord, you can substitute it with a D chord. Although it's not an exact match, it's close enough to work in this song. It's also a great way to practice transitioning between chords.

Remember, the goal is to keep a consistent rhythm, even if the chords go wrong. So don't stop strumming if you mess up a chord. Just keep going and try again in the next round.

Wrapping Up

I hope you enjoy learning to play Karma Chameleon. Its simple chord progression and catchy melody make it a great song for beginners to practice their strumming and chord transitions. So grab your guitar, watch the video, and try it! Remember to have fun and enjoy the process of learning. With practice, you'll be playing this classic 80s hit with ease. Happy playing!

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