I'm not sure if Ed Sheeran wrote "Bad Habits" on guitar or not - but it works so well played on electric or acoustic guitar!

On the original recording, it sounds like Ed Sheeran is using a synthesizer to play this song. But the riff fits so well on the guitar that I wouldn't be surprised at all if he wrote it on the guitar.

I didn't really plan to do a tutorial on this song, but I heard it the other day and couldn't avoid learning to play and sing it. It's a bit tricky, but it was definitely a great practice session for me - and I'm sure it'll be for you too!

💡 Following my guitar courses? This song is great for Grade 4+ Students! We'll learn a simplified version of it, but to sound just like the original recording, you'll need to ace your Bm Barre Chords!

Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran on the guitar.

Bad Habits - Guitar Chords

If you use your guitar capo on the second fret of your guitar, you'll be able to play this song using open chords only. You'll need an F Power Chord or even a full F Barre Chord, depending on how comfortable you feel with it! If you're just getting started with your F Chord, this easier version of Bad Habits can be great practice for you!

You'll use the same chord progression throughout the entire song! So, keep in mind that exploring the song's dynamic is super important to sound good. A song tells a story - so you should try to incorporate that into your playing. Especially if you're playing on your own, you should find ways to make the choruses and the verses sound differently. If not, it only gets really boring!

A great trick is adding more strums and making the song sound louder for the pre-chorus and chorus. For example, you can also play an F Power Chord on the chorus and a full F Barre Chord on the verses! It adds a slight variation that makes the song sound even more interesting to the listener. ;)

💡 Struggling to sing and play this song at the same time? Check out my 10 tips on how to sing and play guitar!

To play the synthesizer riff, you'll need to remove your capo and work around your Bm Barre Chords. That's definitely a more Intermediate skill to have - if you're struggling to play your Barre Chords, check out this guide on easy and clear barre chords!

When exploring the picking pattern, you must observe what feels right to you. Let's talk more about that!

Bad Habits - Strumming Pattern

This song has some sort of a bouncing feeling to it! You'll get that on your strumming pattern by playing down strums on the off beats - and using some palm mute too.

The big deal here is to get the strumming feeling right. To do that, you'll have to relax the movements and stay aware of the beats. Check out the video tutorial to learn the best picking pattern to sound, just like the original recording!

As always, spend some time practicing the strumming pattern and rhythm on its own and then worry about the chord progression. When learning a more complex picking pattern like this one, it's easier to get it right than to learn it with mistakes that will make you work harder later on - so take it slowly!

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