Learn to Play "What Took You So Long" by Emma Bunton on the Guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play What Took You So Long by Emma Bunton, also known as 'the cutest Spice Girl,' on the guitar. This song is a great example of pop songwriting, so if you're interested in composing pop songs, this lesson is definitely for you.

This song has a solid pop structure. One interesting thing you'll notice is that the chorus comes in at almost exactly one minute, and there's a little gap just before the chorus starts, known as a pop stop. These are common features in pop music that make the song catchy and memorable.

Chord Progression

The main chord sequence of the song includes an F major seven for one bar, A minor for one bar, and G for two bars. We'll use this sequence for the intro and the first verse.

While most of the song revolves around the main chord progression, some interesting chords pop up in places like the pre-chorus and the chorus.

The pre-chorus chord progression is D minor seven, F major seven, A minor, and G. This sequence is played twice.

The chord progression for the chorus is D minor seven, A minor, and G.

The bridge uses the same chords as the pre-chorus, but there's an interesting part going on with the electric guitar. This part sounds great if you're playing the acoustic rhythm guitar part, adding a unique dimension to the song.

Strumming Pattern

Understanding the strumming pattern is crucial to capturing the feel of the song. We'll use a pattern that includes a percussive hit, which adds a nice groove to the song. The pattern goes down, hit, up, down, up, down, down, hit, up, down, up, down. This main sequence is used most of the time in the song.

Additional Bits

There's also a nice little lead guitar line that happens at the start of the tune and a few times in between. It's very simple, single-note stuff. If you're interested in transcribing or exploring different layers of guitar parts, this is something you should check out.

Wrapping it up

This lesson offers a comprehensive guide to playing What Took You So Long by Emma Bunton on the guitar. I hope you enjoy and learn a lot from it. Through this song, you'll learn some cool chords and strumming patterns and gain insights into pop songwriting and structure.

Don't forget to watch the video for a more detailed guide and to see these chords and strumming patterns in action. So, grab your guitar, hit play, and let's get started!

And remember, practice makes permanent, so don't forget to practice these chords and strumming patterns regularly. Happy playing!

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