Learn to play "Zebra" by John Butler on the guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Zebra by John Butler on the guitar. This is an exciting opportunity for you to learn a piece from a great artist who's got it all - an incredible guitar player, a great singer, a fantastic songwriter, and an amazing performer. This is a perfect starting point if you haven't yet explored his work. One of his most beautiful compositions is "Ocean," an instrumental piece that is truly sublime. While it's a bit beyond what we can cover in this lesson, it's definitely worth checking out.

A Unique Tuning

John Butler uses a unique tuning for Zebra, which makes his performance stand out. However, in this lesson, we'll be doing it in regular tuning. The song might look different if you watch a video of John Butler playing it, but don't worry! The method you'll see works just as well with regular tuning. It's a fantastic piece to play along with the original recording or jam out with your buddies. So, let's dive in and start learning this very cool riff!

A Straightforward Chord Progression

The chord progression for Zebra is pretty straightforward, making it a great song for those looking to expand their repertoire. We start with a B5 power chord, which can be played either at the seventh fret or down at the base, depending on what sounds best to you. The song then moves to F sharp, then transitions to a D chord before returning to B.

The rhythm is a key aspect of this song. It's crucial to get a good whack on beats two and four. It's also important to make sure the underneath of your first finger is muting the thinnest string, creating a nice, muddy sound when you hit through.

A Little Bonus Riff

While we won't be covering John's fantastic slide guitar solo in this lesson, there is a little riff at the end that you'll learn. This cool little piece adds some fun variation to the song, and it's a great way to practice controlling note length and working on your picking technique.

Wrapping Up

I hope you enjoy learning to play Zebra. John Butler is an incredible artist with a unique style that is well worth exploring. If you enjoy this lesson, I encourage you to check out his other work. You might also be interested in attempting the original tuning version of this song, for which you can find some notes on the website.

Remember, the best way to improve is to keep practicing and enjoying the learning process. So grab your guitar, get comfortable, and let's get started! Watch the video now for a detailed breakdown of how to play Zebra.

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