Play John Mellencamp: "Jack & Diane" on Guitar

Let's play Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp on guitar! Though you only need A, D, and E open chords for the real simple version, the chord changes are pretty quick, meaning complete beginners might find it challenging.

More advanced guitarists will benefit loads from learning this classic. You can explore what is going on harmonically and put triad shapes to practical use. :) You'll learn to play these mini-grips under a bass note.

But no matter your guitar level, I suggest you start with the basics. We'll go through all of that and learn to play the classic John Mellencamp guitar riff in detail.

💡 I used to play this song in cover bands back in the day! Fun times, and a great tune to play live. :)

I'm playing my Froggy Bottom acoustic guitar for today's lesson. but Jack & Diane works pretty much the same on electric guitar. :) Some sections on the original use only electric or acoustic, while others are layered. If you're doing electric guitar, try to get a clean sound for the verses so that you differentiate between the sections.

Let's check out the chords.

Jack & Diane By John Melencamp: Simple Chords

The chord progression in Jack and Diane has only A, E, and D. If you're a beginner, keep it very simple! You might even use this song to practice that anchor finger trick that we learn in Grade 1: use your first finger as an anchor between your A, D, and E for faster chord changes. It works great!

Though you only need three chords, the changes are quick. If you're a beginner guitarist, Jack & Diane will be a good challenge for you. :)

💡 Get chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials! Check out JustinGuitar Tabs and try it out for free.

The Classic John Mellencamp Guitar Riff In Jack & Diane

The triad riffs in Jack and Diane are still based on A, D and E chords, but we play them differently. The original recording uses triads, and this lesson will help you understand what's happening behind the scenes here. We add little melodic movements to these basic triads.

Expect some pretty awkward rhythm! Luckily, it's easy to hear the variations, so make sure you have this song in your musical imagination before you try to play it. You can use the lesson to understand the rhythm, but it's easier to listen to the original recording and try to copy the rhythm rather than counting it. ;) Take it nice and slow to begin with.

There are loads of movements with the chords in Jack and Diane. You need to make the rhythm feel as natural as possible. Counting complex rhythms requires a lot of brainpower, which we don't want. :) Instead, keep the strumming hand moving and try to hear when you need to strum and when you don't. This will make it much easier to get the chords right while keeping a good feel.

If you're struggling with rhythm, remember to keep your strumming hand moving nice and consistently.

Have loads of fun with Jack & Diane! Laters. :)

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