Learn "Black" by Pearl Jam on Guitar!

In this lesson, we’ll learn how to play Black by Pearl Jam on guitar. This is one of my favorite songs from the album Ten, and it sounds great on acoustic. Eddie Vedder is one of the best rock singers out there - I'm a huge fan!

Black is great because it has something for everyone - beginners, intermediates, and advanced players - so you can adjust it to your guitar level. Start simple, then bring in the trickier techniques, and revisit it as your guitar skills grow! It's a wicked motivational tool. :)

Let's start with the chord sequences. They're pretty easy to remember!

Black by Pearl Jam: Chord Sequences

The intro and verse sequence is:

E, A, E, A;
E, A, E, E.

And for the chorus you need:

C, C, Em, Em;
C, C, Em, Em;
D, C, Em;
D, C, Em.

Watch out: chorus 2 is a bit longer, so listen to the original to get the extra chords. :) In the outro section, we cycle D, C, and Em.

Okay, the sequences are easy, but there are several ways to play each.

Chord Options: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced

If you’re a beginner, go for open chords. Practice staying in time, and experiment with the strumming - see the next section for more details. :)

If you know your barre chords, let’s look at how to play these sections like Pearl Jam did. But remember to experiment too - there is no “right way”, and part of the beauty of music is adding your own touch to great songs. :)

In the intro, we start with E as an A-shape barre chord. You can let the thick E string ring out too - it's part of the chord and adds depth to the sound.

For the A, we use several D-shape barre chords. The full Major chord is rare and tricky - I find it tough to switch to - but the shapes we need are a bit easier. If you don't like them, use open A Major and Asus2 instead.

🔥 The D Shape: this is Grade 7 material! It’s rare to play the entire Major shape in this position. It’s awkward and impractical, but the Major 6, sus2, and Dominant 7 grips are pretty easy. Check out my Grade 7 module on the D, C, and G shapes to master these advanced positions. :)

There are also a couple of passing chords, which we reach by moving finger 3 slightly. Check out the video for all the details.

In the verses, I go for E as an A-shape barre chord, and A as an E-shape barre chord. You can play A as a full barre chord, with finger 1 barring all six strings, or do it the lazy way and use your thumb. ;)

🧐 Become a Detective: There are lots of other embellishments and riffs in this tune. If you’re a Pearl Jam fan, I suggest you do some detective work. ;) Listen to your favorite sections and learn them by ear. It's best to focus on the parts that define the song instead of the minutiae.

Black by Pearl Jam: Strumming

We don't look at an exact pattern because there isn't one! Standard eighth-note patterns with a happy groove simply don't work in this song - it's playful and loose. Avoid strumming too much - play less, with sensitivity, trying to support the lyrics.

As long as you keep your hand moving in time with the beat, you can add strums whenever you like. Keep it sparse and quiet in the verses, then add volume and strums in the chorus. :)

Black by Pearl Jam: The Push

If you're an advancing beginner, you can incorporate the pushes on D, C, and Em in the chorus. The concept of the rhythm push is more easily felt than explained - it feels like a push in the back!

In a push, you change the chord on the final upstrum of the bar. It gives a special groove to the song, and you're ready to incorporate them if you can make quick, clean chord changes. A great way to master your changes is playing along with Black in the JustinGuitar Lessons & Song App!

Learn the Guitar Riffs

There’s a cool riff that repeats in the second half of the chorus, and it's pretty easy - there are only three notes, and they’re all on string 2. :) You can even blend it with the chords to get D6, CMaj7, and Em.

And throughout the song you'll find Hendrix-style riffs. There's too much detail to teach them all, so try to work them out by ear - this is the best way to become a better musician.

There's so much to explore here, and I definitely suggest your revisit this Pearl Jam tune later in your journey - it's the perfect grower song. Laters! :)

🎶 Get guitar tabs, chords, and lyrics for Black and tons more songs at JustinGuitar Tabs.