Learn to play "Go With The Flow" by Queens of the Stone Age on the guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Go With The Flow on the guitar. This song, by the incredible Queens of the Stone Age, is a great choice if you're getting into power chords. Even though it's a relatively simple tune with just two four-bar chord progressions, it will be quite a mission to keep up the eighth note picking for the entire song. But don't worry—we'll go over that in detail in the video.

Chord Progressions

In Go With The Flow, the very first chord is an E power chord that lasts for two bars, setting the tune's energetic pace. Palm muting is used here to add a heavier sound, a great trick you'll want to learn if you're interested in rock music.

If you’re not comfortable with palm mutes yet, check out this lesson!

The second chord, which is actually the first chord in the four-bar sequence, is a C5 over G. This is just a fancy way of saying it's a C power chord with a G bass note. This is a cool trick used by many bands like Queens of the Stone Age, and it gives a heavier, fatter sound.

The next chord we encounter is an open A5 power chord. The progression then returns to the E chord, with a solid eighth-note rhythm for two bars.

Rhythm

The rhythm we'll use in this song is a downpick pattern that's a little tricky but definitely manageable with some practice. We'll be using this pattern for the first bar of each chord.

You might notice a pumping eighth-note rhythm on the E power chord when listening to the song. This cool technique involves accenting beats two and four, mirroring the snare drum in a typical rock drum pattern. It's a valuable pattern to learn as it's widely used in many rock songs.

Chorus

In the chorus, we start off with the same C5 slash G chord we used for the verses. Then we lift the first finger and play exactly the same but with the thickest two strings open. A few different guitar layers are going on here, and it's your choice as to which one you want to replicate.

Wrapping Up

With these little puzzle pieces, you're going to be able to put the whole thing together. But remember, it's not just about the notes—it's capturing the track's energy and vibe. And the best way of doing that is playing along with the original recording.

If you're a slightly more advanced guitar player, you might also like to check out some of the lead parts. There's a little solo in the intro that's not particularly difficult and a few other funky elements in the song.

Go With The Flow is a fun, energetic song that'll help you get to grips with power chords and eighth-note rhythms. I hope you find this lesson helpful and are excited to get started. Remember to watch the video for more detailed instructions and demonstrations. Keep practicing, and you'll be rocking to Go With The Flow in no time!

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