Ready to get your groove on?

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Superstition by Stevie Wonder on electric guitar! Though the original song doesn't have any guitar, this tune sounds wicked on our six-string friend, particularly the iconic riff.

Superstition is perfect for bands. You get into the groove and connect with your bandmates through the music. :) Playing this always makes me think about one of my first bands, Anonymous Rhinoceros, way back in Tasmania. We loved playing this song - it just felt awesome to get into the pocket together. Fun times!

Anyways, let's get into the details.

HOW TO PLAY "SUPERSTITION" BY STEVIE WONDER ON GUITAR

Overview

There are lots of cool things to learn from this guitar version of Superstition. We'll explore the main riff and its variations, and learn some tricks to make it sound ultra-authentic.

This morning I found the Stevie Wonder drum part on its own, and it's great to jam with. You should try that out - I'm sure you'll love it. :) If you dig jamming and lead guitar, check out the Major Scale Maestro course and learn how to make music out of scales. The E Minor Pentatonic scale works well with Superstition. ;)

There are a few chords to learn, and we'll look at a couple of options for each. The rhythm for Superstition can be a bit tricky, so consider using a metronome and practicing loads with the original record.

Superstition by Stevie Wonder: Main Riff

There are several variations on this riff, so we look at a general riff you can morph into the others. Learn this well, get locked into the groove, then you can explore the variations.

To really nail the riff, play along with the Stevie Wonder original and try to sit back in the pocket. How do you know you’re there? This is a laid-back song with a great groove, meaning it's obvious when you're in the pocket - it simply feels awesome!

👂 Play it by Ear: Up for figuring out this iconic riff yourself? Here's a hint: it starts with the open E string then uses notes from the E Minor Pentatonic scale (EGABD). ;)

Main Riff: Picking and Fretting Details

There’s a lot going on in this short riff, including 16th notes, up-picks, and muted strums. To make the riff sound like Stevie Wonder’s original clavinet part, you need to play the notes staccato: nice and short.

We achieve this by muting the strings with our fretting hand. When you play a note, immediately lift your hand slightly to mute the string, keeping your finger in contact with it. If you lift it off entirely, you’ll get open strings ringing out and lose the staccato effect.

💡 Fingering Options: I find it easier to play this riff using fingers 1 and 4 because it enables me to get some extra muting with fingers 2 and 3. You can also choose to fret the notes with fingers 1 and 3 - it’s up to you.

There’s also a certain way to pick this riff to make it sound authentic. We pick into the strings, almost slapping them so that they hit off the frets. Make big movements with the picking hand and hit the strings aggressively. The movement is wristy, almost like you’re strumming. :)

Finer Points

When you hear this riff on the original, there’s another clavinet part and a bass guitar. This makes the sound murky, and it’s not clear what notes the first clavinet is playing.

Because of this, at the end of the first bar I used to add extra notes that aren’t on the Stevie Wonder version. This is fine if you’re playing alone, but in a band context where everyone plays the same notes, you should agree on a part and stick to it.

One last thing - if you feel good when playing it, the audience will feel good when listening. So make sure you work on making it feel good. :)

Chorus Chords

For the chorus, you'll need the four-bar progression |B7 C7 |, |B7 B♭7 |, A7, B9. The rhythm is a little tricky, so watch the video lesson for a demo or listen to the original track loads.

🤔 Which Chord Grips Are Best? I go for full E-shape Dominant 7th grips in my demo of the chorus. But if you’re playing with other instruments, it’s best to go for these mini Dominant 7th grips instead, playing only the notes on strings 6, 4, and 3, and muting the rest.

The rhythm over B9 is real funky! Starting on beat 1, we strum six times (down-up-down-up-down-up) then down on beat 2. You need to strum from the wrist and keep it nice and loose - practicing it with muted strings will really help.

The chord geeks among you might realize that the B9 chord looks like a m7♭5 grip. That's right - we aren't playing the B bass note on string 6, and the remaining notes form an E♭ m7♭5. But it's functioning as a B9 chord, hence the name. ;)

Guitar Practice Tips

Before you go off and practice Superstition, let me repeat that it’s crucial you nail the feel. When you play it, it should feel like you’re sitting in a big, comfy sofa - loose, relaxed, carefree.

💡 My Journey: I spent two hours this morning jamming along with the Stevie Wonder version. It’s been a while since I played it, and I’d lost the groove. After some practice, I feel like I’m sliding into that big, comfy seat again!

To get to that stage, first practice the technique. Learn the parts, making sure you can play them perfectly. Then you can focus on your time and feel, jamming along with the original recording to absorb it.

For me, locking into a groove with other musicians is one of the best parts about playing music. Superstition is perfect for that, and it starts with you nailing the feel on your own.

I hope y’all fall in love with Superstition as much I did! Laters. :)

👉Get guitar tabs for Superstition. You'll have the main riff, chorus, and horn lines - everything you need to play this Stevie Wonder hit.