Learn How To Play "Every Breath You Take" by The Police On Guitar!

This lesson will teach you how to play Every Breath You Take by The Police, featuring the brilliant guitarist Andy Summers. We'll check out the chords, techniques, and sounds to get you to play it like the original recording!

You might want to pick up a few minor variations if you want to play it just like the record. You'll need to transcrib e it and explore it on your own to get all those elements in. This lesson will show a slightly simplified version and get you playing it, which is the point. :)

Get Started

At first glance, the very first chord of this song can be intimidating and, in reality, challenging to play! Instead, I recommend you approach that initial chord the Andy Summer way - it'll be much easier and less of a stretch. Follow the following finger placement for a more manageable approach:

Start with your first finger on the fifth fret of the sixth string.
Stretch out your second finger to the seventh fret of the fifth string.
Place your little finger on the ninth fret of the fourth string.

I know, it's still stretchy, it still requires some practice! Get used to playing this chord on its own, and it'll help you move into the other chords!

Now, you might be thinking about what you need to ace the guitar effects. If you want to get the sound spot-on, you'll have to experiment with different pickups. Amplifiers all sound different, and the effects also depend on the guitar you're playing. Take some time to play around a bit. It's a fun exercise to put your ear training to work, and it's the best way to replicate that iconic Police sound.

Palm Muting Technique

To play this tune, you'll need all the downpicks. A similar picking pattern will put your palm-muting to work throughout most of the song.

To palm mute, use the outer part of your picking hand to do this, and sit your palm on the edge of the strings. Experiment with how far and how hard you'll palm mute.

Keep in mind the pressure you're using and the position of your hand on your bridge. You might have to adjust it a bit, so practice this on its own if you have to!

Want Tabs to help guide this song? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!