https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-hold-your-guitar-b1-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlV6WhM9YhE/hqdefault.jpg How To Hold Your Guitar There's a right way of holding your guitar! Make sure you start off on the right foot. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MlV6WhM9YhE 256 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/notes-in-the-open-position-bc-171 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df4Dr2VhHG0/hqdefault.jpg Notes In The Open Position It is important to learn the names of the notes found around the nut. This will give you a better understanding of why you play chords a certain way, what the notes are in the chords, and also help your general musicianship, which will help in pretty much every aspect of your playing! Little things like this really make a bigger difference than it might seem at first, and I'm sure you will find this valuable if you take the time to study it. Notes In The Open Position The diagram on the left shows all the notes up to the fifth fret. The notes we are most concerned with are the notes in the first three frets. These MUST be memorised now. Start by learning the ‘white' notes. Make sure you also work out the sharps and flats in between those notes. You will find this easy to do if you have learned your Note Circle, see lesson BC-152 • The Note Circle. Notice that E and F, and B and C, are always next to each other (remember that they are only a semitone apart) and that all the others have a fret (and note) between them. Suggested Exercise Play any open chord that you know and then work out what the notes are that you are playing. What I want you to get good at is working out the notes in the open position quickly and easily. Once you can do this, you will find it relatively easy to work out notes all over the neck. You might have to count your way up the neck a little further, but it's really no harder! Try working out the notes for every chord we have looked at so far in the course and write down what the notes are. You might even start to see similarities between how each chord is made up. You might like to check out the JustinGuitar Note Trainer app too, which is available for Apple and Android! Practical Music Theory If you are working through Practical Music Theory - you should start to see the theory in practice - how the chords are constructed, the way that major and minor chords are very similar, and be able see the chord formula's being used. Moving On... Now that you have revised the note circle and you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Df4Dr2VhHG0 342 2017-10-30T15:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-8-nj-708 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/865531822-2a1b27b052c71acf920cafd1ee279b0a396351e360253eea6a277a9ea49b371a-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 8 Off to a rough start, Nitsuj realized he might require a tuner upgrade. Perhaps even a guitar upgrade?! What do you think? :) That would be a nice treat for all Nitsuj's hard work. Grade 7 consolidation stage is finally coming to an end! Excited for what's ahead. I hope you're having a fab day wherever you are. https://player.vimeo.com/video/398037428 1449 2020-03-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-tune-a-guitar-for-beginners-b1-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X2EmpWr9vUc/hqdefault.jpg How To Tune A Guitar For Beginners Don't start playing if you don’t know how to tune your guitar! Get used to the right sound! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2EmpWr9vUc 426 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adding-a-percussive-hit-on-the-backbeat-sd-011 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-09-TheBackbeatHit-S.jpg Adding a Percussive Hit on the Backbeat The percussive hit combines a mute with a strum! It's all in the strumming hand and adds loads of fun to your guitar playing! https://player.vimeo.com/video/784752829 2023-01-12T12:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walkin-bass-jazz-blues-main-lesson-sb-1201 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106244051-cf690c2ff63ea954818339eca9fbe0a8615510169acb074ecc304db8f12097e0-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Walkin' Bass Jazz Blues - Main Lesson Let's learn something a little spicy: a Walking Bass Jazz Blues with those extra “fancy” chord changes! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1141172794 1409 2026-01-13T15:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lush-acoustic-chords-w-drone-strings-1-ca-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bFE_OHUdVhE/hqdefault.jpg Lush Acoustic Chords w Drone Strings 1 My Chord of the Day series on Instagram is pretty popular. Still, trying to do things super quick, I felt like I was leaving good stuff out... so I thought I'd try this new format using a chord progression and a specific concept. We start with a TL;DW (Too Long; Didn't Watch) version: a cut-down lesson less than 2 mins long which outlines the chords but without all the detail. Then we dig into the whole concept, the drone strings (Open E & B Strings), the function they provide to create dissonance, and why it makes Chord Lush. Some chords work better than others, but the ones that do work can be WONDERFUL in the right place. These look like barre chords, but they are a lot easier because there is no actual barre! They sound so much richer than either open chords or barre chords because of the clashing notes. Who would have thought that clashing notes makes chords beautiful... but it does! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/bFE_OHUdVhE 1318 2021-01-08T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/about-knowledge-blim-m0-k0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879443-d89e78730890bbe2be25fb41341b76a383f88c2e4736c79b1cce56aa212d9255-d_295x166?r=pad About 'Knowledge' This class prioritizes practical applications, but exploring Music Theory, especially key chords and major scale construction, is a game-changer! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902553824 89 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adding-notes-and-function-mt-591 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/adding-notes-and-function-mt-591.jpg Adding Notes And Function Grab some paper and pens and let's give your first steps into Harmonic Analysis! https://player.vimeo.com/video/803173171 2019-01-11T15:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-guitar-basics-3-bc-156 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T-R3qPK2MMk/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Guitar Basics 3 Now it is time to look at a shuffle rhythm, because it sounds cool when you are playing blues. Swinging the rhythm First of all, let's look at a bar with four beats in it, with each beat divided into three (triplets). As in the previous lesson, we count this with the number of the beat, ‘trip' and then ‘let'. Then, we get rid of the middle note from each triplet, and we end up with a rhythm called a shuffle. You can see that we still strum down on the beat, and we use an up-strum for the ‘-let'. So it is similar to the usual down-up pattern, but with the up-strum delayed slightly. You can see there are four triplets in the bar. Counting as shown above while you play should help you know where you are. Say the ‘trip', even though you are not playing it. This shuffle-type of strumming has many variations and it not quite as ‘tight' as I am showing you here. If you think of the first strum being right on the beat (which it should be) then the second strum (the up) can be anywhere in between where the ‘and' would have been and the next beat, depending upon the groove you are playing. For now you should work on getting the shuffle just as I have shown it in the above example, but be aware that in the future you might play around with this idea a bit. Try to put this into practice, maybe playing a simple 12-Bar Blues using 7th chords and this shuffle strumming. You now know six dominant 7th chords, which means that you can play a 12-Bar progression in four different keys! (A, G, D and E) so you might like to try playing some of the blues songs in The Beginner Songbook (Stage 5), or look up some of your own; there are literally hundreds of songs that use the 12-Bar Blues progression! Common Chord Sequences / 12-Bar Blues Sequences I know in the vid I talk about the "common chord sequences lesson" but I have changed that for the "Easy Songs" but I hadn't thought of doing that until after we filmed the vid! The chord sequences that I talk about in the video here are 12-Bar Blues chord progressions (shown below): the ch... https://www.youtube.com/embed/T-R3qPK2MMk 401 2017-10-30T15:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/palm-muting-bg-1203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5H7Q6dSxuQc/hqdefault.jpg Palm Muting Palm Muting technique is essential for any guitarist that wants to rock out! https://www.youtube.com/embed/5H7Q6dSxuQc 398 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-10-nj-710 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/865626507-9ddc95b5f80709fcebe9148d75f09f0e9623eb5bb811ed05add735f3ad1eb504-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 10 Nitsuj's final practice session in Grade 1 - he passes today :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/398110666 1368 2020-03-26T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/riff-come-as-you-are-b1-506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0EVHt__Ktnw/hqdefault.jpg RIFF Come As You Are Learn the riff for Come As You Are By Nirvana - a great exercise for beginner guitar players! https://www.youtube.com/embed/0EVHt__Ktnw 300 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walkin-bass-jazz-blues-slow-demo-sb-1202 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106245857-2ae51ef181008795442c606a6e0e09d807e3967dcdd8dfd620d8a33d344b3aac-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Walkin' Bass Jazz Blues - Slow Demo Here’s a full slow playthrough of your arrangement so you can hear how everything fits together at a slower pace. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1141171707 72 2026-01-13T15:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basket-case-green-day-tsl-ka-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9lejzTuCCIU/hqdefault.jpg Basket Case (Green Day) TSL This was a funny patch to make, it literally took just a couple of minutes to get super close to the sound here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9lejzTuCCIU 321 2019-08-01T13:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-8-td-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lpIjtNn6Lxo/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 8 In this lesson we record one of Tammy's original songs :) When we met she told me she was a singer-songwriter and so the whole point really of this whole thing was to get her back exploring guitar creatively and use it for writing. I know she has Logic at home and so thought we'd have a go at recording a song and getting her used to the process and have some fun with it. The plan is now to explore stuff we unearthed in this lesson: 1. More work recording rhythms and double tracking 2. Ways to explore rhythm more (perhaps using a capo on this track to change the grips) 3. Further exploring dynamics to build the track 4. Layering some electric guitar parts 5. Lyrics, editing and improving... 6. Options for home recording with mics etc. Hope you enjoyed it - back for more soon! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/lpIjtNn6Lxo 3792 2019-08-05T13:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/understanding-music-notes-b1-504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ah-brqdByAY/hqdefault.jpg Understanding Music Notes Understand music notes with these music theory basics all guitar players should know! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ah-brqdByAY 365 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-2-td-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lmqndXbZtJ4/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 2 Tammy did great for her first couple of weeks practice and did all her homework and made great progress! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). 5' • Down Strums With Metronome Download the JustinGuitar Time Trainer metronome (there is an Android version, but it's being remade!) Set tempo to 80-100bpm and strum down strums with the click Stay aware of where you are, are you rushing or dragging... find the sweet spot where it feels good! 5' • Strumming Explorations Try making up your own strumming patterns Full lesson this process is at Struggling With Strumming Work them out - then follow along, then internalize them if you like them Once you know it - make it feel good and relaxed! n/a • Music Theory Get through at least Grade 1 and maybe Grade 2 of the PMT course! They're not hard! n/a • Notes On Neck It'll be part of the theory anyway, but make sure you know all the notes on the thickest string! n/a • Jamming One person plays open chords Other person finds those open chords are barre chords (this helps with your barres practice and notes on the neck, and strumming!!) Do as much of this as you can! Put On The To Do Later List! From previous weeks! Picked Fingerstyle Layering parts for recording Making a second part when jamming with someone (started in lesson 2!) Added this week Open strings in barres Easy fingerstyle patterns Notes On String 5 https://www.youtube.com/embed/lmqndXbZtJ4 3012 2019-04-10T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-5-b1-507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k3PM4Qc0N-s/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 5 Here are some songs for you to practice the concepts and techniques you've learned in Lesson 5 of this beginner's guitar course. https://www.youtube.com/embed/k3PM4Qc0N-s 149 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-4-td-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ipxn5xcZXck/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 4 This week we discovered Tammy had been looking way beyond the suggested lesson and learned all about The CAGED System and did great with it! :) awesome! She practised well and so this week we looked at the 4 main barre chords shapes (all covered in my Intermediate Course) specifically the 5th string root major chord (A Shape). We looked more at Chords In Key (from Grade 3 of my Practical Music Theory Course) and how to use them in practice on the neck without having to 'know' all the notes in the keys. We looked at a fun exercise for checking your timing using a DAW (no related lesson on the website yet) but also The Disappearing Metronome Trick which is a lot of fun. I also asked her to find a couple of 'song seeds' so next lesson (or the one after) we can start recording and try to cook up a song! Hope you're enjoying following her journey - and having lots of fun on your own guitar adventure! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ipxn5xcZXck 2655 2019-05-10T09:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/recognising-keys-by-chord-sequences-mt-424 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438171613-159e0dd62cdf8f52e40b63ee0ac40cf866ac9cdd50481b67bc42b666bac006e4-d_295x166?r=pad Recognising Keys by Chord Sequences How to recognize the key of a song by looking at its chords? Get the trick there! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/310776011 702 2018-05-09T17:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-9-td-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pNiBfdyu0dw/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 9 Tammy’s back for her first lesson since recording her original tune in Lesson 8! Lots to go over, as you can imagine. Filling the role of her producer, I offered Tammy some pointers on where things could possibly be improved in her song – lyrically, compositionally, etc. Some proposed improvements: Think a bit more about the rhythm and dynamics on the guitar front, making sure to stay aware of the rhythmic patterns and the timing. More planning! Be a bit more deliberate about the overall composition of the tune. For instance, think about how to start the tune, how to distinguish between the verses and the chorus, and how to build up the song from beginning to end. Revise the lyrics. In this lesson, we discussed the lyrics line-by-line and noted where they could be tweaked and improved upon. Having a neutral party go over lyrics with you can be a massive help when it comes to crafting a song that will make sense to and resonate with a general audience. Think about layering. Once the bones of the track are laid down, think about where the song could benefit from maybe an electric guitar, a keyboard or organ, or maybe additional vocals. New Lessons: One-minute changes - Tammy didn’t go through my actual beginner’s course, so she never learned this practice technique. She was having some difficulty with certain chord changes, especially when they involved barre chords, so I suggested focusing on that one specific chord change for one minute straight. She’s to write down how many times she can change chords within that minute, and over time, she should see that number go up and up. A new finger-picking technique - I gave Tammy a groovy little finger-picking pattern to play around with. It’s quite versatile, so we’ll see what she’s able to do with it. For Next Time: Practice the new finger-picking pattern and play it with a few different chord progressions Practice the one-minute changes with a few tricky chord changes Practice strumming along with the drum track for her tune Review and revise the song’s composition... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pNiBfdyu0dw 2504 2019-09-20T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-logic-ch-900 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HcvirpUyRWw/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Logic This lesson explains where the CAGED system came from. It's important to realise that the CAGED system was not 'made up' by anyone, it is just the basic logic that follows the tuning and construction of the guitar! This video should help you understand how it came about and how the irregular tuning of the 2nd string (B) makes it all possible... Chord Boxes So we start with good ol' E Chord. We move it down toward the ground, which in these chord boxes is over to the right by one string. And when we do, we move the note on the second string up one fret (shown with the arrow) and you get our A Chord... Now we'll move our A Shape over to the right, move the note on the second string up a fret... and we get D Shape! Note that we added the note F# to the thickest string (you know the two outside strings are the same note right, so we just copied the one off the thinnest string). Now we'll move all that over again, move up the note on the second string and add a note on the thickest string - we got ourselves a G Chord. Note that we added the note G to the thickest string (we just copied the one off the thinnest string again). Now to get to the C we use the most basic form of G Chord - just cos if we stick with the shape we got then you might not recognise the C Chord :) We'll move it over, move up the note on the second string and we got C Shape!! Now when we move this one over to the right and move the note on the second string we get an F chord, which is just E Shape again but up one fret, and the cycle begins again!! Maths View If I write all the chords in fret number, look at the numbers going diagonally down, left to right. Notice that they stay the same until they hit the 2nd string they go up a number? * with the exception on last note of of the C which doesn't follow the pattern because of the multiple choices of grip for the G chord. E: 0 . 2 . 2 . 1 . 0 . 0 A: 0 . 0 . 2 . 2 . 2 . 0 D: 2 . 0 . 0 . 2 . 3 . 2 G: 3 . 2 . 0 . 0 . 3 . 3 C: 3 . 3 . 2 . 0 . 1 . 0 F: 1 . 3 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 1 https://www.youtube.com/embed/HcvirpUyRWw 351 2017-11-11T18:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/guitar-strumming-tips-b1-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CjM5fyXoV8w/hqdefault.jpg Guitar Strumming Tips Learn how to play ANY guitar strumming pattern with these essential strumming basics. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjM5fyXoV8w 988 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-6-td-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UBGObFm_Gfo/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 6 Oh man, looks like I forgot to get the text up here when I should have. Sorry it's so late - but better than never right? Still powering along and doing great - looking forward to getting more into recording and exploring the creative process! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). n/a • Music Theory Try and get back on track with the Theory course!! 5' • Finger Stretch Take it slow and work it! Feel the stretch like you would any kind of yoga stretch! See the Finger Stretching Exercise 5' • Major Scale Pattern 1 Simply playing the scale up and down with all down picks, more work on memorizing it! 5' • Exploring E Shape Barres with the open thin strings Just have some fun exploring it and see if you can come up with a progression or two. 5-10' • Shape Explorer Go through as much of the Chord Shape Explorer series as you can - we've chatted through it but I just want consolidation here before we do a full-on capo session! 5' • Back Beat Hit Strumming the muted hit - practice on it's own - working into one movement that feels like a down strum Incorporate it into a strumming pattern (Down Hit Down Up Hit) Put On The To Do Later List! Added this week none! From previous weeks! Creative Capo Chips On The Backbeat Picked Fingerstyle Layering parts for recording Making a second part when jamming with someone (started in lesson 2!) Open strings in barres Easy fingerstyle patterns https://www.youtube.com/embed/UBGObFm_Gfo 2844 2019-06-10T16:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-5-td-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ozipsCXDzH0/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 5 Still powering along and doing great - looking forward to getting more into recording and exploring the creative process! Tips Forget about G, C and D Shape barre chords for now! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). n/a • Music Theory Try and get through more of the Grade 3 of the Theory course 5' • Major Scale Pattern 1 Simply playing the scale up and down with all down picks, working on the stretch! 5' • Exploring E Shape Barres with the open thin strings Just have some fun exploring it and see if you can come up with a progression or two. 5-10' • Shape Explorer Go through as much of the Chord Shape Explorer series as you can - we've chatted through it but I just want consolidation here before we do a full-on capo session! 5' • Back Beat Hit Strumming the muted hit - practice on it's own - working into one movement that feels like a down strum Incorporate it into a strumming pattern (Down Hit Down Up Hit) Put On The To Do Later List! Added this week none! From previous weeks! Creative Capo Chips On The Backbeat Picked Fingerstyle Layering parts for recording Making a second part when jamming with someone (started in lesson 2!) Open strings in barres Easy fingerstyle patterns https://www.youtube.com/embed/ozipsCXDzH0 2625 2019-05-23T22:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-fingerstyle-patterns-part-2-fo-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E1xSevevCt4/hqdefault.jpg Folk Fingerstyle Patterns Part 2 Only when comfortable playing the patterns in Part 1 without thinking about them, should you move onto these new patterns which introduce Finger 3! https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1xSevevCt4 424 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-5-dm-005 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875674462-97a52217b3b3b6071ab5c42ecc9bdaed0e8d11a16db32db6e5edeff5077fbd1b-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 5 For this lesson, we’ll be looking at 134 and 124 shifts, as well as combining Positions 1 and 2. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405475100 415 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-7-td-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AZcRKesWn00/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 7 Things going great for Tammy still - the video was late up because I got into recording a project and didn't find time to edit it... won't matter if you're binging on these later though! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). n/a • Music Theory Back on track with the Theory course - c'mon Tam, you can do it! 5' • Finger Stretch Was still a bit fast - make sure you feel the stretch like you would any kind of yoga stretch! See the Finger Stretching Exercise 5' • Major Scale Pattern 1 Now moving it to the key of C - so second finger on the 8th fret think about note quality - make every note count try not to let the fingers flatten and try not to let the hand move much side to side. 5' • Chords In C Chords in the Key of C are C F G Am Dm and Em. Explore playing them, make some progressions and then... Record your prgression into Logic (or garange Band or whatever option you have) 5-10' • Improvising With The Major Scale Improvise in the key of C - solo over the chords you recorded. 5' • Notes On The Neck Use the Octave Shape to help you name any note on the fretboard (excpt the B string!) Songwriting We also spent time looking at song form and how to grow a couple of ideas into a song. Be a good idea to try this out in practice and see what hurdles you encounter! Put On The To Do Later List! Added this week none! From previous weeks! Creative Capo Chips On The Backbeat Picked Fingerstyle Layering parts for recording Making a second part when jamming with someone (started in lesson 2!) Open strings in barres Easy fingerstyle patterns https://www.youtube.com/embed/AZcRKesWn00 2843 2019-07-26T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-12-td-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_lQrCBDHK98/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 12 Tammy’s back for her 12th lesson in the studio and she’s making great progress on some of the things we went over in her last lesson. If you’ll recall, last time we worked on hammer-ons, percussive hits with a pick, folk fingerstyle, and transcribing a song by listening to it and trying to play it a few alternative ways using a capo. In this lesson, we go over: Folk fingerstyle. We checked on Tammy’s progress with the fingerpicking pattern we worked on in her last lesson. She’s got it down pretty well, so now she just needs to focus on getting the pattern super effortless. She should be able to carry on a conversation while playing the pattern and without missing a beat. Playing by ear. Tammy laments a bit about some struggles she’s having with trying to figure out a tune from ear. This is definitely one of those things that comes with practice, and while there are some things you can do to help you along, you’ve really just got to train your ear up over time. Percussive hits with a pick. We reviewed this a bit and Tammy seems to be getting the hang of it. Something she gets a little caught up with is getting too in her head and then getting frustrated if she can’t get the sound she’s looking for – which is super common! Of course, the best way to get the best sound is to relax, get comfortable with it, and find the groove of whatever you’re trying to play. If it feels good to you while you’re playing it, it’ll sound good to an audience. New Lessons: Folk Fingerstyle Pattern #2. Since Tammy’s got her first folk fingerstyle pattern down pretty well, she’s got another one she can work on now. Over time, she should be super comfortable with each pattern, to the point where she can even eventually blend the two of them together. For Next Time: Find two songs that she can practice the folk fingerstyle pattern #2 on. A good way to practice this is to play the pattern repeatedly while doing something else, like watching telly. Once the pattern is ingrained in your fingers and your brain, you can start applying it to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_lQrCBDHK98 2477 2019-11-15T09:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-6-blues-colour-bl-701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F6VEzGkVxg4/hqdefault.jpg The “Major 6” Blues Colour Adding the Major 6th interval to a regular minor pentatonic is a real hip sound. It’s a great sound over all three chords in a blues and an easy one to get familiar with. https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6VEzGkVxg4 1897 2018-03-01T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/45-f-king-p1-tore-it-bl-545 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VekprHdmXQg/hqdefault.jpg #45: F King: P1 Tore it TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/VekprHdmXQg 286 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pinky-workout-b2-907 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWAgPIQhNg0/hqdefault.jpg Pinky Workout To play guitar, your pinky finger should be strong and controlled! Here's the pinky finger workout you need. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xWAgPIQhNg0 340 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-stop-mute-b2-903 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xhg6xXD8lR8/hqdefault.jpg All Stop Mute Muting your strings is useful for many reasons! Learn how to mute your strings with a simple movement. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xhg6xXD8lR8 186 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/californication-riff-b2-908 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/emFaTjKbBIQ/hqdefault.jpg Californication Riff Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is an awesome beginner riff! A great riff to practice the F chord. https://www.youtube.com/embed/emFaTjKbBIQ 360 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-down-8th-note-strumming-pattern-sd-013 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-11-AllDown8thNote-S.jpg All-Down 8th Note Strumming Pattern Learn the All-Down 8th Note Strumming Pattern and prepare for a new adventure: 16th Note Strumming! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786103385 2023-01-12T12:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-guitar-accessories-do-you-need-bc-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2qrbKIL80xk/hqdefault.jpg What guitar accessories do you need? Wondering what accessories you must have to get into guitar - he's my list and recommendations. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qrbKIL80xk 710 2017-10-30T16:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-blues-solo-bg-1304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6iLluqLwRAA/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Blues Solo Get started with blues guitar solos on your guitar! This one uses the A minor pentatonic scale and is loads of fun! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iLluqLwRAA 901 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/easy-blues-improvisation-on-guitar-bg-1305 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/us8J0Ex6SiM/hqdefault.jpg Easy Blues Improvisation on Guitar Blues guitar is all about improvisation! Here are some guidelines and tips to get you started on this journey :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/us8J0Ex6SiM 535 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-7th-chords-bg-1301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JBUKxR_y0nA/hqdefault.jpg Open 7th Chords Dominant chords, also known as seventh chords, are awesome to play Blues guitar and many other styles! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JBUKxR_y0nA 770 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/shuffle-grooves-strumming-bg-1302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aMygcs5teLM/hqdefault.jpg Shuffle Grooves & Strumming Learn all about shuffle grooves & strumming. Explore how you can get that bluesy sound to your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/aMygcs5teLM 828 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-songs-for-beginners-bg-1307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aE3jY5TwcBg/hqdefault.jpg Blues Songs For Beginners Check out these Blues songs for beginners. Loads of songs you can play with the 12 bar blues progression! https://www.youtube.com/embed/aE3jY5TwcBg 239 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-shuffle-riff-bg-1306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWexaS61NwY/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Shuffle Riff Learn to play the 12 Bar Shuffle Riff that is the foundation of loads of iconic blues guitar tracks! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xWexaS61NwY 745 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/43-srv-p1-b9-hammer-bl-543 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-6G7oxAw9lg/hqdefault.jpg #43: SRV: P1 b9 hammer TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar that it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would be not very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-6G7oxAw9lg 263 2017-11-17T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-process-of-transcribing-tr-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xNlyoGud2A0/hqdefault.jpg The Process of Transcribing There is a lot going on when you transcribe so in this lesson I have outlined the transcribing process and try and highlight the important elements on which you will need to focus. In reality the process is rarely as structured as this but in the early stages you might want to stick closely to it so as to get a good routine! The Process of Transcribing Let me start by discussing the required skill and techniques you should learn to get good at transcribing. We're going to start by look at single notes because most people find them easier to start off with than chords. A similar chords course is already in development but I'll be getting through all this lead guitar one before releasing that! 1. Listening The first thing to realise (and this is REAL important) is that transcribing is all about listening. Your ears are like muscles and need consistent training to work at their best. The more transcribing I'm doing, the faster my ears pick up the sounds and the easier the process becomes. So the first thing you need to do when you decide you are going to learn a song (or solo or riff or whatever) is LISTEN to what you will transcribe. Over and over again. Listen 20 or 30 times to the song or solo and try and get to the point where you can hear (imagine) the song in your head when it's not playing. The better you get at this, the easier transcribing will be and the more benefits it will have when you can do it well. If I'm doing a solo, I will usually do it in sections. Listen to a few licks over and over and get them in my ear, I try and sing them too (which I recommend you do too, even if you are a bit out of tune with it, trying will help you get it in your mind, and your singing will improve with time!). So before you even start, make sure you listened a lot. 2. Tune Up Absolutely no point trying to transcribe stuff if your guitar is out of tune, so make sure you spend a minute or two making sure you are properly in tune! Seriously - make sure you tune up every transcribing session (actually, every practice se... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xNlyoGud2A0 709 2017-10-30T06:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/f-chord-changes-bg-1003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ryTg1nZ8_PQ/hqdefault.jpg F Chord Changes Time to start working some F chord changes! Even if your F chord is still a work in progress! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ryTg1nZ8_PQ 403 2020-06-13T18:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/happy-birthday-ku-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Q8koVFkUlg/hqdefault.jpg Happy Birthday Don't you dare go near a children's party with a ukulele before you memorized this :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Q8koVFkUlg 303 2020-08-15T12:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/re-harmonising-melody-notes-ja-034 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9hldVlIe_aI/hqdefault.jpg Re-harmonising melody notes I love this trick for reharmonising a melody note, both for playing with harmony in jazz standards and writing simple songs... Further Reading... So lets just recap on the theory for each chord... but remember that I do think it's better to just use your eyes and ears for this!! Our melody note is E... there are many more chords available than those listed, these are just common ones to try out. C Bass note The note E is the Major 3rd, so any type of major chord will fit nice, C, Cmaj7, Cmaj6, Cmaj69, C6, etc. C# Bass Note Now the note E is the minor 3rd, so minor type chords fit, Cmin, Cmin7, Cmin9, Cmin6, etc. D Bass Note The note E is the 9th, so both major minor and dominant chords works with the 9th so D9, Dmaj9, Dmin9, etc. D# Bass Note So this one is a bit awkward cos the melody note is now the b9, which will most commonly be used in an altered dominant, do D#7b9. E Bass Note Well the bass note and melody are the same, so ANY E chord will work! F Bass Note The E is now functioning as the Major 7th, so chords would be Fmaj7, FminMaj7, Fmin6Maj7. F# Bass Note In this harmony the E is the dominant 7th so will work over F# domininat or Min7, of F#7 and F#min7 G Bass Note E is the 6th now so G13, GMaj6 or Gmin6 will be the best options... G# Bass Note We're getting altered again, and the E is the Sharp 5 which is most common in altered chords like G#7#5. A Bass Note The E is now the 5th so there are many chords that will work, Amaj, Amin, A7, Amin7, Amaj7 and lots more... Bb Bass Note E is the super cool #11 now, love this sound, most common in C/Bb or BbMaj7#11. B Bass Note The harmony here is a little more limited with the E being the 4th, so B11 or Bsus4. There you go - head out and explore this idea now on your own!! :) Good luck. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hldVlIe_aI 748 2018-01-28T18:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/modes-in-series-mt-725 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/997235647-4007f6a51999f32222de5c57b10025f154c49fb16563665776c401fcf7a53529-d_295x166?r=pad Modes In Series So we have touched a little on WHY you might use modes. Now before we start getting into the nitty gritty and putting them into practice I want to explain the two different ways of looking at modes which really helped me make sense of them. In fact, it was when I figured out the dual approach combined with actually using them that things made sense. It should help you understand how they are used and get you familiar with the names and how they get them. The two views are called SERIES and PARALLEL, and it is very important that you understand the differences in perspective, they are both valid and used at different times, they use the same notes, the same ways but from two different perspectives. Modes in series One thing that you probably already know about modes is that they have the same notes as the major scale. Some people think of them as a major scale but starting on a different note. That is not quite right but will do for now. The better understanding would be the major scale with tonal center other than the Parent Major Scale root note - we're coming to it... A series of modes shows all the modes that come from one major scale. Lets use that to introduce the names of the modes and look at all the modes that come from the C Major Scale - that is the Parent Major Scale (PMS) for all these Modes is C Major Scale. Mode I II III IV V VI VII I C Ionian C D E F G A B C D Dorian D E F G A B C D E Phrygian E F G A B C D E F Lydian F G A B C D E F G Mixolydian G A B C D E F G A Aeolian A B C D E F G A B Locrian B C D E F G A B OK, now please don't freak out! Some people find the names a bit scary (are they scared more of people called Alexandria than Jon?) and I don't expect you to make any sense of it yet, but stay with me and let me explain. The first thing that you need to understand is that the root note of the mode is the Tonal Centre. NOT the Parent Major Scale, except in the case of Ionian of course... you did know that the Major Scale and the Ionian Mode are the same thing, didn't you? Order & Pro... https://player.vimeo.com/video/480666800 1026 2020-11-18T06:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/modes-in-parallel-mt-726 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/997226327-3021ac1895c9b72f0bbeb2c77880a322d2b300dbf9191e943d37b9cf8ee31bd1-d_295x166?r=pad Modes In Parallel So now you have seen the modes all laid out in a series - the series of modes that come from one major scale. But what is really interesting, and where you start to see where all this is going, is when you start to look at the modes in Parallel - which means that we look at all the modes with the same tonal centre, those with a Tonal Centre of C. Reverse Engineering We have to do a bit or reverse calculation here - there are easier ways of doing what I am going to show you to start off with, but I think it is important to understand HOW we are getting the answers before I show you any shortcuts... So we're looking at modes with a "C" Tonal Centre - I hope you have memorised the order of the modes in the last lesson. And the order of tones and semitones in a major scale. Revision of terms: Parent Major Scale: The major scale from which the mode we're looking at comes from. Tonal Centre: The root note of the mode, probably the chord you are playing over, the feeling of 'home'. Ionian Mode OK, so we know that the first mode with a C Tonal Centre is going to be Ionian and that the Ionian Mode and the Parent Major Scale have the same root note. So: C Ionian = C Major Scale (Ionian Parent Major Scale root note is the Tonal Centre) That one is pretty easy. Not much going on there so we move onto the next. Dorian Mode The second mode is Dorian. To figure out the Parent Major Scale (PMS) of C Dorian you have to ask "C is the second note of what major scale?". Just think about that for a second and decide if you know the answer already? The answer lies in our old Major Scale Equation: T T S T T T S. From that, you should know that the second note of the Major Scale is one tone higher than the root note. To work out the mode we are doing it backwards... C is the second note of (count back one tone) ... the Bb Major Scale :) Not too hard is it. But make sure you get this - we're going to test you on this in a bit... C Dorian = Bb Major Scale (Dorian Parent Major Scale root note is down a tone from Tonal Centre) Phrygian M... https://player.vimeo.com/video/480379078 1248 2020-11-18T06:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-chord-revision-mt-723 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/976267861-051bce55ef57b228056c6bb75345ffb5e05f43d8debd2cd09f305a8a53d28c66-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Chord Revision So before we understand how modes work we need to show how chords come from a key. We've done it already so this is REVISION but I'm also trying to keep it simplified and clear. The simpler and clearer all this stuff is in your mind, the easier this will be. We're going to do all these examples in the key of C - but I STRONGLY advise that you do all the "calculations" again yourself, in at least a few other keys to make sure that you understand all the concepts properly - if you don't already... this should be a revision. The notes of the C Major Scale are C, D E, F, G, A and B. The C Major scale has no sharps or flats. As you hopefully remember, a triad is a three-note chord that contains a root, 3rd, and 5th. I have to assume that you understand the differences between major and minor triads (the flat 3rd) and the diminished triad (flat 3rd and flat 5th). When these triads are formed from each degree of the scale we get a series of chords, called the diatonic chord sequence. More is revealed when you look at the Diatonic Quadad (4 note chords) extensions. You should know the formations of Major 7, minor 7, Dominant 7 and min7b5 chords - here they are 'in the key' Diatonic Triads & Quadads Degree Triad Notes Chord Quadad Notes Chord I C E G = C C E G B = C Maj 7 II D F A = D min D F A C = D min 7 III E G B = E min E G B D = E min 7 IV F A C = F F A C E = F Maj 7 V G B D = G G B D F = G 7 VI A C E = A min A C E G = A min 7 VII B D F = B dim B F D A = B min 7 b5 I hope you know that to improvise over any of the above chords (in any order) you can play the C Major Scale. Be sure to notice that the order of the chords will stay the same in every key. So you can place this chord order on the notes of any major scale. Please check this out yourself and try it on a few different keys, maybe Key of E and Key of Bb. Check that the notes for each chord add up to the chords shown in the sequences below. This will help you memorize the Diatonic Sequences and also help solidify your understanding of chord construction... https://player.vimeo.com/video/468855277 279 2017-10-30T16:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-barre-chords-minor-4b-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BkUwCSRmlEw/hqdefault.jpg E Shape Barre Chords: Minor Minor E Shape Barres are harder than Major E Shape Barres - but here's how you'll nail them! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BkUwCSRmlEw 662 2021-06-11T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-note-function-4b-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e4LtZ6ogm6A/hqdefault.jpg Introduction to Note Function Understanding the function of each note in a chord will help you unleash the fretboard and your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/e4LtZ6ogm6A 485 2021-06-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-primer-main-lesson-sb-802 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072240239-ae6ddf046464ba99d32c53d8340e83901d72f28e7a38161d83bfc440db8dbf76-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Primer – Main Lesson Let's grab a classic guitar trick and make it bluesy: one little “minor-triad” grip gives us two chords over the same bass—6th and 9th. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125344054 1443 2025-10-23T04:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/try-transcribing-blim-m0-e0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895884241-d5327c2bd977aef1ef5fb0aa5155be41ef6050a635323814869f8571c09d0a01-d_295x166?r=pad Try Transcribing! Let's transcribe together! Learn common Blues guitar licks to make transcribing solos easier each month. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903004652 223 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/62-electric-guitar-vs-my-custom-fender-b0-060 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yni-J0Lhhls/hqdefault.jpg £62 Electric Guitar vs My Custom Fender What is the cheapest electric guitar on Amazon (£62) really like? is it playable? How does it compare with a Fender? You can watch me give this budget guitar a pro setup with luthier legend Charlie Chandler in the Set Up Your Electric Guitar Series! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yni-J0Lhhls 1454 2018-05-01T16:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/non-diatonic-chords-mt-425 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1281076422-bc86ac8f8431313a8dc1231f79a4f2d69b5bf0749ce4468ee_295x166?r=pad Non Diatonic Chords What about songs that are not in the same key? https://player.vimeo.com/video/637329742 291 2021-10-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/note-circle-memorizing-by-writing-mt-0006 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809201168-9027106c82951c114f741489c73cfbe9f93273203b77f93e33520685fe49b289-d_295x166?r=pad Note Circle: Memorizing by Writing Learn the notes by writing out the note circle. It's old-school, but it works! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910611174 190 2017-11-04T17:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-blues-songs-do-you-know-blim-m0-s0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895885508-7135dfbc44dfa344ace978395425a03a733e87a5ab7643ad3d115fbdeb6242bc-d_295x166?r=pad What Blues Songs Do You Know? Learning the Standard Blues repertoire is very important if you want to jam with other musicians! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903146475 53 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/note-circle-memorizing-verbally-mt-0007 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809201400-399796d534f19129dd859b758473f3fb39f3388912733c28dfc35cc901051d2d-d_295x166?r=pad Note Circle: Memorizing Verbally Speaking the notes out loud is a great way to really get them into your brain, and saying the notes backwards can be quite challenging! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910614015 311 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dirty-deed-ac-dc-tsl-ka-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DHtoUqJqcRg/hqdefault.jpg Dirty Deed (AC/DC) TSL AC/DC is a great tone to have fun with - not just for this song but for anything and I think Toby and I caught it pretty well here! What you think - you got it rocking? https://www.youtube.com/embed/DHtoUqJqcRg 1181 2019-08-01T13:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tones-and-semitones-mt-0005 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809200994-be5f265cc54186a7891d345608ece76ac8f5fe95125ad0078daca2444988d085-d_295x166?r=pad Tones And Semitones Understand tones and semitones and how they translate on the guitar neck! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910603382 383 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-note-circle-mt-0003 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809200255-e964c1e8afe9dff2a6bc8f67bf84a88b1059d146cb75c05a01a78a5f85234d55-d_295x166?r=pad The Note Circle Learn about The Note Circle and understand the relationship between the 12 notes in Western Music! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910591060 259 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-intervals-perfect-worksheet-mt-503 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772116526-8493864f5a04a2ce6f0de0644ed986ff54547b36a0e1c92997ce1ccfc6844db1-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Intervals: Perfect Worksheet 20 questions to test yourself on your Perfect Intervals! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/327756578 261 2017-11-04T16:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learning-to-sing-for-ear-training-et-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y3c0wbdBjZI/hqdefault.jpg Learning To Sing (For Ear Training) Scared to even start singing? This lesson tells you how to get going and some super basic exercises! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3c0wbdBjZI 459 2018-01-30T16:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/note-circle-memorizing-with-a-buddy-mt-0008 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809201932-43a99e16975f743d31ca982f26b92e903e6002fc0b5048512159044ad7092fe7-d_295x166?r=pad Note Circle: Memorizing With a Buddy If you got a friend joining you on your journey - you can test each other. Great practice and more fun than doing it alone! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910618596 112 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intervals-on-the-fretboard-mt-508 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772133353-068bd74901321b5a75bba4407b9db144418d9455ce9bd96923d06a02cc4f67c5-d_295x166?r=pad Intervals On The Fretboard It's time to apply all your Intervals knowledge on the fretboard! https://player.vimeo.com/video/327771183 143 2017-11-04T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-2-practice-5-nj-205 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854209846-735cca881060ef9b80608eb25c21ea28f5ff850134269f6c5250931b010a4158-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 2 - Practice 5 Even for a dedicated and excited guitar student like Nitsuj, it can be difficult to find or make time for a 20-30 minute practice session. Still, it’s important not to lose your momentum! It’s best to get into a practice habit and schedule it regularly as best you can. Yes, sometimes life gets busy and time gets away from you, but consistency really is key. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390174667 1457 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-perfect-5th-interval-et-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8_1zZPGKPuI/hqdefault.jpg The Perfect 5th Interval In this lesson we learn to hear, sing and play The Perfect 5th Interval. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_1zZPGKPuI 611 2018-01-30T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grade-1-ear-training-test-et-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oFGXN7ZA8WU/hqdefault.jpg Grade 1 Ear Training Test You ready to level up? Only when you've been testing yourself for a bit and are ready to make the grade! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFGXN7ZA8WU 565 2018-01-30T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-bar-blues-main-lesson-sb-1301 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106820287-a80c7d05a7b75cdef1752259ee67da4c1e370d445ed0e44a0d3c47ef8f5f06f0-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Bar Blues - Main Lesson This piece, challening but rewarding, features an alternating bass feel and incorporates numerous barre chords. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1154348078 1238 2026-01-14T08:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-perfect-octave-interval-et-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wVUDiE_tG1E/hqdefault.jpg The Perfect Octave Interval In this lesson, we learn to hear, sing and play The Perfect 8ve (Octave) Interval. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVUDiE_tG1E 444 2018-01-30T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-perfect-4th-interval-et-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2ks4XIqWRys/hqdefault.jpg The Perfect 4th Interval In this lesson we learn to hear, sing and play The Perfect 4th Interval. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ks4XIqWRys 355 2018-01-30T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-suspended-chords-mt-550 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775574237-2d21be6d6848aa55f9c9e71d1e19f59da0816d5fcce978ef8cd2ac02d86e4ad4-d_295x166?r=pad All About Suspended Chords Sus Chords are awesome - they have a really cool sound and are useful for chord embellishments. https://player.vimeo.com/video/330489799 291 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-test-your-ears-et-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-GBX_bcTPBo/hqdefault.jpg How To Test Your Ears Once you know your intervals it's a great idea to start testing yourself regularly! There are a few ways to do. 1. Jam Buddy This is the most fun! Find yourself a jam buddy and have them play an interval for you and you have to guess it - then swap. Do it as long as you can, 5 minutes is good but longer is fine if you're having fun! Start by playing each interval 3 times and if going well you can try doing what I call a "Quick Fire" round where I play each one just twice. As the listener, I aim to go for gut instinct the first listen, figure the song and then check it for the 2nd play, and the 3rd play is to confirm or try something else if I wasn't right! :) As you progress you want to just know the interval without having to think about the song reference, but you'll almost certainly need it to start with. The Jam Buddy approach is great too because you can get a bit competitive and push each other to do well - and hopefully, have some fun jamming when you're done with the ear testing! 2. The JustinGuitar Interval Ear Trainer App I have an awesome Ear Trainer App which follows the system that I use for this course, so for a couple of pounds you'll get a lot of use from it and we're working on some cool developments to help track your stats and stuff and we're always updating and improving our apps. Here's The JustinGuitar Interval Ear Trainer on the iTunes store. 3. The JustinGuitar Ear Training Exercise Tracks I decided to make some ear Training Exercise mp3 tracks too - they have a load of different instruments playing the intervals (guitar, piano, violin etc.) and they also have quickfire rounds. The intervals are played 3 times and then I speak the answer, so no need to write anything down and you can answer in your head so perfect for trains, boring meetings or while at work! :) They're available on iTunes and Amazon. Ear Training Exercise Tracks on iTunes 4. Make Your Own Tracks As a teenager I used to make my own recordings using my tape recorder, I guess you could do the same thing using your phone m... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-GBX_bcTPBo 406 2018-01-30T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-keys-mt-426 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1282618734-bcaecb261b49a0ba80cc8c01d9d8e1bb9d4c9c3959fb6870d_295x166?r=pad Minor Keys But what if you're feeling sad? https://player.vimeo.com/video/637831830 201 2021-10-23T08:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/38-f-king-p1-fk-turns-bl-538 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AQeX4iLsKVQ/hqdefault.jpg #38: F King: P1 FK turns TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/AQeX4iLsKVQ 311 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-matchmysound-sbr-000 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VuyfrKZmm80/hqdefault.jpg How to Use MatchMySound Here's a quick how-to to help you make the best out of MatchMySound when learning Solo Blues! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VuyfrKZmm80 103 2024-09-07T08:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/country-roads-play-along-bx-137 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eiyzwEUSHTs/hqdefault.jpg Country Roads [Play Along] Once you have your C and G chords under your fingers you might like to check out this Country Roads (John Denver) play along! It's mainly G, C D and Em with a sneaky Fmaj7 for just a bar in the middle 8 (substitute and Am and it'll be close enough for jazz!). The backing track is using my Beginner Song Course App (available for Android and iOS, and has a free trial!). https://www.youtube.com/embed/eiyzwEUSHTs 287 2019-04-11T12:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/alternate-picking-c-major-bg-1005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JcFgiS6KmHQ/hqdefault.jpg Alternate Picking C Major Mastered and memorized the C major scale? Let's check out some alternate picking! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcFgiS6KmHQ 443 2020-06-13T18:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-6-practice-b1-608 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yBxyxZx9oiQ/hqdefault.jpg Module 6 Practice Get ready to set up an effective practice routine for all the skills you're learnt in Module 6 :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/yBxyxZx9oiQ 206 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/student-highlight-small-town-sci-fi-sof-1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dJMTndpRKFE/hqdefault.jpg Student Highlight: Small Town Sci-Fi Listen to Psycho, the first ep released by my student Jonathan, aka Small Town Sci-Fi. Great vibes and tasty guitar tones! https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJMTndpRKFE 60 2022-08-14T06:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sofa-showcase-samuel-jack-ss-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0zDxa5PPFqE/hqdefault.jpg Sofa Showcase: Samuel Jack Samuel Jack is a super soulful singer-songwriter I've worked with, and I think he has a bright future as an artist! https://www.youtube.com/embed/0zDxa5PPFqE 879 2018-03-03T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sofa-showcase-davy-denke-ss-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VbRkJ1UEbZY/hqdefault.jpg Sofa Showcase: Davy Denke The first guest on Justin's Sofa Showcase is Davy Denke, a young singer-songwriter with a fine voice and solid songs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VbRkJ1UEbZY 632 2018-03-03T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-full-stop-the-end-bl-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bAWXxuAYb40/hqdefault.jpg The Blues Full Stop. The End. This Blues lick is how you say THE END in the Blues language! It's a classic and one of those must know licks that you'll find useful many times in your jam sessions. Learn it first in the Key of A and make sure you can use it confidently and from memory... if you don't play it with confidence it might not work properly and the song will go on! Once you are cool in the key of A, be sure to learn it in all the common guitar keys at least; E, D, G, C but better to learn it in all keys after that! Have fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bAWXxuAYb40 362 2018-10-26T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/24-f-king-p1-pentrip-bl-524 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AXOAxU88rag/hqdefault.jpg #24: F King: P1 Pentrip TAB Tab for this lick is coming soon! Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/AXOAxU88rag 405 2017-11-17T10:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/49-robben-em-over-a-bl-549 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MCoaCvq_TS0/hqdefault.jpg #49: Robben: Em Over A TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/MCoaCvq_TS0 528 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/names-of-open-strings-bc-133 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rZovoQ_3Jho/hqdefault.jpg Names Of Open Strings It's a very useful thing to know the note names of the open strings on your guitar. They are often used to describe finger placement (e.g., “put your 1st finger in the 2nd fret of the A string”), and are also useful for tuning your guitar to another instrument (like a piano). You need to know this when you buy a replacement string for your guitar (e.g., “can I please have a D string”) and it will help you learn the names of the notes that you are playing. Knowing the names of the strings will also help you use a guitar tuner. So well worth learning this one, and we will be developing this more in a latter stage when we learn all the notes in the open position and the notes that make up our chords! So what are the notes? 1st string - E (the thinnest) 2nd string - B 3rd string - G 4th string - D 5th string - A 6th string - E (the thickest) The Easter Bunny Rhymes One of the best ways to remember is to make up rhymes. From Thin to Thick Easter Bunny Gets Drunk After Easter Every Boy Gets Dizzy Around Elle Eager Boys Go Down After Eloping From Thick to Thin Eddy Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddy Easter Angels Don't Give Broken Eggs Or just make up your own - you don't have to use one of mine! Just make sure that you remember this! Moving On... Next up we'll be changing our chords again. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rZovoQ_3Jho 164 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/vibrato-whole-arm-style-te-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GoP37ge1rFU/hqdefault.jpg Vibrato (Whole Arm Style) I managed to ignore this technique for the first 15 years I played guitar, man I wish I hadn't, it's really cool. Not I've got it down I use it as much or more than the standard 'pivot' vibrato. If you are new to it I'd recommend starting with just 5 minutes a day for a few weeks to get let the muscles develop, starting in slowly and getting the technique solid. Get it into you muscle memory and then you'll just find yourself using it naturally. Might want to start on string 2 and only get into the thinnest string when you have mastered it on the others cos it is a lot harder! https://www.youtube.com/embed/GoP37ge1rFU 442 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-bar-blues-improvising-sb-1303 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106825319-760593a4189dc3fa5fedc62478ea888e2e69f3423ffea8c7632ffa7a4da32f5f-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Bar Blues - Improvising In this lesson, we explore improv ideas for Raggy Bar Blues—but we keep it real about what this style asks of us. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1154428484 688 2026-01-14T08:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/14-robben-p1-fast-trips-bl-514 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQX48u37Xao/hqdefault.jpg #14: Robben: P1 Fast Trips This is a super tasty Robben style lick, pretty flashy and loads of classic moves in it that are really fun to explore! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQX48u37Xao 518 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-improvisation-bg-1006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/754To3ugAx8/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Improvisation Learn how to improvise using the major scale and explore how to make your own guitar solos! https://www.youtube.com/embed/754To3ugAx8 629 2020-06-13T18:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/weak-finger-g-bg-1001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AWA5C2MCu2Q/hqdefault.jpg Weak Finger G The Weak Finger G chord is a super useful chord for faster chord changes! https://www.youtube.com/embed/AWA5C2MCu2Q 369 2020-06-13T18:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/36-srv-p1-rake-it-bl-536 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GH01doUEf98/hqdefault.jpg #36: SRV: P1 Rake It TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar that it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would be not very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/GH01doUEf98 323 2017-11-17T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-21-practice-routine-bg-2109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/40IjAq6oR6c/hqdefault.jpg Module 21 Practice Routine Time to learn about your Module 21 practice routine and how you can adapt my suggestion to your needs. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/40IjAq6oR6c 215 2023-02-28T20:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/extension-or-addition-mt-653 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/extension-or-addition-mt-653-1.jpg Extension or Addition How to name and use 9, 11 and 13ths! https://player.vimeo.com/video/640435642 2021-10-30T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-clapton-p1-16-classic-bl-512 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xy0Qgo_P3JU/hqdefault.jpg #12: Clapton: P1 16 classic One of Clapton's 'pet licks' to throw in a bit of flash! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xy0Qgo_P3JU 385 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/la-bamba-riff-bg-1009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-SdTXIAvTE/hqdefault.jpg La Bamba Riff La Bamba has a fun riff to practice all the skills that we explore in Module 10! https://www.youtube.com/embed/o-SdTXIAvTE 765 2020-06-13T18:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g-shape-quadads-mt-716 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535285669-611bca572eab40686f9065d09cbd40f184f1745e7ee7bb259f2329018182b49b-d_295x166?r=pad G Shape Quadads So next up we have the Quadad chord grips :). Among these are some very useful grips and some thoroughly useless ones! G Shape Major Type Quadads Major 7 As usual we start with the Major 7 grip (on the left) and then we start adapting it to find the other grips. This Maj7 grip is very cool but quite dissonant because the 7 and the root are only a semitone apart. It sounds very cool when you play the notes one at a time and accent the clash. It is quite a stretch to play, use a finger 1 barre on strings 2 and 3, finger 3 plays the low root, and little finger stretches up the 4th string. The underneath of the 3rd finger should mute String 5. Tricky but sounds cool. Dominant 7 If we flatten the 7th degree, we get the dominant 7th chord shown in the centre. Use the same fingering as for the Maj7 but slide the little finger back a fret. Another stretchy one, but not too bad! Remember not to play the thinnest string for either of these grips. Another great grip for Dominant 7 is to play only the thinnest 4 strings (use a finger 1 barre) and 2nd or 3rd finger on the b7 degree, one fret higher on the thinnest string. This is a very common grip for playing the blues, having the b7 as the highest note makes it’s bluesy character stand out! I'm not going to give it to you - I know you can find it ;) and if you're really stuck, ask me in the comments! Major 6 This grip is more useful than it might first seem. If you barre strings 2/3/4 with finger 1 and hold the root down with Finger 3, you can add the 6th down with finger 2 - and even put it on and off to do a blues shuffle! G Shape Minor Type Quadads Now we are into some very sticky territory... The problem with our next few shapes, the Minor 7 and Minor 6 - is that they turn into the other shapes when we apply the usual rules. But let's have a look anyway... Would be a great exercise for you to see which ways you can find to play these chords. Minor 7 The minor 7 chord, left, presents some challenges. Using the b3 on the 3rd string plunges us into E Shape territory, an... https://player.vimeo.com/video/403255321 321 2020-02-11T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-octave-shapes-mt-432 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/757248178-d20e24117bfc88c9512bbab921a9bdfffbdbee87a56d943ff7c9e11ece4947fc-d_295x166?r=pad Playing Octave Shapes Playing octave shapes can be fun in many musical styles. Here's how you get into it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/315455346 357 2018-05-09T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/additional-feedback-for-challenge-2-submissions-lblim2-00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7osVwRNETjE/hqdefault.jpg Additional Feedback for Challenge #2 Submissions! Additional Feedback for Challenge #2 Submissions! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7osVwRNETjE 2233 2025-06-23T03:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-7-accelerated-learning-techniques-with-pete-whittard-lblim2-07 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rSqkg9CkARA/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #7: Accelerated Learning Techniques with Pete Whittard Howdy Blimmer, In this session, Pete Whittard shared powerful Accelerated Learning Techniques to help you master the guitar more efficiently. With so much to explore in the Blues Immersion course, we hope these insights and tips help you streamline your practice and get the most out of your Blues journey. :) Optimizing Practice - Key Insights! When learning guitar, your approach depends on the type of skill you're working on! Motor skills can be practiced in longer sessions as long as technique remains correct. Building physical ability through repetition. No shortcuts! Consistent and correct practice is essential. Memory skills require short, intense bursts with breaks to maximize retention. Acquiring knowledge efficiently. Requires short, focused sessions with visualization techniques. Accuracy over speed – Play slowly and correctly, speed develops naturally. :) Use visualization – Mentally rehearse finger placements and picking patterns to reinforce learning without a guitar. Pete's Recommendations: Set weekly goals and break them into small tasks. Identify each task as motor or memory-based and assign the right time frame. Time each session and log progress—no cheating! Diagnose issues—comfort, tuning, and posture matter. Stay motivated—reward yourself by playing music you love. Final Thoughts Mastering the guitar takes patience, structure, and smart practice. Stay Motivated! Don’t let this become a chore. Reward yourself by playing something you love. 💙 Diagnose the problem! Always think about your practice; poor comfort, light tuning can go unnoticed but have a detrimental effect. Don’t practice through pain. Musicians tend to have good body awareness; listen to your body! Warm up, cool down! Treat music as both a challenge and a source of joy—it will push you, frustrate you, but ultimately, it will inspire you. :) - Pete Whittard https://www.youtube.com/embed/rSqkg9CkARA 4269 2025-03-02T16:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-4-unit-2-q-a-with-justin-lblim2-04 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AMUBQwyuo1g/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #4: Unit 2 Q&A with Justin Howdy Blimmer, In this live session, Justin answers your submitted questions. Just a heads-up—the guitar wasn’t plugged in throughout the session (we know, and it won’t happen again!). Still, there are plenty of useful tips and exercises for Unit 2. One big question that came up a lot: When should you move on? Justin covers this right at the start! Submitted Questions 1. Lorin: I don’t feel close to mastering Unit 1. Should I move on to Unit 2, or wait? 2. Wayne: How much time should I spend on a unit before moving on? I keep thinking about "practice until you can’t get it wrong." 3. Donald: I’m still working on January’s lessons—should I move to February’s or keep going with January? Loving the class! 4. Rob: Should I master all Pattern 1 licks in every key before moving to Pattern 2, or learn all patterns in one key first? 5. Ray: When I find something complex in a song, I spend a lot of time on it before moving forward. Is this a good approach, or should I move on and revisit it later? 6. Bret: I struggle with picking accuracy and sometimes miss strings when playing licks. Slowing down hasn’t helped much. Any drills to improve picking hand awareness? 7. Kai: I want to transcribe melodies and vocals before tackling licks and solos. Should I play the vocal line on guitar, and if so, where? Would solfege help? 8. Dan: What makes a great turnaround lick? What are the key elements? 9. Alan: I can’t find a comfortable seating position when playing guitar. Any advice? 10. Lorin: I struggle with muting notes using my picking hand—it stops my picking. How can I make it feel more automatic? 11. Rob: I create vibrato by pressing and releasing the string into the fretboard. Is this a real technique, or should I focus on standard methods? 12. Ray: Any suggestions for good blues tone settings on Boss Tone Studio or recommended pedals? Check out Justin's Boss Module here. 13. Dave: How can I keep older licks and songs fresh while learning new material? 14. Dave: When practicing Pattern 2, how should I incorporate extra no... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMUBQwyuo1g 4026 2025-02-06T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-6-challenge-1-q-a-lblim2-06 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2y1NW50Z3vM/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #6: Challenge 1 & Q&A Here is the recording for our Live #6 with Justin Sandercoe. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2y1NW50Z3vM 4538 2025-03-06T17:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-triad-grips-memory-exercises-mt-408 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/738666232-6d58dabb670d974a54385b8317498f41ba8a2ca8920ce20730a96c470111c31c-d_295x166?r=pad Major Triad Grips Memory Exercises Three effective exercises to get those Major grips into your memory! https://player.vimeo.com/video/300330321 647 2017-11-04T10:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-chat-somebody-that-i-used-to-know-gotye-experiments-tr-609 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o9kS7ojgxqw/hqdefault.jpg Live Chat - Somebody that I used to know (Gotye) experiments - https://www.youtube.com/embed/o9kS7ojgxqw 3285 2018-05-22T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-couldn-t-stand-the-weather-tr-606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B4mpahVKbQY/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: Couldn't Stand The Weather Everyone loves Stevie Ray Vaughan and this is one of his classic tunes, and not crazy difficult either! https://www.youtube.com/embed/B4mpahVKbQY 4695 2018-02-16T14:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-reverb-ka-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/boqGkn4kfvA/hqdefault.jpg All About Reverb Reverb is probably the most common guitar effect, but it's a naturally occurring thing, not just an artificial effect. In this video lesson we look at Plate, Spring and Hall reverbs (and some others) and listen to the differences and explore the available settings in the Boss Tone Studio. You might not have all these parameters on all pedals, and you might have even more - but this should explain the basics and give you plenty to get started with! Note that in this lesson we'll just be exploring reverb but 'slot 3 knob' on a Katana can control reverb and delay (or either) but we set the 'mode' to just reverb for all 3 slots - I suggest you spend some time listening to and exploring reverb on it's own! Reverb Types The available types of Reverb in the Katana are: Plate, Room, Hall, Spring and Modulate. They each have their own character and you should listen to each and learn how they sound. Please note that in the video I thought that the Hall and Room sounds had been confused somewhere along the way and so I emailed the Boss team to ask and got a reply from the programming engineer himself who said "Both Hall and Room reverb works correctly what we intended. But reverb character of Room is more brighter than Hall and it sometimes cause misleading impression that Room is bigger and longer than Hall.". I also got a reply about the strange spring swell that was coming through seemlingly randomly and the reply was "Spring reverb on KTN detected attack of guitar play then add spring sound." so it's down to the guitar volume, but I'm not so sure that's how it felt to me! For more details on the types of reverb (Plate, Spring, Hall, and more) please see the Reverb: What, How & History lesson. Reverb Time This controls how long (in seconds) the reverb 'tail' will last - it will gradually fade out over this amount of time. Be wary of making this too long, especially if you are playing a lot of notes of have fast chord changes and the notes will bleed into each other - can be a cool effect - but make sure you stay ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/boqGkn4kfvA 1412 2018-10-16T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-tr-607 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rMT1VQUZBwI/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMT1VQUZBwI 1965 2018-02-16T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-neil-young-s-don-t-let-it-bring-you-down-tr-610 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bYeQ1YAQ3No/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing - Neil Young's Don't Let It Bring You Down - https://www.youtube.com/embed/bYeQ1YAQ3No 1530 2018-07-10T16:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-the-chain-tr-603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nGIraIWfHpc/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: The Chain Live transcription of this classic, The Chain by Fleetwood Mac! https://www.youtube.com/embed/nGIraIWfHpc 3303 2018-02-16T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-gravity-tr-605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YTvf_f9aB7c/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: Gravity This wonderful John Mayer song has loads of interesting things going on but it not too challenging! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YTvf_f9aB7c 4364 2018-02-16T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-this-charming-man-tr-604 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rr8xLvYCKzE/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: This Charming Man Here's me transcribing this Charming Man live on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rr8xLvYCKzE 3543 2018-02-16T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-moonlight-shadow-tr-601 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_oSCDsyp1i4/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: Moonlight Shadow After doing the rhythm lesson for the Mike Oldfield song Moonlight Shadow I got a lot of requests for the solos, and rather than just do it, I thought I'd show you me them working it out and then you can have some fun with it yourself! I add in some tips of course, but if you want to learn it then check this out and then get your ears on it :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/_oSCDsyp1i4 4555 2018-02-16T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-welcome-live-class-lblim2-01 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5CwSFR4FiC4/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2: Welcome Live Class! Welcome to Blues Immersion Class 3! 🎸 We’re excited to have you join the Blues Immersion journey. There is much to look forward to, and we hope you enjoy every step of the course. In this live session, Justin will give an overview of the program’s upcoming events. You will also hear from some Class 1 alumni, and Justin will answer common questions from new students. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CwSFR4FiC4 3327 2024-12-07T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-2-q-a-introduction-to-support-team-lblim2-02 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N5pd4R5DZ5I/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #2: Q&A & Introduction to Support Team! Howdy Blimmer, In this Q&A session, Justin answers loads of questions, with Richard and Birnie joining in too! Plus, meet the team and learn more about what’s coming next. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and participated! Here’s a quick breakdown of what was covered: Team Introductions: Birnie: Community & Content support as @dave_birnie Richard: Community support. On Community as @Richard_close2u Fanny: Student Support for BLIM 2! For inquiries related to the BLIM course, contact blim@justinguitar.com. For urgent matters, contact fanny@justinguitar.com directly. Other mentions: The updated version of the Unit 1 Ebook is now available, titled v3. Download it here. Summary of Submitted Questions Course Structure & Materials Alan: Why a Blues Immersion Course instead of Rock Guitar? Tony: Clarification on the three songs—focus on rhythms or learning one song? JF: Will transcriptions for Prep exercises be provided? Lee: Explanation of “10 lessons/month” compared to Unit 1 content. Ness: Request for monthly tabs for two blues standards. Thomas: Possibility of unlocking Guitar Pro files for easier editing. Ness: What’s the purpose of large strumming hand movements in early blues? Were early blues guitars similar to modern acoustics? What’s the most common key for open tuning in bottleneck slide? Ray: Definition of a blues standard. Technique and Practice Amro: Is anchoring the pinky on the pickguard okay for single notes? Should bends be perfected before moving forward? Shawn: Counting 1/4 notes mentally—helpful for licks starting on beat 2? Marg: Managing thumb soreness during string bends. Correct thumb pressure. Ryan: Best approach to muting after bends. Extra practice time—focus on licks or standards? Roger: Adding notes to Pentatonic patterns for reduced stretching? Sven-Erik: Value of creating personal rhythm tracks versus using backing tracks? Daniel: How to make solos fuller without reliance on jam tracks? Garry: Study methods without a guitar but access to the program? Chris: Matchin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5pd4R5DZ5I 3758 2024-12-07T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-lesson-2-getting-off-the-hamster-wheel-qa-lblim-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H10wDdKo5nE/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #2: Getting Off The Hamster Wheel + Q&A Here's the recording for Live Lesson #2 - Getting Off The Hamster Wheel + Q&A. https://www.youtube.com/embed/H10wDdKo5nE 3833 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/starting-jazz-improv-w-mike-outram-ja-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlpdfLxSHnE/hqdefault.jpg Starting Jazz Improv w Mike Outram In this lesson we have the awesome Mike Outram as the special guest tutor and we check out how to get started playing on a jazz standard using chord tones - I love his simple bit by bit approach! You can get more of Mike's lessons at electriccampfire.com! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QlpdfLxSHnE 1537 2018-11-04T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-1-welcome-and-q-a-lblim-000 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/BLIM Live Archive/BLIM-LiveLesson01.jpg BLIM 1 Live #1: Welcome and Q&A Here is the recording for our Live Class #1 with Justin Sandercoe. https://player.vimeo.com/video/969004901 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-thrill-is-gone-blim-u3-21-s2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K5w8DqF0vT0/hqdefault.jpg The Thrill Is Gone This is a song that BB King often plays with others. He sings it so well that it's a scary one to cover! https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5w8DqF0vT0 903 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/guitar-anatomy-b0-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zpRoq0jcWfQ/hqdefault.jpg Guitar Anatomy The head connects to the neck, which connects to the body... just like people :) there are even nobs to twiddle and a G String to snap! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zpRoq0jcWfQ 725 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/cheapest-acoustic-guitar-on-amazon-vs-7500-froggy-bottom-b0-070 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Dtct1Xdfgk/hqdefault.jpg £32 Acoustic Guitar vs my $7500 Froggy What is the cheapest guitar on Amazon (£31.99) really like? is it playable? How does it compare with a Froggy Bottom that costs 250 times more? Find out here :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Dtct1Xdfgk 1083 2018-03-16T10:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-guitar-accessories-do-you-need-b0-040 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2qrbKIL80xk/hqdefault.jpg What guitar accessories do you need? There are some guitar accessories that you are definitely going to need quite soon, and some optional things that simply make your life a little easier. In this lesson, I want to give you a little bit of advice regarding all these things. It is recommended that you sort these out at some point but you don't need to get them all before you start—all you really need is a guitar and some picks to get going. There are some things that are pretty much essential that you want to get before you think about starting out on the course, whether you're playing electric or acoustic. 1. Picks You will need to buy a few picks. To start with you will need a few very thin picks (get as thin as you can find). These thin picks will help you learn to strum well. It is also worth getting a couple of Medium thickness too - these are better for playing notes individually (like when you play scales) and you'll need these later in the course. Buy a few because the sock monster plays the guitar and he'll steal them regularly! These Jim Dunlop Nylon picks are great for beginners. They're very thin (.46mm) and very forgiving for beginners. Buy a few, because the sock monster loves these picks! Justin Recommends: Jim Dunlop Nylon .46mm I recommend starting with some Jim Dunlop Nylon .46mm (Amazon link) and getting some slightly thicker picks like these Jim Dunlop Orange Tortex (Amazon link) which will be useful as you progress and need to pick out individual notes. More on picks and how to hold them in Lesson 1! 2. Tuner It is essential to get your guitar in tune! Eventually, you should learn to tune your guitar without needing a tuner, but when you are starting out, it is better to be accurately in tune - and having your guitar sound nice - than trying to learn how to tune, messing it up, and having your guitar sound horrible. Have mercy on those that will listen to you practising and buy yourself a tuner right away! Justin Recommends: D'Addario NS Micro Clip-On Tuner I love these little clip-ons and have a bunch permanently attached to... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qrbKIL80xk 710 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-s-the-best-guitar-for-beginners-b0-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7m4H8aIsTBQ/hqdefault.jpg What's the best guitar for beginners? Every beginner guitarist struggles to know what guitar to buy, so here's my advice to help you get the right instrument to start your journey with. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7m4H8aIsTBQ 709 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-12-practice-3-nk-123 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/928232691-6b684a00b8a90205536b97eb90c57f88765bd3614926839f76f88ebee1e4e5b6-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 12 - Practice 3 For Nitsuj, apparently, rest is for the wicked! So he did not have a rest day between last practice, but feeling ready to play some power chords! Adding some distortion to Enter The Sandman, Nitsuj is really taking it up a level. Module 13 practice is coming together pretty quickly. Power chords still need some work, but we're getting there! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/440609947 2034 2020-08-15T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-guide-to-effects-pedals-b0-050 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XcmIbuYHahw/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Guide To Effects Pedals Do you even need an effect pedal if you're a real beginner? NO. Sorry! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XcmIbuYHahw 2064 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-e-and-a-shapes-mt-521 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773859466-58f04a715329d7657a715102cee2da3d8d5ea07e92054b13a099cc85f87fd81b-d_295x166?r=pad CAGED: E and A Shapes Before we put Quadads into practice, I want to make sure you're clear on the notes in the most basic barre chord grips. https://player.vimeo.com/video/329124095 175 2018-05-09T00:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hand-off-vibrato-extension-lesson-blim-u2-08-t3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905415869-2f4707db2b3581f21de6be4e4fdcd288b34b38e0709bac68d4ca0db4a67821d0-d_295x166?r=pad Hand-Off Vibrato (Extension Lesson) Let's explore hand-off vibrato, a technique Eric Clapton uses. This is an advanced lesson, so master Standard Vibrato first. https://player.vimeo.com/video/942296778 528 2024-07-28T11:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-5-masterclass-with-seth-rosenbloom-lblim-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/afkgRPq9Kpk/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #5: Masterclass with Seth Rosenbloom Here, you'll find the recording for Live Lesson #3 - Masterclass with Seth Rosenbloom. https://www.youtube.com/embed/afkgRPq9Kpk 4246 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-7th-chords-mt-523 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773873372-067f868d75a796bc0e3c46cbe3ff693beee8ed9232bbf864182bb819c44d976b-d_295x166?r=pad Dominant 7th Chords You'll find Dominant 7th Chords more often than Major 7ths Chords. And they're super easy to construct! https://player.vimeo.com/video/329130379 514 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-3-masterclass-with-kirk-fletcher-lblim-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2WUGQ0H9PYI/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #3: Masterclass with Kirk Fletcher Here, you'll find the recording for Live Lesson #3 - Masterclass with Kirk Fletcher. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2WUGQ0H9PYI 3871 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-7-masterclass-with-dave-marks-lblim-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lpOeNEqTRH8/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #7: Masterclass with Dave Marks Here is the recording for our Live Class #7 with Justin Sandercoe and Dave Marks. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lpOeNEqTRH8 3952 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/put-hits-in-yer-scratches-fu-504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hk4Wfc5BfNE/hqdefault.jpg Put Hits In Yer Scratches In this lesson, we're going to be looking at an awesome exercise to learn to put Hits in your Scratches! We're going to be using our old friend the E9 and be scratching right the way through and just adding Hits (Chord Stabs) in specific places in each beat. Note that in the 'real world' having scratches all the time can get a bit monotonous, but it's good to start here to get your hits and scratches working well before we get into more complex grooves - we'll be learning to 'miss' very soon! TABs to help you out! Hits on the beat: Hits on the 2nd 16th note: Hits on the off beat: Hits on the last 16th note: To Practice... 1. Hits First thing to work on (obviously) is being able to do the exercises above one at a time and making sure you are tapping your foot just on the beat. Once you feel confident with each one, try alternating between the first exercise and each of the others. 2. With A Metronome Again when you feel confident with each then try playing along with the metronome - don't be in a hurry to play them fast - be in hurry to make them feel good and stay in time with the metronome! 3. One After The Other Only when you're super confident playing them on their own should you have a go at the exercise I show in the lesson on playing them one after the other in a row - but it's a great exercise when you get there! 4. Have Fun Next lesson we're going to be putting these hits into specific places to create common funk grooves - so important here is for you to have some fun and just jam around with them and see what happens! Recommended Album You ain't never going to get the Funk if you're not listening to the greats! So with each lesson, I'm going to recommend a funk album for you to sink your ears into and help you get in the groove - some of the all-time classics and maybe some slightly less known albums too that I really dig. James Brown - Live At The Apollo (1962) Taking it back to where it all began now, this is maybe more a soul album than pure Funk as we think of it today but it's where it came from... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hk4Wfc5BfNE 849 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-guitar-amp-buyers-guide-b0-037 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CrM4oHr71D0/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Guitar Amp Buyers Guide While over at Andertons to film a beginner electric guitar buyers guide, we thought we'd check out guitar amps to... what's the best one? There's quite a selection but I still think the Boss Katana mk2 is the best beginner amp by quite some ways. If you're in the UK, check out the Andertons store, they really care about customers and are top people! https://www.youtube.com/embed/CrM4oHr71D0 1234 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-electric-guitar-buyers-guide-b0-035 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tCluTk2ety4/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Electric Guitar Buyers Guide Lee Anderton is a good friend of mine, and also happens to own the store voted the Best Music Store In The World at NAMM 2019 (the big music gear trade show), which is proper awesome! He asked me to pop over and do a video for their Andertons TV YouTube channel - a guide for beginners buying their first guitar. With me in the video is Lee, who knows everything there is to know about buying and selling guitars and Pete Honore who is a killer guitar player and Andertons TV presenter. If you're looking at buying a guitar - then check this out! And if you're in the UK, check out the Andertons store, they really care about customers and are top people! https://www.youtube.com/embed/tCluTk2ety4 1784 2019-12-19T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-8-q-a-with-justin-lblim-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hfWXKEs2QYQ/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #8: Q&A with Justin Here's the recording for Live Lesson #8, which took place on Thursday, September 19, ​​​​​​​20:00 BST. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hfWXKEs2QYQ 3731 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-6-challenge-1-blues-solo-lblim-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tB0Xs0MCyaA/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #6: Challenge #1 Blues Solo! Here is the recording for our Live Class #6 with Justin Sandercoe. https://www.youtube.com/embed/tB0Xs0MCyaA 4181 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-memphis-blues-blim-u3-17-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1914589832-c019bdc7d492f799323853c47f4bc9158085ff585097576db16ef4e9593aa3e8-d_295x166?r=pad History: Memphis Blues The Memphis Blues is a significant genre within the broader spectrum of Blues music. https://player.vimeo.com/video/997848274 140 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chips-on-2-and-4-blim-u3-11-r2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912846162-33c5a10e57606caaf3a3987c23d1bc45bd8c5c978133143cd493efb97b1d47d5-d_295x166?r=pad Chips on 2 and 4 If both guitarists play the same part, it can get messy. So, we'll explore "CHIPS"—staccato chords on beats 2 and 4. https://player.vimeo.com/video/982070775 680 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-11-masterclass-with-matt-schofield-lblim-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7-kSbqtNt9U/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #11 : Masterclass with Matt Schofield Howdy Blimmer, Matt Schofield is joining us for this Masterclass! 🎸 As a British Blues Hall of Famer and one of the world’s leading modern blues guitarists, Matt is renowned for his remarkable tone and expressive style. Guitar & Bass Magazine even ranks him alongside legends like Eric Clapton and Peter Green. 🤯 How epic was that intro solo?! 👉 Ready to dive deeper into Matt’s blues mastery? Check out his TrueFire courses here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7-kSbqtNt9U 4668 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/13-bb-king-that-slide-bl-513 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KJQxU70NHDo/hqdefault.jpg #13: BB King: That Slide! This B.B. King lick has his trademark gliss and a really cool phrase, great little lick to play about with and once you master the gliss you'll likely use it often :) TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/KJQxU70NHDo 303 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-graduation-party-lblim-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BjfB9aLbx30/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Graduation Party 🎓 Howdy Blimmer, As we wrap up this 6-month BLIM journey, we know many of you are still working through the course and will continue to revisit it for years. A huge shoutout to all the amazing Grad performers, and a big thank you to everyone who tuned in! It takes a lot of courage to perform, and we're so proud of all of you for stepping up! BLIM wouldn't be what it is without incredible students like you. Your passion for music and the Blues has truly shone throughout the course. Keep that fire alive, and we'll see you in JG land.💙 https://www.youtube.com/embed/BjfB9aLbx30 3922 2025-01-29T18:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minimum-movement-exercise-te-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QvQ6sFfQjuA/hqdefault.jpg Minimum Movement Exercise One of the most powerful and effective exercises you can do to improve your guitar technique! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QvQ6sFfQjuA 511 2021-02-18T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/27-bb-king-four-over-1-bl-527 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TTApwU5Iq2Q/hqdefault.jpg #27: BB King: Four Over 1 TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTApwU5Iq2Q 341 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-bar-blues-slow-demo-sb-1302 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106821007-aaf58e1c83a042842bbeb18e54280e615782dc8ca138485d7516e35ea87d5b6b-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Bar Blues - Slow Demo Here’s the full slow playthrough of your arrangement! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1154426231 64 2026-01-14T08:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-2-dm-002 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875548015-24c12fa9e2ae5bac1a096e5cad0ebc1a4d9bb0ed83ccef64c505313096064431-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 2 Let’s get into Position 1! There are a few different ways you should be practicing this, but it will all help you get super comfortable with the scale. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405376190 1197 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/master-your-major-scales-intro-dm-000 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875519971-504db8353e5c0f34dff477f5b01a7d8564180d452de520017831098ac2c7ed97-d_295x166?r=pad Master Your Major Scales: Intro Welcome to the JustinGuitar course on mastering your major scales! We’ll be learning five major scale positions that will help you expand as a guitarist! https://player.vimeo.com/video/405364490 599 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-lesson-10-challenge-2-q-a-lblim-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xvegOayvYWM/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #10: Challenge #2 + Q&A In this session, Justin gives live feedback on Challenge #2 submissions. Great job to everyone who participated! :) 👉 Head over to the Discussion tab to check out all the submissions! Remember, everyone is at a different stage in this program, so it's normal to see different skill levels. Use these submissions as inspiration, and take Justin's feedback as valuable insights to help you improve! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xvegOayvYWM 4042 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/23-a-king-p2-call-it-bl-523 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9xaUbpQ5J64/hqdefault.jpg #23: A King: P2 Call It This lick is here to show you the way a lick can be spread between two phrases, it's more like a sentence than a word, seems to speak. Using just these 3 notes Albert often constructs incredible musical ideas - and I'd strongly recommend getting into trying to do whole solos using just three of four notes, you'll learn a lot about phrasing and making real music. TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xaUbpQ5J64 389 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/power-chords-2-bc-186 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gV7l9AsGa7M/hqdefault.jpg Power Chords 2 Once you have got those sixth-string root power chords down, we can get in to playing chords with a fifth-string root. The principle is exactly the same, but the notes are different of course, and there is an additional technique needed. Now with a fifth string root... Use only your 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers as shown, and start by putting your 1st finger in the 3rd fret of the fifth string (the note C). Then put down your 3rd and 4th fingers. If this is a bit of stretch don't worry, you will soon limber up! Try to keep them together, the 3rd finger sort of on top of the 4th as shown below. Now you have to mute the 6th string! Notice that the sixth string must not be played. A power chord with its root on the fifth string will sound very bad indeed if you forget to mute this string. So how do you do that? Well we use our 1st finger—the very tip—to press on the side of the sixth string. Not hard enough to make the note sound, but hard enough to stop the note ringing out. See the photo and try and copy my hand position. Some people use the middle finger to help mute the sixth string. It's O.K. to do this, but you still have to mute with the 1st finger too! Take a listen It should sound like this when you play all the strings, from fattest to thinnest (6th to 1st). Remembering that the 6th string is now muted (that is the first note you will hear. And Then There Were Two Root Notes So if you look closely now at the neck diagram below you can see that there are now two ways of playing every power chord! One with the 6th string root and one with the 5th string root! Two Ways To Play So make sure that you understand that every power chord can be played in two places in the neck. You will have to learn how to figure out which one you should use when. Use a little logic, and listen. Sometimes it is better to play them all on one string anyway, because the sound will stay consistent. Use your ears and your head! Some cool tunes to check out... The best way to learn these chords is to put them into practice and learn some... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gV7l9AsGa7M 240 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-vibrato-techniques-bg-2103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i9yDenSMpJk/hqdefault.jpg Introduction to Vibrato Techniques What's vibrato, and how should we play them? Adding vibrato to chords and lead guitar makes your playing sound super pro! Learn here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i9yDenSMpJk 1724 2023-02-06T05:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/35-robben-fancy-blue-bl-535 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x9XSagMuT48/hqdefault.jpg #35: Robben: Fancy Blue Super cool Mixolydian style lick this week from Mr Ford. We're still in an A Blues but notice that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th notes make a Bmin arpeggio but put chord tones either side and it sounds great. Great lick! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9XSagMuT48 548 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-9-masterclass-with-jim-campilongo-lblim-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TAzJhILQFEs/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #9: Masterclass with Jim Campilongo Howdy Blimmer, In this live session, Jim Campilongo joins us to discuss his Blues techniques and inspiration. Jim Campilongo is a renowned guitarist, producer, composer, and instructor known as the Telecaster master! One of his standout skills is a hybrid right-hand technique using both a pick and fingers—a must-see. We’ll dive into his unique improvisation techniques and explore what makes his style one-of-a-kind. :) 👉 You'll find diagrams shared by Jim in the resourced tab. :) Additional Links Mentioned Orange by Jim Campilongo Bending Exercises - Thank you Larry Carlton Interview with Justin (2010) Interview with Justin (2020) Jim Campilongo Lessons Submitted Q&A Answered by Jim Q1 Student: Annonymous Question: Can you quickly explain the Jim Blues - No Bending & Easy 2 Beat diagrams you shared? These resources are available to download in the Resource tab! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q52FgwlW1Do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO-JIISz6nA Q2 Student: Ashu Question: How can we learn to play solos that aren't just a bunch of licks? Answer: How do you speak and not make it a bunch of words? Q3 Student: John Question: Which is better for practicing lead guitar: learning how notes work when chords change in a scale, or focusing on the chords and their important notes? Answer: Chords Q4 Student: Steve Question: Can you recommend any resources for someone who wants to learn hybrid picking? Answer: Classical guitar with a pick Q5 Student: Hec Question: How do you find tritone substitutions on the fretboard? I'm only beginning to understand these tones Answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FpqA33ZrWY https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAzJhILQFEs 4122 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-4-dm-004 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875661437-067bff71610632d9ae6b668f4c41d34c064da6c4a430ec0f501e5605756ffb6c-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 4 We’re exploring Position 2 in this lesson, as well as learning a new exercise pattern. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405447607 700 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-4-q-a-with-justin-lblim-004 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/BLIM Live Archive/BLIM-LiveLesson04.jpg BLIM 1 Live #4: Q&A with Justin Here, you'll find the recording for Live Lesson #4 - Q&A with Justin. https://player.vimeo.com/video/991779102 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/line6-relay-g10-wireless-system-gg-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_a_6l6be5m4/hqdefault.jpg Line6 Relay G10 Wireless System My friend Dario put me onto these and when I saw his I had one delivered for the Tuscany Workshops last year! It's so cool not to be tripping over cables all the time! and the kill switch for swapping guitars... and the USB power... and the re-charging transmitter... Line 6 really did great with this product! Buy at Amazon.co.uk Buy at Amazon.com https://www.youtube.com/embed/_a_6l6be5m4 287 2017-10-30T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-addario-cinch-fit-strap-lock-gg-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qMQr8Alnvns/hqdefault.jpg D'Addario Cinch Fit Strap Lock In this video review I check out the D'Addario Cinch Fit, an acoustic strap lock problem solver to hold your strap on the endpin/jack socket. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMQr8Alnvns 281 2018-05-06T16:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gruv-gear-fret-wrap-review-gg-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jlfFPH_uaEM/hqdefault.jpg Gruv Gear Fret Wrap Review So LOADS of people been asking about this little black thing wrapped around the headstock of some of my guitars, figured I'd do a little review to explain it! I use it mainly to mute the strings between the nut and the tuning pegs, it seems really loud on my Suhr Classic and my Maton Michael Fix model, but not so much on other guitars. But it's also useful on the very rare occasion I try doing some two handed taping (like Satriani's Midnight or Day At The Beach). It's a Gruv Gear Fret Wrap, but in the past I've used a sock or a fluffy hair band! But these are easier to use, seem very well made and not expensive. They come in different sizes too, so get the right one for your guitar! Buy at Amazon.co.uk Buy at Amazon.com https://www.youtube.com/embed/jlfFPH_uaEM 290 2017-10-30T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/heart-of-gold-legacy-lesson-leg-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U0MKyH48OhU/hqdefault.jpg Heart of Gold [Legacy Lesson] Here's Justin's original take on teaching Heart of Gold by Neil Young. https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0MKyH48OhU 711 2017-12-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-hoolahan-slide-gg-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EdRL4Se0q70/hqdefault.jpg The Hoolahan Slide A few months back Phil offered to send me some slides to check out and I really dig them. I always found slides to feel really restrictive but these changed all that. I'm still getting used to it but it's feeling more and more comfortable every practice session. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a paid advertorial, I just did the little vid because I like the slide a lot, Phil seems a good bloke and I think a lot of you getting into slide will really like it. I did find getting the slide exactly the right size made a big difference, making sure it doesn't slide over your knuckle nearest your hand) so I recommend getting in touch with Phil or taking measurements to figure out your finger size. Links and more info Hoolahan Guitar Slides https://www.youtube.com/embed/EdRL4Se0q70 151 2017-10-30T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/acoustic-string-shoot-out-gg-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGe5fo4tddU/hqdefault.jpg Acoustic String Shoot-out In this lesson, I recorded fresh sets of three different acoustic guitar strings to compare their tonal qualities. The strings were all by D'Addario and were: 1. Coated Phosphor Bronze (EXP) 2. Bronze 80/20 3. Phosphor Bronze Recording chain The guitar I used was my Maton Messiah, recorded with two mics (panned left and right for the demo) a Neumann KM54 and a Neumann KM86. They went through Neve 1073 pre-amps through a UA Apollo interface and into Pro Tools at 24/96. I used no EQ or effects, just Ozone on the master bus to bring the levels up; it didn't do much to the sound. Accessories I strongly recommend getting yourself a "Pro Winder" which has string cutters, a string winder and a pin puller all in one. High-resolution audio file Here's a high resolution (24 bit, 96k) for you to compare them - downloadable too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGe5fo4tddU 669 2017-10-30T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/guitar-amp-pedal-tone-controls-finally-explained-gtq-0001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UUdENXBsTOc/hqdefault.jpg Guitar Amp & Pedal Tone Controls Finally Explained Learn what your guitar tone controls actually do, and how understanding EQ and frequencies helps you shape a better sound! https://www.youtube.com/embed/UUdENXBsTOc 1763 2026-02-18T05:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-3-bend-candidates-blim-u3-03-k3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1909551103-6f423709e6142c35760eb1ca81bcc96155007430e44a199624803367bacfb638-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 3 Bend Candidates Which notes from Pattern 3 are ideal for bending, and how far should you bend each one? https://player.vimeo.com/video/948386649 840 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/octave-shapes-mt-431 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/757267095-ac4c4fd4ee424dc5218e2014d83eb8977e4a41456f3999302711df713482f0c3-d_295x166?r=pad Octave Shapes Learn how to name every note all over the guitar fretboard by using Octave Shapes! https://player.vimeo.com/video/315469521 398 2018-05-09T18:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sissel-sitfit-back-saver-gg-405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3fIX_vWI86Y/hqdefault.jpg Sissel SitFit (Back saver!!) If you get a bad back from practice - then you gotta check this out - it's amazeballs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/3fIX_vWI86Y 368 2017-10-30T15:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chord-theory-mt-401 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/708978375-c9187791ac847089f1aec31b33c50b3c9138eca99c914d3e981850d11fc6524f-d_295x166?r=pad Triad Chord Theory Learn the four types of triads and how to apply their formula to the Major Scale. https://player.vimeo.com/video/276437016 491 2017-11-04T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/wonderwall-legacy-lesson-leg-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ukjfq1iVOGA/hqdefault.jpg Wonderwall [Legacy Lesson] Here's Justin's original tutorial on how to play Wonderwall by Oasis on the acoustic guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukjfq1iVOGA 1160 2018-02-05T03:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-big-deal-of-chord-theory-mt-524 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773877183-4cb4d4a219f856b431b68d6c280f86c9ebe5d64f048455ec697e4bd0f9ab8e7d-d_295x166?r=pad The Big Deal Of Chord Theory The logic and process of what we're doing is far more important than the actual grips themselves! https://player.vimeo.com/video/329135841 258 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/56-robben-poor-lick-bl-556 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ux9X2sGNwd4/hqdefault.jpg #56: Robben: Poor Lick TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ux9X2sGNwd4 445 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/42-robben-slick-16-s-bl-542 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TLpBetB1jJ4/hqdefault.jpg #42: Robben: Slick 16's TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLpBetB1jJ4 405 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-own-chord-book-mt-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2o3w2gvhYPM/hqdefault.jpg Your Own Chord Book Create your own guitar chord book and organize all your knowledge! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2o3w2gvhYPM 153 2017-11-04T17:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-3-nk-903 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/896966958-f9aa94831ce88df90d97747e83987c1bd2071958eaa212f5eddc321466ec7dc6-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 3 Nitsuj is giving his fingers a break from the acoustic and switching over to an electric guitar - and a new one at that! https://player.vimeo.com/video/421329974 1962 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-co-write-a-song-bg-2005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sQBTFxIPeSc/hqdefault.jpg How to co-write a song Here is my best advice for beginner songwriters looking to co-write songs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sQBTFxIPeSc 1432 2022-10-31T15:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-on-the-neck-mt-423 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438170365-8006a629483b3ce7ab8b9658234c7d810bc714c038c4cfd0528938cb567486ee-d_295x166?r=pad Chords In Keys On The Neck Learn how to find chord progressions using your guitar fretboard. https://player.vimeo.com/video/309139605 161 2018-05-09T15:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walking-by-myself-blim-u4-16-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pE9tLMOfM_s/hqdefault.jpg Walking By Myself Walking By Myself is a super cool Blues tune, originally by the great Jimmy Rodgers. Let's check it out. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pE9tLMOfM_s 1041 2024-09-29T06:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/40-clapton-p3-semidown-bl-540 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JcNLd4ArlKE/hqdefault.jpg #40: Clapton: P3 Semidown TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcNLd4ArlKE 253 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-quadad-chord-sequence-mt-529 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775565114-385c6971102d7941676b4d680ed70448e9955cbef13596f0e32e16337c2dc813-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Quadad Chord Sequence Please - be comfortable analyzing Diatonic Quadad Chords before starting this lesson! https://player.vimeo.com/video/330481688 379 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-intervals-worksheet-mt-505 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772122780-5030846f14555e8bf9b4dad575c9648c0de08c8b3201402219bec5c0a26f6e89-d_295x166?r=pad Major Scale Intervals Worksheet Now it's time to revise and test all the intervals we've checked out thus far. https://player.vimeo.com/video/327761959 213 2017-11-04T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-minor-7th-chords-mt-605 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438256915-431779a0022d3f2e17e2da59a0181fd098d0d301ac92cd19089825b916860869-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us E Shape Minor 7th Chords Learn to combine the knowledge you already have to get a Minor 7th Shape Chord! https://player.vimeo.com/video/362530233 343 2018-05-02T01:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-a-melody-on-guitar-bg-1605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dvhwxqDM_70/hqdefault.jpg How to Play a Melody on Guitar Melodic guitar for beginners! Learn any melody by ear and duet beautifully on the acoustic guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvhwxqDM_70 1538 2022-01-21T06:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-16-practice-routine-bg-1608 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U9Ujg5J7ypQ/hqdefault.jpg Module 16 Practice Routine Loads of things to practice, eh? :) Here's my suggestion on how to organize your practice schedule for this module! https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9Ujg5J7ypQ 350 2022-01-21T16:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/common-diatonic-chord-sequences-mt-530 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775570484-b1035d6c98035171acc740c0683a5f8f9def5bb620acddf1f6d0b0ea074a47f0-d_295x166?r=pad Common Diatonic Chord Sequences Let's put all the theory you know about Diatonic Quadads into practice. https://player.vimeo.com/video/330485849 438 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-7th-chords-mt-522 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773865955-6463e5ab33d59cfc644037ff10e253c11192d0b0707385825b01f9386a16d338-d_295x166?r=pad Major 7th Chords You've encountered Major 7th Chords before - but what does that 7 actually mean? https://player.vimeo.com/video/329125758 479 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-minor-7b5-chords-mt-606 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438257327-a452b91191bb352ff45cba33757a96095c53415e7a858829f5365e3b35499338-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us E Shape Minor 7b5 Chords Exploring E Shape Minor 7b5 Chords will help you see the logic in how chords are named. https://player.vimeo.com/video/362533026 389 2018-05-02T01:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-f-king-p2-repeater-flick-bl-510 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8h4uikyTjGw/hqdefault.jpg #10: F King: P2 Repeater Flick Freddie King was a grand master of the repeating lick and this one is a great one to get into your lick bag! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/8h4uikyTjGw 300 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-british-blues-blim-u4-14-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925661489-2c65c8e1f4d7c1e10f39a3a71e147cd612ff75db10f1d74b41c522790262eb9a-d_295x166?r=pad History: British Blues To understand British Blues, it's essential to explore its foundational artists, its development, and the influence it wielded on the American Blues genre. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008187621 262 2024-09-29T06:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finding-your-own-chords-mt-616 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/finding-your-own-chords-mt-616-1.jpg Finding Your Own Chords! Do you want to make up your own chord grips? Here's how to get started! https://player.vimeo.com/video/640238942 2021-10-30T14:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-read-guitar-tab-mt-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i10y_ZuOfjk/hqdefault.jpg How To Read Guitar TAB Understand how to read Guitar TAB - the most commonly used way to write music for guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/i10y_ZuOfjk 257 2017-11-04T15:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/28-robben-rob-s-class-bl-528 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IvoV7P1t2b0/hqdefault.jpg #28: Robben: Rob's Class TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/IvoV7P1t2b0 494 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-2-practice-4-nj-204 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854200401-b0e247671f37798d9c8701eab9c6d809f7ac28b3c3bb023e76bdfeca19842143-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 2 - Practice 4 Eight total practice sessions in and Nitsuj’s fingers are still sore. This just goes to show that in order to get good at something, you’ve got to keep working through the mucky and less-fun bits! It will all be worth it in the end. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390168130 1515 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-4-practice-schedule-bc-149 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K-22wD5ZWgE/hqdefault.jpg Stage 4 Practice Schedule At Stage 4 we stick with a 30-minute workout. Again, if you are finding this too much, then break it into two 15-minute practice sessions. Stage 4 Practice Schedule Description Time Finger Workout 5 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- C to G7 1 min --- C7 to Fmaj7 1 min --- E to B7 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min Rhythm Guitar Practice (repetition) 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember We're up to a half hour practice session now. If you can manage this every day you will see yourself progress very quickly and that can be really inspiring! But if that is simply too much then break it in half and alternate which things you do each day. It's important that you practice things the right way so if you are even slightly uncertain about how to practice something then go back and revise the lesson or look back at the previous ‘things to remember' tips and make sure you are doing it right. This will help you make the most of your practice time. Finger Workout Please remember that this exercise is about developing your finger strength and independence and stretch, so please don't do it fast, there is no point! Chord Practice Remember that the point of this exercise is to get your chords sounding clear and train your fingers to go to exactly the right spot to get the chord sounding great. Start with a strum and then pick each note individually, except any strings that have the X next to them that you don't play. Try to play the notes with the tips of your fingers. Remember that dead sounding notes need to be fixed and the usual causes are either: a) The finger is too far from the fret. b) One of your fingers is touching a string that it shouldn't. Move your fingers around as you pick out the strings until they all sound good and then strum them again, and as you give them the last strums, tell your fingers that this is where you want them to go to next time. It will look a little strange to anyone that is watching you, but it really hel... https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-22wD5ZWgE 272 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/steady-thumb-blues-ds-102 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876431339-dd6e3d93f3ee2fadc615a14e69b35c1d0ea45b7eb7b114aadc34321da10c6363-d_295x166?r=pad Steady Thumb Blues Keep that thumb going while you add melody up top! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406028296 2317 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/29-srv-p1-classic-p-bl-529 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hx0n6j2VPAQ/hqdefault.jpg #29: SRV: P1 Classic P TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this is what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar than it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would not be very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hx0n6j2VPAQ 226 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-4-the-cycle-lp-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NheKap5XWxc/hqdefault.jpg Legato 4: The Cycle In this lesson, we look at the transition between working on every note cleanly to working on a relaxed hand feeling and allowing your fingers to 'dance' rather than be tense. We keep it simple by looking at the middle 2 strings of Pattern 1 Major (3NPS) which has no stretching and should be comfortable for most of you. I've shown it in the TAB as 16th notes but you can, of course, use any subdivisions you like and also be aware you can also just go 'as fast as you can' which can be helpful for getting the relaxed feeling - much like it's harder to ride a bike slowly -same with finding the relaxed feeling! Once you feel happy with this, it's well worth exploring other 2 string groups and the more adventurous of you might try expanding it into other patterns too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NheKap5XWxc 515 2019-03-08T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-finger-workout-bc-135 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JCo2Vvtrdvw/hqdefault.jpg Basic Finger Workout This very basic exercise will help you develop a bit of strength and independence in your fingers. Although exercises like this can be a little boring, they help you develop your physical skills faster and will get you playing your songs better, so they are well worth the effort. Basic Finger Workout This exercise is simple. All you are doing is putting your fingers down, one fret at a time, starting with your first finger. Make sure that you: Hold the fingers down as you go: When you put down your little finger, make sure that all your fingers are still pressing down in the correct frets. This is what helps you develop the stretch between the fingers, which makes them more agile. Holding them down also works the muscles, making your fingers stronger. Use your finger tips: Don't let the fingers go flat. Keep the fingers slightly rounded and make sure that the tip of your finger is holding down the strings. This helps you develop correct technique and also toughens up the ends of your fingers. People with small little fingers (like me!) struggle to keep their little finger on the tip without touching the other strings when playing the thickest string. It will just take a little more work than those lucky long-fingered people. Don't stress if you don't get it right away; it just takes a bit of work. If you have normal or long little finger you should find it kind of lays out a little and is more rounded than mine looks in the video; it's just because I have a little stump that it looks parallel to the other fingers! Don't get too hung up on not touching other strings! As you progress on the guitar you will eventually want to touch other strings to mute them! I don't recommend working on trying to touch other strings at this beginner stage, but I'm adding this so you don't focus too much on not touching other strings! Five minutes per day will be enough: Don't go over the top and practise this too much or you might hurt yourself! Five minutes is enough to get a bit of a workout without any straining. Relax into y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JCo2Vvtrdvw 267 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-5-practice-5-nj-505 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853820014-a1bb754842790bf6d1efe308ea3725d606a7f2fed847515e27f571c484505f5c-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 5 - Practice 5 Nitsuj is on his last practice of Lesson 5! What a journey it’s been so far. He’s finally getting used to playing with his left hand, so much so that he finds himself naturally sitting down to play with his left hand rather than his right. Onward to Lesson 6! https://player.vimeo.com/video/389918109 1556 2020-02-14T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-7-dm-007 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875743510-4d04d6921bf2abd2f96f935c8a579fef3fa1287f81cc522c430b24fec50b6d07-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 7 In this lesson, we’ll be combining Positions 1, 2, and 3, as well as learning Position 4. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405510477 441 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/name-that-chord-mt-615 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/name-that-chord-mt-615-1.jpg Name That Chord Learn how to name any chord you find on the neck in 4 easy steps! https://player.vimeo.com/video/640284239 2021-10-30T14:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-push-technique-sd-012 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-10-ThePush-S.jpg The 'Push' Technique This strumming technique changes the feel of the music, and it's super common in songs! https://player.vimeo.com/video/784746224 2023-01-12T12:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-intervals-perfect-mt-502 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772113357-83ddfc931659962d51436c1bb53608d7805c9eda187846aacdc3d661501b9264-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Intervals: Perfect We'll start with the most basic types of intervals: Unison, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, and the Octave. https://player.vimeo.com/video/327753401 341 2017-11-04T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-down-strums-palm-mute-technique-sd-015 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-13-AllDownMuted-S.jpg All Down Strums & Palm Mute Technique The strumming pattern in this lesson is a great one for creating contrasting dynamics in your guitar playing! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786117420 2023-01-12T12:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-shuffle-strum-instead-of-straight-strum-sd-017 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-15-TheShuffle-S.jpg How to Shuffle Strum (instead of straight strum!) This lesson will change how you approach strum and explore an interesting question: is rhythm mathematically exact? https://player.vimeo.com/video/786126793 2023-01-12T12:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-5-blim-u5-10-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1944311450-97ddf8e63d04d288e51cd7065c6ba1ba1286f4629f5ec1bcfdebeed45b808746-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 5 We have a collection of super cool licks for you to explore in Pattern 5, so let's just get stuck in! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1024767714 1667 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/practice-expectations-blim-m0-w2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895878051-8bfdbbba6714ed2bb8b777ec6ed3ad2d33a3d9b76098ebd78438c3a39782a820-d_295x166?r=pad Practice Expectations Learn more about your upcoming practice routines and monthly assignments! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902300352 94 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-guitar-journey-early-years-bl-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MZXoy9jXgSE/hqdefault.jpg Justin's Guitar Journey (Early Years) I started playing when I was knee-high to a grasshopper and gigging in bands when I was 12 years old. I started teaching other kids (and some adults!) around this time, which helped me afford lessons, records, and books. I loved The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, and AC/DC. By 17, I played most nights of the week in pub rock and funk bands and even some shows with the local brass band! I gigged all through my teenage years, teaching at the local music school a couple of days a week as well. My old man wanted me to go to university. After college, I started on a Classical Guitar degree. I was studying hard by day and playing at night. I was also teaching guitar at the college I had just left. It was a solid teaching practice, and I used to love it! Yet I only lasted 2 years before the big city lights of London got too bright. I then got a scholarship to study at The Guitar Institute. So I moved to London in '96. After a year of learning a lot and making great friends (and getting the student of the year award!), I finished my diploma and took a gig in a holiday camp band, playing and sight-reading six nights a week. Thankfully, after 8 months, I got a call to join The Counterfeit Stones tribute band with my friend Pete Whittard. I moved back to London and started working at The Guitar Institute at that time! I taught there between tours for over 6 years. It was during this time that the first embers of the website started to burn. I taught myself how to code and wrote much of the site in a van after gigs and in dressing rooms all around the world. I got the call to join Katie Melua's touring band - having taught her the guitar from scratch. I then left the tribute band and teaching work behind. I went off around the world, playing arenas, TV shows, and recording with her. It was a wonderful old time. I started to dig the website during tour breaks and kept working hard on developing new lessons. My old friend Jedi filmed and edited the early videos that helped me get going on YouTube. Once I got hip to filming a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MZXoy9jXgSE 2028 2021-10-22T07:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dog-walks-guitar-talks-an-idea-bl-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v3SyFm2pQxw/hqdefault.jpg Dog Walks & Guitar Talks: An idea? -- https://www.youtube.com/embed/v3SyFm2pQxw 131 2021-10-22T07:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-9-dm-009 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875847224-572c83ffdaf6691d90b15d0e750721f6d6b6758dc6f19642c206b86279797665-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 9 Finally, we’re going to combine Patterns 1, 2, 3, and 4, and get into Pattern 5. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405544671 891 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pick-manipulation-for-better-strumming-sd-007 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-05-PickManipulation-S.jpg Pick Manipulation for Better Strumming Learn a great exercise to help you handle and reposition your pick when strumming! https://player.vimeo.com/video/781965017 2023-01-12T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-patterns-in-6-8-time-sd-018 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-16-68TimeSignature-S.jpg Strumming Patterns in 6:8 Time Get to know the second most common time signature in contemporary music: 6:8 Time! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786686551 2023-01-12T12:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/backbeat-to-all-down-muted-strumming-sd-016 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD-16-PalmMuteAccentBackbeat-S.jpg Backbeat to All-Down Muted Strumming Learn how to use palm mute to accentuate the backbeat when playing all-down strums! https://player.vimeo.com/video/787903787 2023-01-12T12:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-1-practice-4-nj-104 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854166775-da8eb908747b2e86594df0500a6573702f64833539aa927517f2efc5917c2474-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 1 - Practice 4 Four practice sessions in and Nitsuj is ready to move on to Module 2! Don’t feel bad if it takes you a few more practices before advancing. Especially in these early stages, it’s super important to get your basics down as best you can! https://player.vimeo.com/video/390146618 1433 2019-12-19T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stand-up-bg-1407 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KjuF-sIK248/hqdefault.jpg Stand Up What's so hard about playing the guitar standing up? Learn why and 10 tips to help you stand up and play! https://www.youtube.com/embed/KjuF-sIK248 1084 2020-09-14T12:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-14-practice-bg-1410 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oubvPZoFYNc/hqdefault.jpg Module 14 Practice Time to set up effective practices routines for the FINAL module of Grade 2! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/oubvPZoFYNc 338 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-sing-along-songs-you-should-know-on-guitar-tp-02 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VJJPFBbaFkQ/hqdefault.jpg 10 Sing-Along Songs You Should Know on Guitar Get party-ready with 10 easy guitar songs! From classics to modern hits, they're simple to play and sure to get everyone singing along. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJJPFBbaFkQ 2060 2024-05-03T09:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-backbeat-hit-bg-1405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MP292DdVOKs/hqdefault.jpg The Backbeat Hit Ready to add some groove to your guitar? Learn how to add percussive hits to your strumming patterns! https://www.youtube.com/embed/MP292DdVOKs 1020 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/essential-slash-chords-bg-1401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t4MTCMslUXQ/hqdefault.jpg Essential Slash Chords Slash chords are variations on the chords you already know. You’re simply changing the bass note of the chord. Tons to get into here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/t4MTCMslUXQ 1892 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-7th-chords-mt-612 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438258838-2d5634e198e3d37fe3310f128be5eb78b79800e2bd7968312ca645b84e9373ff-d_295x166?r=pad A Shape 7th Chords From Major 7, we can work out all the other 7th-type chords - how awesome is that? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/401970184 398 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-dom7-min7-chords-im-141 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z5l9VL-yeUQ/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Dom7 & Min7 Chords Well I'm hoping now that your A Shape Major chord is coming along nicely, so it's time to check out it minor, 7 and min7 relatives! A Shape Minor Barre Chord The A Shape minor chord is pretty easy really. Looks pretty much the same as the E Shape Major chord, but with the root note on the 5th string. Most people find this grip pretty easy, especially if you have been following my course along then you should be super comfortable with your E Shape Major grip now, so this one is just moving it down a string and hey presto - there it is. The only thing to make sure you do properly is to mute the 6th string, otherwise it could sound horrible! There are no common problems with this one, cos most folk get it pretty easy! Remember to keep your thumb round that back (very roughly it should be on the other side of the neck to the 2nd finger - but everyone is a little different so don't stress if yours is not!). Practice picking out all the notes one at a time and make sure they are all clear! A Shape Minor 7th Barre Chord This one is kinda easy too because it's the same shape as our E Shape 7th chord, but with the 5th string root. You shouldn't have too much of a problem with this one either - the shape should feel pretty familiar - the tricky bit I guess is getting that note on the 3rd string. Make sure your 3rd finger is not touching it. A good trick is to take off your 2nd and 3rd fingers and check your barre is good, then replace them and make sure the 3rd string is still ringing out clearly. If your barre needs correcting you might have to move it up of down a little but remember that you MUST mute the 6th string, it's not optional. Picking out the notes one at a time and making sure they are all good is the trick here! A Shape Dominant 7th Barre Chord This one is a new grip, but it's not a hard one! Your fingers will probably not be used to this grip - it's a new kinda shape, but it's not hard, just different. You should not have much trouble splitting your 3rd and 4th fingers, but sometimes it's fun getting that... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z5l9VL-yeUQ 351 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/home-recording-bg-1408 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N6cfhZe5c1U/hqdefault.jpg Home Recording Explore why and what you need to start recording yourself playing the guitar at home! https://www.youtube.com/embed/N6cfhZe5c1U 1070 2020-09-13T16:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-minimize-finger-pain-b1-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V0Q0buwLvVA/hqdefault.jpg How To Minimize Finger Pain Are your fingers killing you? Here are 3 ways to deal with finger pain! https://www.youtube.com/embed/V0Q0buwLvVA 250 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jamming-for-beginners-bg-1404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QC87K-09Kqk/hqdefault.jpg Jamming For Beginners Jamming with a buddy can feel a little awkward at first, but it’s truly one of the greatest things you can do to improve as a musician. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QC87K-09Kqk 853 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busting-consolidation-bg-1411 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/79VHas3PFco/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busting & Consolidation How to avoid getting into a rut and giving up guitar and what to consolidate before you move onto Grade 3! https://www.youtube.com/embed/79VHas3PFco 718 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/thumb-muting-bg-1403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wp9X4XFIHR4/hqdefault.jpg Thumb Muting Your thumb is for so much more than just chilling behind your guitar neck! It’s got potential and we're ready to explore it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wp9X4XFIHR4 669 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-amin-chord-bc-121 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kV_EABwevy4/hqdefault.jpg The Amin Chord Learn how to play the Am Chord in this lesson. https://www.youtube.com/embed/kV_EABwevy4 176 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-13-practice-4-nj-134 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/952269376-72422b3bf6a93f2cf5d4bbc7debf4ea75adad0e5c59aad86e385c06608c0964c-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 13 - Practice 4 Nitsuj is starting with 5 minutes revision with power chords. Loads of blues songs in this practice - the backbone of music today! Country, rock, and metal all have some blues influence! I hope you're having a fab day wherever you are. Are you enjoying this blues course as much as Nitsuj? How's your blues progress going? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/454911566 2113 2020-09-12T20:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-without-looking-bg-1402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BUWEyXX7OSU/hqdefault.jpg Playing Without Looking It seems like such a simple thing to avoid, but most beginners struggle with looking up while playing, rather than staring at their hands the whole time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BUWEyXX7OSU 939 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-your-chords-always-buzz-fix-this-yt-2026-02 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/olnMpmcuQKA/hqdefault.jpg Why Your Chords Always Buzz (Fix This) If your fingers hurt or your chords buzz… you’re probably using too much pressure. https://www.youtube.com/embed/olnMpmcuQKA 760 2026-04-17T05:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/developing-repertoire-bg-1406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0X99ZZhdsQY/hqdefault.jpg Developing repertoire Develop your song repertoire by setting goals & learn my best tips for memorizing guitar songs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/0X99ZZhdsQY 570 2020-09-11T15:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-girl-like-you-play-along-bc-127b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0BRTuza54Rw/hqdefault.jpg A Girl Like You [Play Along] This song is a great minor chord workout and the play along makes it great fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/0BRTuza54Rw 387 2019-02-14T10:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foot-tapping-bc-126 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1c8UdW8qokI/hqdefault.jpg Foot tapping Seriously. I have a lesson on how to tap your foot. Sounds funny right, but loads of people mess it up so better get it right, no? https://www.youtube.com/embed/1c8UdW8qokI 403 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-3-16th-notes-lp-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_yRAv4LN4ME/hqdefault.jpg Legato 3: 16th Notes In this lesson we're going to breaking away from picking with the metronome click which can be quite difficult to start off with - if you've trained yourself to 'pick with the click' it can take a while to break the habit, but worth it. I suggest starting with 16th notes and getting used to that and then have a try with triplets as shown in the video. Every 2 cycles you'll be back playing the lowest note on a click, so that's a good reference check to make sure it's going right! Next up we'll be exploring a funky little 'cycle' lick to help get that dancing feeling in your fingers! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_yRAv4LN4ME 828 2019-02-17T16:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-barre-chord-grips-im-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-uJP2rWbMig/hqdefault.jpg E Shape Barre Chord Grips 🚨 NEW FREE E SHAPE BARRE CHORDS COURSE AVAILABLE HERE! One of the main concepts that we're looking at in the Intermediate Foundation is Barre Chords. Playing them right, knowing where to find the root note and know which grip to put down, getting to them fast, moving them around easily and getting every note clean. We got a bit to do... We checked out Power Chords as part of the Beginner's Course, so I hope you are familiar with the notes on the thickest two strings (The E and the A Strings). If you don't know the notes - go and revise them right now! If you managed to play the full F Barre Chord then you should find these pretty easy... until we look at the minors! Have a look at the video and see how you go. Additional notes below! E Shape Major Barre Chord The first grip we're looking at is the "E Shape. The name comes from the CAGED System, which although very interesting might be a bit heavy if you are fresh off the Beginners Course. If you look at this E Shape Barre Chord, you will see that the shape of the chord is the same as the Open E chord you know, and that is why it gets it's name. You will almost certainly have trouble getting every note to ring out clearly when you start, but perseverance will prevail, so stick at it... Check your chord by picking out each note one at a time and making sure that it rings out clearly, moving fingers a little to fix the notes if they are out, buzzing, muted or dead... Make sure that your first finger (the barre) is slightly rolled over onto it's side (about 30 degrees) where the flesh is not as soft and it's closer to the bone. If the 3rd string is not ringing out it is most probably because the 4th finger is touching it. Curl it a bit more by moving your palm towards the sky! Think of getting the palm of your hand where your little finger meets your palm up close to the neck! If the 1st and 2nd strings are not ringing, check that your barre is straight next to the fret, often times people angle the barre and it's just too far from the fret to get the notes clean.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-uJP2rWbMig 1178 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-dmin-chord-bc-123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EovReq8aAgU/hqdefault.jpg The Dmin Chord Learn how to play D Minor Chord on guitar in this lesson in the beginners course. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EovReq8aAgU 233 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mayfield-hendrix-style-fills-rf-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QN9bJkqJkJ4/hqdefault.jpg Mayfield & Hendrix Style Fills This lesson is an overview of the style and how it works. Following this will be some specific licks to get working into your playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QN9bJkqJkJ4 886 2018-07-30T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5th-fret-tuning-technique-tu-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7VNNS5srsJI/hqdefault.jpg "5th Fret" Tuning Technique This is the way that most people learned to tune when tuners were still expensive! Tuning using harmonics is better, more accurate, but this 5th fret technique should be mastered first. I still recommend getting a tuner (or a phone app that will always be in your pocket!) but this method is effective when you're just tuning for yourself; don't need to play with anyone else; or just doing a quick tune for example after you have broken a string and are stretching it in! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7VNNS5srsJI 433 2018-01-17T09:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/target-3rd-blues-improvising-sb-504 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238423-229f940334a8ce3c674c457b711a851dcda477b6518d61b5cf306039cd0b2ed6-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Target 3rd Blues – Improvising Learn one of the most powerful concepts in Solo Blues: Targeting the 3rds to highlight the chord changes! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125183087 704 2025-10-23T04:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/target-3rd-blues-practice-tips-slow-demo-sb-503 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238372-f14f34d6e021022ecd991ae8069c863aa4828f203e50ca1c1215dbe42b5d773e-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Target 3rd Blues – Practice Tips & Slow Demo Here's your slow playthrough of our Target 3rd Blues arrangement and tips for practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125130031 83 2025-10-14T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-test-driving-my-acoustic-froggy-bottom-m-lv-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7i5y3UExf4I/hqdefault.jpg Live: Test Driving my Acoustic Froggy Bottom M Live: Test Driving my Acoustic Froggy Bottom M https://www.youtube.com/embed/7i5y3UExf4I 3188 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-1-hammer-ons-lp-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q-famECZNHw/hqdefault.jpg Legato 1: Hammer-Ons In this first Legato Primer lesson, we get to grips with using Hammer-Ons (HO) with the Major Scale Pattern 1 (3NPS System) - make sure you have that well down before you start on this stuff! You need to know it from memory. I recommend Take your time when learning this and focus on getting the notes clear and strong. Let your fingers 'dance' later! I would recommend at least a week (5 mins a day) on this before starting on Flick-Offs (FO) which we'll be checking out next lesson. Practice Tips 1. Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey! 2. When 'turning around' and coming back down the scale - you can play the thinnest string once or twice, up to you. Same on the thickest string. 3. Don't pick too hard or the lines will become 'lumpy', eventually, you want all notes to have a controlled dynamics and even accent notes that are not picked. 4. Use the tips of the fingers, not the flat of the pad. 5. Don't overdo it if your hand gets sore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-famECZNHw 827 2019-01-06T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-8-dm-008 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875754024-05a9b2d7555d8226ffac6754f162196e31a57525eb0f4b53760373f14d2313ef-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 8 For this lesson, we’re learning a new pattern - fourths. This will help you get used to some awkward fingerings, which will come in handy once you start soloing! https://player.vimeo.com/video/405536473 223 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-10-dm-010 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875848784-263a93a794afb1764e0e87a8e7515fdf7dd6fb1124fdf66eaa6fb4b9dc11fb61-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 10 Here’s a backing track in the key of G major. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405614947 312 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hooker-vibe-blues-improvising-sb-403 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072237797-fc8ba08ca673fa00c26eae1280e6380a37bb0c1ad224945d85e6f0c35810a7ec-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Hooker Vibe Blues – Improvising Learn to improvise freely within the Hooker-style solo blues groove. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1118093053 691 2025-10-14T17:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-1-dm-001 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875527180-479647640db298958b3f9d7d879f9441d1cdfe0d3430c30c62bb87fa0d80c548-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 1 When practising scales, it really helps to work with a metronome, but only after you’re comfortable playing the scale on its own! https://player.vimeo.com/video/405371088 434 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-3-dm-003 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875625122-a81137df691164479601581554aa78b48077f56f017ccc6f54ae3d814973accd-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 3 In this lesson, we’re going to be playing the scale in thirds, as well as diving into Position 2. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405390741 900 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intermediate-rhythm-guitar-4-im-145 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HnhbAvAruao/hqdefault.jpg Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 4 When drummers play a snare drum on beats 2 and 4 is called the backbeat. And using it as an accent point is a really cool thing to do. We're going to be looking at playing it as an accented muted hit and incorporating this snare sound into your strumming patterns. Making The Snare The first thing to make sure you have down is that muted hit. Hand hits the strings first then the pick. Practice doing it with open strings. The best way to learn this technique is to start by thinking of it as a one, two method. Part one is their hand coming down almost like a strum and landing on the strings. The action of the palm hitting the strings should press the strings against the frets and give a metallic sounding hit (metal on metal). Part two is the pick hitting the strings, which should sound like a series of clicks. Once you are confident doing it slowly you should try to combine the two into one movement. Now the combined sound of each movement should give you a really good sound that emulates a snare drum. Feeling That Backbeat Once you have the technique it's time to get it into your rhythm patterns. You can use 8th note patterns you have learned in the Beginners Method, or any other pattern you like, but Keep It Simple Stupid (K I S S) when you start. So following my own advice there lets start by just playing a basic straight 8th note pattern: And then start to add in the percussive hit onto beats 2 and 4. Once you have that down you can start trying to apply it to the patterns... works great with a 16th note all down pattern. Or more complex ones like: Once you get it, you can and should start applying it as often as you can, you will find it really useful and it really help keep the groove on if you playing on your own... you become the whole band! :) This kind of technique is really important when you're playing on your own. If jamming a cool acoustic song at a barbecue is what you would like to achieve with your guitar playing then this technique is something you should make sure that you master. It's the kind... https://www.youtube.com/embed/HnhbAvAruao 578 2017-10-29T08:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hooker-vibe-blues-main-lesson-sb-401 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072237581-3814f75ec7ea6a3b318d2d067e8a54470d93802c320cd19c80163dba7a62b3e5-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Hooker Vibe Blues – Main Lesson Learn to alternate between a blues shuffle and lead licks! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1118102569 1820 2025-10-14T17:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-primer-improvising-sb-604 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238770-fe5b4320bcd5e844fee64ea56ca67cc3672ccb014aff58c5855310f7672608aa-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Primer – Improvising Learn to take the 6th Low & Slow Blues arrangement apart, understand each section, and start improvising freely within the style. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125235119 557 2025-10-23T04:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/contrary-blues-main-lesson-sb-101 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073426918-b3837c15f04e832e1031666c10a5c6c67b7373539d05030e6443b2c3d5aba323-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Contrary Blues – Main Lesson This is a soulful arrangement where the bass moves in one direction while the melody moves in the opposite direction. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129293802 1361 2025-10-23T04:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/09-a-king-p3-double-flick-bl-509 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5WMTaASWyd8/hqdefault.jpg #09: A King: P3 double flick This Albert King lick is one of the ones that gets used by loads of players and though relatively simple it's a classy little phrase that's good to have in your lick bag! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/5WMTaASWyd8 313 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-cycle-of-5ths-mt-436 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/769811738-9f60e941b6fe5b7a623dba8fe401a8179771f9cba758e7796f77596cd6eb41eb-d_295x166?r=pad The Cycle Of 5ths Meet the Cycle of 5ths and learn about Perfect 5th. https://player.vimeo.com/video/325928021 251 2018-05-09T15:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/standard-call-it-stormy-monday-blim-u6-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c2HmwbjHjBU/hqdefault.jpg Standard: Call It Stormy Monday This track was originally written by T-Bone Walker, but most know it from the Allman Brothers' incredible performance on Live at Fillmore East. https://www.youtube.com/embed/c2HmwbjHjBU 2329 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foundation-4-practice-schedule-im-149 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oxAetuFaXqY/hqdefault.jpg Foundation 4 Practice Schedule We're still up to a 60 minute routine, you can break it into two 30 minutes sessions on alternate days too! Don't forget: Use a timer (see PC-104 • Using A Practice Timer if you forgot it's importance) Break it into the two 30 minute sessions if you don't have time to do 60 minutes a day, or you find it too much at one sitting. Focus your practice on things you can't do, not what you can! Always practice most the things you are worst at! Foundation 4 Practice Schedule (60 minutes or 2 x 30 minutes) Description Time Barre Chord Grip (focus on all A Shape Grips) 5 mins One Minute Changes 5 x 1 min Major Scale With Metronome 5 mins Major Scale Improv. Practice (with backing track) 5 mins JUSTIN Method / Transcribing 10 mins Building and Practice Of Melodic Patterns 5 mins String Bending 5 mins Rhythm Guitar (Patterns and application) 5 mins Experimenting with The Blues Scales (with backing track) 5 mins Songs and Repertoire 10 mins Things To Remember Barre Chord Grip Now you should be working on all your A Shape Barre grips, the major, minor, 7 and minor 7. Work most on the ones you find the hardest of course!! One Minute Changes Lots of changes to be getting stuck into now. You know the drill - just get stuck in! Major Scale With Metronome You should still be working on playing your Major Scale in time with the metronome. I'm hoping you have it clean and even now and am working on bumping the speed up a bit if you can. Major Scale Improvisation Practice Now just play - use one finger if you like (any one at any time) maybe use some of the melodic patterns if you can and just experiment. Try out some new things. Don't be scared, just try things out. Try using only your little finger. Try only playing one note on each string. Try playing as few notes as you can, or as many, or... you get the idea! JUSTIN Method / Transcribing Either do the exercises as described in the video and or work on transcribing the songs shown in the Songs For Foundation 3 page. Building and Practice Of Melodic Patterns Continue your work ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oxAetuFaXqY 347 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-the-blues-hybrid-scale-im-143 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nIdcWySWiyc/hqdefault.jpg Using The Blues Hybrid Scale I'm going to show you a great little trick now that will really help expand your blues playing, which in effect will help you with many different styles. On my journey through blues I discovered there were loads of notes being used that were not part of the scales I knew, so let me share them with you! The classic "Blues Scale" We should start here by looking at the classic Blues Scale - it's worth learning to use this one in it's pure form (you'll see I muddle it up in the next scale I show you!). You remember all about root notes right? So you know to place the root here at the 5th fret to be playing the A Blues Scale. I didn't need to tell you that at all ;) Make sure you identify which note is the "Blue Note" the flat 5 - the cool one, the note with the big personality! It's a spicy one, don't leave it on your tongue too long or it won't be nice. Learn to pass through it, don't try and add it in all the time, it'll get boring... But most of all USE IT :) Now. Start mixing it in to your improvisations and see what it's all about. The Hybrid Blues Scale This is not a proper scale. I discovered this pattern when I was just a teenager, and many of the old blues masters that I was transcribing seem to be using the same notes. I put those notes together and came up with this scale. I might even get people poo pooing it because it's not a traditionally taught thing, but it works. It's really a mixture of the Blues Scale and The Dorian Mode, but you could argue it as a cross between the Major and Minor Pentatonics. I don't really think it matters. It's just a cool collection of notes that you find many of the important blues players using! So have some fun with it and USE YOUR EARS - they are much more useful than your brain when you are making music :) Blues Hybrid Scale You can see here that I have added in a couple of notes on the 1st and 2nd strings, but not the others. You can also play the added notes other places (maybe you might like to find them?) but it's specifically in the places shown in this "Box 1" ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nIdcWySWiyc 442 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/muted-shuffle-exercise-blim-m0-r0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895887395-97836516b8c4eaaf2f57c5ccfc0fbb44b4e3b1d6026c86da34b7f9a1b3bfd798-d_295x166?r=pad Muted Shuffle Exercise Blues Lead Guitar is essential and fun! You must review your 12-bar Blues Shuffle in A before we can discuss the nitty-gritty. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902896241 240 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-7-nj-707 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/865500084-ed4e12b7a36232cff0d7b1ccf8b9fa8a7beab0f0889a0f16d98c7f692628d35f-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 7 Nitsuj's fingers are feeling a bit sore today - but that's not stopping him from practicing! He comes up with new practice elements throughout the lesson, and it seems to be pretty effective! What are your thoughts on this new exercise? And .. Time to start practicing on Grade 2 elements! Some exciting stuff up ahead. See you next practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/398013699 1260 2020-03-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-5-practice-3-nj-503 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858755533-0ed8b5b2413e493e0d45e2d3ddcde2ba51c3695f51ff625778a4f7b6a9d20f09-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 5 - Practice 3 Nitsuj is back and in better spirits than he was in his previous practice session! Feeling a little better and feeling more natural with his left-handed guitar playing, things seem to be moving along nicely. https://player.vimeo.com/video/393300316 1547 2020-02-14T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-6-practice-4-nj-604 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853855533-c1061e5897296dc26bff16def9673cd02d24e8eb55625de1fbf5092ad698af58-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 6 - Practice 4 Going back and forth between right-handed and left-handed playing can be a little tricky, but fortunately for you all, this is likely not a problem you’ll ever have! This is purely a Justin/Nitsuj problem! https://player.vimeo.com/video/389939285 1403 2020-02-28T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ear-training-exercises-f4-im-148 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kFI8X-5moi0/hqdefault.jpg Ear Training Exercises (F4) Well it's that time again to Just Use Sound To Improve Now... We've now got a whole chord palette to be choosing from when doing your chord progression transcriptions. The real deal is audio!! OK, I have explained things in the video - but now it's time to put your ears to work!! MP3 files of these audio clips are included on the DVD Set! Download the Method Foundation 4 Worksheet. Simply click the PDF link in the right column (under the ad!) or below on smaller screens. Once you are finished you can download the answer sheet at the bottom of this page! 4A - E and A Shape Major, Minor, 7 and Minor 7 Barre Progressions Now we are using all 8 Barre chord shapes!! So quite a few choices - but if you are doing it right you should not find it too hard - listen first to the root note then work out the quality of the chord! Make sure you pause as usual right after the chord you are working out. It can also help to listen a few times to the whole thing in order before you get going! Go for it dudes and dudettes! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-4A by justinguitar 4B - G Major Scale Solo This time round we are back with the G Major Scale, but it's more complex than before. Now we are using Quarter notes, eighth notes and eighth note rests! so it's similar rhythmically to the kind of things we were doing in rhythmic dictation back in Foundation 3 Rhythmic Dictation! It fun, and the trick here is pause as you go along, write it in and then play along with it and make sure you have it right before you check the answers. It's going to take some time to get it all right with the rhythms and all, but you CAN do it, it's just practice! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-4B by justinguitar 4C - Rhythmic Dictation Exercises (Q / E / S and rests) In this exercise we are only using Quarter notes (Crotchets) and Eighth notes (Quavers) and also now adding in Sixteenth notes as blocks. And we still have some easy eighth note rests too! This should not be too hard, sixteenth note rhythms can get real complex - but we're just introducing them at this stage! JUSTIN-Met... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFI8X-5moi0 222 2017-10-29T09:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-primer-slow-demo-sb-603 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238646-13a9e7fad72448dc525f222c554e4583e9acc7cc7e09e3f73708819bcbbc7a19-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Primer – Slow Demo Here's your slow playthrough of the 6th Low & Slow Blues - Primer arrangement. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125133097 91 2025-10-14T05:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-primer-improvising-sb-804 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072240354-6bd414e03a412a7e4f2dab533bc7ef5212087e6c6421d08bec83d7f534fc0f9c-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Primer – Improvising If we want to improvise in this gospel-style Blues, there are tons of ways we can stretch it—different shapes, rhythms, and combinations. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125380260 580 2025-10-23T04:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/technique-bending-strings-im-144 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xGl0urYSuug/hqdefault.jpg Technique: Bending Strings String bending is a basic guitar technique, used a lot in blues and rock but also found a bit in most other styles (except classical). The idea is to "bend" (push a string across or over the fingerboard with your left hand fingers) so that the string gets tighter and the pitch goes up. It is very important to practice this lots 'cos it sounds awful when done badly. In fact if your guitar is in tune, it is very hard to play a note out of tune, unless you bend. If you don't practice bending in tune right away you will risk sounding like a child learning violin, not something you should inflict on your friends or family, or a paying audience :) This is a very hard technique to teach using only text, so try and watch the video for this lesson a few times. The Lesson Always use two or more fingers (usually your second and third fingers). At more advanced stages you may use only one finger, but only if two are not available (or if you do a first finger bend). Try to use your wrist to make the bend and use your fingers as levers. As you work on the technique you should find that it feels very easy when you do it right and very hard to do if you have the technique wrong! When practicing always hold the bent note to check that it is properly in tune (the most important aspect of bending practice). Do not start to use vibrato until you are very confident that your bends are completely in tune. Always make sure that you know the note is that you're bending to, and if it is a tone or a semitone. You don't need to know the name of the note, it can be a visual reference, but make sure that you are bending the right amount and bending to a note that is in the scale that you are using. Exercises To practice bends as shown, use the same finger throughout- usually your 3rd finger. Play the note you want to bend followed by the note you want to bend to. Then play the original note again and bend it to the pitch of the second note. This will improve your intonation (get you in tune). Some teachers recommend using a guitar tuner t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xGl0urYSuug 926 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-dominant-7th-chords-mt-604 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438256618-daf759ed9111494a6b54134e20ce77dd5d073a142b9bdb86b5353eab275f37a4-d_295x166?r=pad E Shape Dominant 7th Chords Learn how to manipulate the Major 7 grips and turn them into Dominant 7th chords! https://player.vimeo.com/video/362523894 725 2018-05-02T02:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-f4-im-142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w5RG1yQat_Q/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (F4) You should now have all 8 of the most common barre chord grips under your fingers so we're going to be jumping between some of the most popular combinations. Good fun this, in a sadistic kinda way. Practice These changes should be fast - but they also need to be good - so don't sacrifice a good barre chord for the speed. Once you get the fingers moving right you should find they kinda speed up on their own! strange but true. So don't be a slouch - work it - try and get those changes going as fast as you can, but try and keep the accuracy too. I did tell you that these ones are a bit easier than the A Shape Major, and I'm sure you will find that to be true, but you will probably also have a bit of fun remembering all the shapes - so do make sure that you get them right before you start practicing them a lot! As usual, make sure you are working the most on the hardest ones. If I have a combination written down here that you feel confident with then, just swap it for one you find really hard! One trick you might like to use here, is to make sure that you are confident with the shape before you start. So it's worth playing it very slowly a few times and being 100% certain that you know which shapes you are jumping between. The recommended changes that I think are very commonly used are: A (E Shape) to E7 (A Shape) G minor 7 (E Shape) to C minor 7 (A Shape) Bb7 (E Shape) to Eb7 (A Shape) G (E Shape) to B7 (A Shape) Ab minor (E Shape) to Db Major (A Shape) It's gonna be tough, but you can do it - I know you can! :) It's just practice! I promise :))) https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5RG1yQat_Q 241 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-2-flick-offs-lp-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yQxpSFeAZYw/hqdefault.jpg Legato 2: Flick-Offs In this second Legato Primer lesson, we get to grips with using Flick-Offs (also called Pull-Offs, PO or HO) with the Major Scale Pattern 1 (3NPS System) - make sure you have that scale pattern well down before you start on this stuff! You need to know it from memory. Take your time when learning this and focus on getting the notes clear and strong. Let your fingers 'dance' later (Part 4!). I would recommend at least a week (5 mins a day) on this before starting on the next lesson where we'll look at playing these as 16th notes and break out of picking with the metronome click! Practice Tips 1. Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey! 2. When 'turning around' and coming back down the scale - you can play the thinnest string once or twice, up to you. Same on the thickest string. 3. Don't pick too hard or the lines will become 'lumpy', eventually, you want all notes to have a controlled dynamics and even accent notes that are not picked. 4. Use the tips of the fingers, not the flat of the pad. 5. Don't overdo it if your hand gets sore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQxpSFeAZYw 564 2019-02-15T10:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-4-practice-2-nj-402 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854357627-41d445b8bb6503b689970b5ab95b52a1f464e5d30c3208aa917372398527e61b-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 4 - Practice 2 Just as Nitsuj thought he was getting the hang of everything, some of these exercises have proven to be quite humbling! All good, though. No one ever said progress is easy, but it certainly can be rewarding. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390281824 1684 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-5-practice-4-nj-504 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858768287-29cf7befe6f080e8b184a21947474234f477d442605f8c72343ec706dc30e8d9-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 5 - Practice 4 After waiting an entire week between practice sessions, Nitsuj’s fingers are a little softer and weaker than before. They’ll need to be broken in and toughened up again. This is just one of the many reasons why consistency is so important when it comes to learning an instrument. Of course, life gets in the way sometimes! No worry – just pick back up from where you left off. https://player.vimeo.com/video/393308967 1554 2020-02-14T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-7-practice-b1-711 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n-NeP6CTHTc/hqdefault.jpg Module 7 Practice I'm going to give you some suggestions, but you have to figure you're own routines now... https://www.youtube.com/embed/n-NeP6CTHTc 421 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-d-introduction-blim-u5-09-t4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1940727717-6510cde9066d7ff4d87c19ee458dca72a0d47ae29ebe4798a82673e3e7c1addf-d_295x166?r=pad Open D Introduction I don't find this tuning as useful for fretted guitar other than playing Stones songs, but it's really, really nice for slide guitar. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017536662 711 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-pass-grade-1-b1-710 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BI3S9xSK8Iw/hqdefault.jpg How to PASS Grade 1 We’re finally at the end of Grade 1! :) Let's recap on what you need to know before you move on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BI3S9xSK8Iw 483 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/memorize-easy-songs-b1-707 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rkke83Gvndk/hqdefault.jpg Memorize Easy Songs Learn how to memorize easy songs on guitar so that you have something to play anywhere you go! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rkke83Gvndk 111 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/suspended-breakdown-on-ivsus4-mt-551 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775582675-15926051d79bd9ffc2f20befdb98838398fb2347f4c095e148587b1ec69751f4-d_295x166?r=pad Suspended Breakdown on IVsus4? Here we look at a theory problem - the logic you'll learn in this lesson is essential for music problem-solving! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/330494763 426 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/30-a-king-p2-st-to-m3-bl-530 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wNF5bH984_M/hqdefault.jpg #30: A King: P2 ST to M3 TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNF5bH984_M 359 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/scales-as-a-framework-blim-u1-02-k1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028953-4f31df9557e7accae0feb45e5c3052ae1634454e387a125eca2b2609f80f1459-d_295x166?r=pad Scales as a Framework The Minor Pentatonic Scale is the foundational alphabet for your vocabulary. While crucial, it's just the start—and here's why! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903264096 197 2025-01-05T06:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-3-practice-schedule-bc-139 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bh2uWvx3lUE/hqdefault.jpg Stage 3 Practice Schedule At this stage we're up to a 30-minute workout. If you find this too much, then try breaking it into two 15-minute practice sessions on alternate days. Stage 3 Practice Schedule Description Time Finger Workout 5 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- C to Am 1 min --- C to A 1 min --- C to G 1 min --- G to E 1 min --- G to D 1 min Rhythm Guitar Practice (repetition) 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember Finger Workout Please remember that this exercise is about developing your finger strength, independence and stretch, so please don't try and play this exercise fast, as there's no point! Chord Practice Remember that the point of this exercise is to get your chords sounding clear and train your fingers to go to exactly the right spot to get the chord sounding great. Start with a strum and then pick each note individually, except any strings that have the X next to them that you don't play. Try to play the notes with the tips of your fingers. Remember that dead sounding notes need to be fixed and the usual causes are either: a) The finger is too far from the fret. b) One of your fingers is touching a string that it shouldn't. Move your fingers around as you pick out the strings until they all sound good and then strum them again, and as you give them the last strums, tell your fingers that this is how you want them to go next time. It will look a little strange to anyone that is watching you, but it really helps! ;) One Minute Changes The object of the exercise is to get your fingers moving quickly. Although you should be trying to get the fingers in the perfect positions that you have been working on in your chord practice, if they are a little sloppy it is ok, we are working the speed here! The important thing here is to practice the chord changes that you struggle the most with. In your practice schedule you should write in the amount of changes that you made in that practice session. Make sure you use your timer, and push yourself to go... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bh2uWvx3lUE 254 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chromatic-intervals-worksheet-mt-507 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772131766-0266147f567430e23e82a8c9015e9db36cfcb10d212038fd3824c8856fe172ae-d_295x166?r=pad Chromatic Intervals Worksheet Chart of all the intervals and then a couple of worksheets for you to test out on your intervals. https://player.vimeo.com/video/327769779 157 2017-11-04T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-3-bc-134 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ck73R_GjowE/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes - Stage 3 Get your timer out and get your fingers moving faster So here we are for more One Minute Changes, and these ones are going to be a little trickier thanks to our new friends G and C, which are often going to require all the fingers to come off and be replaced. Many people find the change from C to G to be the hardest change at this stage - I sure found that one hard when I was first learning - but it just takes practice. One Minute Changes So you should always remember to: "Practice what you can't do, don't practice what you can" So if you find one of these changes easy, then substitute it for a change that you find hard. The following changes all have something about them that I think is good to practice, so this is a suggested list to start you off, but then just get in work on the ones that you find hardest! 1. C to Am - Just move your 3rd finger without letting the others lift up! 2. C to A - Keep your 2nd finger down as an anchor. 3. C to G - All change! Hardest change so far, but very common change so you have to work it. 4. G to E - All change! Another common change. 5. G to D - All change! Another common change. Just so you know, it's fine to experiment with finger placement order for One-Minute Changes. In fact, this can be a good thing to do. In a couple of stages time we're going to be putting down all the fingers at once, so getting used to a different finger order and the control that requires can be a good mental exercise. The most common changes in finger order placement are to start the C Chord with the third finger (helps with the stretch between 3 and 2), and some people also like to put the third finger down first for a G (which I don't get really, but if it works for them...). To help get your numbers up it can help to do a few warm up changes before you get going, just to get the finger movements in the ‘now' part of your brain and to get the muscle memory working. Remember too that you won't be alone if you are finding these new chords hard, in particular changes using the G and the C. Thi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ck73R_GjowE 236 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/consolidation-test-practice-bc-199 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SdanPlK842o/hqdefault.jpg Consolidation Test & Practice Well done! You made it to the end, well, almost... Now it's time to consolidate all you have learnt, so you are ready to go on with the next course, and get into the intermediate stage. So, use the chart to make sure that you feel confident with all the stuff we've covered in this course. It is MUCH better to get really good at these things and be able to use them well to play some songs, than playing more advanced stuff badly. Really it is. Ask anyone that has to listen to you! When you discover things that you don't know, make a list out of them and work out a practice schedule that gives each problem area a five- minute practice slot and then work on it until they are fixed. Then choose some more things to work on, until, eventually, you are on top of this whole list. Good luck, take care and I really hope you have enjoyed the course. I look forward to helping you learn lots more cool stuff in the years to come. Justin. Chords You should instantly know ALL of the following chords and know any fingering variations for each that you can use, depending on the situation: The Basic Eight Shapes: A, D, E, G, C, Am, Em, Dm. The Dominant Shapes: A7, D7, E7, G7, C7, B7. The Sus Shapes: Asus2, Asus4, Dsus2, Dsus4, Esus4. F Chord and variations: F, Fmaj7. Basic Slash Chords: D/F#, G/B, C/G. You should be able to change between any two chords at a speed of 60 changes per minute (one change per second). You should also be able to locate and play any power chord on either the fifth or sixth string and be able to play them without the open strings ringing out. You should be familiar with some chord variations (for A and G and others) and know when you might use them. Rhythms You should be able to play RUST strumming patterns 1, 2, 4, 8, 9 and 16 confidently and fluently at a range of different tempi while tapping your foot. You should also be able to play basic fingerstyle and be able to make to make up your own patterns. Scales You should know the minor pentatonic scale and be able to play it with one note per click with... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SdanPlK842o 317 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/08-srv-p1-leg-pat-bl-508 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wMcvTzM0IkY/hqdefault.jpg #08: SRV: P1 Leg Pat This lick on one of those tasty SRV fast but not difficult licks that add a cool flurry to your solos! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this is what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar than it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would not be very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wMcvTzM0IkY 288 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/34-bb-king-maj6-end-bl-534 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ee-tUI0HiS8/hqdefault.jpg #34: BB King: Maj6 End All time classic BB style lick this one, runs down the A Minor Pentatonic but then ends on the natural 6 which would normally be associated with the Major Pentatonic or Dorian mode. One of his trademark tricks! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ee-tUI0HiS8 326 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dynamic-improvements-b1-706 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mP4knhljqj0/hqdefault.jpg Dynamic Improvements Dynamics refer to how loudly or softly you play throughout a song. Learn to do that well and take your playing to the next level! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mP4knhljqj0 725 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-g-chord-hacked-b1-602 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i0G69vCTv4s/hqdefault.jpg The G Chord... hacked! This is the ultimate G Chord hack. I struggled with it for years, but you don't have to! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/i0G69vCTv4s 330 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/course-outline-blim-u0-w1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879093-cde175e5333ee4355c573de5314a5218655c6d19b91bb547f93f769869e61054-d_295x166?r=pad Course Outline This course dives into the rich history and sound of Blues, with 10 lessons per month. Let's preview each one! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/903111785 348 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/02-a-king-p1-p2-linker-bl-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WhlQSCEJcK8/hqdefault.jpg #02: A King: P1 & P2 Linker Albert King is an all time grand master, one the '3 Kings' of the Blues (along with B.B and Freddie). He played the guitar 'upside down' with the thin string at the top and an unusual tuning (unconfirmed exectly what!) so the licks presented in this series are shown with a comfortable fingering for us to play, not the way it was played by Albert. This is a Chord Specific Lick which means it will be played over the A7 chord (I chord in the Blues in A). This is because it contains the note C# which is contained in the chord tones of A7 (A C# E G) but clashes badly with the chord tones of the D7 chord (D F# A C). TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/WhlQSCEJcK8 411 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-6-8-strumming-pattern-b1-604 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bKOmcPTHYpA/hqdefault.jpg A 6:8 Strumming Pattern The ONLY 6/8 strumming pattern you need to worry about is here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bKOmcPTHYpA 223 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-string-note-names-b1-605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CF08-EwA-nY/hqdefault.jpg Open String Note Names It's time to learn the open string note names on the guitar fretboard. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CF08-EwA-nY 208 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-7th-chords-mt-525 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773883561-4d7bb95e65a3d08a86e8b465846e25f5b02224227fe568aff47c6aff854dcdcd-d_295x166?r=pad Minor 7th Chords The next Quadad we'll explore is the Minor 7 chord! https://player.vimeo.com/video/329138703 444 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/about-time-signatures-b1-603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FDPWwviOYno/hqdefault.jpg About Time Signatures Everything a beginner needs to know about time signatures is here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FDPWwviOYno 374 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/muted-strings-practice-st1-10 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Muted-Playalong.jpg Muted Strings Practice Remember to have your guitar with you! It's time to play along with me and learn this powerful strumming exercise! https://player.vimeo.com/video/768061165 2022-12-06T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grade-1-test-ready-to-pass-st1-20 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Pass-The-Course.jpg Grade 1 Test! Ready to Pass? We've reached the end of this Strumming Foundations course. It's time for the all-important question: have you passed? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/768735738 2022-12-06T16:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-alternate-picking-b1-601 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q8SHmo1-dac/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Alternate Picking Learn how to alternate between up picks and down picks. https://www.youtube.com/embed/q8SHmo1-dac 301 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/slow-rake-thumb-strum-st3-03 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-03-SlowRakeThumbStrum-S.jpg Slow Rake Thumb Strum Let's jump into the world of thumb strumming with our first pattern. It's simple yet incredibly effective! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878358677 2023-11-22T12:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-6-b1-607 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MLlWCygtVEc/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 6 Songs you can play to practice the techniques and chords we've learned so far. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MLlWCygtVEc 198 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/forcing-chord-changes-b1-606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d9YRzCF5A9M/hqdefault.jpg Forcing Chord Changes Can't change chords fast enough to properly play a song? Let's fix that! https://www.youtube.com/embed/d9YRzCF5A9M 280 2020-02-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/46-tbw-p1-16s-dom-bl-546 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cHMGUDXLb1k/hqdefault.jpg #46: TBW: P1 16s Dom TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cHMGUDXLb1k 446 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/exploring-your-strumming-patterns-st1-17 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Explore-Your-Strumming-Patterns.jpg Exploring Your Strumming Patterns This exercise will inspire you and open up many possibilities for your rhythm guitar playing. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768690667 2022-12-06T16:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-bass-lines-im-146 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nx9WSE4LDUA/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Blues Bass Lines Learning to play a basic blues bass guitar line is a really useful thing to learn. It works as a lead guitar riff and is also an excellent introduction to bass playing in general. Bass Basics Bass guitar is a rhythm instrument. So it's very important that you listen to the drums very closely when playing any kind of bass line. Note choice is important, but not as important as playing with a good groove. Just playing one note (usually the root note) with a good solid rhythm will generally sound better than playing lots of notes but not being well synchronised with the drums. Listen closely to the drummers kick drum and snare drum. Also listen to the hi hat. You should aim to play your notes so they exactly synchronise with the drummer hitting the drums. This is called playing tight, or in the pocket, and is one of the most important aspects of bass playing. Playing with the drummer is also a very important rhythm guitar skill, maybe the most important, so learning to listen to the drummer is one of the most important skills you will ever learn. Take this opportunity now to really learn to listen to the drums and every time you are playing along with a record really try and feel that you are playing with the drummer! 1 3 5 6 8 6 5 3.... Generally speaking, bass players stick to playing chord tones. This would be the root note, the third and the fifth. We are going to add the sixth scale degree as well as the octave for these patterns. You could think of the shape we are going to play as a major sixth arpeggio. The first thing to learn of course is the note pattern: We will play each note twice, go away up and back down the arpeggio. This will take two bars. When learning this we can use a simplified version of the 12 bar blues that we looked at earlier - we are just simplifying the last four bars which is something very commonly done by the blues masters. One Bar Each: A A A A D D A A E E A A Of course you don't have to play every note twice. At faster tempos you would only want to play each note once. If you ha... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nx9WSE4LDUA 380 2017-10-29T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-strings-between-changes-b1-704 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p-Rj4svEyrA/hqdefault.jpg Open Strings Between Changes Sometimes hitting the open strings between chord changes helps the tune sound easy and relaxed. It’s not “wrong” if it sounds good! https://www.youtube.com/embed/p-Rj4svEyrA 265 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-modes-mt-721 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/975873663-67807d91e8e45d425ae86674ddd20acde25f9d76e5fff8fa6c2e43934eca2d47-d_295x166?r=pad Introduction To Modes Phrygian, Mixolydian... ahhh... I can feel a headache coming on! Is that you? Well, I hope in this series of lessons I can help explain the basics about modes and how they might be used. But let's get a few things straight to start off with... MODES ARE EASY, when you understand them! I personally had a difficult time with modes and spent many hours reading every book I could find on them, but all I got was more confused. Now I understand how they are used, they seem so simple... so what I want to do is to try and explain all the things that confused me, and hope that it helps you find the simplicity too. MODES ARE THE SAME AS THE MAJOR SCALE, but have a different tonal centre. What does that mean, and why is it important? I'm hoping you remember your Diatonic Quadads because the modes grow out of them - the mix of the chords and scales takes us some super interesting places! This Tonal Centre thing is the key that unlocks the whole thing! To grossly oversimplify - modes have the same notes as a major scale, but you would play them over a chord other than the root of the major scale. If you play a G Major Scale over an A minor chord, you would be playing the A Dorian Mode. As we work our way through this course you will understand when and why it's so important to think modally but just for now, just grasp that idea. Using the modes is as easy as playing the Major Scale, just the tonal centre (or chord that you are playing over) does not have the same tonal centre as the Major Scale. So let's get to grips with a few terms that you will need to understand first: Diatonic Chord Sequence - The chords found in a key. Make sure you know and or revise this before getting going here! Tonal Centre - This is the foundation of the harmony, usually the chord that the mode will be played over. This will also help define what I call the "Home Notes" which are the notes that you can settle on and sound good. It's really important that you get to grips with this idea and I will give you some examples of how to use this short... https://player.vimeo.com/video/468623834 311 2017-10-30T16:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/air-changes-aspire-to-this-b1-703 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9CsY2PRzt94/hqdefault.jpg Air Changes (aspire to this!) Save time using air changes and play sounds without interrupting the rhythm. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/9CsY2PRzt94 326 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-g-introduction-blim-u5-08-t3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1940738158-47334fe621007a6da782ffadb6004cb7e34117c25b539bac3f8adca5a147aeb5-d_295x166?r=pad Open G Introduction It blew my mind when a second guitarist joined my band and played "Brown Sugar" in Open G. Now, I hope to open that same door for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017554452 619 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/review-boss-katana-gen-3-guitar-amplifier-gr-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/07uDF19hkr0/hqdefault.jpg Review: Boss Katana Gen 3 Guitar Amplifier Guitar amplifiers have seen many innovations, but few have made as much impact as the Boss Katana series! https://www.youtube.com/embed/07uDF19hkr0 2727 2024-08-22T05:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/recording-yourself-for-critical-analysis-st1-18 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Record-Yourself.jpg Recording Yourself for Critical Analysis I always record myself playing and analyze it later. This critical observation does wonders for my playing, and it'll do the same for you. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/768713699 2022-12-06T16:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-major-7th-chords-mt-603 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438253441-659f754b4452bb20bf63583a5d151ddcafbbfdc2445b040d1fc6d9cf567b0b42-d_295x166?r=pad E Shape Major 7th Chords Learn to add the 7th note of our Major Scale to a Major Chord and find ourselves a few ways to play a Major 7th Chord! https://player.vimeo.com/video/362521753 292 2018-05-02T01:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/consolidation-practice-tip-b1-712 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/866414939-b8d8598faa50a461ac43bf85c8f5f99edb68e753a83fc4fa9f9187455f449a72-d_295x166?r=pad Consolidation Practice Tip Nitsuj has some awesome practice tips for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/398685705 204 2020-03-20T20:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/country-guitar-basics-st3-07 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-07-CountryFoundation-S.jpg Country Guitar Basics Delve into the foundations of Country Guitar and equip yourself with the skills to play this genre with confidence! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878414643 2023-11-22T14:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-g-chord-bc-131 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gEzwpqmt2gc/hqdefault.jpg The G Chord Now it's time to have a go at the big 2/3 stretch! The G Chord can be quite a challenge for some people, but it's a very commonly-used chord, so you need to learn it. If it seems tough, just stick with it, you'll get it as your fingers limber up! We have a finger workout coming up in a few lessons which will help if you are really struggling to reach the notes. Now time to have a go at the big 2/3 stretch! G Chord can be quite a challenge because of the finger stretch involved, but all it takes is a little practice. I had many problems with G when I was first learning. Take your time, stretch the fingers, practise it often, and soon the stretch will feel easy. Make sure you are checking that all the notes are ringing out clearly. There are a few alternative fingerings for this G chord; this is the one that I think is best to start with. However, if you have learnt a different one, stick with that for now. I will be going through some of the other fingerings at a later stage. So, dig deep and get this one sounding good. I don't want to see any ‘my hands are too small' posts on the forum! Maybe some of you have old injuries, broken or bent fingers, and they may well hinder you a little, but I've seen all kinds of people with all kinds of problems and there is one cure for them all: practice and perseverance! You might have to adapt things a little if you have a serious injury, but it would have to be severe to have to change the fingering or shape. It's tough for most folk when they start (like it was for me) but it just takes a little grit and hard work and in no time you'll be wondering how you ever had a problem with it at all! Check it with this audio file: MOVING ON... Once you have this one sorted then it's time to check out another stretchy chord. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gEzwpqmt2gc 274 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-c-chord-bc-132 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RBYqdBqogo4/hqdefault.jpg The C Chord This chord can also be quite a challenge... This one is a bit of stretch for some hands, but it is a very commonly-used chord, and again, it just takes practice to get right. Those of you with large fingers might think this one is impossible when you start, but it will work, it's just going to take you a bit of time to place your first finger just right. I have seen quite a few private students over the years with short fat fingers playing this chord perfectly, and so I know it just takes practice! Now you will C a new stretch C Chord can also be quite a challenge because of the finger stretch involved. Be particularly careful with C to make sure that you get all the notes clear. Strum, pick out and strum again. The 3rd finger will often mute the D (fourth) string, so watch out for that! A couple of tips if you are really struggling: Try pointing your thumb away from your face, and place it further toward the nut, toward the top of the neck (NOT over the top of the neck), probably about opposite your first finger. This should let your fingers be at a little more of an angle and help them get the stretch, as shown above. Because everyone has different shaped hands and lengths of fingers, the C chord always looks a little different for different people. Some people have their fingers more or less angled, and there is a huge variation in thumb placement between different people. The trick here is to find the method that is best for you that keeps all the notes clear and keeps the thumb behind the neck (you can bring it over later but I strongly discourage beginners from doing this!). Stretching between the 2nd and 3rd fingers just does not work: our hands didn't evolve to do that, it's not practical, so avoid trying to do it. Moving On... Next we're going to learn the names of strings. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RBYqdBqogo4 259 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-day-1-guitar-quick-start-aw-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zo1iaXbILXg/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Day 1: Guitar Quick Start From tuning your guitar to learning your first chords and playing your first song - in only 15 minutes! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zo1iaXbILXg 876 2021-12-24T08:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-do-ear-training-b1-708 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bqUdZdhHGVI/hqdefault.jpg Why do Ear Training? Many beginners don’t like interval training but trust me – it’s super helpful and we can do it together! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqUdZdhHGVI 317 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/39-tbw-p1-dom-9-bl-539 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/71NJbszUMP0/hqdefault.jpg #39: TBW: P1 Dom 9 TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/71NJbszUMP0 460 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/55-bb-king-bb-big-bend-bl-555 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A6McWqcftt8/hqdefault.jpg #55: BB King: BB Big Bend TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/A6McWqcftt8 397 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-immersion-class-3-launch-start-your-blues-journey-now-cla-132 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/14dpUbxe1cQ/hqdefault.jpg Blues Immersion Class 3 Launch - Start Your Blues Journey Now! Curious about our Blues Immersion program? Join Justin for an Overview of the Blues Immersion Program! Together, we'll walk through the program's details, what it has to offer, and answer any questions you may have. This is your chance to learn more about how Blues Immersion can level up your playing, improve your improvisation, and help you dive deep into the world of blues guitar. Whether you're thinking about joining or just curious, we’d love to see you there! 👉 Enrolments for Class 3 ends on June 26th, 2025 - enrol here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/14dpUbxe1cQ 3884 2025-06-17T18:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/common-chord-extensions-mt-652 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/common-chord-extensions-mt-652-1.jpg Common Chord Extensions Here's an overview on the most common upper chord extensions. https://player.vimeo.com/video/640565501 2021-10-30T14:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-guitar-basics-1-bc-136 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2CgX3uOqhtA/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Guitar Basics 1 The very basics of rhythm to start you getting in a groove... starting what I call Really Useful Strumming Patterns (RUST). Really Useful Strumming Patterns (RUST) R.U.S.T. stands for ‘Really Useful Strumming Techniques'. As part of this beginner's course I will be showing you some patterns to get you started on rhythm guitar. If you want to check out more rhythm lessons in greater detail you might want to check out my Strumming Techniques series of lessons which go through a bunch of different patterns - a really useful addition to the Beginner's Course if you feel you need extra help with your rhythm playing. If you use it while doing the Beginners Course then you'll need to add 5 minutes extra to your practice routine, or wait until the end of the course and use it to help consolidate your chord changes. It depends on how you are feeling about your rhythm... if you are struggling then it might really help to use it with the beginners course!! RUST #1 This is as basic as it gets, but it is very important that you learn to do this pattern well, because pretty much all rhythm patterns are based on this simple pattern! In lesson BC-116 we looked at this strumming pattern: RUST #2 The next concept that I want to introduce is that of an ‘and'. Now, we previously mentioned that in a bar we have four beats. So we count “one, two, three, four”, and these four are all down-strums. Now, this is the big secret for rhythm guitar: you have to keep your hand moving evenly all of the time. As your hand is moving down on the beat every time, it means that your hand will be moving up in between every beat. So what we are going to introduce now is adding one up-strum to our regular rhythm. If we want to add something in between those beats this is where we introduce a thing called the ‘and'. So normal counting music you would have “one and two and three and four and”, the ‘ands' falling exactly half way through between the numbers, or beats. The aim here is to repeat this pattern until it becomes instinctive. You should aim t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2CgX3uOqhtA 474 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-3-mm-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JSdDTi5A6eY/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 3 Pattern 3 of the Major Scale is based around the C Shape of the CAGED System. It's an easy pattern to play - and one of my favorites! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JSdDTi5A6eY 428 2021-05-14T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-strings-on-an-acoustic-guitar-gm-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eFGjZyk8k_o/hqdefault.jpg How To Change Strings On An Acoustic Guitar Your complete guide to changing strings on an acoustic guitar - the right way! https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFGjZyk8k_o 1877 2020-12-01T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/07-robben-p1-penta-4ths-bl-507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fBeHidiBaz4/hqdefault.jpg #07: Robben: P1 Penta 4ths Robben Ford is certainly one of the finest modern blues players around. This lick shows his creative use of the Minor Penatonic, nothing more harmonically complex than usual but really interesting note combinations, which are new but retain the blues feel. TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/fBeHidiBaz4 347 2018-07-01T10:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/04-tbw-p1-long-frame-bl-504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rufil2V2VPk/hqdefault.jpg #04: TBW: P1 Long Frame T-Bone Walker might not be as well known as some of the other blues masters but he was a big player! His influence was huge, we was the original rock n' roller, and incredible showman as well an incredible guitar player and he influenced many of those that followed. This particular lick is in the key of A and is Chord Specific, which means it will sound awesome over an A7 but not a D7. This is because of the use of the note C# which sounds awesome on the A7, but on the D7 it clashes badly with one of the chord tones. If you wanted to use it on the D7 chord, you would need to move the lick up to the 10th fret! Also interesting to note is the 'framing' of the C#, the long chromatic run down from the E and then up from the C - it's slightly jazzy but it really highlights the C# note which makes this lick very chord specific! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rufil2V2VPk 360 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/options-for-recording-yourself-blim-m0-j1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895882216-9760321aff5d2bda54d5472c73bd3094f54885d89e6e92d2db02524f11e891fb-d_295x166?r=pad Options for Recording Yourself Recording yourself playing and reviewing your performance has huge benefits. Here are the basics to help you get started! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902945638 188 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-4-practice-1-nj-401 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854348161-72d0f2cc286d96e7d9acabb0ff44f01380e64ca87e162ccac5ae5f68eb82de4a-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 4 - Practice 1 Finger stretching exercises – yikes! These are not the easiest to do, but Nitsuj knows well enough that they’ll certainly be helpful in the long run. Let the fun begin! https://player.vimeo.com/video/390276042 1548 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/51-a-king-p3-up-to-v-bl-551 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lbqtexDWoco/hqdefault.jpg #51: A King: P3 up to V TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lbqtexDWoco 354 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-11-practice-3-nk-113 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/916385497-d4d94b72e16d6bb07a48070c345a9221192df81e0798036fa3b63b7da3d1961e-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 11 - Practice 3 Day 3 - Nitsuj is starting with 5 mins of revision practice. Trying to work on getting in some groove into the strumming pattern. But this is tricky when your hands have a mind of their own! So if you're feeling that way lately - Nitsuj can relate! Moving on, 3 minutes of fingerstyle - an interesting exercise on electric guitar! How'd you think it sounded? https://player.vimeo.com/video/433668499 2032 2020-07-08T09:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-sus4-chords-mt-623 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438261696-dd6709b86f33d017375225d4d53685787fc9b6eba119c53b058db325a39a3424-d_295x166?r=pad E Shape Sus4 Chords E Shape Sus4 Chords are not particularly hard to play, but they're not comfortable either. Still, you'll benefit from learning them. https://player.vimeo.com/video/402123729 342 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-primer-practice-tips-slow-demo-sb-803 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072240277-98ca0b4c9ed15a2ca8f7da16bebeeaec39243a04720c6f0a0f9c74cdd9f1bcd9-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Primer – Practice Tips & Slow Demo Here's your slow playthrough of the Gospel Slides - Primer arrangement. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125379275 92 2025-10-23T04:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/32-tbw-jazzy-pent-bl-532 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/waYMjFTL7Ew/hqdefault.jpg #32: TBW: Jazzy Pent TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/waYMjFTL7Ew 366 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-travel-guitars-aw-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OVUxA4ZHZuE/hqdefault.jpg All About Travel Guitars Let's review two great travel guitars and explore the best option for you – Wooden or Carbon Fiber? https://www.youtube.com/embed/OVUxA4ZHZuE 1244 2021-05-02T15:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-6-practice-2-nj-602 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853894307-20b8f71740ea35ea36f448053b6ed9fe4afeea5f6e50b40895d7659a54dbca1f-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 6 - Practice 2 Practice needs to happen, sometimes even at the expense of a grumpy dog’s feelings! Sorry, Ziggy… must get this session in. https://player.vimeo.com/video/389961706 1590 2020-02-28T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-5-nj-705 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/864386879-a7f08c9e9b1ae38e4081cf0690d4255ef4d3a6e2ee97d531749cd12b6ba83032-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 5 For this practice, Nitsuj is continuing his quest to get his songs sounding decent. We're not aiming for perfection, but a place where it feels comfy, relax, and it sounds good to the ears! And, learning brand new songs is always a bit rocky - and that's the process of the guitar journey! Keep at it; we'll get there! :) See you next practice :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/397241995 1304 2020-03-14T14:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-8-practice-2-nk-802 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/866312784-d113e9c9efd3b58099fa9b7decb5ae7d0156d5cebdbfe8e60c3a5515f29ec2bc-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 8 - Practice 2 Nitsuj starts off on this practice session on a bad note - with an injured finger! https://player.vimeo.com/video/398580011 1943 2020-04-29T10:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/41-bb-king-bbs-arp-bl-541 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WXcs7m0kBvw/hqdefault.jpg #41: BB King: BBs Arp Very cool BB lick this one, quite an unusual phrase but tasty once you got your fingers around it! It's based around an Amin7 arpeggio and finished on the root note with the classic BB vibrato! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/WXcs7m0kBvw 317 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/33-clapton-p1-clapturn-bl-533 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CeB-7up-Sh8/hqdefault.jpg #33: Clapton: P1 Clapturn This Cream era Clapton style lick is one of his trademarks! Class lick for you to steal! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CeB-7up-Sh8 244 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-scale-bc-176 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G-X1RemAzks/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Scale This is the most common scale in blues, pop and rock music. It is easy to learn and is essential for learning to improvise in a blues style. ‘Penta' means five and ‘tonic' means note, so ‘Minor Pentatonic Scale' really just means ‘Minor Five-Note Scale'. The reason we learn scales is that they are groups of notes that sound really good together that we can use to make up solos (as in lead guitar) and melodies. We'll get to that later on. They are also great for developing your technique for playing single notes, so they are an important part of your development as a guitar player. A minor pentatonic We are going to learn the scale in the key of A, so, the A minor pentatonic scale. This is used to solo over a Blues or a song in the key of A minor, and we will be learning a 12-Bar Blues in the key of A very soon, so practise this scale now so you are ready to jam when we get to that. It is a great scale to start with as an introduction to playing single notes on the guitar. Make sure you only pick one note at a time. Only use down-picks to start with; later, try to play using alternate picking (alternating between down and up picks). The Scale Box The scale shape can be played on any fret, and the scale gets its name from the note under the R (root note). To play it in the key of A - which is what you should do now - you should start with your 1st finger in the 5th fret. For this scale, all the notes in the 5th fret are played using the 1st finger, all the notes in the 7th fret are played with the 3rd finger and all notes in the 8th fret are played with the 4th finger. It is important that you get this scale 100% correct on the first few times you play it. You can only achieve this if you practise slowly enough to really get it right. Have a go at it now. Take it slowly and get it right. Don't start practising the wrong thing, there is no sense in that! Play the notes in the order shown opposite. TAB and Notation Play the notes in the order shown above. Listen When you learn it play it very slowly and get every ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-X1RemAzks 328 2017-10-30T15:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-intervals-major-mt-504 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772120194-5788d0450030718a1c29300d095a0ed00094a1abd4386bb4edc07141c994ea89-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Intervals: Major In this lesson, we'll check out the Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Major 6th, and Major 7th intervals. https://player.vimeo.com/video/327759126 313 2017-11-04T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/11-tbw-p1-chuck-stole-it-bl-511 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tydjK1LuMLU/hqdefault.jpg #11: TBW: P1 Chuck Stole It! This lick was made famous by Chuck Berry, but he stole it from T-Bone!! It's all over the place in T-Bone's solos, and there are many variations too - very influential lick! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None https://www.youtube.com/embed/tydjK1LuMLU 359 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/congratulations-st3-17 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-17-Congratulations-S.jpg Congratulations! :) The true essence of finger strumming lies in the deep connection we establish with our instrument. https://player.vimeo.com/video/883967367 2023-11-22T16:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/53-tbw-p1-repeat-bend-bl-553 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l0Kuceybz3Y/hqdefault.jpg #53: TBW: P1 repeat bend TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/l0Kuceybz3Y 378 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sofa-showcase-klara-ss-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RUcVlLrGjyU/hqdefault.jpg Sofa Showcase: Klara My guest on the sofa is a student from long ago, Klara. She sings Playground House! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUcVlLrGjyU 845 2018-03-03T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-movies-books-suggestions-blim-u0-h0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895884468-7f5043901fb799808a37ed55bd61bb5235621438a85e760e1c93acbbe49ad99b-d_295x166?r=pad History: Movies & Books Suggestions Some suggested movies and books to help you explore the genre's social changes and recording evolution. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902525162 51 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/21-robben-robbend-to-b7-bl-521 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RJqCNkg3KLg/hqdefault.jpg #21: Robben: Robbend to b7 This Roben Ford style lick has a very interesting bend to start the 2nd bar, it's got really interesting phrasing too which is well worth exploring! :) TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Telecaster guitar (1966) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Robben more commonly uses Gibson guitars with humbuckers but well, my tele was feeling unloved and hadn't made it into this blues series so I thought I'd give her a run with the Robben licks! ;) Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the bridge pickup, with the volume and tone on full. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings To try and get close to Robbens tone I use a Hermida "Zen Drive" pedal with the following settings: Vol 10', Gain 2', Tone 1', Voice 12' (clock settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/RJqCNkg3KLg 476 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-5-practice-2-nj-502 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858743634-5b6349e76bc6df53d41921c9f715cfc22c3c9bd84edca19565e60af937411620-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 5 - Practice 2 Justin’s busy schedule has been threatening to cut into Nitsuj’s practice schedule, not to mention there’s a bug in the air – flu season is no joke! Still, you’ve got to make time for practice and progress. https://player.vimeo.com/video/393291284 1551 2020-02-14T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-8-practice-3-nk-803 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/868382015-037099e4822d062478e4343fdc802137a07ed1f510b79236d04d82a1aac22bbc-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 8 - Practice 3 Another day in quarantine, another practice day for Nitsuj. https://player.vimeo.com/video/400067737 2110 2020-04-29T10:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-blues-licks-from-pattern-5-bl-609 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KGnqVasabKk/hqdefault.jpg 5 Blues Licks from Pattern 5 This is the final lesson of pattern specific licks, from here on we're going to be exploring more on how to link them together and that kind of thing... but as you hopfully know well by now - learning licks (words) is super important if you want to speak the blues language! Lick TABs This lick is quite scalular but very cool and quite common. To get the right sound youwant to pick it pretty hard - really adds to the character of it! This triplet based lick is another one you will hear very often, and you can do the repeated but as long as you like of course. And do try experimenting with it too! This lick starts with some double stops (very common lick in th e60's and 70's and then we run down the blues scale to finish it off. This one features a big tone and a half bend which you may find a little tricky, but it's a super cool lick once you got it under yor fingers. This lick uses a 'pedal point' where we keep returning to the root which is a real fun concept to explore! Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize and work in all 5 of these licks. try and get into the schedule below. Stage 1 - Learn The Lick - 5 Minutes Get the lick under you fingers. Make sure the notes are clean, bends are in tune, no open strings ringing out and you can play it rhythmically correctly. Stage 2 - Use The Lick - 5 Minutes Jam the lick over a backing track. Start with it 'as written' and then gradually develop it and start exploring other ways you might play it, change the notes. Stage 3 - Mix The Lick In - 5 Minutes Another jam session over a backing track but this time you need to work the new lick in with licks you already know. Figure out cool ways of getting in and out of the lick and find licks that it works well with. Remember to listen out for these licks whenever you're listening to the blues records you dig. Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Albert C... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KGnqVasabKk 1255 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/notes-on-the-whole-fretboard-mt-433 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/757230206-7a6de3ba1a9f03ab4997ed24cc2ce0440e003a6921f046367e0f09c776881226-d_295x166?r=pad Notes On The Whole Fretboard Learn to use the Octave Shapes to find notes all over the guitar fretboard. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/315448281 237 2018-05-09T19:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-anchor-fingers-b1-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Se__aa_k-ms/hqdefault.jpg How To Use Anchor Fingers Anchor finger is a simple but effective trick for fast chord changes! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Se__aa_k-ms 182 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/test-your-rhythm-guitar-competences-sd-022 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-20-Consolidate-S.jpg Test Your Rhythm Guitar Competences! If you've followed this course well, it's time to graduate and be proud of yourself. People will now admire your strumming skills! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786800877 2023-01-12T12:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-6-nj-706 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/865468697-c05b619f88bf788a42b864bc37958e4986327535a87e0b859c4f3026d4c9ce6c-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 6 Nitsuj has never spent so long on one stage! But that's normal - the consolidation process takes a bit longer. And when you're working on feeling confident and comfortable with a skill, you really want to take your time. No need to rush! :) Synchronizing the hands is the challenging part here :) Things are coming together. How'd you think it went? https://player.vimeo.com/video/397990183 1272 2020-03-22T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-6-practice-1-nj-601 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853916067-06c1586355661c993073c65c7be9129d90f0ef3a6ed8444db7a69f43cc739db3-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 6 - Practice 1 Nitsuj is starting off strong with that G chord – so far, so good! Those chord changes could use some more work, but that’s why we keep practising. https://player.vimeo.com/video/389976035 1569 2020-02-28T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/54-clapton-p3-clap-on-iv-bl-554 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0YojdA7vaQs/hqdefault.jpg #54: Clapton: P3 Clap On IV TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0YojdA7vaQs 359 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/classical-harmonics-te-505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/02FsSd2hgfY/hqdefault.jpg Classical Harmonics This classical approach to harmonics is very useful. It is used in many other contemporary acoustic styles and sometimes on electric guitar, though not as often. I will get onto doing some text and tabs for this sometime soon - for now I think the video should explain them pretty good https://www.youtube.com/embed/02FsSd2hgfY 248 2017-10-30T15:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blue-bossa-chords-ja-541 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yq5k2VzF6Pw/hqdefault.jpg Blue Bossa [Chords] Remember to start real simple and learn the root notes and chord types and be real solid with them before getting into any substitutions! You'll probably find it very helpful to check out the Bossa Rhythm lesson before you try this! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yq5k2VzF6Pw 667 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-major-to-minor-mt-611 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438258356-b3a2be26b773abf78f2c411bfc1457ea03dc0259f74274816610810a2d950e21-d_295x166?r=pad A Shape Major To Minor Learn how to transform an A Shape Major into an A Shape Minor! https://player.vimeo.com/video/401966189 115 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-1-practice-2-nj-102 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853761692-dabf36b71d719ec4043f3fe42840dfa3d0779f4f5f91443340c198f2f5b2a072-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 1 - Practice 2 Much to Nitsuj’s dismay, his finger pain hasn’t subsided quite yet, but I could have told him – it will take a bit more than one practice session to get through it! Things seem to be progressing nicely, though. Chord changes are getting better, and Nitsuj almost makes it through his first left-handed song. https://player.vimeo.com/video/389879693 1592 2019-12-19T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-use-modes-mt-724 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/976371291-4a027a79b0861295a6002692114df9f4ad3077b2f59d0a445da3668ed37ca3c5-d_295x166?r=pad Why Use Modes? So why do we need modes anyway? Isn't the major scale the same notes? So why would be want to learn new stuff? These were the biggest questions I had when I was learning Modes, and they are the questions that I would like to answer in this lesson... In the last lesson, we revised Diatonic Chords and that you can use Major Scale over any of the chords in the Diatonic Sequence for that key. So that is all good. But the Major Scale is a little bit "Orwellian" - all notes are equal, but some notes are more equal than others! ;) [This paraphrases a quote from George Orwell's fantastic book called "Animal Farm", if you have not read it then please check it out, it's fantastic!]. I can explain the theory to you but all the way through this course you need to be playing the concepts and putting them into practice - without doing that you are unlikely to ever make sense of modes. You can play your way to a new way of thinking, but you can't think yourself to a new way of playing. You NEED to hear these examples and feel them for yourself so you need to get a mate to jam with or a looper pedal, or record yourself into something and then play it back. I highly recommend trying to find someone to learn this stuff with though, makes it way easier! Try and find yourself a "mode buddy" that you will study Modes with together, it will make the journey easier and a load more fun too! C Major Scale Starting Point Let's start by talking about the C Major Scale played over just a C Major Chord. That gives us C Ionian Mode (which I just call C Major, I think calling it C Ionian is a bit silly). What you need to listen carefully to is the way that each note of the C Major Scale sounds over the chord of C Major. So let's start with a C Major Chord backing (either your mate playing C, or a looper pedal, or a jam track) and play each note of the scale very slowly and listen to the effect that each note has when played over the chord. Say My Name Make sure you are aware of the notes as you play, so maybe say the note name out loud as y... https://player.vimeo.com/video/468863801 847 2017-10-30T16:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/note-function-blim-u6-06 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1955865953-1a8fb0dbb2864224c5bc1350aa8f229ada65de76264bf2228a496cd5986fa115-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Note Function Use this concept as often as you can for every solo you learn. This will teach you so much! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033891554 1220 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-shape-explorers-a-shape-ce-400 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3h760geAdCg/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Shape Explorers - A-Shape The A Shape has fewer variations than the C, G and D Shapes but there's still some cool stuff to explore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/3h760geAdCg 399 2018-10-25T08:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-shape-explorers-d-shape-cs-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DRR8OGLyE3A/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Shape Explorers - D-Shape Let's start this exploration series with the D Shape. Awesome chords variations to unlock your guitar fretboard! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DRR8OGLyE3A 552 2018-09-30T07:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-shape-explorers-e-shape-ce-500 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UComzTRzdDc/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Shape Explorers - E-shape The E Shape is the last in this little shape explorer series but has some very cool variations to explore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/UComzTRzdDc 458 2018-11-01T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/play-the-same-chords-using-different-grips-ch-702 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bprDRabVdb4/hqdefault.jpg Play the same chords using different grips Let's explore how you can use your capo creatively - and play one chord using different grips on your guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bprDRabVdb4 761 2018-03-12T19:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-exploration-mt-610 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438257889-b6a651aed95ab1e0fdb3677a936bee28fdf3fc0a9392d7d805cb14ad27b509b2-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us A Shape Exploration Time to explore the A Shape! This is the most common barre chord shape after the E Shape. https://player.vimeo.com/video/401963578 120 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-shape-explorers-c-shape-ce-200 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mVQiJuM8-do/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Shape Explorers - C-Shape The C Shape has loads of chord variations you can play on your guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mVQiJuM8-do 482 2018-10-11T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/caged-shape-explorers-g-shape-ce-300 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/keGUS7jsBq8/hqdefault.jpg CAGED Shape Explorers - G-Shape The G Shape is a super cool grip for exploring and there are lots of fun variations to try on your guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/keGUS7jsBq8 556 2018-10-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-shape-sus-2-and-sus-4-mt-703 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535284533-c1d97445ed1cf99b06854f2b3b01a601e3fd1a67599d9e4f61b2c7b0afc6e577-d_295x166?r=pad D Shape Sus 2 and Sus 4 Sus chords in D Shape are relatively easy to play and are very effective chord grips well worth learning! Remember it's important to remember how these chords were formed... the Sus 2 replaces the Major 3rd with a not a tone below, and the Sus 4 replaces the Major 3rd with the note a semitone above it. This conceptual stuff is the best way to remember chord grips - not as a load of separate grips! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402888346 251 2020-01-29T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/25-tbw-p1-b7-by-semi-bl-525 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LrRfmEbjvHw/hqdefault.jpg #25: TBW: P1 b7 By Semi TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrRfmEbjvHw 310 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/37-a-king-p1-the-ak-bl-537 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sTtrsX_lW7I/hqdefault.jpg #37: A King: P1 The AK TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sTtrsX_lW7I 382 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-7-nk-107 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/912126839-1ddc249e9ef517301f3b0bdb8dae80dc46586de8c6a39481e6fff60e0b3e0c1b-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 7 For the last practice of Module 10, Nitsuj tries to incorporate that new A mini barre chord in his guitar playing. He's also determined to ring out that F chord. How'd he do? :) And, just a reminder, we're not looking for perfection. Learning the guitar is hard - and it's normal to still struggle with certain things at this stage! Practice is the only way to improve those tricky skills. The more you try, the closer you'll get to having those skills under your belt. Nitsuj is a perfect example of this! Next practice, Nitsuj will tackle Module 11 with loads of fun stuff to put into practice. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/431090944 2089 2020-07-07T09:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-2-nk-902 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/896945208-d775731857b8db3a5d6842e382c2fe54faac33cb37ba2aa3092f8394842d4fe8-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 2 Nitsuj presses on with his F chord practice, determined to master the barre. https://player.vimeo.com/video/421321750 2035 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-4-mm-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J5-1CWtyiok/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 4 Learning a new pattern will give you more space to improvise all over your guitar fretboard! https://www.youtube.com/embed/J5-1CWtyiok 863 2021-08-12T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-5-nk-905 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/895536474-b05a3c2dc16c02393525899202c927a3191ddb2cb879430943b3901889b9541b-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 5 Nitsuj is back on his practice grind after taking a week off! Let’s see how he does. https://player.vimeo.com/video/420223718 2153 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-6-practice-3-nj-603 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853873222-a395c59791b6fd36764c61a8bbb191e914b9e7944e9a3c5c26ccaba163a56479-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 6 - Practice 3 Justin did loads of practice earlier in the day, so it’ll be interesting to see how these tired and fatigued fingers handle Nitsuj’s practice session. Can’t be too bad… can it? https://player.vimeo.com/video/389949654 1511 2020-02-28T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-3-new-guitar-nk-993 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/896975891-83f0fdd8032169efa58821f1303cd63eb96109bd41b9907f025de46a195dc37e-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 3 (NEW GUITAR!) Nitsuj is unboxing his new guitar! Any guesses what it could be? https://player.vimeo.com/video/421344623 878 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-11-practice-4-nk-114 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/916439585-d17fb4cff8c018ac13aeba6af3332a130074beef976a116ba6bec37e84c5e297-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 11 - Practice 4 Module 11 - day 4. Nitsuj is back on the acoustic today. If you're lucky enough to have both kinds of guitar - it's a good idea to switch up your practice on both acoustic and electric. You'll learn to manipulate them differently - and this will help you as you advance and get into more complex techniques. Which kind of guitar is your fav? Log in and share your answers in the comment. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/433718902 2175 2020-07-08T09:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-experiments-mm-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dYaeIXXyy1Y/hqdefault.jpg Legato Experiments Legato helps you play faster and express your musicality. Here's how you get it right! https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYaeIXXyy1Y 1165 2021-08-13T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-for-jamming-mm-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lhHSU4AnXSU/hqdefault.jpg Chords In Keys - For Jamming Learn how to find chords in any key and get started with jamming in G and C Major. The Unit 1 Practice Schedule is here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lhHSU4AnXSU 805 2021-03-14T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-finger-solos-mm-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FVvYj_T2q_w/hqdefault.jpg One Finger Solos Don't skip this lesson. It's one of the most powerful scale exercises EVER! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FVvYj_T2q_w 604 2021-03-26T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/moving-between-scale-patterns-mm-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yLU7XPU37fM/hqdefault.jpg Moving Between Scale Patterns Learn how to choose which Major Scale pattern to play and the best way of switching between patterns. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yLU7XPU37fM 1131 2021-04-18T15:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/options-for-recording-yourself-blim-m0-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895882216-9760321aff5d2bda54d5472c73bd3094f54885d89e6e92d2db02524f11e891fb-d_295x166?r=pad Options for Recording Yourself There are huge benefits to recording yourself playing and reviewing it. Here are the basics to help you get started! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902945638 188 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mini-sweep-picking-arpeggios-ro-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M29-VU5WliM/hqdefault.jpg Mini Sweep Picking Arpeggios Possibly the most requested thing missing from this site is advanced rock techniques and sweep picking. I've been avoiding it because I'm just not really very good at it. But I do use this mini-sweep picking stuff a bit, so thought I'd share this with you, it's a great thing to get the technique down and will help you with big sweep patterns if you decide to get into them (I am working on the big patterns now, just so I can teach you them!!). The pattern is small and simple, but simple ain't easy. Things to remember: 1. Get the fretting hand sorted first, so you don't have to look at it, that way you can focus on the sweep motion. 2. Aim to keep your hand relaxed and make the sweep motion smooth, even and don't make a pick motion for each note, try and 'sweep' through the strings. 3. Once you have the technique right, do it many times very slowly, and just sometimes have a go at going full speed. You'll find that once you have done it enough times very slowly, the muscle memory will work properly and you'll be able to sweep effortlessly. 4. Once you are happy with the basic pattern, start to explore other shapes and ways of using the concept. I'm giving you the basics, and I think it's best that you explore this a bit yourself, but I will do some follow-ups to this with some more advanced tricks at some point. TABs Example 1 - The small Amin7 shape you should get started with. Example 2 - Move just one note and it's now an Amin7b5 arpeggio - which works great as an F9 arpeggio (the same notes, this is called superimposing arpeggios, lesson to come sometime in the future). Try it - it sounds cool. Example 3 - A diminished 7th arpeggio. These move up or down 3 frets and the root note is any one of the notes! So in this case,m it's a G, Bb, C# or E arpeggio! Example 4 - A neoclassical style lick using dim7 arpeggios linking up - using slides to shift positions. Example 5 - The A minor lick extended over 2 octaves. https://www.youtube.com/embed/M29-VU5WliM 668 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-in-3rds-mm-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RmX9fmw96o4/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale In 3rds This lesson will help you create more melodic solos on guitar - playing scales in 3rds! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RmX9fmw96o4 1105 2021-04-23T16:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/kinda-nashville-tuning-es-036 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ji0lauQL8io/hqdefault.jpg 'Kinda' Nashville Tuning Try this unique twist on Nashville tuning and add a fresh and inspiring new sound to your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ji0lauQL8io 549 2023-09-21T11:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/motif-development-mm-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XceHccli9DI/hqdefault.jpg Motif Development Here's how you make your guitar solos flow better. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XceHccli9DI 1314 2021-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-island-main-lesson-sb-1101 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073490984-f5ccd4ff5642e35174d1afb1f4520027e8729fd19d83faddd89505f9f2d3809e-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Island – Main Lesson This Blues takes us into classic alternating-thumb territory, featuring an iconic fingerpicking sound reminiscent of Mississippi John Hurt and early Blues. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129495663 1303 2025-10-23T04:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-1-mm-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YLJPjrcoBp8/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 1 Let's explore Pattern 1 of the Major Scale and start jamming with it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLJPjrcoBp8 1071 2021-03-13T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-2-mm-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J4TN5AajcyQ/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 2 Learn Pattern 2 and a very effective approach to switching between individual notes on the fretboard. https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4TN5AajcyQ 837 2021-04-17T14:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fretboard-framework-mm-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kMefnTfg_6c/hqdefault.jpg Fretboard Framework Unleash the guitar fretboard and improvise with scales all over the guitar neck! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kMefnTfg_6c 1196 2021-05-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/re-active-listening-mm-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-VjHVHzWL0o/hqdefault.jpg Re-Active Listening ™ Learn to develop your ears and your ability to identify chord tones and how to land on good notes when soloing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjHVHzWL0o 1861 2021-03-28T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mr-cato-s-key-signature-trick-mt-308 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/703053573-475aabadda7195631515110664beb017b9adfc63adbaef866860b7fb1ba3b27c-d_295x166?r=pad Mr Cato's Key Signature Trick Here's a brilliant and simple trick to help you remember the notes of each Major Scale. https://player.vimeo.com/video/271688201 299 2017-11-04T15:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/16-a-king-iv-chord-out-bl-516 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gSpQn2sqwKQ/hqdefault.jpg #16: A King: IV chord out This lick works over the IV chord (D7 in the key of A) and it's worth noting the way the notes from the chord are used to highlight the chord change! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/gSpQn2sqwKQ 293 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/key-signatures-recognition-mt-307 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438103616-0283ab2ef47a03bb7495164981e42cf36cd8693b315784dc867db85b8f59a495-d_295x166?r=pad Key Signatures Recognition Here's a simple exercise to make sure we're on the same page. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/271687946 30 2017-11-04T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-1-nk-901 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/896937044-d7f28eac76072a249fcb99f430747becb69724dfd6ff47bd59d33af8f86b520a-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 1 Is Nitsuj ready to tackle that F chord, his first barre chord? https://player.vimeo.com/video/421308852 2336 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-1-nk-101 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/910873880-310f4055eb1b8dbd49cbbbab190027b3028d7167b21a7b014d0ac014e03feb63-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 1 Nitsjun has not been practicing for nearly 1 week. But he's back at it and ready for another fully loaded guitar session! In this module, Nitsuj is tackling the Weak Finger G chord, mini A chord bar, and C major scale with alternate picking. He's also gonna be improvising some bits to improve that F chord. Loads of fun ahead, right? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/430284834 2281 2020-06-17T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-11-practice-1-nk-111 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/915394711-c754387c9c5fcd7373eae4136db6c39d5e7e8a28b3c1d7c5dedff230d451d715-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 11 - Practice 1 Nitsuj has been busy for the past week. He hasn't even touched his guitar 😲 Sometimes life gets in the way, and as Sinatra said - that's life! So he might be a little rusty on this first lesson practice for Module 11. Nitsuj is starting with 5 minutes revision with Dreams by FleetwoodMac. Let's see how he feels practicing that F chord. Not bad - How'd you think he did? https://player.vimeo.com/video/433092996 2071 2020-07-08T09:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-4-nk-904 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/897001355-8193870cd9eecbfbab9d4b1e9bdb107804f4b6963436c074d48139c28038f837-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 4 Nitsuj is working hard on his Lesson 9 practice, but he’s sticking with the electric for a bit longer. https://player.vimeo.com/video/421350068 2085 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/more-triad-grips-strings-2-4-3-5-4-6-mt-410 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/738827543-c6852da98ada17431b892f96567589578f9a21678b553490a32785da67998cee-d_295x166?r=pad More Triad Grips (Strings 2-4, 3-5, 4-6) If you can have some fun with the Triads grips you already know, explore these ones too! https://player.vimeo.com/video/300468569 266 2017-11-04T10:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-11-practice-5-nk-115 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/922906171-3375cf6797d30de773f808d372275e19bb0b01505d0006b622466957b4070749-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 11 - Practice 5 It's sizzling hot in the UK - so Nitsuj is cooking in his studio. No such thing as perfect weather, right? Let's start with House of The Rising Sun, then following with a Clapton classic - Wonderful Tonight. Nothing like playing the classics tunes. And - it's already the last practice of Module 11! Nitsuj's Sus chord still needs more work (and other stuff too), but we will keep at it in the next practices. How's your practice coming along? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/437431089 2106 2020-08-15T15:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-9-practice-6-nk-906 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/895859762-c34d8518c70b46d14345cf8a5acaaf00eccbfe4fd91be7b27c98c8afb11ea3ac-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 9 - Practice 6 What’s it like going back to an acoustic after playing an electric for a while? Nitsuj is about to find out. https://player.vimeo.com/video/420488782 2033 2020-05-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-blues-main-lesson-sb-702 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238906-ad31b36575a90a132293face41a30aece2bc89088f6a16dead85960d8e8ae9de-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Blues – Main Lesson A full 12-bar solo Blues built around expressive 6ths, syncopated rhythms, and rich chord movement. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125248625 1165 2025-10-23T04:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hooker-vibe-blues-slow-demo-practice-tips-sb-402 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073189396-513315aa59df084aaf39bbbb8fbc891a2d2a615ae519b25be00037ef8ac530c7-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Hooker Vibe Blues – Slow Demo & Practice Tips Here's your slow playthrough of our Hooker Vibe Blues arrangement and tips for practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129131044 84 2025-10-23T04:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-rock-technique-5-ro-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cYnrIXjR88c/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato Rock Technique 5 this series needs a re-film! https://www.youtube.com/embed/cYnrIXjR88c 226 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-rock-technique-2-ro-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GMrPMz9wH20/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato Rock Technique 2 . https://www.youtube.com/embed/GMrPMz9wH20 412 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/recalling-major-scale-notes-mt-309 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/707485904-8041a4ff2a2ca4c2def05e18c93ffed1e3e980d736c0aaec69313dd133b015d9-d_295x166?r=pad Recalling Major Scale Notes It’s time for one more exercise! Let’s test your knowledge of the Major Scales. https://player.vimeo.com/video/275241404 306 2017-11-04T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/traditional-note-names-mt-396 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/traditional-note-names-mt-396-1.jpg Traditional Note Names Did you know that the traditional note names can actually say a lot about the note function on a scale? https://player.vimeo.com/video/637235205 2021-10-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-13-practice-2-nj-132 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/952028841-a16a8098ad63d872688820b9189779fcd3c42cf2d4c04174eae625abdf624f24-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 13 - Practice 2 Nitsuj is back with you for Module 13 - day 2. Still playing the electric guitar today, he's dedicated to nailing those power chords. Sounding pretty fuzzy. What do you think? https://player.vimeo.com/video/454768789 2071 2020-09-12T20:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-12-practice-4-nk-124 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/928274723-364785aff080a37aa3e4a710377949488a5dd27ba0bc550d0cfe6f207b848b7e-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 12 - Practice 4 In this practice, Nitsuj first has a bit of a go with Wonderwall and Wish You Were Here. Then, we try out Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz. It's hard not to sing along to the chorus of that one, eh? :) Reminder to recognize the progress you made when your practicing the guitar! Sometimes, it can get frustrating - Nitsuj gets it! Learning the guitar is hard. Whether you think your practice went well or not, you're still putting effort in is helping you advance, be proud of that! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/440632958 2078 2020-08-15T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/making-major-chord-grips-into-minors-mt-406 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/708980520-e3ed17a8a1480ef172949a729f80f052e128e2428181c8e8ac3a7d1b0593cad3-d_295x166?r=pad Making Major Chord Grips Into Minors Learn how to work out the four types of triad chords on the guitar fretboard. https://player.vimeo.com/video/276425735 283 2017-11-04T16:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-triad-grips-strings-1-2-3-mt-409 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/738670567-20c85b188bb5dcbd786a0b0bd41b58ce6e2c8a30487394e20dfea79e767dc238-d_295x166?r=pad Minor Triad Grips (Strings 1/2/3) Once you're comfortable with the Major Triad grips, it's time to look at the Minor Triad ones! https://player.vimeo.com/video/300338612 456 2017-11-04T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-primer-main-lesson-sb-602 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238573-2ed9e0bba928ca766868272b533a5e41ed422f06176cdbbd70e3181c2aadd98c-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Primer – Main Lesson Learn to play a low, slow Blues using the interval of a 6th, an essential building block for Blues rhythm and lead. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125205477 1223 2025-10-14T05:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-string-bending-mm-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mTh-x2SnGp4/hqdefault.jpg Introduction to String Bending String bending in a Major Scale context is fantastic - if you do it right! In this lesson, we'll learn all about it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mTh-x2SnGp4 854 2021-08-27T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-string-major-scales-mt-303 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/703044595-c8d3902fc0303e1722d539767b027450a5b0b2af12bbde45eaa1a8c3b4562e8e-d_295x166?r=pad One String Major Scales Apply your scale knowledge on the neck and play any Major Scale on the guitar using only one string! https://player.vimeo.com/video/271678763 266 2017-11-04T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-13-practice-1-nj-131 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/951541190-5fe9dcb185c32c53ecc65e72c5b0eaee16a98d524e384a04f386ffe00d5bad64-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 13 - Practice 1 Confession - Nitsuj hasn't practiced in weeks! Exciting things are cooking, so bear with the rustiness! It's blues weeks - time to get into some blues! 5-minute revisions Nitsuj will muck around with power chords. Why? Because that's what he struggles with the most. It's a good idea to focus on practicing what challenges you the most. This is the best way to grow as a guitar player! https://player.vimeo.com/video/454490844 2155 2020-09-12T17:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/exploring-melodic-sequences-mt-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L2Ryrr6txwA/hqdefault.jpg Exploring Melodic Sequences Learn three melodic sequences to spice up your guitar solos. https://www.youtube.com/embed/L2Ryrr6txwA 819 2021-08-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-13-practice-3-nj-133 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/952175758-60b43a3355237b99242ab033822c72b11bfbb8d283cbd843ba5664ab55eeece1-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 13 - Practice 3 Nitsuj gives the acoustic guitar another try this practice! After playing the iconic Go, Johnny, Go By Chuck Berry, he realized he should focus on his strumming pattern. Those moments are perfect for muting the strings and focusing on the strumming and the accents. It's one of the best ways to reduce distractions around you and fully concentrate on the strumming rhythm! https://player.vimeo.com/video/454856398 2022 2020-09-12T20:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-8-practice-1-nk-801 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/865865794-897b1572f7659584984378b923958a34f9e4781f2d73eba3f54be35ef7c9634b-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 8 - Practice 1 Let’s see how Nitsuj does with his first Grade 2 practice session. https://player.vimeo.com/video/398257808 2360 2020-04-29T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chord-inversions-jumbled-triads-mt-404 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438148090-56e3088b75978ff96a26296bb5385e8f1d60a5003d17b279cf9a7b1edf59f871-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Chord Inversions & Jumbled Triads Inversions change the whole character of a chord, and they're pretty common on guitar! https://player.vimeo.com/video/276429482 372 2017-11-04T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/power-chord-theory-mt-310 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/707488033-a8fe22108070435be505b488750ec08e5d51bbac3087fc34ab7d1cbcbd85721e-d_295x166?r=pad Power Chord Theory Are they electric or really strong? They're our friends who can rock and they're not Major or Minor players! https://player.vimeo.com/video/275243306 352 2017-11-04T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-big-six-essential-notes-mt-301 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/703022062-1f4b59473c1527323e33d3f092eb2971ce7429471d9e7e2163046a5c2a809160-d_295x166?r=pad The Big Six Essential Notes Learn these six notes, and you’re well on your way to understanding the whole guitar fretboard! https://player.vimeo.com/video/271659704 412 2017-11-04T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/straight-or-shuffle-st3-08 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-08-StraightOrShuffle-S.jpg Straight or Shuffle? The difference between straight and swing is subtle but incredibly important! Learn more here. https://player.vimeo.com/video/887461931 2023-11-22T14:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-8-practice-4-nk-804 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/868412157-52b315cb1636f96e411ba31994f6ec158937b7c4c2e3b861492e99dfb5accec5-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 8 - Practice 4 Nitsuj struggles his way through a practice session with finger pain. https://player.vimeo.com/video/400102696 1960 2020-04-29T10:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-11-practice-2-nk-112 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/915424238-ca3e02409d513ed7f1c0227bbbe3aaeae86fb211b59dc55a2a3c4e1e6fa82e38-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 11 - Practice 2 In this practice session, Nitsuj is having a go at revising Wonderwall. Then, he's tackling a R.E.M classic - he's even singing along to this one. The fingerpicking is coming along - he's getting there! When you practice new songs, it's important not to aim for perfection. The key here is to keep going and keep that strumming hand moving! https://player.vimeo.com/video/433119232 2063 2020-07-08T09:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/47-clapton-p2-claptic-bl-547 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i1C0bnX33Dc/hqdefault.jpg #47: Clapton: P2 Claptic TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1C0bnX33Dc 274 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-triad-grips-strings-1-2-3-mt-407 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/738654903-45f41f5c1269dae7d03e89cbb724e9de0a23a4c3093f6be5e55b3a7948385c0c-d_295x166?r=pad Major Triad Grips (Strings 1/2/3) Grab your guitar! It's time to apply all your Triad knowledge and play some songs. https://player.vimeo.com/video/300323301 417 2017-11-04T14:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-fretboard-in-your-mind-mt-435 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/769805471-428df8cc09430f68ae1c4e4590ee3cc0d8c7bb7e28712b5daed32a8843944fa5-d_295x166?r=pad A Fretboard In your Mind This exercise will help you visualize and work out chords, scales, etc., without a guitar! https://player.vimeo.com/video/325920331 466 2018-05-09T17:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finger-tapping-basics-ro-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/268PcyxU4kE/hqdefault.jpg Finger Tapping Basics No text for this lesson yet so have to make do with video until it all calms down and I go through the site one lesson at a time and fix them up! https://www.youtube.com/embed/268PcyxU4kE 519 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-12-practice-1-nk-121 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/928021199-597ba7f1366357a29a9b3847823ff959c4267a850bedfaad703a3bc7db796284-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 12 - Practice 1 It's Rock TIME! That's what Module 12 is all about. And Nitsuj is excited to put all those techniques into practice, including those power chords! So many fun songs to tackle. He'll start with some fingerstyle to make up for the last lesson. Then, we'll venture into some Metallica with Enter The Sandman. Sounding pretty crunchy! What do you think? https://player.vimeo.com/video/440484302 2043 2020-08-15T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/50-srv-p1-9th-hammer-bl-550 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/joDP8ocJbjg/hqdefault.jpg #50: SRV: P1 9th Hammer TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar that it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would be not very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/joDP8ocJbjg 301 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/17-f-king-p1-classic-pk-bl-517 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aZ8Jn39z1jo/hqdefault.jpg #17: F King: P1 ClassiC PK Another classic Freddie King lick here for you, one commonly used by Clapton and many others - geat one for your lick bag :) TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZ8Jn39z1jo 281 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finger-like-a-pick-st-313 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-13-FingerLikePick-S.jpg Finger Like a Pick? Have you ever been in the middle of a song when your pick slips out of your hand? Here's the solution! https://player.vimeo.com/video/883929570 2023-11-22T15:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-rock-technique-6-ro-016 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VXLg8aKmHBQ/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato Rock Technique 6 this series needs a re-film! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXLg8aKmHBQ 360 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dadgad-tuning-es-023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J1FPDv2GHRg/hqdefault.jpg DADGAD Tuning DADGAD tuning is very popular with the folk players and acoustic 'percussion' guitar players such as Andy McKee, Mike Dawes, Pierre Bensusan (it's sometimes called the "Bensusan tuning"), and friends. It sounds awesome and it's easy to while away many hours experimenting with this tuning. It's quite a simple tuning, you're just tuning strings 6, 2 and 1 down one tone. DADGAD Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning D A D G A D Some songs using DADGAD Tuning: Led Zeppelin - Kashmir Stephen Stills - Tree Top Flyer Please suggest more on the forum link below... I'm having trouble thinking of them now, but there are many!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/J1FPDv2GHRg 195 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-on-1-old-faithful-st3-15 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-15-BassOn1-S.jpg Bass On 1: Old Faithful! Play the bass note just on beat one and fill the rest with strumming. Sounds simple, right? https://player.vimeo.com/video/883952500 2023-11-23T16:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-shape-quadads-mt-704 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535285064-8382bdfecae0479ea46a2510847e1780c6bf11995990aabf2ebd9a0d411e89d2-d_295x166?r=pad D Shape Quadads Now we're into our D Shape Quadads (4 Note Chords). the key thing here is the FUNCTION of the notes! Don't think of them as separate entities - they're all linked by the note function - you're just manipulating the chord shapes. Check out the diagram below and LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE 7th & 3rd. This is the key thing here, unlock the puzzle, see the connections. Major 7 The Maj7 is best played using a finger 3 barre on the thinnest three strings. It's not a tricky one, but it's a nice one! Note that the way the notes function in the grip, it's exactly the same 'voicing' as the Major 7, A Shape Grip. Dominant 7 There are not too many ways to finger this one - probably pretty obvious. Minor 7 The Min7 can be played using all 4 fingers or with a finger 2 barre on the thinnest two strings (can be a little tricky when you first try, but worth it). Min7b5 The Min7b5 is best played with a barré, use either finger 2 or 3 - I usually find myself using Finger 3 for the barre but I use Finger 2 as well - just depends on the situation - both are very useful! Diminished 7 The diminished is usually best played with all 4 fingers, not a barré, but sometimes a barré will be preferred in jazz chord melody style. This is probably the most commonly used Diminished Shape - more on the beatuty of diminished chords and scales another time... I'm really hoping at this stage that the concepts going on here are old hat and you totally get how easy it is to manipulate a chord shape into other chords! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402893018 315 2020-01-30T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-3-nk-103 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/911121063-3019800d80c983785d8b4edde98586fde0e2e826e534aae5c8b6bbb671c153a8-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 3 Today, Nitsuj is back on the electric guitar! He'll practice the F chord and F chord changes and see if he can graduate from C to F. And, you'll watch Nitsuj struggle with his second finger. Sometimes, things are harder than expected. This only means it'll be something you'll have to focus on and explore in your next lessons. Starting with a 5 minutes song revision of This Year's Love by David Gray. Nitsuj hasn't played that one in ages. How do you think he did? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/430443091 2205 2020-06-18T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-rock-technique-4-ro-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kSAWwJn2bog/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato Rock Technique 4 this series needs a re-film! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSAWwJn2bog 310 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-rock-licks-for-beginners-ro-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/reJSIZ3ugsE/hqdefault.jpg Fast Rock Licks For Beginners No text for this lesson yet so have to make do with video until it all calms down and I go through the site one lesson at a time and fix them up. https://www.youtube.com/embed/reJSIZ3ugsE 595 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-6-chord-mt-705 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535291709-715823e5c3cbea92d5cceb9cbf08ddac62728f82438ed4c20bca8e2406cc6857-d_295x166?r=pad The Major 6 Chord The Major 6 chord is a very cool sound, used a lot in rockabilly and jazz. It is particularly useful when the melody is playing the root note, as a Maj7 type chord will contain the 7th degree of the scale, which will likely clash with the melody note (because they are a semitone apart). The Major 6 chord contains R 3 5 6, though sometimes the 5th is omitted in this grip, making it easier to play and less dissonant. The names are obvious when you understand what they mean - and I'd like to think that most of you probably assumed it would be a Major chord with an added 6th. Look at the scale chord relationship diagram for D Shape and notice that there is only one obvious place to put the 6th degree (within the thinnest 4 strings). It is easy to see that it is the same as the Dom7, but with the 7th degree moved down one semitone to the 6th. This chord is usually played using a finger 1 barré and fingers 3 and 4 on the other notes. Again I will stress the importance of understanding the relationship of every chord to other chords. https://player.vimeo.com/video/402896712 90 2020-01-31T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/double-drop-d-tuning-es-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gxNluzhdcec/hqdefault.jpg Double Drop D Tuning Double Drop D tuning is VERY easy, you are simply putting the two outside E Strings (6 and 1) down one tone!! Easy Peasy :) Sounds great! Double Drop D Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning D A D G B D Some songs using Double Drop D Tuning: Eric Johnson - Song For George Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl Neil Young - Harvest Moon Justin Sandercoe - From Katie's Window (not that I belong in this list of masters!!) Led Zeppelin - Going To California Please suggest more on the forum link below... I'm having trouble thinking of them now, but there are many!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/gxNluzhdcec 142 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chord-theory-worksheet-mt-402 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438145798-d0ce09f28e552ed208c6a978df1e15b54eb8eb96507a19b8d7f553f1428cdda2-d_295x166?r=pad Triad Chord Theory Worksheet Have you memorized the triad formulas? Then let's practice it! :) We’ll work out the notes that belong to the following chords. https://player.vimeo.com/video/276435260 177 2017-11-04T13:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/drop-d-tuning-es-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h_HVUCSPoXk/hqdefault.jpg Drop D Tuning Drop D tuning is VERY easy but I get people asking about it all the time, so I thought I'd do this quick video to help you out! You only need to tune String 6 (the thickest string) down one tone. That's all :) Drop D Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning D A D G B E https://www.youtube.com/embed/h_HVUCSPoXk 153 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-2-practice-3-nj-203 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854181409-ce8cfbc1af8761d416db67db2f635699834d3e66dea511ea10ddeda8e56c7d78-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 2 - Practice 3 Yes there is a practice session missing! I misplaced the video file and wiped the SD card! https://player.vimeo.com/video/390156593 1371 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-up-your-blues-2-ja-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OBEYUNKAupQ/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Up Your Blues 2 A big part of Jazz is 'Making The Changes' and in this lesson I want to give you a taste and get you going over two chords; A7 and D7. Notes The two arpeggios that you use in this lesson are: https://www.youtube.com/embed/OBEYUNKAupQ 487 2017-10-29T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/quadad-chord-introduction-mt-520 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/773857129-2ae3bfcd48163e20f3253704d5be383d350002de63fa3ab603d449d1f8202c58-d_295x166?r=pad Quadad Chord Introduction You remember Triads, the 3 note chords? Well, it's time to meet Quadads - 4 note chords! https://player.vimeo.com/video/329122385 166 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-arpeggios-mt-411 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/738831652-52a13b478b9da73f12cbed31c0924a54c70a45247c67627c7f5ae3619cf5faad-d_295x166?r=pad Triad Arpeggios It's time to play some arpeggios. I call them liquid chords, remember? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/300471251 396 2017-11-04T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-5-nk-105 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/911951800-de6f3b4d99d490afb223b14be4fff4e30e0f6bef708f817c8906401852da9656-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 5 Today, Nitsuj is testing out a guitar strap to see if it helps relieve some wrist pain! Finding the right comfortable position to play guitar is key and something we learn in the earliest guitar lessons. Being comfortable playing the guitar starts with having a relaxed yet straight posture. And, sometimes, it takes some adjustments to make it feel right. Guitar straps definitely provide a bit of posture relief. So, if you need to, explore to see what feels best for you! Nitsuj starts with a 5 minutes revision of House Of The Rising Sun by Dire Straits. https://player.vimeo.com/video/430981219 1900 2020-07-07T09:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-rock-technique-3-ro-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mKTUCGEjsD0/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato Rock Technique 3 this series needs a re-film! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mKTUCGEjsD0 293 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sussing-out-some-new-sounds-mt-620 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438259401-f6a5c03363309dfc234c8c101ace7c341caa9e9925fe646dbe2753b174eb5a97-d_295x166?r=pad Sussing Out Some New Sounds Next up, we will explore A Shape Suspended chords - a very useful and fun grip to get your fingers around! https://player.vimeo.com/video/401980753 3420 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/thumb-finger-1-st3-06 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-06-ThumbFinger1-S.jpg Thumb & Finger 1 We'll learn how to combine our thumb and first finger to add a new dimension to our playing. https://player.vimeo.com/video/878398735 2023-11-22T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/song-structure-mt-427 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/751437785-51f4696ba56147484fa3c381c12e11ecaef2c4fac6c38e006b165918cf03ca6d-d_295x166?r=pad Song Structure Have you started writing your own songs? https://player.vimeo.com/video/310755579 656 2018-08-23T15:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-e-tuning-es-033 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NUS85SLQkW4/hqdefault.jpg Open E Tuning Open E tuning is used a lot in slide guitar. "Open D" is the same relative tuning, but every note would be down one tone from what is shown below! I much prefer using Open D and putting a Capo at the 2nd fret, but for some songs you wanna be in Open E anyways. It's pretty easy to get going, just tune strings 5 and 4 up one tone and string 3 up a semitone. Open E Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning E B E G# B E Some songs using Open E Tuning: Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter ....??? Please suggest more on the forum... I'm having trouble thinking of them now, but there are many! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NUS85SLQkW4 186 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g-shape-terror-mt-713 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535287497-10d448fddff5ec8f05b7efd183383edf7f4fcce6e55333eda8317dae8c3a3d4e-d_295x166?r=pad G Shape Terror! The last shape that we look at now is the G Shape. This is probably the least used of all the CAGED shapes. This is because many chords in this grip are either very awkward or just impractical. I will show you all the basic forms that are commonly used and a few others that are not really used in the “real world” but are worth looking at. These rare grips are just shown for you to have a complete and solid understanding of the fingerboard and I feel that it would be wrong not to include them. I will show you which of the chords are used and how. Many of them are broken down into smaller more useable shapes. Lets start as usual by looking at the scale and chord relationship. * Remember that there are many ways of playing these scales, the one used here is the one I think best shows the notes around the CAGED Shape! https://player.vimeo.com/video/403006640 203 2020-02-08T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nashville-tuning-es-034 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2JLdPU_RKxc/hqdefault.jpg Nashville Tuning Nashville tuning is a great thing to use when you are tracking an ac acoustic guitar part in the studio, and I am getting into playing by itself too - just sounds cool (you can hear on my vid about my Maton Mini which is the guitar I keep in Nashville most of the time). The notes are the same as regular tuning so just get in there and play and have some fun! String Gauges String gauges are always a personal preference but I have put here the gauge that I use as well as a standard light and medium gauges you might find in a shop. Remember that you may need to make some truss rod adjustments after you move a guitar to Nashville - but I recommend getting that done at a store - I don't like touching truss rods... String -> E (thin) B G D A E (thick) Light .10 .14 .09 .12 .18w .27w Medium .12 .16 .10 .14 .20w .30w Justin's .12 .16 .11 .15 .22w .30w https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JLdPU_RKxc 336 2019-01-18T18:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-6-practice-5-nj-605 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853839962-a01774690a8700d7e148acb12796c775b4d621e287828ad2ba980d3d95aec83a-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 6 - Practice 5 This is Nitsuj’s last practice session for Lesson 6. It may be a very late and awkward time to mention this, but here’s a pro tip: Make sure your guitar is in tune before you start your practice! It seems like such an obvious thing, but it makes such a huge difference to your practice, especially when you’re working on your chords. If the chords don’t sound right, you’ll know it’s because you need to fix something! https://player.vimeo.com/video/389926573 1616 2020-02-28T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walking-easy-blues-ds-101 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876379315-e8e0d3abc8b8c1ccfbedfdf3516d1fd0a0fe07dafdef1046be0d4d3a34ac8a89-d_295x166?r=pad Walking Easy Blues A groovy bassline with some notes played between for a one man band effect! https://player.vimeo.com/video/405997050 2135 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/solo-blues-3-introduction-ds-300 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876782562-d346d835557605620f42131536160ba4838f9f225799954337424871e9391065-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Solo Blues 3 Introduction Even more you want? Ok then, lets have it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406330543 79 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/thumb-faithful-st3-04 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-04-OldFaithfulThumb-S.jpg Thumb Faithful Play the strumming pattern that every guitarist should know using only your thumb! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878372805 2023-11-22T13:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-1-practice-3-nj-103 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853777264-62c23afd9af1f698f8ef77d353bc41d45f114927fb9648ad8a642cc6c772f31c-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 1 - Practice 3 A breakthrough! After just a few sessions, Nitsuj is feeling significantly more comfortable with his left-handed practice routine. Sometimes, it just takes getting over that initial hump of awkwardness and discomfort. https://player.vimeo.com/video/389888171 1434 2019-12-19T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/alternating-bass-lines-st3-10 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-10-AlternatingBassLines-S.jpg Alternating Bass Lines Let's master alternating our bass lines! We'll dive deeper into Country and Western Guitar techniques. https://player.vimeo.com/video/885153456 2023-11-22T15:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/angus-young-ac-dc-style-licks-ro-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S5e-5t2GU1Q/hqdefault.jpg Angus Young (AC/DC) Style Licks Angus Young licks are often blues licks played a little faster and a lot louder ;) In this lesson I take you through 6 classic Angus licks. Remember that you should now practice each lick (in other keys too) and then deliberately use the lick in improvisations over backing tracks and mix them in with licks that you already know. Experiment with each one and try and get at least five variations of each one. Download the pdf file of the licks - Simply click the PDF link in the right column (under the ad!) or below on smaller screens. https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5e-5t2GU1Q 853 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/slow-six-blues-ds-201 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876587116-daa749a7f3e550b7deaef956e2cf0f2b342ecc053e38ea4cfcdd2629bce7eecb-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Slow Six Blues The interval of a 6th is a real fun thing to explore and so in this arrangement I show you ways to mix it in! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406135551 3244 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/master-finger-drumming-st3-09 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-09-Allthe8ths-S.jpg Master Finger Drumming Explore the dynamic realm of finger drumming and witness its transformative power on your rhythm playing. https://player.vimeo.com/video/878426645 2023-11-23T15:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/solo-blues-1-introduction-ds-100 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876339683-099e1da960cd38f466f40e2c98faef5cb1733c67fe6fcef6cac86818034f7bb9-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Solo Blues 1 Introduction Getting started on your Solo Blues journey with a chat and basic FAQ. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405994082 246 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-muted-hit-finger-version-st3-11 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-11-MutedHit-S.jpg The Muted Hit - Finger Version! The same muted hit you already know, but with a new spice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878448431 2023-11-22T15:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/8ths-with-kick-snare-st3-12 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-12-8sKickSnare-S.jpg 8ths with Kick & Snare! This is one of my a--time favorite strumming patterns, and it works great on the acoustic guitar! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878458084 2023-11-23T15:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-g-tuning-es-031 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hKmdTvfjqSU/hqdefault.jpg Open G Tuning Open G Tuning was probably the first ever open tuning I learned, suddenly all the Rolling Stones songs I'd been playing before sounded 'right' and it was very exciting. It's also used a lot in slide guitar. It's pretty easy to get going, just tune strings 6, 5, and 1 down one tone! Note that "Open A" is the same relative tuning, but every note would be up one tone from what is shown below! Open G Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning D G D G B D Some songs using Open G Tuning: Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman Rolling Stones - Start Me Up The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet Please suggest more on the forum link below... I'm having trouble thinking of them now, but there are many!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKmdTvfjqSU 281 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-d-tuning-es-032 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tROtu9IpI0g/hqdefault.jpg Open D Tuning Open D tuning is used a lot in slide guitar. "Open E" is the same relative tuning, but every note would be up one tone from what is shown below! The problem with Open E is that you have to tune strings up, where with Open D you just tune them down... use a capo on 2 to get to Open E! It's pretty easy to get going, just tune strings 6, 2, and 1 down one tone and string 3 down a semitone. Open D Tuning String 6 5 4 3 2 1 Tuning D A D F# A D Some songs using Open D Tuning: ??? my mind has gone blank!!! but there are loads!! Please suggest more on the forum link below... I'm having trouble thinking of them now, but there are many! https://www.youtube.com/embed/tROtu9IpI0g 214 2018-01-17T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-blues-main-lesson-sb-902 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072240400-cc0b95518da6d0d84e36cc57271b1257abe6d31de38d88948dde468477ea25a9-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Blues – Main Lesson This is the full Gospel Blues arrangement—the follow-up to the Gospel Blues Primer. There’s a lot going on in this one! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125293707 1232 2025-10-23T04:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-6-common-chords-in-key-mt-429 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/749474127-cd5dc2a53efeeca06a69ea16b7799a1f8f58fae4a9185227f0e540f204b2f9ce-d_295x166?r=pad The 6 Common Chords In Key Here are the six common chords in key that you really need to memorize. https://player.vimeo.com/video/309147158 192 2019-01-02T12:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/thumb-up-accent-st3-16 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-16-ThumbUpAccent-S.jpg Thumb Up Accent This technique has always been somewhat out of my comfort zone, but learning it is important! https://player.vimeo.com/video/883958623 2023-11-22T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/more-finger-tapping-ro-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pH15YwgDhfQ/hqdefault.jpg More Finger Tapping No text for this lesson yet so have to make do with video until it all calms down and I go through the site one lesson at a time and fix them up! https://www.youtube.com/embed/pH15YwgDhfQ 600 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-legato-ro-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4ls_8xIjBzM/hqdefault.jpg Fast Legato . https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ls_8xIjBzM 226 2017-10-30T16:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/c-shape-major-to-minor-mt-708 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535290038-e6fe7994eed67a4d81a0585fc27705b8c0195ae0e6fb97c2df07b6906ca36cc7-d_295x166?r=pad C Shape Major To Minor C Shape Major The major shape is pretty easy, requires all 4 fingers to be used and a half barre with your first finger. The 5th's on the outside strings are not playable with the full grip (unless you can hold down the two thickest strings with your little finger - technical prowess like that is reserved for Tommy Emmanuel!). C Shape Minor The minor grip presents more challenges - the only way to play that full grip is to use an angled barre with Finger 1 which is extremely difficult (I can't do it!) and far from practical for most people. The C Shape minor grip is not used a lot compared with other minor grips, but you should know it and include it in your practice routine so that you can use it when you need to. Below are two of the more practical options - the first is one I find very challenging but I do see people use it from time to time... though it's not common. The second is easier and more practical and I do find myself using this one fairly often - just the missing root note on the bass makes it less useful in some circumstances. https://player.vimeo.com/video/402904310 281 2020-02-03T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-island-blues-ds-203 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876781485-a8909f48079bdabbf672fc28b9b380dfccb255a4cf7fafd61b963b8a05543e16-d_295x166?r=pad Raggy Island Blues Tassie boy that's a bit rough 'round the edges! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406237585 2273 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-techniques-1-b-sm-002 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/883000185-1b79475de0406f115b4d0e4bc10bb2797be61a346e7ae94483efd811980d4f13-d_295x166?r=pad Strumming Techniques 1 B Please download the PDF booklet for Strumming 1 in the downloads tab of the previous lesson. Watch or download the second half of the film here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/410959034 3475 2020-04-30T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-vi-ii-v-chord-sequence-substitutions-ja-030 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UHyK8yCNAXc/hqdefault.jpg I-VI-II-V Chord Sequence Substitutions A great way to get using your chord extensions and substitutions is to apply them to the I VI II V chord progression. It forms the first part of "rhythm changes" (more on that whole sequence in a later lesson). Check out the vid and then the sequences are below for further analysis. Further Reading... The I VI II V is one of the most common chord sequences in jazz (after the II V I) and it is a great sequence to use to practice chords and grips, and also scales and single line solos. In this lesson I showed you 10 variations on the basic progression. YOU MUST LISTEN - just because I say here that you can substitute them, you MUST LISTEN to the substitution and see if it sounds good. I can't stress that enough dudes, really... it's the most important thing in this whole lesson, in fact all these lessons... just listen to what you are doing. Don't let theory rule. Music is about listening, it's about what it sounds like - do things cos they sound good, not cos I showed you then here and said you could! So enough of my ranting then, lets look at the sequences... Note: I am using the American jazz symbols here ∆ = major, - = minor and ˚ is diminished. I VI II V I 1. C∆7 A-7 D-7 G7 C∆7 2. C∆7 A7 D-7 G7 C∆7 3. C∆7 A7 D7 G7 C∆7 4. C∆7 Eb7 D-7 Db7 C∆7 5. C∆7 A7 Ab7 G7 C∆7 6. E-7 A7 D-7 G7 C∆7 7. E-7 Eb7 D-7 Db7 C∆7 8. C∆7 C#˚ D-7 D#˚ E-7 9. C∆7 C#˚ D-7 D˚ C∆7 10. C∆7 Eb∆7 Ab∆7 Db∆7 C∆7 OK, some notes about each one... 1. The standard diatonic sequence. All in the key of C. Easy. 2. Changing the A-7 to A7 because A is the V chord of the key of D. We can make it a dominant chord, and alter it too because it's functioning! sweet. 3. Next we change the D-7 to D7 because D is the V of the key of G. It's functioning so we can alter it - but for some reason it doesn't sound so cool to my ears... especially if you alter each of the dominants in this sequence it sounds rubbish - why? because the tension created by the altered sound must resolve, and without the resolution it just sound yuk. 4. This time we use TT Subs on the V... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHyK8yCNAXc 694 2017-10-30T05:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-expand-your-palette-blim-m0-i0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1768104754-ffabe807e458651ef0fc63f19a2c15b9bfe78220597d3acbf5aa5f998325ee93-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: Expand Your Palette Immerse yourself with curated playlists and listening notes, fostering a deep connection to the rich language of the Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/891152592 62 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/best-chord-changes-to-work-on-b1-702 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SNYMRZqopi8/hqdefault.jpg Best Chord Changes To Work On Too many chord changes to practice? Focus on those ones! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SNYMRZqopi8 199 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finding-triads-under-your-fingers-mt-405 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/708979990-ae46c88330a47c5c988d1f2f9b03dfc492899bd2d81006a8fa02d5913e4e7f93-d_295x166?r=pad Finding Triads Under Your Fingers Let the magic start! Finding triad chords on the fretboard is incredible - and it's time for you to do it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/276427482 194 2017-11-04T14:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sus-chord-grips-mt-552 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775577141-a359a2638ccf3b904ce94261beb23ab2dc8b5924670259bb27d22c924811be50-d_295x166?r=pad Sus Chord Grips Let's get some Sus chords under your fingers! https://player.vimeo.com/video/330492616 233 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-up-your-blues-4-ja-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kXmVu3Yxofo/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Up Your Blues 4 Same chords as before with a different approach ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/kXmVu3Yxofo 392 2017-10-29T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-up-your-blues-1-ja-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Kdmis6mucJc/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Up Your Blues 1 I still have to do notes for these, but i think the vid explains it pretty well for now... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kdmis6mucJc 589 2017-10-29T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-guitar-basics-4-bc-165 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iT2FK3IzWPE/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Guitar Basics 4 You don't wear these ties around your neck, you tie notes together with them! They have the effect of making strumming patterns sound more natural than those we have looked at up until now. EVERYONE struggles with these a little when they first have a go at them, but if you follow my advice in the video you should be fine. The pattern we are going to learn is probably the most common strumming pattern of all time. It is really easy and sounds great. RUST 9 So, first of all, what is a tie? Well, a tie is a little curved line that goes between two notes and ‘ties' those two notes together. Have a look at the pattern below, the middle two notes are tied together, this means that you don't play the second of the two. So you would count ‘1, 2 and, and 4'; you don't strum on ‘3'; you let the chord ring on from the ‘and' after ‘2'. There is only one ‘trick' to this, and that is the trick to all strumming patterns: KEEP YOUR HAND MOVING. Don't let it pause after the up-strum before the tie and then have to rush down to get the next up-strum. This is the most common mistake that people make. Keep that hand moving! Playing along with me in the video will help you the most. Once you can play it, you need to do it over and over again – drill it in so that it becomes natural to do it. This for many guitarists is THE strumming pattern, and I have met quite a few singer-songwriters that use this pattern in every song! That's not necessarily recommended, but you will use this pattern a whole lot once you get it comfortable. This pattern comes up so often, I call it ‘old faithful'. You can rely on it to work most of the time, so it's a great one to try out first if you are not sure what to use. Moving On... Next up we will be looking at picking just one string at a time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iT2FK3IzWPE 578 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/c-shape-quadads-mt-710 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535288436-df7695e7abc2d4d676b50661363ad6ff1eedf32c8a6d92754952547b427d18c1-d_295x166?r=pad C Shape Quadads The fun with the C Shape keeps getting better as we look at the 7th chord grips. Major Type Quadads In C Shape The Major 7th shape is pretty straight forward, quite easy to play and sounds great, but you will see that adapting them to the other types of 7th chords are not quite as straight forward as for the earlier chord shapes. You can see by looking at the Major 7th that the 7th degree needs to move over to the 3rd string when we flatten it for the Dominant 7. It is possible to move it back a fret if you play like Johnny Smith and like big stretchy grips! Move that note back one fret more and you get the Major 6 chord - this is a very nice sounding grip - very commonly used. Minor Type Quadads In C Shape The Minor 7 grip shown above is very nice, sounds cool and is very useful. I usually use a barre with Finger 1 and then Fingers 3/4 on the other 2 notes, but use an option that is comfortable for you. This Min7b5 grip removes the root from the bass and is quite easy to play and is a useful one to use, especially in jazz minor ii-V-I progressions. The last grip, the Diminished 7 is the same as we had for D Shape - we got to it a different way but it is still the same physical shape - remember that every note in a diminished 7 chord can be a root note! Logic / Memory Make sure that you get the NOTE FUNCTION to memory as that is what will help you form all the chord types. You should have the chord construction knowledge already now - so it's just a matter to combining your knowledge with a basic shape and you'll find you're able to play many chords from memory! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402986752 472 2020-02-05T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-6-in-e-a-and-d-shapes-mt-712 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535287927-537c9e093a894ca49cd5ad424479d0495bb33c3adb44d5c80c33d4ff8f6ad7a5-d_295x166?r=pad Minor 6 in E, A, and D Shapes It would be worth comparing all your major 6 grips with these minor 6 ones and noting the similarities and differences. E Shape Minor 6 The E Shape grip is a very tasty grip and sounds very cool moving from the min7 to min6 for bossa style jazz. A Shape Minor 6 The A Shape in the centre is a little different from the E Shape grip for Maj6 but sounds very hip. Maybe you should work out the other version too? (hint;)) D Shape Minor 6 The last D Shape is pretty standard and is obviously derived from the Maj6 grip. Note that the A Shape and D Shape have the same 'intervallic structure', that is the order of functioning notes (low to high) is the same. https://player.vimeo.com/video/403001348 289 2020-02-07T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-4-practice-5-nj-405 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/868111022-8bfd31a4ddf26a2b3c99fd59c1df30020f94eae6993ecaeb177e451b74a7217e-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 4 - Practice 5 This is the last practice for Lesson 4 of Justin’s Beginner’s Course! Nitsuj is finally feeling confident enough in his playing and his mastery of Lesson 4 concepts to move on to Lesson 5, though this cold weather seems to have frozen his fingers stiff. Gotta love winters in the UK! https://player.vimeo.com/video/399873165 1548 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-blues-improvising-sb-704 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238992-44f85203d7a5ec6163ed6b41d531138e7b5135ecdcac84495a6ff2dea2e87564-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Blues – Improvising Learn how to experiment with rhythm, variations, and phrasing to make the 6th Low & Slow Blues arrangement your own! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125277017 684 2025-10-23T04:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-30-open-q-a-lv-103b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YisvP5GH1FM/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 30 - Open Q&A Topics Covered - Open Q&A Session 00:05 Today’s theme: Working out chord melody arrangements. 04:00 “In My Life” (Beatles): Finding the melody by ear/ how to play the melody along with the chords/ moving chords around the fretboard/ substituting chords/ alternative bass notes. 16:30 Notes over a chord- e.g. can you hear if it’s a 3rd or a 5th? 18:10 Strumming too hard- how to tone it down. 19:00 Staying disciplined with a practice routine. 19:50 Masterclasses in the UK – any plans? 20:30 Guitar players Justin would like to meet in person. 21:10 Transcribing Melodies. 22:10 Banjo – can Justin play one? 22:15 Female guitar players Justin would like to meet. 23:45 “Under the bridge”- finding the melody. 25:40 Fretbuzz on my A string. 26:25 Ana Vidovic (amazing classical player) 26:55 AC/DC –has Justin seen them live? 27:30 How to become a guitar god :) 29:00 Rolling Stones- possible lessons? 29:40 Henry Wayne Shepherd. 30:15 Pentatonic rut- how to break out of it. 33:35 Australian songbook- what’s in it? 34:20 Justin’s assistant. 34:37 The Guitar Institute- does Justin still teach there? 35:00 Derek Trucks (slide guitar player). 36:00 How long till things started “to click” for Justin? 37:45 String gauges- what does Justin use? 39:00 Would Justin have rather been a star? 41:08 Why are lessons not on Guitar Pro? 41:22 “From Katie’s Window” Justin’s song- who is Katie? 42:15 How to meet other guitar players? 42:32 Swing feel and how to play it. 44:08 What’s the longest time Justin has gone without playing? 44:30 PRS guitars/ graphite/ carbon guitars. 44:45 Diminished bar chords- how to play. 46:05 Walking bass notes and Jazz chord progressions. 47:50 Justin’s new hat :) 48:10 Travis picking. 49:10 Bass lessons. 49:50 Strumming without a pick. 50:55 Alternate picking- how to improve. 51:58 Effects pedal- Justin’s favourite. 52:10 Possible future meet ups. 52:42 Modal licks. 53:15 Pedals/ pedalboard lesson. 53:40 Justin’s favourite guitar solo. 54:15 Improvising solos with scales. 55:05 Top guitars Justin can’t l... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YisvP5GH1FM 3739 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chord-consolidation-mt-719 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535285380-998168e533e98de941e03d2c4196594a7c1d9ecd4f81868b557d5eb63bb33832-d_295x166?r=pad Chord Consolidation Here we are at the last lesson in this CAGED Chord Manipulation series. Lets just re-cap on what you have learnt. A massive 55 Chord grips (11 in each position). Multiply that by the 12 chromatic steps and you get an awesome 660 chords! A solid understanding of how chords are constructed and the ability to make up your own new grips. A clear picture of how the CAGED system allows you to position each chord all over the fingerboard. Where to now? Well, you have probably noticed that we have not yet covered 9 11 and 13 chords yet, or chord with alterations (#5 #9 b5 or b9). These chords are more complex as they contain more notes and the grip possibilities expand a great deal. They will be covered in a future pack. But you should have enough of an understanding to go at them alone if you fancy a challenge ;) I would recommend that you take some time to properly master these chord grips. Get them all into your memory. Use them. Don’t just learn them. Jazz is a great place to use them and a basic understanding of jazz harmony makes a lot of other music make sense too, especially in the areas of key changes and chord progressions. Something we will be looking at very soon. I would also recommend that you spend some time finding some other ways of playing these chords. There are many more than those shown in this pack and in the following reference guide. I hope that you will not use the reference pages often; I strongly advise you get them into your head as soon as possible. You know the logic and how the chords are related so it should not be too hard. Start your own chord book of chords that you know. It will help you remember them if you have them written down. It helps your mind keep them in a logical place. When you learn a new grip check out how it relates to other grips that you already know. Link in new information and you will remember it a lot easier. https://player.vimeo.com/video/403262136 299 2020-04-02T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/download-your-jam-tracks-blim-m0-j0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895881357-4c73f9af427dd755145c296a64acfa80f420a3bc8df57e6cf785aa2895f76f2b-d_295x166?r=pad Download Your Jam Tracks Recorded live, these backing tracks provide a dynamic and authentic musical jam to play along with. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902933293 65 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/whole-neck-transcribing-exercise-blim-u6-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954390896-84658c1095073793476a4dd77bdd441e8c9a50c05f115010e80d2bc0a1089b4a-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Whole Neck Transcribing Exercise Your transcribing exercise for Unit 6 involves a whole-neck adventure! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029531013 23 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/solo-blues-2-introduction-ds-200 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876478443-0cb956adcbb5d3dca4710f502814f4203b3f435466aabc4f5351104a64e252f7-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Solo Blues 2 Introduction You want some more? He's another three fun arrangements! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406104912 100 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-6-bc-162 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J_xZ5h_Yb4s/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (Stage 6) We've got a whole heap of chords by this stage... and so you have some work to do! Now that we have introduced the F chord, you have to work on every chord that we've looked at so far and its change to F... or do you? 1 Minute Changes What you will find as you progress is that some chords sound good combined with other chords, and some sound a bit odd. Up to this point we've been looking at changing between all the chords to get your fingers working well, but now I want you to start to focus on chord changes that you will actually use. Suggested changes are: F to C - 3rd finger stays on as an anchor F to E - Slide the barre off and use fingers 2/3/4 to play the E Chord!* F to D - All change F to Am - All change F to G - All change * Playing the E chord with fingers 2, 3 and 4 is not normally recommended, but is very useful sometimes. It's for you to work out when, because it really depends on the situation. The examples I have given you here are chords which are very often heard in songs with F so they will all need work, but from now on I want you to think about the chord changes you actually need to use for the songs you want to play. So, if you come across a chord change that you find difficult in a song, add it into your One-Minute Changes! Even if that part of your schedule is full, add it in there and do that extra minute in your practice session. You know better than anyone what chords you need to work on the most, because you know what songs you play and what you want to play! So after working on the examples above, think carefully about the ones you will work on next! Moving On... OK, next it's time to start using a capo. https://www.youtube.com/embed/J_xZ5h_Yb4s 220 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-6-practice-schedule-bc-169 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_NrUvgrrkL0/hqdefault.jpg Stage 6 Practice Schedule Now we have added another exercise and split up the five minutes of technical work. Make sure you are using your timer, and make full use of the two minutes that you are working on on the finger workout. The timer will help keep you focused! Stage 6 Practice Schedule Description Time Finger Workout 2 mins Basic Picking Exercise 3 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- F to C 1 min --- F to E 1 min --- F to D 1 min --- F to Am 1 min --- F to G 1 min Rhythm Guitar Practice (RUST #9 tap foot and ties) 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember F is going to be hard. It's going to take some work. But don't be discouraged; pretty much everyone struggles with it, which is why it has such a bad reputation! But it's nice really! Just get stuck in and nail that sucker! Being able to play F cleanly is partly to do with muscle strength, which will take time and practice to develop. Yes, having a good technique will help a whole lot, but it's also just going to take some time to get used to, and changing chords to and from it will also take time to get right. Finger Workout Please remember that this exercise is about developing your finger strength and independence and stretch, so please don't do it fast, there is no point! Basic Picking Exercise Just be working on this slowly and get used to the idea that sometimes you want to play just one string at a time. We will be learning some easy scales soon, so we want to get your picking used to the idea. Don't try and be too fast, keep it easy and slow and as accurate as you can. Chord Practice Remember that the point of this exercise is to get your chords sounding clear and train your fingers to go to exactly the right spot to get the chord sounding great. Start with a strum and then pick each note individually, except any strings that have the X next to them that you don't play. Try to play the notes with the tips of your fingers. Remember that dead sounding notes need to be fixed and the usual causes are e... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_NrUvgrrkL0 287 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/single-line-blues-ds-301 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/877362281-73d59d9c71d7a9a5f9b6adac0ab413a35ad4e859d4df9a82ecd450b26fa06a92-d_295x166?r=pad Single Line Blues  An approach to including single note licks into a 'Solo Blues' style arrangement. https://player.vimeo.com/video/406795250 2405 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-3-practice-2-nj-302 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854299085-55e169cc5b4ae41ea60e774696da1ae5985173e2da4f22701334774c751a10d0-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 3 - Practice 2 Is jet lag a decent enough excuse to miss a practice? How about a general lack of sleep? For some, maybe. For Nitsuj? Certainly not! Here goes Practice 2 in Canada, sleep-deprived and all. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390239620 1329 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/arpeggios-why-how-which-when-ar-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6o3lWAnWCig/hqdefault.jpg Arpeggios: Why? How? Which? When? So what is all this arpeggio stuff all about then? Well, I'm glad you asked... they are really a lot of fun and if you are ready to take your playing up a gear then these could be for you! What are arpeggios? Arpeggios are the notes of a chord played one at a time. I think of them as 'liquid chords' (or chords could be 'frozen arpeggios'). When you practice an arpeggio you would usually start with playing the notes in order, for example, Root note, 3rd, 5th, 7th for a Major 7th Arpeggio. Most arpeggios are just 4 notes each, it is possible to play 9th, 11th and 13 arpeggios but they are a lot less common and there are other easier ways to use the 4 note type that gives you all the notes (if you are new to arpeggios then don't go there yet, but it's Superimposing Arpeggios). When put into use in a real playing environment you do not need to play the notes in order, they can be jumbled up much like the way you would use notes in a scale and in many ways they are similar... but: • When we learn scales we learn a bunch of notes that fit over the chords in a certain key. • When we learn an arpeggio we learn a bunch of notes that fit over a particular chord. How are arpeggios used? Arpeggios are used over specific chords, and you would change arpeggio every time a chord changes. Yes, you heard that right. I still clearly remember sitting on the floor about 15 years old with my jam buddy Andy, and we were trying to play the Miles Davis song Freddy Freeloader. We both knew our arpeggio shapes but were really struggling to change with the chords. When I realised later that the fast be-bop jazz players were changing arpeggio every bar at 240 beats per minute, I almost gave up... But it doesn't have to be like that. They can be used very easily in basic melody playing and in blues, they are not only for use in Jazz, but if you want to play jazz you MUST learn all your arpeggios and how to use them. Examining a 12 Bar Blues is a good introduction. When you start learning to play blues you will most likely be playing a min... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6o3lWAnWCig 871 2017-10-30T17:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/common-chord-progressions-mt-422 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/749444733-f3e07e2ee1b960dd0f13a87d3b8802b8267473c6ec051e0ee19d4f29cdf4bebf-d_295x166?r=pad Common Chord Progressions These chord progressions form the foundation of thousands of songs. Do I have to say anything else? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/309125590 418 2018-05-09T17:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tritone-substitution-ja-028 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SbOaHQZwJg4/hqdefault.jpg Tritone Substitution Tritone substitution is a very cool jazz chord substitution. Before watching this you should have done the previous lessons in this series - without a solid understanding of Functioning Dominants and Altered Harmony this is going to mess with your head. Do things in the right order and you stand a lot better chance of understanding it. So check out the video and then if your head's not hurting too much then there are more notes below that should help make things as clear as mud for you ;) Further Reading... Like I said, some of this is easier to understand when you read it, well I think anyhow... A tritone substitution can be used when a V chord is functioning (going to the I). The V7 chord can be substituted by another 7th chord a tritone (augmented 4th) away. I always think of the tritone interval as being "diagonal" because it goes one fret up and one string over! So the basic idea here is looking the notes of G7 and Db7 - the 3rd and 7th of the two chords are the same! We've left out the 5th of each chord, it's not an essential. Root 3rd 7th G7 G B F Db7 Db F B Notice here that the 3rd and 7th are the same notes just swapped over and that the Db note is the flat 5 of G - which is a note we know we can add to Functioning Dominants (using Altered Theory). APPLY IT - before getting in any deeper I would go and try and stick that tritone substitution (often shortened to "TT sub") in wherever you can - just pick a Standard tune and see where you can add it in - it will be the same places that you were able to use altered harmony - where there was a functioning V chord. TT sub Extensions OK not we're gonna get funky with some heavy music theory... if you are not familiar with modes, you wanna go check out my modes course! Please bring into your mind the Altered Theory that we looked at a few lessons back. We played the Ab Melodic Minor Scale over the G7 chord and got a whole heap of cool extensions. This is the "Altered Scale" or the "Superlocrian Mode" - the 7th mode of the Melodic Minor scale. G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SbOaHQZwJg4 576 2017-10-30T04:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/linking-patterns-licks-concepts-bl-611 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Miaeg9a0jiA/hqdefault.jpg Linking Patterns: Licks & Concepts In this lesson we're going to be looking at 5 licks that you can use to link your pentatonic patterns - but more importantly we're going to be looking the CONCEPTS behind the licks so you can adapt and explore the licks many different ways. This 'concept' idea is a very big deal and something you should try to take on board in many aspects of your playing as you grow and need more food than the licks themselves ;) Lick TABs The concept is this: note - note - slide to next position. Nail it in this lick and them move it to other patterns and see where it takes you. Remember sometimes it'll take you somewhere awkward and sour, but other times it'll take you somewhere awesome... remember the latter! The concept here is just not being afraid to jump with any finger, in this case it's Finger 1, but it's just something I feel a lot of people are scared of - like they need something fancy to move pattern, but you don't! Pick, flick, slide. It's just a little pattern you can explore and have some fun with. Experiment. Reverse it? What else could you do to explore the concept? do it! The rhythmic echo is a great tool for shifting position and you'll find with some practice it makes your playing sound more 'musical too! This one is another common concept used on strings 1&2 so I thought I'd displace it for you. Play a note on string 3, play the nearest scale note on string 2, back to the first note and then slide to the next patter. Repeat. How else can you do it? other string pairs? do they have to be next to each other? can you do the same but do down the neck? try it! Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize and work in all 5 of these licks and then explore the concept behind each one. Try and get into the schedule below. Stage 1 - Learn The Lick - 5 Minutes Get the lick under you fingers. Make sure the notes are clean, bends are in tune, no open strings ringing out and you can play it rhythmically correctly. Stage 2 - Use The Lick - 5 Minutes Jam the lick over a backing track. Start with it 'as wr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Miaeg9a0jiA 1093 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-4-bl-605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CszE9HfyYcQ/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern 4 In this lesson we're going to be learning Pattern 4 of the Minor Pentatonic. Lot of really cool licks live in this pattern and it's fun one to explore. As with previous patterns the fingering can change a lot depending on the phrase you're playing. Scale Diagrams Note that on string 2 there are many different fingers that work well depending on the lick you are playing! Again, remember that the Blue Note is not often best played in a scale up and down, but added as a spice when you want that flavour ;) Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize Pattern 4 and be sure you know where the root notes are and where the blue notes are located. I would recommend two 5 minutes practice sessions a day. Session 1 - 5 Minutes Play the scale up and down, pausing on the root notes (or at least registering where they are) and exploring different fingering options. Playing it up and down with one finger will also help create the shape in your mind. Session 2 - 5 Minutes The second 5 minutes should be improvising over a backing back track and exploring the scale, you hopefully know that the words are the key to making music out of your scales but just exploring on your own can be very helpful too. It's likely that you will stumble on a few words just messing around. Do remember what notes are good to bend (and how far) and see how they feel! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues Junior Wells is a singer and harmonica player but this record features the legend Buddy Guy on guitar and he's smokin on it. Listen to In The Wee Hours and then SRV's Tin Pan Alley... you can bet that SRV took a lot from this record! Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/CszE9HfyYcQ 1109 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-essentials-rm-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dIYw6gFhj98/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Essentials Learn the basic rhythmic terms and get started with rhythm dictation! By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to read and write simple patterns! https://www.youtube.com/embed/dIYw6gFhj98 1894 2021-03-05T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/understanding-rests-rm-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZRyaSrM6JBg/hqdefault.jpg Understanding Rests You should know how to write complete silence in strumming patterns! We call them rests. Learn all about it here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZRyaSrM6JBg 1225 2021-05-07T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/understanding-music-ties-strumming-patterns-rm-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6DHelkAJlcE/hqdefault.jpg Understanding Music Ties & Strumming Patterns Learn about musical ties and start transcribing rhythm! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6DHelkAJlcE 2276 2021-03-20T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-8-practice-5-nk-805 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875172670-decb44c65535628c0fb13552661bad757e6c4394cb4e5a4526ecbf14cd9a5af6-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 8 - Practice 5 With his fifth practice session in the bag, Nitsuj just might be ready to move on to Lesson 9. https://player.vimeo.com/video/405028021 2244 2020-04-29T10:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diminished-as-a-7b9-chord-ja-029 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0oSCcySR32I/hqdefault.jpg Diminished as a 7b9 Chord In this lesson we are going to check out a way to use the diminished chord as a 7b9 chord. Again this applies ONLY to functioning dominants. I wrote on the video it was a Substitution, but in thinking more about it, it's not really a substitute, just a new way of using a chord shape. Watch the vid and then check out the notes below... Further Reading... The the theory behind this is pretty simple... very useful and lots of fun. Used a lot my the neoclassical metal players (Malmsteen and co) as well as jazzers, although the approach is very different of course. So the basic principle here is that the notes in a diminished chord can be seen as a 7b9 chord (A dominant 7th with an added b9). If we look at the notes of a G# diminished chord and compare them to the notes in a G7 it's pretty obvious. G# Diminished G# B D F notes as G7 b9 3rd 5th b7 So you can see there that the notes of the G# diminished are actually the notes you would find in a G7b9 chord (without the root note) which is why it works. Try it out, it sounds cool - just replace a functioning dominant chord with a diminished chord that has it's root note a semitone higher. Have a go with that now and see where it sounds good. You must listen when you use this chord You should be listening all the time, but because the diminished as a 7b9 has a natural 5th it's essential that you listen to it and see if it's working or not. If the melody is using a #5 or b5 then using this is gonna sound pretty horrible, and in a real life jazz environment, all the players will have their ears open and reacting to each other. Noobs like me might like to decide with the people they are playing with first so you don't get a clash of the chord player playing this and the soloist using the altered scale. But check it out. The composers intention When a composer writes a chord a 7b9 he often means to imply this diminished harmony. Not always, but often. When it is intended to show an altered harmony the composer will often use 7#9, or 7alt. When a composer wishes a whole to... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0oSCcySR32I 484 2017-10-30T05:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-vi-ii-v-chord-variation-exercise-ja-031 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DwJzxA6Lks8/hqdefault.jpg I-VI-II-V Chord Variation Exercise I was shown this exercise by my teacher and friend, and awesome guitar player (one of the best modern jazz players I think I've heard) Carl Dewhurst (he's now back in Australia). I spent many hours playing with it and still do, it's always a challenge and fun to get new chords into it, so I'm sure you will enjoy it too. Check out the video and then the notes below. Further Reading... The rules of the game: The chord sequence must remain I VI II V The melody note (highest note of chord) must move up chromatically (or as near chromatically as possible). That is it :) easy rules. Looks kinda easy but it's a hard game. Just like snooker. The first sequence I use in the video was: C∆6 : x 3 2 2 1 x A9 : 5 x 5 4 2 x D-7 : x 5 3 5 3 x G7#5: 3 x 3 4 4 x C∆7: x 3 5 4 5 x A7#5: 5 x 5 6 6 x D-11: x 5 7 5 8 x (we missed out the note F# here because that would make the chord major) G7b9: x 10 9 10 9 x C∆6: 8 x 9 9 10 x A7b9: x 12 11 12 11 x D-6: 10 x 10 10 10 12 x G7b5: x 10 12 10 14 x (we missed out the note C here because I prefer the funky b5 to the 11th) C∆9: x 15 14 16 15 x Notice the top note moving chromatically. There are many variations to try, some I can think of now are: Put the melody (top note) on the thinnest string. Start in the same position with different melody (eg, start as above but on C∆9: x 3 2 4 3 x) - this is shown in the video too as an example. Instead of chromatic movement, you can try making the melody jump in Tones, or follow half / whole steps, or anything else you can think of. Use tritone subs and 7b9 subs and any others you know... Exercises like this get more fun, the more you play with them... what about changing the chord sequence... trying the whole chromatic movement of melody line in a song... or a blues... or... c'mon - get your brain working and play with these ideas and see what you come up with... Have fun :) J https://www.youtube.com/embed/DwJzxA6Lks8 683 2017-10-30T05:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-cycle-of-5ths-in-practice-mt-437 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/769819454-fc48b4fd246d1ba856c0b6f86e6ddfdbae2d133fd5f89ba55d7a6da405d21981-d_295x166?r=pad The Cycle Of 5ths In Practice Here are my favorite tips and tricks to practice your Cycle of Fifths. https://player.vimeo.com/video/325931499 437 2018-05-09T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-apr-02-live-stream-lv-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nPuR-kHppsE/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Apr 02 - Live Stream General Q&A session. See below for the list of Q's and the times (thanks Zoe!). 02:30 No fake nails for Justin for a while 05:30 Projects in the pipeline - new apps/ website development 08:25 General quick questions from the livefeed 12:20 Clip on tuners – Justin’s favourite 16:05 Justin plays a Blues in G improv. 18:40 More quick questions from the livefeed 20:45 Guitar strings - Justin’s new favourite 21:20 Justin’s Suhr guitar 22:20 Amp set ups 25:00 Palm muting 28:15 Chord changes – thumb position for beginners 31:30 Pick thickness – Justin’s favourite 34:45 Kemper profiler / amps 35:40 Is learning other instruments beneficial when learning guitar? 42:05 Music theory – Justin’s new project 43:20 Scales- when to learn them 46:10 Beginners – learning to use a metronome effectively 47:30 Best amps for home practice – Kemper profiler/ Fender Blues Junior 52:05 Flick offs – best finger angle 53:10 Warming up 54:20 Justin demos the Kemper profiler and responds to questions on it 1:04:00 I’ve just got my first electric guitar - what should I learn first? 1:04:30 How long does it take Justin to learn a song? 1:05:50 The 4 control knobs on Justin’s guitar – what do they do? 1:09:10 Amp recommendations for acoustic guitar 1:09:25 I’ve been playing for 5 months – is it too early to learn Jazz? 1:10:00 Does Justin change tone during a song? 1:10:40 Life on Mars lesson 1:11:45 F chord – I’m still having trouble with it- any tips? 1:14:25 Strumming – getting the right emphasis on the thick/ thin/ all strings 1:16:30 What’s the ideal string height on an acoustic? Where to get a great guitar set up in London. 1:18:10 For speed should I anchor my palm on the bridge or pinky on the guitar body? 1:19:55 CAGED chord shapes 1:23:10 Advice for buying a first guitar 1:25:00 Amps for electric and acoustic – what’s the difference? 1:26:30 Flick offs – finger angle 1:28:08 Correct tension in fretting hand 1:30:50 Learning Jazz 1:34:28 Will learning to read music improve my playing? 1:35:20 Tuning without a tuner/ using tuner ap... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPuR-kHppsE 8144 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-intervals-mt-501 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772109168-6a10ee24e2a93dbb84c952b42687beb1e4fea64c4229b615ce868a77e1c45dd4-d_295x166?r=pad Introduction To Intervals Intervals are the names we give to the distances between any two notes. Time to learn how and why we name them! https://player.vimeo.com/video/327750348 294 2017-11-04T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-2-nk-102 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/910967571-7f099a87ebb20ccd9660cb3c8e07dc2870b821a45b3c661fc35feab076bdacbf-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 2 It's normal not to always be in the mood to practice the guitar. Realistically, we're not always going to feel our best. Especially when a lot is going on, and you're just feeling kind of off.. blah? Nitsuj is definitely feeling that way today! But that won't stop him, and it shouldn't stop you! Push through those feelings, and let the guitar be that distraction from everything else. Sometimes, playing guitar is that relief you need to get out of a bad headspace. Channel that energy, and who knows - maybe it'll help you nail a technique you've been working at. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/430336367 2174 2020-06-17T18:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walking-bass-blues-ds-302 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/877386110-a7948fc039207436a45fb2a1086c99b25afeb20ae625d5157208ab67cc2658db-d_295x166?r=pad Walking Bass Blues Get your jazz hat on and let that walking bass swing! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406822648 1772 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/contrary-blues-practice-tips-slow-demo-sb-102 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073426509-f0aa6c7f8305b2422b3a756973c1f4258104693f21372690bff25aa99f1bc199-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Contrary Blues – Practice Tips & Slow Demo Here’s a full slow playthrough of your arrangement so you can really hear and see how everything fits together at a slower pace. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129234678 94 2025-10-23T04:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/good-luck-blim-m0-o0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895886182-d7f179a383dade1e2b592df4018c91ffe2fd2ba2c6046b258033ab9106fbe0a1-d_295x166?r=pad Good Luck Share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions! I'm eager to engage with all of you—let's get started! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902527761 14 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ii-v-i-chord-sequences-ja-027 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-hFBa3EMyWE/hqdefault.jpg II-V-I Chord Sequences The II V I chord sequence is by far the most common chord sequence in jazz so you need to learn some cool ways of playing it. Because the V chord is functioning (going to the I) you can play add altered extensions to it. I'm hoping There are thousands of ways of playing this sequence and in this lesson, I'll show you some of the most common and some that I like, and also explain a little about voice leading and chord tone movement. Chord choices II - Dmin, Dmin7, Dmin6, Dmin9, Dmin11, Dmin13 V - G7, G9, G11, G13, plus b9 #9 b5 #5 I - Cmaj7, Cmaj9, Cmaj11, Cmaj13 You can use any of the above chords, and you should experiment with how you put them together. Have fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-hFBa3EMyWE 644 2017-10-30T05:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/naming-the-beasts-mt-613 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438259091-e170b22cac4ff0022aa25154800041a0b1dd433ec908dcc7a912c7feb8ae9039-d_295x166?r=pad Naming The Beasts Naming chords can be a little confusing when you first start, but it will become clearer as you understand the system's logic. https://player.vimeo.com/video/401978303 183 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-3-practice-4-nj-304 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854317814-bb38225c6bd9946d8667c8867ae1fb5b539caeef51ab7734ccbe77b8b327338e-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 3 - Practice 4 In Nitsuj’s own words, he’s feeling pretty confident with his progress through Lesson 3. His chords are sounding much better and the strumming? Well, it’s improving, which is the best any student - beginner or otherwise - can hope for! https://player.vimeo.com/video/390253843 1434 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chord-analysis-mt-403 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/708979141-e2e38a1947b5dd0d71327da5fb969d3c1fdc1332b095e487d72ca023a43b9631-d_295x166?r=pad Triad Chord Analysis Let's use our knowledge to learn how we can sort out the names of any chord we encounter! https://player.vimeo.com/video/276433225 191 2017-11-04T14:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-1-practice-1-nj-101 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/853748741-622907a6f466640acb149b5808e83e47ac50628966c1591d075b3f82fb7eb41f-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 1 - Practice 1 Judging from Nitsuj’s first practice session, not to mention the moaning about finger pains, it seems as though he found Lesson 1 to be a bit more difficult than he was expecting! Despite his discomfort, remember – finger pain is normal! It’s just something you’ve got to get through, and over time, it absolutely will get better. https://player.vimeo.com/video/389865926 1889 2019-12-19T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/picking-individual-strings-bc-166 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z1ETtvhPqdQ/hqdefault.jpg Picking Individual Strings Because we will be looking at playing some scales soon, I want you to get used to picking out one string at a time. This a very simple exercise to help get you started. It should be easy; the thing to work on is accuracy, not speed. There are better exercises to work on speed, which we will look at later, but for now just try and make sure that you only pluck one string at a time. If you've been using a thin gauge pick up to now, you might like to try a thicker one for this type of exercise. Open string picking exercise This exercise just uses the open strings, so you can relax your fretting hand now (although you might like to mute the open strings by lightly resting that hand on the strings. Exercise 1 - 1 pick on each string - all down picks Exercise 2 - 1 pick on each string - all up picks Exercise 3 - 2 picks on each string - down then up Exercise 4 - 4 picks on each string - down / up / down / up It's likely that you will sometimes pick the wrong strings when you start out. That's normal. Surprise, surprise: it will take practice to get right. Don't be worried if your little finger is touching the thinnest string when you are playing the thickest one. This is normal, even desirable! This is really to get you warmed up for playing scales which are one of the best ways of increasing your pick accuracy, so just have a go and get warmed-up for the next stage, when we start looking at scales. Moving On... Your fingers should be well warmed up now - so lets get into playing some choonz. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1ETtvhPqdQ 273 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-bar-blues-ds-303 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/877413120-a007d434af580b2eb92f9ce93d076252977fc2a82bee9c192484f9c883f7e6e7-d_295x166?r=pad Raggy Bar Blues Some tricky fun here exploring the concept from Raggy Island Blues but using Barre chords and ornaments! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406844102 2087 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blending-frameworks-blim-u6-02 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953686033-415d008e85a11277401249d66a940d6e2811e38b15d33b5257c317ef47f88a1f-d_295x166?r=pad Blending Frameworks Let's combine all five pattern frameworks into one seamless big form! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029196830 1518 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-quick-easy-4-chords-many-songs-uk-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Qh2JQwkhjk/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Quick & Easy! 4 Chords & Many Songs This is the quick and easy guide to playing the Ukulele! Learn 4 easy chords, simple strumming and a whole bunch of awesome songs. You'll be playing in no time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Qh2JQwkhjk 720 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-movable-chords-shape-1-uk-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R78oMs_J-6g/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Movable Chords: Shape 1 In this ukulele lesson, we learn a movable chord shape (much like a barre chord on guitar) which will expand your chord vocabulary dramatically! https://www.youtube.com/embed/R78oMs_J-6g 471 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/19-clapton-p3-country-blue-bl-519 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xM8oe_ATtEI/hqdefault.jpg #19: Clapton: P3 Country Blue This Clapton style lick has country root and can be used in many styles - with a bit more gain and played agressively it'll sound like Angus Young - played clean and with a swing feel it will be pure country! A very versatile lick! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xM8oe_ATtEI 297 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/26-clapton-p1-third-play-bl-526 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cji7z3fd4_4/hqdefault.jpg #26: Clapton: P1 Third Play TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cji7z3fd4_4 317 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-techniques-1-a-sm-001 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/883278335-dfcb7f9c1b62e488d4e322bbd5ab967c559e6161ff657fc85230558a68f541b7-d_295x166?r=pad Strumming Techniques 1 A Please download the PDF booklet for Strumming 1 in the downloads tab. Watch or download the first half of the film here, the second half is in the next lesson! https://player.vimeo.com/video/411096382 48 2020-04-30T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lick-book-blim-m0-l0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879730-3fb86c3f89518040ab215f9dea80442e78caee2cd1943d154fc8677494039af1-d_295x166?r=pad Lick Book It's time to get started on your own personal Licktionary! Explore your playing and discover licks you already know. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902559406 96 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-4-practice-4-nj-404 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854374014-9849b69be03842ed955638a0a612d9f84a2718db7ba4dfb0b007aaa6b6d1f6f1-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 4 - Practice 4 It’s finally starting to get easier, though there’s definitely still room for improvement. Just a reminder, don’t feel bad if you need to spend a bit more time on a particular lesson or exercise. The better you master each concept the easier future concepts will be to learn. Otherwise, you’ll just be struggling to play at a more advanced level with a less advanced skill set. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390294364 1541 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-2-practice-1-nj-201 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854174665-bb9dece105861f871a8fa38c4abe8ff9ab673569f1b95c3de485b76e90aec2ad-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 2 - Practice 1 Lesson 2 brings with it a new chord for Nitsuj to master – the E chord! Still complaining about finger pain, Nitsuj carries on despite the awkward finger stretches and clunky (though less clunky than before) chord changes. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390151792 1708 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diatonic-quadad-analysis-mt-527 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438223753-de0b3c8eb213ed0b271079c67ab0c66df368a4549bbcb57a9b8b2ddceaebca00-d_295x166?r=pad Diatonic Quadad Analysis It's time to analyze Quadad Chords just like we did with Triads. https://player.vimeo.com/video/330474154 556 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/52-f-king-p2-trip-3-s-bl-552 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnGqBzfDwNE/hqdefault.jpg #52: F King: P2 trip 3's TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnGqBzfDwNE 304 2017-11-17T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/quadad-shorthand-mt-528 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/775559346-7c6266cbc1175050dcd73240ad25576e84c1e63f4e4e5d8296a67cd7f8c4d26a-d_295x166?r=pad Quadad Shorthand The shorthand for Quadads is most common in Jazz, but it's clearer and faster than writing out the chord names in full. https://player.vimeo.com/video/330479574 246 2018-05-09T00:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-7-5-chords-mt-526 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438217608-fc05d54273ffc697ad4d792e4d782480e7d1bed77771332222a85a7ca2ce2b1e-d_295x166?r=pad Minor 7♭5 Chords For sure, the Minor7b5 chord is less common, but you need to have it under your fingers! https://player.vimeo.com/video/329143397 389 2018-05-08T23:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/contrary-blues-ds-202 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876664220-cf243337a25663552e030f639784fecc30938bb09392e8fc834dc7e020277478-d_295x166?r=pad Contrary Blues Going in two directions at once! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406176719 2429 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-jun-12-exploring-boss-dm-2w-lv-214 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oYtSBlb47Hg/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Jun 12 - Exploring Boss DM-2W :) - https://www.youtube.com/embed/oYtSBlb47Hg 3440 2018-06-12T16:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-3-practice-5-nj-305 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854331731-9facb586e110712b30e252c20a4284a45ba77c7d6ea192235c5bfaf39fceb754-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 3 - Practice 5 And we’re back in the UK! After taking a few days off to catch up on work, life, and SLEEP, Nitsuj is ready to tackle his strumming practice with his favorite thin pick. It’s amazing what a difference a few small changes can make. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390258806 1621 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-techniques-2-a-sm-003 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/883549145-fa6f33030c63cde8d80345066e28f5cfdf17f852966f4747acb81cab5bf54558-d_295x166?r=pad Strumming Techniques 2 A Please download the PDF booklet for Strumming 2 in the downloads tab. Watch or download the first half of the film here, the second half is in the next lesson! https://player.vimeo.com/video/411447665 2470 2020-04-30T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-techniques-2-b-sm-004 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/883721830-1967163638dcc6ac900ae3e5f7b3426c2aea5c3c3e134463c701d710338e8d8b-d_295x166?r=pad Strumming Techniques 2 B Please download the PDF booklet for Strumming 2 in the downloads tab of the previous lesson. Watch or download the second half of the film here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/411500436 2877 2020-04-30T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pitch-notes-mt-0001 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1855700652-7471822a8aab433ca2f7cf358903623b81c35f16339d16be67b49723f0ceb92d-d_295x166?r=pad Pitch & Notes Pitch describes how high or low a note is; learn how this influences notes and your Theory journey! https://player.vimeo.com/video/943577439 284 2024-05-21T09:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/about-knowledge-blim-m0-k0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879443-d89e78730890bbe2be25fb41341b76a383f88c2e4736c79b1cce56aa212d9255-d_295x166?r=pad About 'Knowledge' This class prioritizes practical applications, but exploring Music Theory, especially key chords and major scale construction, is a game-changer! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902553824 89 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/octaves-mt-0002 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809200016-aafee6c829e49d20cf557d0ff87fc864f08bad934b40abc1bf3ac8b88437bafd-d_295x166?r=pad Octaves Let's keep exploring pitch, specifically the octave, and how it's divided into 12 equal steps. https://player.vimeo.com/video/910491955 406 2024-05-21T09:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chord-alterations-mt-654 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/chord-alterations-mt-654-1.jpg Chord Alterations Scared of chord alterations? You should be - they're just describing what's going on :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/640354277 2021-10-30T14:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-island-improvising-sb-1103 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073487363-ea4eba1b9de5f6951c0ab82ac154434e996f7e3afd3256a93f43a1ad61a14f24-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Island – Improvising This is a challenging but rewarding step that helps us move beyond playing an arrangement note for note. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129601489 452 2025-10-23T05:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intermediate-rhythm-guitar-3-im-135 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hB4Gh_J_ty8/hqdefault.jpg Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 3 We have looked at basic 16th note patterns and accents, so lets now look at a slightly more complex 16th note pattern. It's a really useful one to get down and once you have it under you fingers you will find you can make up variations of it that groove real well. Making some louder, or softer... The easiest way to get this under your fingers is to do it REALLY slowly. Don't be afraid to count it out aloud as you do it, and just the feeling for it and the sound in your body. Of course you need to keep you hand moving, the bold notes are the ones you play: D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U I find saying the bold notes out aloud a good way of getting it in my head! You'll hear me doing that on the video. The diagram should help you too, I know we have not looked at reading all the various ways of writing 16th notes but I hope between listening to me play it, the diagram below and these hints you will get it fine! It's a quite common pattern, and there are many variations used that you are sure to hear once you have learned this one. There are many more examples of these groves in Really Useful Strumming Techniques II as well. Any of you that worked through Really Useful Strumming Techniques I will remember the way to make up your own patterns using various 8th notes - well the same thing works here too! It's lots of fun making up your own and there is no limit to your creativity - just listen out for what sounds good! :) Important points Make sure you only tap you foot on the beat We looked at this already lots of times, the new struggle here is not to tap your foot when you are accenting the beat - it's a really common mistake - but one you will avoid if you have been good and working on tapping your foot all the time. If you struggle with it - do it slowly - and maybe take the foot out for a while if it's really throwing you off. Get the pattern right and then try and bring the foot back in! Playing with the metronome Using the metronome is a good idea of course, and it will feel a little odd at first to be play... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hB4Gh_J_ty8 616 2017-10-29T09:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-chicago-masters-playlists-blim-u2-21-a2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424791-e8def179f6b74f0844e3622627fc527ffa9b98df932f2fd92b0f4d9045a4a764-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The Chicago Masters Playlists You've got another three killer playlists for Unit 2—please ensure to dedicate some time to focused listening sessions! https://player.vimeo.com/video/944980269 124 2024-07-28T11:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-strum-with-your-thumb-st3-02 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-02-HowToStrumWithThumb-S.jpg How to Strum With Your Thumb Learn to strum with your thumb on the guitar - perfect for intimate settings and soft singers! https://player.vimeo.com/video/878348662 2023-11-22T12:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/target-3rd-blues-main-lesson-sb-502 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238282-d6a88a3dd1b4a77e160e5c4682709c0c51d20c1f62f90ad2d23a7a710d82e3d5-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Target 3rd Blues – Main Lesson Learn to outline chords by targeting their thirds—a powerful way to connect your lead licks with harmony! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125141175 2019 2025-10-23T04:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/notes-in-open-position-b2-809 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Abrd0c92xRE/hqdefault.jpg Notes In Open Position Let's check out some music theory and learn notes in the open position! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Abrd0c92xRE 287 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-stuck-3-4-chords-b2-801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p5lJTSCUclo/hqdefault.jpg The Stuck 3&4 Chords Explore and learn to play 9 guitar chords ALL guitar beginners should know :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5lJTSCUclo 1283 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-down-8th-note-strumming-b2-805 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ImPcqr6w6zM/hqdefault.jpg All Down 8th Note Strumming Learn a high-energy strumming pattern using only downstrums and explore accenting the back beats! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ImPcqr6w6zM 638 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-movies-books-suggestions-blim-u0-h0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895884468-7f5043901fb799808a37ed55bd61bb5235621438a85e760e1c93acbbe49ad99b-d_295x166?r=pad History: Movies & Books Suggestions Some suggested movies and books to help you explore the genre's social changes and recording evolution. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902525162 51 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-1-nj-701 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858785870-1684f80f1ea64b81898e245b07e7f8edba902e286150d4d6cc9cc09f40b025a4-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 1 Time for Nitsuj to consolidate the first grade. This practice session will be a revision. Let's see what he needs to work on before moving on to Grade 2! It's always best to focus your practice on what challenges you the most - it's the best way to progress! Nitsuj decides to add Heart Of Gold into his song repertoire. Maybe something he'll perform later on as well :) Turn out it's not as easy to play as he expected ... https://player.vimeo.com/video/393321920 1570 2020-03-14T14:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-e-minor-pentatonic-scale-b2-803 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eEJpypexUDg/hqdefault.jpg Open E Minor Pentatonic Scale Learn how to play the E Minor Pentatonic scale with valuable tips and visuals! https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEJpypexUDg 547 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-8-practice-b2-810 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YnHo_L5d9YQ/hqdefault.jpg Module 8 Practice Set up an effective 30 mins practice routine and edit your guitar practice to your needs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YnHo_L5d9YQ 691 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pick-manipulation-b2-806 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XsLrZpdQHlw/hqdefault.jpg Pick Manipulation Learn how to manipulate your pick when it shifts and explores different picks! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XsLrZpdQHlw 442 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-3-practice-3-nj-303 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854311105-efaeb432700dd994016b3de1b13581403614988043b6f7dc4b57580435fc1419-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 3 - Practice 3 Man, Justin’s work and travel schedule are a lot for Nitsuj to keep up with. The good news is that the jet lag has subsided a bit finally! Minor chords are coming along nicely, as well as the strumming exercises. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390244879 1467 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/technique-self-evaluation-blim-m0-t0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895880060-52b9cb6ec0839091774316eaa6c25fbb706dd1579080206ec073153a9f388e88-d_295x166?r=pad Technique: Self Evaluation What are your technical struggles? You should self-evaluate your general technique to make the most of this course. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902882495 94 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/wish-you-were-here-riff-for-beginners-b2-808 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yDY6y8llnA0/hqdefault.jpg Wish You Were Here Riff For Beginners One of the best-known guitar riffs of all time and SO MUCH FUN to play! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/yDY6y8llnA0 988 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chromatic-intervals-mt-506 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/772130090-67d0580b02ba21c465b27fe8b313709276c5f13ef02c9564462929fe871c3f98-d_295x166?r=pad Chromatic Intervals Wondering about the names of the other intervals found between the notes of the Major Scale? Meet Minor, Augmented, and Diminished! https://player.vimeo.com/video/327763973 619 2017-11-04T16:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/muting-strings-deliberately-b2-804 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4SPgTAAiPw4/hqdefault.jpg Muting Strings Deliberately In this lesson, explore how to mute unwanted string when playing guitar and elevate the sound of your scales! https://www.youtube.com/embed/4SPgTAAiPw4 479 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-up-your-blues-5-ja-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qszJKejVsOQ/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Up Your Blues 5 Put all your arpeggios together in a whole 12 bar blues. Lots of fun... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qszJKejVsOQ 503 2017-10-29T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-a-key-diatonic-triads-mt-421 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/749425260-d566ab5b0613b6365c36209ee74d7c39ba6ba451fc2a3f4b211b0e0e8aaf1ad5-d_295x166?r=pad Chords In A Key (Diatonic Triads) Let's dive deeper into the relationship between chords and scales and understand what chords in keys are! https://player.vimeo.com/video/309105487 607 2018-05-09T18:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learn-together-blim-m0-o1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895887087-9370f47ca4f8882923fe5b896b90b5b80e9fb9b8f4d9d0b6fc28127bef7e4603-d_295x166?r=pad Learn Together! Introduce yourself, and join the discussion! :) Learning together is better and more effective—we're waiting for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/952652130 61 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/good-luck-blim-m0-o0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895886182-d7f179a383dade1e2b592df4018c91ffe2fd2ba2c6046b258033ab9106fbe0a1-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Good Luck Share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions! I'm eager to engage with all of you—let's get started! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902527761 14 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-next-years-practice-blim-u6-14 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391179-901e0061680d69daf293875f220dc88530ff979f2d5383db45e66789f93f5d57-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Your Next Years Practice! I suspect you'll be working on what you've learned in Blues Immersion for many years, so here's a Challenge for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029531468 883 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-is-harmonic-analysis-mt-590 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/what-is-harmonic-analysis-mt-590.jpg What Is Harmonic Analysis? Harmonic Analysis is the key to become an independent, creative guitar player. https://player.vimeo.com/video/803169415 2019-01-03T13:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/super-easy-2-chord-songs-b1-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5do76H_mi0/hqdefault.jpg Super Easy 2 Chord Songs Here are 7 awesome songs you can play with only the A and the D chords. https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5do76H_mi0 347 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/before-you-start-record-yourself-sd-001 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD-01-RecordYourself-S.jpg Before You Start: Record Yourself! Please, don't skip this lesson! It'll be an important step for our entire Strumming Dynamics journey! https://player.vimeo.com/video/788121429 2023-01-12T11:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-1-practice-routine-b1-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uBZsLmmOz9I/hqdefault.jpg Module 1 Practice Routine Welcome To Your First Practice Routine We've learned many things, and now it's time to set an effective schedule to improve your guitar skills. Consolidating your knowledge is as important as learning new things. Log in to your JustinGuitar account to make the most of your time and track your progress! My Practice Assistant is a fantastic resource - and it's free to all users. :) In this lesson, we'll set your first practice routine with everything we've learned so far. Focusing on the right skills at the right time will make you improve faster. Using My Practice Assistant will keep you accountable and motivated! 💡 Use the pre-made practice routine for Module 1 by clicking on the 'Practice' Tab under the video. Save the routine, then access the items in your Dashboard. 20-MINUTE BEGINNER GUITAR PRACTICE SESSION Yes, you read it right! Only 20 minutes per day will make you improve faster. Short sessions help with focus and regular practice help build your muscle memory. At this point of your guitar journey, some level of sore things is normal. If that's your case, short but regular sessions will help you better than long ones! If you're struggling with painful fingeIt'scheck out these 3 tips to avoid finger pain. If you've been following the Beginner Course, you should know how to play D and A, move faster between chords, and a simple strumming pattern. It's a lot to practice! The secret is to have fun, and that's why we'll dedicate a timeslot to practice songs you like. Here's what I suggest as your first practice routine: 1' Technique - Tune Your Guitar 3' Technique- Chord Perfect Practice D Chord 3' Technique- Chord Perfect Practice A Chord 2' Technique - Anchor Finger A & D Chords 1' Technique - One Minute Changes A to D 1' Technique - One Minute Changes D to A 10' Repertoire - 2 Chord Songs HOW TO CREATE A PRACTICE ROUTINE If this is your first time using My Practice Assistant, you need to create a routine to add the practice items. Don't forget there are a timer, statistics counter, and metronome to h... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uBZsLmmOz9I 314 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-string-note-names-mt-0009 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809202629-218196d0d7e5fcd5bc6cce6e1947d3deaef7273ec68e9223ba10cad96d5ccc10-d_295x166?r=pad Open String Note Names You NEED to know the note names of the open strings, and how they're numbered! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/910620096 248 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foundation-3-practice-schedule-im-139 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bjsNkuhzfwE/hqdefault.jpg Foundation 3 Practice Schedule We're now up to a 60 minute routine and we'll try and keep it to that for the rest of the Foundation Series but remember you can break it into two 30 minutes session on alternate days too! Don't forget: • Use a timer (see PC-102 • Using A Practice Timer if you forgot it's importance) • Break it into the two 30 minute sessions if you don't have time to do 60 minutes a day, or you find it too much at one sitting. • Focus your practice on things you can't do, not what you can! Always practice most the things you are worst at! Foundation 3 Practice Schedule (60 minutes or 2 x 30 minutes) Description Time Barre Chord Grip (focus A Shape Major Grip) 5 mins One Minute Changes 5 x 1 min Major Scale With Metronome 5 mins Major Scale One Finger Improv. Practice (with Backing Track) 5 mins JUSTIN Method / Transcribing 10 mins Building and Practice Of Melodic Patterns 5 mins Awareness Of Muting Strings 5 mins Rhythm Guitar (Patterns and application) 5 mins Open Position Note Reading 5 mins Songs and Repertoire 10 mins Things To Remember Barre Chord Grip We're now focused on the killer A Shape Major Barre grip. It's a tough one, no doubt about it. If you are one of the lucky few that gets it after a week, then rejoice for you are one of the chosen few ;) Most people (including me) struggle with this when they first try and play it. But you have to get over that, stick with and it will easy under your fingers in no time! One Minute Changes We're back to the traditional changes as fast as possible now between the E Shape and The A Shape - it's tricky but will help your development of the A Shape and also get your fingers used to your thumb changing position (don't think about it too much, but it will probably happen so you will have to get used to it!). Check the lesson for details on which changes you should be doing. Major Scale With Metronome You should still be working on playing your Major Scale in time with the metronome. I'm hoping you have it clean and even now and am working on bumping the speed up a bit if you can.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bjsNkuhzfwE 357 2017-10-29T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-exercise-b1-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mAgc7hr44WM/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes Exercise This is the best exercise to help you get faster at changing from one chord to another. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mAgc7hr44WM 322 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-strum-the-correct-strings-b1-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/72MEHvT9JV4/hqdefault.jpg How To Strum The Correct Strings Strumming only the right chords can be tricky! Learn how to handle it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/72MEHvT9JV4 134 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-justin-s-song-app-b1-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kLYT2B8gyzQ/hqdefault.jpg How To Use Justin's Song App My App is the best way of practicing songs and keep yourself accountable when starting your guitar journey! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kLYT2B8gyzQ 307 2021-09-02T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-your-favorite-blim-m0-a0-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895885183-653e2609f828dd5d1f12b172a48979e42a01db8660f93a12463f59c2dd5c5c40-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: Your Favorite Monthly essays on faves! Explore musician bios by period. Pick a fave, and dive in. Start with your top Blues artist now! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903143374 77 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bars-strumming-on-1-b1-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n45PDizCRLw/hqdefault.jpg Bars & Strumming On 1 Let's learn a simple strumming pattern and get started with rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/embed/n45PDizCRLw 287 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-my-practice-assistant-b1-117 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IE5HWnrP9Wk/hqdefault.jpg Using My Practice Assistant My Practice Assistant is the perfect tool to keep you focused on what matters and track your progress! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IE5HWnrP9Wk 606 2019-12-22T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/alternating-strumming-patterns-within-a-song-sd-002 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-01-TransitionBetweenPatterns-S.jpg Alternating Strumming Patterns Within a Song A song usually has more than one strumming pattern; here's how you easily transition between them and add a pro touch to your rhythm guitar! https://player.vimeo.com/video/781937882 2023-01-12T11:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/when-to-move-on-from-module-1-b1-118 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-SAo7bvQzmA/hqdefault.jpg When to move on from Module 1? You've been practicing for a few days now, and you're probably wondering: is it time to learn new chords and make that strumming sound better? :) Here are some guidelines to help you decide: You've memorized the A and the D chords. You can change between A and D at least 30 times a minute. If this seems impossible and you can't achieve it after a few weeks, you can move. Later on our journey, you'll learn some other tricks to switch faster between chords. I don't want you to get bored! :) Nitsuj spent 4 practice sessions on Module 1 and took around 5 to 6 weeks to go through Grade 1. Check him out to help you decide when he felt ready to move on. Stick with your guitar! I know we've already talked about this - but one of the key things when learning guitar is to keep your motivation high! Playing an instrument requires discipline and patience, but if you stick with it, you'll get there. It takes some time - so have fun and enjoy the process! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-SAo7bvQzmA 160 2020-05-10T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/add-dynamics-to-your-rhythm-sd-006 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-03-StrummingExplorations-S.jpg Add Dynamics to Your Rhythm! Let's discuss the volume of your playing and how to benefit from your guitar's sweet spot. This lesson is a BIG deal. https://player.vimeo.com/video/781951740 2023-01-12T12:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-the-d-chord-b1-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QkrIZBLZEXw/hqdefault.jpg How To Play The D Chord The D Chord is the first grip we learn in the Beginner Guitar Course! Are you ready? :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/QkrIZBLZEXw 513 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-the-a-chord-b1-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1X2rW5ATdLQ/hqdefault.jpg How To Play The A Chord Here's an easier way of playing the A Chord - an essential grip for any guitar player! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1X2rW5ATdLQ 382 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/record-yourself-now-blim-m0-j2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895883033-75ccb963445c1d9ca33e8f17d669721b8267a2b77987f7de2c6a043ef99e9cfd-d_295x166?r=pad Record Yourself Now! Gear up for the Blues Immersion! Unleash your creativity with a lead solo over a 12-bar Blues in A. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902522309 54 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/useful-6-8-patterns-create-your-own-sd-019 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-17-Cool68Patterns-S.jpg Useful 6:8 Patterns & Create Your Own! Learn some of the most common 6:8 strumming patterns ever and how to make them your own! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786734466 2023-01-12T12:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mms-lesson-6-dm-006 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/875708990-60da273cb3d2be5bf53fe249b7e2901b890f3d86992a49fe6ba32dfd5efd8801-d_295x166?r=pad MMS Lesson 6 Moving on to Position 3, this is an easy one! https://player.vimeo.com/video/405484119 636 2020-04-28T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-5-medley-blim-u5-11-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937878018-146cc21309ae09061df9fed841217557a2892c1b2f6f2d663a9fdd847cc226b6-d_295x166?r=pad Licks in Pattern 5 Medley As with previous lick lessons, I've combined them all for you to streamline your practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1018332425 126 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sharps-and-flats-mt-0004 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1809200795-60983487bf43be6dd87cda4983a13274320d9933a08ac315eb9f5c48d84c4dc1-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Sharps And Flats Let's explore sharps and flats and how to play them on guitar! https://player.vimeo.com/video/910597514 265 2024-05-21T05:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-jun-05-practice-and-q-and-a-lv-213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/duJPZdhMXdo/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Jun 05 - Practice and Q and A - https://www.youtube.com/embed/duJPZdhMXdo 3428 2018-06-05T15:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-feb-28-testing-line-6-helix-verb-and-delays-on-acoustic-lv-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/16_R0dITiZE/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Feb 28 - Testing Line 6 Helix Verb And Delays On Acoustic 2018 Feb 28 - Testing Line 6 Helix Verb And Delays On Acoustic https://www.youtube.com/embed/16_R0dITiZE 1838 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-feb-27-arranging-jazz-standard-alice-in-wonderland-lv-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zInmsoLc_Mk/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Feb 27 - Arranging Jazz Standard Alice In Wonderland 2018 Feb 27 - Arranging Jazz Standard Alice In Wonderland https://www.youtube.com/embed/zInmsoLc_Mk 1623 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/make-midi-drums-sound-better-pb-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ePjmJIMmkdE/hqdefault.jpg Make Midi Drums Sound Better! Drums are absolutely crucial in music production, we're going to look at how to make your standard drum parts hit much harder. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ePjmJIMmkdE 1151 2020-06-10T20:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-mar-05-modes-special-lv-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NuWpw9lUuZs/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Mar 05 - MODES Special Modes stuff starts at about 47:30 after some general Q&A - please leave your modes related questions in the comments below the Youtube video and I'll do my best to get them incorperated in the new video lesson series! See y'all again for another show in 2 weeks time. :) J https://www.youtube.com/embed/NuWpw9lUuZs 6770 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ear-training-exercises-f3-im-138 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BAtHDdjgk7A/hqdefault.jpg Ear Training Exercises (F3) Well it's that time again to Just Use Sound To Improve Now... For the chord transcriptions this time we're going to be looking at E and A Shape Major chords. Just the Majors. The real deal is audio!! OK, I have explained things in the video - but now it's time to put your ears to work!! MP3 files of these audio clips are included on the DVD Set! Download JUSTIN Method Foundation 3 Worksheet <-- alt click (or right click on PC) and select save to disk. Once you are finished you can download the answer sheet at the bottom of this page! 3A - E and A Shape Major Barre Progressions In these exercises I will be only using E and A Shape Major chords. We're going to be moving the root note around a bit more so I want you to get used to that and we're also going to be changing chords more often sometimes so we may have two chords in a barre - which makes the pausing of the track in the right place even more important! Good luck. JUSTIN-Method-Ex-3A by justinguitar 3B - A Minor Pentatonic Solo We're back with the A Minor Pentatonic Scale again. Same notes as we used in Foundation 1, what we have now is just a little more rhythmic interest, making it a bit more real! :) Make sure you pause well and listen closely to the notes and the rhythm. Write the rhythm above the notes (like you did for the rhythmic dictation exercises in Foundation 2!). If you struggle with the rhythmic element - print the answer page out - cover up the notes and just copy the rhythms onto your worksheet to help you for the first one! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-3B by justinguitar 3C - Rhythmic Dictation Exercises (Q / E and rests) In this exercise we are only using Quarter notes (Crotchets) and Eighth notes (Quavers) but also adding in rests of the same values. The main difference from last time is that I will be making the rhythms more difficult and making them more syncopated, meaning there will be more notes off the beat (more rests on the beat!). JUSTIN-Method-Ex-3C by justinguitar Answers Download JUSTIN Method Foundation 3 Answers https://www.youtube.com/embed/BAtHDdjgk7A 242 2017-10-29T10:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-major-barre-chord-grip-im-131 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8sh9a6HzM9Y/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Major Barre Chord Grip This next chord we are looking at causes lots of people problems. It's a little harder than the other shapes we have looked at but it's not as hard as many people make it out to be - it's just takes a little more practice than other shapes, mainly because of the awkward position of the 3rd finger barre. Check out the video and we'll have you playing it as fast as possible! Because this one is a bit tricky we are only going to add this one chord for Foundation 3 - we'll look at the variations of it in Foundation 4. A Shape Major Barre Chord As I said this shape can be a little tricky... You may see some people playing it using fingers 2/3/4 to make the chord shape in front of the barre - and this grip does (very occasionally) have a useful place - but 99% of the time it sucks to play it that way - it's very hard to jump to quickly and accurately and most of the time the chord sounds better without the note on the thinnest string sounding at all! CHANGE THE SHAPE - put an X on thinnest string! Even though this is a barre chord, the barre is not played with the first finger. The first finger is playing the root note on the 5th string - the tip is muting the thickest string, but that is all. The barre is happening with the 3rd finger which must hold down strings 2/3/4 and lift up enough to mute the thinnest string! This takes practice and developing the flexibility of your 3rd finger joint! You MUST think about pointing the first joint in the third finger finger away from the neck - too a hard for text - you'll have to watch the video!! Some people (about 25% in my experience) have the right length of 3rd finger to hold down the strings 2/3/4 and lift up enough to let the thinnest string be played by the barre. A good thing to be able to do, but not particularly useful (for me, I can but very rarely do!). Remember to keep your thumb round that back (very roughly it should be on the other side of the neck to the 2nd finger - but everyone is a little different so don't stress if yours is not!). Practice picking out ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8sh9a6HzM9Y 825 2017-10-29T08:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-one-finger-solos-im-133 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dttvWSRjQkE/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale One Finger Solos Now I hope at this stage now you have the Major Scale in your memory, right? So now we're going to change how you think about scales for good - it's a little idea, but with BIG consequences - and will help you make music out of scales and break out of old bad habits. The reason we learn scale fingerings is to be able to play a scale easily and efficiently. But when we play solos (either learned or improvised) the notes are very rarely in the same order as as just playing the scale up and down (that would be very boring to listen to!). Many people get restricted by scale fingerings, so I want you to try a little exercise for me... Start by playing the note on the 5th fret on the fourth string, and use your 1st finger. Now use your 3rd finger. Did it sound any different? Really listen closely. Real close. Hear any difference? Me neither :) So it's really important to realise that scales show you notes that sound good together in a key (more on keys later) but the fingering is only important when you play scales! When you are making up a solo - use whatever finger you like! Nobody sticks to the "right fingers" all the time when they play - they explore and experiment - and you should too! Get into the habit now! Diagram You should already have this in your memory but many people find it hard when they start trying to do the one finger thing, so I thought I would leave it here for those that are struggling... But DON'T use the diagram if you don't need to! One Finger Solos So the trick here is to learn to play solos with ONE FINGER! Maybe it sounds crazy to you right now but it sure won't when you have been playing this way for a while. It really works. The point is to get you to break out of the box - most people will practice a scale a lot and learn it properly which is great and important - but the good thing about lots of practice (muscle memory) also makes a problem because the fingers will naturally want to play the scale. But we don't want to play scales - we want to play music! Using only one finger you sh... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dttvWSRjQkE 477 2017-10-29T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/c-shape-suspensions-mt-709 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535289381-da418895b1821ae733257323759e1395bbfac8a850cc934ebc5afe52471ef6a9-d_295x166?r=pad C Shape Suspensions The Sus chords in the C Shape are a little awkward but quite useable. They are usually played with just 3 notes, bigger versions are possible but add little to the quality of the sound but a lot to the awkward grip. Sus4 The Sus4 shape can be played with just the strings 5/4/3 as shown in the first shape - this is quite a common grip and useful. The second grip is one I like a lot - the lowest note is suspension and is really nice when you resolve the 4th down a semitone (one fret) to the 3rd. Sus2 The Sus2 has the same options as the Sus4 shown above: either strings 5/4/3 or strings 4/3/2. Both chords (particularly the string 4/3/2 grips) are used well to create atmospheric textures. Experiment with some digital delay effects and playing the notes of the chords one at a time, they have a very interesting “air” to them that create a lot of space. https://player.vimeo.com/video/402908639 244 2020-02-04T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-23-open-q-a-lv-102b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KBTVeQH28rE/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 23 - Open Q&A Topics Covered - Open Q&A Session Thank you Zoe! :) 0:05 2016 Tuscany Workshops 2:15 Best Amp choices for beginners/ intermediates 3:20 London workshops 4:05 How long does it take to write a song? 6:35 Does Justin like heavy metal? 8:15 Chord transcribing/ ear training 9:15 BB King licks 10:15 Does Justin listen to Country music? 10:45 Who were Justin’s idols when growing up? 11:20 Older guitar care 13:15 Reducing hand fatigue- can I pull back with my hand? 16:30 Helping kids to learn guitar 18:30 Rory Gallagher 19:05 “Broken”- song lesson 19:40 Alternate picking- how to make progress 22:10 Justin’s new artist recommendations 23:55 Shall I wait for the new blues course or continue with this one? 25:15 What did Justin talk about with Paul McCartney? 27:10 Getting a smooth transition from licks to strumming 29:55 Tommy Emmanuel- any lessons planned? 32:40 Sweep picking – improving coordination 35:20 Intonation 35:50 Motivation to practice 39:20 Glenn Frey – any lessons planned? 40:10 Time signatures lesson 40:20 Broken strings when jamming- does it happen to Justin? 41:05 Can you become a professional player if you can’t sing? 42:00 One guitar, one amp, one pedal – Justin’s top choices 42:45 Working out strumming patterns 43:30 Travel guitars 45:25 Guthrie interview 46:40 Does Justin wear a hat all the time –even at home? 47:30 Justin’s keyboard 48:55 Song lessons coming soon Big thanks to Michele Garrett-Jones for writing this out :) in full!! Q:Are you doing the week of lessons in Tuscany this year? Yes - 2 weeks actually! One is almost sold out. We give preference to returning campers to book. The other week is going to be a beginner week with about 4 hrs of lessons with just myself and practice. The info on both weeks will be released soon on the newsletter so ensure you are signed up to receive it. Q: Amps recommended for beginners. Fender Mustang is a good beginner amp. Then you'll want to graduate to a valve amp - which have a much higher quality tone. Fender Blues Junior is a great choice. Q:London W... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KBTVeQH28rE 3306 2017-11-11T04:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-09-beginner-hour-lv-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z1a2_kQfV6w/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 09 - Beginner Hour The first of the new format JustinGuitar Live Show was awesome and over 800 people came by for it :) Thanks so much for coming. So below you'll find the show, edited into two, part 1 being a beginner hour and part 2 being the Open Session for general Q & A. If someone had time it would be awesome to note the questions I answered as they watch it and email it to me so I can add it here for easy reference for others ;) Topics Covered - Beginner Hour Big thanks to YouTube user ploospility! much appreciated! 0:01 Intro 1:46 My fingers are sore, any tips? 5:28 Lines in fingers 6:42 Is learning using multiple guitars ok? 7:38 What should be my first guitar? 10:19 Music theory - too daunting for beginners? 11:11 Old Jamaica song 12:26 Justin’s note-reading book 13:09 Is it easier to learn on an electric or acoustic guitar? 16:17 What makes a $1000 guitar better than a $100 guitar? 17:20 Second hand guitars 17:43 Squier Strat vs. Fender Strat 18:27 Is it too late for me to start learning guitar? 20:17 How to look at finger positioning on fretboard while playing? 22:54 How do you know what fingering to use when reading tab? 24:08 My thumb got cut off in an accident, can I still play the guitar? 26:20 Strings for beginners? 26:38 How important is it to learn with a teacher vs. just online lessons? 28:16 I often drop my guitar pick, any tips? 29:52 When should I start learning guitar? 30:06 Using a looper pedal 31:14 Book recommendation to learn harmony 31:37 My guitar is always out of tune, what should I do? 32:20 Who is Justin’s teacher? 33:49 At what age did Justin start playing guitar? 34:03 Guitar tuning app 34:32 Thoughts on Rocksmith 35:10 Learning guitar and becoming a guitar player; Ear training/transcribing 37:05 What is the biggest “do not do”? 39:09 Is it better to practice scales or chords? 40:18 Strumming with fingers vs. pick? 42:38 Warm up before practice? 44:05 Learning to sing? 45:50 How to play and sing at the same time? 48:01 How long should strings last? 49:10 How long does it take to get chord c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1a2_kQfV6w 3450 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-1-mt-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YLJPjrcoBp8/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 1 Learn how to play Pattern 1 of the Major Scale! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLJPjrcoBp8 1071 2017-11-04T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-power-chords-mt-311 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438108806-e79434f078672969e46844c353d651107f8132a7f5c3dd9a01af50c5a7f82e5e-d_295x166?r=pad Playing Power Chords Grab your guitar and let's play some Power Chords using your Major Scale knowledge! https://player.vimeo.com/video/275467033 786 2017-11-04T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-are-you-studying-theory-mt-398 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/why-are-you-studying-theory-mt-398-1.jpg Why are you studying theory? Take some time to brainstorm and optimize your progress. And help me help you too! https://player.vimeo.com/video/637011508 2021-10-21T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/eyebrow-finger-lube-qt-017 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/scpajpebmSY/hqdefault.jpg Eyebrow Finger Lube A Strange, Super-Quick Tip This quick tip video might be bizarre, but it's useful for electric and solo guitars. Here we'll look at how to lube your fingers using your eyebrows and hair… Say what? Natural Lubricant For The Fingers Yes, you heard it right. If your fingertips get a little tender from running up the strings all the time, there's a super easy way to remedy it. Just take your fingertips (of your fretting hand) and rub them in your eyebrows or hair. Go back to playing, and you'll notice a big difference. Seriously, try it out! It turns out we have natural oil in our hair. So there's no need for fret lube or anything of the sort. Just remember this trick! Strange, I know. But it works! Have fun with your eyebrows and hair. :) 🔥 Join my Community and the discussion! https://www.youtube.com/embed/scpajpebmSY 172 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/double-sharps-double-flats-naturals-mt-397 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/double-sharps-double-flats-naturals-mt-397-1.jpg Double Sharps, Double Flats & Naturals When you just need that little bit more sharp or flat! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/637148493 2021-10-21T03:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/action-guitar-set-up-guide-bc-164 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SZHohwfzVVM/hqdefault.jpg "Action" & Guitar Set-up Guide For most problems you might have with your instrument it is probably best to take your guitar to a guitar shop, but I think it's a good idea to understand the basics of guitar set-up a bit anyhow, so that you understand what they're telling you in the shop. Those good with their hands can have a go if they feel confident! Basic Guitar Adjustments Action The ‘action' is the measurement of how far the strings are from the fingerboard. If the action is too low, the strings will buzz a lot when you play. If it's too high, then it will be very difficult to play anything. If the action needs adjusting on an acoustic, you really need to take the guitar to a shop and have it set-up. On electric, you can try adjusting the bridge saddles (with an Allen key on a Stratocaster-type guitar, or a screwdriver for Gibson-type guitars). There is not too much that can go seriously wrong, but if you really make a pig's ear of it, you will just have to take it to the shop and get them to sort out your mess! Truss Rod The Truss rod is made of two metal rods that run down the guitar neck and by turning a little screw you can adjust how straight the neck is. I don't like touching them because things really can go wrong if you start playing with them. It's adjusting this that will correct the neck if it bowed. When you change strings you might need to adjust the truss rod too, but again, I would recommend you get a guitar guru to do it for you. Tremolo Systems If you have a Stratocaster-type tremolo system, then I would recommend tightening the screws in the back of the guitar and or adding five springs, effectively locking the tremolo against the body of the guitar so it doesn't work. As a beginner you are unlikely to use it in a musical way anyway, and your guitar will stay in tune a lot better this way. If you got yourself a guitar with a locking tremolo system then you'll have to take it to a shop, or be prepared for some major headaches. The Nut If the nut needs adjusting, I would say take it in for professional help, they will r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SZHohwfzVVM 566 2017-10-30T14:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-f3-im-132 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xzytcTKpMWE/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (F3) The fun begins!! Now as if it wasn't hard enough to play the A Shape Barre Chord - you are now working on changing to and from it! This really helps! It's a pain and it can get frustrating, but stick with it and it won't be long before you are changing effortlessly between all your barre chords! Practice These changes should be fast - but they also need to be good - so don't sacrifice a good barre chord for the speed. Once you get the fingers moving right you should find they kinda speed up on their own! strange but true. So don't be a slouch - work it - try and get those changes going as fast as you can, but try and keep the accuracy too. I know those A Shape Major Barres are little buggers and make the inside of your 3rd finger hurt - happened to all of us. You just have to get through this bit and you'll be there. The other A Shape Barre Grips are pretty easy really - I'm getting you introduced to the hard one first! I have picked these changes because they are common and take you though the most popular changes that you will likely come across in songs. The recommended changes are: A (E Shape) to D Major (A Shape) F# (E Shape) to C# Major (A Shape) B (E Shape) to D# Major (A Shape) G minor (E Shape) to C Major (A Shape) Ab minor (E Shape) to E Major (A Shape) It's gonna be tough, but you can do it - I know you can! :) It's just practice! I promise :))) Moving On... Once you feel good with that it's time to check out a new approach to playing the Major Scale! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xzytcTKpMWE 470 2017-10-29T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-2-sc-272 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jgZUgzEAg80/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 2 Now we're looking at Pattern 2 of the Major Scale NPS System. I'd STRONGLY recommend that you look at these IN ORDER and learn to join them together (and make music!) as you go and not just spend hours learning a bunch of patterns you can't use! And in previous lessons in this module, there are some important tips on making the most of them - some of which is repeated below -but not all! Alternate Fingerings Strings 5/4/3 I am using the 1/2/4 fingering that is comfortable for me - some may find fingers 1/3/4 is better for them, but that makes the transition onto Strings 2/1 a little more awkward. On the thickest string, I'm recommending my preference which is 1/2/3 because I personally find the 1/3/4 combination weak - but I'd recommend you try both and see what works best for you! :) Whatever way you do it you'll probably find the jump from String 3 to String 2 a bit tricky, but it shouldn't take you too much work - just training up them muscles! Memorisation Tips • I usually break this into 3 groups of strings - Strings 1/2 are the same pattern, string 3/4/5 are the same and just the thickest string is an odd one out! I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS patterns are commonly used for playing legato and very often they're playe... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jgZUgzEAg80 346 2018-12-07T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-feb-27-live-stream-lv-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rKUtHcEpG1c/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Feb 27 - Live Stream Beginners Hour first - for questions from people doing my Beginner Course. Followed by an hour of Open Q&A Session where we can chat about whatever. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKUtHcEpG1c 6834 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-feb-19-live-blues-jamming-practice-lv-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JfeXPF92jO8/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Feb 19 - Live Blues Jamming Practice JustinGuitar doing some live blues jamming practice with Jam Blues 4 Backing Tracks https://www.youtube.com/embed/JfeXPF92jO8 2461 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-feb-21-mike-dawes-justin-explore-the-tonewood-amp-lv-211 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WLLGvnyrNH0/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Feb 21 - Mike Dawes & Justin explore The ToneWood Amp Tonewood Amp rocks! Please note that this was NOT a paid ad at all - we both just dig the product and like the people that make it! :) Get yourself 10% off using discount code MIKEANDJUSTIN (limited time only!). https://www.tonewoodamp.com https://www.youtube.com/embed/WLLGvnyrNH0 1324 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-16-beginner-hour-lv-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BU9lUIpjR5Q/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 16 - Beginner Hour The first of the new format JustinGuitar Live Show was awesome and over 800 people came by for it :) Thanks so much for coming. So below you'll find the show, edited into two, part 1 being a beginner hour and part 2 being the Open Session for general Q & A. If someone had time it would be awesome to note the questions I answered as they watch it and email it to me so I can add it here for easy reference for others ;) Topics Covered - Beginner Hour Thank you Zoe! :) 0 :35 What is the typical Student time to complete each stage? 2 :20 C# -hard chord for beginners? 3 :45 Practice advice/ importance of enjoying playing as well as structured practice. 5 :50 First song Justin ever learnt 6 :15 Should you practice standing/ sitting/ both? 8 :05 Is a musical education essential for writing songs? 11:40 Should I play in a band with people much better than me? 14:40 Recording practice sessions – how useful is it? 16:30 Digital tuner –how to use it. 19:30 Tuners/ tuner apps that Justin uses. 20:30 How important is it to learn whole songs all the way through? 23:05 Get playing along with original tracks 24:05 Acoustic guitar for £500 – will I get a good guitar for that? 25:35 Guitar strap slides around/ what height should I set it at? 28:05 F chord/ Barre chords – I practice lots but am still having trouble. 30:20 Getting started with song writing. 31:10 When I buy a new guitar should I get it set up and restrung straight away? 34:00 Importance of good posture when playing. 35:30 Noticeable sound of pick when strumming. 37:10 Getting the hang of the upstrum. 39:25 How to improve fingerstyle technique. 43:35 When are you no longer a beginner/ When are you an intermediate player? 45:20 Nylon strings for beginners – are they easier/ better? 47:45 Using amps with acoustic guitars. 50:00 How long does it take to master the guitar? 51:45 Left handed players playing right handed. 53:20 Playing on stage for the first time. 58:10 Sore muscle between thumb and first finger. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BU9lUIpjR5Q 1 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-find-a-note-exercise-mt-434 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/757220988-bdeed1718b13b11ff1ae8144dbba4019bda878b82e2a21663b41e39144747416-d_295x166?r=pad The "Find-A-Note" Exercise The best exercise to learn the notes on the fretboard is right here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/315429123 437 2018-05-09T15:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/six-low-slow-blues-slow-demo-practice-tips-sb-703 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072238948-eddab63143dd0be01ae0493afa981a43d13caa5636f74dbbe070497950ca54dc-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Six Low & Slow Blues – Slow Demo & Practice Tips Here's your slow playthrough for the Six Low & Slow Blues and practice tips! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125135911 90 2025-10-23T04:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-b2-910 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q_0X6b_MFGw/hqdefault.jpg Chords In Keys Let's tackle a bit about music theory. Understand what are chords in keys! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/q_0X6b_MFGw 289 2020-05-22T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-9-b2-909 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dmqsX8tQRHY/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 9 Check out these easy songs to practice the F chord - The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, RHCP, and much more! https://www.youtube.com/embed/dmqsX8tQRHY 158 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walkin-bass-jazz-blues-improvising-sb-1203 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2106247529-eb2c0c286d1a911498dda94c14c4937303cac49f943f4ec966e6164cdcb44324-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Walkin' Bass Jazz Blues - Improvising Are you ready for a challenge? :) Learning to improvise a walking bass is no small thing. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1141203869 390 2026-01-13T03:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/correct-thumb-placement-on-the-neck-te-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zQuHqY83mD0/hqdefault.jpg Correct Thumb Placement On The Neck A lot of people worry about where to place their thumb... but there's no set place. Hear where / when in this lesson! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQuHqY83mD0 566 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-your-pet-licks-blim-u2-18-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424348-69a8e83aa5535c05bee9afe602fe8c22e2b51658bf92ce82214f8c4f19a06012-d_295x166?r=pad Using Your Pet Licks In Unit 1, you identified your key "pet licks." Now, let's explore how to use them to enhance your playing style! https://player.vimeo.com/video/944868425 578 2024-07-28T11:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/positive-finger-placement-b1-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VB0vWNqNMbA/hqdefault.jpg Positive Finger Placement Want to avoid finger pain when playing guitar? Don't skip this lesson. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VB0vWNqNMbA 215 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-6-nk-106 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/911997077-9911851f3eda61e4aeddc885df935e3ac36f1ebaf18527fca749f38fa129d8d4-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 6 Nitsuj has come a long way - Module 10 is almost completed! The wrist soreness is finally feeling a bit better. :) Today, he's feeling like trying something new. Sometimes, it's nice to switch up our practice songs. It helps you revisit some techniques and keeps you inspired. For this session, Nitsuj starts with Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. https://player.vimeo.com/video/431008747 2068 2020-07-07T09:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-strum-without-a-pick-b1-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j-ljksb6oIY/hqdefault.jpg How To Strum Without A Pick Learn to strum a guitar without a pick and actually sound good! https://www.youtube.com/embed/j-ljksb6oIY 1044 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/technique-self-evaluation-blim-m0-t0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895880060-52b9cb6ec0839091774316eaa6c25fbb706dd1579080206ec073153a9f388e88-d_295x166?r=pad Technique: Self Evaluation What are your technical struggles? To make the most of this course, you should do some self-evaluation of your general technique. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902882495 94 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-10-practice-4-nk-104 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/911242695-55a0d8ff8dbdf497935e77f891a7950f812de31b4ca5e61658daef934d64bb26-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 10 - Practice 4 In this guitar session, Nitsuj will spend a bit of this lesson revising Wonderwall by Oasis. First, he'll muck around a bit without the song app to see what happens. Today, Nitsuj is dealing with a sore wrist. So, he's feeling pretty stiff - but that won't stop him from putting in the work. However, if you're ever feeling any major pain and tension while practicing - please take it easy on the guitar. :) Nitsuj is definitely noticing skill improvement and feeling like he's heading in the right direction of his guitar journey! https://player.vimeo.com/video/430553876 2066 2020-07-07T09:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raggy-island-slow-demo-sb-1102 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073492834-cffddf78a1e54a3bdbb2b987fe64d2b0a19d80a89a7c57df9b824dd45cc7af75-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Raggy Island – Slow Demo Here’s a full slow playthrough of your arrangement so you can really hear and see how everything fits together at a slower pace. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129242576 72 2025-10-23T05:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/string-muting-techniques-im-134 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xARmgKQmbYw/hqdefault.jpg String Muting Techniques Once you have learned how to play your scales and are getting on ok with that - it's time to look at how cleanly they are being played and how we can minimise unwanted notes. Once you start using these techniques will be amazed at how much better you will sound. This technique is a difficult one to explain in text so I'm hoping the video will clear it up for you. Don't let yourself get too tied up in this stuff though or you will make a real pigs ear of your playing. It is important, but it's also important that you let your hand do it on their own - thinking too much about it will leave your fingers in knots and your brain in a muddle! Be aware of the problem, and the solution, and then LET it fix itself! The Lesson The left hand has a lot more to do than just fret the note... maybe you remember back to the old days when you were learning your first chords? And remember how if one of your fingers was slightly touching one of the strings it shouldn't then that note would not sound... well now we are going to use this to our advantage! Unless string muting is considered there are often open strings ringing out when people play. It makes a significant difference to the quality of a performance when it is played 'cleanly' and if you play with distortion these techniques are essential. Generally the tip of the finger fretting a note will also touch the next thickest string in order to mute it! It's not EVERY time, but most of the time. Get used to feeling it there. Moving On... Time to look at some more rhythms... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xARmgKQmbYw 837 2017-10-29T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-6-licks-medley-blim-u6-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953955501-199883be91e03642bd9cfeba54c54b2a861bc4f894ac3b893d6843caa5fbc064-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 6 Licks Medley This should be a lot of fun—and a starting point for your creativity! Are you ready? Let's play! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1031925685 230 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-30-beginner-q-a-lv-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zyd1W1aZuKk/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 30 - Beginner Q&A No technical issies this time :) and another good fun session! Topics Covered - Beginner Hour Thank you Zoe! :) 00:05 Justin plays “Mazurka Choro” by Heitor Villa-Lobos. 04:30 Guidelines for participating in the live chat stream. 05:45 The Kemper Profiler- getting cool sounds from your electric guitar. 08:00 Performance anxiety- why does it happen and how to deal with it? 12:35 Amps- getting the best out of your guitar: Valve amps/ tube amps/ boutique amps/ Kemper Profiler and more. 19:45 Can we learn everything via the internet? The benefits of having a private tutor and how to choose the right one for you. 24:40 Traditional A chord fingering. 26:05 Low action/ string buzz. 27:10 “Practical Music Theory” – does it sync up with the beginners course? 28:08 How often should I clean my guitar? 28:55 Hitting the pick guard with the downstrum- how to avoid. 32:00 Why did Justin move to the UK? 30:32 What strings does Justin use? 32:50 Recording yourself- tips for getting started. 34:50 Starting a new stage- should I work on the songs straight away or get the chords/ rhythm down first? 36:00 Starting a band- how to get going. 38:10 Changing the key of a song to fit your voice: Using a capo or changing the chords – how is it different? 42:20 Scale length of a guitar – does it make a difference? 43:25 D chord – how to avoid hitting the A string? 49:00 Classical or casual position for holding the guitar? 50:55 G chord using fingers 2, 3 and 4. 51:58 Upstrum – where does it come in between the beats? 56:30 Moveable chord shapes – do I need to know them? 57:25 Should the fretboard be out of sight when I play? 58:56 Wrist/ index finger pain – is it normal? 1:00:40 Sitting/ standing to practice –which is best? 1:01:38 How to break out of a rut- setting goals/ effective practice. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zyd1W1aZuKk 3787 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-16-open-q-a-lv-101b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ML-36vGh29M/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 16 - Open Q&A Topics Covered - Open Q&A Session Thank you Zoe! :) 0 :40 String bending – catching string above/ how to mute? 7 :25 Acoustic pick guards – Velcro tip. 8 :35 Jack White solo style – what makes it so good? 11:10 Where is Justin playing live at the moment? 11:35 How do you dial in your amp for a gig? 12:05 Using 1st finger to mute string above/ string bending. 14:00 How to stay relaxed when playing/ improving stamina. 20:50 Making scales musical when improvising. 23:35 Justin’s picks. 24:15 Elliott Smith style- will Justin do any? 24:40 Funk module. 25:00 Acoustic/ Electric guitar- do you need a different approach? 25:45 Plectrum size – what do you use and when do you change it? 28:10 Advice on buying 2nd guitar. 31:20 Soloing over chords/ new lessons and modules coming soon. 33:15 What should I play in a guitar store? 35:50 Do Justin’s guitars have names? 36:20 Should I get a better amp or another pedal? 38:55 Please recommend a budget priced amp for 1st gigs. 40:08 Pedalboard video –will you do one? 41:10 Do you still use the dots on the guitar for reference? 42:55 Noiseless or standard single coils? 44:02 More U2/ The Cult/ David Bowie on the way? 46:10 What’s Justin’s favourite Bowie song? 47:30 Can you have Mike Dawes back as a guest again? 48:10 Jazz chord arrangements. 48:50 Reading standard notation- new ebook coming soon. 49:05 More theory coming soon too! 49:25 How did you start your band? 50:25 Are you a G n R fan? 52:55 What projects are in the pipeline? 54:08 Pedal points 54:42 Is guitar based music making a comeback? 55:43 What’s Justin’s favourite RHCP album https://www.youtube.com/embed/ML-36vGh29M 1 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g-shape-maj-mini-min-mt-714 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535286275-693d4191be0350ea93c7a9368df2396fc2ca9981c24b70b3693e907c85506033-d_295x166?r=pad G Shape Maj & Mini Min The G Shape major shape is a useful and cool shape to explore but the minor chords are less useful. But note that one of the super useful thing about becoming familiar with the shapes and note functions is when we apply the same logic to arpeggios - which are awesome in G Shape! G Shape Major The Major shape shown below is possible to play, but awkward and not often played in full. To play it in full requires a full barre and stretching out fingers 2/3/4 to play the notes. But usually, you would just play some of the notes. The middle grip below shows another easier approach which is to leave off the thinnest string. The last grip uses just the middle strings and is a very nice grip to use, especially if you hammer-on the 3rd finger from a further barre with finger 1 (the Hendrix/Mayfield approach!). The Minor Complications The minor grip of this chord is really only played using the thicker strings 6/5/4/3 - playing the thinner strings (as shown on the right below) is essentially the same as playing the thinnest 3 strings in an E Shape grip... so I don't tend to think of the grip as G Shape, though I suppose technically it could be. https://player.vimeo.com/video/403011002 139 2020-02-09T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/building-melodic-patterns-im-136 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4c8o2HdUuZ4/hqdefault.jpg Building Melodic Patterns Melodic Patterns are a way of playing scales to make them sound less like scales and more like music. Playing them will help you develop muscle memory that is not as boring as playing scales up and down and learning and working them out can be intellectually stimulating and quite a challenge. Let go... One for the maths professor ;) It's strange that using maths applied to scales (two subject that often make people get bored) can really make your scales come alive. Basic number patterns: 1-2-3-4 : 2-3-4-5 : 3-4-5-6 : etc 1-2-3 : 2-3-4 : 3-4-5 : 4-5-6 : etc 1-3 : 2-4 : 3-5 : 4-6 : 5-7 : etc 1-3-2-1 : 2-4-3-2 : 3-5-4-3 : etc. If you don't see that pattern and would have trouble continuing the sequence, try again. Still stuck, then ask on the forum and we'll do our best to help out! Very useful thing to do might be (hint) to print out a blank neck diagram and write on the major scale, but instead of dots, you could use numbers... that might help.... ;) Moving On... Time for some choonz... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4c8o2HdUuZ4 504 2017-10-29T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-2-4-jazz-metronome-ja-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iohp4BsYDUE/hqdefault.jpg The 2 & 4 Jazz Metronome I saw this technique first on an Emily Remler instruction video casette (yeah that long ago! p.s. if you don't know her playing, check it out, she's incredible!) and it's a REALLY good idea and I'd recommend that you get into this idea as soon as you start learning jazz, which is why I'm including this so early on. It's pretty easy concept... put your metronome at half the tempo of the song, and the clicks will be beats 2 & 4 - you won't have a click on every beat that you would usually. It will really help your swing feel! https://www.youtube.com/embed/iohp4BsYDUE 342 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-blues-practice-tips-slow-demo-sb-903 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072240475-34caf17c0624accc1bfb11bd7da7debd3f87290dcd4209cad45068556b86ff18-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Blues – Practice Tips & Slow Demo Here's your slow playthrough for Gospel Blues - Full Arrangement. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125319551 93 2025-10-23T04:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-blues-improvising-sb-904 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2072245391-1b1f0075f7b634782091b134537b45603b6a45ab0cdb758bbc84845ca1c0fd93-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Gospel Blues – Improvising The gospel blues trick on guitar is one of the most versatile things we can learn. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1125321974 1031 2025-10-23T04:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sus-chord-e-a-shape-consolidation-mt-625 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438262425-3db31a215587ebc314136137844904d2260f2d9278eb4057f028137fcc0d058b-d_295x166?r=pad Sus Chord E & A Shape Consolidation Time to consolidate everything you've learn in this module, and get ready for the Advanced Grades! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402130146 185 2018-08-03T10:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-5-practice-1-nj-501 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858731530-0a9018e7243ff7b947456fad53517d7e2fe9dd608ec3e57df5718eff738d09ed-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 5 - Practice 1 Nitsuj is taking on the C chord in Lesson 5, as well as continuing his finger stretches and his strumming exercises. He’s also working on getting that Nirvana riff firmly under his belt. https://player.vimeo.com/video/393279799 1589 2020-02-14T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/8-bar-blues-progressions-extension-lesson-blim-u2-16-r4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905425117-3531bb97c23de77e42bfd634123d8fc3f519f8a5d5a14af83bddacd840a67caa-d_295x166?r=pad 8-bar Blues Progressions (Extension Lesson) When exploring blues core progressions, you'll find three main types: the classic 12-bar Blues, occasional 16-bar variations, and the shorter 8-bar Blues. https://player.vimeo.com/video/943816559 231 2024-07-28T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/maintaining-inspiration-blim-u6-10-i1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391490-fd13564b47069872de095970042a9e918d2d37f15981e54112df233d2ede542b-d_295x166?r=pad Maintaining Inspiration I often get asked how I maintain inspiration for learning new things on guitar... let's talk! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1032424749 646 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-6th-interval-et-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UfLemACbGU4/hqdefault.jpg The Major 6th Interval And now... the end is near. It's time to get the Major 6th interval into your musical mind! https://www.youtube.com/embed/UfLemACbGU4 666 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-chord-anchors-tricks-b1-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/McSfLPmXcLw/hqdefault.jpg E Chord Anchors & Tricks Let's learn how to move faster between the A, D, and E chords! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/McSfLPmXcLw 144 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-chicago-blues-blim-u2-19-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424503-b78136631207feae71a59bb8ecb77455fe63354d76038ded0d99a8a74e308418-d_295x166?r=pad History: Chicago Blues Let's look into some history and better understand the Chicago Blues movement in the 1950s. https://player.vimeo.com/video/944968011 59 2024-07-28T11:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-3-practice-1-nj-301 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854292066-049bfe1f80528c2b2e35de6059d31d5591943423ad40218e8958241f7ad0e682-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 3 - Practice 1 Hello, from Abbotsford! Just because Justin’s got some fancy workshop to attend out there doesn’t mean Nitsuj can’t get his practices in. He’s working on some strumming some fun patterns with his left hand today. https://player.vimeo.com/video/390232355 1562 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-4-practice-3-nj-403 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/854365045-8ac4917c546203d6ff4491485c382ecb3536afb9bb08fc399e1a83c3b9944f61-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 4 - Practice 3 Practice may not make perfect (whatever “perfect” even means), but in Nitsuj’s case, it’s helping to make better. Things are getting easier, even though those finger stretches are still - expectedly, to be fair - a little achy and uncomfortable! https://player.vimeo.com/video/390288990 1409 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-blues-ds-103 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/876477224-518f5d550bb7bce7551b0327cdb562dc8aeda2fc82d0f7f9824fd008cf63c1e1-d_295x166?r=pad Gospel Blues The harmonic movement used in this arrangement is used by gospel singers but works awesome on guitar too! https://player.vimeo.com/video/406068855 3105 2020-04-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/contrary-blues-improvising-sb-103 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2073426280-be7111c8f1455809d27c05e082b4978f1a4f89fbcf15ddf475966aa3966524ae-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Contrary Blues – Improvising Your own licks between the bass! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1129440621 911 2025-10-23T05:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-sus2-chords-mt-624 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438261990-75f9d1376711178835ef3e5be8ba27de2377c8eba757771b6370ce57a7cf7e73-d_295x166?r=pad E Shape Sus2 Chords Ok, this chord is a bit of a pig. I love and use it all the time, but it isn't easy! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402127376 179 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-2-blue-note-and-additions-blim-u2-03-k2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905412174-c242e0f9fd705d8675cb984bbfefabb62a62b054e07704009dc52eb4ab25acd6-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 2 Blue Note and Additions Once you're confident with Pattern 2, it's time to find and explore the Blues notes in its framework! https://player.vimeo.com/video/941649944 493 2024-07-28T11:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-2-nj-702 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858798279-43001fb5c4f10ff1947bd4b8012900f5bbf4ef86289689537e2f7e9f008b0fe3-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 2 Nitsuj is dealing with some obstacles today - laptop has died, no charger and can't find Ipad. But - that won't stop him! He's determined to keep going - so he'll have to go app-less for this lesson! With the notes he took in the last lesson, he will tackle the techniques that needed the most work. Some major improvement happening with his chord changes - Nitsuj is pleased with his progress. How'd you think he did? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/393330551 1625 2020-03-14T14:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-3-nj-703 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/858896453-bc8cbde8f51bf91ffd8d9cb55b66932ad082a051d7ee2a001ae152ece9733a21-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 3 Good morning - or good evening - fellow guitarist! Wherever you are in the world, Nitsuj hopes your doing well and progressing in your guitar journey. :) Today, Nitsuj is mostly playing songs. More thinking needs to be done on what needs work. Strumming is better - but he noticed his arm still needs a bit more relaxing. Starting the practice with Eleanor Rigby, a Beatles classic! https://player.vimeo.com/video/393395474 1387 2020-03-14T14:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-sus2-chords-mt-622 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438260127-5db8f8ba62aadfad244ad144d6a7f55225dd68a3f71367de3360ccffeb38913e-d_295x166?r=pad A Shape Sus2 Chords The A Shape sus2 is a chord you'll likely encounter a lot. It sounds great and is easy to play - some people use it as a cheat for barre chords! https://player.vimeo.com/video/401983347 289 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-sus4-chords-mt-621 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438259789-986a4013d21ad444155a4efa6a476dadd29b92759358e0ac15b6bdf634c79fdb-d_295x166?r=pad A Shape Sus4 Chords Suspended chords are awesome! This lesson will help you learn a bunch of chords that work great as embellishments. https://player.vimeo.com/video/401981495 150 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-23-beginner-q-a-lv-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGw3JKpD9CA/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 23 - Beginner Q&A The third of the new format JustinGuitar Live Show was awesome once we got over a few technical difficulties at the start! :) Thanks so much for bearing with me while I got it sorted - hence the shorter Beginner session this week. So below you'll find the show, edited into two, part 1 being a beginner hour and part 2 being the Open Session for general Q & A. If someone had time it would be awesome to note the questions I answered as they watch it and email it to me so I can add it here for easy reference for others ;) Topics Covered - Beginner Hour Thank you Zoe! :) 0:30 Chord changes – quality or quantity more important ? 1:50 Pinkie knuckle trouble 3:20 What is “action”? 5:20 Pick thickness- what does Justin recommend? 6:30 New Blues course – when will it be out? 7:40 Light/ heavy gauge strings – which is better? 9:05 Funk Lessons 9:25 Speed exercises for beginners 10:00 Can you put electric strings on an acoustic guitar? 10:50 Improving rhythm: Why and how to play along to original tracks 16:25 F chord – how to get it happening in one smooth movement 19:00 Power chords – how to mute top strings 22:40 I use the James Taylor fingering for D chord – should I change? 26:30 Is it safe to play an acoustic electric through a tube amp? 27:40 Australian song book 28:30 Buckethead… 28:55 Placing fingers when learning chords – one at a time or air changes? 30:05 Suggestions for 2 beginners playing songs together https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGw3JKpD9CA 1979 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/nitsuj-module-7-practice-4-nj-704 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/864603069-31c5240536e1a7abeb49dc4334cdef1a03b80b66da02acb0f4318c7db09ed779-d_295x166?r=pad Nitsuj Module 7 - Practice 4 Today, Nitsuj is focusing on keeping things consistent. This is an important factor to keep in mind when you're setting up your practice routines! Even if one day you might nail a skill and practice it flawlessly, check up on it and see if it's consistent! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/397400384 1243 2020-03-14T14:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/c-major-scale-b2-905 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i4zGDoRvn5o/hqdefault.jpg C Major Scale Wanna learn scales for beginners? Start here. Let's check out the C major scale in the open position. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4zGDoRvn5o 724 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-shape-major-and-minor-mt-702 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535283759-354eb624c6033a71a39923d218f27aed9d8e6ae16643f62877b068ce67648335-d_295x166?r=pad D Shape Major and Minor The major shape can be a bit of a stretch but not a killer (3rd finger plays the thinnest string in case you're wondering!). It's common not to play the whole thing - but a good exercise to work on for dexterity... to be fair I rarely use the whole thing, but it has a place and in fact, I've just been working on it in Johnny Smith's arrangement of Moonlight In Vermont! The minor is pretty straight forward I think - not too difficult and a hip grip for funk. Try and mute the 5th string with the tip of your first finger for all these shapes and try not to play the 6th string as you pluck or strum the strings. https://player.vimeo.com/video/402886362 135 2020-01-28T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justinguitar-community-live-stream-3-lv-216 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SpXso04nybE/hqdefault.jpg JustinGuitar Community Live Stream #3 Welcome to our Live Stream - 10 students from the JustinGuitar Community are performing for us. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SpXso04nybE 6836 2023-07-28T03:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-9-practice-schedule-b2-911 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8sxiIhOXQiQ/hqdefault.jpg Module 9 Practice Schedule Ready to work on everything you learned in Module 9? Let's set up a new practice schedule! https://www.youtube.com/embed/8sxiIhOXQiQ 395 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-d-shape-relationships-mt-701 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535283053-43e8f8a3565e981b1aa0a6580e044c313e009929b35ea819a8ec2511c02068c1-d_295x166?r=pad The D Shape Relationships Next on our agenda is the D Shape. It has some very useful chords contained within it - but we are getting away from “common” chord positions. The biggest issue for most people trying to use these chord shapes is that the root note is on the 4th string, and people are generally less familiar with the notes on it than on the 5th and 6th strings. Don’t let that be you! Try and learn all the notes on the fingerboard as soon as you can. It is not hard to do using the Six Key Tones and Octaves as shown in earlier in this course! We're going to be exploring all 9 of the chord types that we have looked at already and then add in another :). Of course, we start by looking at the scale chord relationships. The lowest root is on the 4th string, so we are going to be dealing with quite small grips on the thinnest strings for now. Of course you can extend things so the lowest note is not the root, but that's getting into a whole other box of tricks! In the following lessons, you will find all of the chord types that we have covered so far in this new shape. There is nothing that you should not understand, but make sure that you look at all the relationships - see the similarities between all the chord types and try and remember the concept as well as the shape! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402881595 274 2020-01-27T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-discovering-grant-green-jazz-guitar-transcribing-lv-215 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/90p3kpbOhXc/hqdefault.jpg LIVE: Discovering Grant Green - Jazz Guitar Transcribing I had a fun Monday morning transcribing Green Dolphin Street by Grant Green. https://www.youtube.com/embed/90p3kpbOhXc 4395 2023-06-05T03:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sofa-showcase-wolf-moon-ss-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X27JBcNiWOs/hqdefault.jpg Sofa Showcase: Wolf Moon Jimmy Owen was a student of mine at The Guitar Institute and his duo with Kelly Lethbridge is really special! https://www.youtube.com/embed/X27JBcNiWOs 960 2018-03-03T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-development-blim-u6-09 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953956118-cb3b1ee7270823cef2d3644e9c235d7e6aeadd94e1a0200b4e4468663da3db5d-d_295x166?r=pad Rhythm Development For this exercise, we'll start slow—60-70 BPM— and use a metronome, not backing tracks. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029492038 1470 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-arpeggios-blim-u6-07 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953956308-d6b82a04a2d389af7dc2428a05297a01b67a9c97febe458025adefd09368775f-d_295x166?r=pad Using Arpeggios A nice way of thinking of arpeggios is that they are a liquid chord, or a chord is a frozen arpeggio. Let's learn more! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029472586 614 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-breakthroughs-with-minor-changes-mt-602 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438252809-a98594449c7f7bb84ec97ccb1c1492843dd8f7b3398cd30bd0048449b4b32fb8-d_295x166?r=pad Major Breakthroughs With Minor Changes Chord manipulation begins with a simple change from Major to Minor. Simple but effective - and then we'll expand the concept! https://player.vimeo.com/video/362518365 398 2018-05-02T01:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/course-outline-blim-u0-w1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879093-cde175e5333ee4355c573de5314a5218655c6d19b91bb547f93f769869e61054-d_295x166?r=pad Course Outline This course dives into the rich history and sound of Blues, with 10 lessons per month. Let's preview each one! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/903111785 348 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-modern-blues-blim-u6-12 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391323-e1d625e08c005926a417ece5c8afbf94cfe83200e0f99808b96f2062d10569fe-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: Modern Blues In Unit 6, I encourage you to dive into the work of a contemporary Blues artist of your choice. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1032404560 103 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-6-practice-routine-blim-u6-13 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391662-aa8958356b3179480e0295ed87d9fe8bf8b7f35a65825b0ae41c4d2f08d94e2f-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 6 - Practice Routine Here is your Suggested Practice Routine for Unit 6. Enjoy! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1032467454 474 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-6-licks-blim-u6-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953955825-8516f7c41853846f269b75c2f1438a36f70bfe1f71e9b68baa6c116ed9abd11a-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 6 Licks ​​​​​​​We've got a whole heap of licks to go through. We'll focus on outlining the harmony, chord-specific licks, and improvising. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1031887608 2393 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-modern-blues-blim-u6-01 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391605-25b3d011d79dc53d018887ed9990078405462c0749e180179c63fb99fd75f721-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The Modern Blues Here are your playlists for Unit 6. Enjoy! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1032453647 310 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-jan-09-open-q-a-lv-100b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zzPLLZn2MEk/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Jan 09 - Open Q&A Topics Covered - Main Q&A Thank you Zoe! :) 0 :40 Improvising tips 2 :25 Transcribing chord progressions if no guitar in song 5 :30 Sire Guitars 6 :50 Frank Zappa 7 :40 Cycle of fifths and note names 9 :05 Justin’s favourite Jazz guitarists 11:10 How many guitars does Justin have? 11:20 II-V-I Jazz chord progression 15:02 Blues: Incorporating chord tones into solos 17:35 Finding key of song when someone is using a capo 21:05 Learning note names –how important is it? 23:15 Playing Hendrix style when you can’t get your thumb over 24:40 Fastest way to learn notes on the fretboard 25:00 Pearl Jam Black lesson/ plans for more videos from songbooks 26:55 Getting blues licks sounding fluent/ observing your mistakes 28:30 New Blues lead course coming soon 30:40 All about Justin’s tattoos 32:15 Does Justin know the other youtube guitar teachers? 33:40 Please cover a Jim Campilongo song 35:50 Staying motivated/ setting goals 39:05 Spanish and classical styles 39:25 Finding new sounds/ how to avoid playing the same old licks 40:40 Justin’s hat 41:50 10,000 hour rule 42:45 Justin’s new trio 44:00 Amy Winehouse 45:00 In search of the best tone 47:05 More apps on the way? 47:30 Practicing without a guitar 49:25 How did Justin get so good at transcribing? 51:30 Increasing the stretch of fretting hand 53:05 Who were Justin’s teachers? 53:35 Justin’s favourite song 54:10 Justin’s real birthday 54:20 Maxing out amps 55:30 Can we have a Mark Knopfler interview? 56:05 Transcribing course 56:50 Does Justin get sponsored to play certain guitars/ amps? 58:05 Which new artists does Justin like? 58:45 What amps for AC/DC? https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzPLLZn2MEk 3679 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gospel-slides-blim-u6-11 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953955653-e0fd793f7f7514e9e58fa32716bbd92d4faa7c4b5658e52214b6b1b85c4ddff0-d_295x166?&r=pad Gospel Slides I learned Gospel Slides from my friend Pete Whittard in 1996 at The Guitar Institute—here is what I know! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029514655 1319 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tapping-your-foot-b1-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RPBtKqD6ddQ/hqdefault.jpg Tapping Your Foot There's a reason why we tap our foot (or nod our head!) when we listen to music. Learn how this can help you play better guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPBtKqD6ddQ 289 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-on-the-beat-b1-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JRhwvxl46-8/hqdefault.jpg Strumming On The Beat Learn an easy strumming pattern and get ready for more complex ones! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JRhwvxl46-8 398 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-2-b1-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p5Ln39q8cj4/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 2 Learn loads of songs using only the A, D, and E chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5Ln39q8cj4 256 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-2-practice-routine-b1-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gI8iH5Mg7LQ/hqdefault.jpg Module 2 Practice Routine In this lesson, we check out what I recommend you practice for the next week or two. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gI8iH5Mg7LQ 456 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/extending-to-all-keys-blim-u6-03 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953690786-ce5e9d68e16ae0cfc9b4a27ea6565fa687f023d93fa35ed98fb757416ae8af1f-d_295x166?r=pad Extending to All Keys Building a solid framework in one key helps you connect patterns and adapt to new keys with ease. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029390303 707 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-feb-06-open-q-a-lv-104b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3tK7IpdkUOg/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Feb 06 - Open Q&A Topics Covered - Open Q&A Session Big thanks again to Zoe Magesse :) 00:20 Justin’s favourite chocolate. 00:35 Classical lessons- any time soon? 01:05 Introducing today’s theme: Easy rock licks. 02:00 Long solos- tips for learning. 04:40 3 NOTES PER STRING SCALES (Justin explains: What they are/ why they are useful/ developing faster playing/ using chunks of a scale/ staying relaxed/ getting the timing right / muting/ effective metronome practice/ slow practice/ hammer-ons and flick-offs/ focusing on strengths versus working on weaknesses/ moving between scale patterns/ rhythmic groupings/ picking off the beat/ and more..!) 30:10 First distortion pedal- what would Justin recommend? 31:00 Playing slow versus playing fast/ Tom Quayle 33:22 Chord melodies- can I use them in anything? 33:50 “Comping” – what does this mean? 34:50 Finding chords from single notes in a melody. 37:22 When will WCAS come to the USA? 37:43 Soloing over chord changes- moving from one scale to another. 41:28 Reggae strumming- getting your groove going. 51:25 Muting strings when playing blues licks. 53:50 New Blues Lead Course: When/ where and why it’s better? 54:45 Harmonics 55:12 Barre chords- G string trouble ;) 56:03 G chord using fingers 2, 3 & 4 56:28 Is there an open C minor chord? 58:15 Next livestream date: 27th February. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3tK7IpdkUOg 3680 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-may-16-justin-and-the-captain-live-chat-lv-212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m4Pf2ebIdlo/hqdefault.jpg 2018 May 16 - Justin and The Captain live chat! - https://www.youtube.com/embed/m4Pf2ebIdlo 2167 2018-05-16T22:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/comparing-the-e-shape-7th-shapes-mt-607 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438257662-705e84ecc5987ebd410c92db8a58d8e3f7c7a28b6ca7d49f43a718ce8f0c09e3-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Comparing the E Shape 7th Shapes Learn Major 7, Dominant 7, Minor 7, and Minor 7b5 Chord in all five positions of the CAGED system! https://player.vimeo.com/video/401955257 405 2018-05-02T00:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2016-feb-06-beginner-q-a-lv-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zSBt7WlSEeY/hqdefault.jpg 2016 Feb 06 - Beginner Q&A Another great fun session. Next live session is the end of the month because I've got some other committments the next two Saturdays. Topics Covered - Beginner Hour Big thanks to YouTube user Zoe Magesse! much appreciated! 00:05 Justin plays something funky. 01:35 Funk Course info. 03:00 Joe Satriani style chords. 05:45 Justin’s favourite guitarists to play along with. 07:00 “How to save a life”- tips for playing. 09:40 How long has Justin been playing guitar? 09:55 What kinds of music is Justin into? 11:25 Why are some artists songs not in Justin’s songbooks? 14:28 Jazz: Who does Justin listen to? 14:45 Any plans for Justin to visit the USA? 15:35 Courtney Barnett songs that Justin would have liked to put in the songbook. 16:40 Will Justin be going to Poland? 17:55 Why is Justin focusing on beginners songs at the moment? 20:20 Folk or classical guitar – can I use whichever I prefer? 21:12 Transcribing: Hearing the difference between D/ D7 and A/A7 23:28 Muting (chord change noise on an acoustic) 25:34 Chord changes- is it better not to look? Speed/ accuracy tips. 27:22 Palm muting. 28:45 Reading notation- is it important for beginners? 29:12 Most common beginners issue that Justin sees. 30:10 Can I play heavy metal on an acoustic? 30:57 Should I compare myself to other players? 31:45 Finger anchor- does Justin do this? 32:30 Metronome- Is it essential or can I play along to the record instead? 34:20 Strumming patterns- how to transcribe them. 37:20 Sore fingers after 3 months- any tips? 38:15 D chord muted and D/F base – what’s the difference? 41:55 Removing bits of cloth from guitar strings… 43:50 Sore finger when playing barre chords. 44:35 Keeping time- how to practice? 49:10 Singing- how to improve? 51:10 Keeping time (continued…) 53:05 Most important chords for beginners. 53:45 Whammy bars for beginners. 54:55 I only have 20 mins practice time a day- how to progress? 58:00 Playing past 12 frets on a standard shaped guitar. 58:50 Strumming accuracy- how to improve? 1:03:57 Fretting hand- should it be touc... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zSBt7WlSEeY 4348 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-right-strumming-mechanics-st1-06 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Strumming-Arm-Mechanics.jpg The Right Strumming Mechanics Learn all about strumming mechanics! Your arm motion and body position help you unlock your rhythm. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/767375137 2022-12-06T16:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-your-favorite-blim-m0-a0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895885183-653e2609f828dd5d1f12b172a48979e42a01db8660f93a12463f59c2dd5c5c40-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: Your Favorite Monthly essays on faves! Explore musician bios by period. Pick a fave, and dive in. Start with your top Blues artist now! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903143374 77 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learn-together-blim-m0-o1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895887087-9370f47ca4f8882923fe5b896b90b5b80e9fb9b8f4d9d0b6fc28127bef7e4603-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Learn Together! Introduce yourself, and join the discussion! :) Learning together is better and more effective—we're waiting for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/952652130 61 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/autumn-leaves-introduction-ja-520 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DDauV1Ot124/hqdefault.jpg Autumn Leaves [Introduction] Autumn Leaves is a popular song written in 1945 and the original lyrics are in French! Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyric in 1947 and it's since been a pop and jazz hit in both languages! It's a very popular jazz standard for beginner's as it's harmonically pretty simple but it's a great one to develop and learn things like chord melody and walking bass! Before starting work on the song, you really should try and listen to a few versions, particularly vocal versions, I think listening to one with a lyric really helps you understand the phrasing of the melody. Of course, some songs don't have words, but if a song has words, find some vocal recordings. Check out how they all vary the melody a bit and remember when you play it you don't have to play it 'exactly as the book says', in fact if you do, you are missing the point! Vocal Versions: Eva Cassidy (not really a jazz version, but it's beautiful). Frank Sinatra (If Frank sings something, it's worth checking out, legend). Nat King Cole (A version from his own TV show, what an incredible voice). Yves Montand - Les Feuilles Mortes (Just in case you wanna hear the French version!) Sarah Vaughan (This lady is just amazing, great guitar playing on it too, it's all scat improv vocals) Instrumental Versions: Cannonball Adderly (Amazing band, Miles on trumpet, a superb version, possibly my favourite!). Joe Pass (He's one of my all time favourite guitarists, and he's a typically incredible solo version!) Barney Kessel (Incredible guitarist, great chord melody at the start and then some great improvisations). Stan Getz (Wonderful tone and some really tasty simple twists to the melody and well steal-able lines!) So go do some listening and then come back and get started on learning the tune! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDauV1Ot124 543 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/harmonic-analysis-examples-blim-u6-k3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1955866223-ff03eeef5bcf34cf1128233a2c810510bd8c8933a93681a0d1d381608eb2fb3f-d_295x166?r=pad Harmonic Analysis Examples Here's an example of harmonic analysis! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1034012320 788 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-theory-st1-07 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Strumming-Theory.jpg Strumming Theory Don't let "Theory" push you away! The concepts we'll learn in this lesson are crucial for mastering strumming. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768035412 2022-12-06T16:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/distract-yourself-st1-15 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Deliberate-Distractions.jpg Distract Yourself! This lesson will be challenging! Brace yourself for some hard work, but know there will be rewards. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768437806 2022-12-06T16:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-the-e-chord-b1-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9NSoRXC9PJI/hqdefault.jpg How To Play The E Chord The E chord is easy to play and a very common open chord! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9NSoRXC9PJI 395 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-blues-songs-do-you-know-blim-m0-s0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895885508-7135dfbc44dfa344ace978395425a03a733e87a5ab7643ad3d115fbdeb6242bc-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us What Blues Songs Do You Know? Learning the Standard Blues repertoire is very important if you want to jam with other musicians! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903146475 53 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-contemporary-blues-blim-u6-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1954391384-488428b4ab83b23cac25c4367b86509df8e606f912a580ea77b39a7f6841cd49-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us History: Contemporary Blues Blues Transformations from the 1990s to Today... :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1032410543 103 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/standard-help-the-poor-blim-u6-s2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dAR9IbL7gmw/hqdefault.jpg Standard: Help the Poor This is one of the most recorded Blues standards, but its song form is not that of a 12-bar Blues. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dAR9IbL7gmw 1108 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/record-yourself-now-blim-m0-j2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895883033-75ccb963445c1d9ca33e8f17d669721b8267a2b77987f7de2c6a043ef99e9cfd-d_295x166?r=pad Record Yourself Now! Gear up for the Blues Immersion! Unleash your creativity with a lead solo over a 12-bar Blues in A. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902522309 54 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/power-chords-bg-1201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZBYoI7e3v5Y/hqdefault.jpg Power Chords Learn how to play power chords on the guitar! Get ready to rock with the Root 5 Shape and Root 6 Shape. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZBYoI7e3v5Y 1559 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/enter-sandman-bg-1205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oIEyQK7McGk/hqdefault.jpg Enter Sandman Ready to rock out to some Metallica? Learn the iconic Enter Sandman riff – one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oIEyQK7McGk 781 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grade-2-ear-training-test-et-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d-5eeFDdzhI/hqdefault.jpg Grade 2 Ear Training Test Time to test your Major 2nd and 3rds and Perfect 4ths and 5ths in the 20 Question test! https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-5eeFDdzhI 503 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/conscious-and-unconscious-competence-st1-19 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Levels-Of-Competance.jpg Conscious and Unconscious Competence What on earth does Aristotle or Einstein have to do with strumming? The answer is here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/768724748 2022-12-06T16:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-mechanics-b1-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c5pipuvb-EM/hqdefault.jpg Strumming Mechanics Let’s go over some of the fundamentals of strumming. They are important to build a solid foundation! https://www.youtube.com/embed/c5pipuvb-EM 583 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/peter-gunn-theme-b1-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FZ9mkji_8PU/hqdefault.jpg Peter Gunn Theme The Peter Gunn theme is a classic riff and a great beginner exercise! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZ9mkji_8PU 352 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-12-practice-schedule-bg-1208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lyVkToSxXyI/hqdefault.jpg Module 12 Practice Schedule Ready to set up an effective practice schedule to rock out your power chords?! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lyVkToSxXyI 455 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-6-in-e-a-shapes-mt-706 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535291318-76af7257b19bfbb9152f275705bbeb0b0ef640ca802b8d3252b1c8bfd80a44e4-d_295x166?r=pad Major 6 in E & A Shapes There are a few ways of playing both these chord types in these positions. I'm going to show you 2 ways of playing them in each shape - but explore the LOGIC of how I found them and think about other ways you might play them too! E Shape Major 6 The first E Shape requires all fingers to be used, root note played with Finger 2. Incidentally, a really great exercise for finger movement is to change from the standard E Shape Maj7 to Maj6 repeatedly as fast as possible - requires all fingers to change and go down in a dexterous manner! The second grip uses a small major chord, the top half of the most common E Shape Major shape - you might add the thumb over to play the root on String 6 if you want to get all Hendrix fancy pants on it! This is a great voicing for rockabilly, and you can also think of adding the 6th as a hammer-on! Experiment. Explore. Create. A Shape Major 6 The first A Shape Maj6 shown is a great ending chord in early rock ‘n’ roll style. Just play it like you normally would a regular Major type A Shape barre but let your 3rd finger lie flat down on all the strings. It’s a pretty cool sounding chord - some of you almost certainly played it by accident when trying to play the regular A Shape Major with the barre! ;) The second is a real finger stretcher, but it also sounds super cool and is again a fun exercise to switch between the standard A Shape Maj7 and this Maj6. See if you can figure out alternative versions yourself. They will require a little thinking, but it is worth learning. You will get a lot of knowledge by trying too - make yourself think about the chords and how they are made up. It’s not hard to make your own chord shapes! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402897754 392 2020-02-01T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-finger-strum-st3-01 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-01-WhyFingerStrum-S.jpg Why Finger Strum? Finger strumming opens up a spectrum of rich textures. That's the essence of what we'll explore in this course! https://player.vimeo.com/video/886402306 2023-11-22T12:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-c-shape-intro-mt-707 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535290415-83d37fad9b2f7b4d21517462087a112aeaeeddbec14b3f719c113837e01bb7d7-d_295x166?r=pad The C Shape Intro Ok then. Now we start to have a little fun. So far we have found all the chords quite simply in each position, but with the C shape, things become a little more complex. Many of the chords are hard to play, have multiple grips and fingerings that all seem about as hard as the next. I will try and explain the pros and cons with each as we go through them, but the choice of which grip to use will often depend on the sound - so that is up to you. Many times you will find yourself using just small parts of the chords, so don't feel that you need to get your fingers around all the twisters! As usual let's start by looking at the chord and scale relationship. The scale fits around this shape very well and you should find this relationship pretty easy to remember... just some of the chords are a bit strange ;) Also, note that the 5th on the thickest and thinnest strings are sometimes used to make for interesting grips - experiment with them! I will explain the practical examples in the key of F so as not to be playing at the 12th fret... remember all shapes that do not use open strings can move to any fret you like! https://player.vimeo.com/video/402902538 138 2020-02-02T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/super-helpful-vocal-exercise-et-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FfS7i7SAni0/hqdefault.jpg Super Helpful Vocal Exercise I found this exercise a real big help when learning my intervals, particularly developing the relationship with my hands. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FfS7i7SAni0 426 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/try-transcribing-blim-m0-e0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895884241-d5327c2bd977aef1ef5fb0aa5155be41ef6050a635323814869f8571c09d0a01-d_295x166?r=pad Try Transcribing! Let's transcribe together! Learn common Blues guitar licks to make transcribing solos easier each month. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903004652 223 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/explore-finger-tip-st3-05 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-05-1stFingerExploration-S.jpg Explore Finger Tip! Discover different angles for strumming with your first finger—it's a game-changer for the sound and feel of your notes. https://player.vimeo.com/video/878382467 2023-11-22T13:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/awesome-power-chord-songs-bg-1207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nddo7t8TOO0/hqdefault.jpg Awesome Power Chord Songs Check out these awesome song recommendations to practice your power chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nddo7t8TOO0 212 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/writing-riffs-bg-1206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r7EZXSUQTsw/hqdefault.jpg Writing Riffs Have some fun, be creative and explore how you can create your own guitar riffs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/r7EZXSUQTsw 421 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/understanding-distortion-bg-1204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ZxZfbkW86M/hqdefault.jpg Understanding Distortion If you want to rock, you're going to have to get dirty! Here's what you need to know about guitar effects. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ZxZfbkW86M 1012 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-a-minor-pentatonic-bg-1202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EILFkSGNkdA/hqdefault.jpg The A Minor Pentatonic The Minor Pentatonic is THE scale to learn if you want to start exploring Blues lead guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/EILFkSGNkdA 571 2020-08-07T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/boss-katana-mk-ii-review-ka-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0hGl1ZeGBQA/hqdefault.jpg Boss Katana mk.II REVIEW Meet the Incredible Boss Katana Mk. II Amp! In this tutorial, we'll play around with the Boss Katana Mk. II amp and see what cool sounds we can get from it. This is a special amp - big thank you to Boss for sending it over to me! The Boss Katana Mk-II is still the same Katana but they've added on lots of features that many people were requesting. I'm using two classic guitar microphones, both are placed on axis, and they're going into my Universal Audio Apollo. I won't edit or change the effects on Logic Audio. Little trick before we begin: make sure you explore your new amp. Find the settings that work best for your guitar and your playing style! Changes to the Previous Katana The Katana Mk. II now has 10 amp styles instead of five. The modulation and booster are now split, meaning you can control them separately. They still light up, and there are still three modes for each. Amp Settings Let's look at finding the right settings for this amp. This is the 100W version, but I've set the power to 50W because I'm sitting next to the amp! Either setting can work for gigs, but 100W gives you a little more space when you're playing with a clean sound. I've put the master volume to maximum and will control the overall volume using the volume knob. That way, we'll get the best dynamic sound from the amplifier. This works best for me – try it for yourself! I have Presence at half volume, and I've turned off all the effects. On Boss equipment, having bass, middle and treble at halfway is the best starting point. If I put the volume high, I turn the bass down a little. As for the volume, I've put it a little below 9 o'clock to protect my ears, and the gain is at 12 o'clock. 💡 Buy your Katana Mk-II from Reverb and support the site! I get a small comission on your purchase, which helps me grow the site. Thank you! How Does It Sound? I love reverb, so let's put some on. From what I hear, the reverb on this amp is a little more "sparkly" than the previous amp. In Clean mode, you can hear that the amp has a very warm sound. P... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hGl1ZeGBQA 1656 2019-10-03T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/angle-your-pick-for-smooth-strums-st1-04 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Angle-Your-Pick.jpg Angle Your Pick For Smooth Strums What you're about to learn is such a tiny change, but it makes strumming easier! The devil is in the details here. https://player.vimeo.com/video/767363029 2022-12-06T16:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/01-srv-p1-flat-5-slide-bl-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gi2YGvOz9is/hqdefault.jpg #01: SRV: P1 Flat 5 Slide Starting my new Weekly Blues Lick series is a great lick from Stevie Ray Vaughan. Love this lick, sounds great and can be easily manipulated into lots of different licks! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this is what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar than it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would not be very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/gi2YGvOz9is 276 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-different-levels-of-tapping-your-foot-st1-09 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Tapping-The-Foot.jpg 5 Different Levels of Tapping Your Foot Tapping your foot means you have an internal metronome, keeping you right if other aspects of your playing go wrong. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768651737 2022-12-06T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/steady-thumb-primer-sbr-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DF_cXjxTCe4/hqdefault.jpg Steady Thumb Primer This lesson is about mastering the art of solo Blues guitar—a style that lets you create a full, rich sound all by yourself! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DF_cXjxTCe4 1164 2024-09-07T08:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/exploring-accents-st3-14 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/FS-14-Accents-S.jpg Exploring Accents This lesson is quite important, as it can dramatically transform the feel of a strumming pattern, depending on where the accents fall. https://player.vimeo.com/video/883940648 2023-11-22T15:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/youtube-setup-a-tour-of-justin-s-studio-jr-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lKAtqtcSdzs/hqdefault.jpg YouTube Setup - A Tour of Justin's Studio Let's take a tour of my filming and recording studio! I will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how I create my YouTube videos. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lKAtqtcSdzs 1876 2023-09-10T00:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introducing-the-blues-scale-bl-410 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jlgq0yamjuY/hqdefault.jpg Introducing The Blues Scale The Blue note is the Flat 5 (b5) Scale degree which sounds great in the blues, especially when mixed in with the Minor Pentatonic Scale. Many people learn it as The Blues Scale, and that is fine, but I think it's better to see it as a really cool note that you can add into the Pentatonic to add some spice, rather than think of it as a 'scale'. The Flat 5 is known as the "Devils Interval" - being half an octave, it creates a lot of tension and dissonance and must be treated with care. I think of it as a strong spice that can really add intense flavour to your food but overdo it and it will spoil the meal! The Blues Scale, which as you can probably guess from its name, is a commonly used scale in The Blues! It simply adds one note to the Minor Pentatonic and is also pretty easy to play. The additional note is a 'spice' that works great in a Blues soup, but too much and it can make your soup a little sour. Learn and explore it but be aware that you might not want to overuse it, it usually sounds better to play through it rather than stopping on it. The Blues Scale (Pattern 1) We're playing this scale in the Key of A, so place the Red note (Red = Root) on the 5th fret of the thickest string. IGNORE the Blue Note on String 2 for now, I want you to know it's there - come back and explore using it when you got the other two workin in your playing. Try not to move your first finger from the 5th fret when reaching up to the higher note, you need to develop your stretch! So above you can see that the Blue Notes fit very comfortably within the framework of the Minor Pentatonic - but that's not always the case. Learning it as a note you can add in when you want will also stop you playing in a scale like manner which usually sounds pretty boring. Remember you're trying use use words in the language, not just speak the alphabet. The Blues Scale (Pattern 2) We're playing this scale in the Key of A, so place the Red Note on String 4 on the 7th Fret. The lower part of this scale is pretty tricky to play, so I usually recommend... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jlgq0yamjuY 913 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-is-strumming-so-hard-aw-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kmzS-7KiNlw/hqdefault.jpg Why Is Strumming So Hard? In this lesson, I'll answer one of the questions I get the most: WHY IS STRUMMING SO HARD? Well, get ready! I've got 11 tips that will help you NAIL strumming the guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kmzS-7KiNlw 848 2021-01-14T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-hold-your-pick-to-strum-better-st1-03 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-How-To-Hold-Your-Pick.jpg How to Hold Your Pick to Strum Better It's time to learn about holding the pick for a better-sounding strumming! Yep, that matters. https://player.vimeo.com/video/767339277 2022-12-06T16:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-f2-im-122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SlEbxrfhHCY/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (F2) Now you have had a good look at the barre chords and are happy moving them up and down the neck (I hope!) we are going to look at the slightly more difficult task of getting to them from open chords. Everyone finds this difficult, but I have a few tips here to help you out. Practice Now we are back to the proper "fast as you can for one minute" style for this! They are all hard! This is going to take you some serious practice - but it will come quicker than you think if you just get stuck in, don't worry about it and let your fingers get cool with changing the shapes. To start with you will normally put the barre down first and then the shape in front. I have seen many beginners who find it easier to put the shape down and then the barre, but most of the time the struggle to get a good barre down and change to barre first eventually. Of course you should be aiming to for the barre chord shape in the air as you change so you place it down right away (and the first finger kinda rolls a little as it goes down!). The recommended changes are: A (open) to G Major (barre) D (open) to F#min (barre) C (open) to Ab Major (barre) G (open) to Gb Major (barre) E (open) to F# minor (barre) It's gonna be tough, but you can do it - I know you can! :) It's just practice! I promise :))) Once you feel good with that it's time to check out a new approach to playing the Major Scale! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SlEbxrfhHCY 566 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/song-structure-dynamics-relation-sd-003 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD-03-SongStructure-S.jpg Song Structure & Dynamics Relation We'll learn how songs are structured and how that connects with strumming dynamics! https://player.vimeo.com/video/788078865 2023-01-12T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-add-fills-to-your-rhythm-guitar-sd-004 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-02-StrummingFills-S.jpg How to Add Fills to Your Rhythm Guitar This lesson explores the concept of strumming fills, which you're probably already doing without realizing it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/781945993 2023-01-12T11:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-basic-improvisation-im-123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEMMddpcIe0/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Basic Improvisation In Foundation 1 we looked at the Major Scale Pattern 1 and I just asked you to memorise it and play it up and down. Well, now we are going to have a look at using it... Diagram I would hope that you have this scale pattern in your memory now but I'm leaving this diagram here just as a refresher. Try not to look at it if you don't need to - develop the confidence in what you know! Let your ear be your pilot... So the idea now is to try and use the scale to make up a solo. The way to do it is to use a backing track and jam along. I have one for free the G Major Backing Track below. It's the track I use for the demo stuff... While we're on it, I have a whole album of major backing tracks, Jam Major available here, which will give you a bunch of tracks to play in different keys as you progress! If you prefer to record yourself (or jam) you can use the chords in the key of G in any order: G, C, D, Am, Bm and Em. (more on keys in Foundation 3). Basic tips: Stick to the scale notes - other notes are likely to sound horrible, and the point of the exercise is to explore the Major Scale for improvising. It's a good idea to stay mostly on the thinner strings, thick strings (low sounds) tend to get mushed up in the bass frequencies and not sound as good. Make sure you play a bit and then stop, play and then stop. If you play too long without a break it just gets boring and people will not understand what you are 'saying'. You can think of it as the play/rest approach if you like (one bar on, one bar off). While you are learning it is useful too - you get to stop and think about what you are doing next, and it sounds better - bonus!! Keep it simple. It will sound better. Often repeating an idea while the chords change sounds good. Explore - do not be afraid, the worst thing that can happen is that you play something that doesn't sound great!! So when practicing try and explore as much as you can. There are not as many "licks" as there are in blues style playing - the major scale is more about listening than playing licks! ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wEMMddpcIe0 709 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-position-note-reading-im-126 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Mj6305Rr2w/hqdefault.jpg Open Position Note Reading Next up we are back developing something we looked at in the beginners method and introducing a little note reading. Check out the video, but you will probably find the notes below just as important and useful! To read or not to read, that is the question... Some of you may be aware that I do not recommend learning to read the notes on the neck for a beginner guitar player. The reason is simple, it's very difficult to read music on the guitar (in the early stages especially) and people who teach reading to beginners usually have them playing such fun songs as "three blind mice" and "what shall we do with the drunken sailor", which can turn a young student off pretty quick. Beginners want to (and should) learn songs and fun stuff. But you are now an intermediate player and I think it is a good idea to have a rough understanding of the notes on a music stave, enough so you know what is going on and can develop the idea if you desire. Many styles require note reading to get anywhere, particularly obvious are classical guitar and jazz (to read lead line melody). Even if you don't fancy becoming serious about either style it is good to understand the basic elements of as many things as you can. Very often if you buy a TAB book it will have the notes written above the TAB and having an understanding and being able to read the notes can really speed up your analysis of what is going on. Having basic open position reading skills will help you many times in many different ways, including being able to read a melody line in a sheet music book, communicate with other musicians that don't play guitar and be able to read notation combines with tab for a better understanding. So what is so hard about it? Well the most obvious difficulty when learning to read is that on the guitar there are many ways to play the same note - the most obvious being the note E (thinnest string open) which is found in the top space of the stave (the five lines that notes are written on is called a stave) can be played 6 different ways (on a 24 f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Mj6305Rr2w 703 2017-10-29T10:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-4-bc-144 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p_zzSYEtY-U/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes - Stage 4 Them chords they keep a-changin'... ...and we had a whole heap of new chords in this stage, so you have some work to do! By this stage, you should be identifying the changes that you need to work on alongside my suggestions. 1 Minute Changes So you should always remember to: "Practice what you can't do, don't practice what you can" So if you find one of these changes easy, then substitute it for a change that you find hard. The following changes all have something about them that I think is good to practice, so this is a suggested list to start you off, but then just get in work on the ones that you find hardest! C to G7 - Starting with C , stretch your fingers out and get to G7! C7 to Fmaj7- Keep 1st finger down as an anchor. E to B7- 2nd finger anchor for this chord change. ? to ? (for most people G to C is good to work on) ? to ? (perhaps something using the new mini barre, G to A is a good one) Some other good suggestions: C7 to G7 - This is a tough one for many people! Getting the little finger to behave can be tricky. Do it slow a few times before you start and make sure your fingers know where they are going. D to A (mini-barre) - These chords are often found together in songs, so they are a good couple! Fmaj7 to A (min-barre) - Just because it's kind of tricky! Remember that working on one change helps most of the others too, so don't stress out about trying to do every possible chord change because there are simply too many, and you are better off putting time into playing songs too. Moving On... Next up I am going to show you a little trick to help you develop your chord changes so we can start on some proper songs soon! https://www.youtube.com/embed/p_zzSYEtY-U 206 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/relax-and-feel-good-st1-12 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Relax.jpg Relax, and Feel Good! Relaxing when strumming is easy to say but tricky to do. However, this exercise will help you achieve a relaxed rhythm. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/768215872 2022-12-06T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-a-chord-again-bc-143 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9GK1Cpc3ELc/hqdefault.jpg The A Chord again... Another way to play A that is a great tool for your toolbox! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GK1Cpc3ELc 304 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-strumming-builds-sd-005 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-04-StrummingBuilds-S.jpg All About Strumming Builds Strumming builds are similar to fills but usually lead into new sections and grow in volume. It invites people to sing along with you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/781968823 2023-01-12T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/missing-down-strums-the-pattern-st1-14 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SF-Missing-A-Down-Strum1.jpg Missing Down Strums & THE Pattern Let's work out the most common strumming pattern of all time, so you nail missing down strums! https://player.vimeo.com/video/768320341 2022-12-06T16:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-real-difference-between-3-4-6-8-time-sd-020 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-18-68vs34-S.jpg The (Real) Difference Between 3:4 & 6:8 Time Many guitar players don't understand the difference between 6:8 and 3:4, but this lesson will clarify things for you. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/786777440 2023-01-12T12:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-choose-the-strumming-pattern-for-a-song-sd-021 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-19-PatternDecisions-S.jpg How to Choose the Strumming Pattern for a Song? Learn how to figure out specific strumming patterns for a song and how you'll play songs you didn't even know. https://player.vimeo.com/video/786794550 2023-01-12T12:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/add-some-ups-but-don-t-stop-st1-13 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SF-Add-Some-Ups1.jpg Add Some Ups but don’t stop! This lesson is vital to the strumming puzzle and your key to playing rockstar rhythm guitar. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768302104 2022-12-06T16:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-difficult-riffs-bg-2307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R21FuxLS7cI/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing Difficult Riffs Do you dare transcribe these very difficult riffs? https://www.youtube.com/embed/R21FuxLS7cI 564 2022-09-19T13:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-dynamics-to-improve-your-performances-bc-14x https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mP4knhljqj0/hqdefault.jpg Using Dynamics to Improve Your Performances Sometime soon you might want to start playing full songs and perhaps playing for friends or family... so you might find this video a big help - it's simple. but a big idea - not hard to do, even for beginners! Just bear it in mind as you progress and learn more stram patterns and how to control your volume when you strum more! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/mP4knhljqj0 725 2019-08-18T17:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/starting-arpeggios-in-the-blues-bl-805 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D-GpiMgq-EU/hqdefault.jpg Starting Arpeggios In The Blues The next step in your 'making the changes' journey is a big one, but we're going to keep it slow and easy and I'll show you the trick I developed for making it musical and fun! Step 1 - Learn The Arpeggio Shape To start with you should spend some time learning (committing it to memory) the A7 Arpeggio shown below. I call it Pattern 1 or the "E Shape" because it fits around the E Chord shape. Play it up and down slowly and get it right. Fingerings are suggestions but worth starting with and onlu changing if you have a good reason to. Step 2 - Explore It Alone Next thing you should do is to use it over a jam track - the best thing you can do is get it cooking with a looper pedal - just jam a little groove in A, a shuffle or a A7 chord, and then explore playing the arpeggio over it. Notice that the fingering you use might change if you start jumping notes - and that is fine - nothing to worry about - a good thing really! Remember in the real world you're unlikely to play it always up and down, so do mix it up as much as you can but try to be strict with the notes of the arpeggio only. << I'll try and get a little jam loop recorded here for you soon! >> Step 3 - Explore It Over A 12 Bar Sequence Once you're confident with the one chord thing, have a try at using the arpeggio over the 12 Bar Chord sequence - spend time learning and using the mini shape shown in the video too so that you can easily move through the last 4 bars without starting on the lowest root note which sounds clunky! Step 4 - Add in the b3 Now we start to get it musical - try adding in a b3 before the 3 (In A, the note C going to C#) to add in some blues flavour. Try to be strict with it to start off with and see how it feels and what changes in sound and how it feels under your fingers! Step 5 - Add in the 4 (as well as the b3) The notes in the A7 Arpeggio are: A7 = A C# E G The notes in the A Minor Pentatonic are A Min Pentatonic = A C D E G We already added in the b3 (going to 3) and now we add in the note D as well (the 4th) and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-GpiMgq-EU 861 2019-04-05T07:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-the-backbeat-accent-sd-008 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-06-AccentTheBackbeat-S.jpg Introduction to the Backbeat Accent The backbeat brings your strumming to life and adds a lot of possibility to your guitar playing. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/785728527 2023-01-12T12:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/holding-the-backbeat-sd-009 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-07-TheBackbeatHold-S.jpg Holding the Backbeat Holding the backbeat on your strumming pattern creates a hole for another instrument to accent the backbeat. Learn more! https://player.vimeo.com/video/784770112 2023-01-12T12:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-mute-the-backbeat-sd-010 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-08-TheBackbeatMute-S.jpg How to Mute the Backbeat Yep, another way to explore the backbeat. :) In this lesson, you'll also learn a very useful strumming pattern! https://player.vimeo.com/video/784762746 2023-01-12T12:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-f-maj7-chord-bc-142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TZ4ITPLIzBc/hqdefault.jpg The F Maj7 Chord Lot of people struggle with F Chord, so this lovely chord is a great get around and will let you play many (but not all) the songs that have an F chord in them! https://www.youtube.com/embed/TZ4ITPLIzBc 207 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-down-8th-note-with-the-backbeat-sd-014 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/SD Exports Small/SD-12-AllDownWithBackbeat-S.jpg All Down 8th Note with the Backbeat Bring your All-Down Strumming Pattern to the next level by adding the backbeat! https://player.vimeo.com/video/786112508 2023-01-12T12:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g7-c7-b7-chords-bc-141 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWkXb8jt82g/hqdefault.jpg G7, C7, B7 Chords Now we're going to have to use your seventh finger, oh you don't have one? Well sorry but you'll have to give up guitar... :) not. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xWkXb8jt82g 283 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chord-changes-for-one-b1-206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7VzPzBsm4sU/hqdefault.jpg Chord Changes For One Wondering how to get your chords ready to strum on the beat? https://www.youtube.com/embed/7VzPzBsm4sU 219 2020-01-03T12:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-pentatonic-in-the-blues-bl-801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KW35LLP1USg/hqdefault.jpg Major Pentatonic In The Blues For many people, the first time they encounter 'making the changes' is with a Major Pentatonic Scale and I think it's a great place to start. If you wanna dig into the hardcore theory then you'll probably find my Practical Music Theory course helpful :) Making Changes The big deal with the Major Pentatonic Scale is that you need to use the scale root of the chord you are playing over so in a Blues In A you can't use the A Major Pentatonic Scale over the whole Blues, you use A Major Pentatonic over the A, D Major Pentatonic over the D and E Major Pentatonic over the E. Playing the A Major Pentatonic over the D sounds sour and really awful. You can't do that! Same Shape Different Function The Major and Minor Pentatonics can have the same visual shape but the notes are completely different. You might be aware that the Minor Pentatonic moved down 3 frets becomes the major pentatonic but the FUNCTION of the notes is completely different and you can't use you old minor pentatonic licks down 3 frets - it just doesn't work. Look at the diagram below (and remember the red dot would be on the 5th fret both times - the notes A) and you can see that the function of the notes is totally different even if the visual shape is the same! Most important is to see and hear where the root note is so... Exercise 1 Record a loop of the chord A (of a shuffle feel) and then try playing the minor pentatonic and then move it down 3 frets and try doing the same stuff - doesn't sound good right. But do it - try it - experience it so that it makes real practical sense! Exercise 2 Use the same loop of the A Chord and 're-think' it so you always stop on the root notes (5th fret on strings 6 and 1, or String 3 Fret 2) - keep returning to the note and train your ear to hear the function of the notes better! The Theory Let's examine the notes in the scales and chords and see where they clash! A Major Pentatonic = A B C# E F# A7 = A C# E G D7 = D F# A C E7 - E G# B D In practice the real bad awful sour note is the clash of playing a C# note ove... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KW35LLP1USg 936 2019-03-27T08:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-minor-6-mt-711 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535288162-304a1857b546fc0abc0079246dcbe190a44f4c3ff01c00704288418bae579a9f-d_295x166?r=pad The Minor 6 The minor 6 chord is a less commonly played chord than others we have looked at so far but is a very sweet sounding chord and well worth having in your chord book :). It has the same formula as the Major 6 but with a minor 3rd. The formula for the min 6 is R b3 5 6. Again the 5th is sometimes omitted to keep dissonance to a minimum, but sometimes the dissonance is what we like, so don't be scared of it! You have to be a little careful where you put a min 6 chord. It is not as easy to use as some of the other chords. It can sound very sour in the wrong place - but incredibly awesome in the right place. There are some rules you might apply in the future but easily the best and most musical approach is to use your ears! Make sure you remember to see the relationships with chords you know already! C Shape Minor 6 Let's have a look at the C Shape min 6 first. The first diagram shows the full minor chord and the placement of the 6th degree in relation to it. Might be worth exploring other options to play this chord! hint hint! The first grip (middle) is usually played using a finger 1 barre and fingers 2 and 3 on the other notes. The second grip (right) has the 6 on the bass, you might recognize this as a Min7b5 with the root in the bass, or as a Dominant 9th with the 3rd in the bass! It's a very very cool shape that can be used in many ways! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/402999274 118 2020-02-06T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-sus4-ash-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v0F_hZ56mak/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Sus4 Let's continue our Suspended Chords exploration with A Shape Barre Chords: Sus4! https://www.youtube.com/embed/v0F_hZ56mak 395 2023-08-09T02:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sussing-the-g-shape-mt-715 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1535285887-22066d7686b831902f4501244cd848fd47be1efb90b511bd77dc18830abd0c03-d_295x166?r=pad Sussing The G Shape The Sus chords in the G Shape are used less than with the other shapes. They are quite possible to play, but again smaller grips are generally more useful, the full 6 strings grips are impractical and are not worth the hassle! Sus 4 In The G Shape Shown below on the left is a pretty cool but not very easy Sus4 grip, quite stretchy with the little finger and 2nd finger holding down the sus. The grip I would recommend is using the thinnest four strings as shown on the right, with the root note on the thinnest string. It sounds cool but lacks the root note on the bass, so the best of the two will completely depend on circumstance. Sus 2 In The G Shape On the left is the Sus2 grip, again with the root note on the thinnest string. Note that we need to include the 5th of the chord (on the 2nd string) so as to eliminate the 3rd. This shape doesn't get me excited much except in special circumstances to be honest. It's 'right' but not exciting. Much more common in this Shape would be to play an add9 - which adds the 2/9 to a chord - and this grip of a Major add9 is one I really like - obviously a barre with finger one, but then you can use 2/3 or 3/4 for the other notes - use what feels comfortable for you! https://player.vimeo.com/video/403249643 265 2020-02-10T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-best-pick-for-strumming-st1-02 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-The-Best-Pick-For-Strumming.jpg The Best Pick for Strumming Learn how to choose the best pick for you, and sound great while strumming your guitar. https://player.vimeo.com/video/767323126 2022-12-06T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-target-3rd-blim-u6-04 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953897578-c5e3c3747dbeca91f72bf58e201e3184b9205b3981a3d49808f49d6e78300fc9-d_295x166?r=pad The Target 3rd In this lesson, I want to share a big concept you will likely have fun exploring for many years. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029415727 1458 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-chord-shape-explorer-bg-2302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XSHk-xMd8wE/hqdefault.jpg E Chord Shape Explorer Learn how to make your simple E Chord sound wicked on the guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XSHk-xMd8wE 546 2022-10-10T17:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-legato-sequences-sc-305 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GHdvWgmGh34/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic: Legato Sequences This lesson shows you some Legato Sequences using hammer-ons and flick-offs that will help you make fast flowing lines with your pentatonics. PDF Files This first file shows you the first licks that I play at the start and the picking. 1-LegatoLicks.pdf The second shows you all 6 patterns I show you in the lessons. 2-LegaoPatterns.pdf Text Lesson The trick here is to practice the patterns LOTS before you try and move it around. My recommendation: 1. Learn a Legato Sequence. 2. Practice it until it feel real natural, easy and it's at a reasonable tempo (for you). 3. Try moving it up and down in Pentatonic Pattern 1 (CAGED: E Shape) cos it's easiest! 4. Try moving it up the thinnest strings from Pattern 1 to Pattern 5 (like first lick shown in at start of vid). 5. Then try playing across strings in Pattern 2, then Pattern 3 etc. 6. Then explore moving between different Patterns and string groups. Experiment. Don't forget to have fun, and make of note of things that sound real good. Remember that you can also mix up the Legato Sequence and go from one to the other. Some people like to play 16 note groups (extending the patterns, or combining two), there are infinite possibillties here. Explore them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GHdvWgmGh34 620 2017-10-30T16:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/practice-expectations-blim-m0-w2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895878051-8bfdbbba6714ed2bb8b777ec6ed3ad2d33a3d9b76098ebd78438c3a39782a820-d_295x166?r=pad Practice Expectations Learn more about your upcomimg practice routines and monthly assignments! https://player.vimeo.com/video/902300352 94 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-new-friend-the-metronome-st1-11 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Your-Friend-The-Metronome.jpg Your New Friend: The Metronome! Do the exercise you'll learn in this lesson for a week, and you'll notice a huge improvement in your strumming skills. https://player.vimeo.com/video/768162900 2022-12-06T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-with-position-shift-blim-u1-17-r3-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028214-3d5599e1ffa9e0b0c295566c82149821d74d5982053bee5b1a37162143aa3c5d-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: With Position Shift Transform your Bass 6 Riff with the 'My Girl' variation! Learn to recognize it across Blues genres and dive into creative exploration. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903384193 244 2025-01-05T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/keep-your-strumming-hand-moving-st1-08 https://jtgt-static.b-cdn.net/images/thumbnails/StrummingFoundations-Exports-Small/SF-Keep-Your-Hand-Moving.jpg Keep Your Strumming Hand Moving You're about to learn the most important aspect of rhythm guitar. And I promise you: your favorite rhythm guitarist plays like this! https://player.vimeo.com/video/768043308 2022-12-06T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-record-acoustic-guitar-pb-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5_EpNZyc3oI/hqdefault.jpg How to Record Acoustic Guitar Acoustic Guitar can be tricky to get a good recording of, today we look at the quickest, easiest mic placement to get a great recording every time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_EpNZyc3oI 1354 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jimi-hendrix-style-how-to-use-your-thumb-to-play-the-bass-notes-of-chords-ch-850 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OYne3pVyXzM/hqdefault.jpg Jimi Hendrix Style: How to Use Your Thumb to Play the Bass Notes of Chords When you get the thumb playing the bass note it allows you a lot more freedom with the rest of your fingers for embellishments and fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYne3pVyXzM 670 2018-03-12T20:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chords-2-3-ch-008b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HG9eWe2JIv8/hqdefault.jpg Triad Chords [2/3] Now that you know the shapes you need to learn to move them around to make any chord you want. For the whole demo in this lesson I am using the chord sequence: G . . . C . . . G . . . D . . . Now it is important that you know the root notes because knowing the root notes tells you where to place the triad shape. All you have to do is place the root note on the note that you want and it will be the correct shape. For example: Triad shape 1 - root note is on thinnest string. The note G is at the 3rd fret. So place the root note from the shape at the 3rd fret. To make it a C Chord, find the note C on the thinnest string... at the 8th fret. And put the chord shape down. Got it. Easy peasy! https://www.youtube.com/embed/HG9eWe2JIv8 592 2017-10-30T21:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-f5-im-152 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZC_8yaoM4j4/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (F5) For this session we're going to be jumping all over the neck with our triad shapes! It's lots of fun and a great skill to get under your fingers. Practice These changes need to be fast, and you are going to be jumping position, so it's tough. Try to keep the triads pretty solid, you're nearly at the end of the foundation stage, so you should really be trying to get all your shizzle sounding clean and clear! A couple of hints for you. First of all, when you're jumping to a new chord make sure that you are staring at the root note, and then move the chord shape to it. It's very important that you look where you want to go and don't let your eyes follow the chord shape as it moves up the neck. Secondly make sure that you're a 100% clear on the different triad shapes that you will be jumping to before you start trying to speed up. Going fast when you don't know where you going is a very dangerous habit indeed. Don't be in too much of a hurry. Yes it's important to try and get these things going fast but only when you're doing right. For this you will play 4 chords for one cycle!! so count each time you end up back at the nut end of the neck! As usual, make sure you are working the most on the hardest ones. If I have a combination written down here that you feel confident with then, just swap it for one you find really hard! We're sticking mostly too the string group 1/2/3 but if you are cool with them, then by all means start working with all the major and minor grips from strings 2/3/4. The recommended changes that I think are very commonly used are: G Major Triads (strings 1/2/3 up and down neck) C Major Triads (strings 1/2/3 up and down neck) D Minor Triads (strings 1/2/3 up and down neck) F Minor Triads (strings 1/2/3 up and down neck) C Major Triads (strings 2/3/4 up and down neck) Moving On... Okay next up were going to be checking out the major pentatonic scale. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZC_8yaoM4j4 191 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/shifting-the-f-bg-1103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WyYuDpQ993c/hqdefault.jpg Shifting The F Let's tackle some common F chord struggles and ways to help you improve this tricky barre chord! https://www.youtube.com/embed/WyYuDpQ993c 295 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chord-freedom-bg-1101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/heaI1aGdYCg/hqdefault.jpg Chord Freedom Exploring chords is a great way to discover new sounds and feels on your guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/heaI1aGdYCg 663 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lick-transcription-exercise-1-blim-u1-24-e3-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031293-e36a648ed4fed73d1a86c55faf0c276bf6e04d8e21fe7cca17b668cb75108110-d_295x166?r=pad Lick Transcription Exercise 1 Time to get real and transcribe a solo using vocabulary you are familiar with! https://player.vimeo.com/video/962301085 116 2025-01-05T07:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raffle-my-suhr-alt-t-guitar-can-be-yours-for-3-rf-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8xzCmp43qjw/hqdefault.jpg Raffle: My Suhr Alt-T Guitar Can Be Yours for £3! Support JustinGuitar.com and run the chance to win my beloved Suhr Alt-T Electric Guitar for only £3! https://www.youtube.com/embed/8xzCmp43qjw 401 2023-05-03T05:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/cross-road-blues-blim-u1-29-s1-2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cN6ZaGrt5Zg/hqdefault.jpg Cross Road Blues Let's explore Johnson's innovative guitar techniques on this foundational piece that has inspired generations of musicians. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cN6ZaGrt5Zg 1153 2025-01-05T06:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-curl-blim-u1-08-t2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028820-4e16862bff69da195ac7c6f228c16206db695c958fc4de137be5f6c2a10ce4e2-d_295x166?r=pad The Blues Curl Let's make our Blues playing more authentic by perfecting the ¼ tone bend on the b3 of the scale! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903299264 547 2025-01-05T06:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-classic-pattern-blim-u1-15-r1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896027850-872eed552c0085a271971a964e5aefbd6ec6a34312ad9e531cb9f06ad0ff4bff-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: Classic Pattern This is a must-learn! Perfect for duets with other guitarists on a Chunka-Chunka Shuffle or doubling a bass part in a Blues jam. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903370912 493 2025-01-05T06:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-truth-about-blues-scales-blim-u1-03-k2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030606-bb1cbdb0fbb2fdcdcf4408ab695f00f3cd1474e86bbc00df00da61f997406435-d_295x166?r=pad The Truth About Blues Scales Minor Pentatonic is a great start, but know that your Blues options extend beyond those five notes. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903266298 231 2025-01-05T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intermediate-revision-im-160 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r8S0sNavJC4/hqdefault.jpg Intermediate Revision We've covered a whole lot of stuff in this Intermediate Foundation so before you are set free to run rampant on the Style Modules we really should have a look at all the things you should know!! Chords (to be played with any root note) E Shape Grips: Major, Minor, 7, Minor 7. A Shape Grips: Major, Minor, 7, Minor 7. Triad Shapes, Major and Minor on strings 1/2/3 Scales (all played from memory and know the root notes!) Major Scale (Pattern 1) Blues Scale (Patterns 1) Hybrid Blues Scale (Pattern 1) Major Pentatonic (Pattern 5 and 1) Rhythms (all to be used in a song) Play Straight 16th note pattern Play 16th note pattern using accents Play 16th note pattern using syncopation Play Spreads, Splangs, Chips Play Picked Fingerstyle Knowledge Work out any note on the fingerboard (within a few seconds) Play a simple melody by reading notation Create Melodic Patterns and apply them to scales Techniques Use The Minimum Movement Exercise Play Scales With A Metronome Control String Noise (string muting techniques) Bend A String Improvising Improvise a solo using The Major Scale Improvise a solo using The Blues Scale or Blues Hybrid Improvise a solo using The Major Pentatonic Scale Use any finger on any note Play a Blues Bass Line JUSTIN Method / Ear Training / Transcribing Distinguish Major, Minor, 7 and minor 7 chords. Transcribe easy melodies. Work out simple songs on your own. You can do all that? You're intermediate man - now it's time to put it to use in the Style Modules and become a Playa! https://www.youtube.com/embed/r8S0sNavJC4 583 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foundation-5-practice-schedule-im-159 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z_CEDchTYOE/hqdefault.jpg Foundation 5 Practice Schedule We're still up to a 60 minute routine, you can break it into two 30 minutes session on alternate days too! Don't forget: • Use a timer (see PC-104 • Using A Practice Timer if you forgot it's importance) • Break it into the two 30 minute sessions if you don't have time to do 60 minutes a day, or you find it too much at one sitting. • Focus your practice on things you can't do, not what you can! Always practice most the things you are worst at! Foundation 5 Practice Schedule (60 minutes or 2 x 30 minutes) Description Time Triad Practice and Memorisation 5 mins One Minute Changes 5 x 1 min Major Scale With Metronome 5 mins Major Scale Improv. Practice (with backing track) 5 mins JUSTIN Method / Transcribing 10 mins Picked Fingerstyle 5 mins Exploring Legato Technique 5 mins Rhythm Guitar (trying the new tricks) 5 mins Experimenting with The Major Pentatonic (with backing track) 5 mins Songs and Repertoire 10 mins Things To Remember Triad Practice and Memorisation Most important thing here is to get those triad shapes and their root notes in you memory. It's essential to know the notes on the fingerboard too, otherwise you won't know where to put them! One Minute Changes Slightly different from the usual, but still just have to get in there as fast as you can. Remember there will be six chords to one cycle for your count! Major Scale With Metronome You should still be working on playing your Major Scale in time with the metronome. I'm hoping you have it clean and even now and am working on bumping the speed up a bit if you can. Major Scale Improvisation Practice Now just play - use one finger if you like (any one at any time) maybe use some of the melodic patterns if you can and just experiment. Try out some new things. Don't be scared, just try things out. Try using only your little finger. Try only playing one note on each string. Try playing as few notes as you can, or as many, or... you get the idea! JUSTIN Method / Transcribing Either do the exercises as described in the video and or work on transcribing the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/z_CEDchTYOE 282 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/standard-mary-had-a-little-lamb-blim-u5-16-s2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dGsN3dwUuXU/hqdefault.jpg Standard: Mary Had a Little Lamb I'd always thought this was a song by Stevie Ray Vaughan, but there's some interesting history here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/dGsN3dwUuXU 1049 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/picked-fingerstyle-im-156 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QDT7dgBF6Fc/hqdefault.jpg Picked Fingerstyle Learning to pick out individual notes while playing rhythm guitar is a great skill, and one of the best ways to learn to do that is by playing picked fingerstyle. Sounds good and is lots of fun. You will find with just a little practice that you develop the skill of being able to play individual notes while you strum. Bass on 1 Most commonly the note played on beat 1 is a bass note. Sometimes the base note is repeated on beat 3. You might find it interesting that we play the bass notes on beat 1 and 3 which other beats that the drummer would normally play the kick drum (the big drum played with a kick pedal). We also tried to replicate the drums with our percussive snare hit in rhythm guitar. If you combine the two techniques and play a bass note on beat 1 and 3 and a snare drum on beats 2 and 4 you really end up being a drummer stuck playing guitar! :) But let's start by checking out this very common picked finger style pattern. The bass note will change depending on which chord is being played but the rest of the pattern remains the same and on the same strings. With the 5th string root it will be (just seen it should say Example 2...): Here's another common pattern where you play the bass note on beats 1 and 3. The notation is wrong for this but the tab is right. Must have been very tired the day I did these tabs lol. Usually the pattern will remain the same or very similar between the bass notes. This is not always the case and sometimes it sounds very cool for there not to be a pattern and for the extra notes between the bass notes to be random. This takes a lot more practice, which might sound funny that it's harder to be free than it is to play a strict pattern, but it's true. This is because this kind of picked finger style relies on muscle memory for your picking hand to play the right notes and if you play at random it no longer remains automatic. It's very easy to make up your own pattern as long as you stick to the bass note being played on beat 1. Please try it, have a go and see if you can come u... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QDT7dgBF6Fc 568 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-1-bar-blim-u1-16-r2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028019-0d372f117bf46c7d7eba822ecf4baea8ebd637520889902a48d8c2b2afdb6c91-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: 1 Bar Let's get up our arpeggio and stop before the octave so the riff takes just one bar. Then, apply it to the Standard Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903379727 247 2025-01-05T06:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ear-training-exercises-f5-im-158 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N0iabWo2T2A/hqdefault.jpg Ear Training Exercises (F5) Well it's that time again to Just Use Sound To Improve Now... Now we're getting jiggy with it - we have all our barre chords and all our open chords for the chord transcriptions! It's good to hear the difference between the opens and the barres and it doesn't take too much practice! We're also gonna do a real solo... well it's a blues and it's based around the minor pentatonic, but I'm using other non scale tones too to make it a bit more fun, and it's 12 bars long, so you should find it a bit of a challenge. We're doing more heavily syncopated rhythmic dictation too! The real deal is audio!! OK, I have explained things in the video - but now it's time to put your ears to work!! MP3 files of these audio clips are included on the DVD Set! Download JUSTIN Method Foundation 5 Worksheet <-- alt click (or right click on PC) and select save to disk. Once you are finished you can download the answer sheet at the bottom of this page! 5A - E and A Shape Major, Minor, 7 and Minor 7 Barre Progressions Now we are using all 8 Barre chord shapes!! So quite a few choices - but if you are doing it right you should not find it too hard - listen first to the root note then work out the quality of the chord! Make sure you pause as usual right after the chord you are working out. It can also help to listen a few times to the whole thing in order before you get going! Go for it dudes and dudettes! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-5A by justinguitar 5B - Real Solo For the last solo in your foundation series we're looking a real life solo. Now the thing in real life that is different to the examples we've been looking at is that you get notes you don't expect, that don't fit in the scale you think it should be. So this ex JUSTIN-Method-Ex-5B by justinguitar 5C - Rhythmic Dictation Exercises (Q / E / S and rests) In this exercise we are only using Quarter notes (Crotchets) and Eighth notes (Quavers) and also now adding in Sixteenth notes as blocks. And we still have some easy eighth note rests too! This should not be too hard, sixteenth note rhyt... https://www.youtube.com/embed/N0iabWo2T2A 244 2017-10-29T10:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-5-framework-blim-u5-01-k1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937565368-ab1c6fe6f0de10b0dfb22ba1b2a8cbed55a26b227c66854dc0e14c0eb0664567-d_295x166?r=pad Minor Pentatonic Pattern 5 Framework Pattern 5 is perhaps one of the least used patterns of the Minor Pentatonic, but it's got some cool features! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015317606 408 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-minor-blues-blim-u5-05-k5 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1940715148-134c493cedc162045ba2d38c1b0407f8c027c0b7762cf454b8127d1f80279b7f-d_295x166?r=pad The Minor Blues We've explored minor sounds over major chords, but some 12-bar sequences use all minor chords. Let's look at it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017483280 782 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/slide-guitar-basics-blim-u5-07-t2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1940746817-1c3f1b6071479df457aca6b254205f4324c57f28c74c245bfdcfd65f9971ee09-d_295x166?r=pad Slide Guitar Basics Here are some slide guitar basics for you! We'll explore the perfect slide and some fundamentals. Let's go! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017502259 1507 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/maton-mini-gg-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/94om0GcoxBo/hqdefault.jpg Maton Mini This video introduces "Mini" my Mini Maton acoustic. She is a fine sounding gal with a big fat voice for such a little thing. I play a bit of a new tune I am working on in a strange tuning (for the record it's: Db Bb Gb Db Gb Eb from thin string to thick - which is kind of a Open G tuning, with the thick E string at regular pitch, and then all down a semitone). Hope you like it! Because so many people asked already... This guitar is in a different league to the Taylor Baby guitar and the Martin Traveller. I have owned both of those other guitars, and I can promise that I would NEVER have used them in the studio. They were fine for hacking around in the back of the car and taking camping, but the Mini Maton, sounds amazing. Crowded House have used them live... now that is a proper endorsement!!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/94om0GcoxBo 379 2018-05-01T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/maton-messiah-gg-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wC7sIi2CPQs/hqdefault.jpg Maton Messiah This video introduces "Messy" my Maton Messiah acoustic. This was the first Maton I bought back in the late 90's (i think?). Was nice feeling to be working enough to afford the dream guitar that I had stood in front of in my local music store as a kid and dreamed of owning one day. I don't think I was even allowed to play it... just look at it in the window, I can remember it like it was yesterday... It records incredibly well. It just sits in a mix perfectly and all the other dudes in my studio complex are always coming to steal it to play on their tracks, even though they all own nice guitars too! For those few interested... the bits of tunes I played were "Cutting Out", "Every Dad's A Hero" and "Waste This". All my own tunes... album on it's way! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wC7sIi2CPQs 418 2018-05-01T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/maton-court-jester-custom-shop-gg-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fV2PAH1rzP4/hqdefault.jpg Maton Court Jester (Custom Shop) This video introduces "Jessie" my Maton Custom Shop acoustic called "The Court Jester". I ordered this guitar just before the Katie Melua tour in 2007 and it arrived about halfway through the UK leg... I really like this guitar and play it more than any other. It's a lovely guitar, a sweet very bright sound, and I love it for fingerstyle stuff... I thought it was a one off, but someone posted a comment on the original video that I had up and they had noticed that the picture on the Maton Web Site os the twin of my guitar, exactly the opposite woods. Cool. Wonder who owns that one? (link below) The song I play is one of my own compositions called "From Katie's Window" that I wrote for my sister (not Melua as some people assume). For those interested it is in double drop D tuning. There is a better recording on Myspace if you wanna listen. This performance was a little sloppy too, I normally play it tighter than that, but this was a bit off the cuff, I didn't actually plan to play that tune, it just happened! Sorry about the name confusion of the song... In the first go at uploading the video I had mistakenly called the song Broken Roses which I had been playing before I started editing the vid... and then I just had it in my mind and wrote it wrong. The song Broken Roses has had it's name shortened too, now it's just called Broken, so I screwed up lots all at once ;) Anyhow, hope you dig it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fV2PAH1rzP4 553 2018-05-01T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gray-guitar-custom-build-jg-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Bsv1r64BK0/hqdefault.jpg Gray Guitar Custom Build In this video I take you through the spec (and why) of my new custom guitar made by Tom Gray (Gray Guitars: http://www.grayguitars.london). It's got Radioshop pickups (http://www.radioshoppickups.com) a Mastery Bridge (https://masterybridge.com) and it came in a sexy Reunion Blues Case (https://www.reunionblues.com) which I'll do a video about soon. Hope you enjoy finding out about "Little Sixes" and enjoy the vids coming up! Big thanks to Tom for making me such and awesome instrument! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Bsv1r64BK0 1262 2019-07-02T13:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fender-strat-plus-deluxe-jg-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5nOzui097Hs/hqdefault.jpg Fender Strat Plus Deluxe My very first 'proper' high-quality guitar that I bought when I was in my teens, and it's my most treasured instrument. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5nOzui097Hs 1011 2018-05-01T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-expand-your-palette-blim-m0-i0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1768104754-ffabe807e458651ef0fc63f19a2c15b9bfe78220597d3acbf5aa5f998325ee93-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: Expand Your Palette Immerse yourself with curated playlists and listening notes, fostering a deep connection to the rich language of the Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/891152592 62 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gretsch-malcolm-young-model-jg-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I2wghemyn5I/hqdefault.jpg Gretsch Malcolm Young Model This is simple and classy guitar is the only way to get 'that' AC/DC rhythm sound of the finest ever rock rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. https://www.youtube.com/embed/I2wghemyn5I 1099 2018-05-01T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-texas-blues-west-coast-blues-blim-u5-18-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1938001635-e8082ed3099fb1feba74f948312ed4491dca422d5aa80fb72fea1e1e4d17230a-d_295x166?r=pad History: Texas Blues & West Coast Blues Texas Blues is a distinct subgenre of Blues music that began in the early 20th century in Texas. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015285793 264 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/solo-structure-analysis-blim-u5-13-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1941200507-3b2e7f103a2f80f0e79ff74a3d9b015bfde89a538413ae1ec35cb5b5bb679178-d_295x166?r=pad Solo Structure & Analysis Are you ready for a solo listening exercise? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1020926232 1103 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-big-guns-of-texas-playlist-blim-u5-00-i1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937985413-c80e2d69a8c4fafabba3d79d8bec1ab5df19bebe2b8a1485cf8fb84ca8124c81-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The Big Guns of Texas Playlist Let's dive into the Blues Immersion playlist for Unit 5 and explore the Blues from Texas! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017473614 352 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-5-practice-blim-u5-18-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937992695-140314dd9f4cbc4e1eca299e9fdc4be9af3345d9bf00d4ce49851bd61e3becfe-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 5 Practice And that's a wrap for Unit 5. Here's your suggested practice routine! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1017692292 518 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/1980s-artist-study-blim-u5-17-a1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937867010-4bf0a7cccc8037f4d5ef5cd7e579bb3edd215afd27b0d5532963e31ab0a94077-d_295x166?r=pad 1980s Artist Study Most Blues guitarists produced music closer to Rock, Funk, or Soul, but some stayed true to their roots. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1018326202 176 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chords-3-3-ch-008c https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cIGQGc7nJfg/hqdefault.jpg Triad Chords [3/3] Now the fun begins ;) You have to now be able to find all three shapes in one area! This means you REALLY have to know your root notes and shapes. This will probably take you a little while and some practice. In area 1 use G (shape 1), C (shape 3) and D (shape 2) In area 2 use G (shape 2), C (shape 1) and D (shape 3) In area 3 use G (shape 3), C (shape 2) and D (shape 1) It is also good to just play around and use whichever one falls under your fingers. You should be able to move between them quite freely, but this will requite you to know the notes on the fingerboard very well. So where to next???? minor problem.... Now you know your major shapes, you have some homework to do!!! Make sure you know these major ones well first... then YOU have to work out the minor shapes. Find the 3rd of each shape (that will be the note B in a G triad) and flatten it by one semitone (fret). This will give you the three minor shapes on strings 1 to 3. If you are struggling with this then you might want to check out Practical Music Theory, that will help with finding the notes, and understanding the chords! You should then be able to play pretty much any song using your triads. Try it. Be able to find any major or minor chord in and area of the neck and find the next chord nice and close!! Then once you have that down you should try and find the major triad shapes that live on strings 2,3 and 4. Then find the minor shapes of those! Advanced ideas... Then you might want to find then on strings 3,4,5 and 4,5,6 - although you probably won't use those ones as much, you still should learn them if you are an advanced player! https://www.youtube.com/embed/cIGQGc7nJfg 600 2017-10-30T21:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mini-micro-7ths-blim-u5-12-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937908537-e2f521e0d0abbc08721edd3ffd1e5cffa48b1b1f0ca47f418999832f961942ae-d_295x166?r=pad Mini & Micro 7ths We've learned many fancy 7th and 9th chords, but I often play much smaller chords—just 2 or 3 notes. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015438876 738 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chords-1-3-ch-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BvD1yoWfis4/hqdefault.jpg Triad Chords [1/3] Triads are a very useful little trick, fantastic as a second guitar part, but also for creating riffs too. To hear some great 'real world' examples check out "Brown Eyed Girl" (Van Morrison) for some cool use as a second guitar part, "So Far Away" (Dire Straights) uses a whole heap of shapes for the main riff or "Substitute" (The Who) that uses the very shapes shown in the lesson to make the main riff. Maybe you should try and work them out?? hint hint... I break the lesson into three parts, each with a video. Try and get each bit down before moving onto the next. Part 1 This first step is to learn the three shapes of triads on strings 1,2 and 3. The shapes are shown below. Make sure that MEMORISE the shape and the ROOT NOTE. Without this knowledge you will never use them well. The shapes are shown below. Learn them well. Note that these triad shapes can be called Major (ie. G Maj), or just the note name (ie. G) or sometimes using the term triad (ie. G Maj Triad). Doesn't really matter, they are but simple major chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BvD1yoWfis4 552 2017-10-30T21:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-3-td-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Grnr1w9gdiw/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 3 Still powering along and doing great - looking forward to getting more into recording and exploring the creative process! Tips Make sure the thickest string is muted when playing C! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). n/a • Music Theory Try and get through Grade 3 of the Theory course, or as much of it as you can! n/a • Notes On Neck Learn all the notes on the thickest TWO String (String 6 and 5). Use the 'key notes' 3rd fret G and C, 5th Fret A and D and 7th fret B and E 10' • Exploring Chord Shapes / Progressions Try out each of the CAGED Sapes - and explore sus chords and lifting/adding fingers - get creative Remember the different ways to play A chord - what might the different fingers offer for variations? Write some chord progressions while exploring new chords - and record them! 5-10' • Recording chord progressions - Rhythm focus Record some chord progressions into Logic and stay aware of the rhythm - use and explore the rhythm patterns you explored last lesson (or new ones!) Listen back and see how your rhythm is relative to the click track If time - you might like to have a go at layering another part - if you do this put part 1 in left ear and new part in right ear! [optional] 5' • Down Strums With Metronome Download the JustinGuitar Time Trainer metronome (there is an Android version, but it's being remade!) Set tempo to 80-100bpm and strum down strums with the click Stay aware of where you are, are you rushing or dragging... find the sweet spot where it feels good! n/a • Chords In The Key Of G Learn and memorize the chords in the key of G: G Am Bm C D Em and explore putting them together into your own chord progressions. [optional] n/a • Jamming One person plays open chords Other person finds those open chords are barre chords (this helps with your barres practice and notes on the neck, and strumming!!) Do as much of this as you can! ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Grnr1w9gdiw 3399 2019-04-24T07:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/standard-little-red-rooster-blim-u5-15-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nssLjl7usB0/hqdefault.jpg Standard: Little Red Rooster This was a hit in 1961 for Howlin' Wolf first and was written by the legend Willie Dixon. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nssLjl7usB0 1405 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/single-string-explorer-blim-u5-06-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937586844-1773cd25e70d824ab920aeb20dafd56a7fb7989b1739011e3763a26180cbe7a4-d_295x166?r=pad Single String Explorer Now you know the patterns covering the whole neck, so you're ready to join them together! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015395941 1033 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-5-blue-note-and-additions-blim-u5-02-k2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937573117-b7903ef76152f06ea8ea503307674c69977ec38a8476f5a0372056851d7c0013-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 5 Blue Note And Additions The additions in Pattern 5 are particularly useful and add a very interesting perspective! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015329783 638 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-fresh-approach-to-transcribing-blim-u1-23-e2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024280-c05a72ec863bcfb71aec3e49a187ff85ab66c381bbfefdd477eb3b6ab56bab63-d_295x166?r=pad A Fresh Approach to Transcribing Learn a fresh approach to make transcribing simpler and more enjoyable. Elevate your Blues journey today! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903809084 434 2025-01-05T06:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-practice-blues-scales-blim-u1-06-k5-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030879-0f5a46d69d70b60b34e3e086ed5cc1b0e0124efcd6c8c44e7d2cdac58698bf1d-d_295x166?r=pad How to Practice Blues Scales This scale practice routine will help you build your framework and improve dexterity and picking! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903275313 820 2025-01-05T06:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-best-of-1940-s-and-earlier-blim-u1-27-i1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896032036-473ebbce3a3d79294aa84b2f604c456752200595aec7569716e311d640aa0567-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The Best of 1940’s and Earlier Feast your ears and feed your musical imagination with our exclusive playlists filled with Early Blues songs! https://player.vimeo.com/video/967809901 551 2025-01-05T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-hammer-ons-flick-offs-fo-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fc_KjZa2_lw/hqdefault.jpg Folk Hammer-ons & Flick-offs I still remember the day I figured out this was going on too... man that was a hard day. This stuff is kinda tricky but you know you can just take in a little bit and it's going to increase you toolkit handsomely!! I'm showing you these patterns to give you some ideas to move forward with - they are kinda tricky and require quite a lot of practice (well at least they did for me), but the idea is used in many tunes and if you fancy trying to play the complex fingerstyle songs by Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor, Chet Atkins or any of the great Fingerstyle players you will need these skills. Take them slow and get just one down at a time and learn how to use it before trying the next! TAB This first one is using Flicks and hammers and has about all the techniques combined into one lick. Most people will find this quite tricky, but it has one great advantage... get this one under your fingers and it will help you in many different patterns in the 'real world'. It's based around a C Chord - but you should try it with an A minor too! This one I added in there for more practice with your flick-offs and to introduce the idea of a bass note change, it's quite a funky plan and sounds real good in the right place. This one is shows a common rhythm for the melody, so it's a good one to work on. But as usually try mix these things up and explore the seed from each - see if you can transform it into another pattern that you dig! This one will work on your playing a note with the bass and then flicking it off - very common in blues fingerstyle too this one. Where to now?? Well those that have the DVD set should have a go next at the version there of Waltzing Matilda which puts all these ideas into practice in the one tune - lots of fun. Those without the DVD could check out my song Page 99, which also uses many of the techniques covered in this course... You should also be looking for other patterns and ways of using your fingers now - learning a James Taylor tune might be fun, or some Simon and Garfunkel - whatever tickles you... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fc_KjZa2_lw 742 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sweet-home-chicago-blim-u1-28-s1-2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VdiYasPjtDI/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Chicago This lesson explores an iconic anthem renowned for its profound impact on Blues guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdiYasPjtDI 1451 2025-01-05T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-1-blim-u1-13-l3-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896025542-64203bb26595f187b9d1b9b19855f5f8d9db13e7428d6b0bce8f1da5a9dcec16-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 1 Time to learn—and practice—one intro lick, one ending lick, and ten regular licks. Let's explore them one at a time! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903331146 2148 2025-01-05T06:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bend-exercise-1-pitch-perfect-bends-blim-u1-09-t3-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028691-849ed09acd73cffe316b99c07c4edf18e8a663ecfb27ed1b352be6ad0e7aa402-d_295x166?r=pad Bend Exercise 1: Pitch Perfect Bends The object of the exercise is to get your bends in tune. You can practice it from any note on the thinnest three strings. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903307138 358 2025-01-05T06:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-rhythm-push-bg-1007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gv-W4ZIuxe0/hqdefault.jpg The Rhythm Push The strumming push is a rhythmic technique that adds excitement to your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gv-W4ZIuxe0 566 2020-06-13T18:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-common-chord-progressions-bg-1011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ThwuNjbJB00/hqdefault.jpg 5 Common Chord Progressions Explore 5 common chords progressions using the Key of C on guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThwuNjbJB00 566 2020-06-13T18:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-framework-pattern-1-blim-u1-04-k3-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030734-902def3e2914a87db7e1d4d3c731e6d1ca88d89bbd4167c9cefeaa376b8190dc-d_295x166?r=pad Minor Pentatonic Framework - Pattern 1 Let's review the Minor Pentatonic Scale and some crucial points on how to use it as a framework. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903268736 365 2025-01-05T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-backing-tracks-for-lick-practice-blim-u1-12-l2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028374-e463a66cdee109d1f15582f6188958d8f653ff03224c50075b6719d367be9a45-d_295x166?r=pad Use Backing Tracks for Lick Practice When practicing a lick with a backing track, focus on using just one lick—and here's how and why! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903323119 456 2025-01-05T06:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-chord-scale-relations-fo-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S5dWSIydqb8/hqdefault.jpg Minor Chord Scale Relations We've already looked at the relationships between the 3 Major Chords in the Key of C (C, F and G) so now it's time to look at the Minor Chords in the Key of C: Am, Dm and Em. Once you have these you have pretty much all the commonly used chords in Open Position and the Major scale tied in so it's time to get exploring your Chord Melodies! Further Info Quick revision of the C Major Scale in Open Position first: Ok, lets get started with the A Minor chord. As usual, hold down as many chord tones as you can while you play the scale. The bracketed notes you can use too, but they are just less commonly used because the block the root note (the Open A String). Once you are cool with that lets check out E minor - nice easy and fun one... Then it's time to look at the least used and some ways the hardest to use (just cos there are so few notes to get at easily... D minor. And once you feel cool with these it's time to learn Waltzing Matilda in the next lesson which combines all the chords in the Key of C and the melody AND the Folk Fingerstyle Patterns!! Get them grey cells working now :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5dWSIydqb8 387 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-1-practice-routine-blim-u1-21-p1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896032342-42ff18aaa3bd1079e65a1eb9fa9a86940287538fffa8db0a073a98fe725d1589-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 1 - Practice Routine Let's explore my suggested practice for Unit 1 - and how you might adjust it to suit your needs! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903391396 427 2025-01-05T06:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-the-early-blues-blim-u1-26-a1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031985-fc0b4c55e2ce039ddee6b68d1ff476120faf8643d9ea9a4fae2a4fd2ee5b243b-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: The Early Blues The early Blues can be hard work. Scratchy old recordings are blissful for some but frustrating and annoying for others! https://player.vimeo.com/video/962324172 514 2025-01-05T06:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bend-exercise-2-pattern-1-bend-candidates-blim-u1-10-t4-p1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028608-19cb9ce9d73d7d3819f73318018e6cd1f8fdc69f56de31b0c88c7d4c930541c5-d_295x166?r=pad Bend Exercise 2: Pattern 1 Bend Candidates Train your muscles and musical imagination to hear the cool bends in the Blues—and not just the Pentatonic Notes. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/903312364 262 2025-01-05T06:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-travis-picking-fo-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K2Z3RZc5t-A/hqdefault.jpg Basic Travis Picking Merle Travis was a great and innovative guitar player, and his style of country finger picking became a very commonly used pattern in Folk Fingerstyle and all the other fingerstyle genre's that followed. Other masters in the tradition of Folky Country Fingerstyle include Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel and Lenny Breau. It's similar to the patterns we looked at earlier but now we have the thumb moving between 3 strings in the one pattern which takes quite a deal of practice to get automated so you can start working on the melody elements! Have fun and don't get frustrated if you don't get it right away, took me a couple of years (I'm a slow learner!). TABs We're starting out with a look at the basic Pattern #1 but using a barre chord and adding in that moving thumb part (remember to move your fretting hand first finger over to the thick string when you are playing that - don't barre them both!). You will have to play this over and over to get the thumb trained up for this new pattern. It is tricky at first - you'll have to concentrate real hard - but you will get it. Now we're just using the same chord but basing it on Pattern #2, still just focus on the thumb movement - the rest should come easy if you have been practicing the material we've looked at so far in the course. Now we're using a G Major Barre chord (E Shape) so the thumb pattern changes again! Still on G Major just using a similar pattern to what we've looked at before. Next up is for you to go explore this idea - adapt the "Create Your Own Fingerstyle Patterns" diagrams and table to fit this new thumb movement and see what you can come up with. It's a lot of fun when you get into it because there are so many idea's to explore. I recommend keeping a scrap book to collect your favourite patterns as you find them, they are easy to forget and it sucks when you find a real cool one but forget it the next day - so write them down! https://www.youtube.com/embed/K2Z3RZc5t-A 491 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/waltzing-matilda-chords-melody-fo-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FmSzo5QtxLY/hqdefault.jpg Waltzing Matilda Chords & Melody There are some really tricky versions of Waltzing Matilda around, but in this lesson we are just going to be looking a super simple version so you can see the chords and the scales mixing together. I've left the fancy version for the DVD bonus material if you wanna try something harder, but really at this point you want to keep it simple and get to grips with combining the Chords, Melody and Fingerstyle Patterns 'cos that is a lot to deal with!! Save the harder version until you have finished the whole course (there are some tricky bits in the DVD version!). Once you're through this lesson we're going to make the basic thumb pattern more complex and add in hammers and flicks to our patterns! so MAKE SURE you are confident with all the fingerstyle patterns we have looked at up to this point! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/FmSzo5QtxLY 766 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lick-book-blim-m0-l0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895879730-3fb86c3f89518040ab215f9dea80442e78caee2cd1943d154fc8677494039af1-d_295x166?r=pad Lick Book Time to get started on making your own personal Licktionary! Explore your playing and discover licks you already know. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902559406 96 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/happy-birthday-chord-melody-fo-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rpzeYL3wW9w/hqdefault.jpg Happy Birthday Chord Melody Everybody should know how to play a chord melody version of Happy Birthday!!! In this lesson we are looking at a real simple chord and melody version, we're not going to get into using the folk fingerstyle yet, I just want you to see how the chords and the melody relate to each other, the way the previous chords and scales interact to allow you to play chords and melody together. More info under the tab! After completing this lesson those who have bought the DVD might like to learn the version included as a bonus lesson on the DVD as it combines this chord melody with the Folk Fingerstyle Patterns we have looked at so far. I've made sure it's simple enough to do at this point in the module. TAB Further Info There are a few new things in the notation in this one!! 3:4 Time Signature We've not really looked a lot at 3:4 in this course yet, but this song in it's most basic form is in 3:4, meaning that it has three beats in each bar. So when you count along you'll be counting 1, 2, 3 or maybe 1 + 2 + 3 + but you won't ever be reaching the 4. Great for those that are mathematically challenged ;) The version I teach as bonus material on the DVD is in 4:4 and uses the Folk Fingerstyle Techniques we have learned. Anacrusis Huh? This is a fancy word meaning that the melody doesn't start on the first beat! In this case it's starting on beat 3, so we count those first two notes and 3 + with the chord being played at the start of the first bar. Pause See that thing on the 3rd stave down looks like a dot with 3/4 of a square around it? Well that means pause. Usually it's more round than square like that (it's the cool 'jazz' font that makes it square) and it means pause on the note below it. Very commonly used in music notation so it's a good one to know. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpzeYL3wW9w 635 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-fingerstyle-module-intro-fo-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3Efg3jbXAnQ/hqdefault.jpg Folk Fingerstyle Module Intro In this first introduction lesson we look at things you should know before starting and run you through an outline of the course! https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Efg3jbXAnQ 539 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/download-your-jam-tracks-blim-m0-j0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895881357-4c73f9af427dd755145c296a64acfa80f420a3bc8df57e6cf785aa2895f76f2b-d_295x166?r=pad Download Your Jam Tracks Recorded live, these backing tracks provide a dynamic and authentic musical jam to play along with. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902933293 65 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-strings-on-an-electric-guitar-2-2-gm-104b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qgVAhI8PqPU/hqdefault.jpg How To Change Strings On An Electric Guitar [2/2] See part 1 of this lesson for notes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgVAhI8PqPU 410 2018-03-09T07:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/top-tips-for-overcoming-performance-anxiety-stage-fright-and-red-light-fever-bl-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zd9YvzbX2Zo/hqdefault.jpg Performance Anxiety, Stage Fright & Red Light Fever Getting sweaty palms, butterflies in the tummy, faster heartbeat and even panic are surprisingly common when working in a high-pressure environment. Here are my Top Tips! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zd9YvzbX2Zo 1600 2019-01-21T17:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/apples-and-bananas-ku-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Lfu7Cu80sI/hqdefault.jpg Apples And Bananas I like to eat. Eat. Eat. Eee-ples And Bee-nee-nees https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Lfu7Cu80sI 208 2020-08-15T13:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/air-changes-bc-153 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gn3tR6ODaBs/hqdefault.jpg Air Changes Up to now, you have probably been putting your fingers down one at a time when you play a chord, which is fine—it works—but there is another way, too. This is a more advanced technique which I have seen help a number of beginner guitarists. You will probably find it quite difficult to start off with, but once you get it, it will speed up your chord changes a lot. Change is in the air... The concept is pretty simple... all you try and do is form the finger positions for a chord in the air before you put any of your fingers down, and then put them down all at once. It is harder than it sounds (as you are sure to find out), but because all the fingers go down at the same time it can really give you a leap in your chord change speed. You MUST START SLOWLY when you are learning this exercise or you might end up undoing some of your hard work in getting your chords sounding nice, as you will find that your fingers go down onto the wrong strings. Just do it slowly and try and get it right. Only when you have it right should you think about speeding up! If you find yourself struggling you might find that it helps to put your fingers down in the reverse order from what you are used to. Another tip is to try lifting and replacing the same chord, just so you get used to what the shape looks like in the air, which also gets you used to putting your fingers down all at once. When you are playing songs you might like to keep using an anchor finger if there is one available. Most chord changes do not have one, which is why we have to learn ‘air' changes. More often than not you have to form a whole new shape, and that is where this exercise really comes into its own. It is a tricky one this, but well worth it, and you'll find it really does speed up your chord changes with a bit of practice. It might well take you a month to start feeling that you are making progress, but it's worth it. One of my students said he used to practise making the chords changes on his arm while on the train and that it made a huge difference, so t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gn3tR6ODaBs 274 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-are-minor-chords-b1-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pbIqk8tTdbw/hqdefault.jpg What Are Minor Chords Do minor chords sound sad? This is actually a decent definition, but here, we delve a bit deeper into what makes a chord minor. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pbIqk8tTdbw 263 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-1-practice-routine-blim-u1-21-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896032342-42ff18aaa3bd1079e65a1eb9fa9a86940287538fffa8db0a073a98fe725d1589-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 1 - Practice Routine Let's explore my suggested practice for Unit 1 - and how you might adjust it to suit your needs! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903391396 427 2024-06-30T08:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-hammer-ons-bg-1008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7hDdZAjKBjY/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Hammer-Ons Explore hammer-ons for beginners and develop your finger's independence and dexterity! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7hDdZAjKBjY 307 2020-06-13T18:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-1-medley-blim-u1-14-l4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896026243-18dd5975e302265cdfb0218730e791afe96ce9f96ca01a9b4e49e63dc556d17a-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 1 - Medley This lick practice sequence is ideal for practice and improvisation. You can experiment with it in various ways. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903693781 235 2024-06-30T07:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/feeling-the-frets-bg-1004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1OR8TEVWjc0/hqdefault.jpg Feeling The Frets Learn how to play guitar without looking at your fretboard and elevate your musical senses! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1OR8TEVWjc0 419 2020-06-13T18:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/first-finger-a-chord-bg-1002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NBWr0BB2Fm8/hqdefault.jpg First Finger A Chord Let's explore the mini A barre chord. Play this A chord variation using only your 1st Finger! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NBWr0BB2Fm8 478 2020-06-13T18:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-10-practice-schedule-bg-1012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yNUnyuSJLCs/hqdefault.jpg Module 10 Practice Schedule Here's the rundown of your practice schedule for the next few weeks! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNUnyuSJLCs 593 2020-06-13T18:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chord-grips-im-151 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e9O2oPzCmeo/hqdefault.jpg Triad Chord Grips Triads are a very useful little trick, fantastic as a second guitar part, but also for creating riffs too. To hear some great 'real world' examples check out "Brown Eyed Girl" (Van Morrison) for some cool use as a second guitar part, "So Far Away" (Dire Straights) uses a whole heap of shapes for the main riff or "Substitute" (The Who) that uses the very shapes shown in the lesson to make the main riff. Maybe you should try and work them out?? hint hint... I break learning these into three parts, get good at each part before moving on or it will most likely get too difficult! Part 1 - Learning the Triad Chord Grips This first step is to learn the three shapes of triads on strings 1,2 and 3. The shapes are shown below. Make sure that MEMORISE the shape and the ROOT NOTE. Without this knowledge you will never use them well. The shapes are shown below. Learn them well. Note that these triad shapes can be called Major (ie. G Maj), or just the note name (ie. G) or sometimes using the term triad (ie. G Maj Triad). Doesn't really matter, they are but simple major chords! Part 2 - Learning the Triad Chord Root Notes Now that you know the shapes you need to learn to move them around to make any chord you want. For the whole demo in this lesson I am using the chord sequence: G . . . C . . . G . . . D . . . Now it is important that you know the root notes because knowing the root notes tells you where to place the triad shape. All you have to do is place the root note on the note that you want and it will be the correct shape. For example: Triad shape 1 - root note is on thinnest string. The note G is at the 3rd fret. So place the root note from the shape at the 3rd fret. To make it a C Chord, find the note C on the thinnest string... at the 8th fret. And put the chord shape down. Got it. Easy peasy! Part 3 - Using Triads in One Position Now the fun begins ;) You have to now be able to find all three shapes in one area! This means you REALLY have to know your root notes and shapes. This will probably take you a little whi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/e9O2oPzCmeo 1246 2017-10-29T07:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-often-should-you-really-change-guitar-strings-hts-0001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XiOJRhikCBg/hqdefault.jpg How Often Should You Really Change Guitar Strings? How often should you change guitar strings? It depends—but here's how to figure it out for yourself. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/XiOJRhikCBg 516 2025-06-05T03:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-12-why-is-music-theory-so-hard-pmtlc-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qqTMDkW21pM/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #12: Why Is Music Theory So Hard? Why Is Music Theory So Hard? Have you ever wondered why Music Theory feels so complicated—or if it’s even worth the effort? You're not alone! But here’s the truth: once you crack the code, it can transform your entire guitar journey. Today, you have the chance to unlock some Theory secrets with Justin himself in this interactive session: The biggest myths about Music Theory—and why they’re wrong Simple, practical ways to apply Theory to your guitar playing How understanding Theory can make learning songs so much easier 🚨 Get 67% off our lifetime access to the Practical Music Theory course! For just USD 99 (normally USD 299) - applicable to new and existing subscription. Grab it here! Submitted Questions Beginner Questions: David: Can you show fun, practical ways to use triads (especially for soloing) that will help me remember and enjoy using them? I'm finishing the beginner stage. Ragha: When I try to put my thumb behind the fretboard as suggested, I feel pain behind my knuckles instead of tension in the right muscle. Am I doing it wrong? Any tips to improve this? Theory Questions: Jeff: Why is music theory so hard? Dana: Is there such a thing as a diminished chord in the key of F# minor? Also, could you explain how F#dim (F#, A, C) fits into the theory? Raymond: Why is Bdim in the key of C major sometimes called Bmin7b5? James: When playing extended chords (like 7, 9, 11), is it okay to omit certain notes, like leaving out the 5th but keeping the root, 3rd, and 7th? Scale-Related Questions: Carl: Is there an easy mnemonic for remembering the sharp/flat sequence in scales? Michal: How can I learn to play scales horizontally across the fretboard? Should I focus on this after learning the C major and E minor pentatonic scales? What's the difference between the C major scale and the E minor pentatonic scale? Why isn’t it called the "C major pentatonic scale"? What does "pentatonic" mean, and why can't all scales follow the same naming logic? https://www.youtube.com/embed/qqTMDkW21pM 4031 2024-10-29T16:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/easy-slash-chords-bc-191 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ISl5udYi-ak/hqdefault.jpg Easy Slash Chords Slash chords have nothing to do with the guitarist from Guns n' Roses - They simply have a different note at the bass (root) of the chord than the shapes we've seen so far. D/F# This is a lovely chord to place between a G and an Em, and you'll often hear that progression. ‘Better Man' by Pearl Jam uses this chord a lot, as does Pink Floyd's ‘Wish You Were Here'. The bass note is usually played with the thumb grabbing over the neck, but if you struggle with this (I couldn't do it for years!) then re-finger the chord. Use your 1st finger on the bass note and use fingers 2/3/4 on the rest of the chord. Some people use a small mini-barre on the D Chord if they use the thumb on the bass, which I don't think is a great idea but it's not going to cause any problems that I can think of! It's fine for the A (fifth) string to sound as part of this chord. I usually think it sounds better to mute it (with the thumb). A is a note in the chord of D, so it certainly won't sound wrong, but I just hear it making it sound a little too full, or muddy. G/B Both these chords have the same name but slightly different characters, up to you which one you use really. This is used more for joining C and Amin than on it's own. C/G This version of C is proper ‘old skool!' I love the sound of the bass note and often replace a regular C chord with this, just because it sounds great, but you have to let YOUR ears be the judge, not mine. ;) Moving On... Well grab your spandex - time to rock with power chord shifts and palm mutes. Moving On... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ISl5udYi-ak 467 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-transcribing-is-so-important-tr-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fMwFA8HJhlM/hqdefault.jpg Why Transcribing Is So Important Think about all the great guitar plays and how they learnt... getting tabs from the internet... I don't think so. Can you imagine Jimi Hendrix using a dodgy tab web site to steal licks from Albert King? Ask any good player how they learnt and the chances are that they listened to a lot of stuff and worked out how to play what they liked on the guitar (or any other instrument for that matter). Everyone has some lessons and we all have to learn scales and stuff but developing your ear is what usually sets the good player apart. I've had the privilege of speaking to many great players about how they learned to play and all but one (Martin Taylor) have said that they have transcribed hundreds of songs. So as a first point, great guitarists learn by transcribing. But it goes deeper than that. When you hear a sound on a record, it goes into your ear/head. You fiddle about for ages until you work out how to make that sound come out of your guitar. It might take you a while, but you get there and next time you hear that sound you will find it pretty quickly. After doing this quite a bit it gets to the point where you can work out most songs pretty easily and quickly. And it is not just about the notes, it about the way the note is played, how loud of soft, played aggressively or softly, behind the beat or right on. That is the stuff you can't get from tabs or anywhere else except listening. I think of music as a language and transcribing forces you to listen closely to the people you like absorb the subtle "accents" that you might not pick up with a casual listen. And it goes deeper still. So once you can find all these sounds quickly you can take away the external source (the songs) and try to find the sounds inside yourself. Sound like crazy hippy talk? It isn't, but I know it sounds a bit weird. I believe that this is what people mean when they talk about people playing "from the heart", or "with feel" or any number of expressions that really mean - the guitarist knows the sounds he is making and they come from som... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fMwFA8HJhlM 590 2017-10-30T15:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/luke-s-rosanna-bend-59-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWYvwfC-AJM/hqdefault.jpg Luke's Rosanna Bend 59 Second Guitar Lesson on Steve Lukather's super awesome bending trick in the song Rosanna! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xWYvwfC-AJM 60 2018-10-07T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-capos-b1-308 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A4mEBSFn-7w/hqdefault.jpg All About Capos Are they just for beginners? How can I use a capo? What's the best capo available? https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4mEBSFn-7w 518 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/solo-blues-1-lick-in-riff-bg1804 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I8_XDGnUCHw/hqdefault.jpg Solo Blues 1 Lick-in' Riff Explore how to mix licks into your rhythm playing! Get that groovy Blues guitar sound to your playing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8_XDGnUCHw 1800 2022-06-27T01:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-9-challenge-2-q-a-lblim2-09 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6oVCIy5YCxM/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #9: Challenge #2 & Q&A Howdy Blimmer, Here's the recording for our Live #9 - Challenge #2! Thank you to everyone who submitted their challenges - you all rock. :) See you in the next live class! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6oVCIy5YCxM 1 2025-05-15T02:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-dice-songwriting-bg-1108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6ZSt-6D9wVo/hqdefault.jpg Introduction To Dice Songwriting We’re going to write a song together from start to finish in just 30 minutes… this should be interesting! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ZSt-6D9wVo 1977 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-bending-in-10-steps-blim-u1-07-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030974-b0d5edb67134014c0c42bce398c65a70cc9300145fdb6b65bff2d3c41d588673-d_295x166?r=pad Blues Bending In 10 Steps There is no technique more important in the Blues than string bending! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903285153 1049 2024-06-30T07:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/always-use-strap-locks-qt-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UjI3skPlCms/hqdefault.jpg ALWAYS Use Strap Locks Strap Locks Are a Must! Time for another Quick Tip, and this one is super important! I've seen some beautiful guitars badly damaged in real time because they didn't have strap locks. Not pretty. Let's look at how you can avoid that. :) What Is A Strap Lock? A strap lock is a little piece of rubber or metal you put on the strap button to stop the strap from coming loose. Simple, but they can save you hundreds of dollars in repair bills! You can find them cheap but at more risk. If you pay for the best, I can guarantee your guitar strap won't come loose. Which Strap Locks Are The Best? My favorites are the Dunlop plastic locks, Schaller metal locks, and… Grolsch beer bottle tops! (See links below.) The Dunlop plastic locks are cheap, strong, and easy to use. The Schaller metal strap locks are more expensive and tricky to fit but are effective and my favorite ones! The Grolsch option is less reliable but still works great. :) I recommend you try them all out and see what works for you. Whatever your choice, make sure you use one. It's crazy not to. Invest a little bit of money, and your guitar will be safe and sound. :) 🧐 Do you (really) know how to secure your cable? https://www.youtube.com/embed/UjI3skPlCms 316 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triplet-rhythms-bc-155 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fP_2IApL9zQ/hqdefault.jpg Triplet Rhythms So far, all the rhythms we have looked at have four beats in the bar, with some of the beats divided into two. Now we are going to have a look at what happens when we divide a beat by three! Triplet When a beat is divided into 3 you get a triplet. They have a different kind of feel compared to normal eighth notes (dividing a beat into two) and understanding them will help you find your blues groove. They are usually written with the notes grouped together in threes and usually there is a ‘3' written under them too, so they should be quite easy to recognise. Put your metronome on, and try and say the ‘trip-let' count shown above along with the beat, making sure that the ‘1, 2, 3 and 4' stay right on the beat. This will get the feel of the triplet into your mind. Moving On... Playing triplets as a strumming pattern can be a bit tricky, so we are going to leave that for now, but we are going to use them next in Blues Rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fP_2IApL9zQ 237 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-5-practice-schedule-bc-159 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OdMDgFEgvLk/hqdefault.jpg Stage 5 Practice Schedule This is a 30-minute schedule; your fingers should be able to take a half-hour session by now without getting too sore, so it's just a question of whether you can find enough time to do it all. As usual, if you can't find the time, break the routine into two sessions and do 15 minutes each day. Just make sure you work on all the routine topics and not just the things you enjoy! Stage 5 Practice Schedule Description Time Finger Workout 5 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes (or 5 mins AIR changes practice) --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min Rhythm Guitar Practice (RUST #8 and swinging) 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember The blues is a wonderful vehicle for beginner guitar players... the chords are basically the same for many different songs! If you have not listened much to the blues before then now might be a great time to get listening. Artists like B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan are some amazing guitar players you might like to check out first. The older blues artists like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Hubert Sumlin (who played with Howlin' Wolf) are equally as brilliant musicians, but their records are much more raw and many people find it hard work if they have not listened to much blues before. Many of the great early rock and roll guitar players such as Chuck Berry, T-Bone Walker and even Elvis used a simple 12-Bar blues form, and it is still commonly used today. Finger Workout Please remember that this exercise is about developing your finger strength and independence and stretch, so please don't do it fast, there is no point! Chord Practice Remember that the point of this exercise is to get your chords sounding clear and train your fingers to go to exactly the right spot to get the chord sounding great. Start with a strum and then pick each note individually, except any strings that have the X next to them that you don't play. Try to play the notes with the tips... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OdMDgFEgvLk 202 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a7-d7-e7-chords-bc-151 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DtPbCSZgKMM/hqdefault.jpg A7, D7, E7 Chords Next up we are looking at another three dominant 7th chords. With a total now of six 7th chords, you will be able to play a 12-bar blues in the keys of G, E, A and D! Note that these dominant 7th chords are written with the chord pitch and then a "7", but I will often call them dominant chords, or dominant 7ths. The reason they are "dominant" is that they are usually found as the fifth chord in a key, which in classical terminology is called The Dominant Chord and it really draws back to the Tonic Chord (the first chord in a key). In classical music a V -> I Perfect Cadence is used to end a section of music but in modern pop and blues it is used a lot more freely... For now, just get to grips with this cool new sound, don't worry about the theory or the why and how, that will come later... A7 This is a pretty straightforward chord: it only needs two fingers! Use whatever fingers you want—it doesn't really matter—it depends upon which chords you are coming from and going to. Use the fingering shown here to learn it, then change it later if you need to. There are some other common alternative ways of playing this chord, this is just the one I think that you should check out first! It is often confusing to people that a chord can be played different ways, but still have the same name. This first chord, A7, must have the notes A C# E and G. As long as a chord has those notes (in any order) it will be called an A7. The one shown below has the notes A E G C# E but other ways of playing A7 will have the notes in a different order and it makes no difference, the one using the 1st finger barre has the notes A E A C# G. They do sound different but because they have the same notes could be interchanged in a song easily. Which to choose? Well it just depends on what you think will sound best at the time! D7 I think of this as looking a bit like a backwards D—see what I mean? This is an easy chord to play. The only common problem you might have is that your 2nd finger might fall too flat, which will make it mute the sec... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtPbCSZgKMM 427 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/power-chord-shifts-palm-mutes-bc-192 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QJO5vYO4_8I/hqdefault.jpg Power Chord Shifts & Palm Mutes You have the basics down, but if you really wanna rock then you have to master another couple of tricks... Shifting Power Chords with a little lift Moving power chords around should be easy, and it is if you use this little trick. What you want to do is keep the fingers in contact with the strings all the time when you change chord. Don't lift all your fingers off and replace them each time, because it's far too much wasted effort. The chord grip stays the same all the time, so it should be easy, right? So what I recommend you try is moving your power chord grip from, say, a G up to a B (6th string root) and try and make sure that your hand shape stays the same, and that the fingers never leave the strings. However, don't keep pressing hard or you will hear a really strange sound while you slide the chord up. The trick is to play the first chord, and then when it's time to shift the chord you relax your fingers while keeping them in the right place. Leave them lightly touching the strings and then shift to the place for the new chord, press hard again and then play. If you press too hard you will find that the friction of the strings will move your fingers out of the correct chord form, and if you press too lightly or remove your fingers you will get open string noise (and when using distortion the noise becomes significantly greater). This is easier said than done, but it shouldn't take you much practice, and it will really improve the sound of your power chord songs! Palm Muting The outside of your picking hand palm will rest on the edge of the bridge and lightly mute the strings so they sound a little dead. Makes it more of a ‘chug' sound than a ‘ringing out' sound, that sounds especially good with a distorted tone. You have to experiment with exactly where to put your palm down, that is, how far away from the bridge to rest it. If you're sat exactly on the bridge, then the effect will not be noticeable, but if you're too far towards the neck, the strings will be so dead you won't hear any note at all, just... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QJO5vYO4_8I 448 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-blues-improvisation-bc-196 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A67-Uee4iSI/hqdefault.jpg Basic Blues Improvisation Now it's time to try and dip your toes into improvisation. It might seem scary, but the more you do it the more comfortable you will feel about it. Many people wait way too long before giving it a go and then feel uncomfortable because they can play a lot better than they can improvise. It is great fun when you get into it, and I love watching people learning this, it's so cool when you realise that you can do it, the smile says it all! Improv Tips Here are a few little tips to help you get get off to a good start: Use the space - Be happy to leave a few bars silent and let your brain catch up. Eventually you don't really want to be thinking about what you are doing at all, but in the early stages you are going to have to! Don't play too much - Play a bit, then have a little rest, then play a bit more. Playing without any breaks sounds silly. Try and play how you speak, with punctuation and pauses for breath. Keep it simple - Many great players (e.g., B.B. King) play amazing solos using very few notes. Aim for that, not playing fast and doing flashy stuff. You are only learning. Remember: KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid! Listen - Listen to what you play and what is going on around you (i.e., your backing track or the mate you are jamming with.) Check out my JamBlues albums which are collections of Blues backing tracks in lots of keys for you to jam with!! Moving On... More songs anyone? https://www.youtube.com/embed/A67-Uee4iSI 319 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-gospel-slide-chords-bl-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hSRcmGmgDhY/hqdefault.jpg Blues Gospel Slide Chords Gospel Slides are a wonderful blues chord 'trick' that sounds tasteful and soulful and should be something you add to your rhythm bag right now! https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSRcmGmgDhY 660 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-chord-using-a-c-shape-59-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tWYz-L4F2tI/hqdefault.jpg D Chord Using A C Shape 59 Second Guitar Lesson on playing a D Chord Using a C Shape https://www.youtube.com/embed/tWYz-L4F2tI 60 2018-10-10T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/applied-fingerstyle-patterns-bc-193 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6KTiCkAkItM/hqdefault.jpg Applied Fingerstyle Patterns Now we have to work on some patterns to apply to work out which strings to play for which chord... Ditch the pick Your thumb always plays the bass note. It can play other notes later of course, but for these patterns the thumb will always play the bass note of the chord. Now you do remember the notes in your chords way back when we looked at notes in the open position, right? The two patterns in 4:4 (four beats in each bar) are: 4:4 T121 3212 4:4 T123 2123 And one more, which is has six beats in the bar. Now, we have not looked at that timing yet, but you can think of it like a half bar (2 beats) with each beat divided into 3 (triplets). Many people (including me when I was learning) use it to play ‘House Of The Rising Sun', but the original uses a slightly different rhythm and is actually played with a pick. 6:8 T12 321 Make up your own! In a bar with four beats there are eight eighth notes (1+2+3+4+). Now, if you put a bass note on beat 1, then you can make up any other pattern you like for the other fingers. It will usually sound better if the pattern is the same in each bar, but sometimes it sounds cool just to make them all up as you go! Try right now to make up your own eight-note fingerstyle pattern and then play it. It's easy and lots of fun, and will teach you heaps of cool new patterns! It might seem sometimes that you have more fingers pressing down notes in the chord than you really need. But leave them there because if you accidentally hit the wrong string (which often happens) then at least it will be a good note. Holding down the whole chord is a great habit to get into. When you are a fingerstyle expert you might not hold them all down all the time, but until then, it will keep you sounding cool. Moving On... Next up we are going to re-visit the 12 Bar Blues. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6KTiCkAkItM 442 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bend-exercise-1-pitch-perfect-bends-blim-u1-09-t3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028691-849ed09acd73cffe316b99c07c4edf18e8a663ecfb27ed1b352be6ad0e7aa402-d_295x166?r=pad Bend Exercise 1: Pitch Perfect Bends The object of the exercise is to get your bends in tune. You can practice it from any note on the thinnest three strings. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903307138 358 2024-06-30T07:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pmt-15-practical-triads-applications-pmtlc-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-XSCxeSEKLo/hqdefault.jpg PMT 15 | Practical Triads Applications! Howdy theory enthusiasts! We hope you enjoyed the live session with our impromptu guest Dave Marks! Good banter, good triads insights - we hope you enjoy it. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/-XSCxeSEKLo 1 2025-05-20T15:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/express-your-feelings-qt-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iSLCiuRwgzw/hqdefault.jpg Express Your Feelings Put Emotion Into Your Playing Let's talk about feelings. Okay, not quite. We're talking about how to express our emotions through the guitar! For a while, I didn't understand this. I just played my songs and didn't pay attention to the emotional part of the music. But at some point, I realized how important this was, and my playing has changed LOADS. Why Expressing Yourself Is Crucial As guitarists, we often think too much. "Is this the right scale?" "Which note should I play next?" "Which chord is this?". That gets in the way of expression. The more we think, the more we stink. And expression is not just for pro musicians. Beginner and Intermediate players can express themselves too! 👍 Great music touches us. 🙌 The best musicians can put their emotions into the music. 💙 The listener then feels those same emotions. So as a guitarist, you should be paying a lot of attention to expressing your feelings through the instrument when you play. You'll see a dramatic difference. How Do We Express Our Feelings Through Our Playing? I recommend you find the song's emotion inside before you start playing. For example, if you're going to play a slow ballad, think of a sad moment in your life. Make yourself feel a little sad. Also, make sure to really listen to the music while you play instead of thinking too much. Then you can change your playing so that it matches the song. Practice playing along to songs that make you emotional, and try to express how you feel in your playing. That way, you'll develop your skills of expression. Seriously, this is a HUGE part of the journey! Start experimenting with this idea. Your playing will sound awesome. :) 💭 Food for Thought... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iSLCiuRwgzw 272 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-9-open-q-a-with-justin-lmtlc-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/www.youtube.com/watch/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #9: Open Q&A with Justin Music Theory Live Class #9: Open Q&A with Justin https://www.youtube.com/embed/www.youtube.com/watch 3832 2024-08-28T16:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-7-open-q-a-with-richard-coles-cla-072 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TWFqqlQ6WTU/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #7 | Open Q&A with Richard Coles Music Theory Live Class #7 | Open Q&A with Richard Coles https://www.youtube.com/embed/TWFqqlQ6WTU 4205 2024-06-18T11:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pmt-20-theory-of-rhythm-pmtlc-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KOu93hv7ZPQ/hqdefault.jpg PMT 20 | Theory of Rhythm Howdy Guitar Friend, This month’s live classes focused on the Theory of Rhythm, the foundation of strong strumming and reliable timing. Justin broke down why certain rhythms feel natural, how to stay locked into time, and what’s really happening beneath the surface when you play. Key topics included picking direction, time signatures, and the grooves that give music its feel. The session also explored pick choice and physical approach, looking at how different pick thicknesses affect comfort, control, and wrist movement, and how players can adapt their technique to suit their hands while still developing good rhythm. Another major theme was internal timing—how to build a dependable sense of time, avoid common rhythmic mistakes, and accurately recognize note values like 8th and 16th notes when practicing songs. These concepts help guitarists understand not just what to play, but why rhythms work—and how to internalize timing for more confident, musical playing. Make sure to download the additional free PDFS used in the session. :) Justin's Rhythm Reading book was mentioned multiple times, as it's a great tool to improve rhythm, too! If you're curious about it, check it out here. Catch you in the next Live Class! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1156124817 4086 2026-01-15T11:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/holding-the-guitar-b1-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C-mt8td1teU/hqdefault.jpg Holding the Guitar Learn how to hold your guitar properly and avoid developing bad and hard-to-break habits down the line. https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-mt8td1teU 163 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-10-open-q-a-with-lee-cla-078 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/www.youtube.com/watch/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #10: Open Q&A with Lee Hey guitar friend, Join us for a live class with Lee Mead-Batten, one of our awesome Approved Teachers! He will cover some super useful topics including: Learning the Fretboard: Find your way around the neck with ease. Transposing & Capo Use: Quickly change keys and adapt songs. Understanding Time Signatures: Get comfortable with different rhythms. Reading Keys on a Stave: Learn how to spot key signatures in written music. 💬 Join the chat in the Discussion area! https://www.youtube.com/embed/www.youtube.com/watch 3731 2024-09-24T19:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-11-open-q-a-with-richard-pmtlc-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kKpzw7Kry8I/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #11: Open Q&A with Richard Music Theory Live Class #11: Open Q&A with Richard https://www.youtube.com/embed/kKpzw7Kry8I 3944 2024-10-23T17:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-4-open-q-a-cla-019 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z4P5BIpk-B0/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #4: Open Q&A Music Theory Live Class #4: Open Q&A https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4P5BIpk-B0 4029 2024-02-05T11:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-2-chord-scale-relationships-pmtlv-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oy8ITOZnGfU/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #2: Chord Scale Relationships Music Theory Live Class #2: Chord Scale Relationships Hey there! I'm so excited to share with you the insights from our recent live class on Music Theory! We had a fantastic session where we looked into the fascinating world of chord scale relationships. It's incredible how much there is to learn, and I can't wait to bring you up to speed! As you may know, our music theory sessions are always lively and filled with attendees from around the world – San Francisco, Brazil, France, Sweden, and even Australia, just to name a few. It's incredible to see how music unites us all, irrespective of our geographical boundaries! In this session, we tackled a topic I often get asked about – the relationship between scales and chords. The lesson aimed to simplify this complex concept and make it easy to understand, even for those just starting their journey in music theory. We kicked off the session by exploring the minor pentatonic scale, a favorite among guitar players and a great starting point for improvising. We discussed how the minor pentatonic works beautifully with the 12 Bar Blues, creating a rudimentary yet captivating Blues sound. I also touched upon the importance of playing licks or little phrases instead of just running the scale up and down - a common mistake many beginners make. Next, we moved on to the major scale, the backbone of melodic ideas. The major scale helps you find melodies within a chord progression, allowing you to understand the relationship between chords and scales. This is crucial when you're improvising or creating melodies using scales. An interesting part of the session was exploring the different chords in a key. We looked at how every note in a specific key sounds good over all the chords in that key, but some notes are more 'equal' than others. I call this the Orwellian principle – all notes are equal, but some are more equal than others! This is where the idea of chord tones comes in. Chord tones are the notes that make up a specific chord, and they always sound good when played ove... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oy8ITOZnGfU 4692 2023-11-24T14:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-turnarounds-last-2-bars-bl-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bTVAFfbkKqU/hqdefault.jpg Blues Turnarounds (Last 2 Bars!) Turnarounds "turn the tune around" so you can play another round! You don't HAVE to use them, but they sound great, so why wouldn't you? https://www.youtube.com/embed/bTVAFfbkKqU 1192 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-14-modes-without-confusion-it-s-all-connected-pmtlc-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O3Hizf1xDFg/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #14: Modes without Confusion — It’s all connected! Phrygian, Mixolydian, Dorian… sounds fancy, right? But really, they’re just scales making music in different ways. Modes can transform your playing. They’re not just for jazz cats or theory nerds (guilty! 🤓). They’re the secret sauce behind iconic solos, colorful chords, and expressive melodies. Whether improvising or trying to make sense of the fretboard, understanding modes will take your playing to the next level. In this live session, Justin breaks it all down. You'll immediately learn what modes are, how to hear them, and how to use them to make better music. 🎓 Want to truly understand music? Get lifetime access to Practical Music Theory for $99 (usually $299). Offer ends May 30th, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/embed/O3Hizf1xDFg 4535 2025-04-27T19:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-13-chord-manipulation-lmtlc-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YMJIbZREAHM/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #13 | Chord Manipulation Music Theory Live Class #13 | Chord Manipulation https://www.youtube.com/embed/YMJIbZREAHM 1 2025-03-19T16:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-5-theory-basics-cla-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vG3sDyGk2dw/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #5: Theory Basics New to music theory or looking to review key concepts? Join Justin for our Theory Basics - he’ll cover basics such as Notes, Scales, Chords, and Arpeggios. Gain practical insights on how to apply this knowledge to enhance your musical skills. Don’t miss out! TUE, FEB 06 2024 - Secure Your Spot Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/vG3sDyGk2dw 68 2024-02-05T11:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-6-everything-about-chord-extensions-cla-049 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xQnXqtFWWhw/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #6 | Everything About Chord Extensions! Music Theory Live Class #6 | Everything About Chord Extensions! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xQnXqtFWWhw 4236 2024-05-06T20:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-22-shape-visualization-pmtlc-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2fcFofIRKks/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #22 | Shape Visualization Watch the recording on shape visualization. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1174234417 3735 2026-03-12T15:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-1-chords-in-keys-pmtlc-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-49VOUJmzUw/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #1: Chords In Keys Here's all about Music Theory Live Class I: Chords In Keys! This lesson better fits more Advancing Beginners or students who have completed at least Grade 3. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-49VOUJmzUw 4381 2023-10-10T02:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pmt-19-understanding-the-5-minor-scales-pmtlc-019 https://justinguitarassets.b-cdn.net/assets/misc/default_lesson_thumb-5f59f6fc9f5787dceffab87276b68e628ad605164426226249cf9768fb177f66.png PMT 19 | Understanding the 5 Minor Scales Howdy, guitar friend! In this PMT live session, Justin dives into the 5 minor scales, helping you finally answer the big questions: Which minor scale should I use when improvising? How can I recognize and explore different minor tonalities? Expect practical, clear demonstrations that make everything click, giving you the confidence you need the next time you pick up your guitar. Justin also explains why there’s more than one minor scale and shows rad demos that make it all easy to understand. He also addresses common PMT challenges, including finding time for lessons, maintaining consistency with practice, and retaining information after breaks. Justin shares strategies to help you remember concepts months later and make your PMT learning stick in the long term. By the end of the session, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of minor scales, practical ways to use them, and actionable tips to keep your theory learning on track. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/1139028742 2025-11-19T13:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pmt-18-chords-in-keys-and-secondary-dominants-pmtlc-018 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DPAdQFfAv_A/hqdefault.jpg PMT 18 | Chords in Keys and Secondary Dominants Hey guitar friend, Hope you're ready to get your tension resolved! In this monthly live class, Justin dives into the secret life of chords—how they hang out in a key, why the diminished chord likes to hide, and how minor keys keep things interesting. You’ll also discover how secondary dominants sneak in to spice up your progressions and how tension and resolution can make your playing sound way more alive. We finish with a quick mention on modal interchanges & borrowed chords—perfect little rule-breakers that add flair and colour to your songs. If you’re ready to make your chord game a bit more mischievous and musical, this class is for you. See you in our next PMT class! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DPAdQFfAv_A 3750 2025-10-14T17:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-3-the-easiest-theory-lesson-ever-cla-030 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g5bqnyq6xDw/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #3: The Easiest Theory Lesson Ever Music Theory Live Class #3: The Easiest Theory Lesson Ever https://www.youtube.com/embed/g5bqnyq6xDw 5173 2024-02-19T18:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-heartbeat-guides-the-tempo-qt-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_BpKg7EEBxs/hqdefault.jpg Your Heartbeat Guides The Tempo Keeping a good tempo when you're a little nervous might be tricky. This trick will help you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_BpKg7EEBxs 239 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-fingerstyle-patterns-te-703 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jgn7le-1QFc/hqdefault.jpg Folk Fingerstyle Patterns For more detail on this technique please see the Folk Fingerstyle Module https://www.youtube.com/embed/jgn7le-1QFc 374 2018-02-21T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-riff-ideas-approach-chords-bl-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WtKIA6I5Blg/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Riff Ideas & Approach Chords Looking at variations (using little finger), sliding into chords, adding them on the and of four, using open strings to link. https://www.youtube.com/embed/WtKIA6I5Blg 903 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/muted-shuffle-exercise-blim-m0-r0 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1895887395-97836516b8c4eaaf2f57c5ccfc0fbb44b4e3b1d6026c86da34b7f9a1b3bfd798-d_295x166?r=pad Muted Shuffle Exercise Blues Lead Guitar is essential and fun! You must review your 12-Bar Blues Shuffle in A so that we can dive into the nitty-gritty. https://player.vimeo.com/video/902896241 240 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-bossa-nova-rhythm-pattern-ja-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U4AXvcZ8ePw/hqdefault.jpg Basic Bossa Nova Rhythm Pattern Text to come later, too busy today! Vid should explain it all though :) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Chord Chord Chord Chord Chord Chord Chord Bass Bass Bass Bass https://www.youtube.com/embed/U4AXvcZ8ePw 504 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learn-basic-piano-skills-qt-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QDjVAq-aKsY/hqdefault.jpg Learn Basic Piano Skills A Little Piano Goes A Long Way... This quick video lesson looks at learning basic piano skills and why it's crucial to develop your musicianship. Hey, you're still on JustinGuitar, and I'm not suggesting you change instruments, but learning a little piano will take you to the next level. So Why Learn Piano? You'll learn loads about guitar and music by knowing some basic piano. That's because some tricky things on the guitar are LOADS easier on the piano. For a start, Theory is tricky on the guitar. It's tricky to find notes and see the relationship between chords and scales. But on piano, it's easy. It's also simple to see the relationships between chords, like C and F. When we change from C to F on piano, it's easy to see that only two of the notes change. Not so easy on the guitar. Learning these things makes you an incredible musician and can open up many doors in your guitar playing. :) What To Learn Again, you need to learn some basic skills. How to play chords and scales, find the notes on the piano, and improvise a little. That's a great start. And you don't need to buy an expensive piano. Keyboards are great; you can now find awesome ones at low prices. As for teachers, I can recommend this teacher. She has a classical approach. But you should also search around for lessons you like! I hope you have fun with the piano just like I do. I know it can unlock your potential. 💡 New to JustinGuitar? Create a free account and join an incredible Community of guitarists! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QDjVAq-aKsY 228 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-someone-else-s-ears-qt-019 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aKcBSVKwfxU/hqdefault.jpg Use Someone Else's Ears See Your Playing From Another Perspective It's Quick Tip time! Today, we'll look at how to get a different perspective on your playing. I call this using someone else's ears. :) Listen With Someone Else's Ears As musicians, we get protective over our work. Once we create a song or a solo, we don't want to criticize it. It's like our baby. We get emotionally attached quickly. But this is risky because our work might be poor, and we're too protective of noticing it. We want it to sound good, meaning we ignore the bad bits. Even if our children are ugly, we don't want to hear it. To us, they're the most beautiful kids in the world. :) Imagine You're Someone Else The following trick is where this gets super helpful. Imagine you're someone else when you listen to your playing, songwriting, or mixing. This person could be a guitar player, producer, or pro musician. Then listen again and imagine what that person would say about it. When I mix songs, I imagine what my friend Reece would say about my work. And I usually end up with a better mix! Would they change anything? What would they like and dislike? Asking yourself these questions takes you out of your perspective. Maybe you'll discover some poor bits in your work, but you might find some gold too. It's a fantastic trick! So dare to use this tip whenever you listen back to your playing. You'll learn a lot about yourself as a musician. All this is valuable for the guitar journey. :) 💡 New to JustinGuitar? Create a free account and access incredible practice tools to help you learn faster! https://www.youtube.com/embed/aKcBSVKwfxU 265 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/repeater-licks-blim-u4-08-l3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925607478-4770af580f6aa68ac54b2241f44e6c8424b97922a926abe99500db8b1448cc34-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Repeater Licks As a special edition, we'll explore some of my all-time favorite 'repeater' licks! You can use them to build excitement and lead to a climax. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008205396 1478 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-roll-up-your-cables-qt-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OuRm5wYEvLs/hqdefault.jpg How To Roll Up Your Cables Keep Your Guitar Cables Safe By Rolling Them Up In this video, we're looking at how to roll up your guitar cables. Sounds silly, but this can save you time and money, and it'll keep your cables safe. 🚨 Are you sure you know how to secure your cable on the electric guitar? Don't miss that out, eh? How to Properly Roll Up Your Cables Doing this keeps the cables tidy and protected. It's best if you see the video for my little demo. I'm sure you'll master this trick in no time. :) 💡 Once you've rolled up your cables, secure them by tying a little knot in the end or using a velcro cable strap. Easy peasy and this will keep your cables nice and safe. 🎵 Let's play a song! Choose from 700 free lessons that you can filter by Difficulty, Artists, and much more. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OuRm5wYEvLs 244 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-7th-chord-grips-bl-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8KwBfqLOokU/hqdefault.jpg Dominant 7th Chord Grips Looking at the CAGED system 7th chords and variations within each one. Lotsa ways of playing the basic 7th chords keeps it real interesting :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/8KwBfqLOokU 1132 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-shuffle-picking-techniques-bl-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qFZnRrOvPSw/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Shuffle Picking Techniques So this lesson is all about the picking and explains the different possibilities and how and when to play them. It's a really important part of playing blues rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qFZnRrOvPSw 909 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mini-blues-7th-chord-grips-bl-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEhozS3oKX4/hqdefault.jpg Mini Blues 7th Chord Grips Less is often more, particularly for chords! Mini Grips are small 2 note chords that sound great, are very versatile and easy to play! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jEhozS3oKX4 892 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-12-masterclass-with-chris-buck-lblim2-12 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/14dpUbxe1cQ/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #12: Masterclass with Chris Buck Here you'll find the recording for our Masterclass with Chris Buck. https://www.youtube.com/embed/14dpUbxe1cQ 3884 2025-06-24T04:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/record-yourself-qt-018 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NRG-RqNXDm0/hqdefault.jpg Record Yourself The Power Of Recording Your Playing In this lesson, we'll talk about recording ourselves playing the guitar. This fantastic habit will help you a lot on your guitar journey. Record Yourself To Improve Your Musicianship You hear all those things you don't usually hear by recording yourself! Sometimes you discover good things you can deliberately repeat, giving you confidence. Other times you find weaknesses that you can then improve. Examples include timing, string noise, bad habits, and singing. In my teens, I recorded myself practicing classical guitar. I was shocked to hear that I was breathing loudly! I'd never have noticed without the recording. Things To Look Out For Let's look at these areas. First, recording yourself is a great way to analyze your rhythm guitar. Are you in time with the beat? Are your chords clean? How about your rhythm – is it groovy? It's also great for lead guitar. You can hear whether your bends are good or if there is string noise and whether your playing is in time with the music. You'll also find out if you're leaving enough space in your solos. And beyond that, we often play differently when we record ourselves, which can help us discover new things. Spooky! How To Record Yourself You don't need expensive equipment to record yourself playing. You can even use your mobile phone. If you're a Mac user, Garageband is a great choice. It comes with drum tracks, meaning you can add several layers to the song, and it's easy to use. You can also use a dictaphone. There are many options, and you don't have to break the bank. So have lots of fun recording yourself. You'll discover loads about your playing, which is a great help as you continue your guitar journey. :) 👋 New to JustinGuitar? Create a free account and access incredible tools to help you practice better! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRG-RqNXDm0 352 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/observe-your-mistakes-pc-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/towoE_JBLv8/hqdefault.jpg Observe Your Mistakes I first read about this technique in a book called The Inner Game Of Music (Buy at Amazon.com) a very interesting book about the psychology of practice, well worth a read. This exercise was a real game changer for me, and something I still use to this day! Conceptually it's quite simple - when you're struggling to play something, try to watch yourself as an objective observer and just watch what you're doing. Often the mistake will be obvious although many times the problem goes away too - especially if it's tension related! https://www.youtube.com/embed/towoE_JBLv8 255 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-volume-to-clean-up-the-dirt-qt-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/30ppGXYHV5k/hqdefault.jpg Use Volume To Clean Up The Dirt Use Your Volume Dial! In this Quick Tip, we'll discuss how to use your volume control to change the sound of your electric guitar without changing other settings like gain. Why Volume Makes A Difference Turning the volume dial on the guitar doesn't change the volume much when we use distortion. Strange, right? What does change is the amount of gain. You can notice a difference in the sound, even though the volume is very similar. Try it! Volume Tricks We can use this to improve our playing. Instead of using pedals to change the effects, we can use our volume dial. We can have it low for the rhythm and then turn it up in solo parts for more gain. And whenever you want a little more gain, try changing the volume before you look at your amp or pedals. It's much quicker, and you can change it as you play. And if you want less, turn the volume dial down. So it's time for you to explore with your guitar. How does turning the volume dial affect the sound? :) 💡 Check out my Jam Tracks! Tons of Blues and Rock tracks, so you create incredible solos. https://www.youtube.com/embed/30ppGXYHV5k 208 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rapid-natural-harmonic-trick-59-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1rlwqrFytb8/hqdefault.jpg Rapid Natural Harmonic Trick 59 Second Guitar Lesson on a cool rock technique - a Rapid Natural Harmonic Trick https://www.youtube.com/embed/1rlwqrFytb8 60 2018-10-13T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/funky-minor-chords-fu-506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YC85xzYc06Q/hqdefault.jpg Funky Minor Chords In this lesson, we're checking out some funky minor chords and common variations - they're also very common in Funk. We're just looking at some grips with the Root on the String 5 - make sure you memorize where the root is (the red dot) so you can move the shapes up and down the neck. Chord Boxes and more help: Remember all the chords are substitutes for Minor chords - there are some theory rules about what you might use when but the best and easiest way is to use your ear and if it sounds good it is good! :) For those that know you're theory, you might be wondering why we can use E7sus4 and E11 as substitutions for a minor when they are dominant chords - and the reason is that neither have the major 3rd so these particular grips are neither major or minor but become dominant by naming conventions! To Practice... 1. Clean Chords Most important is that you can get your chords clean and that every note is ringing out clearly. Spend some time doing that old exercise you probably used as a beginner - strum, pick up out the notes one at a time, then strum again. 2. Lift For Scratch Next you want to make sure that you can lift the chord and get a good 'scratch' while keeping the fingers in position. So strum the chord, then relax it and make sure that all the notes are muted when you strum again. Then reapply the pressure and check you have a good clear chord again. Then lift and check the mutes. Repeat. Repeat. Big deal! 3. Lift For Mute Also important is that you notice that relaxing the chord grip stops the notes of the chord which is a really important element in groove creation. So play the chord and then relax your grip and make sure all the notes stop ringing out. Repeat. Lots ;) 4. Have Fun What about trying some songs that use these chords? Long Train Running by The Doobie Brothers or Miss You by The Rolling Stones? Or how about messing around with these substitutions... Another Brick In The Wall? Real World Examples Loads of songs use Minor and Minor 7 chords as the main feature of the grooves. There must ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YC85xzYc06Q 462 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/counting-16th-notes-in-funk-fu-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/np3SwTiOjpc/hqdefault.jpg Counting 16th Notes In Funk In this first lesson we're going to be exploring 16th notes and now to count them. I know it doesn't sound like the most exciting start to a funk course, but it's a real big deal and mastering this skill will make the rest of the course a lot easier and therefore a lot more fun! Mastering The Count When we divide a bar into 16 parts we are dividing each beat into 4. I hope you're hip with the idea of having 4 beats in the bar and counting then 1 2 3 and 4. If we divide each beat in half, we name the halfway point as "and", usually shown as +. Just numbers and + gives us 8 divisions in the bar (also known as 8th notes) so: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + When we divide each of those eight 8th notes in the bar, we get 18 divisions and we have an "ee" sound before the + and an "ahh" sound after the + so: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a I recommend you practice saying this out loud a LOT, until it rolls easily off the tongue. Try setting the metronome very slowly (like 50bm) and see if you can count along, the metronome will only click on the numbers and you'll count the e + a between clicks! Do it lots, you don't need to be with your guitar, do it anywhere, and if you're real smart you can learn to count it in your mind. Tap your Foot On The Beat Only Make sure that you just tap your foot on the beat only! This may feel a little awkward at first but it's essential that you get used to this, and the way to do it is slow and careful practice. T . . . T . . . T . . . T . . . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Start slow and without a metronome, but once you have it at a consistent speed, start talking and tapping along with a metronome. Adding Arm Movements 16th note strumming has 16 arm movements in a bar, 8 up and 8 down. The down strums will be on the beat and the +, and the up strums will come in between, on the "e" and the "a". Shown below is the foot tap, count and arm movements. T . . . T . . . T . . . T . . . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U Summary of Practice... I suggest 10 minutes a day for a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/np3SwTiOjpc 686 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/harp-harmonics-intro-te-506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3QLPZ4KEtzw/hqdefault.jpg Harp Harmonics Intro The first time I heard this technique I was when my Dad took me to see Tommy Emmanuel play when I was a teenager, and I was floored. I just could not believe how beautiful it sounded. None of my friends or teachers had that technique together and although I could kinda hear him using harmonics, I had no idea how to go about it, so I just kind of left it in the "impossible" bag... But as time went on I started to experiment with it and now I love playing around with it. I use it in the intro to "Broken" from my first solo album (Small Town Eyes) There are some great lessons on the internet with Tommy teaching some of his tricks, but he goes pretty quick, so I hope that maybe watching this vid will help you make sense of his great lessons. Enjoy! Extra cool chord shapes to check out! So the basic A barre chord doesn't sound so hot :) the Bb69 chord sounds better - so what other 6 string chords can you try this with? Well - experiment!!! but here are a few more to get you started but play around and find some cool stuff... BbMaj13 - TAB: 6 5 5 5 6 5 (the one in the vid, also called Bb69) F/A - TAB: 5 8 7 5 6 5 Aadd9 - TAB: 5 7 9 6 5 5 G6sus4/B - TAB: 7 5 5 5 5 7 Have fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/3QLPZ4KEtzw 550 2017-10-30T15:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pinch-harmonics-squealies-te-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5I5O8P-r5Rk/hqdefault.jpg Pinch Harmonics (Squealies) Pinch harmonics are a super cool rock technique and they really make your guitar squeal. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5I5O8P-r5Rk 608 2017-10-30T15:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-practice-licks-effectively-blim-u1-11-l1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028503-1c8680c54a71e9c422809dd5d3cb380f5c6a9badbce12abc186d07b5f72f64c8-d_295x166?r=pad How to Practice Licks Effectively We've emphasized the importance of licks in building your Blues vocabulary. Now, how can one best learn and practice them? https://player.vimeo.com/video/903316738 366 2025-01-05T06:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/20-years-ago-nws-12 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_a8ZeiDJUS8/hqdefault.jpg 20 Years Ago... Howdy guitar friend, can you believe I started JustinGuitar 20 years ago? https://www.youtube.com/embed/_a8ZeiDJUS8 2608 2023-08-01T21:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-technique-mechanics-fu-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hKFwe3BgFUI/hqdefault.jpg Strumming Technique & Mechanics Using the correct mechanics when you play funk will help you in many ways. If you want to play fast then you must have a relaxed arm and being loose will also help you lock into a groove even at slow tempos. The main thing to note here is the way the forearm rotates rather than moving up and down. We're also going to look at how you can manage the pick slipping around and also string selection! To Practice... 1. Mechanics First and most important element I'd love for you to take from this lesson is the mechanics involved in the technique of funk strumming. The 'wet hand' relaxed rotational movement. Keeping your hand and arm relaxed is a big deal and you'll really notice it 'feels easy' when you get it right! 2. Pick Manipulation The exercise I show in the video is a bit silly but trying it out will really help you get your pick back in the right place if you feel it slipping while you are playing - which is very common and I imagine many people will find trying this out very helpful! 3. String Selection As you practice this more you will find that can control the amount of strings played, in some circumstances you won't be able to do all the required muting with the fretting hand and so developing the ability to select the strings played will come in handy! It can really make a big difference to the grooves to sometimes have less notes! Don't be fussing about it too much at this stage but have a play around and see how it feels so you'll know how to use it when you need it in a groove! 4. Metronome Practice Lastly I'd recommend that you work on this new technique playing muted 16th note strumming and work on locking in with a metronome. Try to make it feel good with the metronome can be a challenge but really worth the effort. Recommended Album You ain't never going to get the Funk if you're not listening to the greats! So with each lesson, I'm going to recommend a funk album for you to sink your ears into and help you get in the groove - some of the all-time classics and maybe some slightly less known albums... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKFwe3BgFUI 766 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grooves-using-hits-and-scratches-fu-505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r6JKyahHvGg/hqdefault.jpg Grooves Using Hits And Scratches Now you have enough bits to put together a groove. Ingredients are the E9 chord, hits, and scratches - combine them in specific patterns and you got some grooves. I've written a few out that are fun and commonly used but making up your own is easy, fun and you learn a LOT in the process. I used to spend hours working out my own groove patterns to play with a funk band in my late teens. TABs and more help: This first one is fun and locks in with many cool drum grooves. At this point, we're playing all the scratches but as we move through the course we'll be leaving lots out! But stick with them for now and make sure you keep that hand moving! This groove is quite a common one and gives a cool 'slapback' effect - the snare drum will usually play on Beat 2 and when you play the 16th after it makes for a cool effect... or the drummer will join you and move his snare hit... oh the fun you'll have locking together with a band! :) This groove is groups of 3, hit scratch scratch, hit scratch scratch.... until the last beat. There's often another hit on the and after 4 - try putting it in and see how it feels! This one is a little more complex - the kind of thing that might tie in with a bass and drum groove - the kind of thing you might make up yourself if you experiment! Now - make up your own. Just choose what notes to hit on and then scratch the rest. Make as many as you want - keep experimenting and then note the ones you really like best and work on them some more!! To Practice... 1. Each groove Take each of the above grooves and play them nice and slow, make sure you strumming hand is loose and relaxed and your technique is good. Start slow and keep your time even as you can - speed up only when you're confident you're getting it 100% right! 2. With A Metronome Again when you feel confident with each then try playing along with the metronome - don't be in a hurry to play them fast - be in hurry to make them feel good and stay in time with the metronome! 3. With A Drummer? If you find a drummer (and bass player) ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6JKyahHvGg 746 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/notes-on-the-ukulele-fretboard-uk-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/viOxc62C3HY/hqdefault.jpg Notes On The Ukulele Fretboard In this ukulele lesson, we'll be learning the notes on the fretboard which is very useful for learning chords, scales and more! https://www.youtube.com/embed/viOxc62C3HY 290 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-8-unit-4-q-a-with-justin-lblim2-08 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/www.youtube.com/watch/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #8: Unit 4 Q&A with Justin Howdy Blimmer, In this live Q&A session, Justin discusses some of the big-picture challenges we all face at different stages of learning Blues guitar—things like getting back into it after a break, figuring out what to focus on when there’s so much to learn, and keeping making progress without getting overwhelmed. Whether you've been away from your guitar for a while, are feeling swamped with info, or just want to make sure you're on the right track, this session is here to help you reset, refocus, and keep the blues journey moving forward. Toward the end of the session, Justin demonstrates this concept of the thread that he introduces in Unit 4. :) See you next time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/www.youtube.com/watch 3945 2025-04-03T18:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-5-masterclass-with-matt-schofield-lblim2-05 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8C3FRmagARU/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #5: Masterclass with Matt Schofield Here is the recording for Matt Schofield's masterclass. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8C3FRmagARU 4360 2025-02-24T15:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-funking-awesome-funk-chords-fu-510 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2be0np9QlBs/hqdefault.jpg 10 Funking Awesome Funk Chords In this guitar lesson you'll learn 10 funking awesome chords to use in funk guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2be0np9QlBs 699 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/single-note-lines-fu-509 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BlZsjpngIzY/hqdefault.jpg Single Note Lines In this Funk guitar lesson we're checking out how to play single note lines, using muted notes, doubling the bass and notes in scratches! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BlZsjpngIzY 847 2017-11-11T06:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e9-the-funk-chord-fu-503 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mF_LazDrYxQ/hqdefault.jpg E9 THE Funk Chord Now of course Funk as a genre uses a lot more than one chord but if you're getting started with Funk you going to find that E9 comes up a lot - partly I guess because E is the lowest note a 4 string bass player can get to and that 9th sound is super funky! We'll be looking at many more chords later in the course, and we'll also be checking out E13 and E7#9 as well to give you some variations to experiment with! The Chords To Practice... 1. Clean Chords Most important is that you can get your chords clean and that every note is ringing out clearly. Spend some time doing that old exercise you probably used as a beginner - strum, pick up out the notes one at a time, then strum again. Pay particular attention to the note on the 4th string which is easy to mute accidentally! 2. Lift For Scratch Next you want to make sure that you can lift the chord and get a good 'scratch' while keeping the fingers in position. So strum the chord, then relax it and make sure that all the notes are muted when you strum again. Then reapply the pressure and check you have a good clear chord again. Then lift and check the mutes. Repeat. Repeat. Big deal! 3. Lift For Mute Also important is that you notice that relaxing the chord grip stops the notes of the chord which is a really important element in groove creation. So play the chord and then relax your grip and make sure all the notes stop ringing out. Repeat. Lots ;) 4. Have Fun So we've covered now a great Funk chord (E9) and basic Funk strumming technique so before we get into more technical exercises it would be worth you just exploring these few ideas and seeing what you come up with. Try out adding in the 13th or the 7#9 and just see what happens :) Enjoy it! Real World Examples There are loads of songs that use the good ol' E9 chord - a couple of obvious examples to hear it in action are: Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry Sex Machine - James Brown Recommended Album You ain't never going to get the Funk if you're not listening to the greats! So with each lesson, I'm going to r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mF_LazDrYxQ 702 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-graduation-party-lblim2-13 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/23dkCJuBU3Y/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Graduation Party! Howdy Blimmer, And that's a wrap! Congratulations on completing our Blues Immersion program. We applaud you all. 👏 To the brave performers and recording submissions, you're fantastic. Keep strumming and loving the Blues; we hope to see you around in JustinGuitar Land. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/23dkCJuBU3Y 3080 2025-07-03T11:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/eric-clapton-style-ru-200 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-_gC2V_nbK8/hqdefault.jpg Eric Clapton Style Clapton was at the forefront of British Blues and though heavily influenced from The Kings and other early blues like Robert Johnson, he bought his own unique style and he developed into not only a great Blues Guitar player, but an amazing songwriter too! Some things apply as in the first lesson, I won't repeat it each time... Listen a LOT to the original artist - really soak up the vibe, feel, time, nuances, tone, everything you can. Write your TAB slowly and carefully - don't be afraid to revise what you've written down if you figure out something later. I usually work in pencil! Learn to become a detective and look for clues as to how things were played - is it a bend or a slide? on string 1 or string 2? what fingering might have been used? why? ask and answer your own questions! Only download the PDF when you are done with transcribing and are checking what you have done. I know some of you will want to skip the transcribing and get to the TAB right away - and you'll still be able to learn the licks that way - but you won't get anywhere near the benefit. Feature Video This live video of Clapton playing with the band Cream at the Albert Hall in 1963 is proper amazing and there are little interview snippets in there too and an interview with Clapton about his tone and how he plays! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-_gC2V_nbK8 4170 2018-11-06T10:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/side-sliding-fu-508 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7TXaC5vBFE4/hqdefault.jpg Side Sliding Side Sliding is basically sliding into a chord from a fret below. Quite a simple idea and it sounds awesome and feels good under the fingers when you get it cooking - but do be careful when practising because the skin on Finger 3 might not be used to it and I nearly wore a hole in my finger doing these lessons from so much 9th chord and side sliding practice! :) Some TABs of grooves Getting you started and keepin it simples. Getting in some scratches in between - the trick with this one is missing the scratch when the slide happens! Getting a few in the one bar - might be overkill - but certainly good practice! Doing the Side Slide starting with an up strum - for the adventurous! :) To Practice... 1. Grooves The first thing to work on (obviously) is being able to do the grooves above and make sure you know what the focus is on each - they're trying to give you cool things to check out in each one. 2. With A Metronome Again when you feel confident with each, try playing along with the metronome - don't be in a hurry to play them fast - be in hurry to make them feel good and stay in time with the metronome! 3. Explore See what else you can make of the grooves - explore them, make them your own, and if at all possible, start jamming with them!! 4. Have Fun Next lesson we're going to be putting these hits into specific places to create common funk grooves - so important here is for you to have some fun and just jam around with them and see what happens! Real World Examples One of those techniques that gets used a lot but hard to find obvious examples so will try to add some more soon - or let me know if you know some in the comments and I'll add them here as I can! Got The Love - Average White Band Recommended Album You ain't never going to get the Funk if you're not listening to the greats! So with each lesson, I'm going to recommend a funk album for you to sink your ears into and help you get in the groove - some of the all-time classics and maybe some slightly less known albums too that I really dig. Parliament... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7TXaC5vBFE4 783 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adjusting-the-nut-cc-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPp3rz6_x2g/hqdefault.jpg Adjusting The Nut Big thanks to Charlie Chandler for helping me with these series. Do check him out if you're UK based and need an awesome guitar setup! If you must leave a 'nut' joke, please pop over to YouTube and do it... ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/pPp3rz6_x2g 1680 2018-11-21T09:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-11-final-q-a-with-justin-lblim2-11 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zexNGTGrliA/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #11: Final Q&A with Justin Howdy Blimmer, In this final Q&A session, Justin focused heavily on improvisation and answered several excellent questions submitted by our BLIM members! Submitted Questions Summary Jeff – Challenge #2 Review "Some of us didn’t get our Challenge #2 submissions reviewed. Will this be addressed in Live Session #11, or have we missed out?" John – Improvising Without Pre-Planning "I struggle to improvise freely over backing tracks. I know licks and theory, but can’t seem to make music without planning ahead. How can I break out of this?" Dave – Making Solos Sound Musical and Authentic "I understand soloing techniques, but my playing feels mechanical. How can I make my blues solos sound more expressive and authentic, not just theoretical?" Dwaipayan (Dido) – Learning and Practicing Scales Effectively "Can you outline a clear, step-by-step roadmap for learning scales, avoiding common mistakes?" "How should I practice scales to stay in sync with chord changes and avoid sounding repetitive or robotic?" Dave – Freezing During Live Solos "At local blues jams, I freeze up when it’s my turn to solo. Any tips to overcome nerves and perform more confidently on the spot?" https://www.youtube.com/embed/zexNGTGrliA 1 2025-06-05T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/albert-king-style-ru-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SyVhBfIFbiQ/hqdefault.jpg Albert King Style Albert King was a huge influence on all the Blues that followed. He played with the thinnest guitar string on top and so he did his string bends by pulling down which enabled him to pull some crazy bends where are a really key feature of his style. It's REALLY important that you listen to Albert King yourself and not just my imitation... you just won't 'get it' without a lot of listening - and remember that this series is about helping you develop the transcribing skills and vocabulary to get out there and be transcribing the songs you dig the most. Remember that you can go as slow as one note at a time and write them down... don't worry about writing down the 'dots' or the rhythm - just TAB it out as best you can. Also on this first one - don't worry too much about the position on the notes, you are bound to get some notes on the wrong strings - none of us knows for sure where notes are played (unless there is video evidence) but as you develop your transcribing you will become a better detective and will be able to better guess where notes are played and how! Remember too that because AK played 'upside-down' that it's very unlikely you would want to use the same fingers of positions that he used anyway - you want to capture the music and nuance - not the fingering! Only download the PDF when you are done with transcribing and are checking what you have done. I know some of you will want to skip the transcribing and get to the TAB right away - and you'll still be able to learn the licks that way - but you won't get anywhere near the benefit. Feature Video This live video of AK shows many of his trademark bends and licks and there are some awesome close-ups which will help you see how he played. And check out the storytelling in the song (a real common trait among the 3 Kings) and the incredible use of dynamics and the way the song builds and releases! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SyVhBfIFbiQ 537 2018-11-06T01:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/practice-without-an-instrument-pc-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C8xuLYeDH2Q/hqdefault.jpg Practice Without An Instrument As well as using visualisation (the previous lesson in the module!) there are a number of things you can work on without a guitar which can really help your development! Other ideas not in the video: • Memorising intervals on the guitar neck - the shapes they make. Very helpful for your aural training! https://www.youtube.com/embed/C8xuLYeDH2Q 373 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adjusting-saddle-height-cc-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9ILFo9oUsl8/hqdefault.jpg Adjusting Saddle Height Now we're going to learn how to set the saddle height correctly! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ILFo9oUsl8 641 2018-11-16T04:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/singing-playing-at-the-same-time-bg-2003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RLYJW6B53wc/hqdefault.jpg Singing & Playing At The Same Time Learn how to strum and sing at the same time so you can perform songs on your own and be the life of the party! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RLYJW6B53wc 1415 2022-10-03T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stevie-ray-vaughan-style-ru-500 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kfjXp4KTTY8/hqdefault.jpg Stevie Ray Vaughan Style Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of the most popular blues guitar icons and had an incredible tone, feel and wrote amazing songs. He's one of those cats that took a long drink from the Texas Blues heritage but then came up with his own unique style and sound. Some things apply as in the first lesson, I won't repeat it each time... Listen a LOT to the original artist - really soak up the vibe, feel, time, nuances, tone, everything you can. Write your TAB slowly and carefully - don't be afraid to revise what you've written down if you figure out something later. I usually work in pencil! Learn to become a detective and look for clues as to how things were played - is it a bend or a slide? on string 1 or string 2? what fingering might have been used? why? ask and answer your own questions! Only download the PDF when you are done with transcribing and are checking what you have done. I know some of you will want to skip the transcribing and get to the TAB right away - and you'll still be able to learn the licks that way - but you won't get anywhere near the benefit. Feature Video This live video of SRV playing Pride & Joy is an all-time classic performance from Montreux which he apparently thought was sub-par! Everyone else thinks it's amazing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kfjXp4KTTY8 242 2018-11-06T10:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/record-yourself-production-basics-bg-2010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tV9lLqj84PE/hqdefault.jpg Record Yourself & Production Basics Learn how to record yourself playing the guitar and why that's a powerful tool to improve your skills! https://www.youtube.com/embed/tV9lLqj84PE 1251 2023-03-20T13:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-not-so-easy-riffs-bg-2008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TbscFMtw5wg/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing (Not So Easy) Riffs Transcribing these 5 riffs will help you increase your ears' ability! https://www.youtube.com/embed/TbscFMtw5wg 314 2022-08-22T08:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-super-easy-bg-2004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6ojIRwpz1Rw/hqdefault.jpg Chords In Keys (super easy!) This lesson will explain how notes, scales, and chords work and how it all comes together in keys. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ojIRwpz1Rw 1041 2022-10-17T11:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-lifted-barre-trick-bg-2002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rm3Vp2GHDZ4/hqdefault.jpg The Lifted Barre Trick Use this easy trick to transform barre chords like F into lush open chords you can play all over the fretboard! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rm3Vp2GHDZ4 919 2022-08-22T16:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-spacing-effect-bg-2001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2gQyogNiQSE/hqdefault.jpg The Spacing Effect Easily memorize new songs and licks on the guitar! But really - the Spacing Effect is a technique that helps you memorize almost anything. ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gQyogNiQSE 910 2022-09-26T10:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-3-seth-rosenbloom-masterclass-lblim2-03 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FnT5jvu7yLU/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #3: Seth Rosenbloom Masterclass Howdy Blimmer, Seth Rosenbloom joined us for this live session, sharing his approach to string bending, phrasing, and essential exercises. Praised by Rock & Blues Muse and Living Blues Magazine, Seth is known for his soulful playing and deep musical expression. 👉 Learn more about Seth and his music on his website! Submitted Student Questions Ness: What pick and strings do you use? Favorite gear? Favorite licks? Main influences? David: How do you balance learning new material while keeping up with what you've already learned? Marcel: How did your Blues practice routine evolve? What was a challenging skill for you, and how did you overcome it? Favorite warm-up exercises? Hugo: Were you more inspired by Blues masters' recordings or by exploring the guitar neck? Shawn: Any recommendations for an early Blues musician with great technique but not too difficult for beginners? Craig: How did you develop your phrasing? Any exercises to help with slow solos and overusing 8th-note rhythm licks? Jezz: How do you overcome performance anxiety? Even with a camera on, I get self-conscious and mess up. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FnT5jvu7yLU 4213 2024-12-07T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-20-practice-routine-bg-2009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jy1gev4B2W4/hqdefault.jpg Module 20 Practice Routine My suggestion for your Module 20 practice routine is here, and you can adapt it to fit your needs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jy1gev4B2W4 243 2023-02-28T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/when-i-m-64-ukulele-us-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RL4b68ELXZk/hqdefault.jpg When I'm 64 (ukulele) This Beatles tune is a great one for the ukulele, especially once you hit those melodic bits! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RL4b68ELXZk 605 2019-06-20T14:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/get-lucky-ukulele-us-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R38tbllYcEo/hqdefault.jpg Get Lucky (ukulele) “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk doesn’t have too many crazy uke chords, but it does have some interesting rhythmic things going on! https://www.youtube.com/embed/R38tbllYcEo 372 2019-06-20T14:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-rainbow-connection-ukulele-us-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aAGz_kovank/hqdefault.jpg The Rainbow Connection (ukulele) Kermit the Frog’s biggest hit to date, “The Rainbow Connection,” was originally accompanied by a banjo in The Muppet Movie. Today, we’re learning it on the ukulele. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aAGz_kovank 536 2019-06-20T14:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stand-by-me-ukulele-us-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DiJ9sQqx9jA/hqdefault.jpg Stand By Me (ukulele) “Stand By Me” is a song that nearly everyone has heard at some point! The chords here aren’t too bad, but the strumming gets a little crazy (in a good way). https://www.youtube.com/embed/DiJ9sQqx9jA 431 2019-06-20T14:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/recap-output-jack-problems-cc-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XEj85HmRl10/hqdefault.jpg Recap & Output Jack Problems We recap what we've done so far and then look at common problems people have with output jacks and how to fix it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XEj85HmRl10 534 2018-12-03T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/guitar-action-string-heights-cc-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gKgCVNoHskg/hqdefault.jpg Guitar Action (String Heights) Big thanks to Charlie Chandler for helping me with these series. Do check him out if you're UK based and need an awesome guitar setup! Get an awesome "Action Gauge" on Amazon UK here! Or this fancy pants one at Amazon US. Way cheaper than the StewMac one! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/gKgCVNoHskg 237 2018-11-07T20:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-a-wonderful-world-ukulele-us-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/deSJIrSKi9Y/hqdefault.jpg What A Wonderful World (ukulele) “What A Wonderful World” is such an uplifting song on its own, but it’s quite elevated on the ukulele! Lots of different chords in this one. https://www.youtube.com/embed/deSJIrSKi9Y 763 2019-06-20T14:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/why-study-music-theory-b1-709 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mB54nIZ-CVs/hqdefault.jpg Why study Music Theory? Music theory is the reason behind everything and it helps us make sense of music. So I’ve got a music theory course just for you! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/mB54nIZ-CVs 264 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adjusting-the-intonation-cc-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RB28OvzhybQ/hqdefault.jpg Adjusting The Intonation Intonation is how in tune all the notes are on the whole guitar and the adjustments are on the bridge - here we learn how to position them! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RB28OvzhybQ 1178 2018-11-26T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-8-essential-beginner-chord-grips-b1-701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lRJ_d3PqPIQ/hqdefault.jpg The 8 Essential Beginner Chord Grips Before moving on to more advanced lessons, let’s review the eight chords we’ve covered so far. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lRJ_d3PqPIQ 454 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jimi-hendrix-style-ru-400 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_PVjcIO4MT4/hqdefault.jpg Jimi Hendrix Style Hendrix is often listed as the greatest guitar player of all time - and it's not without reason - he was groundbreaking, wild and played sounds nobody had heard before but still with the language of the Blues. You'll cop a lot of his words in this soundalike track - if you do graduate on to transcribing his original solos - do remember he is often tuned down a semitone! Some things apply as in the first lesson, I won't repeat it each time... Listen a LOT to the original artist - really soak up the vibe, feel, time, nuances, tone, everything you can. Write your TAB slowly and carefully - don't be afraid to revise what you've written down if you figure out something later. I usually work in pencil! Learn to become a detective and look for clues as to how things were played - is it a bend or a slide? on string 1 or string 2? what fingering might have been used? why? ask and answer your own questions! Only download the PDF when you are done with transcribing and are checking what you have done. I know some of you will want to skip the transcribing and get to the TAB right away - and you'll still be able to learn the licks that way - but you won't get anywhere near the benefit. Feature Video Jimi was just every kind of awesome and one - and this live video he's at his peak and playing incredible stuff - and the quality is much better than a lot of live recordings! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_PVjcIO4MT4 269 2018-11-06T09:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/truss-rod-adjustments-cc-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mtSA3h0VMJ0/hqdefault.jpg Truss Rod Adjustments In this lesson master guitar tech Charlie Chandler takes us through how to adjust the truss rod! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtSA3h0VMJ0 618 2018-10-29T12:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/condition-report-assessment-cc-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-0SHE_xooyU/hqdefault.jpg Condition Report & Assessment We start our guitar setup journey with a look at the process, what to look for when buying a guitar and measuring the neck relief. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-0SHE_xooyU 475 2018-10-22T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/reading-a-jazz-chart-ja-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m23eXyXin4s/hqdefault.jpg Reading A Jazz Chart If you want to get into jazz you are going to have to learn to read a chart. You might be able to get away with not learning to read notes if you have a good ear and can find melodies easily, but when it comes to form and understanding a tune you really need to understand what's on the page! Things to watch out for Feel or Style Is there any indication written for the feel or style, like Swing, Bossa, Bop or any other clues as to how you should approach the tune? Time Signature Check the time signature forst off so you know how many beats in a bar. If nothing is written you can probably assume it's in 4:4. Tempo Some charts have the tempo (speed) marked, some don't. Have a look and see. Key Look at the Key Signature. If you don't understand the term, go check out Practical Music Theory. You need to know the key to communicate with other musicians what key you want to play a tune in. Also check for Key Signature changes during the tune. Repeats Next scan the overall form of the tune, particularly the repeats and where they go back to. The repeats are a thick like a thin line and two dots you will go 'where the eyes look' :) % Repeats The symbol that looks a lot like a percentage sign means repeat the last bar. 1st and 2nd time bars You'll sometimes see alternate ending shown with a 1˚ (1st time) and 2˚ time shown. There will be a repeat at the end of the 1˚ area and the second time you come to that point you skip the 1˚ section (think that the door only lets you in the 1st time!) and go to the 2˚. Some complex songs may have even more alternate endings to sections but it;s unusual. D.S al Coda. You will find this written sometimes at the end of a tune. You will go back to the D.S (I call it Da Squiggle) and then play until you reach the Coda (which looks like a gun sight) at which point you'll jump to the coda section which will usually be written after the end of the main song sheet music. Variation is D.C al Coda which means go back to the start until the Coda. Coda Sometime you'll see a Coda in a chart but w... https://www.youtube.com/embed/m23eXyXin4s 837 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-lingo-common-jazz-terms-ja-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L57j92DPNU4/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Lingo - Common Jazz Terms When I first encountered jazz I was a bit baffled by all the terms being used and had to ask one of my older jazzer mates to sit down an explain some stuff to me - so I thought I'd give you a heads up on the commonly used lingo. Playing The Song Standard A Standard is a song that is commonly used as a basis for improvisation, considered the standard repertoire for a jazz musician. The standards are not clearly defined and most players would have their own set of Standards they like to play and consider 'essential', but it varies from player to player. Many standards were show tunes from musicals between 1930-1950. Real Book (Fake Book) Are sheet music books that contain melodies, chords and sometimes lyrics to popular standards. There are several different editions, covered in the previous lesson in this series. Chart Is what you find in The Real Books, the chart is the sheet music for a song. "Have you got a chart for that?". Head The head is the melody of the song, usually played at the beginning and the end of an improvisation performance. You'll hear people say "I'll play the head at the start and you take it at the end after Johnny's taken his solo". Changes The changes are the chord progressions used in a song. It's a reference to the either or both the changes of chord and changes of key. Rhythm Changes Is a specific set of chord changes that were first used in "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin and has since been used as the chord progression for many heads including Oleo, Anthropology, Cotton Tail and even Meet The Flinstones!! A Section The first part of the melody is often called the A Section. A very common jazz structure (also called form) is AABA, where the initial melody is played twice, then the Bridge (B) is played and then the A Section is played again. The structure is usually used for the solos as well as the head. Bridge (or B Section) Is a new set of changes and melody in the song. Some songs don't have a B Section, some will have even more sections (C Section etc). Always worth looking at... https://www.youtube.com/embed/L57j92DPNU4 1065 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-awful-stretchy-guitar-chords-ca-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T91kR2d9GPk/hqdefault.jpg 12 Awful Stretchy Guitar Chords Why do these stretchy guitar chords sound so awesome? https://www.youtube.com/embed/T91kR2d9GPk 967 2021-06-25T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/getting-a-real-book-ja-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gta5__noZME/hqdefault.jpg Getting A Real Book? A Jazz Real Book (amusingly also often called a 'Fake Book") is a book showing the chords and melodies of common jazz songs, called "Standards" because they are the standard repertoire for jazz musicians. Real Books are a very useful tool when you first get into jazz and I would strongly recommend getting one when you are starting out, but bear in mind that you should be learning the songs and not relying on the book all the time - lots of people need to book open to be able to play a jazz song, which isn't good. It's something I'm still working on myself, I know maybe 20 in my head but I use the book open for other tunes. The original "Real Book" was written by jazz students at Berkeley college, and was an alternative to popular "Fake Books" available at the time. The "Fake Books" got the name because they contained the chords, melody and lyrics, the ingredients you need to "fake it" and play the song like you know it! All the original ones (up to 5th edition) were illegal as they paid no songwriter royalties, I remember buying mine at a small Music store in West London where you had to ask for it and the guy would bring them out from under the counter and you had to pay cash! Was all very funny. Seems like the big publisher Hal Leonard is now publishing it as a legit version (6th edition). There are a few that I have bought and use, The original 5th edition, The New Real Books (all 4 volumes) but it's quite easy to find a pdf file of the 5th edition on the internet and I mostly use that and just print out the songs I'm working on and keep it in a folder as the books are pretty massive to carry around! My recommendation would be to buy the 6th Edition version shown below but also find the pdf version and use both. Having the big book there to write on is a good idea, especially as you get into harmonic analysis but it's also useful to be able to print out just the ones you want... and I feel less guilty about using a download if I bought the hard copy too! You will find there are various versions, as guitar p... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gta5__noZME 594 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-basic-jazz-chords-ja-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6QcEoGrmpqc/hqdefault.jpg 10 Basic Jazz Chords Presented here are most of the common jazz chord shapes (grips) for guitar. Of course there are many many more and they will be covered later - but for now get started with these... These shapes, like the ones before and all those to come need to MEMORIZED. This is very important. Make a Mental Chord Dictionary in your head to store all these new shapes (make sure you also remember which note is the root note). Remember that when I explain notes I sometimes use - 6:3 - which means string:fret. Major 7 Major 7th chords are the first chords that we will learn. They sound very jazzy and are very hip. Below are two examples of how to play a Maj 7 chords (Maj 7 chords are also denoted with a triangle, but I can't make the computer do that, so I'll use Maj 7). Note that I have given you two grips (chord shapes), one with a 6th string root and one with a 5th string root. As you should know, what ever note you put the root note on is the name of the chord. For example, if you put the root note from the first shape at the 3rd fret then it would be a G Maj 7 because the note on the 6th string, 3rd fret (6:3) is G. If you moved the same shape to the 6th fret root the chord would be Bb, because the note at 6:6 is Bb. Got it? I hope so. Note also that in the first shape you should mute out the 5th string with the inside of your first finger and the 1st string with any available finger or hand part. On the second shape the 6th string should be muted with the end of your first finger. Minor 7 The concept of the moving root note thing is the same for EVERY CHORD SHAPE THAT DOES NOT USE OPEN STRINGS, including these min 7th chords (Minor is also noted as a dash (-), i.e. Amin7 could be written A-7). Note that the 5th string in the first grip should be muted by the second finger. In the second grip the tip of your first finger should mute the 6th string. This is quite common and you should try to do this naturally when you have a 5th string root note. Dominant 7 - E Shape Dominant 7th chords are usually just written as 7, the d... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6QcEoGrmpqc 742 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-learn-a-jazz-standard-ja-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TYGqRG0jvzM/hqdefault.jpg How To Learn A Jazz Standard I so thought I'd done the text for this page but I've just cometo link it in and noticed that I've not... I'm in mixing the new We Came As Strangers record in LA, but I'll crack onto this as soon as I get back next week. Sorry... but it's all explained in the video anyhow! https://www.youtube.com/embed/TYGqRG0jvzM 1192 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-jazz-rhythm-guitar-ja-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zkXRaL6z8M0/hqdefault.jpg Basic Jazz Rhythm Guitar As well as getting the basic chords down it is also important to check out some basic rhythm. In this lesson I will just show you a basic swing rhythm guitar pattern. I would strongly recommend you work on getting the groove on just one chord first before moving onto others. "Playing Fours" Probably the most basic jazz pattern is playing on each beat. It's 'simple' but not 'easy' because you have to lock into a groove and make it sound and feel good - which is different to 'just being able to do it'. Basic Swing Groove This pattern is very simple, just play the notes of the chord on beat one and the 'and after two'. Start by working on just one chord (any chord) and really try working on 'locking in' to a groove. Do practice with a metronome! Once you have it groovin on one chord listen to the example below and then try to imitate it. It is using an A-7 chord going to a D9. The Count The chord is played on beat 1 and the and of 2 (the + after 2) - counted: >......>........... 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Make sure you count along - you will just play on beat 1 and the "and" after beat 2. You can also add a little hit with your fingers onto the strings on beat 2 and beat 4 for added edge, but that is not in the demo. The Music Note that the notes in the TAB are tied - you will only play each chord twice... Audio Example Try to practice applying the rhythm pattern (along with the basic chords) to some real song examples. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zkXRaL6z8M0 385 2017-10-29T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-7-to-major-6-chord-change-plus-latin-groove-bites-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FMr4mEu_xdQ/hqdefault.jpg Major 7 to Major 6 Chord Change [plus Latin Groove] This quick lesson explores a really cool Major 7th to Major 6th chord change—a great finger exercise and cool Latin American groove. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FMr4mEu_xdQ 200 2025-07-04T10:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/broad-vs-focused-practice-which-works-best-yt-2026-01 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gse5EuM_HWU/hqdefault.jpg Broad vs Focused Practice (Which Works Best?) I practiced wrong for 40 years, so you don't have to! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gse5EuM_HWU 685 2026-03-24T01:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-a-looper-pedal-fx-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gd0NhglZWtw/hqdefault.jpg How to use a Looper Pedal Looper pedals are one of the most fun practice tools you can buy, and they'll help your timekeeping! They're awesome - get one now! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gd0NhglZWtw 1159 2018-06-26T22:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/let-it-be-ukulele-us-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wb2ajiZGXmo/hqdefault.jpg Let It Be (ukulele) This Beatles classic is surprisingly easy to play. With easy songs, it’s fun to experiment with more difficult techniques without getting too bogged down. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wb2ajiZGXmo 463 2019-06-20T14:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dream-a-little-dream-of-me-ukulele-us-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-sUfMIOe_3o/hqdefault.jpg Dream A Little Dream Of Me (ukulele) “Dream A Little Dream of Me” is a classic song that sounds great on the ukulele. There are quite a few chords to watch out for, so it may be a fun challenge for you. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-sUfMIOe_3o 550 2019-06-20T14:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lick-transcription-exercise-1-blim-u1-24-e3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031293-e36a648ed4fed73d1a86c55faf0c276bf6e04d8e21fe7cca17b668cb75108110-d_295x166?r=pad Lick Transcription Exercise 1 Time to get real and transcribe a solo using vocabulary you are familiar with! https://player.vimeo.com/video/962301085 116 2024-06-30T08:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/happy-ukulele-us-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kyj5t9HDbTk/hqdefault.jpg Happy (ukulele) This is the happiest song you could play on this happiest of instruments - literally! This one will be super fun for you and your audience. https://www.youtube.com/embed/kyj5t9HDbTk 393 2019-06-20T14:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-framework-pattern-1-blim-u1-04-k3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030734-902def3e2914a87db7e1d4d3c731e6d1ca88d89bbd4167c9cefeaa376b8190dc-d_295x166?r=pad Minor Pentatonic Framework - Pattern 1 Let's review the Minor Pentatonic Scale and some crucial points on how to use it as a framework. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903268736 365 2024-06-30T07:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/food-for-chord-thought-mt-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jYuPyxIpc80/hqdefault.jpg Food For Chord Thought Some food for chord thought to think about! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jYuPyxIpc80 124 2017-11-04T17:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-chord-book-b2-904 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nkn7i3shkKk/hqdefault.jpg YOUR Chord Book We’ve all seen those massive books of guitar chords, but building your own is way better! https://www.youtube.com/embed/nkn7i3shkKk 238 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-minor-7-ash-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ToPmQGuMR7E/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Minor 7 Learn how to play Minor 7 Chords that we can find in our A Shape Barre Chords! These grips are particularly useful in Funk Guitar and sound so cool. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ToPmQGuMR7E 458 2023-08-09T02:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/get-lucky-daft-punk-tsl-kp-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GCWl2wQrRe8/hqdefault.jpg Get Lucky (Daft Punk) TSL Next up, Toby and I thought we'd have some fun getting a funky Get Lucky sound - the Nile Rodgers sound was (rumoured) to be had by just plugging straight into a recording console... but we get it cooking in the Kat! https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCWl2wQrRe8 561 2019-08-01T13:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-dominant-7ths-ash-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X8y6qz9tN6A/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Dominant 7ths Learn how to play Dominant 7th Chords using A Shape Barre Chord - used a lot in Blues and Folk music! https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8y6qz9tN6A 471 2023-08-09T02:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/installing-the-boss-tone-studio-ka-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O3Rdsfw4454/hqdefault.jpg Installing the Boss Tone Studio Few people asked how to install the Boss Tone Studio software - essential to get my presets and deep editing - and not as complicated as you might think! https://www.youtube.com/embed/O3Rdsfw4454 569 2018-08-26T09:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sweet-home-alabama-tsl-kp-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iKqmNfo5eyw/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Alabama TSL Nailed the intro sound I think - this was fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/iKqmNfo5eyw 163 2018-12-10T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tone-tips-with-juca-nery-ka-900 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8f6yRPvUdgI/hqdefault.jpg Tone Tips with Juca Nery When I started exploring the Katana, Juca's name kept popping up, so thought I'd get in touch and see what he could share on Katana Tone Tips! https://www.youtube.com/embed/8f6yRPvUdgI 1867 2019-06-14T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tune-your-guitar-using-harmonics-tu-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jFbwPZWJzmo/hqdefault.jpg Tune Your Guitar Using Harmonics A great way to tune your guitar is to use harmonics. It allows you to get the guitar perfectly in tune with itself. I still advise everyone to get an electric tuner and using these manual techniques for quick tuning when the tuner isn't readily available. To start you need to get your 6th (E string, the thickest) in tune. You can tune it to a piano, from another guitar that is in tune, pitch pipes or an electric tuner. If you have no reference point, your guitar will be in tune with itself (this is all that matters for practice) but not in “A440 tuning” which is what all instruments tune to - important if you are playing with others. To begin tuning play a harmonic at the 5th fret on the 6th string. Let it ring out while you play a harmonic at the 7th fret on the 5th string. These two notes should sound the same. If they are in tune then you will hear a constant high pitch. If they are out of tune you will hear it “warble”. This effect is even more obvious on an electric guitar with distortion so it is worth playing about with a rock sound to get used to hearing the strange effect that the out of tune harmonics give. It actually sounds cool, a lot of rock guys use the whammy bar to make the strings a little out of tune, making a cool "warble". If it is out of tune the 5th string will need to be adjusted. It will take practice to be able to get the two harmonics ringing out at the same time and to recognise if the are sharp or flat (too high or too low) and then tune it. Because harmonics ring out even if you take a finger off, you can use your left hand to turn the appropriate tuning peg. Once the 5th string is in tune it is now time to tune the 4th. Play a 5th fret harmonic on the 5th string and a 7th fret harmonic on the 4th string. Tune the 4th string so there is no “warble”. The process is repeated again to tune the 3rd string using a 5th fret harmonic on the 4th string and 7th fret harmonic on the 3rd. Because of the tuning of the guitar, the approach needs to change to tune the 2nd and 1st strings. Play ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jFbwPZWJzmo 448 2018-01-17T09:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/boss-tone-studio-software-overview-ka-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VkntkG3oDlw/hqdefault.jpg Boss Tone Studio Software Overview In this lesson I take you through all the features of the Boss Tone Studio and explain how it works and what all the bits do! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VkntkG3oDlw 899 2018-10-05T09:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/alive-pearl-jam-tsl-ka-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qeIXMxRhgJQ/hqdefault.jpg Alive (Pearl Jam) TSL This guitar sound is amazing and Toby and I had a load of fun getting this one together and i think we ended up with a cracking sound! https://www.youtube.com/embed/qeIXMxRhgJQ 687 2019-08-01T14:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gravity-john-mayer-tsl-kp-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r_EEiHaVGMs/hqdefault.jpg Gravity (John Mayer) TSL In this first patch lesson with Toby Pitman, we make a patch for Gravity, the John Mayer classic! :) Strat type guitar, or should I say PRS? ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_EEiHaVGMs 214 2019-08-01T13:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/boss-katana-50-unboxing-exploring-ka-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P8_9CAlHYpA/hqdefault.jpg Boss Katana 50: Unboxing & Exploring In this little video, I unbox and get stuck into a Boss Katana 50 - amazing budget amp with incredible feature set! https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8_9CAlHYpA 2089 2018-08-21T23:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/importing-patches-into-tone-studio-ka-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-4f5bD0d480/hqdefault.jpg Importing Patches Into Tone Studio In this lesson I take you through how to import a patch into the Boss Tone Studio software and into your amp! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-4f5bD0d480 124 2018-10-05T06:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-type-jazz-chord-extensions-ja-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VGHwewnPNNc/hqdefault.jpg Minor Type Jazz Chord Extensions So now it is time to start looking at the chords that you can substitute for a Minor 7th chord. It's really important that you check out some Jazz Standards and try out using these new chords. Just try them out one at a time and let your ear guide you to which ones sound good. I have not included chord boxes because I think you would be better off making up your own chord book - just use the blank chord paper in the Blank Paper area, and fill in the chord boxes yourself while you watch the video. Of course there are many more chords than these shown in this vid, many of which I will be using in later lessons when we explore II-V-I chord sequences and look more at advanced substitution ideas. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VGHwewnPNNc 482 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-jazz-chords-concept-ja-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dMZF3Nvvioo/hqdefault.jpg The Jazz Chords Concept This is the beginning of exploring jazz and the possibilities that it opens up. It is the most basic form of chord substitution and gets more complex the further you look into it! "Any chord can be substituted by any other chord within it's own group." This is the first of many jazz "rules" or concepts you should learn. Most of them are offering you new choices of what to play. The "rules" are there to help you explore music, not to restrict you. They are your friend. As you progress you will find that you can break the rules and make up your own rules, but it is a good idea to learn the traditional rules first. "If it sounds good, it is good. If it sounds shit, it is shit" This is very important because there are places where using this idea will sound pretty bad, often when the note you add clashes with the melody. You must use your ears to decide - don't always rely on theory to tell you if something is good or not. You have to learn to listen. Transcribing jazz chord solos is pretty difficult, but will really help you, because you will hear good use of chord changes and get them into your bag! Basic Groups There are 3 basic chord groups. They are Major, minor, Dominant (which includes the Altered chords). Each contains many chords. Most of the common chords found in each group are shown below. Major Maj, Maj 6 (usually just written as 6), Maj 7, Maj 9, Maj 11, Maj 13. minor min, min 6, min 7, min9, min11, min13. Dominant 7, 9, 11, 13, 7sus4 Also contains a sub group - Altered - which is any Dominant 7th chord with #5, b5, #9 or b9. The Possibilities This rule offers you endless possibilities. You will soon learn how to use it fully, and I will expand on this topic on later lessons on Chordal Relationships, but for now, take it for what it says. If in the music it says C Maj 7, you can play C, C 6, C Maj 7, C Maj 9, C Maj 11 or C Maj 13. Using this basic substitution technique you can spend many enjoyable hours playing your favorite standards in hundreds of different ways. It also means that you can play a ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dMZF3Nvvioo 540 2017-10-29T11:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/functioning-static-dominants-ja-024 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ywjb3nNpZ3U/hqdefault.jpg Functioning & Static Dominants The next few ideas that we are going to be looking at will apply only to functioning dominant chords, so you need to understand clearly what that means. A functioning V (dominant) chord is one that resolves to it's I chord. Hopefully you know your diatonic chord sequence (click here if not) and know that the V chord is a dominant 7th chord. It contains a lot of tension (between the 3rd and b7th degrees of the chord) that wants to resolve to the I chord of it's key. Some examples (but you need to know all of them): G7 (V) -> Cmaj7 (I) F7 (V) -> BbMaj7 (I) Luckily there is an easy way to do it on the guitar neck that saves you from having to remember every note in every key (although that is a good idea). • If the root note of the V7 chord is on the 6th string, the I chord root will be found in the same fret on the 5th string. • If the root note of the V7 chord is on the 5th string, the I chord root will be found two frets back (toward the nut) on the 6th string. Easy peasy. Make sure you understand this fully before moving on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ywjb3nNpZ3U 556 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/altered-chord-grips-ja-026 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n1s6Qq7LqMc/hqdefault.jpg Altered Chord Grips We know all about the theory, now I am going to show you an easy way to remember all the chord grips and show you some of the most common altered chord shapes and fingerings. There are lots and the big deal here is for you to experiment yourself and see what you can come up with. More advanced players should be doing this in all 5 positions of the CAGED system, but only after they have mastered doing it in the two positions shown! Further Reading... I will try and get some chord boxes done, but they take ages to do, so for now you will just have to settle for the vid! sorry. https://www.youtube.com/embed/n1s6Qq7LqMc 746 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-type-chord-extensions-ja-023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JgS9ai_KEHE/hqdefault.jpg Dominant Type Chord Extensions So now it is time to start looking at the chords that you can substitute for a Dominant 7th chord. It's really important that you check out some Jazz Standards and try out using these new chords. Just try them out one at a time and let your ear guide you to which ones sound good. I have not included chord boxes because I think you would be better off making up your own chord book - just use the blank chord paper in the Blank Paper area, and fill in the chord boxes yourself while you watch the video. Of course there are many more chords than these shown in this vid, many of which I will be using in later lessons when we explore II-V-I chord sequences and look more at advanced substitution ideas. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JgS9ai_KEHE 464 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-type-jazz-chord-extensions-ja-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dbqCQpXsULI/hqdefault.jpg Major Type Jazz Chord Extensions So now it is time to start looking at the chords that you can substitute for a Major 7th chord. It's really important that you check out some Jazz Standards and try out using these new chords. Just try them out one at a time and let your ear guide you to which ones sound good. I have not included chord boxes because I think you would be better off making up your own chord book - just use the blank chord paper in the Blank Paper area, and fill in the chord boxes yourself while you watch the video. Of course there are many more chords than these shown in this vid, many of which I will be using in later lessons when we explore II-V-I chord sequences and look more at advanced substitution ideas. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dbqCQpXsULI 496 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-hybrid-scale-blim-u1-05-k4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031236-f72226ef7418c0df4f24ea6480bccb6f62013c463424fac9f8044dafeb2ecc0f-d_295x166?r=pad The Blues Hybrid Scale This lesson prevents you from making the same mistakes I made when practicing scales! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903272867 196 2024-06-30T07:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-backing-tracks-for-lick-practice-blim-u1-12-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028374-e463a66cdee109d1f15582f6188958d8f653ff03224c50075b6719d367be9a45-d_295x166?r=pad Use Backing Tracks for Lick Practice When practicing a lick with a backing track, focus on using just one lick—and here's how and why! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903323119 456 2024-06-30T07:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pet-lick-discovery-blim-u1-20-j2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024817-845e14b8d4edd700810352ae0bbed2ed6ebf930c8deed02f4a85a2d8a44ef499-d_295x166?r=pad Pet Lick Discovery Pet licks are the ones that come out in our improvising whether we want them to or not. This lesson will help you meet your pets! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903697765 175 2024-06-30T08:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/before-you-start-learning-modes-mt-722 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/975950310-a414301750c37833a67e312248a368bec6e01955967e95783c0b198c05e43952-d_295x166?r=pad Before You Start Learning Modes... Before you start on your new modal adventure, you need to have a few basics down first. PLEASE do not try and do this course if you are uncertain of any of the items below, it will make your journey difficult and to be honest, you are just probably not ready to start using them just yet. So check out this list and then only move on once you are happy that you know this stuff... Basic Theory Required You need to understand how a major scale is constructed. We will be relating each Mode back to it's PMS to work out the characteristics of each mode, so this is really important. You also need to know what sharps and flats are found in different keys. This helps you find your PMS and to work out the notes in any mode. You will also need to understand how chords are constructed and how they can be altered to make new chords. This is because modes are played over chords, and without understanding the harmony created by the chords you won't be able to use modes! You should also be familiar with the diatonic chord sequence from the major scale, though we will be revising this as we go. Practical Skills Required You need to know AT LEAST position 1 of the Major Scale, but it will be a great help if you know all five positions. And not just play them up and down, but be able to use it / them. If you don't then I would strongly advise you spend your time getting to know your major scales well before you attempt to use and understand modes. Please. If you can't use a Major Scale to improvise with then you have very little hope of using your modes with any success. That's not trying to put you off, it's just the truth! My Master your Major Scale series will help you learn all five positions and show you some ways to use them! You will also need to know the notes on the fingerboard. You don't need to know every note instantly (although that would be a big help) but you must at least be able to work them out pretty fast, though using a map of the fingerboard showing all the notes may help you get started if you are a little u... https://player.vimeo.com/video/468630718 268 2017-10-30T16:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-best-of-1940-s-and-earlier-blim-u1-27-i1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896032036-473ebbce3a3d79294aa84b2f604c456752200595aec7569716e311d640aa0567-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Immersion: The Best of 1940’s and Earlier Feast your ears and feed your musical imagination with our exclusive playlists filled with Early Blues songs! https://player.vimeo.com/video/967809901 551 2024-06-30T07:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-practice-licks-effectively-blim-u1-11-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028503-1c8680c54a71e9c422809dd5d3cb380f5c6a9badbce12abc186d07b5f72f64c8-d_295x166?r=pad How to Practice Licks Effectively We've emphasized the importance of licks in building your Blues vocabulary. Now, how can one best learn and practice them? https://player.vimeo.com/video/903316738 366 2024-06-30T07:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/altered-harmony-why-and-how-ja-025 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/95bx07DWHKc/hqdefault.jpg Altered Harmony - Why and How I gotta admit I struggled with this when I was first shown it. Now it seems kinda simple, but man it did my head in to start off with. Altered harmony is used to add more tension in a functioning V chord, which makes the resolution to the I chord even stronger. Altered harmony introduces a b9, #9, b5 and #5. More notes below the vid. Further Reading... I'm going to show you this example in G. Start with the chord tones of G7 - the root, 3rd and b7 (we leave out the 5th because it is one of the notes we're going to alter. G B F R 3 b7 Then we add in the b9 and #9 and the b5 and #5 G Ab A# B Db D# F R b9 #9 3 b5 #5 b7 Then we re-name some of the notes to make sure the scale runs alphabetically. We do this by using "enharmonic equivalents", notes that sound the same but have different names. G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F R b9 #9 3 b5 #5 b7 Now it looks more like a scale. And it is! It's the Ab Melodic Minor Scale, but we are starting on the 7th note of the scale. The Altered Scale is the 7th mode of the melodic minor scale. To work out which Melodic minor scale is the parent scale for the Altered Scale you want to play, just look one semitone above the root note of the V7 chord. Some examples. G7 = G Altered Scale = 7th mode of Ab Melodic Minor Scale B7 = B Altered Scale = 7th mode of C Melodic Minor Scale Hope that is all making sense - now let get using them!!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/95bx07DWHKc 716 2017-10-29T12:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-basics-blim-u1-22-e1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024423-9c597deffc542a0df70641eadaba4d6c940d3322bf148eefddff90b7c44aba52-d_295x166?r=pad Transcribing Basics All the questions you have about transcribing and how it relates to your Blues journey are likely answered here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903801024 401 2024-06-30T08:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-classic-pattern-blim-u1-15-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896027850-872eed552c0085a271971a964e5aefbd6ec6a34312ad9e531cb9f06ad0ff4bff-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: Classic Pattern This is a must-learn! Perfect for duets with other guitarists on a Chunka-Chunka Shuffle or doubling a bass part in a Blues jam. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903370912 493 2024-06-30T07:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-truth-about-blues-scales-blim-u1-03-k2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030606-bb1cbdb0fbb2fdcdcf4408ab695f00f3cd1474e86bbc00df00da61f997406435-d_295x166?r=pad The Truth About Blues Scales Minor Pentatonic is a great start, but know that your Blues options extend beyond those five notes. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903266298 231 2024-06-30T07:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-practice-blues-scales-blim-u1-06-k5 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030879-0f5a46d69d70b60b34e3e086ed5cc1b0e0124efcd6c8c44e7d2cdac58698bf1d-d_295x166?r=pad How to Practice Blues Scales This scale practice routine will help you build your framework and improve dexterity and picking! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903275313 820 2024-06-30T07:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/cross-road-blues-blim-u1-29-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cN6ZaGrt5Zg/hqdefault.jpg Cross Road Blues Let's explore Johnson's innovative guitar techniques on this foundational piece that has inspired generations of musicians. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cN6ZaGrt5Zg 1153 2024-06-30T08:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sweet-home-chicago-blim-u1-28-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VdiYasPjtDI/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Chicago This lesson explores an iconic anthem renowned for its profound impact on Blues guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdiYasPjtDI 1451 2024-06-30T08:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tune-up-with-reference-pitches-tu-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3qXQEoiBVgc/hqdefault.jpg Tune Up With Reference Pitches Learning to tune your guitar is a skill like any other on the guitar. It takes time to perfect. I highly recommend that beginner guitarists get a tuner - it is a lot more inspiring to play when your guitar is in tune and it actually sounds nice - well worth the few pounds one will cost... There are several methods of tuning your guitar to itself - the 5th fret technique or harmonics - a more advanced method. But to start with just use the notes below - note that the 1st string is the thinnest one - simply play the mp3 file below - then play the string on your guitar, then turn the tuning peg so that your string pitch goes up or down until it sounds the same as the mp3. Might seem a little tricky at first but stick with it and soon it will be easy! You will have to listen and judge whether your string is higher or lower than the note that is played below - if you struggle with it, try singing the same note as your guitar string, and then the note that I give you below and that should help you tell which is higher and therefore which direction to tune your string! 6th String (thickest) - E 5th String - A 4th String - D 3rd String - G 2nd String - B 1st String (thinnest) - E https://www.youtube.com/embed/3qXQEoiBVgc 290 2018-01-17T09:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/neuroplasticity-to-learn-guitar-faster-bg-1806 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1xY1VS5-rqQ/hqdefault.jpg Neuroplasticity to Learn Guitar Faster If you're over 25 years old, you're an older learner. But here's the latest science to help you learn faster! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1xY1VS5-rqQ 1023 2022-07-11T03:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/review-waza-air-headphone-amplifier-all-in-one-gr-000 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wqNl9JoR6JY/hqdefault.jpg Review: Waza-Air (headphone & amplifier, all in one!) The Waza-Air Wireless Personal Guitar Amplification System is so convenient: you plug them into your guitar, and it's jam time! No more handling cables and amps. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wqNl9JoR6JY 678 2023-03-14T11:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-at-andertons-buying-your-first-guitar-and-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TPT9vqECuyk/hqdefault.jpg Justin's at Andertons: Buying Your First Guitar! Justin recently visited his friend Lee Anderton, and they have just dropped an awesome guitar shopping guide. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/TPT9vqECuyk 1808 2023-12-05T06:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/coated-or-plain-acoustic-strings-d-addario-xt-xs-and-phosphor-bronze-gr-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/97zaO1EhQgo/hqdefault.jpg Coated or Plain Acoustic Strings? D'Addario XT, XS and Phosphor Bronze! Which acoustic guitar strings are better for you? Here is my test and review of the D'Addario XT, XS, and Phosphor Bronze strings! https://www.youtube.com/embed/97zaO1EhQgo 4034 2023-06-06T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triad-chips-basics-bg-1805 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MhIZ5IxaUhA/hqdefault.jpg Triad Chips Basics Triad Chips are incredibly useful for Blues, Pop, and Soul. They're like little slices of the chords, and sound great! https://www.youtube.com/embed/MhIZ5IxaUhA 864 2022-07-04T11:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-tuning-basics-bg-1802 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ixeFsasPjcI/hqdefault.jpg Open Tuning Basics Learn how to get to Drop D, Double Drop D, Open G, and Open D tunings, and get creative with your guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixeFsasPjcI 1625 2022-06-13T14:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-pentatonic-study-lick-1-bl-802 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7gTntt9IpSk/hqdefault.jpg Major Pentatonic Study Lick 1 This simple lick is GREAT for getting started with the Major Pentatonic and learning how to make the changes in a Blues! Learn it slow - practice it on each chord and then try to string it together for the whole blues sequence (as seen below and in the TAB and GuitarPro files). Once you can do that then try to mix it in with a 'normal' Minor Pentatonic jam - making sure you play the right lick over the right chord - and try to develop the sense of where you are in the chord sequence at all times - that is the key thing here! Also, try to experiment a bit with the lick - it's just an idea - change and explore it as much as you can - there is a lot of fun stuff in there! Next lessons we'll be doing a similar thing with another lick that fits nicer into Minor Pentatonic Box 1 and then we'll explore ways of mixing it all up! Hope you dig it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7gTntt9IpSk 625 2019-03-28T10:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-arpeggiator-be-afraid-bl-808 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/soHoP9ECmj4/hqdefault.jpg The Arpeggiator [be afraid!] WARNING! This exercise might hurt your brain... but it's totally worth it :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/soHoP9ECmj4 885 2019-04-29T10:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-pentatonic-study-lick-2-bl-803 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BPFclO1_oNU/hqdefault.jpg Major Pentatonic Study Lick 2 We continue our study of the Major Pentatonic and learning to make changes with another lick - which I think is a real important one because it can be played simple and easy while you learn it - but there are LOADS of licks living within this simple pattern that once you get inside it you can explore it for years (I still am!). As per the last lesson, learn the lick 'straight' first (as it's written) or simplify if needed by removing the bend, Play along with a backing track (Blues In A) and then when confident with the set pattern try making some small variations. When happy with that you might like to try playing your regular minor pentatonic licks through a blues and just inserting this lick when you want to - making sure of course that you use the right lick over the right chord. It's the ability to know where you are in the changes that is of utmost importance here! Getting this lick down will really help when we start looking at specific ways of combining the Major and Minor Pentatonics over a Blues. TAB and GuitarPro files available for registered users! :) Hope you dig it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPFclO1_oNU 542 2019-03-29T07:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justinguitar-is-playin-it-forward-free-guitars-for-those-in-need-nws-035 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XWNFzRzYqSU/hqdefault.jpg JustinGuitar is Playin' It Forward - Free guitars for those in need! Howdy guitar friend, nothing can stop you from learning to play. Apply here for a free guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XWNFzRzYqSU 150 2023-11-17T04:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-chord-scale-relations-fo-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ieinHTN1jfQ/hqdefault.jpg Major Chord Scale Relations In this lesson we explore the relationship between the Major Scale and the three major chords in it's key. Fascinating and really useful stuff! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ieinHTN1jfQ 684 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fast-car-legacy-lesson-leg-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2pgojx4y0CU/hqdefault.jpg Fast Car [Legacy Lesson] Here's Justin's original tutorial on Fast Car by Tracy Champman on the acoustic guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2pgojx4y0CU 971 2018-02-05T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-3-practice-blim-u3-23-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1917064244-fe4cf90dd8cd1b72aa5596644b44fdc6a757b4c238ee8fec45f1b1070cad4053-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 3 Practice Here's the suggested practice routine for Unit 3! https://player.vimeo.com/video/999178177 612 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/get-a-stunning-prs-custom-guitar-for-only-5-raf-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lRl9z7ASg38/hqdefault.jpg Get a stunning PRS Custom guitar for only £5! Win Big and Give Back with the JustinGuitar Big Raffle! 🎸 https://www.youtube.com/embed/lRl9z7ASg38 200 2024-11-03T05:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-iv-chord-arpeggio-bl-807 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TAQkuJjfYxo/hqdefault.jpg The IV Chord Arpeggio Now that you (hopefully) feel confident on the I chord using the A7 Arpeggio - it's time to introduce playing the arpeggio on the IV chord - in the key of A (which we're working on in this series), that will be the D7 Arpeggio. Hints Make sure when practising the arpeggio you start and end on the lowest root note. Try to visualize the shape on the neck as an overlay against the Minor Pentatonic and also the A7 arpeggio. Work on playing it up and down over a loop on just the D7 and get it under your fingers. Only when confident, start mixing the order of the notes up! Then start to include the b3 sliding up to the 3rd for the real cool blues sound! Once you start jamming with it - don't worry about what fingers go where - use whatever you like! A little theory! If you don't know the 'quality' of each note in the arpeggio work it out! I'd strongly suggest going through my Practical Music Theory course if you're not sure about the way chords are constructed and where the notes are on the fretboard etc. The notes in the arpeggio ate D F# A and C - make sure you know where these notes are on the fretboard! https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAQkuJjfYxo 480 2019-04-29T10:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-sus-chords-bg-1102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/otjuDwSMRjk/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Sus Chords Explore sus chords and how they can spice up your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/otjuDwSMRjk 711 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-11-bg-1107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df8c9ZFzhFI/hqdefault.jpg Songs for Module 11 Discover 9 songs for easy fingerstyle & sus chords. I hope these inspire your next song guitar practice. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/Df8c9ZFzhFI 368 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unison-bend-technique-bl-607 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1MSnYiXMZ0g/hqdefault.jpg Unison Bend Technique This lesson we're learnign a great and fun technique called Unison bends, basic idea is playing bending a note to reach the same pitch as a note you are playing on the adjacent string. It sounds awesome and can create a lot of energy and is used a lot in rock guitar too! Homework and Practice your aim this week is to memorize Pattern 3 and be sure you know where the root notes are and where the blue notes are located. I would recommend two 5 minutes practice sessions a day. Session 1 - 5 Minutes Work on the mechanics and make sure you are bending in tune (or as in tune as you want to be!). Session 2 - 5 Minutes Now get using that word and see how you can use it to join up your Minor Pentatonic Patterns (or other scales even!) and just vibe it! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Albert Collins - Ice Pickin All time blues Legend Albert Collins cuts a mean blues solo and sometimes overlooked, but you're crazy to miss out on this cat, he really is one the best Texas blues guitar players and has loads of awesome licks to steal! Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/1MSnYiXMZ0g 716 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-shuffle-in-12-keys-2-ways-blim-u2-15-r3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905425340-9b59c8f0fc9ba752448998e1b2b59a5a5e9097bbd66e94208531dc070e7435bc-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us 12-bar Shuffle In 12 Keys - 2 ways! Understanding the 1, 4, and 5 chord patterns on both thicker and fifth strings is crucial. Let's explore this in the key of G. https://player.vimeo.com/video/943771484 439 2024-07-28T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-how-to-practice-blim-u1-18-r4-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031204-ce1c1d9f1ee983f808c33b6add3ec52c9292b4e2a6d2d944df88ad259f70112c-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: How To Practice Quality over quantity ensures confidence in performance, avoiding confusion or sloppiness during jam nights. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903388481 169 2025-01-05T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-jam-tracks-blim-u1-19-j1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896025117-7607bc368102bc5393fcc6bc16d6babe3ab7c6d4f07c16f9b974d8c54c5177a1-d_295x166?r=pad How to Use Jam Tracks The best way to develop your language skills, from learning words to putting sentences together, is to practice it! Obvious right? https://player.vimeo.com/video/903690949 170 2025-01-05T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-2-practice-routine-blim-u2-22-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905423945-619e9f328a6aaa7b5a6f842c31b44cb5dadb5289f1b358711000e974e910d7a3-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 2 - Practice Routine Let's talk about your Unit 2 Practice Routine, which I recommend you do 3 times a week! https://player.vimeo.com/video/944983183 398 2024-07-28T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-most-active-in-the-1950s-blim-u2-20-a1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424568-9660af75bf9cfc7591cabbf4a6566efc12fcbe8ef2a5dfa3f0af81c695682ec3-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: Most Active in the 1950s Let's dive into the most active Blues artists of the 1950s. Plus, write your essay and share it with the Community! https://player.vimeo.com/video/944969939 385 2024-07-28T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-2-framework-blim-u2-02-k1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905411578-df8344df2cb5baf307b934308fa2c90adfcf303f3fa08b91daf055836aa1a18d-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 2 Framework I always suggested that students practice 'from the lowest root note,' but this is an example of where the highest root note is a much better starting point! https://player.vimeo.com/video/941605387 774 2024-07-28T11:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-tune-a-ukulele-uk-000 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XpABVKv9PZc/hqdefault.jpg How to Tune a Ukulele Learn how to tune your ukulele in 3 easy steps - with or without a tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpABVKv9PZc 262 2021-12-23T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-chord-progressions-blim-u2-13-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905425444-8263070359550b04f90a5900c70cd03313c35b49ae3845c9607a60c222b4edd6-d_295x166?r=pad 12-Bar Blues Chord Progressions Are you ready to dive into the 12-bar Blues and its common chord variations? This lesson is a big one! https://player.vimeo.com/video/943684086 1211 2024-07-28T11:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/flutter-vibrato-extension-lesson-blim-u2-09-t4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905415578-d0f15799c610aa8602203e03ef4863ee897a69b066f555224797820fc1b632b3-d_295x166?r=pad Flutter Vibrato (Extension Lesson) Let's explore a technique I call Flutter Vibrato (or Butterfly Vibrato), which BB King famously used. https://player.vimeo.com/video/942320779 322 2024-07-28T11:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-chord-vamps-extension-lesson-blim-u2-17-r5 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424905-ac3f21f8885646ca98a6148a43b782c438a0e8f4d8164cd78f8d69fee896325b-d_295x166?r=pad One Chord Vamps (Extension Lesson) Let's dive deeper into the concept of a vamp, understanding that it goes beyond the continuous strumming of one chord. https://player.vimeo.com/video/943822231 101 2024-07-28T11:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/worried-life-blues-blim-u2-23-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-UDMxDOlnY/hqdefault.jpg Worried Life Blues I love an 8-bar Blues—it has a different and fresh feel than a Standard 12-bar, which can tire a little after a while! https://www.youtube.com/embed/o-UDMxDOlnY 982 2024-07-28T11:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-shuffle-closed-position-blim-u2-14-r2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905425399-730cc0190a2ee68b184fe34c049897d903c2c22b6088dfe0ac87f7ee56014d82-d_295x166?r=pad 12-bar Shuffle Closed Position To play 12-bar Blues in any key, master the closed-position shuffle, which avoids open strings and can be played anywhere on the neck. https://player.vimeo.com/video/943749913 583 2024-07-28T11:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/perfect-fast-changes-b2-802 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xSFHgeJUuIs/hqdefault.jpg Perfect Fast Changes Want FAST & PERFECT chord changes on guitar? Here's a new exercise to improve your guitar skills! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xSFHgeJUuIs 289 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blue-bossa-melody-ja-542 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jFKmjwT6SkE/hqdefault.jpg Blue Bossa [Melody] Make sure you memorise the melody in one position. Of course later it's a good idea to be able to play it all over the neck wherever you want, but that will come later, first really nail it in one position. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jFKmjwT6SkE 571 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tapped-harmonics-te-504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GLBFEcvONGI/hqdefault.jpg Tapped Harmonics This technique is a blend of harmonics and finger tapping and sounds pretty cool. It is not too hard to get down and it is lots of fun. The Basic Idea The basic idea is that you tap exactly 12 frets above any fretted note that you play. The video should set you right - it is all a lot more easily explained with video. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLBFEcvONGI 209 2017-10-30T15:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/happy-birthday-finger-style-bg-1106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P2Y4n9H55wI/hqdefault.jpg Happy Birthday Finger Style For your first dive into finger style, we'll learn how to play Happy Birthday on the guitar - a classic unlike any other! https://www.youtube.com/embed/P2Y4n9H55wI 606 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-13-practice-bg-1308 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U_bE9uA4HX4/hqdefault.jpg Module 13 Practice Ready to unleash your inner Blues guitar player? Let's put all these beginner Blues elements into practice! https://www.youtube.com/embed/U_bE9uA4HX4 422 2020-08-26T10:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/re-active-listening-bg-1104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OkTBizvNWoI/hqdefault.jpg Re-Active Listening ™ Learn re-active listening - and try fun exercises to develop your musical listening skills and guitar improvisation! https://www.youtube.com/embed/OkTBizvNWoI 1421 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-pause-tr-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ISRujlvFho8/hqdefault.jpg The Pause Now it might seem a little crazy to you for me to do a lesson on pausing, but it is REALLY important. And we're going to actually start transcribing stuff in this lesson! The last thing you hear, stays in your ear! So learning how to pause exactly after the note you want to work out is very important. Huh? So I'm going to work out just one note at a time? Well I'm glad you asked. Yes, just one little note or chord at a time, perhaps with many hours of practice you'll start doing a few notes in one listen, maybe even a whole lick, but most times (especially with fast or complex bits) you need to learn to listen to just one note at a time. It really is effective. Learn to pause well and the battle is won. It's VERY important to start just one note at a time. IF YOU IGNORE THIS TOOL YOU WILL FIND THIS COURSE VERY HARD! Practice the stop So the first exercise we're going to be doing is working on stopping right after the note. In order to get better I'm going to ask you to work out some faster examples, but it's just to work on your pausing technique :) After the pause it can be helpful to try and sing the note... keeps it going longer and it's not uncommon to see people singing the note while moving around on the fingerboard trying to find the same note on the guitar!! And it's not a bad thing, I use it still myself if I'm not finding the note right away! START HERE For this exercise you just need a page of Blank Tab. Download and print it out. Exercises Exercise #104-A Listen to the example below and practice stopping exactly after the note you want to work out. This one should be pretty easy. It's using ONLY notes from the A Minor Pentatonic at the 5th fret (see the Beginners Course lesson). The notes are not really important, the task here is to learn how to stop right after the note and to train your ear to keep it there while you find it on the guitar. There are 4 clicks in. Exercise #104-B We're getting a little faster now and I'm mixing up the rhythms here a bit to make it a little more challenging... hit ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ISRujlvFho8 389 2017-10-30T06:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/eric-clapton-gr-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fX5USg8_1gA/hqdefault.jpg Eric Clapton ‘Slowhand’, ‘God’: one of the guitar’s genuine superstars. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fX5USg8_1gA 482 2018-08-04T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/b-b-king-gr-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4fk2prKnYnI/hqdefault.jpg B.B. King The King of Kings: probably the most iconic and influential electric bluesman of all time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4fk2prKnYnI 402 2018-07-31T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/peter-green-gr-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RtmW2ek7WkQ/hqdefault.jpg Peter Green The unsung hero of British Blues - the man behind the original Fleetwood Mac. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RtmW2ek7WkQ 217 2018-11-22T10:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/misty-harmonic-analysis-ja-533 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AaURD1ohdUI/hqdefault.jpg Misty [Harmonic Analysis] Next up is understanding what is going on with the song harmonically, looking at the key changes and what scales would be played over each chord. The Form: A A B A Most usual Key: Eb Major [A] I II - V (of Ab) I of Ab / IV of Eb II - V of Gb EbMaj7 Bbmin7 Eb7 AbMaj7 Abmin7 Db7 I - VI II - V I - VI7 (V/II) II - V EbMaj7 Cmin7 Fmin7 Bb7 EbMaj7 C7 Fmin7 Bb7 [A] I II - V (of Ab) I of Ab / IV of Eb II - V of Gb EbMaj7 Bbmin7 Eb7 AbMaj7 Abmin7 Db7 I - VI II - V I - bVII7 I EbMaj7 Cmin7 Fmin7 Bb7 Eb6 Db9 EbMaj7 [B] II V I Bbmin7 Eb7 AbMaj7 AbMaj7 II - V (of G) II - V (of Bb) II - V (of F) II - V (of Eb) Am7 D7 Cmin7 F7 Gmin7 C7 Fmin7 Bb7 [A] I II - V (of Ab) I of Ab / IV of Eb II - V of Gb EbMaj7 Bbmin7 Eb7 AbMaj7 Abmin7 Db7 I - VI II - V I - VI II - V EbMaj7 Cmin7 Fmin7 Bb7 EbMaj7 Cmin7 Fmin7 Bb7 * Note - the chords shown above are from my own composition "Slightly Foggy" which happens to have the same chord changes as Misty, but as they use the same harmonies it's worth looking at here! Download the pdf tipsheet here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/AaURD1ohdUI 766 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/autumn-leaves-harmonic-analysis-ja-523 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5sPzSp1zjMo/hqdefault.jpg Autumn Leaves [Harmonic Analysis] The Harmonic Analysis of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves is not particularly difficult and a good introduction to this essential jazz skill. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sPzSp1zjMo 1201 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/autumn-leaves-walking-bass-ja-525 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JjQ7ODj_tZM/hqdefault.jpg Autumn Leaves [Walking Bass] Ready to get yourself sounding like a real jazzer now? In this walking bass version of Autumn Leaves you pay the bass and chords at the same time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JjQ7ODj_tZM 738 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blue-bossa-harmonic-analysis-ja-543 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SQBS4fzWkNo/hqdefault.jpg Blue Bossa [Harmonic Analysis] The Form: Simple 16 Bar form. Most usual Key: C Minor [A] Im7 IVm7 Cmin7 Cmin7 Fmin7 Fmin7 IIm7b5 V7 Im7 Dm7b5 G7alt Cmin7 Cmin7 II (Db Major) V (Db Major) I (Db Major) Ebm7 Ab7 Dbmaj7 Dbmaj7 IIm7b5 V7 Im7 Dm7b5 G7alt Cmin7 Cmin7 * Note - the chords shown above are from my own composition "Green and Yellow Mix Bossa" which happens to have the same chord changes as Blue Bossa, but as they use the same harmonies it's worth looking at here! Download the pdf tipsheet here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQBS4fzWkNo 594 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-4-blue-note-and-additions-blim-u4-02-k2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925096712-33539a62a0dce326b42a3ab27351761d841aedf5f1b8db0c37edca06161e8671-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 4 Blue Note And Additions The Blue Note in the upper octave is awkwardly placed. Fingering will depend on your approach, so it's worth exploring. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1001693501 560 2024-09-29T06:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-fingerstyle-guitar-bg-1105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2WB8otOcz78/hqdefault.jpg Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar Ready to take your first steps with fingerstyle? Learn the basics of this guitar technique and transform your playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2WB8otOcz78 989 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-11-practice-bg-1109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/efWoqoxjEkc/hqdefault.jpg Module 11 Practice Ready for your Lesson 11 practice schedule? https://www.youtube.com/embed/efWoqoxjEkc 722 2020-07-08T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/power-chords-1-bc-172 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/trf80-R41X8/hqdefault.jpg Power Chords 1 ‘Power' Chords are used in most styles of music but are particularly useful for rock guitar; they even sound cool on acoustic (check out Nirvana's Unplugged album for an awesome example). The basic idea is that you only have to learn one chord shape, and that one shape can move around the fingerboard to make other chords. It uses no open strings, and muting the unused open strings is a very important part of the technique. Lets start by playing some power chords, and do the theory later Use your 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers as shown, and start by putting your 1st finger in the 3rd fret of the sixth string (the note G). Then put down your 3rd and 4th fingers. If this is a bit of stretch, don't worry, you will soon limber up! Try to keep them together, the 3rd finger kind of on top of the 4th as shown. Some people like to play the two notes on 5th and 4th strings with a small barre with the 3rd finger. It's O.K. to do that, but I think using two fingers gives you a better finger position on the notes; you'll get a better sound that way, it makes it easier to change chords most of the time and easier to get all the thin strings muted. I strongly advise to learn it this way, and then if you still prefer to use the little barre you have the option of choosing whichever one works best in any situation! Try and keep your middle finger relaxed just hanging out where it feels good (shown in the top photo). Don't try and pull it down to the thin strings; sometimes I do that but only when trying to show the chords in lessons Muting the unused strings Try to get your 1st finger to lay softly on strings 3, 2 and 1. You don't want those notes to sound; you just want to mute the strings. This is very important as it will sound really bad if you let them ring out. You could just try to be careful, and only play the three strings of the chord, but that is really hard. It means that you will never be able to rock out and hit the strings with any energy, or run around on stage like a rock god... With a super-low action (see page XX)... https://www.youtube.com/embed/trf80-R41X8 519 2017-10-30T14:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-finger-stretches-b1-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qYx8r0EtGsE/hqdefault.jpg Beginner Finger Stretches Develop your finger strength and flexibility with this fast and effective exercise. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYx8r0EtGsE 542 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-4-b1-407 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CWL_O9kR_b0/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 4 So many songs to choose from. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/CWL_O9kR_b0 167 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-d-minor-chord-b1-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8mFF8NYVdtI/hqdefault.jpg The D Minor Chord The Dm is pretty different from the D Chord, but I made it all easy for you! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/8mFF8NYVdtI 303 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-easy-riffs-bg-1708 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aTDzh6ZyZbU/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing Easy Riffs It's time to stop learning riffs from tabs and tutorials! Developing your ears and becoming an autonomous guitar player is easier than you think! https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTDzh6ZyZbU 735 2022-05-27T16:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-4-practice-routine-b1-408 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wZ15h9ryY5E/hqdefault.jpg Module 4 Practice Routine Here’s a 20-minute practice schedule including all your new guitar skills. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZ15h9ryY5E 365 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-next-pb-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xoBm7K0F5a4/hqdefault.jpg What Next...? At the end of this course you know the basics, which is amazing. But how do you get better from here? https://www.youtube.com/embed/xoBm7K0F5a4 161 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/eq-tips-to-fix-your-mix-pb-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F7rz1qjO8yY/hqdefault.jpg EQ Tips To Fix Your Mix EQ is the King of the clean mix. EQ is the King of creativity. EQ is King. In this video we learn how to use it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7rz1qjO8yY 1046 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-pattern-4-sc-254 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CdKjrc9YDw8/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Pattern 4 Pattern 4 is based around the A Shape chord. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdKjrc9YDw8 359 2017-10-30T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-own-songbook-b1-505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0GTuvZmVDUY/hqdefault.jpg Your Own Songbook Learn how to your make own songbook and easily access songs you love to play! https://www.youtube.com/embed/0GTuvZmVDUY 242 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-production-introduction-pb-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9chHi3pm-gM/hqdefault.jpg Music Production Introduction This course is designed to get you from no knowledge of music production to finishing your first song. In this video we check out the song we're going to create together. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9chHi3pm-gM 241 2020-06-10T19:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-c-chord-b1-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f18EV2dr008/hqdefault.jpg The C Chord Learn how to play the C chord on the guitar and a nice trick to mute the thickest string. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f18EV2dr008 349 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/exploring-strumming-b1-503 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0EbliWAtnw0/hqdefault.jpg Exploring Strumming Explore strumming and create your own strumming variations with these awesome tips. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0EbliWAtnw0 378 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blackbird-legacy-lesson-leg-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mEn2SEwZKNE/hqdefault.jpg Blackbird [Legacy Lesson] This is Justin's first take on teaching how to play Blackbird—back in 2018! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mEn2SEwZKNE 938 2018-01-18T13:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-i-to-iv-blues-climb-59-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8QK-E9smdS0/hqdefault.jpg The I to IV Blues Climb 59 Second Guitar Lesson on The I to IV Blues Climb https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QK-E9smdS0 60 2018-10-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bridging-beginner-to-intermediate-practice-routines-bg-2201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TWbJMW0L_GA/hqdefault.jpg Bridging Beginner to Intermediate Practice Routines This lesson will give precise guidelines to help you structure effective practice routines and stay inspired for the long haul. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TWbJMW0L_GA 1050 2023-04-03T12:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-5-practice-b1-508 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7rQGeJwWfe0/hqdefault.jpg Module 5 Practice Now that you've completed Lesson 5 of the JustinGuitar Beginner's Course, you can work on perfecting the techniques you've learned. Here's the practice schedule. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7rQGeJwWfe0 393 2020-02-14T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/counting-ands-b1-305 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1TMGzcbbLE/hqdefault.jpg Counting Ands When should you strum up on the guitar? The answer is here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1TMGzcbbLE 206 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-e-minor-chord-b1-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lqcd3jVysXY/hqdefault.jpg The E Minor Chord The Em Chord is an easy one, but there's a very common beginner mistake you should avoid! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lqcd3jVysXY 113 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-a-minor-chord-b1-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Y2veGF9s44/hqdefault.jpg The A Minor Chord Why is A Minor Chord so familiar? Find out now - and learn how to take the best out of it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Y2veGF9s44 362 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-patterns-with-ups-b1-307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IXL1bG_ao3c/hqdefault.jpg Strumming Patterns With Ups It’s time to practice your up strums! Here are a few different rhythm patterns for you to work on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IXL1bG_ao3c 468 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-about-up-strums-b1-306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JrIxNphnhrM/hqdefault.jpg All About Up Strums All you need to know about up strums so you build a solid strumming foundation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JrIxNphnhrM 382 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/house-of-the-rising-sun-legacy-lesson-leg-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sar9mMi79DE/hqdefault.jpg House Of The Rising Sun [Legacy Lesson] Justin's original take on teaching this classic! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sar9mMi79DE 644 2018-02-02T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intermediate-rhythm-guitar-2-im-125 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J2VEgdhWHxk/hqdefault.jpg Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 2 Now that you have been playing your 16th note rhythm a lot and got it feeling natural and easy (you been practicing a lot right??) we are going to look at a very cool and common rhythm guitar technique. Accents. Often with 16th note style playing every note is strummed but some are accented more than others. This pattern we are checking out is a very commonly used one and once you learn it you will find you can adapt it to many situations! Making some louder, or softer... The easiest way to get this pattern down is to bring the accents in one at a time. Accents are all about volume! So if you are already playing at your maximum volume, you will need to turn the whole thing down in order to hear your accents. So a good starting point is to play all your 16th note patterns as quietly as you can. Bring it up a little, and then start by putting an accent on beat one of each bar. Just play a whole bar at medium volume with a louder (accented) note on beat one. Make sure you can hear it clearly and the accent is coming out - if it's not it will be very difficult to progress further with this idea! Be sure to remember: 1. You MUST keep your hand moving all the time! 2. The beats (1,2,3,4) and the ands (&) will be playing with a down strum. The 'e' and the 'a' are played with up strums. 3. Start SLOWLY and get it right, then speed it up. It's a real easy pattern to play, it just takes a few goes at getting it right to feel it and then you'll be flying... Once you are cool with that try adding in the second accent in our pattern: it's on the "a" before 2. So you will accent beat 1, then play a regular up, a regular down, then an accented up! then just keep going with regular strums for the rest of the bar. Make sure you are comfortable with that before adding in the next accent (the '&' after 2), get cool with that, then add the 'e' after 3, then finally the accent on 4. You should also notice that it is playing groups of 3 until the last beat: D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U I find the 'groups of three' thinki... https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2VEgdhWHxk 753 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-barre-chord-grips-7-min7-im-121 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7DsFYpH-ZOg/hqdefault.jpg E Shape Barre Chord Grips: 7 & Min7 Next up we're going to be learning the Dominant 7th chord (usually just written as 7) and also the Minor 7th Chord. The Dominant 7th chord is used a lot, and the minor 7th chord lesson commonly so but is quite a challenge and a great one to learn to make sure you have your barre working well! E Shape Dominant 7th Barre Chord The Dominant 7th chord has a very unique character and is very useful in blues and jazz, folk and country. They have a lot of tension in them and always wanna go somewhere (try playing G7 and see how nice it sounds going to C!). Don't forget to check that your first finger (the barre) is slightly rolled over onto it's side (about 30 degrees) where the flesh is not as soft and it's closer to the bone. Very easy one - just start with the regular major shape and then lift off your 4th finger! With the minor chord the challenge was to get the 3rd string ringing out, with this chord the challenge is to get the 4th string clean and clear. Sometimes you will find it easier to move the barre a little up or down to get the note good - but first check that it is not your 3rd finger that is touching the 4th string - which is a very common problem! Remember to keep your thumb round that back (very roughly it should be on the other side of the neck to the 2nd finger - but everyone is a little different so don't stress if yours is not!). Practice picking out all the notes one at a time and make sure they are all clear! E Shape Minor 7th Barre Chord You will see by looking at the shape that the barre here has a lot to do! It's quite a challenge to get all the notes out clear, and there is another way to play this chord which we will learn later which is easier and sounds better (it's part of the jazz basics series!). Don't overlook it now though - it's really helpful to be able to play it, even if you rarely do! It's easy to figure out - start with the minor and lift off your little finger! Did you notice that lifting your little finger off added a 7th for both of these shapes? Most important here is get... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7DsFYpH-ZOg 377 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-scales-with-a-metronome-im-124 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FLgq5VPRT6k/hqdefault.jpg Playing Scales With A Metronome Playing scales with a metronome develops many areas which benefit your playing. It is a very useful technique exercise to develop your picking speed, accuracy and alternate picking while further developing your scale muscle memory and your ear / finger relationship. The Lesson 1. I would recommend starting with Pattern 1 of the G Major Scale, start with your second finger on the 6th string root, at 3rd fret). 2. Aim to get your note well synchronised with the metronome click, don't let yourself rush. Rushing is common when people first start out with this, so try and relax and play with it. Don't fight against the click of the metronome - you won't win! 3. Try and tap your foot too to help develop your internal metronome. I'd hope you are doing that already! 4. If you are new to technique exercises then you should start at something like 1 note per metronome click at around 60bpm (Beats Per Minute). Better to start very slowly and get it right. Aim for clarity in every note, don't let any notes smudge or be muffled. And make sure that you are using your finger tips. 5. Only when you can do a scale PERFECTLY 4 times consecutively (in a row) should you move the speed up. You might want to start by moving the metronome up by 10bpm at a time to start but as you get closer to your maximum speed you should slow the increments, maybe just going up by 5 or even 2 bpm at a time. 6. Once you get to 160bpm, move on to 2 notes per click at 80bpm (eighth notes). This means that you will play one note with the click and one note in-between. This is great practice for your alternate picking too because the down pick will always be with the beat and the up pick will be between the clicks! 7. Once you get up to 160bpm again, then move to doing 4 notes per metronome click. This is called playing 16th notes. This is going to take you a while to get to this - so don't worry if you are not here after a week, or a month, or a year!! 8. Make sure that you monitor your technique. I would suggest getting a private lesson or two to che... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FLgq5VPRT6k 814 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/live-percussion-is-the-secret-pb-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UIRm-JY_qE4/hqdefault.jpg Live Percussion Is the SECRET! Adding energy and groove to a track with some quick percussion tricks https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIRm-JY_qE4 1516 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-is-a-daw-logic-pro-x-basics-pb-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rqwfZB9QFPI/hqdefault.jpg What is a DAW?!? (Logic Pro X Basics) Music is produced in DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). This lesson is going to look at the basics of DAWs, specifically Logic Pro X. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rqwfZB9QFPI 836 2020-06-10T19:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/recording-clean-vocals-super-fast-pb-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pobsyLJatso/hqdefault.jpg Recording Clean Vocals Super Fast Vocals are KEY to most great songs. This video will show you how to get the best vocal recordings quickly and easily. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pobsyLJatso 1068 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/t-wah-effect-patch-ka-321 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yLnY_zgU-2k/hqdefault.jpg T Wah Effect (+PATCH) I love me some touch wah, such a fun and expressive effect - and once you get under the skin of it - there's a lot you can tweak for your style! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yLnY_zgU-2k 763 2018-10-06T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-down-4-to-a-bar-strumming-bc-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NNl9OpLQzmk/hqdefault.jpg All Down 4 to a Bar Strumming For many people, strumming rhythms are the trickiest thing to learn so we are going to start very simply to build a solid foundation. This is very easy and I hope that none of you have too much of a problem with this one. The hard part is in keeping the timing as consistent as possible. It's all down from here A bar is a great place to have a drink. It is also a musical term that we use to divide time in music. We have to check out the beats in the bar so we know how many times to strum our chords. For now, all bars will contain four beats because playing four beats in a bar is by far the most common beat in music. There are other time signatures (bars that have a different number of beats in them) but we'll be saving them for a lot later. The count is “1, 2, 3, 4”. For now, that is all we are looking at. All I want you to do is to be able to strum down four times, while you count along. Easy! It really helps to count along as you play so you always know where the bar starts. When we start playing songs, you will find that we nearly always change chord at the start of a bar, so it is very important that you know where ‘1' is. We'll be looking at some harder rhythms later, but what you should be doing here is trying to get this very simple idea deep in your mind so that you just do it naturally and don't have to think about it. Use all down- strums and keep the strumming consistent. Try and keep the strumming at an even volume too, dynamics become more and more important as you progress on your journey. Moving On... Now it's time to apply them in the next lesson: BC-117 • Easy Songs for Stage 1 https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNl9OpLQzmk 299 2017-10-30T14:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rolling-chords-to-spice-up-your-fingerstyle-bg-1603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hjX8PAtnEkU/hqdefault.jpg Rolling Chords to Spice Up Your Fingerstyle This acoustic guitar technique consists of playing a block of notes of a chord, but one at a time. It really brings out the melody of a song! https://www.youtube.com/embed/hjX8PAtnEkU 691 2022-01-14T16:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learn-your-guitar-amp-settings-bg-1607 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MbKqz7oCDYU/hqdefault.jpg Learn Your Guitar Amp & Settings Understand your amp and the best settings for the perfect guitar tone. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbKqz7oCDYU 1373 2022-01-19T05:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/flexing-time-the-falling-leaf-bg-1606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EQp5hluqF7I/hqdefault.jpg Flexing Time: The Falling Leaf Let's talk about flexing time to manipulate dynamics and add movement to your guitar playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQp5hluqF7I 592 2022-01-21T18:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/supercharge-your-guitar-practice-with-timeboxing-bg-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_0ICSMeRq_E/hqdefault.jpg Supercharge Your Guitar Practice with Timeboxing! Learn how to use a countdown timer to increase your focus and optimize your time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0ICSMeRq_E 813 2022-01-10T12:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-british-blues-playlists-blim-u4-00-i1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1928083265-1f70ac083c7313305bd020618c987fc63488c5d51b617c907e0836f85f9ebd5e-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The British Blues Playlists Here are your playlists to discover the British Blues influences! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1009914913 296 2024-09-29T06:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-easy-chord-shapes-up-the-neck-bg-1602 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x55gAAdqOLk/hqdefault.jpg How to Play Easy Chord Shapes Up The Neck Learn how to move easy open chord shapes all over the guitar neck, and add another level of creativity to your playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/x55gAAdqOLk 2105 2022-01-12T09:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/brown-eyed-girl-legacy-lesson-leg-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/abYal4U9B2A/hqdefault.jpg Brown Eyed Girl [Legacy Lesson] Here's the original Justin's Lesson for Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, released in 2012. https://www.youtube.com/embed/abYal4U9B2A 812 2018-02-04T12:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fun-play-along-with-a-d-bc-112b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j1ryFSPLbzQ/hqdefault.jpg Fun play along with A & D Wanna just get in and have some fun jamming along with a backing track - even though you're not really supposed to be ready yet? :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/j1ryFSPLbzQ 319 2018-12-22T16:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-greensleeves-on-the-guitar-bg-1604 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x-6YrPi6oKg/hqdefault.jpg How to Play Greensleeves on the Guitar Learning this chord arrangement is great practice for beginners playing melody lines! https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-6YrPi6oKg 1013 2022-01-17T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dreams-legacy-lesson-leg-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZABO8yY8sLw/hqdefault.jpg Dreams [Legacy Lesson] Here's Justin's first lesson on how to play Dreams, released in 2017. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZABO8yY8sLw 825 2017-11-29T10:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/quick-start-guitar-5-minute-overview-bc-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hJmw_ldmTMM/hqdefault.jpg Quick Start Guitar - 5 Minute Overview Guitar Quick Start! Learn the basics in 5 minutes: how to get in tune, basic chords, strumming and loads of songs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hJmw_ldmTMM 322 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fun-play-along-with-a-d-e-bc-117b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1hOYm1iQr3o/hqdefault.jpg Fun Play Along with A, D & E Now I got a fun beginner play along for you - the song is Three Little Birds by Bob Marley! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1hOYm1iQr3o 301 2019-02-02T20:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finger-stretching-exercise-te-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Zm_ho26O2U/hqdefault.jpg Finger Stretching Exercise If you have trouble getting your fingers stretched out to play chords (especially common for beginners) then this exercise is for you. PLEASE NOTE: If your hand hurts during this exercise, then please stop and if pain persists, then go see your doctor! A bit sore is fine, you should feel the muscles stretching and a little sore afterwards, but pain is your body's way of saying something is wrong. So stop Additional Notes Start by playing the frets as shown below in Example 1 - with your fingers all in adjacent frets. Try and keep your fingers lined up with the frets, not at an angle. Once you are cool with that it is time to try and stretch out your finger 4 to reach up an extra fret, Ex 2. Then onto Ex.3 where you will stretch your first finger back. Lastly, you try and stretch out both your finger 1 and 4 out - which makes a BIG stretch. If you can do it ok - then start moving the whole exercise down the fingerboard - because the frets get further apart it will work your stretch more and more. 7th fret 8th fret 9th fret 10th fret 11th fret 12 fret Ex. 1 Finger 1 Finger 2 Finger 3 Finger 4 Ex. 2 Finger 1 Finger 2 Finger 3 Finger 4 Ex. 3 Finger 1 Finger 2 Finger 3 Finger 4 Ex. 4 Finger 1 Finger 2 Finger 3 Finger 4 https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Zm_ho26O2U 691 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/string-bending-technique-te-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xGl0urYSuug/hqdefault.jpg String Bending Technique String bending is a basic blues and rock technique. The idea is to "bend" (push a string across or over the fingerboard with your left-hand fingers) so that the string gets tighter and the pitch goes up. It is very important to practice this as it sounds awful when done badly. In fact, if your guitar is in tune, it is very hard to play a note out of tune, unless you bend. If you don't practice bending in tune right away you will risk sounding like a child learning violin, not something you should inflict on your friends or family, or a paying audience :) This is a very hard technique to teach using only text, so try and watch the video for this lesson a few times. The Lesson 1. Always use two or more fingers (usually your second and third fingers). At more advanced stages you may use only one finger, but only if two are not available (or if you do a first finger bend). 2. Try to use your wrist to make the bend and use your fingers as levers. As you work on the technique you should find that it feels very easy when you do it right and very hard to do if you have the technique wrong! 3. When practising always hold the bent note to check that it is properly in tune (the most important aspect of bending practice). Exercises To practice bends as shown, use the same finger throughout- usually your 3rd finger. Play the note you want to bend followed by the note you want to bend to. Then play the original note again and bend it to the pitch of the second note. This will improve your intonation (get you in tune). Some teachers recommend using a guitar tuner to work on getting it in tune, not a bad idea, but I think that it is better to use your ears - you won't be using a guitar tuner on stage! Once you feel comfortable with the technique and it feels easy you should start to work on your vibrato. The "pro" approach is let the note ring pure before adding the vibrato on after a small amount of time. Listen to the blues masters and try and emulate them. Try and develop the feeling that you can make the guitar sound and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xGl0urYSuug 926 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finger-rolling-te-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P_7Rf2wqPy8/hqdefault.jpg Finger Rolling Playing notes in the same fret but on different strings can pose a problem for many people. There are a few approaches to solving this problem. Some people say that you should always use a different finger for each note, but I have found that to be quite hard and often impractical. The rolling technique has some flaws, but in my opinion is the best method, and is used by many people. The Lesson I would recommend watching the video before reading this lesson text, it will make a lot more sense! The most important part of this exercise is to make sure that you mute the string that you are leaving. The example that I show in the video uses the notes G and C, found on the 4th and 3rd strings, both at the 5th fret. To get the basic idea you should position the tip of your finger (I call this the point) on the note G (4th string, 5th fret) and play the note. Then roll onto the flat of your finger to play the note C (3rd string, 5th fret) making sure that the tip stays in contact with the 4th string to mute it, remembering that you only have to touch the string very lightly. The mute is VERY important. Then roll your finger back to the note G, making sure that the underside of your first finger stays in contact with the 3rd string to mute it. You should practice playing these two notes with your first finger and working on the rolling action and making sure that you are muting the string that you are not playing! This will probably take you a while to get right, just be patient and keep working at it - it is worth it! Once you have that sorted out, then try doing the same thing with your third finger at the 7th fret. Remembering to keep muting the string as you leave it. Using the Minor Pentatonic to practice the technique A good way of putting this into practice is to apply it to the A minor pentatonic scale. Some of the notes do not need the roll but it is good to get it into a "real" situation in a way that you might actually use it. Use the standard fingering for position 1 of the A Minor Pentatonic. Here is the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/P_7Rf2wqPy8 387 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/all-i-want-is-you-legacy-lesson-leg-2017 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GSXqFKB6DWM/hqdefault.jpg All I Want Is You [Legacy Lesson] Watch Justin's first take on how to play All I Want Is You by U2 on the acoustic guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSXqFKB6DWM 858 2017-09-03T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/everybody-hurts-legacy-lesson-leg-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lMPobp_bvsM/hqdefault.jpg Everybody Hurts [Legacy Lesson] Here's Justin's first take on Everybody Hurts from 2018. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lMPobp_bvsM 1231 2018-02-05T06:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-to-iv-blues-climb-bl-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mOSHkmDhoeo/hqdefault.jpg I to IV Blues Climb In bar 4 of a 12 Bar Blues, you can nearly always add in a climb up to the IV chord - for both a standard form and a quick change. If the band are listening then it's likely that some of them will 'pick it up' and join you for it - but it works if you do it on your own too - and it's great if you playing solo too. There are a bunch of options, you can play single lines, power chords and also as chords! Start by moving up a tone from the I chord on beat 2 or bar 4 and then step up chromatically (1 semitone at a time!) and you'll get to the IV chord on beat 1 of Bar 5! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mOSHkmDhoeo 588 2018-10-19T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mary-had-a-little-lamb-ku-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CQ3Z1-bf4C8/hqdefault.jpg Mary Had A Little Lamb Mary Had A Little Lamb on the ukulele is certain to get some very enthusiastic participation from your very young audience! https://www.youtube.com/embed/CQ3Z1-bf4C8 206 2020-07-16T21:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/forcing-the-changes-bc-145 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d3H-GbHduvU/hqdefault.jpg Forcing The Changes Use the force! This technique can be a little hard to get your head around but I have seen this make a huge difference to many people's playing, and hopefully it will be a big help to you, too! Force yourself to make the change in time... The idea of this exercise is simple. Force yourself to make chord changes faster by not allowing yourself to stop strumming. The benefit is immediate, because if you can keep your strumming going then it will sound cooler and more like a ‘proper' song. Start by playing a chord sequence that you are familiar with, strumming nice and simple, four down-strums to the bar. If you're having difficulty changing between any of the chords, try and keep strumming in time— even if you are hitting the open strings—don't stop strumming the even four down-strums per bar pattern. What you will find is that the fretting hand will not want to let the side down, and that your chord changes will actually get faster. I know it sounds a bit strange, but it works really well. Don't worry if you fluff the chord up a little; just keep strumming. Force your fingers to make the changes. If a finger goes down on a wrong string, just keep playing, and move it while you continue to strum. A good tip is to use a metronome and strum along with that, it will force you to keep in time, because many people slow down for difficult bits and strum faster in the easy bits, and that just sounds terrible. So, try it now with a basic chord sequence that you are comfortable with. Put a metronome on and strum your four down strums on each chord and DON'T STOP—even if the chord goes wrong and you don't get all your fingers down in time—DON'T STOP. Just keep going. DON'T STOP! Rhythm is a really important thing for us humans, and people will notice when the rhythm stops, but they won't notice if a few notes are missing from your chord. I can't stress the importance of this enough. It's hard to explain in text, but you have to make sure you don't stop strumming even if the chord changes are not fast enough. If it's a rea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/d3H-GbHduvU 463 2017-10-30T14:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grade-3-quickfire-test-et-306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ijH3TSyUktI/hqdefault.jpg Grade 3 Quickfire Test You think it's going great? Try this on - each interval just played once so you gotta rely on your instinct! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ijH3TSyUktI 240 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/practice-breaking-strings-qt-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p8fLzrPRu5Y/hqdefault.jpg Practice Breaking Strings Get ready for the real world by practicing playing your guitar without certain strings. https://www.youtube.com/embed/p8fLzrPRu5Y 269 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-the-listener-hears-qt-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SOxWcJ_UHx0/hqdefault.jpg What The Listener Hears? Listen Up! This Quick Tip will cover the importance of listening to your bandmates during the song. It means you are aware of what the listener is hearing. But why is this so important? Keep Your Ears Open As guitarists in a band, we often go into a bubble. We focus on ourselves and our instruments, forgetting about the drums, the bass, the singer, and everyone else. This leads to poor music. We're not in sync with the other instruments, and the sound suffers. The listener hears the entire band, not just you! So you must listen to the other instruments and change your playing to suit. I've fallen into this trap! A keyboard player once gave me a row for not paying attention to what he was playing. :( Get in The Groove That's not all. If you listen to the other players, you'll be much more "in the groove." You and the other musicians will all be on time, and it'll sound WICKED. By listening more, you'll also hear the band's dynamics, tempo, and tone loads better. So keep your ears open while you're playing. Your bandmates and the audience will thank you for it, and you'll become a better musician! :) 💡 Learn more! Explore my free guitar courses. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SOxWcJ_UHx0 297 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/uber-fast-trill-tapping-59-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I8ZAtuxqsGA/hqdefault.jpg Uber Fast Trill Tapping 59 Second Guitar Lesson on Uber Fast Trill Tapping - super easy and sounds really cool! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8ZAtuxqsGA 60 2018-10-20T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fartlek-subdivisions-te-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X17Ipc2Hdr0/hqdefault.jpg Fartlek Subdivisions Subdivisions are dividing a beat into a number of notes, you can of course play two notes for each beat which would be 8th notes, dividing the beat by three would be triplets, four would be 16th notes etc. There is no limit but personally I only work up to dividing the beat into 6's - sevens are awkward and sound funny to me. Many players (including me) tend to favour certain subdivisions and so learning to explore the less used ones is a very useful thing to practice. Fartlek is the Swedish word for 'speed play' and is more commonly associated with running training, but the term fits great for exploring the various subdivisions while improvising because with the same metronome tempo you will be exploring many speeds! Subdivisions Divide beat by Name Count 1 Whole notes 1 2 8th notes 1 - and 3 Triplets 1 - trip - let 4 16th notes 1 - e - and - a 5 Quintuplet Hip - o - pot - o - mus 6 Sextuplet 1 - e - tip - e - let - e https://www.youtube.com/embed/X17Ipc2Hdr0 783 2017-10-30T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/five-little-speckled-frogs-ku-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NFSf6FX61KQ/hqdefault.jpg Five Little Speckled Frogs Eating some most delicious bugs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NFSf6FX61KQ 222 2020-08-15T12:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/50-guitar-pick-can-you-hear-it-gg-324 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wr7b323S5A4/hqdefault.jpg $50 Guitar Pick + Can You Hear It? There is no "best" pick - it's a very personal thing. My Blue Chip feels the best to be most of the time but I still use other picks for changes in sound... but they don't feel as nice to me any more now I'm used to the BC luxury! :) OK, so the list of picks in no particular order is: Blue Chip Big Jazz 50* Dunlop Jazz III Fender Thin Dunlop Nylon .38 Dunlop Nylon .60 Dunlop Nylon 1mm Dragon Heart wooden pick Tortex Orange .60 Tortex Purple 1.14mm Big Stubby If you want to try to test yourself - see how many you can place in the right order - I'd struggle but maybe you have better ears than me - put your result (but not your answers please) in the comments below! * looks like prices have come down since I got mine, and now the Blue Chip big Jazz is now "only" $35! Bargain! :) Click here to see the correct order of the picks! 1. Tortex Orange .60 2. Dunlop Nylon 1mm 3. Big Stubby 4. Blue Chip Big Jazz 50 5. Dragon Heart wooden pick 6. Dunlop Nylon .60 7. Dunlop Jazz III 8. Fender Thin 9. Tortex Purple 1.14mm 10. Dunlop Nylon .38 https://www.youtube.com/embed/wr7b323S5A4 995 2019-05-09T10:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-m-a-little-teapot-ku-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j9bfEdKYnl0/hqdefault.jpg I'm a Little Teapot Here is my handle, and here is my spout! https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9bfEdKYnl0 248 2020-08-15T12:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-rekindle-the-love-for-guitar-aw-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I0zcsc8U404/hqdefault.jpg How To Rekindle The Love For Guitar? If your guitar life feels pretty boring right now, don't buy new gear. Not before trying out these 6 tools to rekindle your guitar love! https://www.youtube.com/embed/I0zcsc8U404 540 2021-01-28T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/is-reading-notation-worth-the-effort-aw-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oMVu9NoCYxQ/hqdefault.jpg Is Reading Notation Worth the Effort? Story Time! I'll share how I learned to read notation in only 2 weeks - and all the reasons why you shouldn't! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oMVu9NoCYxQ 1073 2022-02-02T10:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/boom-bass-with-licks-sbr-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2H1U3418noU/hqdefault.jpg Boom Bass With Licks This is a game-changing technique for solo Blues guitar. It creates a full, rich sound—perfect for solo playing without a band. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2H1U3418noU 1053 2024-09-07T07:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-finger-family-ku-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zWCXNNb5zMg/hqdefault.jpg The Finger Family Daddy finger, Daddy finger, where are you? https://www.youtube.com/embed/zWCXNNb5zMg 200 2020-08-15T12:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-curl-on-the-flat-3rd-bl-409 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e9IxxZ-hlbA/hqdefault.jpg The Blues Curl on the Flat 3rd The Blues Curl is a 1/4 tone bend that happens (pretty much) only on the Flat 3rd scale degree - in a Blues in A, it will be the note C that gets this treatment. It's only a subtle movement but it's super cool. I played the Blues Curl many many years before I even thought about how or why it worked... and probably many of the greatest Blues guitarists never gave it a second thought. But the 'theory' of blues is interesting in that is shouldn't really work. Playing the A Minor Pentatonic (A C D E G) over an A7 Chord (A C# E G) you can see that the C and D notes should clash with the C# in the chord - and they do - but it's the sound of the blues - it shouldn't work but it does. And remember the biggest rule of all: If It Sounds Good It Is Good! The Curl bends the Flat 3 (the note C in the Key of A) slightly sharp - roughly a 1/4 tone (half a semitone), pushing it closer to the Major 3rd (the C# in the the A7 chord). But please don't be concerned too much with the theory - it's very much a practical thing to be doing (but you can check out my Theory Course if you're keen to understand it all!). Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail (around 1965) We could have has a lot of BB on this list!! The Regal album is considered the best by most people, but this is a close second, really great sound on this album and man he tears it up, he is the Chairman Of The Board!! Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • Backing Track Here's a sample backing track from my Jam Blues II collection, a Blues in A in the style of BB King. You can download and jam over it and if you enjoy it, please consider buying the rest of the album, they're all great fun for jamming! You could practice playing your scale up and down over the backing track - will help you understand the quality of each note of the scale, and help you develop your timing and groov... https://www.youtube.com/embed/e9IxxZ-hlbA 569 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-language-bl-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V4DeCHI-tDQ/hqdefault.jpg The Blues Language Few people have said that this is one of the most useful and important lessons on my whole website and they might be right! https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4DeCHI-tDQ 444 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-vibrato-bl-405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/__lTYlYlaCI/hqdefault.jpg Blues Vibrato Vibrato is a very important technique and conveys a lot of emotion. Without it you playing will likely sound flat and uninspired. Many people seem to pick it up without 'learning' it, but for the majority of players, it will need practice. In this lesson, I take you through the most common forms of vibrato, but we focus on the most common 'mechanics' of the pivot (the same mechanics that we use for String Bending). Text Lesson The standard 'Hand' vibrato used by the majority of guitarists in most styles is this one. It can be subtle or outrageous, wide or small, sharp, smooth and a thousand other adjectives! This is the one that you really should try and master. The technique used is very similar to that used for string bending, so if you are used to the mechanics of String Bending you most likely won't find it particularly difficult. The "secret" to getting this type of vibrato working well is to get a solid pivot point. Without your first finger locked up against the neck, it's difficult to get the right 'mechanics' - though once you have the right feel for it, locking the pivot point becomes less necessary. You should be able to use this type of vibrato with any finger, but it is most commonly done with the first or 3rd fingers (the same as bending), so give those fingers the best workout. It should be noted that this vibrato is a lot harder on strings 1 and 6 (the outside strings) because you can only push the string in one direction, or you risk pulling the string off the neck, which can sound awful. The Three E's There are three very important things to remember when you are working on your vibrato: Emulate Try and copy your favourite player's vibrato. Try and make your guitar sound exactly like theirs. This will take time. Work at it. Then copy someone else's vibrato. You will find that the types that come naturally to you will stick and the others will pass. Copying others will help you find you own voice! I think this is best done by a learning a particular lick and then really trying to make it sound... https://www.youtube.com/embed/__lTYlYlaCI 1262 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-blues-licks-from-pattern-2-bl-408 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ni6cU7hH5ts/hqdefault.jpg 5 Blues Licks from Pattern 2 Well now that you know The Minor Pentatonic Pattern 2, you should probably start using it! And to get you going we are now looking at some licks (words) in this very fine position to get you going! Many people find this Pattern easier to improvise with, there is less stretching on the thinner stings and it just plain feels good! Same rules as before - work on each lick, one at a time, get it right, then start using it and blending it with any other licks that you already know. Work them in slowly and explore each lick thoroughly. The TAB is below the vid lesson, I recommend watching the vid first and then checking out the TAB so that you know how they should go - and also check out the fingering, of course... Lick TABs P2 - Lick 1 This is a classic Albert King style lick used by many blues masters. Watch out for the bend followed by the release to the 8 with the curl (no seagulls!). P2 - Lick 2 This is a great lick to get into P2 from P1. The slide is a great entry point. Make sure you get a good vibrato on the last note! P2 - Lick 3 Cool lick this, and and great practice for 'rolling' Finger 3 (the two notes on the 10th fret!). Try bending the 1st note a semitone rather than a tone - you'll be hitting the 'blue' note. P2 - Lick 4 This really cool 'repeating' lick is one you can use to develop some speed. Repeated patterns are cool fun and can really pick things up if you build then using volume! P2 - Lick 5 The first 2 beats (6 notes) can be repeated around as many times as you like before adding the cool bend/release/bend trick at the end! Work on getting good vibrato on that last bent note too! Practice First thing to do is to work on each lick, one at a time, get the notes right, get the rhythm right, get the bends in tune, make it sound great - and then repeat it over and over again until it feels natural. Once you have the new lick comfortable under your fingers, start playing it over a backing track and mix it in with the licks that you know already. Try to find variations you like. Try to get inside th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ni6cU7hH5ts 1133 2017-10-29T08:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-blues-licks-effectively-bl-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z9RSUG9I20A/hqdefault.jpg Using Blues Licks Effectively Now it's time to put your new words together and try making sense! You will need to use a backing track (or a Jam Buddy if you are lucky enough to have someone to jam with!) and you will be exploring using your licks and getting creative with them. Text Lesson If you've ever tried to learn a new language you may recall those early days where you just knew a few words, the basics like hello and thank you... probably your accent still sounded a bit strange and you couldn't say anything interesting - but you were making progress - well it's the same now! Don't expect with a few licks you'll be sounding like Eric Clapton, but you will be making a lot more sense than before you learned any words at all! Repetition Is Your Friend I can't over emphasis the importance of repetition, you need to be playing these licks over and over again so that they start to happen naturally when you play. You don't want to be thinking about the words you're saying and for that to happen you need to repeat them, a lot. Space Is Your Friend Notice that between the licks there is some space, some silence! It's really important that you understand right from the beginning that it's important to have that, it's not there to 'fill up' it's there to help the licks makes sense and also to give you time to think about what you will play next! Sure later on you might talk faster, leave less space at an exciting time in your story but when you are starting out it can really make your solos sound awesome and stop you 'chasing you tail' which is something I see a lot of in people learning to play lead guitar. That panic of trying to find a new lick while you're still playing one is completely unnecessary and will make your playing sound confused and it won't 'feel good' either which is really important. Repetition Is Your Friend Many beginner soloists are scared of playing the same lick a few times when actually it's a really good thing. You can make a pretty cool solo with just one lick! So one thing to try for sure is to do just that - solo for... https://www.youtube.com/embed/z9RSUG9I20A 657 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-licks-linking-patterns-1-2-bl-412 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YdC31_20V3Q/hqdefault.jpg Blues Licks Linking Patterns 1 & 2 Now you're gonna get real fancy. You have put the time into learning your licks in P1 and P2 of the Minor Pentatonic (you have, haven't you?) and now we're going to check out how to move smoothly between the patterns. There are a number of approaches to doing this but to start you off we are going to look at five licks that you can use to do this, that way you can get stuck right in without having to think too much - just getting these licks will help you for sure... The more words you know, the more you can say! Lick TABs P1-P2 - Lick 1 This is THE classic move people learn to link P1 and P2, some people even think of it as a different scale - that's what I thought when I discovered it as a kid. Gets you all the way up to P3 actually which we cover in Module 2 of the Blues Lead journey! P1-P2 - Lick 2 Just 2 notes? Yep - but this is a big deal and VERY commonly used blues concept. Both notes are the same, but because they're on different strings they sound a little different and also the slide into the second note adds character. Many people find vibrato easier on String 2 as well! P1-P2 - Lick 3 Jumping quickly between patterns takes some practice but is well worth it. The 'trick' is to look at the fret where your finger will jump to BEFORE you make the jump - don't watch your fingers! P1-P2 - Lick 4 All time classic lick here!! Used by everyone, it sounds great and feels slinky when you get it down. It's a classic Stevie Ray Vaughan move! Use Finger 3 for the slides and Finger 2 for the note on String 2. It a 'repeater' so make sure to work on playing it over and over without stopping... and find a way out ;) P1-P2 - Lick 5 This lick is more conceptual than a great word. I want you to see this small block of notes can travel onto other string groups (3-4 and 5-6) and keep the same shape - it's a very useful trick to expand many of the words you already learned - or bots of them! Go explore it! As usual the big deal here is to practice using the licks as much as you can - but you should also start to think '... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YdC31_20V3Q 931 2017-10-29T09:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-the-1970s-blim-u4-15-a1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925667497-dfd5cc91edadc7394a35e7b6ad9cbe4a3255e21b9bfa3b6132f11355eb655a80-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: The 1970s The British Invasion of the mid-to-late 1960s helped invigorate the Blues. However, many artists have become more associated with Rock and Roll. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008195640 323 2024-09-29T06:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-m-a-king-bee-blim-u4-17-s2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j4Kd8q74WMk/hqdefault.jpg I'm a King Bee This is kind of a 12-bar Blues, but at the end of each four bars, Slim adds another two beats on the 1 chord—technically making it a 13 ½ Bar Blues! https://www.youtube.com/embed/j4Kd8q74WMk 708 2024-09-29T06:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-melody-don-t-forget-your-time-blim-u4-12-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925641884-529778a57e07d5618582ad98e6208668e2f805ca6a02971c73e6957634ccf416-d_295x166?r=pad Rhythm & Melody - Don't Forget Your Time! It's possible to play 'across the beat,' especially in Blues, but it's not what you should be doing all the time. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008173063 290 2024-09-29T06:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-1-bl-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7xGqV6Wx_LY/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1 The Minor Pentatonic is commonly the first scale people learn, and with good reason, it's easy and super useful, especially for The Blues! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xGqV6Wx_LY 622 2017-10-29T08:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-fingerstyle-patterns-part-1-fo-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rGt-lMXYzZc/hqdefault.jpg Folk Fingerstyle Patterns Part 1 To start our Folk Fingerstyle journey we're going to check out four very common fingerpicking patterns that you'll find come up a lot and make a solid foundation! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rGt-lMXYzZc 993 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jam-the-blues-in-every-key-bl-413 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_JP17mPWq7M/hqdefault.jpg Jam The Blues In Every Key To improvise over any blues you need to be able to figure out the KEY. Now that's easiest by learning Blues Rhythm Guitar which if you have not done yet, is a great course and will teach you how to play a Blues Rhythm in every key which is SUPER important. If you've done it already then you'll have a much better understanding of finding keys. If you have not, then I recommend you hit that one next (before doing more Lead Guitar!). Remember not to overcomplicate the blues. I used to spend hours jamming along with blues albums WAY before I had any kind of clue about keys or scales or any of that. you have a huge headstart at this point already - so just put on your favourite records and see if you can find the key - there's a bunch of suggestions below if you're stuck on choosing (and you can check your answers!), but don't get stuck down with exact blues changes, or type of blues - just try getting musical with it as soon as you can! This is the last lesson on this series and I really hope you've enjoyed it and will join me for the next module where we'll start burning the blues all over the neck! :) Songs To Work Out The Keys (Scroll dow for the answers at the bottom of the page). Keep Your Hand To Yourself - Georgia Satellites Rockin All Over The World - Status Quo Carol - Rolling Stones Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters The Sky Is Crying - Albert King Tore Down - Freddie King Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan T-Bone Blues - T-Bone Walker Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker Statesboro Blues - The Allman Brothers Answers - Don't cheat, you'd only hurt yourself... 1) A 2) C 3) Bb 4) A 5) C# 6) D 7) Eb (he plays it in E and detunes a semitone, but in normal tuning you should have it as Eb!) 8) G 9) E 10) D https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JP17mPWq7M 734 2017-10-29T08:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-9th-grips-for-blues-blim-u4-09-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925198989-2739f5f6bdcca34251fb5e31ae46137b45c550080659f000838604eb923342d9-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Dominant 9th Grips for Blues 9th chords add a jazzy touch to Blues, with two common voicings and more for deeper exploration. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1006905308 893 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-4-bend-candidates-blim-u4-03-k3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1932219658-f8c3d2176513aa5dc0eee8b647d1250cb6b2a9b80a1b596945409179725ba15e-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 4 Bend Candidates As usual, let's go through the Pattern 4 bend candidates one string at a time. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1013494159 430 2024-09-29T06:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-7-amazing-benefits-of-ear-training-et-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wMQCdE2Pepc/hqdefault.jpg The 7 Amazing Benefits of Ear Training In this lesson, we look at the benefits of ear training and why you might want to spend some of your valuable time developing your ability to listen better! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wMQCdE2Pepc 818 2018-01-30T16:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/it-s-all-about-rhythm-qt-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AgR2ppyichs/hqdefault.jpg It's ALL About Rhythm Rhythm is Everything! Time for another Quick Tip – a SUPER important one! Many of us guitarists focus too much on notes, melody, and scales. In this video, we'll see just how crucial rhythm is. Get the rhythm right, and your playing will rock! Get it wrong, and it will stink. Why Is Rhythm So Important? Rhythm has been with us for way longer than melody. It's inside us. It drives the music. If you have rhythm, you have music! 💡 Make Rhythm! Check out my Strumming Techniques 1&2 Courses. If you're not sure, listen to my playing in this video. Without the rhythm, it doesn't sound like I'm playing a song. Nobody can sing along or enjoy the music. It doesn't matter how complex our playing is if the rhythm sucks. But even when our chords suck, our playing sounds okay if we stay in rhythm. The listener can still enjoy what we're doing. :) Some blues masters create long solos with just a few notes. They have an excellent sense of time, and they use it to push and pull our emotions. Bottom line, your "feel" and ability to stay in rhythm are super important. You have to pay as much attention to rhythm as you do to chords, scales, and all the rest. :) 🧐 Why Is Strumming So Hard? https://www.youtube.com/embed/AgR2ppyichs 296 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/side-stepping-9th-s-blim-u4-10-r2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925209701-b4eac09112c111726188b45698335d16aff6823b69cfcc272000bfeba09a9c3e-d_295x166?r=pad Side Stepping 9th's Side stepping is approaching a chord from a semitone above or below. Let's learn more about it! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1007598138 499 2024-09-29T06:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-4-blim-u4-06-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1932219625-ece09670e4ef69f399f3183844c2502343d083349615fc3417a40499eb736213-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 4 I'm hoping you are familiar with learning new licks now, so let's just get stuck in! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1013459430 1309 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/don-t-play-over-the-singer-qt-016 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HI1a8l0GF0c/hqdefault.jpg Don't Play Over The Singer! Let the singer do their thing! It's Quick Tip time! Recently I saw a band, and the guitarist didn't let the singer sing. That inspired me to make this quick video! What's the lesson? Never play over the singer! As a guitar player, your job is to accompany them. :) Sharing Is Caring We guitarists love our solos and licks. We want to be the one everyone looks at. But we can't be that person when playing in a band. We must let the other band members, particularly the singer, have their chance. How To Play At The Right Time A good rule is never to play when the singer is singing. Instead, play little licks and lines in between the lyrics. Try to complement the singer with your playing. And as I often say, if it sounds good, it is good. Keep your eyes open, and try to hear what the listener hears. Does your playing sound musical? You can also listen to the greats, like BB King, who master the combination of singing and guitar. There's a great album by Robben Ford and Jimmy Witherspoon, where Robben beautifully complements Jimmy's singing. So choose the right time to play and ensure the singer gets to sing! Your band's music will sound loads better. :) 💡 Learn more! Explore my free guitar courses. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HI1a8l0GF0c 210 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/set-your-strap-for-optimum-performance-qt-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4wz0XbsqfOE/hqdefault.jpg Set Your Strap For Optimum Performance Adjust Your Guitar Strap For Tip-Top Playing In this video, we're talking about where to set your guitar strap for optimal playing. I had a lot of trouble with this when I started playing guitar in my teens. I wanted to look like Slash when I played. But I practiced sitting down with the guitar at the usual height. So it was impossible when I stood up and tried to play with the guitar at my knees! What's The Solution? The bottom line is that we should play at the same height in practice as in performance. That way, our arms, wrist, and body are used to that position. When it comes to gigs, we'll feel natural and comfortable. So if you want to play sitting down, practice when sitting down too. If you want to look like Slash, practice standing up with the guitar at knee height! :) Easy peasy, but this will make a massive difference in your performances. :) 💡 New to JustinGuitar? Create a free account and get incredible practice tools to help you learn faster! https://www.youtube.com/embed/4wz0XbsqfOE 225 2017-10-30T13:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-4-framework-blim-u4-01-k1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925096241-a4da2993f4be9a599dfe147d242841497ad17d21c2ab26cd823aade95b167825-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 4 Framework In this unit, we will use Pattern 4 of the Minor Pentatonic as a framework and then explore additional notes and licks. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1001649038 433 2024-09-29T06:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/basic-fingerstyle-exercise-bc-184 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V6ZqKjH0G78/hqdefault.jpg Basic Fingerstyle Exercise In this exercise you will place your fingers on strings 1, 2 and 3, with your 1st finger plucking the 3rd string, 2nd finger plucking the 2nd string and 3rd finger plucking the 1st string. Your thumb will alternate between the sixth, fifth and fourth strings. Ditch the pick This is just an exercise to get your fingers working. We'll put them into proper patterns in the next stage! Your thumb will alternate between the 6, 5 and 4 strings. Exercises Thumb then down 3-2-1 Thumb then up 1-2-3 Thumb 1-2-3-2-1 People with a long enough little finger use it as an anchor near the edge of the soundhole (on an acoustic guitar), and this helps keep the fingers in the right place. My little finger is too short to do this and though I would love to use this anchor the rest of my fingers are just too cramped if I do. So I have to ‘float'. It makes finger picking a bit harder but with practice you will be able to judge where the strings are and get your hand to stay in roughly the same place. If you do have a long enough little finger I would recommend using the anchor technique, the vast majority of great fingerstyle players use it! As you may have noticed, I use fake nails (acrylic or gel) because I play guitar a lot, and my natural nails would just wear out with all the playing I do. But I think I like the sound of natural nails a bit better. It is 100% totally fine to use the flesh of your finger tips, too. The great guitar player Dominic Miller (who plays with Sting and as a solo artist) told me once he was cutting his nails and using flesh because it sounds better, and it sure works for him because his sound is amazing. So if you have nails, look after them and use them. If not, be happy to use the flesh, it will be fine. Getting the volume consistent for each note is one of the hardest things to learn when playing fingerstyle so don't get discouraged if your notes are all unevenly loud of soft. Sometimes you will find that one finger seems to be making one of the strings too loud. The remedy for this is much more like... https://www.youtube.com/embed/V6ZqKjH0G78 348 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-8-practice-schedule-bc-189 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fRR4NRacNC8/hqdefault.jpg Stage 8 Practice Schedule We're up to a 50-minute practice session now! This is quite a lot of practice, so divide it into two sessions if you need to. Some of this (like learning the note names) is purely mental, so you can do this while you are on the train or the bus or while you are having dinner if you like, as you don't need your guitar. Practising in your ‘dead time' is something you can do a lot of. I spent a lot of time doing ‘mental' practice; strumming in the air, imagining doing my chord changes and trying to mentally picture the notes on the fingerboard, so you might like to try that too! Stage 8 Practice Schedule Description Time Memorising notes on the thickest two strings (5th & 6th) 5 mins Minor Pentatonic Scale, practice and picking exercise 5 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins Power Chords C5 shapes (work on stretch and muting 6 string) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- C to G (new) 1 min --- G (big) to D 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min --- ? to ? 1 min Rhythm Guitar Practice (All patterns so far including #16) 5 mins 12 Bar Blues Style Rhythm 5 mins Basic Fingerstyle practice 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training (OPTIONAL) 5 mins Things To Remember Memorising Notes on 5th and 6th String This is VERY IMPORTANT. You will use this information in lots of different ways; you need it for your power chords now, and you will use it for all your scales and eventually your barre chords, so don't skip this! Once you have learnt the notes on these two strings it is easy to work out the other notes all over the neck as well. Instructions for this are in Practical Music Theory! Minor Pentatonic Practice You need memorize this. This scale is also great practice for individual note picking and also develops your finger stretch and independence. Do it slow and get it right! You should also be working a bit on the picking exercises too. We will start to look at using it in the next stage so try and get it under your fingers as best you can! Power Chords Work on stretching for these chords and kee... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRR4NRacNC8 286 2017-10-30T13:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/if-you-re-happy-and-you-know-it-ku-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gr48-i2mgTw/hqdefault.jpg If You're Happy And You Know It This children’s classic is super interactive and great for entertaining groups of kids. It’s only got three chords in it, too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gr48-i2mgTw 270 2020-07-16T21:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/humpty-dumpty-ku-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L_MCU670WlA/hqdefault.jpg Humpty Dumpty Does anyone fancy some Scrambled Eggs? https://www.youtube.com/embed/L_MCU670WlA 208 2020-08-15T12:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/about-that-bass-be-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E9ftTmQfQU8/hqdefault.jpg About That Bass Learning bass lines on guitar is an awesome skill to play the Blues! Level up your sound and make jamming a blast! https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9ftTmQfQU8 1272 2020-12-11T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-study-riff-sidestep-16-bar-blues-be-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ToybM-bXw4Y/hqdefault.jpg Tore Up A Sidestep Explore making your own riffs and sidestepping into chords - all in a 16 Bar Blues progression. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ToybM-bXw4Y 1106 2020-12-04T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-10-bg-1010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OYrICfeRqHc/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 10 Here are song recommendation for Module 10. The focus here is working on the Weak G Finger and A mini barre! https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYrICfeRqHc 337 2020-06-13T18:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-14-final-q-a-with-justin-lblim-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4UAHKD6WMk0/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #14 : Final Q&A with Justin Howdy Blimmer, Watch the recording for our final Q&A here - the video will be added to this lesson page shortly! https://www.youtube.com/embed/4UAHKD6WMk0 2057 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-12-q-a-with-justin-lblim-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fMcgvKW11N4/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #12: Q&A with Justin Here's the recording for Live Lesson #12 - Q&A with Justin. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fMcgvKW11N4 3980 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/classic-e-blues-shuffle-59-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9YLz56_dvwM/hqdefault.jpg Classic E Blues Shuffle 59 Second Guitar Lesson on The Classic E Blues Shuffle https://www.youtube.com/embed/9YLz56_dvwM 60 2018-10-08T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-1-live-13-masterclass-with-chris-buck-lblim-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cYSGBLNKqSY/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 1 Live #13 : Masterclass with Chris Buck BLIM 1 Live #13 : Masterclass with Chris Buck https://www.youtube.com/embed/cYSGBLNKqSY 4082 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sock-neck-mute-qt-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GBz2y6DduTk/hqdefault.jpg Sock Neck Mute! Sock String Mute Trick! Yeah. Real socks. In this Quick Tip, we're looking at the sock neck mute – how to mute the guitar strings with a sock, and when this trick is useful. How to Mute The Strings With A Sock Easy peasy. All you need is a sock! Take one and loosely tie it around the neck at first few frets. Strum the strings and make sure no sound is coming out. If you tie the sock tightly, it works a bit like a capo! But we don't want that here. :) Why Mute The Strings Like This? This trick is strange, but it's useful in certain situations. For example, if you find it tricky to mute the strings when you're playing short lead lines in the higher frets, using a sock is a great trick. This is especially true if you're playing with lots of distortion. It's also awesome for slide guitar and two-handed tapping. When you use these techniques, two notes ring out – the one "in front" of the fret and the one "behind" the fret. The sock mutes the one "behind,” giving a much cleaner sound. 🎵 I use this trick when I play Joe Satriani songs! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBz2y6DduTk 385 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-open-chords-bg-1808 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hGQ8QvEknhE/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing Open Chords Time to sort out songs that use open chords only! Here's a list of 10 incredible tunes you can transcribe. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGQ8QvEknhE 729 2022-07-25T03:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/string-bending-vibrato-te-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/06M2-51JF80/hqdefault.jpg String Bending Vibrato Possibly one of the questions I get asked the most is how to add vibrato to a bend. It can be a bit tricky to get going and sound good, but if you are using a good bending technique then it should not pose too much of a problem if you follow these tips! The big idea here is just to let the string pressure do the work! Once you have done the bend, let the string pressure push the string back down and then push it back up. Once you have worked on this a bit you should be able add the vibrato to your bends. Kinda easy huh? Well, it will take some work, but if you bend with a good technique then you should not find it too hard. https://www.youtube.com/embed/06M2-51JF80 516 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/explore-your-gear-qt-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IqONLs7-c8w/hqdefault.jpg Explore Your Gear Experiment With Your Guitar Gear In this Quick Tip, we're covering the topic of guitar gear. Pedals, amps, dials, all that good stuff. We've all been there. We hear some awesome guitar sounds, then we rush to the internet to find out how to get the same sound. I've been there! When I shot a video for Little Wing, it took me an entire day to find the right sound. And it still wasn't perfect. Take The Opportunity To Explore These moments are a huge opportunity to get to know your gear really well. Pedals, amps, and guitars all sound really different from each other. The possibilities are endless. Only by spending lots and lots of time with all your equipment will you become familiar with it. When you do, you won't need anyone to tell you how to make it sound a certain way. And you'll learn a ton along the way. :) 💡 I spend a lot of time changing the settings on my equipment and finding different sounds. It's a powerful exercise! How To Explore This is a massive part of the guitar journey, so try this exercise. Grab a pedal, and spend one hour experimenting with it. Just see what sounds you can find. Change the amp and guitar settings too. Can you find sounds you've never heard before? I also recommend you play around with the dials on your guitar too. You'll be amazed at the range of sounds you can discover. You'll know your equipment better than anyone else. And you'll likely get inspired along the way. :) 🔥 New around here? Welcome to JustinGuitar :) Create your free account now! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqONLs7-c8w 362 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fingerstyle-vs-strumming-aw-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XOn-uC6Gpwc/hqdefault.jpg Fingerstyle vs Strumming Ok, fingerstyle or strumming? Which one is the hardest, and which one should you learn first? https://www.youtube.com/embed/XOn-uC6Gpwc 423 2021-01-21T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-thumb-finger-strums-bg1704 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nUnQgMs4k-0/hqdefault.jpg How To: Thumb & Finger Strums Learn how to strum the guitar using your thumb and index finger to sound more groovy! This strumming technique might be exactly what you’re looking for. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/nUnQgMs4k-0 765 2022-03-10T05:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/baa-baa-black-sheep-ku-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mwrfZyVF2mA/hqdefault.jpg Baa Baa Black Sheep Have you any wool? https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwrfZyVF2mA 188 2020-08-15T13:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/win-an-ipad-the-big-guitar-survey-sv-01 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1NCbtN2uJew/hqdefault.jpg Win an iPad: The Big Guitar Survey Share your guitar experience for a chance to win an iPad! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1NCbtN2uJew 106 2022-05-10T10:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-5-unit-3-q-a-lblim3-05 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t-CXijtP6ak/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #5: Unit 3 Q&A Howdy Blimmer, Watch the Unit 3 recap with Justin! Loads of good questions as always - thanks for participating! This session, we explored The Electric Kings and dug into your questions on improvising, rhythm, timing, hybrid picking, and licks. In this unit, we're digging into the 60s—where Blues exploded! Expect Pattern 3 licks, new turnarounds, rolling, sliding, and more. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/t-CXijtP6ak 3503 2025-09-08T17:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/protect-your-hearing-qt-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BGi_3Dl17aI/hqdefault.jpg Protect Your Hearing Take Care Of Your Ears! We're here with another Quick Tip video, but this one isn't a tip but more of a warning: I urge you to protect your hearing! Our ears are super important, and they're fragile. Why Protect Your Hearing As musicians, ears are our medium. Without them, we have no access to music! Hearing loss is common, and not just deafness. We can also lose the ability to hear high-pitched sounds, or we might have poor hearing in one ear. All of this means we can't fully communicate with the music. Lots of my friends have tinnitus. They have constant ringing in their ears and have to avoid playing live. It's nasty! :( How To Protect Your Hearing You can protect your hearing without buying anything. Avoid high earphone volumes and amps, and use high-quality speakers and headphones. If the quality is good, you don't need a high volume. I recommend, however, that you buy earplugs. Cheap ones are okay, but sometimes they block certain frequencies and change the sound. Invest more, and you'll get good protection while being able to hear the original sound. I use custom-made earplugs. They're more expensive, but our hearing is so important! 🚨 Take your hearing seriously – without it, you can't hear music. Now, let's play. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BGi_3Dl17aI 326 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/music-theory-live-class-21-theory-of-groove-pmtlc-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bRd_Qz3oneM/hqdefault.jpg Music Theory Live Class #21: Theory of Groove Watch this live class recording about getting that groove! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bRd_Qz3oneM 3739 2026-02-17T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-pick-individual-strings-while-strumming-bg-1703 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2hXBMXrdX0k/hqdefault.jpg How to Pick Individual Strings While Strumming How to pick out individual strings while strumming your guitar and exercises to help you practice. Easy enough for beginners, and such a cool technique! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2hXBMXrdX0k 868 2022-01-28T08:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/your-ultimate-guide-to-reverb-bg-1707 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gt7jdWnvc9I/hqdefault.jpg Your Ultimate Guide to Reverb Learn all about Reverb and its different types: Spring, Pre-Delay, Hall... all of them! Understand when and how to use each one and the best option for you. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gt7jdWnvc9I 2139 2022-05-23T05:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/meet-the-musician-in-you-bg-1706 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/slGPJSlzHmg/hqdefault.jpg Meet The Musician In You! This lesson will help you enhance your musical connection and find a way to express your feelings through music! https://www.youtube.com/embed/slGPJSlzHmg 694 2022-05-16T15:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-17-practice-routine-bg-1709 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wUYn9BJ3RVU/hqdefault.jpg Module 17 Practice Routine Make the most out of your time! Here's a suggested routine to practice for Module 17. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUYn9BJ3RVU 337 2022-05-27T16:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/goals-destinations-bg-1701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tx_O4M-h9j8/hqdefault.jpg Goals & Destinations Make the most out of your practice time by deciding where to take your guitar journey. Learn to set motivating, achievable goals! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tx_O4M-h9j8 1472 2022-03-07T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/c-chord-shape-explorer-bg-1702 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/im38gJcca70/hqdefault.jpg C Chord Shape Explorer Explore the C Chord Shape and learn new variations to play the C chord on the guitar. It's easy - and it sounds beautiful! https://www.youtube.com/embed/im38gJcca70 793 2022-01-26T05:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minimum-movement-exercise-old-im-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jDHaLMj4Oic/hqdefault.jpg Minimum Movement Exercise (OLD) 🚨 NEW MINIMUM MOVEMENT EXERCISE AVAILABLE HERE! This exercise is a very useful little exercise. It's very simple and requires time and concentration to work! You'll probably be surprised how hard it is to do correctly too! Minimum movement is essential to good technique development. This exercise is so simple you may think that at first, it may not make a huge difference, but I can assure you that a little work on this goes a long way! For where I expect you to be at this stage you should find this exercise very beneficial. The Lesson 1. You will need to know your Position 1 major scale from memory. It's best if you can play it without having to think about it too much. If you find yourself making mistakes with the scale, change to the Minor Pentatonic (assuming you know that by heart) until the Major Scale can go on autopilot! 2. Play the scale up and down, VERY VERY VERY SLOWLY. Like so so slowly that you only play one note every few seconds. 3. Watch your left hand very carefully and try and ensure that it makes very very small movements. Make sure your fingers move no more than a few millimetres from the fingerboard or there will be no point in the exercise. 4. It will be hard but really try and make absolutely the smallest movement possible. 5. Practice this every day and you should notice that your fingers start to get more and more under control. Final Words You should find that working on this one scale will affect all of your playing because what you are really working on is controlling your fingers! That is the point. As you get better at controlling your fingers you will find they change chords with smaller movements too. I still work on this exercise from time to time to keep the fingers under control! This is something you will work on for a while - so time now to revise our 16th note strumming! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDHaLMj4Oic 278 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foundation-1-practice-schedule-im-119 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R1mF56MALqk/hqdefault.jpg Foundation 1 Practice Schedule Righty-ho then... so we have a 50 minute routine here that should get you progressing nicely. Don't forget: • Use a timer (see PC-104 • Using A Practice Timer if you forgot it's importance) • Break it into the two 25 minute sessions if you don't have time to do 50 minutes a day, or you find it too much at one sitting. • Focus your practice on things you can't do, not what you can! Always practice most the things you are worst at Foundation 1 Practice Schedule Description Time Barre Chord Grip 5 mins One Minute Changes 5 x 1 min Major Scale Practice (Memorisation) 5 mins JUSTIN Method / Transcribing 10 mins Minimum Movement (Fretting Hand Focus) 5 mins Rhythm Guitar (Patterns and application) 5 mins Notes On Neck Using Octaves 5 mins Songs and Repertoire 10 mins Things To Remember Barre Chord Grip Place the chord grip on the neck. Check each note is good and move fingers a little bit to get them in exactly the right place. Strum. Remove hand. Repeat to fade... One Minute Changes In Foundation 1 we're looking at moving the barre chord. Just place it down. Strum. Move it a few frets up and down (remember to lift then shift!). Make sure the fingers keep their position as you move the shape, don't let the fingers collapse, or get squashed up! Major Scale Practice (Memorisation) So this time should be spent playing the scale up and down, from memory. Getting used to it, so that it is a familiar path to walk down. Can also be practiced in the mind (but maybe don't use this 5 minutes for that!). Make sure you do it slowly and correctly, try not to let yourself make any mistakes AT ALL! JUSTIN Method / Transcribing Either do the exercises in the video and or work on transcribing the described material. Minimum Movement As it says really - use as small movements as you possibly can. Really really small! Rhythm Guitar Start working on playing the pattern with just a single chord, get it feeling groovy, and then try and apply it to a chord sequence that you are confident with. Notes On Neck Using Octaves Just point at a n... https://www.youtube.com/embed/R1mF56MALqk 562 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/essential-slide-guitar-techniques-te-801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GpdFe-6ydpo/hqdefault.jpg Essential Slide Guitar Techniques In this guitar lesson we're looking at the basic techniques you need to learn if you want to start exploring slide guitar. It's loads of fun but you need these basic principles if you are going to have a good go at making it sound cool! Have fun!! The main points in the video are: 1. Choose a slide You need to experiment and try a few and work out which feels best for you! 2. Position the slide on the neck Keep the touch light so you don't press the strings on the frets. Keep the slide paralell to the frets. 3. Choose which strings to play Use picking hand fingerstyle to keep att the strings muted except the ones you are playing. Most common is to play the string with your 1st finger, while fingers 2/3 mute the thinner strings and thumb mutes the thicker strings. 4. Mute behind the slide To get rid of the notes you probably don't want to hear, especially important on acoustic instruments. 5. Open Tunings Are great fun but to learn the technique you'll probably find it easier to stay in regular tuning. Once you are comfortable with muting the right strings, open tunings become a lot more fun. NOTE: it is 'easier' in open tuning, which is exactly why regular tuning is a better start, will force you to learn to mute! 6. Vibrato Move the slide left to right around the fret. This is much debated, some say you should only go behind the note (toward the nut), others say only above... I say, do what sounds good to you! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/GpdFe-6ydpo 959 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-guitar-basics-5-bc-175 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/euZCDlFC0Lk/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Guitar Basics 5 This is worth learning even if you're not a country music fan. This is a slightly more advanced rhythm guitar pattern. In this pattern we separate out the bass note of the chord and the actual strum. It is a really cool-sounding technique and it can make your rhythm playing sound a lot more interesting. RUST 16 This pattern really works - please remember to take it slow and work on accuracy of the bass note and nice even strumming between them! So what is the bass note for each chord? Well you should know that, if not then go revise BC-171 • Notes In The Open Position - and just remember that the bass note will be the note name of the chord! It's fine to use an anchor when you play the bass note and then release it for the strum, I do it that way most of the time, but you don't have to. You should still be tapping your foot on each beat too (you should get in the habit of always tapping your foot) - the beat in this one is the bass notes and the down strums. Fun over. Now we have to learn a scale... just joking :) Scales are cool and help you make up solos - so lets get started. https://www.youtube.com/embed/euZCDlFC0Lk 271 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-5-sc-275 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/guftQN7kiFo/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 5 Pattern 5 of the Major Scale NPS System. I like this pattern and use it a lot, for some reason it seems a musical kind of shape under my fingers. Alternate Fingerings This fingering is the most logical to me, but there could be call for 1/3/4 for String 6/5/4 but that would be a personal preference. Memorisation Tips • If you follow my fingerings then you've got an interesting 1/2/4 fingering on all but the thinnest string. • Do just check out the 'shape' of it -seems to climb nicely to my eye. I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS patterns are commonly used for playing legato and very often they're played as triplets so you'd play 3 notes for each beat (click) and that will feel easy for most people, but it may restrict your use of it - I speak from experience, so do work on playing them as 16th notes (4 notes per click) as well as 3 (and 5 and 6 notes per beat if you're adventurous!). Tips For Learning Scales (Particularly 3NPS) START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE This will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the scale, very important. So start on the lowest (in pitch) root note which will only be the lowest note of the scale in Pattern 1 of 3NSP), play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/guftQN7kiFo 316 2018-12-07T19:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-4-jim-campilongo-masterclass-lblim3-04 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X6A5OphpXE8/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #4: Jim Campilongo Masterclass Howdy Blimmer, In this special masterclass, Justin sat down with the incredible Jim Campilongo to dive deeply into Blues guitar. Jim shared loads of wisdom on phrasing, expression, and tone that you can bring straight into your play. Jim shared powerful ideas for expressive Blues playing, like making your guitar speak with emotion, using bends for accuracy and control, and targeting chord tones to sound great over changes. He also showed how much tone you can shape with just a Telecaster and a Princeton amp. A real highlight was his behind-the-nut bending trick, which created unique sounds you can't get anywhere else. We'll provide written answers to Blimmers who submitted questions! The hosts were so immersed in the blues discussion that time flew by. 😎 Summary Turning Licks into Music – Jim showed how to move beyond just playing licks by thinking like a singer and how to make your solos feel more like a conversation. Playing with Emotion – Inspired by Roy Buchanan, Jim encouraged experimenting with sounds that really say something..joy, sadness, or even a cry for help. Bending – J&J explored "blind bends" and a powerful exercise: running bends up and down a scale shape to train accuracy and control. Chord Tones vs. Pentatonic – Jim explained how the pentatonic scale connects to chord tones, and why aiming for chord tones helps you sound great over chord changes. Dialing in Tone – Jim showed how much you can shape your sound using pickup selection, finger placement, and guitar controls. Behind-the-Nut Tricks – A glimpse into Jim’s unique bending techniques behind the nut, creating sounds you won't get any other way. Jim's written answer to student questions: 1. Which Arpeggio book did you mention during the stream? A: Jay Friedman - Guitar Complete 2. Ant asks: The Orange album is one of my favorites, especially Blues for Roy. I love those otherworldly tones. Jim, could you share one simple practice tip I can add to my routine? A: Don’t doodle, be goal-oriented. 15 minutes a day of focused practice is bet... https://www.youtube.com/embed/X6A5OphpXE8 4617 2025-08-21T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chuck-berry-style-ru-300 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rQErI9pwaDw/hqdefault.jpg Chuck Berry Style Chuck Berry was a huge Blues star and a great songwriter and performer - but do if you're into the history of it all, do go check out T-Bone Walker which is where Chuck stole most of his licks and even some of his signature moves! This lesson will introduce you to much of the vocabulary that he played and went on to influence so many via the Rolling Stones and more! Some things apply as in the first lesson, I won't repeat it each time... Listen a LOT to the original artist - really soak up the vibe, feel, time, nuances, tone, everything you can. Write your TAB slowly and carefully - don't be afraid to revise what you've written down if you figure out something later. I usually work in pencil! Learn to become a detective and look for clues as to how things were played - is it a bend or a slide? on string 1 or string 2? what fingering might have been used? why? ask and answer your own questions! Only download the PDF when you are done with transcribing and are checking what you have done. I know some of you will want to skip the transcribing and get to the TAB right away - and you'll still be able to learn the licks that way - but you won't get anywhere near the benefit. Feature Video Another live video, this time Chuck in action in 1972 a rocking solo a few minutes in and it's got all the classic moves - watch a Keith Richards live video after watching this and you can see a lot of Chuck in the way Keith moves and many of his licks! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQErI9pwaDw 4806 2018-11-06T09:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-3-sc-273 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lmvq5XcbPm0/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 3 Pattern 3 of the Major Scale NPS System. I'm hoping you have learned the previous two patterns and made music with them - and given some thought to root notes and moving between patterns - because this one gets a little more tricky! Alternate Fingerings OK, this pattern is one where I guess some people will prefer a different fingering. The fingering shown works well for me and is consistent with other patterns - but lets chat through the how and why! So for String 5/4 we have the same 'dot pattern' but different fingers which is pretty uncommon and it's something I only started using recently but I really like it and really smooths out the transition to String 3. The alternative is just to use fingers 1/3/4 for both strings 5/4. You might also like to use fingers 1/3/4 for the thinnest 3 strings too - particularly if you went for the 1/3/4 on string 4. Memorisation Tips • Strings 3/2/1 are all the same spacing between the notes (and probably the same fingering) but string 3 being back a fret from the others can make it feel less comfortable. • Strings 4/5 are the same notes - but with different fingers (if you choose that option) it won't help so much. Generally, this pattern is a bit awkward to learn, remember but it's SUPER important to learn it slowly and get it clear in your mind before you think about speeding it up! I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless pat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lmvq5XcbPm0 350 2018-12-07T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-3-unit-2-q-and-a-lblim3-03 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iLKuz5Dt9l4/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #3: Unit 2 Q and A Howdy Blimmer, We’re diving into Unit 2 and the Chicago Blues era! This was an exciting time when Delta blues players headed north, creating a vibrant, electric blues scene. Think Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin, and Willie Dixon. Unit 2 focuses on Pattern 2 of the pentatonic scale and vibrato technique, building on the bending skills you worked on in Unit 1. In this live session, Justin tackles some great student questions, like: How much should I practise? When will we cover turnarounds? Why is the Crossroads riff so tricky? Because it is tricky, so don’t feel discouraged if it’s not perfect yet. We also look at the advantages of using Guitar Pro, explore licks in Crossroads turnarounds, break down Pattern 2 in detail, and dig deep into building a great vibrato. Justin's tip for getting up to speed: Practice slowly and carefully until you can play something perfectly four times in a row, then bump up the tempo. But not for every exercise! Sometimes, it’s worth mixing in short bursts at full speed, blending careful practice with occasional “go for it” moments. And don’t forget this month’s challenge: submit a one-minute solo video for personalised feedback. Not quite ready to improvise? You can play one of the course medleys instead. Challenge details will be posted in our BLIM 3 Challenge Area! Student Question Submissions Q from Nigel: Just a quick question on practice - I note Justin recommends 3 sessions per week of about 25-30 mins, but having gone through Unit 1 I found I was spending considerably more time to complete the unit, sometimes several hours per day. I guess the 3 slots are a minimum. Q from Daniel: The opening licks for each Medley features descending 6ths in Triplet rhythm. Unit 1 the lick starts on the 5th degree and unit 2 starts on b7th degree. Are there certain “rules” that dictate how to achieve that turnaround sound? Where a lick starts or finishes for example? Q from Votja: My question is regarding the riff from Crossroads. How do you mute the note G in the first bar of the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLKuz5Dt9l4 3416 2025-08-07T15:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-graduation-party-lblim3-13 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xe1W3ldDOU8/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Graduation Party! Watch your peers perform their final Blues Solo and get inspired. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/xe1W3ldDOU8 2270 2026-02-08T14:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-2-challenge-feedback-lblim3-u2c https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5TaeFagisT4/hqdefault.jpg Unit 2 Challenge Feedback! Howdy Blimmer, Watch Justin give feedback on the Challenge 2 submissions! He goes through them in alphabetical order. A total of 25 submissions were selected—thanks to everyone who participated! Each submission is a chapter under the video to make it easy to browse through them! Didn't submit? You should still watch! You might get inspired or pick up tips from Justin that you can apply to your own playing. :) See you in our next challenge happening in Unit 5! https://www.youtube.com/embed/5TaeFagisT4 3988 2025-09-28T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-class-3-welcome-live-class-lblim3-00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RAzqE_uNmPI/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #1: Welcome + Unit 1 Q&A Welcome to Blues Immersion – Class 3 🎸 Hi Blimmer! We're thrilled to have you on this Blues journey. There's much to look forward to, and we hope you enjoy every step. In this live session, Justin overviews what's coming up and answers submitted student questions from Unit 1. Unit 1 — Chat Student Questions & Justin's Answers 1. Dan M. Question: I need a road map - a course syllabus. I'm sure it's here, but I haven't found anything like it yet. Answer: A syllabus exists but hasn't shared it as a full document before. He uses a spreadsheet to track course content, which follows a consistent order covering pentatonic patterns 1 to 5, then combining them. Techniques like string bending, slides, and arpeggios are included. He'll discuss with the team about sharing the syllabus with students. 2. Michael H. Question: Most blues is played with a swing beat. Should we practice scale exercises with a swing beat? Answer: Practicing with straight eighth notes builds precision and finger accuracy, as it requires tighter timing. When playing shuffle or swing grooves, there's more rhythmic flexibility. So, licks that sound like scale passages should be played with a shuffle feel. 3. Collin K. Observation: The tabs show straight rhythm, but the video uses a triplet/shuffle feel. If playing with a metronome counting straight, it won't match the video. Answer: Tabs use straight rhythm to keep them simple and readable. Writing triplets would make the tabs complicated. Most instructional materials do this. It's normal if playing with a metronome counting straight eighth notes doesn't match the shuffle feel in the video. Students should follow the feel in the video even if it differs from the tab. 4. Dan M. Question: When you say pattern one, how many? Major, minor, pentatonic, or other? Answer: Justin clarifies that pattern one means the minor pentatonic pattern, which is the foundational framework throughout the course — the core vocabulary of blues playing. 5. Trevor H. Question: Were we asked to go through all lessons in ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RAzqE_uNmPI 3774 2025-07-20T06:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-unit-3-q-a-blim4-005 https://justinguitarassets.b-cdn.net/assets/misc/default_lesson_thumb-5f59f6fc9f5787dceffab87276b68e628ad605164426226249cf9768fb177f66.png BLIM 4 - Unit 3 Q&A Watch the recording for Unit 3 Q&A. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1170832940 2026-03-05T15:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-7-unit-4-q-a-lblim3-07 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cRI2aQwAbYI/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #7: Unit 4 Q&A Howdy Blimmer, Watch the Unit 4 Q&A recap with Justin! In this live session, Justin tackled many great questions from you blimmers, from rhythm and performance mindset to bending, speed, and improvisation. He covered how one of the best ways to improve timing is to play along with original recordings, and that recording yourself can help you spot where things drift out of time. On performance nerves, Justin reminds everyone that relaxation comes from confidence ... and confidence comes from preparation! Those pre-show butterflies? They're just excitement in disguise! Regarding building speed, Justin emphasized clean, consistent playing over pure tempo, recommending focused metronome practice with real blues licks. :) See you in the next session! https://www.youtube.com/embed/cRI2aQwAbYI 1 2025-10-12T21:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-the-licks-sprint-feedback-recording-lblim3-12 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g60lZQVl3XE/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 | The Licks Sprint Feedback Recording Here you'll find the feedback recording for the Unit 5 - Lick Sprint Challenge! https://www.youtube.com/embed/g60lZQVl3XE 2939 2026-01-18T16:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-6-q-a-lblim3-11 https://justinguitarassets.b-cdn.net/assets/misc/default_lesson_thumb-5f59f6fc9f5787dceffab87276b68e628ad605164426226249cf9768fb177f66.png Unit 6 Q&A Here's your recording for the Unit 6 Q&A session. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1143311516 2025-12-02T22:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/technique-legato-scale-playing-im-154 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tVKAbx3KLXY/hqdefault.jpg Technique: Legato Scale Playing Legato means smoothly, and with less picking the sound is smoother. The technique we are checking out today is using hammer on's and flick off's to play your scales. Makes your fingers stronger and scales faster. Excellent! Hammer it on, then flick it off If you have not had much experience using hammer on and flick off's before the first step is to play around with it. Start on the thinnest string, first finger 5th fret, pick the note and then hammer down your 2nd finger real hard without picking it. Do it right and the note should be almost as loud as the picked one. After a few goes try the same thing with your 3rd and then your 4th finger. Pick the note played by your first finger then hammer down the next note. Once you feel cool with that you should try the "flick off". Just so you are aware, most books and other people call it a "pull off' but I think it's a dumb term, because what you do is flick it off, so I'm going to call it that. Put your first finger down where it was before and leave it down and put down your 3rd finger. Pick the note held by your 3rd finger and flick it off (toward the ground) so the note held by the 1st finger sounds! Once you get it, try it with the other fingers. Then go onto applying them to scales. Minor Pentatonic Legato The scale is very often played with legato. It's lots of fun and will help you out with lots of licks! Unusually you will play the top note twice in this sequence (that is usually avoided when playing scales, but works better in this!) Major Scale Legato Playing the major scale legato require a better level of the technique because you most often have 3 notes on each string and so have to make two hammer on's or flick offs in a row - but that is good! Great practice :) Melodic Pattern Application... You will also find that Legato technique will help you play your melodic patterns in the minor pentatonic scale a lot smoother and faster. Many of the fast rock and blues licks that use melodic patterns also use Legato. Notice sometimes you will do two flick of... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tVKAbx3KLXY 509 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-2-masterclass-with-seth-rosenbloom-lblim3-02 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOgND2tMtu4/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #2: Masterclass with Seth Rosenbloom Howdy Blimmer, In this masterclass, Seth Rosenbloom joins us and gives us significant insights on bending, vibrato, and the Blues vocabulary! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oOgND2tMtu4 3697 2025-07-20T07:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-9-unit-5-q-a-lblim3-09 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mRsbFGiR11Y/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #9: Unit 5 Q&A Howdy Blimmer, Catch the Unit 5 Q&A recap with Justin! This time, we tackled some great questions from students like how to move from thinking in scale degrees to actual note names over trickier chord progressions, using quick chord hits in your solos, checking note positions when transcribing, and resources for slide guitar. We also covered what sets Blues Solo apart from BLIM. :) See you in the next session! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mRsbFGiR11Y 1 2025-11-11T12:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-6-guitar-pro-masterclass-lblim3-06 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6uwMhkYRlpo/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #6: Guitar Pro Masterclass Howdy Blimmer, In this masterclass, Thomas from Guitar Pro joined us while Justin showed us how to use the software. The goal was to help you get more from Guitar Pro and feel confident transcribing. The recording and other helpful resources are now available in the club archive. Don’t forget to download the free Blues Solo Backing Track and start transcribing those Albert King–style licks! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6uwMhkYRlpo 3817 2025-09-28T16:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-3-live-8-masterclass-with-matt-schofield-lblim3-08 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QzbIng9pQDs/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 3 Live #8: Masterclass with Matt Schofield Howdy Blimmer, In this live session, Matt Schofield shared invaluable insights into how guitarists can build their musical vocabulary, sharpen their technique, and bring the sounds in their head to life on the guitar. Listening is Practice Matt emphasizes that listening deeply to music is as important as practicing the instrument. Whether it’s blues, jazz, funk, or even drums, immersing yourself in recordings teaches phrasing, timing, and musical ideas. Quality over Quantity Rather than flitting through endless tracks, Matt recommends focusing on a few key albums or players. He learned the majority of his blues vocabulary from a handful of records, spending hours with them to internalize phrasing, rhythms, and nuances. Learning by Ear Even when he was younger, Matt learned challenging solos by ear. Mistakes and experimentation led him to discover scales and patterns naturally. He emphasizes that knowing patterns like the minor pentatonic is important, but what matters more is understanding the sound and emotional impact of each note, not just the fingering. Connecting Scales to Music You Know Matt suggests linking scales to familiar songs. For example, the major pentatonic can be instantly recognized in the riff from My Girl. Learning scales this way helps you hear and imagine notes before playing them, strengthening both your ear and improvisational ability. Matt’s session is a reminder that Blues is a language, and by immersing yourself in it, you can develop the vocabulary, phrasing, and confidence to express your musical ideas fully. See you at the next live! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QzbIng9pQDs 4372 2025-11-05T20:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-built-in-4ths-ja-033 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RQTHZOnQsuw/hqdefault.jpg Chords built in 4ths Chords built in 4ths sound really hip. I clearly remember being shown them by a piano player friend and loved the sound and the 'open tonality' that allows you to move between the chords within the harmony. Further Reading... Chords are most commonly built using 'stacked 3rds', a series of 3rd intervals stacked from a root note, for example a C Major 7th chord is built: C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C (giving the notes C, E, G, B) To build chords in 4ths, a series of diatonic 4th intervals are stacked from a scale degree - shown here built from the 1st degree. C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C (giving the notes C, F, B, E) Of course just like with chords built in 3rds you can build chords from each scale degree, here highlighted are the notes built from the 2nd degree. C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C Because of their 'open' sound you can move between all the diatonic grips over any one chord. The series I show in the video lesson is in C Major, all the notes in all the chords belong to the C Major scale. All the grips will work over all the Diatonic Chords in the Key Of C, of course some will sound better than others - you have to use your ears too! There are only really 4 grips, so I have labeled them diatonically, I would strongly recommend that you practice playing them in order so you get use to how they link together, I should hope that you know your diatonic chords (if you don't then you are probably not ready for this lesson yet - check out Practical Music Theory!!) Hope you enjoy using them! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQTHZOnQsuw 797 2018-01-28T18:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-pattern-3-sc-253 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jrVE2T9CyjU/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Pattern 3 Onto Pattern 3 now (C Shape frame) which is really comfortable and useful patterm! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrVE2T9CyjU 288 2017-10-30T15:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-pattern-2-sc-252 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cnnXJXGtZGk/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Pattern 2 Next up we're looking at Pattern 2 of The Five pattern system. It's a very useful scale pattern to learn, connects easily with Pattern 1 (which you should already know and be able to use well!) and is particularly useful as a Dorian Pattern for blues playing (can you see the Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1 contained in it?)... but lets not get ahead of ourselves ;) Alternate Fingerings The most common fingering alternative is to move the two notes behind the root (strings 3/4, played with first finger) to strings 5/4 and playing them with the little finger. I don't see this as a bad way of doing it but this way the third of the chord is closer to the chord shape (which is how I see scales). This pattern is also similar to Pattern 2 of the 3NPS (3 Notes Per String) system, which has some advantages and some disadvantages. Memorisation Tips • I usually break this into 3 pairs of strings. Notice the middle pair and the Strings 1/2 pair both have the same finger patterns. • Notice there's a fret with no notes in it - a danger zone! What else can you notice about the pattern visually? Think about it. The thinking will help even if you decide you can't see anything else to discover! I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 17 Note Patterns All my Scale Patterns (where possible) have 17 notes (3 notes on each string, except for one string which will have only 2 notes). This gives you the perfect number for practising scales with a metronome because if practised with 4 notes between each metronome click (16th notes, semiquavers) you will always arrive back on the root note on the beat :) Tips For Learning Scales ALWAYS START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE This will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the scale, very important. So start on the lowest (in pitch) root note, play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and then back up to the root note. LEARN IT SLOWLY AN... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cnnXJXGtZGk 520 2017-10-30T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/framing-the-double-strumming-technique-bg-2104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JfwKPb1zusw/hqdefault.jpg Framing: The Double Strumming Technique Learn the strumming technique behind songs like That's Entertainment by The Jam and Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JfwKPb1zusw 709 2022-10-24T00:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-pattern-1-sc-251 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T84Wiid_ZfE/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Pattern 1 Pattern 1 is most commonly the first pattern people learn and it's worth making sure you can make music with this before moving on! https://www.youtube.com/embed/T84Wiid_ZfE 535 2017-10-30T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/feeling-stuck-here-are-my-top-10-rutbusters-bg-2106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NumkX1hVXZU/hqdefault.jpg Feeling Stuck? Here Are My Top 10 Rutbusters! Stuck in a rut with your guitar practice or lacking the motivation to practice the guitar? These 10 tips will help you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NumkX1hVXZU 1252 2023-01-30T12:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-what-about-the-guitar-capo-bg-2101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UMxbaKNzPtM/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing: What about the guitar capo? We've been training your ears to transcribe songs, but how do you know if and where a guitarist was using a capo? https://www.youtube.com/embed/UMxbaKNzPtM 821 2022-09-05T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-chord-shape-explorer-bg-2102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-N5SpjdRGKM/hqdefault.jpg A Chord Shape Explorer Grow your chord repertoire by exploring the A Shape instead of memorizing new chord diagrams! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-N5SpjdRGKM 596 2022-09-12T11:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2018-feb-17-mike-dawes-is-hanging-out-lv-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6P1CN3RGYnY/hqdefault.jpg 2018 Feb 17 - Mike Dawes Is Hanging Out 2018 Feb 17 - Mike Dawes Is Hanging Out https://www.youtube.com/embed/6P1CN3RGYnY 1635 2017-11-11T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/backbeat-groove-2-4-hit-strums-uk-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S9QDmoRhG-I/hqdefault.jpg Backbeat Groove, 2 & 4 Hit Strums In this ukulele lesson, we'll play the backbeat groove which adds an accent on beats 2 and 4 of your strumming pattern! https://www.youtube.com/embed/S9QDmoRhG-I 328 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-open-chords-part-2-uk-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2n_CA7wdTMg/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Open Chords [Part 2] Learn more Ukulele Open Chords in this lesson in which we'll learn another 9 common uke chords, major, minor and 7th for D, E and A. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2n_CA7wdTMg 445 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/31-f-king-p1-chro-3rds-bl-531 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jvENnKTOtdM/hqdefault.jpg #31: F King: P1 Chro 3rds TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvENnKTOtdM 293 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-10-td-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hMwnmNvrUuU/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 10 Tammy’s here for Lesson 10! After a lyrical mini-intensive last lesson, Tammy was able to revisit some of the lyrics in her song. We had also gone over a new picking pattern and we worked on getting seamless chord transitions. In this lesson, we go over: The new and improved lyrics! Tammy noticed that by thinking about what she was literally trying to convey in the song with each line, she was better able to come up with different ways of saying what she was trying to say. Also, she noticed that not all of her lines rhymed with one another - that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Barre chords, specifically Root 5 and Root 6 barre chords. Tammy was having a bit of trouble finding a B flat minor chord when I first asked her to play one, so we did a bit of review regarding theory and chord structure. Hammer-ons (and flick-offs, as I like to call them) A review of the finger-picking pattern from last time Travis picking New Lessons: Finger Gym. Tammy learned about hammer-ons today, which is where you pluck the string once, but hammer another finger on the string while it’s still resonating to create a different note. With the finger gym exercise, she’ll be practicing her hammer-ons every day after her finger stretches, but not for more than 5 minutes at a time! This exercise will make your hand sore, so it should be taken slowly and carefully. It’s a great one, though – really helps to improve your finger stretch, finger control, and finger independence. Later, we’ll probably add some different finger combinations to her warm-up, along with some pull-offs, or as I like to call them, flick-offs. Travis Picking. This is a popular finger-picking pattern where the thumb changes the string it’s on. One thing to remember when Travis picking is to keep your hand and your knuckles as still as possible – you don’t want too much flailing from your picking fingers because it’s important that they stay pretty well in place. For more picking practice, you can review my folk fingerstyle course. For Next Time: Start each practice ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hMwnmNvrUuU 2353 2019-10-05T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/18-tbw-p1-trip-st-to-b7-bl-518 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2UoEjo7iuzI/hqdefault.jpg #18: TBW: P1 Trip St. to b7 T-Bone invented a lot of great phrases and this one has one of his often copied semitone bends to a pentatonic note. Very cool. TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup with the volume rolled off a little to keep the sound clean, and also the tone rolled back a little (between 8/9) just to fatten the sound a little. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 6, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2UoEjo7iuzI 305 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/6-guitar-areas-you-should-practice-bg-1501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q3HC7gUTkNc/hqdefault.jpg 6 Guitar Areas You Should Practice There is no 'one-size-fits-all' practice schedule, but understanding these essentials will help you practice effectively. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3HC7gUTkNc 1047 2021-12-17T08:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/d-chord-shape-explorer-bg-1502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xKg3N7NGqGk/hqdefault.jpg D Chord Shape Explorer Tired of playing that same old D Chord? Learn how to turn one chord into many - no diagrams required. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/xKg3N7NGqGk 1134 2021-12-13T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mindful-listening-for-guitar-players-bg-1506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AM8JjUwhlf0/hqdefault.jpg Mindful Listening for Guitar Players Many guitar players neglect their Listening skills. Please, don't be one of them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AM8JjUwhlf0 665 2021-12-17T04:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-capo-for-two-jamming-for-beginners-bg-1505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bWelpo7z4AM/hqdefault.jpg A Capo For Two: Jamming for Beginners In this lesson, we'll use a guitar capo and the CAGED System in a very practical way - jamming with friends! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bWelpo7z4AM 1496 2021-12-17T04:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-link-guitar-chords-using-scales-bg-1504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tP9CmjQMpSQ/hqdefault.jpg How to Link Guitar Chords using Scales This simple trick uses bass notes to connect guitar chords. That adds movement and interest to your playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/tP9CmjQMpSQ 695 2021-12-13T05:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-tune-a-guitar-for-beginners-bc-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q3I1wRc0ikw/hqdefault.jpg How To Tune A Guitar For Beginners You have to make sure your guitar is in tune if you want to enjoy playing it! If it's out of tune you won't dig it and neither will friends or family! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3I1wRc0ikw 450 2017-10-30T13:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-4ths-min-pent-p4-p5-ms-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lrW-kX-zclQ/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 4ths (Min Pent P4 P5) In this lesson, we look at P4 and P5 of this sequence and the fingering options that come up along the way! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrW-kX-zclQ 443 2018-12-31T01:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-3rds-major-p4-p5-ms-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oh5WdMSzp0g/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 3rds (Major P4 P5) Now we're checking out P4 and P5 of the Major Scale In 3rds. Both will involve some thought and some problem solving! Some Observations 1. There are a number of fingering options for P4. Experiment and see what works well for you - give each option a bit of a go and don't dismiss things too quickly. Once you decide on a fingering option it will get harder to change the longer you practice it - so choose wisely! 2. If you use a 3NPS (3 Notes Per String) option (as I do on the PDF and GPX) then you end up with a very convenient amount of notes that you can cycle a 2 bar pattern. If you use the 17 note option (the standard fingering I teach) you end up playing the last note for one measure - you can see that in P5 in the TAB. Which to choose? Totally up to you! I'm showing you my preference in the TABs but you should experiment yourself too! 3. You might use different fingering options for different Melodic Sequences. Is that a bad thing? 4. You might prefer to do some sequences in some patterns but not others. Is that a bad thing? 5. There are many questions that don't have convenient answers. Is that a bad thing? :) GPX and PDF As usual, registered users will find a GPX (for Guitar Pro - 20% discount with this link!) and a TAB PDF they might like to use. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oh5WdMSzp0g 462 2018-11-11T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-3rds-major-p1-ms-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QazNQ0B4lBo/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 3rds (Major P1) In this lesson we learn the most important melodic pattern "In 3rds" and apply it to Pattern 1 of the Major Scale https://www.youtube.com/embed/QazNQ0B4lBo 574 2018-10-28T00:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-4ths-min-pent-p1-ms-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Mvl79-Jedc/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 4ths (Min Pent P1) This is one of the coolest exercises for the Minor Pentatonic - it sounds wicked and its a fantastic technique developer for the fretting hand. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Mvl79-Jedc 734 2018-12-18T08:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-as-technique-development-blim-u6-08 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953956206-75d86efaef343898264710c0c268bdd64a080e2a2d4fe89ca77433c29663988d-d_295x166?r=pad Licks As Technique Development In my late teens and early 20s, I spent between six and ten hours a day playing guitar... https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029480280 950 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-15-practice-routine-bg-1509 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rl1edOcrNvs/hqdefault.jpg Module 15 Practice Routine Here's a suggested practice routine including everything we've learned in this module! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rl1edOcrNvs 751 2021-12-17T01:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/4-easy-steps-to-transcribing-songs-for-beginners-bg-1508 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bCtY6Nv7E0g/hqdefault.jpg 4 Easy Steps to Transcribing Songs (for beginners!) Let's learn how to work out easy Power Chords songs on the guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCtY6Nv7E0g 1169 2022-01-05T02:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/legato-pentatonics-bg-1803 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KgOhkxswQKo/hqdefault.jpg Legato Pentatonics Legato means smoothly, and in practice, it means you'll use hammer-ons and flick-offs instead of picking every note. Learn it here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgOhkxswQKo 788 2022-06-20T22:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-seth-rosebloom-q-a-2-blim4-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BtVvgqG4cY8/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 4 - Seth Rosebloom Q&A 2 Watch the recording for Seth Rosenbloom's second Q&A Session. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BtVvgqG4cY8 3053 2026-02-25T10:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-seth-rosebloom-q-a-3-blim4-006 https://justinguitarassets.b-cdn.net/assets/misc/default_lesson_thumb-5f59f6fc9f5787dceffab87276b68e628ad605164426226249cf9768fb177f66.png BLIM 4 - Seth Rosebloom Q&A 3 Watch the recording for Seth Rosenbloom's third Q&A session. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1175286425 2026-03-18T14:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-4ths-min-pent-p2-p3-ms-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CNjBLZl9bsk/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 4ths (Min Pent P2 P3) In this lesson, we look at P2 and P3 of this sequence and the fingering options that come up along the way! https://www.youtube.com/embed/CNjBLZl9bsk 605 2018-12-26T12:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-7-arpeggio-blues-licks-bl-806 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oa7wQLjpuA8/hqdefault.jpg Dominant 7 Arpeggio Blues Licks As I mentioned in the previous lesson - it can be difficult to make arpeggios sound right in a blues - they tend to sound kinda stiff and just not right. But by framing the 3rd we get a lot closer and so in this lesson I want to share 5 licks with you that you might like to use as starting points to explore and create your own licks - blending the arpeggio into the style you like to play in! Lick 1 I deliberately started this one down on the low root which is an unusual place to start - at least it should be - but I see people drawn to starting on that low root all the time, so at least if you have a lick that gets you out of there it'll be better than running up a scale or arpeggio! The only real tricky bits are folding the finger on beat 3 (the 7th fret on string 5 to string 4) which is sometimes awkward under the fingers. Also be sure to do the slide on string 3 with finger 2 or you'll get into a tangle! Lick 2 This simple little idea can be made more complex using tools like rhythmic displacement or doubling notes, but I left it super simple here as I suspect many will find it a little stretchy anyways. A super cool variation is moving the top 2 notes down 1 fret (and leaving the note on Fret 5 where it was) and you end up with a D7 arpeggio which is awesome for moving from I to IV in a blues! I little trick I stole from Joe Satriani's Big Bad Moon, but the idea is used frequently by many blues players. Lick 3 This lick is strictly Dom 7 arpeggio with framed 3rd - but notice the first bend which is up to the major 3rd (9th fret on String 1) but from the 7th fret which is a note we've not started to mix in yet (soon my friends, soon!). I do like ending on the b7 as well - it's got some dissonance in it which I really like! Lick 4 This slightly longer line is a little more jazzy and hip which is something many people like to mix into their more traditional blues stuff for some interest. A key thing here is the last bar where the first 3 notes will all be played with Finger 1 - it starts where it would be for... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oa7wQLjpuA8 1674 2019-04-17T19:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-unit-1-live-class-lblim-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NljmXKdfKdI/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 4 - Unit 1 Live Class Watch the recording for the Q&A Session for Unit 1. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1154101527 3933 2026-01-12T20:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/learning-to-sing-bg-1903 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k4w3tvNrvuA/hqdefault.jpg Learning to Sing Anyone can learn how to sing, and you should start here! Learn 10 tips singing teachers don't tell you that will immediately improve your singing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4w3tvNrvuA 2670 2022-08-01T13:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-power-chords-be-a-detective-bg-1908 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2lc-Ohp9T0A/hqdefault.jpg Transcribing Power Chords: Be a Detective! Train your ears to become a detective by transcribing these 5 songs based on Power Chords. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2lc-Ohp9T0A 831 2022-08-15T23:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g-chord-shape-explorer-bg-1902 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DDG00QZjQjw/hqdefault.jpg G Chord Shape Explorer Time for some more chord explorations! Let's learn easy G chord variations and build your guitar freedom. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDG00QZjQjw 693 2022-07-25T14:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3-types-of-songs-you-should-practice-pc-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X3EbRT-ikPw/hqdefault.jpg 3 Types of Songs You Should Practice Learn to make the best out of your song practice so you keep your motivation high and your repertoire growing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/X3EbRT-ikPw 1125 2021-08-06T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/melodic-percussive-fingerstyle-backbeat-te-751 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k8_ldh4lJk8/hqdefault.jpg Melodic Percussive Fingerstyle BackBeat This is loads of fun, a technique I stole from Neil Young - at least I think it's how he does it ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/k8_ldh4lJk8 539 2018-02-21T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-e-chord-bc-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8H393ryDkuY/hqdefault.jpg The E Chord For this Stage there is one more chord to get under your fingers. It's not a hard one and it combines with the A and the D real well and once you can play it you will have access to LOADS of songs. The E Chord Arrange your fingers as shown on the neck diagram and then strum, check each note individually and then strum again. Check that your 1st finger is not touching on any of the strings that are played open and check that all the strings are nice and clear. This chord is made easier by the fact that all the strings are played. Check your chord sounded like this: It is very important that you commit all your chords to MEMORY. It's often around about this time that people get the feeling that their hands are too small or too big, or that their fingers are too short, too long, too weak, too strong etc. It's nothing to worry about. Over the years I've taught young kids with tiny hands that managed amazing stretches, and players with fingers thicker than my arms, and they have all got there in the end! We all have different battles that we have to overcome. Some of us are too busy, some of us have poor quality instruments, some have a short attention span, others lose heart easily. One thing is for sure: none of us are perfect, and part of the fun of learning music (in my humble opinion) is overcoming these setbacks and getting on with it and eventually becoming better people, stronger for the battles we have won. Neil Finn says that “Everything is good for you, if it doesn't kill you”; when it comes to guitar, I think “Everything is good for you, as long as it doesn't make you give up!”. So hang in there – it really does get a lot easier after the first month or two! Moving On... When you have this chord under your fingers it's time to check out a super cool trick to help you change between A, D and E a lot easier - with Anchor Fingers! https://www.youtube.com/embed/8H393ryDkuY 316 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/top-10-guitar-practice-tips-bc-030 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/POrIlbiDg0Y/hqdefault.jpg Top 10 Guitar Practice Tips We're all busy, so here are some tips to help you make the most of your practice time and make fast progress! https://www.youtube.com/embed/POrIlbiDg0Y 596 2017-10-30T14:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-and-why-to-practice-scales-te-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DYicyOeEU1k/hqdefault.jpg How And Why To Practice Scales Picking scales with a metronome is boring, right? But it's super effective for developing hand synchronization! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYicyOeEU1k 1024 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rolling-chords-te-705 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CPdiRqi7VwU/hqdefault.jpg Rolling Chords This technique is a way of playing a block of notes of a chord, but one at a time. It's really useful for bringing out the melody when it is the top note of a chord. Make sure you start with all the fingers on the strings and 'peel' them off, but once you have the technique down it shouldn't feel so clumsy. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CPdiRqi7VwU 270 2018-02-21T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/folk-fingerstyle-patterns-te-702 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rW9IbxIlFuo/hqdefault.jpg Folk Fingerstyle Patterns For more detail on this technique please see the Folk Fingerstyle Module https://www.youtube.com/embed/rW9IbxIlFuo 600 2018-02-21T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mark-knopfler-style-fast-arpeggio-technique-te-800 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vuwS3WU5u5E/hqdefault.jpg Mark Knopfler Style Fast Arpeggio Technique In this lesson, I take you through the technique Mark Knopfler uses to play many of his fast licks as found in Sultans Of Swing, Tunnel Of Love and other solos. As well as showing his technique and how he uses it I take you through ways you might use it creatively in your own improvisations! Hope you dig it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/vuwS3WU5u5E 1280 2019-06-14T13:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fake-fingernails-for-guitar-players-te-701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1K_YtBxx1Kk/hqdefault.jpg Fake Fingernails For Guitar Players Ever wondered why my nails sometimes look a bit gross? Well, they're fake! Here's a video of how I get it done. Thanks to Andy at East Sheen Nails! 2018 UPDATE In mid-2016 I decided to try removing my nails and I'm now a flesh player! No fake nails and I keep them short on both hands! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1K_YtBxx1Kk 534 2018-02-21T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-d-chord-bc-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yh6sPqDEZCY/hqdefault.jpg The D Chord In this first lesson we're going to learn to play the Open D Chord! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yh6sPqDEZCY 472 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/play-what-you-hear-exercise-et-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JshGz3DIscU/hqdefault.jpg Play What You Hear Exercise This is THE killer exercise to develop a better relationship between your hand and your musical mind! It's incredibly fun, effective and challenging! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JshGz3DIscU 540 2018-01-30T16:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-compression-like-a-pro-pb-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i3iAbLNUDLw/hqdefault.jpg How To Use Compression Like a Pro Compression is a fundamental skill in production and in this lesson, we break it down super simple and show how to make your vocals really shine. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3iAbLNUDLw 1342 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-electric-guitar-strings-prs-guitars-hts-0002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y5D3jMuCipk/hqdefault.jpg How to Change Electric Guitar Strings (PRS Guitars) Learn how to change strings on locking tuners and strat-style guitars! https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5D3jMuCipk 1275 2025-06-06T12:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-strings-on-a-les-paul-guitar-hts-0004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/odiKctxCNG4/hqdefault.jpg How to Change Strings on a Les Paul Guitar Time to change your Les Paul strings? Don’t worry—we’ll do it together, step by step. Grab your new strings and let’s get that fresh zing back! https://www.youtube.com/embed/odiKctxCNG4 1503 2025-06-06T02:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/feel-good-strumming-b1-705 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/36cR8twdq7Q/hqdefault.jpg Feel Good Strumming When playing music, the technical side is often less important than the way it makes people feel. Learn to get into the vibe! https://www.youtube.com/embed/36cR8twdq7Q 366 2020-03-13T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/key-signatures-on-staves-mt-306 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/703050307-63ed1eb72d93bca4ca21bac5eba6dac0035ec599f58f89bcf26c4f1c13a9a34b-d_295x166?r=pad Key Signatures On Staves This trick will let you know the key of a song straight away! https://player.vimeo.com/video/271683402 263 2017-11-04T12:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-the-beginner-song-course-bc-997 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/90CXPYsg7qI/hqdefault.jpg How To Use The Beginner Song Course The Justin Guitar Beginner Song Course by FourChords is a song based guitar course where you play awesome songs with a backing track right from the start. https://www.youtube.com/embed/90CXPYsg7qI 904 2018-08-29T10:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-1-blim-u1-13-l3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896025542-64203bb26595f187b9d1b9b19855f5f8d9db13e7428d6b0bce8f1da5a9dcec16-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Licks In Pattern 1 Time to learn—and practice—one intro lick, one ending lick, and ten regular licks. Let's explore them one at a time! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903331146 2148 2024-06-30T07:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-acoustic-guitar-strings-hts-0003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eaUbs13xBl0/hqdefault.jpg How to Change Acoustic Guitar Strings Follow this real-time tutorial to change your acoustic guitar strings—perfect for first-timers or anyone doing it solo for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/eaUbs13xBl0 1516 2025-06-06T02:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/anchor-fingers-for-a-d-and-e-bc-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pBacbX9yefA/hqdefault.jpg Anchor Fingers for A, D and E You're probably struggling a bit with learning chords. But only when you start learning songs is that you realize that changing between chords is the real challenge! This lesson will help you make faster chord changes. If you’re following my Beginner Course, you already know how to play the A, D, and E chords. You can get through some songs, but the anchor finger trick will help you switch between chords smother and sound better! In this lesson, we'll revisit the trick we used to change between the D and A chords - expanding it to include the E chord too! Being able to change chords on time will make playing songs much more fun. If you have any questions, drop a comment below! My official guides and I are here to help you rock your guitar journey. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/pBacbX9yefA 304 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bend-exercise-2-pattern-1-bend-candidates-blim-u1-10-t4-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028608-19cb9ce9d73d7d3819f73318018e6cd1f8fdc69f56de31b0c88c7d4c930541c5-d_295x166?r=pad Bend Exercise 2: Pattern 1 Bend Candidates Train your muscles and musical imagination to hear the cool bends in the Blues—and not just the Pentatonic Notes. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/903312364 262 2024-06-30T07:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-exercise-4-blim-u4-13-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925650355-404ce262095da5e726db545a3d5ea278f644f094a5a255a0cc59838ca9d64cc3-d_295x166?r=pad Transcribing Exercise 4 You know the drill! Here's a quick reminder for this month's transcription. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008186926 24 2024-09-29T06:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-4-medley-blim-u4-07-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1927785354-d9d87c63d9cf172dd000139f0fa7e5056bfded3847e2d72a86db870cf734e702-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 4 Medley As with previous lick lessons, I've put this medley together for you to streamline your practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1009911238 84 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-in-3rds-major-p2-p3-ms-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G9Krav96OQI/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: In 3rds (Major P2 P3) Here we'll explore using the "In 3rds" sequence in Patterns 2 and 3 of the Major Scale and some problem solving concepts. https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9Krav96OQI 466 2018-11-04T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-rev-3-in-a-line-min-pent-legato-ms-252 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-FIHE3nlEtk/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: Rev 3-In-A-Line (Min Pent - Legato) The Reverse 3-in-a-line pattern is my personal favourite and I use it all the time. You reverse each 'block' of the 3-in-a-line sequnce: Normal 3-in-a-line: 123 - 234 - 345 - 456 - 567 - etc. Reverse 3-in-a-line: 321 - 432 - 543 - 654 - 765 - etc It sounds real cool ascending to me, descending sounds angular and interesting but less musical to me - but you might love it - try it and see! Learn the sequence first and then apply the hammer-ons and flick-offs where you can (shown in the TAB). Example 1 The Reverse 3-in-a-line sequence - shown with Hybrid Picking (the m for middle is shown in the notation, not next to the picking, but I couldn't change it!) Example 2 This is the very cool Minor Pentatonic Pattern 1 lick that I use a lot! Example 3 The Descending version which uses a lot of hammer-ons. It's pretty cool but not totally my bag. Examples 4-8 (Labelled by Pattern) This is the lick I teach in Patten 2 but shown in all five Patterns - it's a super exercise, very useful and fun. Example 9 This is the last lick I teach in the video. Registered users can download a PDF of GuitarPro :) The GuitarPro is really useful because you can change the speed. More soon me lovelies! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-FIHE3nlEtk 788 2019-05-30T16:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/harmonic-analysis-blim-u6-05 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1955233838-11e6bd35ca328b532fb3cfe067ffc1c217aaea06a31ef87bf670b513d219d9c4-d_295x166?r=pad Harmonic Analysis Performing a full harmonic analysis of the solos you learn will give you the greatest understanding of what you are learning! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033865904 1378 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sequence-3-in-a-line-min-pent-legato-ms-251 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bHm6XZNeZBY/hqdefault.jpg Sequence: 3-In-A-Line (Min Pent - Legato) The 3-in-a-line pattern is super fun sequence and it's very useful to get this one under your fingers. 123 - 234 - 345 - 456 - 567 - etc. The easiest way to learn it is to think of applying the above number sequence to a numbered scale, but this particular pattern you might also think of 3 steps forward, one step back! Learn the sequence first and then apply the hammer-ons and flick-offs where you can (shown in the TAB). Registered users can download a PDF of GuitarPro :) The GuitarPro is real useful because you can change the speed. Hope you dig it - let me know in the comments! More coming soon! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bHm6XZNeZBY 1263 2019-05-28T15:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-dreaded-f-chord-bc-161 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ecPzu9sTKbo/hqdefault.jpg The Dreaded F Chord Being able to play F is a really important step and one that might take a month or more of frustration. I found it really hard when I first learnt it—really hard. But I often see students that try it during a lesson and can play it perfectly straight away, so try it and see how you go. This chord leads later to playing barre chords (which is the point at which you will ascend from being a beginner to an intermediate player!). It's time to face the F Chord Try not to let yourself get discouraged if you find it hard. Try and think back to how hard it was to play your first chords and make them sound good. This one is no different really; once you get it you'll wonder why you ever had a problem with it at all! If you have an electric and an acoustic guitar I would recommend learning this chord on your electric, which you'll probably find a lot easier. Get the technique good and you hand comfortable with the grip, and then move to acoustic; you're going to have to press a lot harder and have more finger strength, but your technique will be solid! There are a few ways of playing this one. I'm going to try and introduce you to the hardest one first and see how you get on. Then we'll make it a little easier. When we learned the A chord with a barre, we held down more than one note at once with our first finger. For the F barre chord, you need to hold down all the strings at the first fret, with your other fingers in the positions shown:! If you're really struggling to get the barre, there are a couple of things you can try: If you have very old or very thick strings, then changing to nice new thin strings (9s on electric, 10s on acoustic) will almost certainly help because thin strings are easier to press down. Make sure your ‘action' is not too high, meaning that the strings are too far away from the fingerboard. This is usually adjusted in a guitar shop as part of a set-up. Having a good set-up can make even a cheap guitar nice to play! It's usually a worthy investment. Barre chords are easier when they are played ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ecPzu9sTKbo 451 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-1-practice-schedule-bc-119 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnCQiY-BhXs/hqdefault.jpg Stage 1 Practice Schedule In this first stage, we're going to keep it nice and simple... only 18 minutes per session. Stage 1 Practice Schedule Description Time Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- D to A 1 min --- D to E 1 min --- A to E 1 min Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember Chord Practice The point of this exercise is to get your chords sounding clear and to train your fingers to go to exactly the right spot to get each chord sounding great. Start with a strum, then pick each note individually, and then strum again. Don't play any strings that have the X next to them in the chord diagram. Try to play the notes with the tips of your fingers. Remember that dead-sounding notes need to be fixed, and the usual causes are either: a) The finger is too far from the fret. b) One of your fingers is touching a string that it shouldn't. Move your fingers around as you pick out the strings until they all sound good and then strum the chord again; as you play the last strum, tell your fingers that this is how you want them to go next time. It will look a little strange to anyone that is watching you, but it really helps! ;) One Minute Changes The object of this exercise is to get your fingers moving quickly. Although you should be trying to get the fingers in the perfect positions that you have been working on in your chord practice, if they are a little sloppy it is OK, we are working up the speed here! The important thing here is to practise the chord changes that you struggle with the most. In your practice schedule, you should write in the number of changes that you made in that practice session. Make sure you use your timer and push yourself to go as fast as possible. Songs / Chord Sequences The idea here is just to have fun and dig on the fact that you should now be able to play some of the songs from the Stage 1 Beginner Grade (use the filter for Grade 1 on the Songs page) . Pick one song per practice session and work on getting it as smooth as possible. Memorising the ch... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnCQiY-BhXs 213 2017-10-30T14:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-1-one-minute-changes-bc-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qXK_If0QzDM/hqdefault.jpg Stage 1: One Minute Changes The concept is simple: time yourself for one minute and see how many changes between two chords you can do in that time. This works better than any other method I have ever heard of for developing your chord change skills. It's really quite astounding how well this trick works. I started teaching it as a game for kids, but have since applied it to anyone learning guitar, it is one of the key lessons in the whole beginner's course, so check it out, use it regularly and it will really help you on your way. The big trick is to really focus on a particular chord change for one minute, using either a stopwatch or a countdown timer. I use the countdown timer on my phone, but any one will do, some kitchen timers are great. If I'm feeling super lazy I use "Siri" on my iPhone so I don't even have to touch it! All you have to say is "Hey Siri, set me a one minute countdown timer" and it should start! 1 Minute Changes There are three One-Minute Changes to practise at this stage, you will practice each pair of chords for one minute each: • D to A - Your 1st finger will stay in the 2nd fret but you might have to move it a little within the fret. • D to E - Make sure the 1st finger is in the right place before you put the rest of the fingers down. • A to E - Don't put your first finger too close to the 2nd fret when moving to the A chord; for this chord finger 1 can't be right next to the fret. Use the practice schedule (we'll look at this more in BC-119) and write down how many times you make the change each session. You will find that being able to watch your progress will really help keep you motivated. Count ‘1' for each change; so D–A–D–A = four changes. You will find this will make a HUGE difference if you stick to doing it every day, I see great results with this all the time with private students and I know you will see a fast improvement too! Tracking Changes In My App If you want to get into tracking your One Minute Changes, you'll find that my Beginner Song Course App has One Minute Changes built in so you can wa... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qXK_If0QzDM 368 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-3-framework-blim-u3-01-k1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1909072712-b6676d859a371ad2d647ecdc6fb0996d016e52eb14c24a123a718f4b61a33b01-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 3 Framework It's time to explore Minor Pentatonic Pattern 3, covering the shape and fingering. You know the drill! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/948240128 424 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-7th-chord-study-arrangement-blim-u3-14-r4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1917070655-80a7269cc521d9f72b5b65bd5277f83ed80e63771e87efc110933a78bfd210f1-d_295x166?r=pad Dominant 7th Chord Study Arrangement Once you're confident with each Dominant 7th chord grip individually, combine them and explore voice leading for added creativity. https://player.vimeo.com/video/999021549 501 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-most-active-in-the-1960s-blim-u3-19-a1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912348054-b2b66339c0fd0c5be078477eaaff180eb0dac607b6282cd5c305a41d339beecb-d_295x166?r=pad Artist Study: Most Active in the 1960s The Blues blossomed in the 1960s, marked by amplified guitar, crunch, and the rise of the three Kings! https://player.vimeo.com/video/969800852 316 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/target-tones-extension-lesson-blim-u3-15-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912846851-fb760ddb1f9c5ed22d110829de47f9f6da1b4474f1ef144792e1f38e7a2b5e67-d_295x166?r=pad Target Tones (Extension Lesson) Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves—we're about to unleash a new challenge in your guitar practice! https://player.vimeo.com/video/981239222 800 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-rolling-technique-blim-u3-06-t2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912849339-d23fc7cc26723fce66cae2b27e3dd83c2dc7414e528f3f23bd396d9f92951781-d_295x166?r=pad The Rolling Technique This technique is crucial for playing two notes in the same frets on adjacent strings. https://player.vimeo.com/video/948492788 310 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-3-licks-blim-u3-08-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912298972-cc4cfa1ccba506974f6a4fb9b2557c514447db4bbb89b75d1c7559a8f7e3a99b-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Pattern 3 Licks You know the drill! Let's dive into the licks in the Pattern 3 Framework. https://player.vimeo.com/video/949600351 1370 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/turnarounds-theory-licks-blim-u3-04-k4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912847823-5fe011365e35e006d1571c13b9e4e4489b26fded110253e1a605ff36ec70d341-d_295x166?r=pad Turnarounds: Theory & Licks Turnarounds can be used as introductions and endings and also to 'turn the tune around' and go again. https://player.vimeo.com/video/948446311 1225 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-chords-dominant-7th-4b-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i36Py9SmIck/hqdefault.jpg E Shape Chords: Dominant 7th Dominant 7th Grips are a bit everywhere! Learn how to play them and an alternative fingering to sound cooler. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i36Py9SmIck 766 2021-06-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-barre-chords-major-4b-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxXG5S8vSd8/hqdefault.jpg E Shape Barre Chords: Major Learn the E Shape Barre Chords - Major and all my secrets to playing barre chords easily, including the infamous F Chord! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IxXG5S8vSd8 1843 2021-06-04T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-bb-box-blim-u3-13-l3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1917070780-e68596382c397ad52ec4b3d9ba5ac189a9d93556b34661c08fabfa2eac93b0f2-d_295x166?r=pad The BB Box BB King's is harmonically rich. He often used his signature "BB Box" pattern, a staple in Blues guitar. https://player.vimeo.com/video/998890558 1054 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-3-medley-blim-u3-12-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912346112-f8e1f13871f3465a7ccf8d35461c749a488e7a6d12575a41b464d48975da63e3-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 3 Medley Playing this medley from beginning to end is a great way of practicing your new licks and also experimenting with them! https://player.vimeo.com/video/949650486 64 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-thread-playing-solos-that-make-sense-blim-u4-11-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925630170-0732c624c9e5e78c881db6fc635aad970cfab2ba8af7f2f394cc3b9555795000-d_295x166?r=pad The Thread: Playing solos that make sense... Once you develop a wide vocabulary, you might—you should—wonder how anyone knows what to play! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1008119390 1475 2024-09-29T06:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-exercise-3-blim-u3-16-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1914589488-61158babe0d76fee29a4363dbdb10df57d63c622072bb789397d8c608dc0636a-d_295x166?r=pad Transcribing Exercise 3 You're likely familiar with the process by now, but please check out these pointers for this month's transcribing exercise. https://player.vimeo.com/video/997867383 64 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-slides-blim-u3-05-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912848926-124fedbf3d9d97dad9265dc458c5ade73a4f80a09b35ac738d5f158a7301a297-d_295x166?r=pad Blues Slides This lesson isn't Slide Guitar; it's about Finger Slides, which we commonly use in Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/948476579 605 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/born-under-a-bad-sign-blim-u3-20-s1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E71arjUayhA/hqdefault.jpg Born Under a Bad Sign There are many awesome versions of this track! Let's take a look at them—and, of course, explore the original Albert King version! https://www.youtube.com/embed/E71arjUayhA 1219 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-shuffle-strum-get-your-groove-on-uk-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PxVuPIAcnr4/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Shuffle Strum, Get Your Groove On! In this lesson we'll learn the Shuffle Strum which is a real common groove for the ukulele, a very happy feel! https://www.youtube.com/embed/PxVuPIAcnr4 344 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/03-f-king-p2-chro-from-4-bl-503 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FJVD_FO4R9I/hqdefault.jpg #03: F King: P2 Chro from 4 Freddie King was an incredible and hugely influential blues man. His Texas and Chicago blues blend has a lot of power and introduced a lot of language that used by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. His biggest hit was Hideaway, which was covered by Clapton and is a great fun tune to play! The coolest trick in this lick is the chromatic run up, you can loop that bit to extend the lick, or crank up the volume and you got a rock lick!! :) TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used both pickups, with the bridge volume on 10 and the neck volume on about 7. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... because I liked the sound of both pickups, I needed to boost the treble on the amp a bit and roll off some bass. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 7, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used a very small amount of gain on the yellow (left) side of my Analogman King of Tone pedal. Just needed a little push, was quite subtle. Volume 1', Tone 12' and Gain about 2' (clock face settings). https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJVD_FO4R9I 281 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/decide-what-to-practice-pc-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IucozqgzJcw/hqdefault.jpg Decide What To Practice Deciding what to practice is extremely important, you really don't want to end up wasting a lot of time working on stuff you won't use (I'm speaking from experience!) https://www.youtube.com/embed/IucozqgzJcw 734 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-transition-scales-blim-u4-05-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925163607-9fb0b4b0cc197fc68fc17652f6f0777655c0b1db5aa72f05e10e591b4272ec5b-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern Transition Scales I always looked for linking licks and didn't think you could just move. :) Yes, let's talk more about that. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1001663990 869 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-bending-in-10-steps-blim-u1-07-t1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896030974-b0d5edb67134014c0c42bce398c65a70cc9300145fdb6b65bff2d3c41d588673-d_295x166?r=pad Blues Bending In 10 Steps There is no technique more important in the Blues than string bending! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903285153 1049 2025-01-05T06:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pick-n-mix-practice-pc-850 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QwFr6cXpAEk/hqdefault.jpg Pick N Mix Practice There gets to a point where you just have too many things to practice them every day, so I use Pick N Mix! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QwFr6cXpAEk 786 2019-01-01T09:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-triads-4b-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qWS22cV9REg/hqdefault.jpg Introduction to Triads Learn how to easily incorporate some triad chords in your guitar playing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWS22cV9REg 751 2021-07-02T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-4-how-to-practice-rb-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MbW8IwACzxI/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.4 How To Practice In this episode, Justin and Lee chat about how and what to practice and how to make a practice routine! https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbW8IwACzxI 2219 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-5-cp-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ol0nBtzb5Bo/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 5 Lee is storming along and putting the work in - lovely to see him grow! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ol0nBtzb5Bo 3916 2018-11-30T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introducing-the-metronome-bc-125 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fzEKVxz__VY/hqdefault.jpg Introducing the Metronome The Metronome is a musicians best friend, they will help you develop your rhythm which is essential, and for many, the hardest part of learning guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/fzEKVxz__VY 536 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-emin-chord-bc-122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hfm4-yOI6oA/hqdefault.jpg The Emin Chord Learn how to play E Minor Chord in this lesson, the easiest chord we've learned on the course so far! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hfm4-yOI6oA 118 2017-10-30T15:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-2-practice-schedule-bc-129 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7TCz7hP2p1E/hqdefault.jpg Stage 2 Practice Schedule What to practice and how long to practice for in Stage 2 of The Beginner Guitar Course. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7TCz7hP2p1E 167 2017-10-30T15:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/20-bb-king-step-to-4-bl-520 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bbuQtX_QSQ4/hqdefault.jpg #20: BB King: Step To 4 TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bbuQtX_QSQ4 367 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-2-groovin-on-the-6-rb-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qHNpMgwEDGM/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.2 Groovin' On The 6 Episode 2 of the Rut Busters, we explore using the 6th of the Major Scale in a Blues context! https://www.youtube.com/embed/qHNpMgwEDGM 1968 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-7-sussing-out-rb-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZgLLlzu3nic/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.7 Sussing Out In this lesson, we start a look at how to expand out of the usual chords when playing rhythm! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZgLLlzu3nic 2285 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-5-chords-in-keys-rb-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N0HVYVHYYR0/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.5 Chords In Keys? How do you work out the chords in a key and why is it important? https://www.youtube.com/embed/N0HVYVHYYR0 2104 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-3-chord-specific-licks-rb-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eQjRAFjSKcc/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.3 Chord Specific Licks In this session we figure out how and why some licks work over only some chords and we explore that general territory! https://www.youtube.com/embed/eQjRAFjSKcc 1601 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-buster-ep-10-hendrix-fills-rb-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtnWgipdDhI/hqdefault.jpg Rut Buster ep.10 Hendrix Fills In this lesson I teach Lee the Hendrix Rhythm Tricks - there are follow up lessons on the site too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtnWgipdDhI 1621 2018-09-12T15:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-2-cp-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AlSTleWcvwM/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 2 Second private lesson for Lee... some new scale work and transcribing practice! https://www.youtube.com/embed/AlSTleWcvwM 2771 2018-10-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-buster-ep-9-exploring-chord-extension-rb-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bp0lgKrQ55k/hqdefault.jpg Rut Buster ep.9 Exploring Chord Extension! In this session, we explore using chord extensions in a Blues context and expand Lee's chord vocabulary! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bp0lgKrQ55k 1386 2018-09-07T07:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-6-what-key-am-i-in-rb-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fhGx-D7KCUI/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.6 What Key Am I In? Watch the Captain have a Eureka moment with chords in keys :) hope it might help you have one too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/fhGx-D7KCUI 1677 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-8-cp-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K1T_QdBds3E/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 8 Hi there, it's Justin and Lee back for another private lesson. My goodness, this is our first since before Christmas! Things are calmer now, meaning Lee will have more time to practice than he did at the end of the year. Today we look at a heap of essential blues lead techniques, along with big-picture guitar-learning strategies. Let’s get to it! :) Lee's Confession: Playing v Theory Let’s start with strategy. Over Christmas, Lee came to a realization about his guitar practice: what he loves most out of everything we've studied is technique practice like scales and thirds. He can happily sit for ages and play those exercises. But whenever he's had to write or study, he's found ways to avoid it because it doesn't click for him. He doesn't see quick payoffs, meaning he swiftly loses interest. From now on, we're going to be super practical in our approach to these lessons. Practice What You Do or Don't Like? My job as a teacher is to guide students to their guitar goals. There are certain points in the guitar journey where you have to learn things you don't like to reach your goals. It’s unavoidable! But this depends on age and free time too. I don't have the time to practice areas I don't like, and neither does Lee. If your practice time is limited, don't spend it on exercises you hate. You have to feel inspired by the instrument! 🎸 All work and no play … makes Johnny a dull guitarist. Try to strike a balance between work and play in your guitar practice. On one hand, you need to enjoy the instrument. But as with any other pursuit, it's no pain, no gain! It's also about personality. Lee has never been one for studying and retaining written information. He's all about the practical and concrete. For instance, he'd much rather build a house than do all the legal side and box-ticking! Create Your Vision We went back to the fundamental question all guitarists must ask if they want to build a solid practice routine: what do I want to be able to play? Lee revealed that he wants to follow the chords better in 12-bar bl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1T_QdBds3E 3037 2019-03-24T20:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-8-unlocking-the-caged-rb-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/syDJ-UqHex8/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.8 Unlocking The CAGED Chords In All Five Positions Hey, it’s Justin and Lee here for another episode of Rut Busters! In this edition, we look at the CAGED system and how to create Major, minor, sus2, and sus4 chords in all five positions of the guitar. Wicked! Quick Recap of the CAGED System To recap, let’s play the C Major chord in all five positions. The first full C chord we can play on the neck is an open C chord: X32010. We’re playing a C chord using the C shape in the open position (CAGED). What’s the next C chord up the neck? It’s X35553. That’s C played as an A-shape barre chord (CAGED). And the next one? It’s C played as a G-shape barre chord: 875558. This one is a horrible chord and quite impractical as a full shape. It works great with a capo on fret 5, though! (CAGED) Then we go to the E-shape barre chord: 8 10 10 9 8 8. This is extremely useful (CAGED). And finally, we have the D-shape barre chord X X 10 12 13 12 (CAGED). Another tricky and uncommon one. 💡More CAGED – Looking for more on the CAGED system? Check out this CAGED System Intro. If we did the same with A Major, we’d find it appears in the order AGEDC (this is CAGED beginning on A). The same pattern appears with all chords and all scales. Exploring the CAGED Shapes: A-shape Chords Let’s now explore each shape. The chord X35553 is a C Major chord because the root note, at fret 3 on string 5 (we play this with finger 1), is the note C. You can play this in two ways: using finger 3 to create a mini barre on fret 5, or using fingers 2, 3, and 4 to play the notes on fret 5 instead. If we keep finger 1 in place but use the other fingers to play a minor shape (X35543), this is a Cm chord. The root note hasn’t changed, but the chord type has. Exploring the CAGED Shapes: G-shape Chords Officially, C Major chord played using the G shape is 875558, using finger 1 as a barre on fret 5. This is like playing a G Major chord with a capo on fret 5. Try it for yourself – horrible, isn’t it? I can’t think of a single example of a real song that contains the full chord. A great... https://www.youtube.com/embed/syDJ-UqHex8 1716 2018-08-21T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-4-cp-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZFgovvDhhgA/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 4 Exploring more about transcribing, 3 note per string scales, blues licks, theory and more! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZFgovvDhhgA 2956 2018-11-17T06:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-11-cp-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CUWUKE9WsUA/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 11 Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin and Lee back for another Captain’s Privates lesson. We hope this series is inspiring you and helping you take your playing to new heights. :) How to Remember What You Learn This is the first lesson since I went to Italy, meaning our last lesson was three or four weeks ago. Lee comments that he quite likes the long gaps since they enable him to practice deeply and explore what we cover. He notices a dip when he goes three weeks without serious practice, even in areas where he is confident! So he wanted some tips to help him remember what he practices. 💡 Memory Tips – When I transcribe a new song, I don't write any of it down at first. I revisit it a week later and try to write it down from memory. Then it sticks forever. A long time ago, a memory Olympiad came to Tassie (Tasmania) to do some talks. He could memorize the order of 15 decks of cards or something ridiculous like that! His tip was to learn something well, then leave it for a day. Revisit it tomorrow. Then do the same two days later, four days later, and so on, until you reach a year of a gap. I did this for all the classical guitar pieces I learned as a teenager, and I still remember them! I still use this technique, albeit not strictly. If I like a song and realize I haven't played it for a long time, I'll revisit it. I asked Lee if he had a lick book or songbook. This could be the answer. I suggest that Lee prints the chord boxes from my site and writes down the new chords we covered last week. Extended Chord Shapes We got to the topic of gospel slides when Lee asked if it was OK to play the A9 chord X4545X using finger 1 to barre fret 4. 🧐 Right or Wrong? – Many guitarists fret over whether their technique is correct or not. With some things, there simply is no right way. I’d never teach a rock player to use their fingers instead of a pick, but look at Jeff Beck. Find what works for you! Using a barre is perfectly fine unless we want to play gospel slides. You'll find it tricky to slide the A9 barre shape two frets... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CUWUKE9WsUA 2838 2019-07-03T09:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-9-cp-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jatsaR9lHLc/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 9 Guess who's back, back again? There are a ton of blues exercises and techniques packed into this lesson – sorry Lee! This stuff is crucial for blues players, and learning it will take you into advanced soloing. You just need practice, practice, and more practice to nail it. Huge Soloing Discovery Lee has recently come to a huge discovery. In his jams with Pete, he noticed that he’s naturally been seeking to structure his solos on melody rather than scales and noodling. This is a huge step! All the great players I’ve met say that they have a bag of tricks for when they’re not feeling inspired. They start with one of these phrases and build on it, trying to connect the rest of the solo to it. If you start a solo with a strong melody, you have a strong foundation for the rest of the solo. Lee also commented that his solos and fills sounded wicked but were pretty simple. This is no problem. Most of the best guitar playing isn’t complicated. 💡The Journey – Get really comfortable with one box. As you build up a big blues vocab, all the positions and boxes blur together. You’ll be able to switch seamlessly while staying in the same area of the neck. Playing The Major Pentatonic On Each Degree of The Blues Before Lee and I went further on this, I wanted to look at a soloing technique we had skipped over: playing the Major Pentatonic from each degree in the blues. This means using A Major Pentatonic over A, D Major Pentatonic over D, and E Major Pentatonic over E. To do this, we took Lee’s pet A Major Pentatonic lick (see TAB) and moved it into different keys. In D, you use the same shape but start on 5:5, and in E you start at 5:7. Lee used this lick as a starting point for his solos. |---------------| |---------------| |-----------2-2-| |-------2-4—----| |-0-2-4---------| |---------------| You can take this further by using the A Minor Pentatonic as a base and moving into the A, D, or E Major Pentatonic over each chord. To summarise, on the A7 chord, you can play A Minor Pentatonic, the A Blues Scale, A Major Pentato... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jatsaR9lHLc 2793 2019-05-08T13:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-10-cp-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4O0wr_0zrcM/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 10 Hey folks! In this Captain’s Privates lesson, we expand on the blues legato lines from last time and have a total geek-out on blues extended chords. Let’s get to it. :) Practice and Real Playing At the start of the lesson, Lee told me he’d noticed an interesting pattern in his live jamming sessions. Once the camera was rolling, he saw that he was resorting to old patterns and licks for the various chords, licks that he’s played for years. He also found it hard to move licks into different positions. I want to assure Lee and other guitarists with this tendency that this is all normal. You just need to practice more to expand your soloing skills. It’s a matter of practicing new licks and positions until they become second nature. Then you’ll bring them out without realizing it. 🧐 Learn About Learning! – In my Effective Practice series, we cover the A-Z of skill development along with methods to optimize your practice sessions. :) Playing In Fourths We reviewed Lee’s progress with the fourths exercise. He worried he was muting the string primarily by lifting it off rather than muting with the tip of the finger. It turns out he was doing it totally right! He mentioned that he still has to do it deliberately; it doesn’t happen spontaneously. Because of that, his fingers don’t use the technique when he's playing for real. We always have to practice deliberately to begin with. Only with time do things become automatic. Keep doing the exercises and have faith that the techniques will become second nature. Three-In-A-Line Legato I sat down after Lesson #9 to figure out how to teach the three-in-a-line exercise. I realized that I never use these runs on the thickest strings! What’s more, if you want to play them on those strings, your hand position has to change. This makes these patterns impractical. If you stay on the thinnest four, your arm doesn’t need to move, it feels more natural, and the licks sound better! So descend the scale using the three-in-a-line legato, then stop when you reach the root note at 4:7 (the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4O0wr_0zrcM 3315 2019-05-24T19:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-3-cp-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zKFkobftUXw/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 3 Lee's doing great and we're making progress - hope you are too if you're following along! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zKFkobftUXw 2941 2018-11-02T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-6-cp-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3Keqo2qs9l0/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 6 Hey all! Time for the sixth installment of this series of private lessons I did with Lee Anderton of Anderton's Music Store. Life took over this week, so Lee hasn’t done much theory or transcribing. I'm sure you can all relate. But he did listen to the Beano album ten times – kudos! Deep Listening Practice I had Lee listen to the Beano album for homework. Clapton’s playing is relevant to our lessons, and he plays some ultra-cool blues lead guitar on this album. Lee commented that he didn’t like it the first few times, but then he started to appreciate why it’s a landmark record. It has a ton of great blues vocabulary. And just by listening, you absorb the feel. This took us on to the subject of taste. Don’t transcribe music unless you love it! For instance, I’m not a fan of Robert Johnson’s music. I respect his playing, but it’s not to my taste, and I wouldn’t listen to it to relax. Find what connects with you and gets you excited. Listen to it loads, absorbing the sound and feel, and transcribe it! Find ten licks you love and figure out how to play them. If you love a solo that lasts for two minutes, you don’t need to transcribe it all. Work out your favorite parts and incorporate them into your own style. 💡 Beano For Blues Cats – If you’re a blues player, I highly suggest you check out the Beano album (John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton). It’s like a dictionary. It’s just filled with insane licks. Transcribing shouldn’t be a chore. Once you get to a certain level, it’s enjoyable. You’ll hear something you love and be able to find it quickly on the guitar. Minor Pentatonic All Over The Neck Lee loves practicing scales and patterns, so I set him a challenge to learn all five patterns of the Minor Pentatonic Scale for next lesson. That gives him a month! I want him to do this in a particular way: in each position, play up to the highest note possible, down to the lowest note possible, then come back to the root note. 💡 Licks tend to work well in one or two patterns – you simply can’t play them ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Keqo2qs9l0 2466 2018-12-17T09:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-7-cp-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b-2Gcj6RoNA/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 7 Fresh back from LA, a tired Lee is unsuspecting when Justin accidentally drops a Modes bomb on his head :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-2Gcj6RoNA 1 2019-02-04T11:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/lee-s-private-lesson-1-cp-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RQV0T2TX-4k/hqdefault.jpg Lee's Private Lesson 1 Hey, it’s Justin and Lee here for Captain’s Privates! Lee is coming over for a block of guitar lessons, and we thought we’d record them. This isn’t as high-tech as the Rut Busters series, but you’ll get insight into what private lessons with Justin are like. We interact less with the audience in this series, but don’t think we’re being rude! The Groundwork – Finding A Direction For Our Practice First things first, we need to know where want to achieve on the guitar. As a teacher, I always ask the student questions about their guitar journey and goals. But teacher or no teacher, all guitar players should ask these questions! The important thing when we do guitar lessons is to get to the place the student wants to go, not the place I think they should go. 1. What are three songs you can’t play now that you’d love to be able to? This question informs the rest of the practice schedule. It’s our north star. Lee’s first song was Little Wing. He told me he can’t play Hendrix’s chords and the embellishments. We also discovered that he can’t use Hybrid Picking. Next, he came up with Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. He loves the guitar riff in that one. Finally, he fancies learning Bad Love by Eric Clapton. He knows the basic riff but doesn’t know how Clapton plays the trills. There’s a clear theme in Lee’s songs: blues and rock! I can see that blues vocabulary will be crucial to his success. Again, it’s not about the teacher. If the student wants to learn a song, it’s up to the teacher to help them do so. 💡The Holistic Practice Routine – There is certainly no one-size-fits-all practice schedule. So how should you practice guitar? I call it The Holistic Practice Routine. 2. How much practice time do you have? Lee can do 30 minutes of practice 5 days per week, and we also realized he has short gaps in the day where he could quickly grab a guitar and do an exercise. I encourage less but more often – rather than three sessions of 45 minutes, I suggest five 30-minute sessions. 3. Is there anything you can’t play because your tech... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQV0T2TX-4k 3919 2018-10-09T13:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rut-busters-ep-1-the-language-of-music-rb-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mh5bw3BXo94/hqdefault.jpg Rut Busters ep.1 The Language Of Music This first Rut Buster video with Captain Anderton was lots of fun, a bit rambling, but think we explore some cool ideas! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mh5bw3BXo94 1979 2018-05-07T00:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/melodic-sequences-3rds-blim-u3-07-t3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912849229-88ef4f7e908df3042d8d9362dbdd0e4337a326e28459cf03f7a4fa25ff54d690-d_295x166?r=pad Melodic Sequences: 3rds This is a great way to train your fingers to go from one good note to another, and it sounds so musical! https://player.vimeo.com/video/948507446 524 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-bc-195 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KXVD2hVrUx0/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern If you practise playing scales a lot, when you try and improvise, it is likely that your muscle memory will limit you to playing up and down the scale. Using melodic patterns to train your fingers to play the notes in different orders will help you get to know the scale really well. Picking should be alternate picking the whole way through. I know at some points it seems kind of tricky but as you speed up you really want your alternate picking to be able to handle small jumps and complicated patterns! TABS Download a printable pdf file of the TAB for these melodic patterns. Simply click the PDF link in the right column (under the ad!) or below on smaller screens. Download a Guitar Pro 6 file for these melodic patterns here - but you'll need to have the player too, it's a very useful practice tool and you can adjust the speed and play along with the exercises. More of these coming in the future. Get Guitar pro 6 20% discount, you can find the link on your dashboard when you're logged in. Techniques Picking Picking should be alternate picking the whole way through, so start with a down pick and alternate all the way through. With both there patterns you pick the top note twice because (only because it keeps the patterns more consistent) but just stick with alternate picking. If you are separating the ascending and descending you'll start each one with a down pick. I know at some points it seems kinda tricky but as you speed up you really want your alternate picking to be able to handle small jumps and complicated patterns! If ou find it tricky them you'll get even more benefit from practicing it :) If you *really* struggle then it would be ok to use all down picks too but you'd be much better of working on your alternate picking and getting it figured out and facing it than running away. Rolling When doing the second pattern you need to 'roll' your finger from one string to the one next to it - try not to lift the finger off because it takes too long. At this stage it's not a big deal but if you want to explore ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXVD2hVrUx0 444 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fancy-7th-grips-for-chips-extension-lesson-blim-u3-13-r3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1914589040-4fae00c9cfb2384640852eb0eb7444ca62bc99651db63d3b2962b1d064f4a781-d_295x166?r=pad Fancy 7th Grips For Chips (Extension Lesson) This is an extension lesson where we'll dive into some cool Dominant 7th Grips that will elevate your playing. https://player.vimeo.com/video/997671740 638 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/44-a-king-p1-jump-p2-bl-544 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FPs8RIttB6U/hqdefault.jpg #44: A King: P1 Jump P2 TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the Bridge pickup. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... but my settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FPs8RIttB6U 262 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-7-bc-174 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e30zsCGWWhc/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (Stage 7) ‘Knowing' sus chords is not good enough... you must play them until they become instinctive because you want to be able to have them come out naturally when you play. To make this happen you have to practise using them, which is why I have given you these changes here. 1 Minute Changes Also, at this stage, you should probably still be working on changes from and to F, as they are the hardest changes! However, you should also spend some time looking at these new sus chords, too. A - Asus4 - A - Asus2 D - Dsus4 - D - Dsus2 F to ? F to ? F to ? Moving On... Next up we're going to look at some more rhythm geetar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/e30zsCGWWhc 163 2017-10-30T14:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-swamp-blues-blim-u3-18-h2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1917071016-4626fe49d4d2177f1a644cf758be88a37f15a4124612568f3f71cc348887bd7c-d_295x166?r=pad History: Swamp Blues Swamp Blues was developed in Louisiana in the 1950s, and its successful artists include Slim Harpo and Lightnin' Slim. https://player.vimeo.com/video/997854718 112 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/struggling-with-strumming-bx-170 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CjM5fyXoV8w/hqdefault.jpg Struggling With Strumming This lesson is one I teach regularly on workshops - it's a pretty big concept and it can really help people that are struggling with strumming and fuel creativity for those that can. Hope you dig it! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjM5fyXoV8w 988 2019-03-09T09:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/row-row-row-your-boat-ku-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-kwO5WvS8xM/hqdefault.jpg Row, Row, Row Your Boat Gently down the stream... the easiest song of all? https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kwO5WvS8xM 221 2020-08-15T13:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-wheels-on-the-bus-ku-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XjSIuiGVi50/hqdefault.jpg The Wheels On The Bus Just C and G7 chords - a super fun song to get your children singing music with you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XjSIuiGVi50 366 2020-07-16T21:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-variations-bc-194 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nt133KcqZZc/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Blues Variations Once you've mastered the basic 12-Bar Blues rhythm it is time to move onto using variations on the basic pattern, allowing you to improvise within the rhythm part. This is great fun and pretty easy. Basic Pattern Which you should have had down from the last lesson. If not please go back and check it out... This is revision :) Variation 1 his variation only changes the two notes on beats 3 +. Reach out and play them with your little finger. Make sure you leave your 1st finger down in the right place; don't let it slip up. Variation 2 This one introduces using the 2nd and 3rd fingers on the fifth string, a kind of bass effect. Make sure you pick the right notes; try to keep it clean, and don't pick strings that you shouldn't. Variation 3 This is a mixture of the two above things. Variation 4 This is another variation on the above patterns. Try this one, then try to make up your own!!. D.I.Y. It's important that you try to make up your own patterns. The only rule: make it sound cool! So experiment, twist and turn these patterns, listen out for variations on recordings and try to copy them, You might have noticed too that in the video for this lesson I am sometimes using a palm mute Palm Muting (see lesson BG-1203) between some of the notes to keep them short. As you progress you can have a go at this and see if you can get your hand to do it. I'm just using the outside palm of my picking hand. The trick is not to think about the technique too much and just try and make your guitar make the sound you want and leave it up to your hand to sort out the technicalities! Moving On... Let's go back to blues lead now and look at minor pentatonic patterns. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nt133KcqZZc 434 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hush-little-baby-ku-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YlQFD9fQOcY/hqdefault.jpg Hush Little Baby Don't say a word! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlQFD9fQOcY 200 2020-08-15T12:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-sailor-went-to-sea-ku-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c3ONVq5DZ-M/hqdefault.jpg A Sailor Went To Sea To see what he could see see see! https://www.youtube.com/embed/c3ONVq5DZ-M 219 2020-08-15T12:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-two-three-four-five-ku-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wVEBLC7mtX0/hqdefault.jpg One, Two, Three, Four, Five This children’s song is great for kids who are learning how to count. t’s got a fun rhythm and funny lyrics - it’ll be a hit! https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVEBLC7mtX0 329 2020-07-16T21:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-7-practice-schedule-bc-179 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XLxL9kWYygI/hqdefault.jpg Stage 7 Practice Schedule We're up to 40 minute routine now! As usual, break it into two 20-minute sessions if you can't find time to do 40 minutes a day. That is quite a lot of work for a beginner, but you will see results pretty quickly once you start putting that much time in! Sometimes it can help to muck around for 5–10 minutes first to get your hands warmed up a bit. When I practise I usually spend 10 minutes just playing whatever comes to mind. It's not a proper warm up like I see some people doing, but gets my fingers ready for the coming aerobics... Stage 7 Practice Schedule Description Time Remembering notes in open position and naming notes in chords 2 mins Memorising notes on the thickest (6th) string 3 mins Minor Pentatonic Scale, practice and memorise. 5 mins Chord Practice (Strum / Pick / Strum) 5 mins 1 minute Changes --- D or Dmin and using the Dsus4 and Dsus2 1 min --- A or Amin and using the Asus4 and Asus2 1 min --- F to ? 1 min --- F to ? 1 min --- F to ? 1 min Power Chords (work on stretch and good notes) 5 mins Rhythm Guitar Practice (All patterns so far including #16) 5 mins Songs / Chord Sequences 5 mins JUSTIN Training 5 mins Things To Remember Notes In Open Position Work out the notes in your open chords, or randomly pick notes in the first five frets and then try and work out what the note is. Only two minutes' worth, but if you do it every practice session you will soon have it! Memorising Notes on 6th String This one is VERY IMPORTANT. You will use this information in lots of different ways. You need it for your power chords now, and you will use it for all your scales and eventually barre chords, so don't skip this! Minor Pentatonic Practice You need to get this into your memory and it is also great practice for individual note picking and also works your finger stretch and independence. Do it slow and get it right! Power Chords Work on the stretch and getting the thin strings muted. We'll be developing these chords in the next stage, so make sure you are comfortable with these before you move on. Chord P... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XLxL9kWYygI 273 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-the-delta-blues-blim-u1-25-h1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031464-e702a95ff03a2c1e39d9ffba0766020edfda2975b081374214d95deb91789816-d_295x166?r=pad History: The Delta Blues The Delta Blues, a deeply rooted and profoundly emotional genre of music, holds a special place in the history of music. https://player.vimeo.com/video/962321753 22 2024-06-30T08:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/writing-down-melody-in-tab-tr-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AjwEjsh3QQw/hqdefault.jpg Writing Down Melody in TAB Transcribe is the written systematic representation of the spoken word. As I have explained in other lessons, music is very much a language and learning to write it is a very useful skill indeed. In my opinion the best way of writing guitar parts accurately is guitar TAB with rhythmic notation written above it. Mainly because TAB shows you WHERE to play a note where as regular (dots) notation just tells you the note, not where to play it (on the guitar there are often many ways to play the same note). So in this lesson I will show you how to write TAB and some tips for writing clearly and correctly. I am assuming that you have read TAB and understand the basics, if not please read How to read TAB. TAB Tips Use a Pencil Well actually I prefer a mechanical pencil, but an ordinary one is fine, just keep it sharp. Buy a good eraser Cheap erasers smudge and are a pain, but good ones can be hard to find. Get a white one, a Stabilo Legacy if you can find one are great. If your eraser is dirty then rub it on either the table or the back of the paper so get rid of the graphite or it is going to smudge your page!! Don't cram notes together, leave plenty of space It makes it very hard to read, both for yourself and others who might want to read it. You also need pace if you are going to put in analysis notes later. It's OK to leave more space for notes that are held for longer and write faster passages closer together, just just ensure everything is clear and legible! Don't start with notation programs I really don't recommend you starting out using notation software. Yeah it's easier, but easy is not always best!! Start with the pencil and paper and when you get better and feel the need you can explore using software. Space the notes to fit the rhythm As you get more experience you will get a feel for the rhythm as well and then you can space the long notes a little more, just cos it will look a little neater when you add the rhythm. All of this course is just going to be about notes though, writing rhythm can be quite ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjwEjsh3QQw 360 2017-10-30T03:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-spider-te-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6s32hmkdrDw/hqdefault.jpg The Spider The Spider is, I think, the ultimate alternate cross string picking exercise. Prepare to become arachnophobic because this is a nasty little alternate picking exercise. It is very difficult and will take a lot of practise to get smooth and fast, even for a fairly experienced player. It works the alternate picking to the max making it cross strings and jump about in many combinations. A real helper if you need to develop your picking for playing arpeggios too! This exercise is NOT for beginners. I think it is a great essential exercise but wait until you have been playing your major scales and need to start pushing your technique. It is a hard exercise, but if it just seems impossible, then maybe give it a rest and come back to it later. PDF Download To download the pdf for the Spider Exercise simply click the PDF link in the Download tab under the video. The Lesson Make sure you start off very slowly, there is a very obvious pattern to the notes, I think of it like a diagonal line moving across the fingerboard. It helps to think that some of the fingers are starting on invisible strings off the fingerboard, and the “line” moves across one string at a time. Follow the TAB in Ex.1 carefully and get it correct from the start, try not to learn it the wrong way. Get the fretting hand fingering perfect and to memory before you think about the alternate picking aspect of the exercise. Once you have the pattern down really focus on the picking, you should not have to look at your left hand, so you should devote all your attention to your picking hand. Try to make the pick move as little as possible. Keep to a tempo where you can play in time, without stumbling, tripping up, or slowing down for the "harder bits". Once you can play it at a consistent (slow) tempo, start to use a metronome, but do not be in a hurry to start pushing the speed up. Get very comfortable with the tempo before you even think about speeding up. This is important because practicing the wrong movement is worse than not practising at all! Make sur... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6s32hmkdrDw 392 2017-10-30T15:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tuning-in-4ths-p4-es-041 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEcxPRAxrOY/hqdefault.jpg Tuning in 4ths (P4) Special guest Ant Law takes us through how to get going if you Tune In 4ths! https://www.youtube.com/embed/PEcxPRAxrOY 1278 2018-11-14T09:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-5-bl-608 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EkiBNoWD39M/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern 5 In this lesson we're going to be learning Pattern 5 of the Minor Pentatonic. As with previous patterns the fingering can change a lot depending on the phrase you're playing. Scale Diagrams This fingering is only suggested for playing the scale up and down, for playing licks you'll use many different fingerings. Again, remember that the Blue Note is not often best played in a scale up and down, but added as a spice when you want that flavour ;) Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize Pattern 5 and be sure you know where the root notes are and where the blue notes are located. I would recommend two 5 minutes practice sessions a day. Session 1 - 5 Minutes Play the scale up and down, pausing on the root notes (or at least registering where they are) and exploring different fingering options. Playing it up and down with one finger will also help create the shape in your mind. Session 2 - 5 Minutes The second 5 minutes should be improvising over a backing back track and exploring the scale, you hopefully know that the words are the key to making music out of your scales but just exploring on your own can be very helpful too. It's likely that you will stumble on a few words just messing around. Do remember what notes are good to bend (and how far) and see how they feel! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Lightnin Hopkins - Best Of Love Lightnin Hopkins, he mostly does the awesome solo guitar things mixing up the lead and rhythm and you gotta watch the mini doco about him (The Blues According To Lightnin Hopkins), it's awesome! And this collection is a good one to get into his music. Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/EkiBNoWD39M 893 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/set-your-guitar-goals-pc-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gDOB40L2dEg/hqdefault.jpg Set Your Guitar Goals In this lesson, we explore how and why you should set guitar goals. An essential part of practicing effectively and staying inspired! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/gDOB40L2dEg 435 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-the-5-patterns-sc-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZHBomQaAvQo/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic: The 5 Patterns See the scale patterns, suggested fingerings and alternate fingerings here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZHBomQaAvQo 596 2017-10-30T16:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pet-lick-discovery-blim-u1-20-j2-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024817-845e14b8d4edd700810352ae0bbed2ed6ebf930c8deed02f4a85a2d8a44ef499-d_295x166?r=pad Pet Lick Discovery Pet licks are the ones that come out in our improvising whether we want them to or not. This lesson will help you meet your pets! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903697765 175 2025-01-05T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/keep-a-practice-schedule-pc-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FEo106Ysdic/hqdefault.jpg Keep A Practice Schedule There are many benefits to keeping a practice schedule, and that's what this vid is all about! I know it might seem excessively regimented but done right it can really accelerate your progress. Fun Time So the first thing I want to mention is making sure you have time for fun. I generally recommend beginners schedule HALF of available time to mucking around, playing songs and just enjoying the instrument. Intermediate players should maybe allow a quarter of practice time to free playing. I find that it opens the doors to the new things I'm working on to come and mingle with the older ideas and concepts I like using. If you do a One Hour Workout and then add on at least 15 minutes of jam muck around time (maybe even a half hour!). Many of my students found it easier to just do the scheduled routine during the week and then jam lots and play for fun on the weekends... just don't forget to do it! More advanced players or professionals may struggle to find fun time, but it's still important! I personally love playing anything so whether it's a session, learning a song to teach or whatever - I'm enjoying it :) probably because it's such a wonderful privilege to be able to play guitar to make my living! My Practice History I still clearly recall when I was first introduced to the idea of a proper practice schedule with timed focus session, I'd just started studying at The Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and had a new teacher and I thought he was joking! This new teacher, John McMillian, really helped me sort out my practice. I'd enrolled to study classical guitar (my parents really wanted me to go to university and it was the only music school in my town!) but I was much more into funk, jazz and rock. So John sat down and worked out how I could work on everything at once - he was an accomplished player and teacher in many styles and I'm forever thankful for his guidance in those years. I heard he recently passed away (2017) and I had not spoken to him since I left Tasmania so I never got to tell him much I appreci... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FEo106Ysdic 411 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-immersion-class-3-launch-start-your-blues-journey-now-cla-130 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/14dpUbxe1cQ/hqdefault.jpg Blues Immersion Class 3 Launch - Start Your Blues Journey Now! Curious about our Blues Immersion program? Join Justin for an Overview of the Blues Immersion Program! Together, we'll walk through the program's details, what it has to offer, and answer any questions you may have. This is your chance to learn more about how Blues Immersion can level up your playing, improve your improvisation, and help you dive deep into the world of blues guitar. Whether you're thinking about joining or just curious, we’d love to see you there! 👉 Enrolments for Class 3 ends on June 26th, 2025 - enrol here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/14dpUbxe1cQ 3884 2025-06-17T18:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-visualisation-pc-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yC8f606UZBY/hqdefault.jpg Use Visualisation Understanding that there are two quite distinct sides to practice is very useful for the serious musician. There are physical mechanical skills which must be practiced on the instrument, but many things can be practiced in the mind as effectively as on the instrument. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yC8f606UZBY 311 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-2-bl-407 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DCbqWevnhuo/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern 2 The notes in The Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2 are exactly the same notes we had in Pattern 1, so many people wonder why we bother learning them! The reason is that different patterns make certain licks and phrases work better and also because the way the guitar 'works' we have each note in more than one place and that can give us some really cool options when improvising - you'll get a feel for it as we do it. Doing is always more effective than thinking ;) Before you start moving up the neck you should be sure that you have got all your licks working for you in Pattern 1 of the Minor Pentatonic - you should be able to USE them, not just KNOW them. Got it? There is NO USE in learning new patterns until you can IMPROVISE in the first one! You want to play solos not scales, right? As discussed in the video there are quite a few different fingering options for playing this position. It is important to realize that when you play scales up and down you will use a consistent fingering, but when you improvise the fingering is not important at all - you can use whatever finger you like! When you practice your scales I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you play them starting and ending on the lowest root note (lowest in pitch that is, not physically lowest!). In this pattern the lowest root note is on String 4, so you will start on that note, work your way up the scale as far as you can, then go down as low as you can and then back up to the root note. It's a pretty big deal for a few reasons: It will help you get the sound of the scale in your ear It will help you memorize the root note which will help you play it in other keys and You'll find joining the patterns together a lot easier. Below is the neck diagram, remember to play it VERY SLOWLY, follow the TAB below each neck diagram and get it right when you first try and learn it - mistakes are likely to stay with you a long time! Minor Pentatonic (Pattern 2) This shape has many cool blues licks in it, should be the second shape you learn. Alternatives I often see people ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DCbqWevnhuo 885 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-amp-rig-2007-gg-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XIZ840wVpbA/hqdefault.jpg Justin's Amp Rig 2007 This vid shows you a rack I used for touring around 2005, I don't use any kinda rack stuff anymore really at all, I still have the G System somewhere and the Mesa RecPre is in my studio but hasn't been turned on for quite a few years now!! Thought I'd leave this vid up just for interest. Links and other info... Equipment shown in my rack: Furman Power Distributor / Conditioner More info coming soon... TC Electronic G-System This thing is the centre of my guitar rig and controls the Mesa Rec-pre and turns the pedals on and off (well in and out really). Mesa Boogie Recording Pre-amp This is a great sounding unit for both live and studio applications. SKB Pedal Tray With a selection of pedals on it... Mesa Boogie 50/50 Valve Power Amplifier More info coming soon... Mesa Boogie 12" Speakers More info coming soon... Furman TC Electronic G-System Mesa Boogie SKB https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIZ840wVpbA 574 2017-10-30T15:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-disappearing-metronome-trick-te-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H1mlnUVYkNs/hqdefault.jpg The Disappearing Metronome Trick This is an incredible exercise I stole from a jazz piano book and it's something I really enjoy working on, and I think it's really helped my time, so I hope it will help yours too! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1mlnUVYkNs 502 2017-10-30T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-practice-scales-sc-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oKFGLYpX4EE/hqdefault.jpg How To Practice Scales After you have learned them, this little routine will help you make music from the scales! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oKFGLYpX4EE 385 2017-10-30T20:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/when-not-to-learn-scales-sc-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O1C9sGuhbpk/hqdefault.jpg When NOT To Learn Scales... When I used to take admissions assessment at the Guitar Institute I often saw people come in that could play many scales in 5 positions but couldn't use any of them, and it used to really bug me. There really is no point learning the Super-Locrian mode if you don't know what it's for or when you will use it. You will know when it's time to learn a new scale 1. If you don't know why you should learn a particular scale, then don't! 2. If you can't use one pattern of the scale, don't learn more, it won't help. Gotta learn to use what you got before you start trying to learn more things, it'll only lead to confusion and frustration! https://www.youtube.com/embed/O1C9sGuhbpk 302 2017-10-30T20:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-3rd-interval-et-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CgSzetJEloY/hqdefault.jpg The Major 3rd Interval The Major 3rd Interval defines the Major sound in all chords, scales and arpeggios - it's a very important interval to recognize. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CgSzetJEloY 359 2018-01-30T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-why-and-how-sc-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LmbMnc2vpFg/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Why and How When I was growing up I thought scales were a thing that teachers used to make kids hate music. I didn't get them at all, didn't see the point and so in this lesson I want to outline the use of the major scale and why they're so important to learn - I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did! How I discovered how to use the Major Scale. When I was starting out on guitar I used to transcribe a lot, working out songs and solos by ear. And it was pure luck that I happened to have just transcribed the first solo in the Metallica song "Fade To Black" a few days before my teacher at school gave me the D Major Scale to learn. I was practising the scale at home (only so I didn't get in trouble!) when I noticed that all the notes in the scale were the same notes in the solo I'd just learned and I had my light bulb moment! I put on the Metallica song and tried to use the notes of the scale to make up my own solo (the same way I used the minor pentatonic to jam blues with my band) and it sounded awesome, well that's exaggerating, it was probably pretty average at best, but it worked and I made the connection between scales and real music! Why should you learn The Major Scale? Because The Major Scale is the foundation of all western harmony, learning play it will be very useful for improvising and for understanding solos you learn by others, and actually, you need to understand it if you want to understand any music theory at all. It's a big deal. If you want to play anything beyond basic Blues then you will need to use the major scale and understand how to use it! There are many times that the Minor Pentatonic and blues licks just won't cut it! There are many great songs and common chord progressions which the major scale fits over perfectly but the Minor Pentatonic just sounds pretty lame on, like Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd), Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton) and many others. If you want to play Jazz you will need to learn to use Modes and for that, you'll need to be all over the Major Scale and be able to use ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LmbMnc2vpFg 338 2017-10-30T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-scale-pattern-5-sc-255 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2pum1AOLwKU/hqdefault.jpg The Major Scale: Pattern 5 We're starting here with Pattern 5 of The Five pattern system which is based on the G Shape barre chord. Alternate Fingerings The most common alternative is to move the note behind the root (strings 3, played with first finger) to strings 4 and playing it with the 4th finger. I don't see this as a bad way of doing it but this way there is a consistent method to fingering the scales - in relation to the other shapes above. Memorisation Tips • The pair of strings on Strings 6/5 have the same fingering. • Notice the position shift happens with the same fingering. • Outside strings are the same • What else do you see? What visual clues might help you remember it? I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 17 Note Patterns All my Scale Patterns (where possible) have 17 notes (3 notes on each string, except for one string which will have only 2 notes). This gives you the perfect number for practising scales with a metronome because if practised with 4 notes between each metronome click (16th notes, semiquavers) you will always arrive back on the root note on the beat :) Tips For Learning Scales ALWAYS START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE This will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the scale, very important. So start on the lowest (in pitch) root note, play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and then back up to the root note. LEARN IT SLOWLY AND GET IT RIGHT Don't make any mistakes when learning a scale. Play it 10 times perfectly (right notes, right fingering) at a very slow speed and you will find you can speed it up without making mistakes and developing bad habits you will have to correct later. USE YOUR FINGER TIPS Do not let your fingers "fold", use the tips the whole time, and definitely NO barres at any point. However, you do want to allow Finger 1 to rest lightly on all the strings to mute all the strings under it and the tip of Finger 1 should tou... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2pum1AOLwKU 440 2017-10-30T16:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-pentatonic-in-blues-mt-564 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KW35LLP1USg/hqdefault.jpg The Major Pentatonic In Blues How to use the Major Pentatonic in Blues? Can you combine Major and Minor scales? https://www.youtube.com/embed/KW35LLP1USg 936 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-the-major-pentatonic-mt-563 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802825287-ec4e40242ca5b4e8dad4b5192f65c8da6404fa96614d9ee39419e6f459ebfbd7-d_295x166?r=pad Playing The Major Pentatonic It's time to make friends with the Major Pentatonic Scale! https://player.vimeo.com/video/351278221 455 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-harmonic-minor-scale-mt-572 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802831926-46efcf69fa6053c45784fc89393ef98ac035cbc8223ee448f4b47da657c443dc-d_295x166?r=pad The Harmonic Minor Scale This fictional story will help you understand why and how some scales came about! https://player.vimeo.com/video/351284306 308 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-natural-minor-mt-571 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802829686-497431971e6e4e00db8b352cd0dbce1ff16e57afbbfb2632a3d2c83be5dc17fb-d_295x166?r=pad The Natural Minor Also known as The Aeolian Mode or the Pure Minor, the Natural Minor is as Minor as Minor can be. :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/351281649 443 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-mental-fretboard-development-et-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v9b7bHZmIUM/hqdefault.jpg The Mental Fretboard Development Building a fretboard in your mind can be super helpful for playing what you hear and this exercise will help you lots! https://www.youtube.com/embed/v9b7bHZmIUM 347 2018-01-30T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-sing-in-tune-sg-334 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/twvc8RvgaNg/hqdefault.jpg How to Sing in Tune Learn 2 exercises to start singing in tune and keeping your pitch! https://www.youtube.com/embed/twvc8RvgaNg 992 2021-03-19T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/adding-vibrato-to-string-bends-bl-604 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ck2uxWh4qvo/hqdefault.jpg Adding Vibrato to String Bends In this lesson we're looking at adding vibrato to your string bends. Important that you check out the lessons on String Bending and Vibrato if you're even slightly not happy with them, because you want to be well comfortable with them individually before you combine them! Homework and Practice Short bursts of very focused practice is what you want here. Session 1 - 5 Minutes Mechanics work, making sure that the movements are coming from the right place and getting used to the feeling of the string pushing back. Session 2 - 5 Minutes Explore the width and speed and seeing what works best for you... how do they make you feel? what do you like? what's easy and what is hard? Remember to keep your ears open to great vibrato and when you hear one that connects with you, spend some time trying to emulate it! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Larry Carlton - Last Night I so LOVE this album. It one of my top 10 favourite albums of all time for sure. Larry is the pinnacle of modern blues playing, mixing in a tasty spoonful of jazz into the blues and such incredible touch, tone and taste. Just get it, it's awesome. Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/ck2uxWh4qvo 794 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-5-pattern-play-bl-601 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N56hX1bkmhE/hqdefault.jpg Introduction To 5 Pattern Play This Introduction video I explain the rough plan for the course, what we'll be exploring together, what to look out for as we go along and how to make the most of it. In this little intro I filmed a little jam where I tried to explore Patterns 3 then Pattern 4, a little in Pattern 5 and finish back in Pattern 1 up the dusty end. Many of the licks I'm using are ones we'll use in the course but I was just jamming around using those ideas. I figured I should show you some rather than just all the talk! If you've not finished the Essential Blues Lead Guitar Module then you really should finish that off before moving on with this series (although it won't really hurt!). Homework and Practice Your homework this week is revision. Make sure you are confident with your Minor Pentatonic Patterns 1 and 2 and you know at least 5 licks in each and how to use them! Make sure that you're confident with string bending and you know where to root notes are in the patterns and licks you know - all stuff covered in the Essential Blues Lead Guitar Module! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Super Session - Mike Bloomfield with Al Kooper & Stephen Stills Mike Bloomfield is one of those guys that the greats all name check but a lot of people don't know his music - and they should! He's super awesome and this record is special. Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/N56hX1bkmhE 611 2017-10-29T09:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/misty-chords-ja-531 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b1JJfTrgkdU/hqdefault.jpg Misty [Chords] Remember to start real simple and learn the root notes and chord types and be real solid with them before getting into any substitutions! https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1JJfTrgkdU 678 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-chord-sequence-variations-bl-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oEbgIiiHw5g/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Chord Sequence Variations This lesson covers the main variations on the chord sequence. Makes transcribing lots easier if you know what the most common forms are!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEbgIiiHw5g 903 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-in-12-keys-bl-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E6X80uAzqFQ/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Blues in 12 Keys Learn to see the I, IV and V chords visually grouped together on the fingerboard and move between them! An absolutely essential skill if you want to play the blues. https://www.youtube.com/embed/E6X80uAzqFQ 1174 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-blues-licks-from-pattern-4-bl-606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mPD0AaqkAxc/hqdefault.jpg 5 Blues Licks from Pattern 4 In this lesson we're going to be learning licks from Pattern 4 of the Minor Pentatonic. I really dig this pattern (I know I say that every pattern but hey, I dig them all!) and there are some licks this lesson that I play all the time, my 'pet licks' which I probably shouldn't give away ;) Lick TABs So here we have our 5 words from Minor Pentatonic Pattern 4. P4 - Lick 1 Love this lick and it's a really useful one. you can try doing the bend a semitone too but then you can only use it over the root chord (A7 in this key). Watch out for the roll with Finger 3 too. P4 - Lick 2 This is one of those blues licks that can really rock out if you're that way inclined! Also remember to experiment with holding the bend to let the notes ring out together which is super fun! P4 - Lick 3 Another super useful licks that you will hear a lot, and remember you can steal that middle bit of 16th notes and repeat it (and experiment with that one little bit) as a seed to grow some cool ideas! P4 - Lick 4 These kind of licks that can get a bit fast are the most important to work on slowly and make sur eyou're playing it well before speeding it up or you'll play badly fast which is kinda pointless! P4 - Lick 5 This is an old school kinda lick that you'll hear in the 60's a lot. Excuse the odd looking 1/4 tone bend in bar 2, the software I make tabs has issues with two curls in a row. Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize and work in all 5 of these licks. try and get into the schedule below. Stage 1 - Learn The Lick - 5 Minutes Get the lick under you fingers. Make sure the notes are clean, bends are in tune, no open strings ringing out and you can play it rhythmically correctly. Stage 2 - Use The Lick - 5 Minutes Jam the lick over a backing track. Start with it 'as written' and then gradually develop it and start exploring other ways you might play it, change the notes. Stage 3 - Mix The Lick In - 5 Minutes Another jam session over a backing track but this time you need to work the new lick in with licks you already... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPD0AaqkAxc 776 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-very-easy-songs-to-play-on-the-ukulele-uk-300 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SpeVF75HZqY/hqdefault.jpg 10 Very Easy Songs to Play on the Ukulele These songs only require 2 chords. Each chord only requires 1 finger! Any beginner can play them. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/SpeVF75HZqY 561 2021-12-25T01:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-blues-licks-from-pattern-3-bl-603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r-czdtlbpBE/hqdefault.jpg 5 Blues Licks from Pattern 3 In this lesson we're going to be learning 5 awesome licks that live in Pattern 3 of the Minor Pentatonic - these are the words and by exploring these you'll develop vocabulary in this pattern and have something to say! Lick TABs So here we have our 5 words from Minor Pentatonic Pattern 3. P3 - Lick 1 You can see the tone bend and the curl on the same note in this lick and it's a real classic! Well worth exploring this one and you'll hear it in many solos by the great master. P3 - Lick 2 I like the use of the blue note in this lick and also finishing with Finger 2 on the root, it's unusual but feels real nice with a bit of practice. There are quite a few chunks to break apart and explore in this one! P3 - Lick 3 We bring in the lower blue note in this one and the way you can get that with Finger 4 and also the pattern of the last 4 notes is a very common blues move with messing about with. P3 - Lick 4 Make sure you check out the 3 'chunks' in this lick and work on each one separately as well as the complete lick. Remember not to rush it if you wanna play it quick, get it perfect and build up the speed slowly! P3 - Lick 5 Big Tone and a half bend here to start off (but a tone works well here too most of the time) and the rest of the lick is a nice move as well resolving to the root as written but Homework and Practice Your aim this week is to memorize and work in all 5 of these licks. try and get into the schedule below. Stage 1 - Learn The Lick - 5 Minutes Get the lick under you fingers. Make sure the notes are clean, bends are in tune, no open strings ringing out and you can play it rhythmically correctly. Stage 2 - Use The Lick - 5 Minutes Jam the lick over a backing track. Start with it 'as written' and then gradually develop it and start exploring other ways you might play it, change the notes. Stage 3 - Mix The Lick In - 5 Minutes Another jam session over a backing track but this time you need to work the new lick in with licks you already know. Figure out cool ways of getting in and out of the lick and fi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r-czdtlbpBE 1205 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-exercise-5-blim-u5-15-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1938010400-2f6b7acb3a41db0e2c6eee198efe2d8043c1a44eba4e7a02f08b93946e07076b-d_295x166?r=pad Transcribing Exercise 5 You know the routine, but here's a quick refresher for this month's transcription. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1018336795 25 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/albert-king-gr-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uAFO4cBlS8o/hqdefault.jpg Albert King The ‘Velvet Bulldozer’ - a uniquely intense, hugely influential blues guitarist. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAFO4cBlS8o 485 2018-07-31T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jeff-beck-gr-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_o3CIa3nrZE/hqdefault.jpg Jeff Beck The rule-breaking visionary who turns guitar heroes into fanboys. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_o3CIa3nrZE 382 2018-11-22T05:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-lick-2-rf-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/btK760GBeb0/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Lick 2 Lick 2 in this series is based around the E Shape barre chord and is a really fun to explore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/btK760GBeb0 434 2018-08-20T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/make-electric-guitars-sound-great-pb-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SRfbbRaYyz4/hqdefault.jpg Make Electric Guitars Sound Great! Recording and arranging Electric Guitar and Bass is something often overlooked. This lesson will help you create super exciting guitar arrangements. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SRfbbRaYyz4 1860 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-2-live-10-masterclass-with-ariel-posen-lblim2-10 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NHBoxQ631R4/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 2 Live #10: Masterclass with Ariel Posen Howdy Blimmer, We recently hosted an incredible Masterclass featuring the one and only Ariel Posen and this session is a must-watch for Blimmers. Justin sat down with Ariel for an in-depth conversation covering all things slide guitar. They talked about what to look for when choosing a slide, the different materials and fits, and how each can affect your tone and playing style. Ariel also shared some practical exercises that are perfect for players at any level who want to improve their slide technique. There’s a ton of valuable information (and sweet guitar demos!) perfect for your Blues Immersion journey packed into this session! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NHBoxQ631R4 4232 2025-05-29T16:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-easy-triads-on-guitar-bg-1705 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U9UKn6ycg4s/hqdefault.jpg How to Use Easy Triads on Guitar In this lesson, beginners will get to know how to use Triads (and Arpeggiated embellishments) to duet on the guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/U9UKn6ycg4s 872 2022-03-17T01:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-19-practice-routine-bg-1909 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H0_58h0HeIg/hqdefault.jpg Module 19 Practice Routine Here's a suggested practice routine for Module 19. Enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/H0_58h0HeIg 179 2022-09-26T15:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/demystify-the-minor-scales-1-2-sc-130 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/68jbE1_7A7U/hqdefault.jpg Demystify The Minor Scales [1/2] Many people are confused by the term "minor scale" because there are a few minor scales. So which one is the correct one to use? Well it depends on what you are doing! So I am going to give you a little story to help you remember how they all came about. It's not the whole truth, I am simplifying a bit, but should help you understand where they come from and how they are used. At least that is what I am aiming for! You will have to some basic understanding of music theory before you try and understand this stuff. Beginners will probably just freak out and get more confused. My Practical Music Theory book should explain enough that you will understand this lesson! The classical or "pure" minor scale. The minor scale in it's most basic form is called "the classical minor", "the natural minor", or "the aeolian mode" - they are all the same. This was the first type of minor scale that was commonly used. So to start with, if you play a C Major Scale but start and end on the note A, you will hear the A Pure Minor Scale. So having learnt your Major Scales (as I hope you all are, because they are the most used scale in all of music!) you will have learnt all your Minor Scales already! The C Major Scale and the A Pure Minor Scale are related. You would say that the RELATIVE minor scale of C Major is A Minor. The two scales have the same notes, but have a different tonal centre (and root note). Because of this they are obviously related. A Pure Minor = A B C D E F G A The easy way to find the RELATIVE major scale is to use your fingers on the guitar. It won't always work out theoretically perfect, but will give you the right notes. Put your first finger on the root note that you want to find the Pure Minor Scale of. Then place your fingers one at a time in the following frets and the note that your little finger falls in (3 frets higher) will be the REALTIVE MAJOR SCALE. For example: you want to find the notes of the G pure minor scale - place your first finger on the note G, in the 3rd fret of the thickest string. Then... https://www.youtube.com/embed/68jbE1_7A7U 405 2018-01-19T12:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-how-to-practice-blim-u1-18-r4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031204-ce1c1d9f1ee983f808c33b6add3ec52c9292b4e2a6d2d944df88ad259f70112c-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: How To Practice Quality over quantity ensures confidence in performance, avoiding confusion or sloppiness during jam nights. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903388481 169 2024-06-30T08:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-minor-pentatonic-scale-mt-561 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1438241977-609d92de9f73a7c44a33d5b69d3e4eb08b33009558e7e015ec6e67ca00556161-d_295x166?r=pad The Minor Pentatonic Scale The first scale that people learn is very easy to use and the alphabet for playing the Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/351265917 382 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-guitar-gift-guide-2025-jrec-0025 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SxJwjzbuLRk/hqdefault.jpg Justin's Guitar Gift Guide 2025 This list is perfect if you’re looking to buy something awesome for the special guitarist in your life… or if you’re a guitarist treating yourself. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SxJwjzbuLRk 579 2025-12-05T17:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-overcome-stage-anxiety-cm-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rQMhE4Au0RE/hqdefault.jpg How to Overcome Stage Anxiety Turn anxiety into excitement and overcome stage fright. It's a simple shift that can enhance your entire performance experience. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQMhE4Au0RE 513 2021-12-21T08:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-hybrid-scale-blim-u1-05-k4-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031236-f72226ef7418c0df4f24ea6480bccb6f62013c463424fac9f8044dafeb2ecc0f-d_295x166?r=pad The Blues Hybrid Scale This lesson prevents you from making the same mistakes I made when practicing scales! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903272867 196 2025-01-05T06:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/creating-fingerstyle-patterns-fo-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sVtM9prhM24/hqdefault.jpg Creating Fingerstyle Patterns Once you have some of the common patterns down, I think it's important to start making up your own patterns - you'll learn a LOT on this journey! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVtM9prhM24 650 2017-10-26T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-string-gauge-should-we-use-hts-0005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mwco9V8rhn8/hqdefault.jpg What String Gauge Should We Use? Let's compare string gauges from 8 to 12 and how they affect tone and playability, with surprising results. A must-watch when changing your strings! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwco9V8rhn8 1298 2025-06-19T18:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-a-capo-bc-163 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y22MT3etzwM/hqdefault.jpg Using a Capo A capo is a very useful little device that enables you to use the same chord shapes to play songs in different keys. It is wise for singers to move a song into a key that suits their voice. A capo is also used to simplify some songs that would otherwise require barre chords. It doesn't work with all songs (for some, you simply have to learn barre chords) but for many tunes, a capo is a great option. They are not just for beginners, either. Some players seem to think they are a beginner's tool, but they become more and more interesting the longer you play, because they expand the possibilities of the guitar, which is great fun. So don't be put off by any capo snobs, they don't know what they are talking about! There seems to be a lot of debate about the correct pronunciation of the word. I say it cap-o, others say Kay-po, it seems to be a US vs English thing, but who cares? Not me! Capo stuff... It is important that you put the capo just behind the fret (the same as you should be doing with your fingers too!) or you will get lots of buzzing sounds. A great idea is to make a "Capo Chart" showing the open chords and what chord they become with the capo on each fret. You will probably only have to make the chart once, because once you have done it you will understand it all and not have to use it! And if you have to reference it once in a while, that is ok, but like everything else, you have to try and get all this info into your memory! Each of the chords you play in open position can be played using a capo, but if you do that, the name of the chord changes; it goes up one semitone for every fret the capo is moved up. So an open G chord with a capo on the 1st fret will become a G# chord. With the capo on the 2nd fret it will become an A chord, and so on. Try it now and hear for yourself: Play an open A chord. Then put the capo on fret 2, and play a G chord. They sound more or less the same! Because of this, capos can be used in some circumstances to replace barre chords. Let's say the chords in the song you want ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y22MT3etzwM 416 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-open-chords-part-1-uk-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yDsXNLGDle0/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Open Chords [Part 1] In this ukulele lesson, we're going to check out 9 awesome open chords, major, minor and 7th for C, F and G. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yDsXNLGDle0 416 2017-10-26T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-pentatonic-scale-im-153 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kNJQsKIUYQE/hqdefault.jpg Major Pentatonic Scale The scale we're about to learn is used loads in country, blues and rock. It's a little strange to get used to at first, because the patterns are the same as for the Minor Pentatonic, but the root note is different!! huh? The Major Pentatonic - Pattern 5 Please note that this is Pattern 5! As an Minor Pentatonic it is Pattern 1 - but now the root note has changed, the chord tones are different and you have to use it a different way! You remember all about root notes right? So you know to place the root here at the 5th fret to be playing the A Major Pentatonic Scale. The red notes are the chord tones for the Major chord - they are the notes that will sound cool to stop on. YOU CAN'T JUST PLAY THE MINOR PENATONIC LICKS! You really have to treat this as a new scale to start with - sure there are some minor pentatonic licks you can sneak in there later, but much better to start with thinking of it as a whole new thing! The Major Pentatonic - Pattern 1 We should really check out Pattern 1 as well... It's always a good idea to learn Pattern 1 of a scale, and so now that you are not going to get confused by the similarity of the shapes, we're going to check out The Major Pentatonic Pattern 1. This one is really commonly used by country guys and the early blues players like Chuck Berry. Later on you can mix it up with the Minor Pentatonic to great effect too! The more observant of you might notice that some of the extra notes are similar to those we used in our Blues Hybrid Scale ;) Good fun playing with this one (it's the same as Pattern 2 of the Minor Pentatonic, but we've not checked that out yet!). Practice By far the best (only?) way to practice this stuff is to use them! Either with a jam buddy, recording yourself and playing over it or a Backing Track or I suppose the best would be jamming with a full band if you have the luxury! Try this C Major Chilli Funk backing track Put on the backing track and solo for the full 5 minutes and just experiment. listen to each of the notes and how it affects the backing track... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kNJQsKIUYQE 404 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-8-b2-807 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WMPpiwWq3Yg/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 8 An awesome song repertoire with loads of easy songs for you to practice the Stuck 3&4 chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/WMPpiwWq3Yg 263 2020-04-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazz-up-your-blues-3-ja-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XcQLUDiLHb8/hqdefault.jpg Jazz Up Your Blues 3 Once you know your arpeggios you have to learn to join them together, make the changes flow from one to the next... Notes The two arpeggios that you use in this lesson are: https://www.youtube.com/embed/XcQLUDiLHb8 401 2017-10-29T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-theory-mt-302 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/707762531-8c4a6039a08fd5133144af63c2c9aa2e2f45d35dd6c0af993f0a35cc3f4c2782-d_295x166?r=pad Major Scale Theory Have you heard about the Major Scale Formula? :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/275465407 655 2017-11-04T12:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-11-td-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CYLgHG9qfm0/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 11 We’ve got Tammy back for her 11th lesson. First off, I have to confess that I had completely forgotten to send over her lesson notes from Lesson 10, so poor Tammy wasn’t able to practice her fingerstyle picking! I promise to do better next time, Tammy! In her previous lesson, we’d talked a bit about Root 5 and 6 barre chords, Travis picking, and hammer-ons. In this lesson, we go over: Hammer-ons. We check on Tammy’s progress regarding her finger stretching and finger gym exercises and we see how much her finger strength is improving. Travis picking. We revisit this since I goofed last week and forgot to send Tammy her lesson notes! Percussive hits with a pick Listening! I know…that sounds vague and obvious, but the reason Tammy started taking lessons with me in the first place was to learn how to write songs. There are so many things that go into constructing a tune, but one of the key factors is a good ear. New Lessons: Transcribing. The more we listen to songs and try to recreate the sounds we hear on our own, the better able we are to hear to a song in our head and play it on our instruments. By identifying common patterns and sounds, we’re building up our mental musical library! It’s great practice for any musician at any level of expertise. I’ve directed Tammy to the Chord Shape Explorer on my site for help with this. Percussive hits with a pick. Tammy starts off saying she can’t do these because her hands are too small! No worries, though. A key part of playing any instrument is finding out what’s comfortable for you, however big or small your hands are! For Next Time: Tammy is to transcribe two portions of a song – one with more chords and strummy bits, and one with more picked, melodic notes or a riff. I recommend spending an hour or so on this at a time. It’s not really something that works in 5-minute blocks. Choose three songs, determine their chord progressions, and find an alternative way to play the tune using a capo. Work on getting those percussive hits to a point where they feel more comfortab... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYLgHG9qfm0 2862 2019-10-29T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-blues-licks-from-pattern-1-bl-404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gu2esZ-PzFM/hqdefault.jpg 5 Blues Licks from Pattern 1 Your first Blues words! I'll feel like a proud Dad when you're speaking them! Five licks from Pattern 1 of the Minor Pentatonic. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gu2esZ-PzFM 923 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/five-licks-using-the-blue-note-bl-411 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hjp87ZyEqQw/hqdefault.jpg Five Licks Using The Blue Note Whenever you learn a new concept or 'trick' in the Blues it's best to put it into practice and learn some of the words that use it! So in this lesson, we're checking out five awesome licks that use The Blue Note, including some that are staples of the Blues Language. Lick TABs P2 - Lick 1 This lick shows one of the more common ways the blue note is used - but also check out the second bar because this is a super cool lick too! P2 - Lick 2 This lick starts on the blue note, runs up the minor pentatonic and then hits the blue note up top too. You could try a load of different variations on this one! P2 - Lick 3 This lick is one I copped from Stevie Ray Vaughan. Learn it as written but also just experiment yourself with playing with any notes but keeping that top A note - it's a very cool trick! P2 - Lick 4 You could look at this lick as two parts, the first is quite scalular using the blue note and the second is a very bluesy lick! P2 - Lick 5 This is a 'concept' kind of lick - check out the little 5 notes grouping used in the first one (in Pattern 2), and then see how it's repeated down in Pattern 1. Try making up your own licks using this groups too! So now that you know the sound and some of the classic Blue Note words, listen out for them when you're listening to great blues solos. When you hear one you really like- maybe have a go and see if you can figure out how to play it - learning licks by ear from records is the way that nearly all the great Blues masters learned and I recommend you get into doing it as soon as you can! Additional Resources Recommended Album Each lesson I want to recommend a great Blues album to you, make sure you are aware of the great blues music that you'll be learning on your journey. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced (1967) I always wonder if Jimi should be Blues or Rock, he's kinda both, and even though there are no 12 Bar forms on this album, it certainly blues based and was a huge influence on many blues guitar players (well, all guitar players I guess), and it's a must have!... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hjp87ZyEqQw 1080 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-read-guitar-chord-boxes-b1-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LlN2yrFQKzY/hqdefault.jpg How To Read Guitar Chord Boxes Guitar chord boxes are visual tools that show you how to play a chord. Let’s break it all down! https://www.youtube.com/embed/LlN2yrFQKzY 194 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-2nd-interval-et-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3AYKQyALBIM/hqdefault.jpg The Major 2nd Interval The Major 2nd Interval is the same as a Tone, a two fret step on the fretboard. It's a VERY common melodic interval and one you should easily recognize! https://www.youtube.com/embed/3AYKQyALBIM 325 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-7-sc-277 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CfR69EMKALE/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 7 Pattern 7 of the Major Scale NPS System which is almost the same as Pattern 1 of the CAGED system but the thinnest 2 strings are moving up the neck and can be a nice bridge into moving up the neck. Alternate Fingerings Using fingers 1/3/4 for String 4/3 would have a logic and is down to personal preference! Memorisation Tips • Strings 6/5, 4/3 and 2/1 are easy obvious pairs - quite a nice visual pattern this one. I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS patterns are commonly used for playing legato and very often they're played as triplets so you'd play 3 notes for each beat (click) and that will feel easy for most people, but it may restrict your use of it - I speak from experience, so do work on playing them as 16th notes (4 notes per click) as well as 3 (and 5 and 6 notes per beat if you're adventurous!). Tips For Learning Scales (Particularly 3NPS) START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE This will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the scale, very important. So start on the lowest (in pitch) root note which will only be the lowest note of the scale in Pattern 1 of 3NSP), play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and then back up to the root note. START AND END ON THE LOWEST NOTE Now this is a chang... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CfR69EMKALE 408 2018-12-07T20:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/g-chord-variations-bc-181 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1U6-7_83fUY/hqdefault.jpg G Chord Variations ‘Big', ‘Rock' and ‘Folk' G chords! Now you have done some hard stretches, I'll show you some little tricks to speed up your changes to and from G to make them a little smoother. It is up to you where you might use all this, but I'll offer you some suggestions. The names below are how I describe these chords; they're not official or anything! Variations of G Big G Otherwise known as ‘all-finger G', this chord is used a lot by rock bands when they play acoustic songs, especially those early 90s groups like Guns n' Roses, Bon Jovi, Extreme etc. Both this chord and the one below change very smoothly to a D chord using a 3rd finger anchor. However, this one can sound a bit messy if you use distortion, so... Rock G This shape removes the note B so really it is a kind of G5 chord (it only has G and D notes; the 3rd of the chord is missing). This one sounds great with a bit of distortion. I use this G a lot because I don't like the sound of the B note; it just kind of makes the sound muddy to me. This one is used by bands like AC/DC, it really rocks! Folk G This shape changes very smoothly from a C Chord; the 2nd and 3rd finger moves over and little finger goes down. Try for yourself and see. It also has the 5th string muted (like the version above) but you get the note B as the open second string! You might want to use fingers 2 and 3 sometimes, depends on the circumstance, but generally you'll use fingers 3 and 4. An little extra tip for you... If you take ‘Big' G and move your 1st and 2nd fingers down a string you end up with a really cool chord called Cadd9, which you can usually use instead of a C. It sounds awesome in songs like ‘Knockin' On Heaven's Door' (Bob Dylan or Guns N' Roses), ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive' (Bon Jovi), ‘More Than Words' (Extreme), ‘Brown Eyed Girl' (Van Morrison) or ‘American Pie' (Don McLean) and you'll find it very easy to change between ‘Big' G, Cadd9 and D because you can use a 3rd finger anchor. You will find that you can usually play Cadd9 instead of plain C is written in a song, but you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1U6-7_83fUY 290 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-keys-summary-mt-575 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802838253-e20e174dae6c544293d198fe714a0e662ae4aa1e3ba1fff78e49c393d80d3b6a-d_295x166?r=pad Minor Keys Summary What should you really play when someone says "Let's jam in A Minor?" :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/351288952 372 2018-05-09T05:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-4-sc-274 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MUnN1htnI40/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 4 Pattern 4 of the Major Scale NPS System. I'm hoping you have learned the previous patterns and made music with them - and given some thought to root notes and moving between patterns and fingering choices. Alternate Fingerings The fingering shown is one of my personal preference again - probably more common is fingers 1/3/4 on strings 3/2. But you should try the ones shown as well - see what works for you. At this stage of your guitar journey, I would hope that you are thinking about how you play and your own fingering choices - what works well and how you have got on with fingering in the previous patterns. Memorisation Tips • The outside strings have the same spacing, although they're a fret apart. • Strings 5/4 have the same dot pattern. • Strings 3/2 have the same dot pattern but string 2 is up a fret which changes the perspective a bit. I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS patterns are commonly used for playing legato and very often they're played as triplets so you'd play 3 notes for each beat (click) and that will feel easy for most people, but it may restrict your use of it - I speak from experience, so do work on playing them as 16th notes (4 notes per click) as well as 3 (and 5 and 6 notes per beat if you're adventurous... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MUnN1htnI40 377 2018-12-07T18:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/unit-4-practice-blim-u4-18-p1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1928090279-480933125daf6c3abcfe40532e98d1a28339f63f29f28c00fd8566d2d55ae54d-d_295x166?r=pad Unit 4 Practice Here's your suggested practice routine for Unit 4! https://player.vimeo.com/video/1010139202 655 2024-09-29T06:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/refining-vocabulary-blim-u6-10 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1953956015-1689a856da3cd126578c905ea855b0fe00512d92450bc442e4e5db0c1a73de72-d_295x166?r=pad Refining Vocabulary Fate or method—which is better? Only you know. But... I favored a blend. Music isn't black and white. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1029509426 446 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-melodic-minor-mt-573 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802921778-6ee8d3a54309c769be15050dedb912840d3deb0e399408eb698bd98badefb251-d_295x166?r=pad The Melodic Minor The Melodic Minor is an interesting one, with loads of use in Jazz. https://player.vimeo.com/video/351349683 494 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-scale-mt-565 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802818613-9e17370a951acf4d427c68ed1768acc3497d1ab224e1f02a1d1be431ad8de171-d_295x166?r=pad The Blues Scale We add a flat 5 to the Minor Pentatonic and it becomes The Blues Scale, which is a real vibey cool scale! https://player.vimeo.com/video/351274320 297 2018-05-09T01:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-minor-scales-mt-570 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802826021-3b41bf289322dc8561a7708dd1f7fb32c2596c1e14da5958cbb32e45f072c8b9-d_295x166?r=pad Introduction to Minor Scales There are quite a few different Minor Scales and the theory behind it is a little complex. https://player.vimeo.com/video/351281051 103 2018-05-09T02:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-the-minor-pentatonic-mt-562 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802816326-eef4c48a95eaef5a9dc8b2a9f72b7ef62c51790995d76836946bb0e93b5ace0e-d_295x166?r=pad Playing The Minor Pentatonic Let's have a little look at using the Minor Pentatonic over a Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/351271633 397 2018-05-09T01:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/join-the-wish-you-were-here-at-50-intro-challenge-wuwh-00 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cfecSRMM4o0/hqdefault.jpg Join the Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge A community celebration of one of the greatest guitar songs ever written! https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfecSRMM4o0 135 2025-11-28T07:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/angus-s-repeater-lk-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ut5zsJa2XI4/hqdefault.jpg Angus's Repeater Having some good little repeating kinda licks in your repertoire is a very useful thing indeed. This one has been one of my "pet licks" for many years... it's fairly easy to play and you can change the rhythm to suit your technical ability. Angus Young uses this and similar licks a lot, if you dig it - check out some of his solo and steal some more :) TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ut5zsJa2XI4 288 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/static-root-blues-lk-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gihw_iZuOno/hqdefault.jpg Static Root Blues The lick as I have written it out here is real simple, but it's a much bigger concept and so after you have figured out the riff as shown below I would strongly encourage you to explore the idea and try and play all sorts of stuff with that top root going as well. Using the hybrid picking is fun too if you have not done it before and it doesn't matter which finger you use to play the static root. Also works with fingerstyle of course! Most of the great blues masters use this concept, right back from Robert Johnson, to SRV right up to present day dudes like Joe Bonamassa - it's a great one to get into your vocabulary! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gihw_iZuOno 328 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/string-skippin-blues-lk-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OHTQjGq3zzw/hqdefault.jpg String Skippin Blues I know you guys want some rock stuff so I'm trying to get some in here! This one is using string skipping to make a 3-note-per-string pattern sound more interesting. It's a great technique builder - those struggling might wanna go check out my legato lessons. Once you got the technique try applying it to all your 3-note-per-string major scale patterns and then maybe try and take the idea into pentatonics - it's real interesting.. Hope you enjoy it. TAB I love how complicated this lick looks!! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHTQjGq3zzw 302 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/diad-bends-lk-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MX0ATxmbo1M/hqdefault.jpg Diad Bends This is a real fun lick, got a kinda country flavour to it, but it works great in rock and and blues derivative style. Experiment and see how many different ways you can use the idea - there are literally thousands! You can use your ear, or your brain, or best of all - use both!! As written this lick would sound awesome over: A7 -- because---> E and G are 5 and b7 C --- because---> E and G are 3 and 5 Emin -- because---> E and G are Root and b3 With a semitone bend instead of a tone bend: C min --- because---> Eb and G are b3 and 5 Eb maj -- because---> Eb and G are Root and 3 Ab maj7 -- because---> Eb and G are 5 and 7 See how a little theory knowledge of the make up of chords can be applied to expand your one lick into many! Have fun! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/MX0ATxmbo1M 421 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/triangles-lk-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nzmiq7lDXzc/hqdefault.jpg Triangles This one is a strange little fellow... a concept I got from a friend who's in a bit of a mess and sees shapes on the guitar neck. I've used it as an examples of a visual shape, but there are many famous examples too - at the end of the main solo in Jump by Van Halen, there is a fast scale run that is just a finger pattern on using fingers 1,2,4 moving across the strings - it sounds great even though it doesn't stick to the scale!! Hope you enjoy playing this lick and exploring the idea!! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/nzmiq7lDXzc 367 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jazzy-7th-rolls-lk-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7KavmQr2kg/hqdefault.jpg Jazzy 7th Rolls This lick infuses some jazz flavour into a bluesy A7 arpeggio. Chord specific so will work over the A7 Chord only, you would move the lick to fit the chord as they change. Check it out, mix it in and experiment and make it your own! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/D7KavmQr2kg 287 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chromixo-lk-017 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FjqBu_dfDuM/hqdefault.jpg Chromixo This lick mixes together the mixolydian mode with a bunch or chromatic notes to get a pretty hip sounding jazz line that works well in a blues kinda context too. It's working over an A7 chord - so check out how the arpeggio notes are being "targeted". TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/FjqBu_dfDuM 243 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-6-sc-276 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3RZKqRJci0/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 6 Pattern 6 of the Major Scale NPS System. I find it a bit of an odd one under my fingers and I'm not real sure why... Alternate Fingerings Using fingers 1/3/4 for String 6/5 would have a logic, I prefer 1/2/3 most times, but it can be a little awkward depending on what key you are in and where yu are on the neck. Memorisation Tips • Strings 6/5 and 4/3 are easy obvious pairs. I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS patterns are commonly used for playing legato and very often they're played as triplets so you'd play 3 notes for each beat (click) and that will feel easy for most people, but it may restrict your use of it - I speak from experience, so do work on playing them as 16th notes (4 notes per click) as well as 3 (and 5 and 6 notes per beat if you're adventurous!). Tips For Learning Scales (Particularly 3NPS) START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE This will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the scale, very important. So start on the lowest (in pitch) root note which will only be the lowest note of the scale in Pattern 1 of 3NSP), play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and then back up to the root note. START AND END ON THE LOWEST NOTE Now this is a change from the CAGED System pattern practic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z3RZKqRJci0 271 2018-12-07T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tapping-bends-lk-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pej7Izlp0ME/hqdefault.jpg Tapping Bends This is a very cool fun trick to add to your lick collection - just don't over do it 'cos it gets boring... but in the right place it sounds awesome! Be sure to experiment with just single bend and taps and program into your playing the knowledge that if you are going to tap a bend, make sure you take into account the bend! If you bend a tone, the note you want will be two frets lower that it would usually be. It's all very logical but will most likely take a little while to make it happen naturally! In the TAB, the bracketed note is not played (I have to have it in there to make the tab show properly the bends!). TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/pej7Izlp0ME 332 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/wes-style-8ve-7th-lk-016 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AP1xo92wNcc/hqdefault.jpg Wes Style 8ve 7th Wes Montgomery was one of the most influential jazz guitar players of all time. His trademark was using octaves to play lines, sometimes very fast and complex, but always with a great fat tone! Once you have got this lick under your fingers try using the octave approach to other licks you know, practice playing arpeggios using octaves and even the minor pentatonic sounds cool - so lots to play with! Have fun! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/AP1xo92wNcc 562 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/immersion-the-electric-kings-playlists-blim-u3-00-i1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912847331-123884de8c049fce5a9a09793416ee7303c1e9641649c588c38167d3f986440d-d_295x166?r=pad Immersion: The Electric Kings Playlists Absorb the feel of these classics—the more you listen, the better your playing will reflect the true essence of the Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/969880316 129 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-8-bc-182 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0lSd3QEy2do/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (Stage 8) It's getting personal now! Everybody struggles with different things! Part of the journey is learning how to teach yourself because there are many things ahead that are better figured out on your own, so make a start with choosing the chords you need to work on! One Minute Changes I would recommend putting some of the new G shapes in alongside work on any changes that you are still struggling with. C to G (3/4 fingers only / 'folk' version) D to G ('big' all fingers version) ? to ? ? to ? ? to ? Moving On... Ok, next up we're gonna get back down home with the 12 Bar Blues Style. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0lSd3QEy2do 91 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/f-chord-cheats-b2-902 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DcIXL7IU7Ko/hqdefault.jpg F Chord Cheats 3 ways of playing the F chord - WITHOUT a barre :) Awesome chord substitutes for you to explore! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DcIXL7IU7Ko 589 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/return-of-the-bend-lk-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xF85_xidQ2k/hqdefault.jpg Return Of The Bend The lick this week is a country styled thing which has a couple of cool ideas for you to steal and use in your own thing. The first is the double bend idea - it's very useful and sounds cool, I guess we don't expect it. The second thing is the cascading notes at the end. There are lots of country guys that do this type of thing, is's basically just a descending scale but using open strings to let the notes ring into each other - I like the sound of this... TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/xF85_xidQ2k 208 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/becks-bendy-trick-lk-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VYHHDIl75vQ/hqdefault.jpg Becks Bendy Trick This Jeff Beck Style lick is a real good fun. I guess he was trying to imitate a keyboard trick used by Jan Hammer and those jazz rock keyboard cats (See Blue Wind live for a whole heap of this kinda vibe). You can use it anyhow you like, it is possible to use on tone bends too - but doesn't quite have the same effect. In the little jam thing, I hope you can see how I am trying to explore the idea - mixing it in with common licks I like, and then trying to figure out how to get it all mixed smoothly in, and sometimes it takes a couple of goes and some stumbles, but that is the point of jamming with it - to find out how you gonna use it best! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/VYHHDIl75vQ 422 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bent-3rd-chromatic-lk-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yj7E5Am5GxE/hqdefault.jpg Bent 3rd Chromatic This week we have yet another A7 lick - it's chord specific so if you are going to use it in a blues - then play it over the A7 and when the chord moves to D7 - move the lick too! Very important. This one is a cool easy to play and easy to use and you can change it round a lot and it keeps it cool character! TAB He doesn't know a tone from a semitone? In the vid you hear me say a semitone bend for the second bend, but then I play a tone bend (well not quite it's kinda like 3/4's of a tone bend). But they both work, I was just not thinking about what I was saying... As written the bends being a tone it works only over A7 and in a blues would sound pretty rough over the D7. Why? Because the chord tones in A7 are A C# E G and the chord tones of D7 are D F# A C. The important note there is the C# in A7 and the C in D7... Maybe you could change the tone bends for semitone bends (bending to the note C)... might work over the D7 then... maybe playing it with tone bends over the A7 and when the chord changes to D7 you might change it to a semitone bend. That might sound cool?? hint hint. What you think! ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yj7E5Am5GxE 267 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/hammer-6-s-lk-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rz4TY4kEIRk/hqdefault.jpg Hammer 6's Hammer 6's is a very simple idea that can be explored pretty easy and is a fun way to get some fast sounding licks into your vocabulary. You probably want to use the 3 note per string scales shown in the Legato Series to explore it further. This one uses the scale of G Major and a good place to start would be exploring the pattern in G Major and see what other ways you can use. Always be aware of your root note so you can move new licks that you make up to other keys. Remember too that the G Majors Scale is also A Dorian, so this lick could work in an A Blues/Rock context too. Maybe explore other modal options too if you are into it: E Aeolian, C Lydian and D Mixolydian are all modes of G Major, so try it over a E min, Cmaj7 or D9 :) TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rz4TY4kEIRk 209 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/falling-legato-lk-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jnn_jNTeTXE/hqdefault.jpg Falling Legato Legato is a great way to get a bit speed into your blues rock playing, and this lick is a good one to start with in getting that kinda thing down. The "Hybrid" scale used here is mix of E Dorian (D Major scale) with the added "Blue note", the b5. It's a very common collection of notes because it sounds good and makes a consistent fingering which makes it real easy to play. I've written it as even 16th notes, which works, but you could also use the fast as possible thing too and it should work. Have fun! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/jnn_jNTeTXE 352 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/robben-s-poorly-lk-024 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bem7AgRLcgc/hqdefault.jpg Robben's Poorly Robben Ford is without a doubt one the greatest modern blues guitar players and songwriters. His first big album, Talk To Your Daughter, contains many great guitar songs, or which my favourites are Talk To Your Daughter and Help The Poor. This lick is similar to one he uses in Help The Poor and is characteristic of his style. Don't forget to play around with it yourself and remove the "seeds" and grow your own way! Gear was just my Tele into Zen Drive pedal and into Fender Princeston II amp. The jam used a Boomerang III looper pedal. TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/bem7AgRLcgc 398 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/half-diminished-slidey-lk-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X0OfxOzDs5w/hqdefault.jpg Half Diminished Slidey This week we have another A7 lick - it's chord specific so if you are going to use it in a blues - then play it over the A7 and when the chord moves to D7 - move the lick too! Very important. Don't be too freaked out by the theory stuff - it's fine just to play it and use it - but those into all that might like to try using some other C#min7b5 arpeggios over A7 chords and see what they come up with ;) more info on the theory below... But have fun ;) TAB The half dimini-whaaaa? So why on earth would you play a half diminished arpeggio over a A7 chord? Well I'm glad you asked... It's a real common tool and sounds cool too. Lets look at the notes we would find in a A9 chord. R 3 5 b7 9 A C# E G B So if we start with the C# note and just look at the notes C#, E, G and B - these form a C#m7b5 chord - which sounds awesome as a replacement for an A7 chord! Either the chord itself (TAB: x 4 5 4 5 x - note that no root note is played, but this is an A9 chord!) or the arpeggio as used here. There is a lot more about this in Superimposing Arpeggios if you are keen on more head stuff... https://www.youtube.com/embed/X0OfxOzDs5w 294 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/slide-to-the-same-lk-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wujg0-uYkeQ/hqdefault.jpg Slide To The Same The concept used in this lick is very simple - maybe that is what makes it so effective. Play one note and find the same note on the next string and slide to it. The blues guys have been using it since day 1. The rock guys and country guys stole it from them. It's everywhere cos it sounds cool. The same note does sound different on different strings and you get all these other slide noises in there that just make it sound cool :) Really helps if you know the notes all over the fingerboard - if you don't then maybe now is the time to start learning them! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wujg0-uYkeQ 303 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/reverse-3-in-a-line-lk-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PSeL_Q7US-4/hqdefault.jpg Reverse 3-in-a-line Pattern Study licks like this are real useful lick in your vocabulary. I think I stole this off a piano player called Jim Watson of his piano trio album. It's a bit of pig in other positions but well worth the effort. It works with the minor pentatonic and major pentatonic and once you get into it you will find it works in all kinds of situations. The live vid of "I don't need no doctor" solo I use this concept mixing maj and minor pentatonics which sounds pretty funky I think. Do try it out in other Boxes (Patterns) because it is great for your mind to figure which fingering works best where and there are some places where it really just doesn't work, well for me anyhow. Have fun. TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/PSeL_Q7US-4 342 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rock-sliding-octaves-lk-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SKOiG_8aYMk/hqdefault.jpg Rock Sliding Octaves I can't honestly recall who I stole this lick off, but most likely Steve Vai, it was the 80's and everyone was doing crazy rock stuff - I loved this lick and use it in many styles not just rock, but rock is where it was born as far as I can tell. Make sure you do it slow and get the notes real clear before you speed it up of course! TAB MISTAKE ALERT: The first 9 on the thinnest string should be an 8. Will fix when I next make new lick tabs - too much hassle right now! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SKOiG_8aYMk 425 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chuck-s-thirds-lk-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d9CAg7vW9TU/hqdefault.jpg Chuck's Thirds Using thirds is a real cool trick. A great producer one told me in a session, "why play one note, when you can play two!!" :) and these are a great way of doing just that without making it too busy... almost like using little chords. This is an A7 lick, uses the A Mixolydian Mode which are the same notes as the D Major Scale (D E F# G A B C# D). If you are not sure about modes yet, then I have a lesson on The Mixolydian Mode, or just be cool with playing the shapes, I didn't understand the theory for many years after I learned this type of lick. Being a modal kind of lick, this lick works over an A7 NOT an A Blues, you have to change the licks as the chords change! TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/d9CAg7vW9TU 551 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pass-major-9-lk-018 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KOsHrh9LqA4/hqdefault.jpg Pass Major 9 This is a Joe Pass style lick that works over a Major 7th chord. I really like it and use it all the time. One of my pet jazz licks... The first part is a Major 9th arpeggio (also note that it is a G Major Triad). The second part is a really common jazz trick that you really must get to work naturally, it's a really good one! The use of that chromatic note (the G#) really adds the jazz flavour. You'll find it in most types of jazz. Very common lick. Even though it's a C Major lick, it also sounds great over a A minor (the relative minor). Make sure you work each part individually and make sure you blend it into your playing so it just happens without thinking about it - that should take quite a bit of practice. N-joy. TAB NOTE: the last two notes are 16th notes just so I could squeeze them into the 2nd bar! The last note should be played on beat 1 of the new bar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/KOsHrh9LqA4 474 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-9-lk-019 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZQzMxGAHiFs/hqdefault.jpg Minor 9 I do like a nice minor 9 lick me. This one has quite a few nice tricks to teal, the use of the C Major 7the arpeggio shape over the A minor gives us the nice minor 9 sound, and the use of the major 7th note (G#) really brings in the jazz flavour. The progression I was jamming around with at the end was A minor7 with a Bb7 every now and then. Now just to make your head hurt a bit... the Bb7 is a tritone substitution for E7, which of course is the V -> I cadence. And for this you use the Bb Lydian Dominant mode, but mostly I was just playing off the Bb7 Arpeggio for that chord! What's with the Irish accent? It's a very old joke among some close friends ;) TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQzMxGAHiFs 232 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stevie-s-wrong-un-lk-023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bdm_Xq7IUQg/hqdefault.jpg Stevie's Wrong'un I really like the way Stevie Ray Vaughan spices up blues stuff using extra notes and this is a great example. It's based around an E Minor Pentatonic and throws in a little more spice using the 9th and then a trill with the b9 which is a very unusual note to use in a blues. It can be used as I did in the demo with just jammin it on the E, or it can follow the chords as I show quickly at the end of the vid. SRV mostly used this lick over the V chord but you really can use it however you like if it sounds good! Gear was just Strat into Zen Drive pedal and into Fender Princeston II amp. The jam used a Boomerang III looper pedal. TAB https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bdm_Xq7IUQg 490 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chromatic-6th-s-lk-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vfZ2dbrNfus/hqdefault.jpg Chromatic 6th's To start off my weekly lick series I'm going to show you a cool lick that uses 6th's. Very useful in Blues, Country, Rock and everything inbetween. Start by checking out thYour Weekly Guitare scale played in 6ths, then add in the chromatic notes when the shape is the same. More notes below. TAB The Mixo-what? So I got about a hundred tweets asking about the "theory" of this lick. So here it is. All the notes used (excluding the chromatic linking notes) belong to the A Mixolydian Mode, which is the perfect set of notes to play over an A7 Chord. The notes (over 2 octaves) in A Mixolydian are: A B C# D E F# G A B C# D E F# G A So the intervals are 6th's - the lowest note of the very first notes we play is the note E. Count up 6 notes (counting the E as 1) you end up on the note C# - which is a 6th away! All the notes are a "6th" apart. The "chromatic" notes were only applied when the shape was exactly the same a tone apart, we just filling in the semitone blank! Hope that explains it. NOTE: Modes can be a bit confusing if you try and understand them before you thoroughly understand the major scale and chord construction. So if you don't get those things, then leave modes until you do! https://www.youtube.com/embed/vfZ2dbrNfus 424 2017-10-30T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-style-bc-183 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0TxlHjPK0yk/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Blues Style This is probably the most-used riff in blues and rock music. This blues riff is very important to learn! You'll hear this sequence in 1000s of songs, either in this ‘pure' form or with a couple of simple variations. TAB and Notation Playing 12 Bar Start with your 1st finger in the 2nd fret (fourth string). Play this note, and the open fifth string together twice. Then, making sure you leave your 1st finger down the whole time, add your 3rd finger two frets higher and play those notes twice. So, the 3rd finger goes off and on the 4th fret (fourth string), while you also play the open fifth string. Always play the string that has your finger on it and also the next thickest string (physically the string above it). None of the other strings should be played at all. Try and let your 1st finger rest on the strings below the note you are playing to mute them. Just a soft touch will be enough to stop them from ringing out. Changing between the chords is the hardest part. It will be easier if you remember to always start a new chord with only your 1st finger down, and of course, you will always finish a bar with the 3rd finger down. This gives you a chance to change the string that your 3rd finger is on, and will help make each transition smooth. Take it slow to start with and make sure that you play the right amount of notes on each chord, otherwise, it won't be a 12-Bar Blues. It might help to count along with each bar, “1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +”. If you can, try to tap your foot on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4. Try and focus on maintaining an even rhythm as you change chords. This won't be easy at first, but you should get it after a few goes. The outer palm of your picking hand should rest lightly on the thickest string when it needs to be muted for the A and D chords. The rhythm was described to me when I learnt it as a ‘Chunka-Chunka' rhythm (thanks to my first teacher in Tasmania, Pete Thompson!). The proper word is swing 8s or a Shuffle. You should be able to get it by listening to the CD, or by saying “Chunka-Chunka” as you pl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0TxlHjPK0yk 491 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/that-ll-be-the-day-play-along-bx-187 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PfVHqw0D4bo/hqdefault.jpg That'll Be The Day [Play Along] This song is probably is not super easy but if you've been diligent about learning your chords and strumming and have the 12 Bar Shuffle down confidently then you might like this one! :) You can simplify it by replacing the shuffle with open chords and removing the rhythm 'pushes' (not something we cover in the beginner course. The backing track is using my Beginner Song Course App (available for Android and iOS, and has a free trial!). https://www.youtube.com/embed/PfVHqw0D4bo 248 2019-04-13T14:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-picking-exercise-bc-185 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c0alXyaLTC4/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Picking Exercise This lesson is all about developing your picking skills in a useful way that will help you learn your minor pentatonic scales as well. You should try doing it free time (try and tap your foot if you can!) first, and make sure you are doing it right. As soon as you are, you should put on the metronome and play along, and then slowly speed the tempo up! These exercises are all shown for the A Minor Pentatonic Scale. The Exercise Play the Minor Pentatonic Scale with: All down picks All up picks (yes, most people find this a bit tricky!!) Down and up pick on each note (so each note will be played twice) Alternate Picking (down with first finger notes and up with all the rest) When you are alternate picking, once you get to doing two notes per metronome click, make sure that the down pick is the note that goes with the click! Moving On... Next up we're gonna rock out a little more. https://www.youtube.com/embed/c0alXyaLTC4 395 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ear-training-exercises-f1-im-118 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1usL7U7a_QA/hqdefault.jpg Ear Training Exercises (F1) Well now it's time to Just Use Sound To Improve Now.... As I have explained before many times... Music is about sound - so what better way to learn than by listening to music and learning to copy it? It's how all the great players that you and I like learned to play - so we should do it that way too! The video will just explain the things to do, but the proper work comes with the audio files below! The real deal is audio!! Time to put your ears to work!! MP3 files of these audio clips are included on the DVD Set! Download JUSTIN Method Foundation 1 Worksheet in the column on the right --> Once you are finished you can download the answer sheet at the bottom of this page! 1A - E Shape Major and Minor Barre Progressions Don't forget that for these exercises I will be only using E Shape Major and Minor Barre chords - you have to work out which ones I'm playing. There will only be one chord in each bar so don't forget "the last thing you hear, staying in your ear" and pause the track to write the chords on the worksheet as you go. JUSTIN-Method-Ex-1A by justinguitar 1B - A Minor Pentatonic Solo In this exercise I will only use notes in the A Minor Pentatonic Scale, so listen closely and pause after each note (just like you did for the chord progressions) and write in the tab as you go! You'll see where there should be notes if you use the worksheet! It's a skill that takes time to learn so don't be distressed if you don't get them all right away! Be happy if you get some right, and more right the next time you try it! Check out this lesson on tab if you forgot how to write it! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-1B by justinguitar 1C - Rhythmic Dictation Exercises (Q / E only) In this exercise we are only using Quarter notes (Crotchets) and Eighth notes (Quavers). This time you won't be pausing the tape but the big deal here is counting along so that you can tell if notes are falling on the beat (1,2,3 or 4) or the 'ands" inbetween. They are only two bars long each, if you get real stuck then check the answer page JUSTIN-Method-E... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1usL7U7a_QA 794 2017-10-29T09:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introducing-16th-note-strumming-im-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hyi4htExE9E/hqdefault.jpg Introducing 16th Note Strumming In the foundation stage, we are going to explore 16th note strumming. It's no harder than 8th note strumming but is often used in different ways, the most common being to strum every note and use accents (more on that next lesson!). In this starter, we're going to check out the difference between 8th note and 16th note strumming and give you an exercise to get you going the right way! Those that completed Really Useful Strumming Techniques 2 will already be familiar with this technique, and can skip this lesson, those that completed Really Useful Strumming Techniques 1 will have had a little look but will probably find this lesson simple, but useful. To get really into 16th note reading during the course you might want to look at Understanding Rhythmic Notation as well, but it's not necessary at this stage... that would be for those technically minded folk among you! :) So enjoy the video and then check out the notes below! 8th note vs 16th note strumming So lets quickly revise 8th note patterns. We always: • Strum down on the beat (1,2,3,4). • Keep our hand moving evenly and consistently. • Strum up on the 'ands'. The basic rules for 16th note strumming are as follows: • Strum down on the beat (1,2,3,4). • Keep our hand moving evenly and consistently. • Strum down on the 'ands'. As you can see the big difference is what is happening on the 'and', in 8th note strumming this was played with an up strum and in 16th note strumming it is played with a down. So when playing 8th notes, the difference between 8th Note and 16th Note Strumming is purely down to if we play a down or an Up strum on the 'and'! Having a down strum on the beat and on the off beat means there must be an up in between each, so there are now two more divisions of the beat - giving as a total of 16 possible strums in a bar (hence 16th note strumming!). Important points Make sure you only tap your foot on the beat Many people struggle with this one at first but it's REALLY important to get used to the idea of just tapping your foot on the beat P... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hyi4htExE9E 588 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-f1-im-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hwy78VXtCdM/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes (F1) 🚨 NEW FREE E SHAPE BARRE CHORDS COURSE AVAILABLE HERE! All of you that did my Beginners Method should all be very familiar with this exercise! Well this one is a little different because the TECHNIQUE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SPEED. I know it goes a bit against the concept of the exercise when we first looked at it, so let me explain... When shifting barre chord grips up and down the neck the fingers often collapse as they brush on the strings. This must be avoided! Luckily this trick is real simple. 1. Play the barre chord. 2. Release the tension BUT LEAVE THE FINGERS TOUCHING THE STRINGS AND HOLDING THE CHORD SHAPE. 3. Slide the grip to the desired fret maintaining contact with the strings at all times. Too much pressure as you move and you will mush up the chord shape - it must be very gentle, only just touching! 4. Press down and play the new chord. 5. Repeat a lot until it becomes natural to do it this way. Watch the video - get it right - and then practice lots! Practice For this one you will be doing 5 x 1 minute. It can be more or less the same for each minute, but FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE HARDEST FOR YOU. Start small, moving just 2 or 3 frets. For example, you might do 1 minute of changing between the 3rd and 5th fret. Time how many changes you are doing, but remember the technique is more important - speeding this one up if your fingers are collapsing is just a waste of time and may even do more harm than good. So make sure those fingers have a good shape and then get sliding away! Moving On... Once you feel good about that it's time to check out the Major Scale! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hwy78VXtCdM 382 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/fretboard-diagrams-for-scales-mt-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S1pAV9ml53A/hqdefault.jpg Fretboard Diagrams For Scales Read scales on the fretboard diagrams and learn what order to play notes! https://www.youtube.com/embed/S1pAV9ml53A 150 2017-11-04T15:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/grade-3-ear-training-test-et-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uZr_ipsJBmM/hqdefault.jpg Grade 3 Ear Training Test You been practising and you're ready to sit your Grade 3 test? Then take your seat! https://www.youtube.com/embed/uZr_ipsJBmM 559 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/raffle-win-a-unique-gray-guitar-rf-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CNeNhQL1oJY/hqdefault.jpg Raffle: Win a Unique Gray Guitar! A unique replica of my (pink) Gray Guitar can be yours for only £5! Here's how. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/CNeNhQL1oJY 479 2023-07-06T01:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/practice-makes-permanent-pc-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gA3uCfZCEyk/hqdefault.jpg Practice Makes Permanent Practice makes perfect is a perfect blunder. It's just not true! Practice makes permanent, not perfect and this lesson explains the importance of getting it right - I don't think we need a lot of notes about this - just make sure you keep this in mind when you practice :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/gA3uCfZCEyk 330 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-1-medley-blim-u1-14-l4-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896026243-18dd5975e302265cdfb0218730e791afe96ce9f96ca01a9b4e49e63dc556d17a-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 1 - Medley This lick practice sequence is ideal for practice and improvisation. You can experiment with it in various ways. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903693781 235 2025-01-05T06:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/history-the-delta-blues-blim-u1-25-h1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031464-e702a95ff03a2c1e39d9ffba0766020edfda2975b081374214d95deb91789816-d_295x166?r=pad History: The Delta Blues The Delta Blues, a deeply rooted and profoundly emotional genre of music, holds a special place in the history of music. https://player.vimeo.com/video/962321753 22 2025-01-05T06:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/natural-harmonic-series-te-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v-IIWRqnT0c/hqdefault.jpg Natural Harmonic Series This technique is commonly used among technical rock gods and by pioneers like Jeff Beck. You can use these notes to play melodies and you can use them to create "dive bombs" in rock and metal. Remember that these are "natural" harmonics, not pinched or tapped, just rest your finger lightly on the string at the fret shown (you will have to guess a bit for the notes between two frets, like 2.6, which is slight further forward than halfway between the 2nd and 3rd fret). It can be fun to try and work out melodies that use these notes, and you will be able to see how the technique of tuning with harmonics works too! The Basic Idea To use this properly you need to know what notes are found at what frets. This chart shows you most of the harmonics available on the guitar neck. There are a few more, but these are the commonly used ones. Fret 12 9 7 5 4 3.2 2.6 2.2 2 1.8 1.5 1.2 Division 1/2 1/5 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/6 1/8 1/9 1/10 1/11 1/12 1/13 Interval Root 3rd 5th R 3rd 5th b7th R 2nd 3rd 5th b7th E String E G# B E G# B D E F# G# B D A String A C# E A C# E G A B C# E G D String D F# A D F# A C D E F# A C G String G B D G B D F G A B D F B String B D# F# B D# F# A B C# D# F# A E String E G# B E G# B D E F# G# B D https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-IIWRqnT0c 454 2017-10-30T15:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/transcribing-basics-blim-u1-22-e1-2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024423-9c597deffc542a0df70641eadaba4d6c940d3322bf148eefddff90b7c44aba52-d_295x166?r=pad Transcribing Basics All the questions you have about transcribing and how it relates to your Blues journey are likely answered here! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903801024 401 2025-01-05T06:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tonewoodamp-2-acoustic-guitar-effects-with-mike-dawes-and-justin-gr-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IDw7VLaSf7E/hqdefault.jpg ToneWoodAmp 2: Acoustic Guitar Effects with Mike Dawes and Justin ToneWoodAmp creates effects that come straight out of the soundhole. You don't need an amp or pedalboard—just your guitar and this device. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDw7VLaSf7E 1862 2025-08-22T00:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-major-7th-interval-et-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_rUQtJDJBAE/hqdefault.jpg The Major 7th Interval A big jump and hardly any songs, but you're a completist too right? Norwegian 80's stars to the rescue! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rUQtJDJBAE 529 2018-01-30T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/josh-smith-killer-blues-chords-sk-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9ME_4HlpYv0/hqdefault.jpg Josh Smith: Killer Blues Chords Josh Smith is among the finest Blues guitarists ever, certainly in the top 10 living Blues guitar players! In this lesson, he teaches Justin some killer blues chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ME_4HlpYv0 3701 2020-04-01T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/garage-band-introduction-rt-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C1CCkHBpLos/hqdefault.jpg Garage Band: Introduction It really is an incredible bit of software, you can record your guitar and voice, edit and add effects and there is a staggering amount of loops and samples to play with to make backing tracks - and it's dead easy!! If you've got a mac you really ought to spend some time with it, I believe it to be the best introduction to recording! It's always very useful to learn the basic key commands, it will speed up your workflow incredibly compared with using the mouse all the time. So here are the basic ones covered in this Introduction lesson. < space bar > Start / Stop < return > Back to the start < right arrow > Forward by a bar < left arrow > Back by a bar C Cycle Mode on/off cmd + U Metronome on/off ctrl + < right arrow > Zoom In ctrl + < left arrow > Zoom Out cmd + < shift > + N Create New Track I'll give you more useful key commands as we go through future lessons! Next lesson will be on using loops to create backing tracks... https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1CCkHBpLos 706 2018-03-09T09:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/garage-band-recording-electric-guitar-rt-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7zjuydCKq1c/hqdefault.jpg Garage Band: Recording Electric Guitar Plugging your guitar directly into Garage Band (through an audio interface obviously) won't get you the best sound ever, but it's not bad and it's very easy and worth exploring! We'll look at recording your amp with a microphone sometime soon. The recommended interface options I mentioned are: The iRig, The Apogee One, and the UA Apollo Twin. Download the WCAS Shattered Matter stems here if you want to jam over them yourself, lots of fun! I've not mentioned it in the video but all the guitar sounds are editable and there are a huge range of effects you can play with too, I should do a lesson on them at some point too, but just explore them yourselves for now, it's lots of fun! It's always very useful to learn the basic key commands, will speed up your workflow incredibly compared with using the mouse all the time. So here are the basic ones covered in this Introduction lesson. < space bar > Start / Stop < return > Back to the start < right arrow > Forward by a bar < left arrow > Back by a bar C Cycle Mode on/off cmd + U Metronome on/off ctrl + < right arrow > Zoom In ctrl + < left arrow > Zoom Out cmd + < shift > + N Create New Track ctrl + alt+ right arrow Zoom out on timeline ctrl + alt+ left arrow Zoom in on timeline I'll give you more useful key commands as we go through future lessons! Next lesson we'll get recording acoustic guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zjuydCKq1c 1356 2018-03-09T11:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/perfectly-starts-slowly-bg-1801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/prEiA2oVzik/hqdefault.jpg Perfectly Starts Slowly Slow down your guitar journey so you can become a much better guitar player! https://www.youtube.com/embed/prEiA2oVzik 1059 2022-05-30T18:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-reacts-mike-dawes-jump-van-halen-cover-md-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gD9-Wt1mcIU/hqdefault.jpg Justin Reacts: Mike Dawes "Jump" (Van Halen Cover) Fingerstyle Insanity! Justin reacts to Mike Dawes' cover of Jump (Van Halen) played LIVE in his studio! https://www.youtube.com/embed/gD9-Wt1mcIU 2052 2023-03-12T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-18-practice-routine-bg-1809 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UdHG6Jl8qIk/hqdefault.jpg Module 18 Practice Routine Good job, you've done it! Here's your suggested practice routine for Module 18. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UdHG6Jl8qIk 293 2022-07-25T20:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-string-blues-solos-bl-610 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1BmotdD7bsk/hqdefault.jpg One String Blues Solos So now that you're tearing it up in all the patterns we need to start exploring how to move horizontally through the patterns. For many people, this is pretty tricky to begin with so don't be disappointed if it is for you too! I recommend starting real simple, going back to the key of A and working on just the thinnest string for a while and really getting the 'dots' into your mind. 1. Do a solo using just the notes on the thinnest string, no bends or anything fancy - just making sure you get the right notes! 2. Once you're comfortable with that revise what notes can take bends and curls and try exploring that a while. 3. Then maybe start exploring using slides and any other technique based tricks that might help you milk the most from it. 4. When you really feel like you've exhausted the possibilities, try the same process on string 2! Playing on only one string is 'overly restrictive' and it can be very difficult to make things sound natural and cool like that. You'll probably have more 'musical' success allowing yourself to play on 2 strings, but the one string thing is the most powerful exercise. Do remember to try to keep it musical - SPACE is your friend :) Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Elmore James - The Sky Is Crying The Sky Is Crying (obviously on this album) has become a blues standard. Elmore was a slide guitar master and he had a few phrases which seem to appear pretty often, but he's the real deal and one of those cats that you need to listen to and soak in some of that blues feel. Buy at Amazon.co.uk • Buy at Amazon.com • https://www.youtube.com/embed/1BmotdD7bsk 752 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jens-larsen-teaches-justin-jazz-guitar-lesson-jl-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OzqtET92lzg/hqdefault.jpg Jens Larsen Teaches Justin: Jazz Guitar Lesson I want to restart playing Jazz, but I've had trouble before. Here's a lesson I took with Jens Larsen that could help if you have similar questions about Jazz guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzqtET92lzg 3403 2023-06-01T03:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/top-5-tips-for-new-guitar-players-bc-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CY2vwaYiMoY/hqdefault.jpg Top 5 Tips for new guitar players Some very basic things that might help you get started on your journey. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CY2vwaYiMoY 833 2017-10-30T15:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/dominant-7th-grips-for-blues-blim-u3-10-r1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912848196-ea017e5da6ab2479c3cf1cf483726bfed73d8dbbe7013129e176d34a0dd7400f-d_295x166?r=pad Dominant 7th Grips for Blues Blues guitar often revolves around riffs or shuffles, but all you need sometimes is to strum a Dominant 7th Chord! https://player.vimeo.com/video/949698942 1043 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jim-campilongo-misty-chord-melody-sk-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ED1miGPSkxw/hqdefault.jpg Jim Campilongo: Misty Chord Melody Jim is one of my all-time favorite guitar players. In this lesson, we dig into his approach to chord melody and explore the jazz standard, Misty. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ED1miGPSkxw 2932 2020-05-08T21:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-history-of-guitar-techniques-magazine-in-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ippNICo2m54/hqdefault.jpg The History Of Guitar Techniques Magazine In this interview, you'll learn about the history of Guitar Techniques Magazine with Neville Marten and Jason Sidwell. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ippNICo2m54 1030 2018-05-06T18:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ant-law-interview-with-a-jazz-monster-in-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YRFWRHhOKxk/hqdefault.jpg Ant Law. Interview with a Jazz Monster I met Ant many years ago and gave him just one lesson and he's gone off and become a great jazz guitar player! https://www.youtube.com/embed/YRFWRHhOKxk 1228 2018-11-10T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pierre-bensusan-interview-2015-ma-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BA4AxVsXUKc/hqdefault.jpg Pierre Bensusan Interview [2015] Interviewing Pierre Bensusan, a French-Algerian acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and composer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BA4AxVsXUKc 961 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/simon-mcbride-rock-sk-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y4sdj9erf6U/hqdefault.jpg Simon McBride: Rock Simon is an incredible rock guitar player - crazy technique but moderated with taste and quality songs. If you dig rock then check this out! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4sdj9erf6U 3279 2020-05-17T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/getting-into-slide-guitar-ap-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kSNUj7_pL6A/hqdefault.jpg Getting Into Slide Guitar In this lesson, Ariel Posen shows us how to start playing Slide Guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSNUj7_pL6A 1405 2019-03-25T09:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/violining-technique-with-special-guest-quist-in-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eR3EuegDQqM/hqdefault.jpg "Violining" technique with special guest Quist! In this interview with guitar master Quist, you'll learn more about one of his signature guitar sounds: the violining technique. https://www.youtube.com/embed/eR3EuegDQqM 898 2018-05-06T16:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/michael-fix-interview-2012-ma-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hzy4PqPS6CU/hqdefault.jpg Michael Fix Interview [2012] In this interview, we discuss fingerstyle techniques with acoustic guitar master Michael Fix. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzy4PqPS6CU 575 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mike-dawes-interview-2012-ma-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dG8i0O8XcSA/hqdefault.jpg Mike Dawes Interview [2012] Come along as we chat with Mike Dawes, an acoustic guitar virtuoso with impressive percussive techniques. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dG8i0O8XcSA 1358 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ariel-posen-music-philosophy-sk-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/THuP32irD_4/hqdefault.jpg Ariel Posen & Music Philosophy In this video, Ariel Posen & Justin Sandercoe discussed Dynamics, Improvisation, & Music Philosophy. https://www.youtube.com/embed/THuP32irD_4 2917 2021-01-27T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chat-play-cb-000 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-0rnaIHXeYQ/hqdefault.jpg Chat & Play Chat & Play with Chris Buck, and learn more about this guitar maestro's influence, career, and guitar journey! https://www.youtube.com/embed/-0rnaIHXeYQ 1201 2019-04-25T09:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pat-martino-interview-2-2-ma-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bdEsMeFj0Yk/hqdefault.jpg Pat Martino Interview [2/2] Part 2 of the Pat Martino Interview. What a legend and real nice guy too! https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdEsMeFj0Yk 516 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/gordon-giltrap-interview-2012-ma-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ymPu5KdAIAk/hqdefault.jpg Gordon Giltrap Interview [2012] In this interview, we sit down and chat fingerstyle guitar with legendary guitarist Gordon Giltrap. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ymPu5KdAIAk 637 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/martin-taylor-interview-2010-ma-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bgq4Gv3jfh8/hqdefault.jpg Martin Taylor Interview [2010] Martin Taylor is one of the finest jazz fingerstyle players and this was the first time I met him for an interview. Real nice guy and explains some interesting stuff. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bgq4Gv3jfh8 475 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tim-pierce-layering-parts-sk-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QwanTNvFZIw/hqdefault.jpg Tim Pierce: Layering Parts Tim Pierce explains his approach to layering guitar parts. This interview is pure gold! https://www.youtube.com/embed/QwanTNvFZIw 2063 2020-05-16T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pat-martino-interview-1-2-ma-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nhTiXxT2HM4/hqdefault.jpg Pat Martino Interview [1/2] In this interview, Pete fills in as we dive into the inspirations and musical approach of legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nhTiXxT2HM4 356 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/jim-campilongo-interview-2010-ma-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OM1cAUuOEo4/hqdefault.jpg Jim Campilongo Interview [2010] In this interview, guitarist Jim Campilongo sits down and chats about all things guitar and his musical journey. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OM1cAUuOEo4 2915 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stevie-vai-interview-2010-ma-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T5Pn4LMJ9ZM/hqdefault.jpg Stevie Vai Interview [2010] All-time guitar hero Steve Vai granted me a really great interview back in 2010; he's so humble and down to earth! https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5Pn4LMJ9ZM 742 2017-10-30T15:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/playing-behind-the-slide-ap-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RnF-0Wbv8wo/hqdefault.jpg Playing Behind The Slide In this interview, Ariel Posen teaches us how he plays behind the slide. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RnF-0Wbv8wo 1130 2019-04-02T10:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/martin-taylor-interview-2015-ma-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Q8QRUXkkUg/hqdefault.jpg Martin Taylor Interview [2015] Interview with Jazz fingerstyle legend and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Martin Taylor. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Q8QRUXkkUg 2221 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-long-fine-tuning-ap-050 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mc9Z3UcRkBM/hqdefault.jpg How Long (Fine Tuning) In this lesson, we explore the finer points, chord variations & how melodic approach to Ariel Posen's song How Long. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mc9Z3UcRkBM 700 2019-03-25T14:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/larry-carlton-interview-2008-ma-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Tdgw43oIDw/hqdefault.jpg Larry Carlton Interview [2008] Larry Carlton is one of my all-time favorite players and has been since I was a teenager. What an honor to chat with him! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Tdgw43oIDw 624 2017-10-30T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chris-buck-articulations-cb-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hGb7ErtD-Us/hqdefault.jpg Chris Buck Articulations We're diving into Chris Buck's signature trademark articulation in this interview! https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGb7ErtD-Us 2387 2019-04-12T07:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bjj-guitar-justin-visits-the-gracie-university-bjj-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FSCL8DwgF_s/hqdefault.jpg BJJ & Guitar? Justin visits the Gracie University Justin sits down with Rener and Ryron Gracie to uncover the powerful learning principles behind BJJ, music, and skill mastery. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FSCL8DwgF_s 3677 2025-02-11T01:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-fresh-approach-to-transcribing-blim-u1-23-e2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896024280-c05a72ec863bcfb71aec3e49a187ff85ab66c381bbfefdd477eb3b6ab56bab63-d_295x166?r=pad A Fresh Approach to Transcribing Learn a fresh approach to make transcribing simpler and more enjoyable. Elevate your Blues journey today! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903809084 434 2024-06-30T08:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/concepts-space-sustain-staccato-fu-507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NDZKzN-Nhjs/hqdefault.jpg Concepts: Space, Sustain & Staccato In this lesson we're looking at three very important concepts in Funk Rhythm Guitar: Space, Sustain and Staccato. These three aspects of music are very important to the Funk genre and understanding what they are and how they relate to grooves is super important, a very big deal. TABs to help you out! "Chips" on 2 & 4 - make sur eyou get tight with the drums! Sustain & Staccato - be sure beat 1 is long and the two hits on Beat 3 are tight (staccato!) Adding in some scratches too, but stay aware of note lengths! All sustained, but can you play it with short notes (staccato) too? To Practice... 1. Grooves The first thing to work on (obviously) is being able to do the grooves above and make sure you know what the focus is on each - they're trying to give you cool things to check out in each one. 2. With A Metronome Again when you feel confident with each then try playing along with the metronome - don't be in a hurry to play them fast - be in hurry to make them feel good and stay in time with the metronome! 3. Explore See what else you can make of the grooves - explore them, make them your own, and if at all possible, start jamming with them!! 4. Have Fun Next lesson we're going to be putting these hits into specific places to create common funk grooves - so important here is for you to have some fun and just jam around with them and see what happens! Real World Examples Pretty much every funk song uses these techniques!, but off the top of my head, try looking up: I Feel Good - James Brown (SPACE: in verses guitar only plays a chip on beat 2, every 2 bars!) Sex Machine - James Brown (SUSTAIN & STACCATO in the main guitar groove both are used!) Recommended Album You ain't never going to get the Funk if you're not listening to the greats! So with each lesson, I'm going to recommend a funk album for you to sink your ears into and help you get in the groove - some of the all-time classics and maybe some slightly less known albums too that I really dig. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (1971) There are a lot of F... https://www.youtube.com/embed/NDZKzN-Nhjs 1038 2017-11-11T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/no-tuner-learn-how-to-tune-your-guitar-by-ear-using-harmonics-bites-0001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ihlDFZjNM6g/hqdefault.jpg No Tuner? Learn How to Tune Your Guitar by Ear (using Harmonics!) Learn how to tune your guitar without a tuner in this quick lesson using harmonics. Perfect for beginners or anyone tuning by ear. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ihlDFZjNM6g 355 2025-06-13T09:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-blues-curl-blim-u1-08-t2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028820-4e16862bff69da195ac7c6f228c16206db695c958fc4de137be5f6c2a10ce4e2-d_295x166?r=pad The Blues Curl Let's make our Blues playing more authentic by perfecting the ¼ tone bend on the b3 of the scale! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903299264 547 2024-06-30T07:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-pedal-board-that-grows-d-addario-xpnd-aw-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rGTe2_eFc3I/hqdefault.jpg The pedal board that grows: D'Addario XPND Get to know all about the D'Addario XPND on this complete review and get to know my tricks on https://www.youtube.com/embed/rGTe2_eFc3I 1751 2022-03-02T10:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-s-the-best-guitar-for-a-beginner-bc-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7m4H8aIsTBQ/hqdefault.jpg What's the best guitar for a beginner? Every beginner guitarist struggles to know what guitar to buy, so here's my advice to help you get the right instrument to start your journey with. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7m4H8aIsTBQ 709 2017-10-30T14:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/demystify-the-minor-scales-2-2-sc-130b https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yfKT6MGiokE/hqdefault.jpg Demystify The Minor Scales [2/2] See notes on part 1 of this lesson. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yfKT6MGiokE 406 2018-01-19T12:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/mixing-major-minor-pentatonics-bl-804 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fi1BWmg3JUk/hqdefault.jpg Mixing Major & Minor Pentatonics This lesson has been very heavily requested but I think we needed to build up to it by exploring the Major Pentatonic first! The basic idea is as follows: I Chord (A7) - A Major Pentatonic IV Chord (D7) - A Minor Pentatonic V Chord (E7) - Either E Major Pentatonic or stay with A Min Pent for the last 4 bars of the blues! If you don't understand what the I, IV, V chord thing means, you might wanna check out Practical Music Theory! Theory So why the A Minor Pentatonic on the D7? The A Major Pentatonic introduces the note C# over the A7 which is the perfect note to play over that chord - it really shouts "I'M ON THE A7!" and it's really strong - a great note to play. But the C# sucks over the D7 (as we explored in the previous lessons in the series). So over the D7 we play A Minor Pentatonic which has the note C which is a great note to play over the D7, Why? D7 Chord = D F# A C A Minor Pentatonic = A C D E G That change to accent the C (which is a very strong chord tone in the D7 chord) sounds awesome and SIGNIFIES THE CHANGE to the D7 and away from the A7. Over the blues you should explore: A A A A A Maj Pent D D A A A Min Pent / A Maj Pent E D A E Whatever! Exercise 1 I recommend sticking with the same visual shape to start with - so using Major Pentatonic Lick 1 from this series and then moving to Box 1 Minor Pentatonic for the IV Chord. Just explore it a bit, don't be too self critical and just give it a bit of go. Try to develop a sense of where the chords are changing, so you're confident you know when to change! Exercise 2 When you feel cool with that - try having a go using the Major Pentatonic Lick 2 (the last lesson) and mixing it in again with Box 1 Minor Pentatonic for the IV Chord - they're in the same position of the neck so it should feel pretty comfortable! Make sure you are aware of where the chords are changing! An Alternate Approach The above is by far the most common way of mixing the major and minor pentatonic, but you can also flip it and use A Minor Pentatonic over the I Chord (A7) and the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fi1BWmg3JUk 1085 2019-04-04T18:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/seven-nation-army-b1-309 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2LEO5xc9rEA/hqdefault.jpg Seven Nation Army Have fun with this easy riff for beginners! You only need to use one finger. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/2LEO5xc9rEA 376 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/wobbly-whammy-bar-fix-gg-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z5ini0uUg7s/hqdefault.jpg Wobbly Whammy Bar Fix I've been struggling with my whammy bar being loose on Strats most of my life, always annoyed me. So after spending some time getting my Jeff Beck strat all nicely set up I decided I was going to get this problem solved, so I trawled the internet for hours and found nothing... So I tweeted. And I got a great response from lots of surprised people telling me about this tape called PTFE tape (also called Plumbers tape, or Teflon tape and other names too). I told a few pro friends and they didn't know about it either (I wasn't the only one!!) so I thought I'd do a quick vid and show y'all how it's done (it very simple). I have found that it needs re-doing every few weeks, but I play a lot, so maybe less often if you are not... and it's not that much hassle really... Hope it sorts it for you. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z5ini0uUg7s 200 2018-03-09T07:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-change-strings-on-an-electric-guitar-1-2-gm-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xHeFA_qlR0I/hqdefault.jpg How To Change Strings On An Electric Guitar [1/2] Learning to restring a guitar is a lot easier than you might first think. If you are taking it to your local store to get it done, now is the time to learn. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xHeFA_qlR0I 421 2018-03-09T04:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-3-practice-routine-b1-311 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qckkf38Xk2Y/hqdefault.jpg Module 3 Practice Routine Get a 20-minute practice session for Module 3! https://www.youtube.com/embed/qckkf38Xk2Y 354 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sneak-peak-at-justin-s-studio-bl-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-f0haqaKqrg/hqdefault.jpg Sneak Peak At Justin's Studio A little look around my studio before changing my main desk, Jan 14th 2019. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-f0haqaKqrg 824 2019-01-15T07:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/module-22-practice-routine-bg-2209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jzVIJVGI_Y0/hqdefault.jpg Module 22 Practice Routine Your LAST beginner practice suggestion is here. Are you ready? :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzVIJVGI_Y0 403 2023-02-28T21:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-3-b1-310 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XxICTF-NIZ8/hqdefault.jpg Songs For Module 3 The best songs to practice the skills you've just learned. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxICTF-NIZ8 127 2020-01-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ear-training-exercises-f2-im-128 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2IZtN-ih2KI/hqdefault.jpg Ear Training Exercises (F2) Well it's that time again to Just Use Sound To Improve Now... This lesson we're going to be listening out for 7th and minor 7th chords, transcribing some short solos using The Major Scale and adding some rests to our rhythmic dictation! The real deal is audio!! OK, I have explained things in the video - but now it's time to put your ears to work!! MP3 files of these audio clips are included on the DVD Set! Download JUSTIN Method Foundation 2 Worksheet <-- alt click (or right click on PC) and select save to disk. Once you are finished you can download the answer sheet at the bottom of this page! 2A - E Shape Major, Minor, 7 and Minor 7 Barre Progressions In these exercises I will be only using E Shape Major, Minor, 7 and Minor 7 Barre chords - you have to work out which ones I'm playing. There will only be one chord in each bar so don't forget "the last thing you hear, staying in your ear" and pause the track to write the chords on the worksheet as you go. Find the root note first then work out the chord type! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-2A by justinguitar 2B - G Major Scale Solo In this exercise I will only use notes in the G Major Scale, so listen closely and pause after each note (just like you did for the chord progressions) and write in the tab as you go! You'll see where there should be notes if you use the worksheet! It's a skill that takes time to learn so don't be distressed if you don't get them all right away! Be happy if you get some right, and more right the next time you try it! Check out this lesson on tab if you forgot how to write it! JUSTIN-Method-Ex-2B by justinguitar 2C - Rhythmic Dictation Exercises (Q / E and rests) In this exercise we are only using Quarter notes (Crotchets) and Eighth notes (Quavers) but also adding in rests of the same values. This time you won't be pausing the tape but the big deal here is counting along so that you can tell if notes are falling on the beat (1,2,3 or 4) or the 'ands" inbetween. They are now 4 bars long, you might want to pause after each bar to write it in, bu... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IZtN-ih2KI 405 2017-10-29T08:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/notes-in-the-first-five-frets-mt-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zzkBk8aTelA/hqdefault.jpg Notes In The First Five Frets Time to start learning the notes on the guitar fretboard! Let's start with notes in the first five frets :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzkBk8aTelA 192 2017-11-04T17:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/great-guitar-tone-starts-here-bg-1507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/th4HE45_SEs/hqdefault.jpg Great Guitar Tone Starts Here! The perfect guitar tone starts by deciding on your string gauge and basic guitar setups! https://www.youtube.com/embed/th4HE45_SEs 1749 2022-01-03T03:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-2-medley-blim-u2-12-l2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905422823-e17a7ebab1756d4b8da0a8b985ee9cd2338198b828dfd1c01cf1b7b2a06775e0-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 2 Medley Now that you've mastered the Pattern 2 licks individually, it's time to incorporate them into the medley. https://player.vimeo.com/video/942369459 144 2024-07-28T11:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bend-vibrato-blim-u2-07-t2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905422331-89fb55282fe62129de01591487df0849086622f1600c5990dc2c8852a5904f51-d_295x166?r=pad Bend Vibrato Let's revisit your bends with vibrato now that you understand depth and speed! https://player.vimeo.com/video/942279857 223 2024-07-28T11:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ups-to-the-all-down-16ths-b2-906 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NEVXie3LRaU/hqdefault.jpg Ups To The All Down (16ths) Let's explore the 16th Note Strumming pattern. It's about time, huh? :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/NEVXie3LRaU 535 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-f-chord-b2-901 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4cR1sa1_d_8/hqdefault.jpg The F Chord The F chord is a struggle for most beginner guitar players, but together we can do it :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/4cR1sa1_d_8 966 2020-05-22T14:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/ukulele-quick-start-for-mums-dads-ku-000 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hzge6fKbj5M/hqdefault.jpg Ukulele Quick Start For Mums & Dads In just 15 minutes you can learn all the ukulele basics you need to start making music with your children :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hzge6fKbj5M 910 2020-07-16T21:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/stage-2-one-minute-changes-bc-124 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LXXFzXT-pQQ/hqdefault.jpg Stage 2: One Minute Changes The miracle One Minute Changes return and now we add in our Minor Chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXXFzXT-pQQ 239 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-dorian-and-phrygian-modes-mt-574 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/802835970-92d3c47c63903f3e8f0ee86bfdc0aa8fb37b9683951ac4ec594ca876e5a1585d-d_295x166?r=pad The Dorian and Phrygian Modes Get a practical taste of modes and get to grips with the Minor Keys' Theory. https://player.vimeo.com/video/351286088 542 2018-05-09T00:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-1-bar-blim-u1-16-r2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028019-0d372f117bf46c7d7eba822ecf4baea8ebd637520889902a48d8c2b2afdb6c91-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: 1 Bar Let's get up our arpeggio and stop before the octave so the riff takes just one bar. Then, apply it to the Standard Blues! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903379727 247 2024-06-30T07:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bass-6-with-position-shift-blim-u1-17-r3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028214-3d5599e1ffa9e0b0c295566c82149821d74d5982053bee5b1a37162143aa3c5d-d_295x166?r=pad Bass 6: With Position Shift Transform your Bass 6 Riff with the 'My Girl' variation! Learn to recognize it across Blues genres and dive into creative exploration. https://player.vimeo.com/video/903384193 244 2024-06-30T08:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-lick-1-rf-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ND7p2dyUf_4/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Lick 1 This first lick is an all-time classic and it's fun to use and fairly easy to get started with! Just make sure you keep your time solid! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ND7p2dyUf_4 422 2018-07-30T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/artist-study-the-early-blues-blim-u1-26-a1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896031985-fc0b4c55e2ce039ddee6b68d1ff476120faf8643d9ea9a4fae2a4fd2ee5b243b-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us Artist Study: The Early Blues The early Blues can be hard work. Scratchy old recordings are blissful for some but frustrating and annoying for others! Plus, review your checklist for Unit 1. https://player.vimeo.com/video/962324172 514 2024-06-30T08:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-use-jam-tracks-blim-u1-19-j1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896025117-7607bc368102bc5393fcc6bc16d6babe3ab7c6d4f07c16f9b974d8c54c5177a1-d_295x166?r=pad How to Use Jam Tracks The best way to develop your language skills, from learning words to putting sentences together, is to practice it! Obvious right? https://player.vimeo.com/video/903690949 170 2024-06-30T08:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/scales-as-a-framework-blim-u1-02-k1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1896028953-4f31df9557e7accae0feb45e5c3052ae1634454e387a125eca2b2609f80f1459-d_295x166?r=pad Scales as a Framework The Minor Pentatonic Scale is the foundational alphabet for your vocabulary. While crucial, it's just the start—and here's why! https://player.vimeo.com/video/903264096 197 2024-06-30T07:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/melodic-sequence-123-234-extension-lesson-blim-u2-05-k4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905423685-c3542716b8be070bcca52357f223bfb6e2be96858432b5550a90bbfe1998f1e0-d_295x166?r=pad Melodic Sequence: 123, 234 (Extension Lesson) It is time for you to get introduced to a concept we call Melodic Sequences—but this is an optional lesson! :) https://player.vimeo.com/video/941874226 658 2024-07-28T11:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-unit-2-q-a-blim4-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FjpfVW2yDOQ/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 4 - Unit 2 Q&A Watch the recording for Unit 2's Q&A. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FjpfVW2yDOQ 3735 2026-02-12T13:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/finger-gym-te-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XDt_4ha9Xjs/hqdefault.jpg Finger Gym ** Important note ** A newer version of this lesson can be found here. Play Better Guitar: The Finger Gym Exercise In the new version I have revised my advice and now recommend only doing hammer-ons, not flick-offs. I explain my reasons in the new lesson. In my humble opinion, this is probably the best exercise for technical development on the guitar. It works every possible finger combination and if you do this exercise regularly you will notice that your hand strength will increase at an amazing rate, making everything and anything easier to play. Some of the finger combinations are very difficult to execute at first but persevere because by practising these ones your finger independence will increase. This exercise is just the guitar equivalent of going to the gym - it will improve every aspect of your playing if you do it regularly - just don't go too mad with it at first and hurt yourself! I recommend doing just 5 minutes a day, maybe 10 if you are really working hard - but really you will be better off doing other exercises as well and not doing too much on this one. Remember to practice what you can't do, not practice what you can - so work the most on the combinations that you find the hardest! The Lesson Let's start with Hammer-on's because they are a little easier. Get to grips with these properly first and then move onto the flick-off's (pull-offs). When you understand the exercise and can do both hammer and flicks, you should usually start your routine with flick-offs because they are harder. Note that I call them “flick-off's rather than the more common term “pull-off” because the action that you do is a lot more like a flick than as a pull! The first combination is 1-2, which means the first and then the second finger. Always work with the one finger in each consecutive fret. Starting on the 1st string, what you do is pick the first note (in this case 1st fret) and hammer down the second finger of the combination (in this case the 2nd finger in the 2nd fret), making sure the note is clear. Aim to... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDt_4ha9Xjs 949 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/4-4-fingerstyle-patterns-bg-1904 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jF0RduFSyHg/hqdefault.jpg 4:4 Fingerstyle Patterns Learn how to play 5 Fingerstyle Patterns in 4:4 Time on the guitar - and a cool way of practicing them! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jF0RduFSyHg 1214 2022-08-08T09:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/garage-band-using-loops-to-make-a-backing-track-rt-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Edhw9LONhlQ/hqdefault.jpg Garage Band: Using Loops To Make A Backing Track The loops included in GarageBand are incredible, both in range of styles and in quality, and learning to use and edit them makes it easy to create your own backing tracks to jam over. Loads of fun and lots to learn! I had an audio 'issue' with my screencast software and the sample rate of GB and the program were different and made clicky sounds in the GB audio when I edited... but as the rest of the lesson was fine I left it in there and I promise to improve for future lessons ;). Key Commands It's always very useful to learn the basic key commands, will speed up your workflow incredibly compared with using the mouse all the time. So here are the basic ones covered in this Introduction lesson. < space bar > Start / Stop < return > Back to the start < right arrow > Forward by a bar < left arrow > Back by a bar C Cycle Mode on/off cmd + U Metronome on/off ctrl + < right arrow > Zoom In ctrl + < left arrow > Zoom Out cmd + < shift > + N Create New Track Next lesson we'll get recording your guitar over some loops!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Edhw9LONhlQ 1003 2018-03-09T11:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-3-blue-note-and-additions-blim-u3-02-k2 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1912847884-a3fdcc87203cba93d5dadd91265a83134a82b4482974eab94e0afbe77bebf0fe-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 3 Blue Note And Additions Let's learn where the Blue Note, the 6th, and the 9th fit into Pattern 3 of the Minor Pentatonic Scale. https://player.vimeo.com/video/948277073 601 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/22-srv-p2-maj-3-bend-bl-522 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xg2Um1-Utx0/hqdefault.jpg #22: SRV: P2 Maj 3 Bend This is one of my personal favourite SRV licks and one I use pretty often, doing that semitone bend on the 9th fret is just too cool. This is a proper all time great blues lick. TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this is what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar than it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would not be very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xg2Um1-Utx0 294 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/rhythm-guitar-basics-2-bc-146 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eOXJRQPLUNE/hqdefault.jpg Rhythm Guitar Basics 2 Using some more eighth notes to make a cool pattern. Now we are going to bring in some more eighth notes to make two very common patterns. RUST 4 This first pattern adds an up-strum on the ‘and' of both ‘3' and ‘4': Open String Ring One very common thing that happens in the real world is that when you are changing chords, you'll actually end up playing the open strings of the guitar on the final up-strum of the bar, rather than holding the last chord right to the end. Don't be afraid of it—it's O.K.—once you know this is happening you'll hear it on many hit records and great songs and it doesn't make them sound bad at all. I can choose when I do it or when I don't, but it's a great help for a beginner to have that little extra time to make the chord changes (not that we will be joining the chord sequences and the strumming patterns just yet!). I know you might think that sometimes it's not going to sound good, and you would be right. Sometimes it sounds great and sometimes it doesn't. You have to use your ears (again!). If it sounds good, it is good. RUST 8 This is another important, commonly-used pattern: up-strums on the ‘and' after ‘2' and ‘3'. We will be developing this pattern soon, so make sure that you give this plenty of practice. Really aim to make it feel natural and easy, so you don't have to think about it. Repetition will make that work for you! Watching Your Hand 'Round about now, many people start to get worried about watching their strumming hand. When they do the fretting hand starts to go wrong and they get freaked out... when you are learning something new or checking for mistakes it is fine to watch your strumming hand, but try not to let that become the main thing you look at. You should try and develop a feel for it; let your strumming hand develop its own ‘eyes' and find its way. This will happen a lot faster than you might expect, but you must have the confidence to let it go. Sometimes you will make mistakes, and that is OK, as long as you learn from them. In conclusion: it's OK to wat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eOXJRQPLUNE 544 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-sus2-ash-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CV4jCtl6kU8/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Sus2 These are fantastic chords to get under your fingers! We'll get the fingering right and better understand what suspended chords are. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CV4jCtl6kU8 326 2023-08-09T02:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/vari-shuffle-climb-be-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajC9kXLM8nk/hqdefault.jpg Vari-Shuffle Climb Learn how to climb up the chords in a 12 Bar blues sequence. An awesome tool to play blues guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajC9kXLM8nk 1800 2020-11-20T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/that-6th-trick-be-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z1X7E4Wn3ow/hqdefault.jpg That 6th Trick The 6th interval on guitar is super useful and a fun tool to explore in a Blues guitar context! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1X7E4Wn3ow 1908 2020-11-13T17:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/misty-melody-ja-532 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-zVtF724C0A/hqdefault.jpg Misty [Melody] Make sure you memorise the melody in one position. Of course later it's a good idea to be able to play it all over the neck wherever you want, but that will come later, first really nail it in one position. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-zVtF724C0A 875 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-reverb-delay-the-right-way-pb-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ASKx9IMQjQM/hqdefault.jpg Using Reverb + Delay the Right Way Reverb & Delay add a professional sheen to your productions and give them amazing depth. In this video we find out the best way to use them on vocals. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ASKx9IMQjQM 1010 2020-08-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/win-a-prs-se-ce24-with-the-justinguitar-song-challenge-comp-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLzPX98MI0g/hqdefault.jpg Win a PRS SE CE24 with the JustinGuitar Song Challenge Do you want to take home a brand-new PRS SE CE24 Electric Guitar? Enter the #JustinGuitarSongChallenge for your chance to win big! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zLzPX98MI0g 40 2024-10-27T17:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/standard-vibrato-blim-u2-06-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905422535-255c1041d3ca3a96007000b6d7acaa111841f435894dcf0fda70820b5ca13777-d_295x166?r=pad Standard Vibrato Vibrato is a very important technique for sounding good when playing Blues guitar. It's slightly more subtle than string bending but just as important! https://player.vimeo.com/video/941905171 840 2024-07-28T11:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/2020-ukulele-buyers-guide-uk-667 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AcRVyQQ0IxY/hqdefault.jpg 2020 Ukulele Buyers Guide Not sure what to look for when buying a ukulele? Then here's your ultimate guide to buying your first uke in 2020! https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcRVyQQ0IxY 1191 2020-07-16T21:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/05-clapton-p1-doublestop-bend-bl-505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9zh_E6mjqiE/hqdefault.jpg #05: Clapton: P1 Doublestop Bend This Eric Clapton style lick is a real classic! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings I used the neck pickup with the volume and tone all the way up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... I kept the amp pretty clean nothing exciting. My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 5, Treble 4, Bass 8, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings I used my Nobels ODR-1 for this one, approx settings: Drive 5, Spectrum 4, Level 7 - just trying to make it sound like an amp being driven hard, not really 'distorted'. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9zh_E6mjqiE 296 2017-11-17T10:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/licks-in-pattern-2-blim-u2-11-l1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905411042-b51b045a0e9780a4bfc413a6fe198d0ed2b9d0a6c6eb4980ef1adc13a84b0541-d_295x166?r=pad Licks In Pattern 2 Let's expand your Blues vocabulary with some classic licks used by the Blues masters. https://player.vimeo.com/video/981869346 1839 2024-07-28T11:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/06-bb-king-bb-box-1-chord-bl-506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AtC2RpVJm2k/hqdefault.jpg #06: BB King: BB Box 1 chord B. B. King is "The Chairman Of The Board", certainly one of the greatest blues guitar players to have ever lived, and from watching the biographical film "The Life Of Riley" (Riley B King is his birth name) he seems a thoroughly great man, a great human being, worthy of the many accolades he receives. This lick introduces you to the famous "BB Box", a small group of notes that BB uses a lot which sound great. In the lesson I show you how he's using the box as well as teaching this classic lick! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtC2RpVJm2k 552 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/take-care-of-your-posture-qt-023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cqEhj5C0gf8/hqdefault.jpg Take Care Of Your Posture Perfect Guitar Posture This Quick Tip video brings up a super important topic. I wish I'd been told about it when I was young! As guitar players, it's easy for us to neglect our posture. It might seem boring or irrelevant, but the fact is that poor posture can cause terrible neck and spine issues. Much better to stop it early. The way you sit is crucial. The best sitting posture is a straight back, your feet flat on the ground, looking forward. Also, remember to keep your shoulders relaxed. Let's look at common issues that take us away from this posture. Bad Guitar Posture Habit #1: Twisting To See The Music One terrible habit (my personal favorite) is twisting around to see the music. It might seem harmless, but it can cause severe neck and spine issues. The solution is to buy a music stand and put it in front of you with the music. That way, you can sit upright and face forward. When I played guitar as a teen, I used to keep my sheet music to my left, behind the guitar. I had to twist my neck and spine AND bend over slightly to see it. After years of doing that, I now have permanent neck damage. :( Bad Guitar Posture Habit #2: Bending Over To See The Frets Another habit is bending and twisting your spine and neck to see the frets. As guitarists, our right hand is hidden from us as we play. And when we're practicing something new, we want to see what we're doing. There is a way to see the frets without bending! The solution is to place a small mirror in front of you to see your right hand. That way, you can look forward and avoid the need to strain your neck. :) And in general, I recommend you pay attention to your posture as you play. It needs attention and care, and it's easy to forget. Every so often, check your posture. If you're not sitting correctly, make changes. Professional Posture Help You'll need professional help if you have persistent pain. I see Jennie Morton at The British Academy Of Performing Arts Medicine. She's excellent, and many of my music friends see her too. And The Alexander Technique... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cqEhj5C0gf8 469 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/48-bb-king-slide-to-blue-bl-548 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TVTyPeNUUqs/hqdefault.jpg #48: BB King: Slide To Blue TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Gibson 335 guitar (1969) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used the neck pickup, with the volume rolled back a tiny bit just to help it clean up. Amp Settings 'Exact settings' even if you have the same amp and guitar will probably not sound exactly the same... My settings (to use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 8, Bass 6, Reverb 3, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TVTyPeNUUqs 334 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/major-scale-pattern-1-im-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DtaRQoXtIOs/hqdefault.jpg Major Scale Pattern 1 🚨 NEW FREE MAJOR SCALE MAESTRO COURSE AVAILABLE HERE! In the Beginners Method we looked a little at the Minor Pentatonic Scale, but it is the Major Scale that is the cornerstone of all western harmony. I have quite a few lessons on The Major Scale Positions, CAGED and all that - but we're just looking at one pattern and then how to use it. The Major Scale has seven notes (plus the octave in practice), which in solfege are the syllables: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti and Do. Probably you know how that should sound, right? singing in school and stuff... well if it doesn't sound like that, something is wrong... The good ol' Wikipedia has lots of well presented technical information on the Major Scale too. We're going to be using this scale a lot during the Intermediate Foundation Stages and the first you need to do is to memorise it. BEFORE you get started please watch the video and make sure you start off the right way or read the memorisation hints below. Have fun! Major Scale Pattern 1 This is the most commonly learnt Major scale pattern. It is pretty easy to play. You should learn and get really good with this scale before you start to learn any more. Please don't try and learn lots of scale patterns until you know how to use one properly first. You will just be wasting your time and making yourself sad because you'll be working on boring things when you should be making music with scales which is LOTS more fun! We're going to get onto making music with this little puppy as soon as you have it under your fingers! But you do have to have it memorised first! PLEASE LEARN IT SLOWLY AND FOLLOW THE FINGERING CAREFULLY! See further hints below. Place that "R" on the 3rd fret and you will be playing the G Major! MEMORISATION HINTS • LEARN IT SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY, DON"T MAKE ANY MISTAKES AND GET IT 100% RIGHT Do it so slowly that you can't make any mistakes. Even if it seems crazy slow. Really. It works. Play it 4 times perfectly at a very slow speed and you will find you can speed it up without making mistakes or devel... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtaRQoXtIOs 734 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/using-octaves-to-find-notes-im-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wElX3v3POWU/hqdefault.jpg Using Octaves To Find Notes You should now already know all the notes on the thickest two strings. Now by learning your Octave Shapes, you should be able to find all of the notes all over the guitar. An octave is 12 semitones higher than the root note - the equivalent of going all the way around the Note Circle and back to the same note. It is the same note, just an octave higher or lower. Octave Shapes 4 and 3 Look at the top octave shape to your left (Octave 4). You can see that any note on the 4th string is the same as the one on the 6th string but back two frets. This means if you have a note on the 4th string that you don't know - just count over two strings (getting thicker) and down two frets (toward the nut). The note you will come to will be the same one, but an octave lower. Check out the relationships between the notes and check you understand the right directions to move.  Look now at the one next to it (Octave 3) and you can see that a note on the 3rd string is the same as the note on the 5th string but two frets down and two strings over. Same deal as before - count over two strings and down two frets. You should also play these Octave Shapes using your first finger on the lower octave and your 3rd finger on the upper octave. Doing it on the guitar can really help get the idea clearly in your head. Do it now! Octave Shapes 2 and 1 The top diagram on the left (Octave 2) shows the relationship between the 2nd string and the 5th string, using a new octave shape. You have to remember that the notes on the 2nd string have to be found using this different shape! In this case, you count forward 2 frets (toward the bridge) and over 3 strings thicker (to the 5th string) to get to the right note.  As you should hopefully know, the two outside strings (the thickest and thinnest strings) are both the same note - so knowing the note on the 6th string automatically tells you the note on the 1st string! Octave 1 shape is easy! Nothing Official! The Octave names 1-4 are just something I call them, not an official name or anything... I ca... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wElX3v3POWU 379 2017-10-29T11:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/should-you-buy-a-guitar-online-aw-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LaIYSjDuHOc/hqdefault.jpg Should You Buy a Guitar Online? Guitar Online vs In-Store. Here are my tips on how to buy YOUR perfect guitar! I've also shared my 'Wednesday Guitar' experience. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaIYSjDuHOc 451 2021-02-04T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/quality-control-exercise-te-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WTGL7cmeYVc/hqdefault.jpg Quality Control Exercise Get the most out of every note you play by taking a little time to let your fingers figure out how to make notes sound as good as they can! https://www.youtube.com/embed/WTGL7cmeYVc 357 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/easy-open-suspended-chords-bc-173 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/16d6nx_pSrs/hqdefault.jpg Easy Open Suspended Chords Learn the easy open sus chords you can use to embellish your chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/16d6nx_pSrs 463 2017-10-30T14:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3nps-major-scale-pattern-1-sc-271 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q_UYtj-1nvQ/hqdefault.jpg 3NPS Major Scale Pattern 1 We're starting here with Pattern 1 of the 3NPS (3 Notes Per String) System - it's a super nice introduction to the system and is the easiest pattern in terms of stretches and 'logistics'. I think it's far better to study the CAGED System shapes (Five Pattern System) first, but these 3NPS Patterns can be super effective for connecting the CAGED Patterns, simplifying melodic sequences, speed picking, playing fast legato lines and more. Not sure about what the 2 systems are all about? Check out this CAGED vs 3NPS lesson where I look at the pros and cons of each! Alternate Fingerings The stretch on Strings 6/5 are commonly played using fingers 1/3/4 but with the obvious fingering of 1/2/4 on the middle strings, it doesn't make a lot of sense! I also sometimes finger the thinner strings 1/2/3 because I find the 3/4 combination weak -something I could work on myself, but I'm getting lazy in my old age and tend to go for what feels easy and 'natural' when it comes to scale fingerings, though logic is still the most important factor. Memorisation Tips • I usually break this into 3 pairs of strings - they're pretty obvious here with 3 pairs of strings with the same pattern on 6/5 then 4/3 and then 2/1. I find using visual tricks like these might help you remember it. You'll also find working on visualization might help - practice your scales away from the instrument! 18 Note Patterns All the scale patterns in the 5 Pattern System have 17 notes which if you practice playing 4 notes means you arrive back on the root on the beat which is cool - but can also mean it's easy to fall into a regular pattern too which is sometimes not an advantage. If you practice these 18 note patterns as 16th notes you'll find the beat falling on different notes, which is actually a cool thing - especially if you are working on legato (using hammer-ons and flick-offs) as it will help you break out of mindless patterns and help you work on your time and using the scales in a rhythmic and musical way and not just as fast as possible. These 3NPS... https://www.youtube.com/embed/q_UYtj-1nvQ 435 2018-12-07T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/secondary-dominants-ja-032 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F3C40W_mEPs/hqdefault.jpg Secondary Dominants Secondary Dominants are an important harmonic function that will help you understand modulations and some chords that 'don't seem to belong' in the key. I assume you know and understand the diatonic chords (chords in a key) and can work them out easily. Further Reading... So we know that the V chord in the key of C Major is the Chord G7, and it pulls to it (see the lesson on Functioning Dominants for a full explanation), and the V-I motion can be applied to other chords in a key as well! Let look first at the Chords in the Key of C. Cmaj7 Dmin7 Emin7 Fmaj7 G7 Amin7 Bmin7b5 I ii iii IV V vi vii The a V chord can precede any chord, major or minor. What we want to find is the V chord that leads to the chord built off each degree of the scale!! The V chord that leads to the I chord? Well, we already know that! That will be G7 going to Cmaj7... But what about the V chord going to the ii chord, the Dmin7? Or another way of asking - what would be the V chord in the key of D? (remember it makes no difference if the chord is major or minor!). So? The answer is A7, the V chord in the key of D. So we would say that the Secondary Dominant of the (ii) Dminor is A7. This would be written as V/ii or said "the five of two". You will often see an A7 in the key of C, most often followed by the Dmin7... even the I-vi-ii-V progressions we looked at previously often went C, A7, Dmin, G7. The pull of the V going to I is very important and very strong, so much so that it doesn't really feel like a modulation (key change) but just a subtle shift in the harmony. So lets continue... what would be the V chord of the (iii) Emin7? What would be the V chord in the key of E? That's right... a B7. So the B7 chord is the V/iii, the five of 3. This is also a lovely shift used a lot in pop and soul. One of my personal favourites. So the Fmaj7, what would be the V/IV, the five of four?? I remind you here that it's often easiest to do this stuff on tech guitar neck and the more familiar you get with doing it that way the faster you will get at it... https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3C40W_mEPs 572 2018-01-28T18:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-objective-observer-bg-2100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u-MVl9uNFrE/hqdefault.jpg The Objective Observer Learn this "trick" and banish anxiety for guitar practice wins! https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-MVl9uNFrE 713 2023-03-27T12:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/play-better-guitar-the-finger-gym-exercise-bg-1503 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jFHF-U91jow/hqdefault.jpg Play Better Guitar: The Finger Gym Exercise This is NOT a speed exercise. But, if you dare, it'll transform your guitar technique. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jFHF-U91jow 915 2021-12-17T06:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/guitar-pro-experiments-bg-1905 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vu40aw1CwBQ/hqdefault.jpg Guitar Pro Experiments Learn how to use Guitar Pro as a pro, and improve your songs and scale practice, transcribing sections, and loads more! https://www.youtube.com/embed/vu40aw1CwBQ 1158 2022-11-25T11:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/capo-the-chords-to-best-suit-your-voice-ch-701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ky8uOOfI2tY/hqdefault.jpg Capo The Chords To Best Suit Your Voice Learn how to use your guitar capo to make a song better fit your voice. A capo is a fantastic tool for singers and any guitarist working with singers! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ky8uOOfI2tY 412 2018-03-12T19:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blim-4-seth-rosebloom-q-a-blim4-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_7MegKvlMFs/hqdefault.jpg BLIM 4 - Seth Rosebloom Q&A Watch the recording for Seth Rosenbloom's first Q&A Session. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_7MegKvlMFs 3409 2026-02-07T21:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-fix-a-loose-strap-pin-qt-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o6M7Azv9Pys/hqdefault.jpg How To Fix A Loose Strap Pin It's Guitar DIY Time! This quick video will look at how to fix a loose strap pin. No need to pay for a repair – this is a DIY job. How to Fix Sometimes all you need to do is tighten the pin with a screwdriver. But if the hole has got bigger, you'll need this little trick. We'll remove the strap pin by unscrewing it with a screwdriver. Then we'll take a match, put it in the hole, and break the end off (you can use wood glue if you like). And after that, we put the strap pin in the hole and tightened it with a screwdriver. Don't have it very tight – you might damage the wood. Job done! I hope this saves you time and money on your repairs. You can thank me here. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/o6M7Azv9Pys 264 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/always-ask-why-demand-proof-qt-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s54MJ31Qk-Y/hqdefault.jpg Always Ask Why? Demand proof! Ask Your Guitar Teacher Why Time for another Quick Tip! In this lesson, we'll explore the importance of asking "why?" when learning guitar and taking advice from teachers. Why's it so important to question what someone is teaching you? Why Ask? Why? In the internet age, there are a lot of "experts" out there. Anyone can join a guitar forum, create a website, launch a YouTube channel and start teaching. There are some awesome teachers, but there are some incompetent ones too. These teachers offer silly advice and give sillier reasons for it. Asking why means we'll avoid poor instruction. With time, we'll be able to make our own decisions. We'll arrive at our answers. And that's a super important part of the guitar journey. :) When Can We Ask Why? Simple! Whenever we hear advice for anything on the guitar, we can ask why. Always be curious. Always be alert to your teacher's instructions. You can question their approach whether you're learning scales, chords, songs, or rhythm. If a piece of advice seems strange, and they can't give you a good reason for it, you shouldn't listen to them. Find another way that makes sense to you. If you aren't sure why I teach something a certain way, come to the forum and ask me. I want you to understand WHY I teach the way I do. And if my way doesn't make sense to you, don't listen to me either! :) So, always ask "why?" and don't stop until you have an answer that makes sense. It sounds silly, but it'll ignite your potential as a guitar player. :) 💭 Food for Thought... https://www.youtube.com/embed/s54MJ31Qk-Y 239 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/creating-blues-riffs-bl-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ar8IHjEaee0/hqdefault.jpg Creating Blues Riffs Making up your own Blues riffs is loads of fun, and basing them of 6th and 7th arpeggios is easy and sounds real cool. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ar8IHjEaee0 751 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/5-tips-to-make-this-year-your-best-guitar-year-pc-901 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rCUicrtYabU/hqdefault.jpg 5 Tips To Make THIS Year Your Best Guitar Year! Here are my Top 5 tips for making this year your best ever https://www.youtube.com/embed/rCUicrtYabU 1098 2018-12-31T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/secure-your-cable-qt-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XHlqvbeb-Ks/hqdefault.jpg Secure Your Cable This simple trick avoids accidentally pulling the cable out of your electric guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/XHlqvbeb-Ks 170 2017-10-30T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-5-bend-candidates-blim-u5-04-k4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1937580732-6787af62b1201c2152a9da31c4ba92ee4252d40f30ab543f43de34d1309eeba7-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 5 Bend Candidates Honestly, there aren't many useful bends in the Minor Pentatonic in Pattern 5... https://player.vimeo.com/video/1015355849 704 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/use-a-timer-pc-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7L80Jn1yMtQ/hqdefault.jpg Use A Timer When it was first suggested to me that I start using a timer when I practised I thought it was a real joke. Didn't make any sense to me at all, seemed too technical and too organised, too rigid to be good for music and just silly. But how wrong I was... The Benefits There are many amazing things happen when you start using a timer: • You develop the ability to practice in a very focused way. • You use your time effectively. • You practice a range of skills in a practice session. • Often people find it helps focus in other areas of life too! If you are like me, often when you practice you get really into what you are doing and could quite happily sit and practice the same thing for hours on end. Although not really a bad thing (and lots better than not doing any practice), there are much better ways... JustinGuitar Practice Timer There is a timer built into my Time Trainer Metronome app and one built into the site too - see TOOLS. Focus When people practice something that involves repetition, a big part of the game is to maintain concentration. Other thoughts drift into the mind, thoughts about food or relationships or whatever. The big deal with using a timer is to really focus your mind on the task at hand, there are very few guitar skills that won't benefit from your attention. When you start working with a timer, set it on 2 minutes. And maybe start with something like scales. Decide the scale you will work on, start the timer and then work on that one skill for 2 minutes. If any other thoughts enter your mind, push them out. Don't let them invade your practice time. Just simply renew your focus on the task at hand, look at how your fingers are moving and what needs work. Many people find it difficult to focus like this. The major benefit of using a timer is that your mind knows that it only has to use this intense concentration for a finite period. It's a bit like a sprint - when you know where the finish line is you feel better about giving it your all until you get there because you know you can have a r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7L80Jn1yMtQ 384 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/walking-the-bass-jazz-blues-1-ja-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XrbXGRLIDTc/hqdefault.jpg Walking The Bass (Jazz Blues 1) I had lots of requests for some more lessons on walking bass, with the guitar comping along as you go. This is a great technique to get down, it sounds real cool when you get it swinging. Target the root Landing on the root note of the chord on beat 1 is pretty consistent. This helps define the harmony and is one of the keys to developing walking bass as an improvised skill. Sidesliding (or side stepping) The root note is nearly always approached from either a semitone above or a semitone below the root note (though sometimes from a note that is in the arpeggio of the preceding chord). Focus on the bass Remember that the bass part is the most important, so if you cannot get the chords leave them off!! It will sound perfectly fine without them. Better with them there, but it is MORE IMPORTANT to have the bass swinging like Austin Powers at a scene. Harmony and fingering If you can, try to analyze the harmony, remember to look for the two-fives. And FOLLOW THE FINGERING - at least until you know that you can work it out for yourself... The fingering is written on the music and should be easy enough to follow. Try to memorize the way that chords connect with each other. Get the music Download the pdf file. Simply click the PDF link in the right column (under the ad!) or below on smaller screens. Then watch the Video (further notes to be found below) The sheet music omg... this is so old... back in the .co.uk days.... the good ol' days :) lol https://www.youtube.com/embed/XrbXGRLIDTc 362 2017-10-30T03:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/12-bar-blues-progressions-bg-1303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rLm99QI8eWs/hqdefault.jpg 12 Bar Blues Progressions Time to learn how to play 12 bar blues progressions using those open 7th chords! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rLm99QI8eWs 767 2020-08-26T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-note-circle-bc-152 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MORsJSJBuXQ/hqdefault.jpg The Note Circle Impress your mates with enharmonic equivalents! At this point we're going to start learning just a tiny bit of music theory. A little theory goes a long way, and you will find your playing improves a lot with a little understanding of what you're doing. It's not too hard to grasp the basic principles, and you will use the information that we learn in this lesson forever! The Note Circle Here you can see here the ‘Note Circle' which shows all 12 notes that we use in western music. Each step around the circle is the same as moving one fret, and this is called a semitone. Two steps around the circle is called a tone. If you look at the ‘white' notes (notes with no # or b, like the white keys on a piano) you can see that they are all a tone apart, except for B and C and E and F, which are only a semitone apart. A sharp (#) raises the pitch of a note by one semitone (one fret). An easy way to remember this is: if you sat on something sharp, you would jump up! A flat (b) lowers the pitch of a note by one semitone (one fret). The easy way to remember this one is that if your tyre is flat, it goes down. One term that I really liked when I was learning this stuff in high school was the term ‘enharmonic equivalent' which means two notes that sound the same but have different names, like A# and Bb. These two notes sound exactly the same (in our western "equally tempered" music system). You should get into counting your semitones, if you have a friend to help you, ask them to name how many semitones there are between any two notes, and then count around the circle to check. To start with you will probably have to look at the chart above, but try and get it into your memory as quickly as you can. Remember that everything you learn should be memorized, not left on a page! Fun for Germans and some other Europeans For some reason I still do not really understand, German people call the note B as H. And if I remember correctly the note Bb is what they call B. This throws up all kinda of horrible music theory problems and thoug... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MORsJSJBuXQ 488 2017-10-30T14:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/vibrato-hand-style-te-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WNWqobkgdBA/hqdefault.jpg Vibrato (Hand Style) Vibrato is a very important technique and conveys a lot of emotion. Without it you playing will likely sound flat and uninspired. Many people seem to pick it up without 'learning' it, but for the majority of players it will need practice. In this lesson I take you through the most common form of vibrato, which comes from the movement of the hand. The Basics The aim of vibrato is to make the guitar sing. Take a little time listen closely to a great singer and try and notice the way that they hold a note and let it's pitch go gently up and down. That is usually what you are trying to achieve with vibrato. There are three common techniques which you should try to master, and then you can experiment with blending them, or making your own style of vibrato. The three types are Classical, Standard and Free. These are just my names for them and you might find them called other names from other teachers. Standard Vibrato The standard vibrato used by the majority of guitarists in most styles is this one. It can be subtle or outrageous, wide or small, sharp, smooth and a thousand other adjectives! This is the one that you really should try and master. The technique used is very similar to that used for string bending, so if you have not seen the lesson on that technique, you might like to check that out too. The "secret" to getting this type of vibrato working well is to get a solid pivot point. Without your first finger locked up against the neck, it's difficult to get the right 'mechanics' - though once you have the right feel for it, locking the pivot point becomes less necessary. You should be able to use this type of vibrato with any finger, but it is most commonly done with the first or 3rd fingers (the same as bending), so give those fingers the best workout. It should be noted that this vibrato is a lot harder on strings 1 and 6 (the outside strings) because you can only push the string in one direction, or you risk pulling the string off the neck, which can sound awful. Practical Exercise Again before using this... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WNWqobkgdBA 555 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-caged-system-introduction-tb-031 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7MbwbWSeZjc/hqdefault.jpg The CAGED System Introduction Introduction to The CAGED System which breaks the guitar neck into five areas of study. Great learning accelerator! https://www.youtube.com/embed/7MbwbWSeZjc 595 2017-11-11T18:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pentatonic-beginnings-tr-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X4gYWkbTaXc/hqdefault.jpg Pentatonic Beginnings So now it's time to get stuck in and do some! We're going to start with some simple melody using the A Minor Pentatonic. These exercises are using only notes from the Pattern 1, A Minor Pentatonic (most likely the first scale you learned, starts with the first finger in the 5th fret). Download the pdf file, which is TAB with rhythm written above it. Simply click the PDF link in the right column (under the ad!) If you are using one of the transcribing software you can download the mp3 file and open it in the software. If you are not using that you can just use the embedded SoundCloud file below! But I highly recommend you use software, it's lots easier and therefore give you a more confident start! All these examples are in the Key Of A and all at the same tempo... I'm going easy on you in this first session :) There are a few little ornaments that snuck through (even though I was trying not to) so don't worry about writing down vibrator or curls or anything if you notice them (which you may not anyway!). Just remember what we have done in the last few lessons and go for it. Expect it to be challenging if you are new to transcribing. It might take you a while to get it right, but transcribing is not a skill that is mastered quickly, it takes time and effort but brings a great reward!! START HERE Download the pdf file (link in the right column under the add if you missed that bit!) which is TAB with rhythm written above it. You will write the notes on the TAB under the rhythm. The rhythm is there to help you space the notes well and get you used to seeing and understanding written rhythms, eventually you should transcribe the tab and write in the rhythms on your own. Remember music is made of rhythm and melody, so understanding both is very important! My book Rhythm Reading For Guitarists is very helpful for many aspects of playing guitar and we will look at it a little later in the course but my eBook goes through it thoroughly and progressively. Transcription Exercise #105-A This first track has only a click, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/X4gYWkbTaXc 190 2017-10-30T04:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/autumn-leaves-melody-ja-522 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AIMyL4rtvQQ/hqdefault.jpg Autumn Leaves [Melody] In this lesson, we learn how to play the melody for this easy jazz standard. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AIMyL4rtvQQ 625 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-major-ash-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C7k0CWgI-xI/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Major Learn how to play the A Major Barre Chord on the guitar. It can be challenging, but this tutorial will make it all easier for you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/C7k0CWgI-xI 1008 2023-08-09T09:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/note-function-and-related-theory-blim-u4-04-k4 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1925144631-9c73533e84d2644a76fe45f50e11a15ea6e6be714357142e30d184ca462c3667-d_295x166?r=pad Note Function and Related Theory What we will learn here explains how the notes of a Pentatonic fit over each of the I IV V chords commonly used in Blues. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1001722036 1626 2024-09-29T06:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/steady-thumb-blues-sbr-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3BRChHmhBRc/hqdefault.jpg Steady Thumb Blues This is a little gem to help you nail that sweet spot between a consistent bass note with your thumb and some tasty melody notes with your fingers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BRChHmhBRc 1015 2024-09-07T08:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/10-life-changing-hacks-jr-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O2dCRgki4Aw/hqdefault.jpg 10 Life-Changing Hacks This is NOT a guitar lesson, but it might improve your life in many ways! These hacks certainly changed my life, and I hope they improve yours too. https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2dCRgki4Aw 1678 2022-12-22T13:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/bending-technique-in-blues-bl-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fgDY8k0Gjzc/hqdefault.jpg Bending Technique In Blues String bending - an essential skill to play blues guitar! Here's what you need to know before you start. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fgDY8k0Gjzc 1218 2017-10-29T10:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/foundation-2-practice-schedule-im-129 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A7qtngmwh6Y/hqdefault.jpg Foundation 2 Practice Schedule We're now up to a 60 minute routine and we'll try and keep it to that for the rest of the Foundation Series but remember you can break it into two 30 minutes session on alternate days too! Don't forget: • Use a timer (see PC-104 • Using A Timer if you've forgotten it's importance) • Break it into the two 30 minute sessions if you don't have time to do 60 minutes a day, or you find it too much at one sitting. • Focus your practice on things you can't do, not what you can! Always practice most the things you are worst at! Foundation 2 Practice Schedule (60 minutes or 2 x 30 minutes) Description Time Barre Chord Grip (focus on 7 and min7 grips!) 5 mins One Minute Changes 5 x 1 min Major Scale With Metronome 5 mins Major Scale Improvisation Practice (with Backing Track) 5 mins JUSTIN Method / Transcribing 10 mins Open Position Note Reading 5 mins Minimum Movement (Fretting Hand Focus) 5 mins Rhythm Guitar (Patterns and application) 5 mins Notes On Neck Using Octaves 5 mins Songs and Repertoire 10 mins Things To Remember Barre Chord Grip As before but work on the 7 and min 7 grips - they will require a better and stronger barre! Place the chord grip on the neck. Check each note is good and move fingers a little bit to get them in exactly the right place. Strum. Remove hand. Repeat to fade... One Minute Changes We're back to the traditional changes as fast as possible now between the open chords and the barre chords. This is going to be tricky and will most likely take a few weeks before you are comfortable with them. Be cool with that. Check the lesson for details on which changes you should be doing. Major Scale With Metronome Now you are working on playing your Major Scale in time with the metronome. This will developing your muscle memory for the scale and also your technique, both alternate picking and your left hand dexterity! Major Scale Improvisation Practice Use a backing track and start learning to improvise. Listen to what you play and how it fits with the backing. You must remember to keep your ears open... https://www.youtube.com/embed/A7qtngmwh6Y 391 2017-10-29T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/easy-barre-chords-for-beginners-bg-2303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZYbxYoG6Mo0/hqdefault.jpg Easy Barre Chords For Beginners Barre chords don't need to be scary! Start here, build strong barre chord basics as a beginner, and prepare for the intermediate stages! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYbxYoG6Mo0 798 2023-02-13T21:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-read-guitar-tab-b1-405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9xsG7n4Jalo/hqdefault.jpg How To Read Guitar TAB Reading guitar TABs will open up a world of possibilities for your beginner guitar journey! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xsG7n4Jalo 296 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/intermediate-rhythm-guitar-5-im-155 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RdKQGIzKZ_c/hqdefault.jpg Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 5 In this lesson we're going to look at some of the common rhythm guitar tricks that can add another dimension to your rhythm playing. Simple tools that work wonders in the right place. Often less is more... All of these techniques work really well as a second guitar part two. You will probably often find yourself playing with another guitar player, and if you both try and play exactly the same thing it very rarely sounds good. so if you can use these new techniques you will find that you can play a complementary part and make the whole song sound really cool. Chips On That Backbeat Chips are chords played really short (quick). They are mostly played on beats 2 and 4 (the backbeat) with the snare drum, so when playing them you MUST listen to the drummer and make sure you are doing your backbeat chips at exactly the same time he hits the snare drum! The trick is to just press the chord grip down as you strum and relax it again right afterward - got to be short as possible. Some good examples can be found in "Midnight Hour", Steve Cropper is the god of chips and cool grooves and he he does a very cool chip in "Green Onions" on the "and after 4" which is unusual place for one but it sounds awesome! Most of the Motown ear has chips going on, and anything that was influenced heavily by that will probably too - so keep your ears peeled! Spread 'Em Sometimes a real simple strum is all that's needed. You don't have to be putting busy strum patterns all over the place. I call the technique a spread because you spread the notes out, it's almost like strumming a chord in slow motion. You'll hear spreads all over the place if you listen out for them, "Why Does It Always Rain On Me" by Travis has some great ones in the verses, you can hear them as a third guitar part in Jim Campilongo's "Awful Pretty, Pretty Awful" and many more that I just can't think of right now! Splang Yep you read right, a splang!!! A Splang is like a spread but not so slow and usually done on the first beat of each bar. They are very often used as a se... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RdKQGIzKZ_c 813 2017-10-29T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/one-minute-changes-stage-5-bc-154 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QMsc1n_NkXE/hqdefault.jpg One Minute Changes - Stage 5 Now we've got ‘air changes' to work in, too. At this stage, you need to pick five chords that you struggle to change between and just work on those. Everyone is different and finds certain chords harder than others, so it is next to impossible for me to tell you which ones you should do! One Minute Changes You have now learnt 17 chords, and there are many possibilities for changes now—in fact, over 100 combinations— so how do you choose which changes to do? Well, what I would recommend is that you look for chords that you find difficult that appear in a song that you are learning or want to learn. That way you are working on chord changes that you will actually use. So pick some chords, write them into your practice routine and off you go! Usually, I recommend a student can stop doing the One-Minute Changes once they reach 60 changes in a minute (playing each chord 30 times). You might like to make yourself a spreadsheet to keep track of which chords you have got to what speeds, or you might want to check out my Beginner Song Course App which can keep track of it for you! :) Moving On... Next up we are going to look at a new kinda rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMsc1n_NkXE 74 2017-10-30T16:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/blues-chord-extensions-bl-206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYWgO4ckyyk/hqdefault.jpg Blues Chord Extensions Learn how to play and use 9th & 13th chords in a blues context, adds some spice to your rhythm playing! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYWgO4ckyyk 1028 2017-10-29T10:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/freddie-king-gr-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEmGbMd2duk/hqdefault.jpg Freddie King The ‘Texas Cannonball’ - a hugely influential giant of hard-edged, swinging, visceral electric blues. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wEmGbMd2duk 153 2018-09-06T13:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/always-start-slow-pc-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FmTK6VJyh-s/hqdefault.jpg Always Start Slow This is most commonly a problem for teenage players (was for me too!). There are some real dangers in trying to play things too fast, it can lead to bad habits and problems further down the line. All the technical and really fast guitar players I have talked to say the same thing - you gotta start really slow, keep things relaxed and as perfect as possible and then gradually speed up. And I mean slowly, over months, not in one practice session! https://www.youtube.com/embed/FmTK6VJyh-s 489 2017-10-30T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/i-m-yours-ukulele-us-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FgrX-HTOf0A/hqdefault.jpg I'm Yours (ukulele) “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz is an iconic ukulele diddy - and now you can add it to your own repertoire. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgrX-HTOf0A 442 2019-06-20T14:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-scales-arpeggios-mt-206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hXrpV2ffJRU/hqdefault.jpg Chords, Scales & Arpeggios Let's clear up the differences between chords, scales, and arpeggios! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/hXrpV2ffJRU 261 2017-11-04T17:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/reading-chord-box-diagrams-mt-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8gcjbOBWpSA/hqdefault.jpg Reading Chord Box Diagrams Let's dive deeper into how to read chord box diagrams! https://www.youtube.com/embed/8gcjbOBWpSA 192 2017-11-04T15:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-triads-ash-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k1ewnGt2i0c/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Triads Learn how to play Triads with the root note on the third string, even if you don't know the notes on that string! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/k1ewnGt2i0c 740 2023-08-09T02:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/a-shape-barre-chords-minor-ash-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/noNKHcnSZQg/hqdefault.jpg A Shape Barre Chords: Minor This lesson will teach us how to play the A Shape Barre Chords: Minor - it's easy as pie! https://www.youtube.com/embed/noNKHcnSZQg 463 2023-08-09T02:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/minor-pentatonic-pattern-3-bl-602 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4DV9cskraBY/hqdefault.jpg Minor Pentatonic Pattern 3 In this lesson we're going to be learning Pattern 3 of the Minor Pentatonic. It's one of my favourite patterns as there are loads of super cool tricks to explore further down the road but for now we're going to be looking at the straight pentatonic and adding in the Blue Note. Next lesson we'll be looking at the vocabulary from this pattern. Scale Diagrams Note that on string 2 I have shown Finger 4, which is more logical for playing up and down, but less useful for the real world. I use Fingers 1 & 3 all the way! Again, remember that the Blue Note is not often best played in a scale up and down, but added as a spice when you want that flavour ;) Homework and Practice your aim this week is to memorize Pattern 3 and be sure you know where the root notes are and where the blue notes are located. I would recommend two 5 minutes practice sessions a day. Session 1 - 5 Minutes Play the scale up and down, pausing on the root notes (or at least registering where they are) and exploring different fingering options. Playing it up and down with one finger will also help create the shape in your mind. Session 2 - 5 Minutes The second 5 minutes should be improvising over a backing back track and exploring the scale, you hopefully know that the words are the key to making music out of your scales but just exploring on your own can be very helpful too. It's likely that you will stumble on a few words just messing around. Do remember what notes are good to bend (and how far) and see how they feel! Additional Resources Recommended Album Remember that listening to great Blues is an essential part of the course, so try and check out all my recommended albums, they're the best of the best! Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling You gotta have a bit of Chuck! He was a HUGE influence of those that came after him and even a lot of his own generation - though he did get a lot of his licks from T-Bone, he certainly bought his own style into the blues. And this one doesn't have Johnny B Goode on it, but most of his other classic hits! Buy at... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4DV9cskraBY 1115 2017-10-29T10:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/johnny-b-goode-blim-u2-24-s2 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uUzGD2YD_Vw/hqdefault.jpg Johnny B Goode Let's study the classic Johnny B Goode, which is always played in function bands, Blues jams, and concerts. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uUzGD2YD_Vw 1101 2024-07-28T11:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/listen-and-emulate-blim-u2-10-t5 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905415017-660b4abb0a4dc631d8cec1dca29ce64d58a298586b04d41534f1af54dc187364-d_295x166?r=pad Listen and Emulate If you aim to play a solo in the style of B.B. King or Angus Young, paying attention to their unique vibrato is crucial—here's why and how! https://player.vimeo.com/video/942348317 498 2024-07-28T11:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-2-transcribing-exercise-blim-u2-22-t1 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905424050-2ac14e29205bba041d1aea1fdb9199bd0090ba7429c5d7150ff28f31c263b085-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 2 - Transcribing Exercise Are you ready for another transcription exercise? We are, of course, working from the Pattern 2 framework! https://player.vimeo.com/video/951527222 158 2024-07-28T11:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/pattern-2-bend-candidates-blim-u2-04-k3 https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1905414301-302e7c33136957bfbf005672182abeecbd92bc9d56adca602fdb75e0b91a634e-d_295x166?r=pad Pattern 2 Bend Candidates Which notes can you bend in Pattern, using which fingers, and how far? Let's discover! https://player.vimeo.com/video/941668060 430 2024-07-28T11:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/autumn-leaves-chords-ja-521 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DDauV1Ot124/hqdefault.jpg Autumn Leaves [Chords] In this lesson, we look at the chords for the classic jazz standard Autumn Leaves, a popular starter for beginners! https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDauV1Ot124 543 2017-10-29T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/sunshine-of-your-love-b1-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Li4urYsFbHQ/hqdefault.jpg Sunshine Of Your Love This classic riff might be a bit difficult, but it’s a great challenge and beginner workout! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Li4urYsFbHQ 368 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/meet-the-metronome-b1-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sNa44EmrsDc/hqdefault.jpg Meet The Metronome Let your metronome be your best friend and thrive in your guitar journey! ;) https://www.youtube.com/embed/sNa44EmrsDc 265 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-strumming-pattern-b1-404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6LmQCdt_ZhQ/hqdefault.jpg THE Strumming Pattern Is this the only strumming pattern you'll ever need? Maybe! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6LmQCdt_ZhQ 515 2020-01-31T10:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/take-your-chords-to-the-next-level-pb-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yqT7_699D0c/hqdefault.jpg Take Your Chords To The Next Level This lesson shows how to manipulate MIDI to create more interesting chords than basic Root 3rd 5th triads. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yqT7_699D0c 1838 2020-06-10T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-a-chord-bc-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VkkOFLouQDs/hqdefault.jpg The A Chord In this lesson, we're going to learn the Open A Chord and then we might be able to have a go at some songs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VkkOFLouQDs 364 2017-10-30T16:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/neck-bending-vibrato-te-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AYsnB3tN_hM/hqdefault.jpg Neck Bending Vibrato I unashamedly copped this technique from the TeleMaster Jim Campilongo after doing an interview with him and checking out how he was doing it. It's become a staple of my technique now, I love it. Just be careful! https://www.youtube.com/embed/AYsnB3tN_hM 462 2017-10-30T15:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/open-e-blues-rhythm-lick-bl-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NNNjNsQRdj4/hqdefault.jpg Open E Blues Rhythm Lick This little blues trick is used by many of the great masters including Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. It's something you can add into a regular easy 12 Bar Blues Shuffle in E and once you get the hang of it you'll find there are other licks and variations you can pop in there too! As usual, the key thing here is putting it into practice, so learn it slow to get the timing and order right and then speed it up to a usable speed and it should start to flow and feel good. Then jam lots with it until it becomes something that just happens on it's own! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNNjNsQRdj4 361 2018-10-12T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/incy-wincy-spider-ku-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BVoDzLqKWVU/hqdefault.jpg Incy Wincy Spider Everyone loves a good hero, and the Incy Wincy Spider is just that! Your kids will love this one, and you might even enjoy yourself a bit, too. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BVoDzLqKWVU 273 2020-07-16T21:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3-awesome-rock-vocal-tricks-sg-333 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H_aCXeJuckw/hqdefault.jpg 3 Awesome Rock Vocal Tricks Great Rock singing isn't tricky, but it does require vocalists to think differently! https://www.youtube.com/embed/H_aCXeJuckw 470 2021-03-11T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-hold-a-guitar-pick-b1-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-04Et5qIoa4/hqdefault.jpg How To Hold A Guitar Pick The right pick matters! Let's choose the best one for you and learn how to hold it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-04Et5qIoa4 339 2019-12-20T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tammy-lesson-1-td-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2nBs43BUUhk/hqdefault.jpg Tammy Lesson 1 Meet Tammy! She's a new student and thought y'all might like to see my approach to teaching someone more into songwriting and strumming than playing burning lead guitar! The video is take 2, I stupidly forgot to turn on the camera pointing at Tammy (or pressed it twice or something) so some of this stuff is re-done but we covered some new ground too! Hope you enjoy it - let me know if you enjoy this private lesson format because I thinking of getting another 1 or 2 students in if it's popular enough! Practice Routine Note down any new discoveries you make during the week as it will help inform the next lesson and the direction - super important in the early stages of lesson planning (for teachers!). No resting left arm or wrist on your leg! 5' • Strumming With Pick - Keep the hand relaxed - Stay aware (but not scared of ) pick movement - Experiment with dynamics - loud and soft! 5' • Chord Experiments - Mixing 'regular' chords into the G, D/F#, Em, C progression - Try to free up choices so those 'old friends' are not always first choice - Stay aware of finger placement (right up next to the fret) and fix every time you notice it! - Pick out the individual notes so you can check if any are missing! - Experiment with the chord variations: G: removing the note on String 5, playing 'folk' G with just Fingers 3/4, adding in notes with Fingers 1/2 D: don't always play with the F# bass note. Try Sus2 and Sus4 Em: use little finger to explore adding notes in Fret 2 of Strings 1/2 C: use regular C and add little finger on fret 3 of Strings 1/2, hammer-on with Finger 2. And keep String 6 mutes with the tip of Finger 3! 5' • Barre Chord Practice - Learn from memory the notes at Frets 3/5/7 (G, A and B) - Experiment playing and checking the notes in the Major and Minor E Shape Barre Grips. - All Along The Watchtower and good practice song (| Bm / A / | G / / / |) Song Analysis - Read the lesson on Song Structure (in Practical Music Theory paid course) - Pick 10 songs that resonate with you the most - Write down the song s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2nBs43BUUhk 2745 2019-03-28T08:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/15-srv-p1-slo-trill-bl-515 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zZHVRVKd8Pw/hqdefault.jpg #15: SRV: P1 Slo Trill This lick is not technically challenging but is a real classic SRV trademark, the use of the blues scale and the trills at the end. Make sure you explore this lick rhymically because it'll work many different ways! TAB Getting The Sound For this lick I'm using a Fender USA Stratocaster (1989) into a Fender Super Champ (old valve one from 1983 designed by Rivera, not the current model) recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone. Guitar Settings To get the sound I used Position 2, the blend of the neck and middle pickups, I have no idea if this is what SRV used, but it sounded closest to the reference track. Volume right up. Tone right up. Amp Settings Getting the sound for this is a lot about the Reverb! Turn it up :) lots of verb here and it really adds depth to the lick. You'll have to experiment with your Reverb box and just see where it sounds good on yours. The EQ settings (Bass, Middle, Treble) will be different on your guitar than it was on mine, my 2 strats sound incredibly different so 'exact settings' even if you had the same amp would not be very accurate... but my settings (for use as a starting point): Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 8, Reverb 7, Lead N/A, Master Volume 3. Pedal Settings None used! The signal went through my mini pedalboard but the only thing I used was the tuner! https://www.youtube.com/embed/zZHVRVKd8Pw 253 2017-11-17T11:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blur-song-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-326 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/48znKVO0FYU/hqdefault.jpg Song 2 by Blur Learn how to play "Song 2" by Blur on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Song 2 by Blur on the guitar. This iconic Britpop anthem, released in 1997, quickly became Blur's most recognizable hit, especially in the United States. Its catchy "woo-hoo!" chorus and distorted guitar riffs make it an instant crowd-pleaser. Song 2 is perfect for beginners because it primarily uses power chords and has a straightforward structure. Plus, it's an absolute blast to play, whether you're jamming alone or with a band! Let's break it down and get you playing this energetic tune! The Power Chord Foundation At the heart of Song 2 are power chords. These two-note chords are the backbone of many Rock songs and are relatively easy to play. We'll use power chords with a fifth-string root throughout the song. Don't worry if you're new to power chords – they're a great introduction to more complex chord shapes and will serve you well in countless Rock songs. Verse and Chorus The verse of Song 2 features a simple yet effective chord progression. We start with an F power chord, then move to E♭, followed by A♭, B♭, and C. This sequence creates the driving force behind the verses. The key is to keep your rhythm tight and your strumming consistent. Remember, it's not just about hitting the right notes – it's about capturing that raw, energetic feel that makes this song so iconic. When we hit the chorus, it's time to crank up the energy! The chord progression remains similar, but we're going to play it with more intensity. This is where you can really let loose and channel your inner Rock star. The chorus is where the song's famous "woo-hoo!" comes in, so feel free to sing along as you play – it'll help you internalize the rhythm and make the whole experience more fun! Strumming Pattern and Dynamics One of the most crucial aspects of nailing Song 2 is getting the rhythm right. We're using all downstrokes for a more aggressive sound. The verse has a unique pattern where we're not playing on the first beat. Instead, we have a mute... https://www.youtube.com/embed/48znKVO0FYU 427 2017-12-04T11:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-undertones-teenage-kicks-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-310 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0tcjUNOktSQ/hqdefault.jpg Teenage Kicks by The Undertones Learn How to Play "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Teenage Kicks by The Undertones on the guitar. This Punk Rock classic is not only a ton of fun to play, but it's also great for practicing both barre chords and power chords. The song has a simple structure with a few key sections that we'll break down step by step. Teenage Kicks is a fantastic punk song with tons of energy. What makes this track special is its straightforward approach—it doesn't try to be complex, instead focusing on delivering raw energy and emotion. This makes it perfect for guitarists looking to improve their rhythm playing while working on basic chord progressions. The song primarily revolves around D, C#, and B chords in the verses, with a catchy chorus featuring G, G#, and A. Let's dig into each section so you can start rocking out to this classic! The Main Chord Progression The heart of Teenage Kicks lies in its main chord progression. We start with a D chord, then briefly pass through C# before landing on B. This creates the foundation for both the intro and verse sections of the song. What's interesting here is how the C# acts as a quick passing chord. It only appears briefly, creating a smooth transition between D and B. Think of it more as a linking chord rather than one you spend much time on. This simple progression gives the song its distinctive driving feel that's instantly recognizable. Rhythm and Strumming Pattern The rhythm for Teenage Kicks has that classic Punk energy. While there is a specific strumming pattern you can follow, remember that with Punk music, the energy you put into it matters more than getting every stroke perfect! Looking at how The Undertones themselves played it, you'll notice the band had two guitarists approaching the rhythm slightly differently. One used a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes, while the other played primarily with all downstrokes. Both approaches work well—choose whichever feels more comfortable for you or matches the sound you'r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tcjUNOktSQ 481 2017-12-04T09:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-white-stripes-seven-nation-army-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-824 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iXHsxYim35Y/hqdefault.jpg Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes Want to Learn "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes on Guitar? Let’s check out Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes on electric guitar. What an awesome guitar riff! Jack White played the original in Open A tuning, using a mixture of fretted notes and slide guitar. That version is a bit beyond beginner level, so we’ll mostly look at an easy version. We’ll also cover some trickier techniques for those further along the path. :) 💡 Beginner Version: If you’re just starting out on guitar, you should also check out my beginner lesson for the Seven Nation Army riff. You might notice that my guitar sounds different my demo for Seven Nation Army. That’s because I’m using an octave effect, which makes the notes sound an octave lower than normal, so the guitar sounds a bit like a bass. :) If you have this effect on your equipment, turn the setting to 100% so that you can’t hear the original notes. Enough talking! Let’s check out the riff. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes - Main Guitar Riff: Single Notes The main Seven Nation Army riff is simple and only uses notes on string 5. I suggest you try to figure it out by ear, using finger 1 only and staying on string 5. You could play it in the first five frets of the guitar over strings 4 and 5, but I think it sounds best with one finger and notes on string 5. When you play it, add some palm mute to make it sound real authentic. :) This single-note line repeats throughout the verses, then we change to a new part when we hit the pre-chorus. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes - Pre-chorus Chord Section It's time to change to power chords here and distort the sound. Jump on your distortion pedal if you have one! You just need one bar of G5 then a bar of A5. Easy! You can go to an open A5 chord or the standard power-chord shape. Your choice. :) Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes - Main Riff with Power Chords Later in the song, the guitar plays the main riff with Major chords instead of single notes. The sound is much fuller, and we can replicate the sound using ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iXHsxYim35Y 496 2018-02-05T16:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-layla-unplugged-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-324 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5eXRcrX5ME/hqdefault.jpg Layla (Unplugged) [1/3] by Eric Clapton Learn to play "Layla (Unplugged)" by Eric Clapton on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Layla (Unplugged) by Eric Clapton on the guitar. This well-loved song is a great opportunity to hone your guitar skills while enjoying some classic rock. So grab your guitar, and let's get started! We'll dive into the intro and the first solo of Layla in this lesson. We'll see the chords and strumming in a separate lesson and also dedicate a separate video to the final solos. For now, we're focusing on the catchy main riff at the beginning and the song's first solo. The Intro Riff The beauty of the intro lies in its chord progression. We start off with a D chord but with a twist. We're adding a C note to the mix. This is achieved by lifting off the second finger and placing it on the third fret of the fifth string. Next, we transition into a B flat chord. You can play it as a power chord or in the way Clapton does - with his first and little fingers. This chord then smoothly slides up two frets to become a C chord before resolving back to a D. This forms the song's main riff. Remember, each riff is slightly different. It's okay to use one pattern and repeat it three times, but if you want to stick as close as possible to the original, you'll need to pay attention to these subtleties. The Solo After mastering the intro riff, we'll move on to the solo. The solo starts after the chord and begins with a quick hammer-on and flick-off between the fifth and sixth frets. This solo is a great opportunity to practice your speed and precision. It's not overly complicated but requires some quick finger movements. The rhythm on the tab is just an approximation, so don't be too rigid. Just keep in mind that you want certain notes to land on the beat. Wrapping Up I hope this brief overview has given you some insight into how to play the intro and the first solo of Layla. It's a fantastic song to learn, and I'm sure you're going to have a lot of fun with it. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to enjoy the pr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5eXRcrX5ME 547 2017-11-17T05:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-live-forever-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-409 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IY7YPXjc-JU/hqdefault.jpg Live Forever by Oasis Learn How to Play "Live Forever" by Oasis on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Live Forever by Oasis on the guitar. This is a fantastic song to learn, especially for beginners, as it features straightforward chords and a simple rhythm you can adjust to your skill level. Let's Start with the Verse One of the great things about Live Forever is that the guitar and vocals kick off at the same time - there's no intro to worry about! The verse follows a repeating chord sequence that's easy to master with some practice. We start with a G chord for a whole bar before moving onto a D chord for another full bar and then an A minor for one bar. This is followed by two beats on C and two beats on D. This sequence is repeated once more before we move into the chorus. Moving on to the Chorus The chorus of this Oasis classic begins with an E minor for a whole bar. Then, when the falsetto part kicks in–who would believe one of Oasis's most popular songs features such a high falsetto bit!–we transition to an F major nine chord. If you're just starting out and find the F major nine a bit tricky, you can also play it as an F major seven. In fact, it's common to see it played this way, and it doesn't make the song any less enjoyable to play or listen to! The Whole Song Once you've mastered the verse and chorus, you've got the whole song down! The sequences for both are very similar, making it easy to remember. I always recommend writing out a cheat sheet where you jot down the chords and how many times to play each sequence. This makes it much simpler to remember and practice the song. Let's Play the Song With the chords under our belts, it's time to play the song from the top. Remember, the melody and the strumming happen at the same time, so keep that in mind as we begin with the G chord. As you play, you'll notice that getting the strumming right greatly affects how the song sounds. It's officially a 16th-note strumming pattern, but don't worry if you're not there yet - you can also count it as an 8th-note str... https://www.youtube.com/embed/IY7YPXjc-JU 531 2018-02-04T23:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/r-e-m-everybody-hurts-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-920 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hZzw9f49fqw/hqdefault.jpg Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. How to Play Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. on Guitar In this lesson, we're learning how to play Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.—a timeless, emotional ballad that's not only moving to listen to but also incredibly valuable for developing our guitar skills. Whether we're beginners just getting comfortable with open chords or intermediate players looking to refine our fingerstyle or picking technique, this song has something to offer all of us. 🚨 There is an error in the in-video TAB at 16:00—the notation and TAB for the Bm chord are the same as for the previous chord, F#, only the chord symbol has been altered. We apologize for the error! :( We'll break the song into manageable sections and explore multiple ways to approach it, including a simple strumming version, a beginner-friendly fingerstyle arrangement, and an intermediate-level picked version that challenges our accuracy and timing. We'll also cover rhythm in 6/8 time, which can be a new and exciting challenge if we're used to standard 4/4. What we'll learn in this guitar tutorial How to play Everybody Hurts using open chords like D, G, Em, and A Beginner-friendly alternatives to tricky barre chords like F# and Bm A fingerstyle pattern that builds control, flow, and chord clarity How to pick individual notes with a plectrum to develop accuracy and expression How to stay in time while playing in 6/8 rhythm, a great skill for ballads Why learning a song like this helps improve both technical ability and musical feel Thanks to its steady pulse and dynamic phrasing, this song is especially powerful for learning how to express emotion through guitar playing. Although it may not be a party song, it's a great piece to play for ourselves or in intimate moments when the vibe calls for something deep and beautiful. Practice tips We recommend looping the chord progressions and playing along with a metronome or, even better, with a backing track. That's where tools like the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App really shine—it's packed with structured lessons and hundreds of cur... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZzw9f49fqw 1444 2025-04-21T06:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayall-all-your-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-029 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y62iyynabS4/hqdefault.jpg All Your Love by John Mayall Learn to play "All Your Love" by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play All Your Love on the guitar. This song is a fantastic choice for beginners looking to expand their chord repertoire and explore different strumming patterns. All Your Love is a milestone blues track off the Beano record featuring the legendary Eric Clapton. However, in this lesson, we'll focus on the rhythm guitar parts, perfect for beginners who have a handle on their open-position minor chords. The song primarily uses three chords: A minor, D minor, and E minor. If you're comfortable with these, you're ready to dive into this minor blues progression. This song is a fantastic opportunity to practice these chords and familiarize yourself with a common chord progression. The Chord Progression The beauty of All Your Love lies in its simplicity. The song predominantly uses a minor blues progression, making it excellent practice for beginners. This progression is also prevalent in many other songs, so mastering it will be a valuable addition to your arsenal. Moreover, the song features some delightful riffs. If you're jamming with more experienced players, they can join in by playing these lead lines. It's a great tune for understanding solo improvisation and collaboration with other musicians. Strumming Patterns and Rhythmic Feel Apart from the chord changes, All Your Love is also a great song to explore different strumming patterns and rhythms. One of the unique features of this song is the shuffle feel, which I like to think of as "chunka chunka." This rhythm is fun and quite distinctive - there aren't many songs that use this feel. The Quirk in the Tune About 3/4 of the way through the song, you'll notice a change in feel. This might feel a bit awkward at first, particularly at the end of a 12-bar sequence. But don't worry; with some practice, you'll get the hang of it. One helpful thing is to strum a chord and let it ring out for a moment to prepare for this change. Wrapping Up Learning A... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y62iyynabS4 410 2020-02-08T10:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lenny-kravitz-i-belong-to-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-026 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1vYtfSNDZ5c/hqdefault.jpg I Belong To You by Lenny Kravitz “I Belong to You” by Lenny Kravitz is one of his more popular songs, a really nice ballad from a rocker. The song itself is super simple, though, so this is a good play-along for beginners. It features just two chords, the A minor and E minor chords. If you’re not familiar with those yet, we do go over them in my Beginner’s course, so you can pop over there and check them out. Since the chord pattern on this is so incredibly simple, you can get as simple or as funky as you’d like with the strumming. You can do one strum per bar, 4 per bar, 16 per bar – whatever you’re feeling and whatever feels comfortable for you! It’s a good one to practice different rhythms and strumming techniques, too. In this, I start off as simply as possible and get a little crazier at the end with some barre chord action, some fun rhythmic things, and even some accents and hammer-ons here and there. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/1vYtfSNDZ5c 357 2019-11-10T15:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ah8fbOtQdmA/hqdefault.jpg For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica Learn the all-time great Metallica song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on guitar! And today we'll learn how to play it on the guitar! We’ll cover all the steps for the guitar riffs and the classic bass parts. We'll also look at how the sections in this song work. The structure is pretty complex, and the only way you can truly master it is by listening to the original Metallica recording. :) 💙 Cliff Burton: This incredible metal song features Metallica's bass player Cliff Burton, who tragically died when Metallica were starting to take off. :( He was such an incredible musician! Cliff Burton played difficult lead guitar parts using a bass! That's just how great a bass player he was. It's definitely worth checking his playing out in the live versions of this song. How to Play For Whom The Bell Tolls On Guitar You'll need to be confident with palm muting and power chords to play For Whom The Bell Tolls. Check out my Rock module if you’re not confident with these basic Rock techniques. In some parts of this song, we need to use a triplet rhythm, meaning each bar is divided into three subdivisions. 🚨 E Dorian Mode: There are many melodic devices in this song! It uses the E Dorian Mode, which is pretty interesting – but I won't go too deep into the theory. If you'd like to dig further, explore my Major Scale Modes module in Grade 7 of Practical Music Theory. Let’s get to it. :) For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica – Section 1: Rhythm Guitar Let’s start with the rhythm guitar part in the intro to For Whom The Bell Tolls. This is such a huge start to the tune! The rhythm guitar starts on beat 3 with an F#5 chord (244XXX). Fret 6:2 (string 6, fret 2) with finger 1, and 5:4 and 4:4 with fingers 3 and 4. When you strum the chord, make sure the three highest strings are muted. This is really important! Play two downstrums, then mute the strings with your picking hand. Now we drop down to an E5 (022XXX), with finger 1 fretting 5:2 and 4:2. It needs to lift up at the knuckle to avoid pressing string 3 down – we don’t want to hea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ah8fbOtQdmA 1251 2022-02-05T04:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-wet-sand-1-2-intro-verses-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-364 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RWPEEAGv37c/hqdefault.jpg Wet Sand [1/2] Intro & Verses by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn how to play "Wet Sand" by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wet Sand on the guitar. This is a fantastic song featuring the amazing John Frusciante. The album it's from is packed with some of his best guitar work. The song has many layers, so I've simplified some parts to make it easier to learn. However, we'll also see a couple of variations for each part, especially the pre-chorus. It's a multi-part lesson, so be sure to check out part 2 and the solo of Wet Sand as well. Understanding the Song To really get into the song's groove, I encourage you to seek out versions with just the guitar or the guitar and bass. This will give you a deeper understanding of the song. I'm showing it to you for one guitar part and will point out sections where it could be played one way or another. This is a song where my transcription skills were really put to the test. But don't worry, I've got it pretty close. The best way to learn this kind of tune is one step at a time. Breaking Down the Chords We'll start off really simple by getting the chords right. The chords for the verse are simply G for one bar, then D for a bar, E minor for a bar, and then B minor for a bar. This sequence repeats. When we move to the bridge, the chord progression changes to E minor for two bars, G for two bars, D for two bars, and E minor for two bars. This sequence also repeats. Building Up the Rhythm Once you have the basic chord sequence under your fingers, we'll look at the rhythm patterns. We'll then add in the fills and the variations on the chords. The rhythm pattern is a sixteenth-note straight pattern. It's not particularly difficult if you remember to keep your hand moving. Keeping the hand moving is important, especially when shifting from playing fills back to strumming. It's one of the challenges of this song, but definitely worth the effort! Basic Rhythm D . . . D . . U . U D . . U D U 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Bridge Rhythm D . . . D . . U . U D . D . . U . U D . D . . U . U D . D .... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RWPEEAGv37c 1115 2017-11-29T02:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/onerepublic-counting-stars-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-220 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7mlb5Ti4svU/hqdefault.jpg Counting Stars by OneRepublic How to Play "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Counting Stars by OneRepublic. This song is not just a hit on the charts, but it also has a special place in my heart as it was a special request from my daughter. :) Counting Stars is an upbeat, catchy song - it is a favorite among many, and we're excited to help you learn it. It's also a great song to practice the techniques we learned in Grade 2 of my Beginner Guitar Course. Whether a beginner or an experienced guitarist, this tutorial offers something for everyone. Get ready to strum along as we break down this OneRepublic hit together. 🎙️ Playing & Singing? Read this! Before we dive into the chords and strumming, let's talk about singing Counting Stars. This song can be challenging to sing due to its high key. If you're finding it tricky to reach those high notes, you've got a couple of solutions. You could drop the octave for some parts of the song, making it more comfortable to sing. Alternatively, you can remove the capo from the fourth fret, which we've used to align with the original recording. This lowers the key significantly, making it easier for you to sing along. Remember, the aim is to have fun and enjoy the learning process, so feel free to adjust the song to your comfort level. Check out this free guitar lesson to learn more about singing and playing guitar. Counting Stards: Chord Progression Let's dive into the chord progression of Counting Stars. This song has a simple, repetitive structure that uses the same four chords, A minor, C, G, and F, all the way through. You'll find that the simplicity of the chord structure makes it a great song for practicing chord transitions and experimenting with different playing styles. The A minor chord is straightforward, with only one main way to play it. Transitioning to the C chord requires just a small movement of the third finger. You can play the G chord in a few different ways, so feel free to choose the one you're most comfortable with. When it c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7mlb5Ti4svU 983 2023-11-05T03:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/don-mclean-american-pie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-904 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oK2-LG-mhNc/hqdefault.jpg American Pie by Don McLean Learn How to Play "American Pie" by Don McLean on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play American Pie by Don McLean on the guitar. This iconic song is a party favorite. If you want to get the party started and everyone singing along, this is definitely the tune for you. Despite having a few elements that may seem a little tricky at first, with a bit of practice, you'll be able to master this tune in no time. American Pie has a unique song structure. The first thing to note is that the intro and the first verse are different from all the other verses. The song is rich in chords that change quite frequently, which adds to its charm but also makes it slightly complex. However, don't let that intimidate you! You'll find the song pretty straightforward once you get a hang of the chord progression. Chord Progression The first chord we need for this song is G. You can play the basic G chord or the variation that uses the third and fourth fingers on the thinnest two strings. The next chord is D with an F# bass. You can play this chord in a few different ways. You can use your thumb to play the F# bass note, or you can play a regular D chord. After the G and D chords, we transition to an E minor, followed by an A minor, and then a C chord. This sequence repeats a couple of times in the song. You'll also come across a G chord with a B bass in the song. The song also features a few embellishments on the D chord, like adding the little finger down in the third fret of the thinnest string for a D sus4, lifting off the second finger for a D sus2, and then back to D. Feel free to experiment with these variations to add some flavor to your playing. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern you'll use for all the verses is what I call Old Faithful - down, down, up, up, down. It's a really great strumming pattern that works well in this song. However, when we get to the parts where two chords fall within the same bar, the pattern changes slightly to continuous eighth notes. This happens when transitioning from G to D ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oK2-LG-mhNc 1287 2017-12-03T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eddie-vedder-longing-to-belong-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eCv9VOODDNE/hqdefault.jpg Longing To Belong by Eddie Vedder Learn to play "Longing to Belong" by Eddie Vedder on the ukulele In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Longing to Belong on the ukulele. This is a beautiful Eddie Vedder song from his fantastic ukulele album. If you haven't checked it out yet, you're in for a treat. It's not your typical comedy uke record; it's filled with genuinely beautiful songwriting and melodies. So, grab your ukulele, and let's get started! Chord Progression We'll keep things simple to start. The main chords you'll need for this song are C major 7, F add 9, D minor, A7, F, G7, and a few others as we progress. These chords form the song's backbone and give it that unique, longing feel. Don't worry too much about finger placements or specific strings; focus on the overall sound and rhythm. Verse and Chorus The song begins with a lovely intro using the C major 7 and F add 9 chords. You'll notice a smooth transition between these chords that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The verse follows a similar pattern, with the chords flowing seamlessly into one another. For the chorus, we add the D minor and A7 chords, which bring a bit of emotional depth to the music. The rhythm here is key, so try to keep it steady and let the chords resonate. The lyrics "I'm falling" fit perfectly with the C major 7 to F add 9 transition, creating a poignant moment in the song. Rhythm and Strumming One of the interesting aspects of Longing to Belong is its rhythm. You'll find yourself working with different rhythms and some sixteenth-note strumming patterns. Keep your strumming hand moving consistently, and don't be afraid to experiment with adding up strums and accents as you get more comfortable. In the instrumental sections, you might notice a slight change in the strumming pattern. Listening to the original recording to get a feel for these variations is a good idea. Remember, it's all about keeping the rhythm steady and letting the music flow naturally. Instrumental Section There's a cool little instrumental section in the song that you'll definitel... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eCv9VOODDNE 775 2018-02-08T14:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-sing-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-031 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Aj3XR5hZclo/hqdefault.jpg Sing by Ed Sheeran Hello, hello! In today’s play-along, we’re going to be tackling Ed Sheeran’s super popular hit, “Sing.” For an Ed Sheeran song, this one is really simple and great for beginners as it only uses two chords – E minor and A minor. Those two aren’t terribly difficult to switch back and forth between, so if you’re up for it, you can try some cool things with the strumming patterns. If you’re a proper beginner, though, keep it simple! Start with one strum per bar, and when that gets to be a bit boring for you, you can certainly change it up. I’ve done a few different strumming patterns here, which you’re more than welcome to try, but the key with playing and experimenting in general is to do what feels natural for you. If you want to practice a few strum patterns before applying them to the song, it can help to isolate them by just muting the strings with your fretting hand. That way, you can focus on just getting the strum pattern solid, consistent, and comfortable. Also, if you’re an Ed Sheeran fan, I’ve got quite a few lessons of his songs on the website. I go into more detail about how to play his stuff, and we even get into some looper business. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aj3XR5hZclo 468 2019-12-29T19:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-edge-of-desire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-166 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Ho4YuAPEv8/hqdefault.jpg Edge of Desire by John Mayer Learn "Edge of Desire" by John Mayer on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Edge of Desire by John Mayer on the electric guitar. 🎤 I've received tons of requests for this one, but I've always found it a tricky song to play and sing simultaneously. So I set it as a challenge to myself, and I'm now confident I can make a video for it! How did I learn it? Using my 10-Step Method to Singing & Playing Guitar at The Same Time. Give it a try! If you don't want to sing it, you'll still get an excellent guitar workout – picking, using the thumb, and coordination. We'll look at the chord part that John Mayer plays for live versions and check out the solo too! Let's start with the intro and verse riff. Edge of Desire – Intro and Verse Riff We start with an E/A chord (5764XX), using the thumb to play the bass note, and fingers 1, 2, and 3 for the other three notes. The three notes on the middle strings form an E Major triad, and the lowest note is A at fret 5 on string 6, meaning the chord is called E/A. On this chord, we pick strings 6, 5, 4, 5, 3, and 4 with down picks, muting the strings slightly with the palm of our picking hand. In the next bar, we play 6, 5, 4 (this time at fret 4 with finger 1), 3 (fret 6, finger 3), 3 (fret 4, finger 1), and 4 (fret 7, finger 3). Keep the thumb on the bass note throughout. We play this two-bar sequence twice, then move the whole pattern up by five frets. The chord changes to A/D, but the pattern is the same. The second time, we played 6, 5, 4 (fret 9 with finger 1), 3 (fret 11 with finger 3), 3 (fret 9 with finger 1), and 4 (fret 11 with finger 3). Again, hold down the bass note with the thumb as you play the riff. 🧐 CAGED System – Mayer moves positions several times in this riff. Mastering the CAGED system helps you make sense of what he's doing! We then switch to Bm, with the thumb playing the bass note at fret 7 of string 6. We pick 6, 5 (fret 9, finger 3), 4 (fret 7, finger 1), 5, 3 (fret 7, finger 1), 4 (fret 9, finger 3). On the next bar, we play 6, 5, 3 (fing... https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Ho4YuAPEv8 1287 2022-10-19T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/68nbwJiqCbo/hqdefault.jpg Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Xmas Classic Learn How To Play "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" On Guitar! 🎅 Spear the holiday spirit with this classic Christmas song! Here's a holiday song that is so much for to sing along! Can you believe this song dates back to 1934? A holiday staple for many of us. :) In this easy guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play Santa Claus Is Coming To Town on guitar. I'll show you a nice easy open chord version, but there are loads of different versions of this popular Christmas song! Choose which one suits your guitar journey level & feels best for you! So - grab your guitar & get ready to spread some holiday joy this season! 💬 Who hasn't covered this Christmas classic? Santas Claus has been covered by the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Faith Hill, Michael Bubble, and loads more! Can you name some artists? Share your favorite in the discussion area with the JustinGuitar community. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town For Guitar Beginners There's lots of different version of this song - the original chords are a bit more complicated. The simple version uses open chords - which is great for beginner guitar players! You'll be starting this Christmas classic alternating between G and C chord changes. Then, you'll then mix in Em, A, D7, and G chords in your playing. 💡 Struggling with your C and G chord changes? Add One Minute Changes to your practice routine. This simple exercise help make those tricky chords progression easier with time! Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Jazz Version If you want to add some taste in the chorus, add a big accent on beat 2. As for the strumming, it's a mix of down strums & up strums. Focus on getting that little accent beat 2 and 4 to spice it up! If you're more advanced, check out the fun strumming version towards the end of the lesson. This arrangement gives more of a jazz tune & is loads of fun to play! 💡 Learning this song last minute? Improve your playing & play along with FREE Christmas songs JustinGuitar Songs & lessons app. That's right - you don't need a subscription to play alo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/68nbwJiqCbo 400 2017-12-21T06:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-lady-writer-3-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3633 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/edDNklHAKd4/hqdefault.jpg Lady Writer [3/4] by Dire Straits Learn to Play "Lady Ryder" by Dire Straits on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lady Ryder on the guitar. If you're a Dire Straits fan, you're in for a treat with this song. It's packed with cool licks and grooves that you'll love getting your fingers around. Today, we'll focus mainly on the song's second verse—or really, the second chorus because we won't go through all of the fills that happen in that verse, but we'll take a close look at one super cool little lick. We'll also take a look at the bridge because it has some really tasty stuff. Plus, we've got the main solo to look forward to in the last part of our lesson series on Lady Ryder. And don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven't seen them yet. Now, there's so much going on in this song—so many fantastic elements to explore. If you've been following the previous lessons, you should be familiar with the rhythm part. But today, we really want to get stuck into this particular lick. The Second Chorus The second chorus of Lady Writer presents a compelling rhythm part, with a mix of strumming and individual note picking. The chord progression in these sections is characteristic of Dire Straits' style and offers an excellent study of how rhythm and melody can intertwine in a song. The chorus, in particular, throws in a fantastic series of licks that add a lot of character to the song. These licks are a bit challenging but are excellent practice for your picking and hammer-on and pull-off techniques. The Lick: A Closer Look This lick is a cracker! It may seem difficult at first, but once you get the rhythm right, you'll see it's not as hard as it first appears. The rhythm is crucial, so don't rush it. Take your time, and make sure you're getting it right. The main takeaway here is that this lick is not just about playing as fast as possible—it's all about the rhythm. If it's not in time, it won't work properly. So, once you've got the technique down, really focus on the timing. Exploring the Bridge Next up, we have the bridg... https://www.youtube.com/embed/edDNklHAKd4 1085 2018-02-08T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-road-trippin-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-387 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wPAfL3In-lI/hqdefault.jpg Road Trippin by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn to play "Road Tripping" by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Road Tripping by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar. This iconic tune, featuring the ever-awesome John Frusciante on acoustic guitar, is a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire. It's an interesting song because even if you've been playing it for years, there's always something new to discover, just like I did while preparing for this lesson! A Unique Main Riff One of the defining characteristics of Road Tripping is its unique main riff. The actual chord part for the main riff is very simple. It's really all about the pattern. So, forget about the continuous bass note thing you might have initially thought was happening. That's actually the bass because the bass is driving pretty hard in this song. It kind of gives the impression that the acoustic guitar is doing that bass movement. Now, if you watch John Frusciante, you'll see that it's quite clear the bass is doing those little "dun dun dun dun" sounds, which is just really nice and very clever. Mr. Frusciante always manages to continually astound us with his genius. He has these little subtle things, but they're very clever. He really brings out the beauty of the acoustic guitar in this song. The Chord Progression The chord progression in Road Tripping is relatively simple and contributes to the song's overall charm. The song opens with an A minor chord, transitioning to G with a B bass. This is followed by a C chord. The first three bars repeat this pattern, creating a fantastic melody that you'll find yourself humming along to. After the C chord, we move to a G with a D bass, which looks like a D chord on the wrong fret, but it creates a beautiful sound that adds to the overall harmony of the song. The song's bridge introduces more chords, including an A, E minor, A7, and an F# diminished 7th. The F# diminished 7th adds a unique touch to the song; you'll love how it sounds. Practice Makes Permanent As with any song, practicing Road Tripping... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wPAfL3In-lI 1454 2017-12-08T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-animals-house-of-the-rising-sun-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-610 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Y-_gD41Tl8/hqdefault.jpg House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals Learn to play "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play House of the Rising Sun on the guitar. This classic song has been a favorite among beginner guitarists for over 50 years, and it's easy to see why! It features simple open chords and allows you to explore different playing styles. 🎉 I first recorded this lesson in February 2018—so it was time for a remake, eh? :) You can watch my original take teaching this classic here. :) Originally a traditional folk song, The Animals' version became a massive hit thanks to Hilton Valentine's cool arpeggio guitar part. It works well on both acoustic and electric guitars. House of the Rising Sun is particularly great for beginners because it uses straightforward, open chords and a mini F chord instead of the more challenging full-barre chord version. The Chords You'll Need The song uses common chords, so you might already know them. You'll need an Am, C, D, E, and a mini F chord. The mini F is a great way for beginners to get used to that barre chord shape. Remember, for the C chord, try using the tip of your third finger to mute the thickest string. With the D chord, avoid picking the thickest two strings. You can also use the tip of the third finger to mute the fifth string when playing the mini F. The change between Am and E is also a great one to practice since it's the same shape–just moved down to the thicker strings. 👉 Did you know there are easier ways to play the F chord? Check out three of them here! Chord Progressions House of the Rising Sun has two chord progressions: one for the verse, where the vocals are, and one for the instrumental section, a shorter version of the verse progression. The verse progression is: Am, C, D, F, Am, C, E, and then another bar of Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am. The instrumental section uses Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, E. Don't worry if these seem like a lot–you'll get it with some practice. It's always a good idea to make sure you can play the chords without any pauses between them befor... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Y-_gD41Tl8 1164 2025-01-25T00:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/olivia-rodrigo-drivers-license-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-061 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SIVYLoYYoeI/hqdefault.jpg drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo Let's learn the ultra-popular Olivia Rodrigo hit "Drivers License" on guitar Do you remember Olivia Rodrigo from High School Musical (2019)? Whether you do or not, you'll recognize today's lesson song. drivers license (yep - all in lowercase) became a hit at the beginning of this year - it's number 1 everywhere. Olivia Rodrigo broke a series of records with this one - it's one of the most dominant number ones in history! 💙 drivers license is a powerful pop ballad with minimal production - it has fantastic melodies and such a recognizable bridge! Though it's an electronic song, it sounds great on our six-string friend. Translating this Olivia Rodrigo song into guitar was a really fun exercise for me. Beginners can play this with a capo on the third fret and easy chords, and there are plenty of ways for Advancing Beginners and Intermediates to spice it up. Let's start with the chords. drivers license - Chord Progressions The verse is nice and simple - the progression is two reps of G, G, Em, Em, C, C, G. Yes, each cycle has seven bars. :) The chorus progression is a little trickier and has a bar with several quick chord changes. But don't worry, we cover all the details in the video. You can also add the chorus melody, which includes fretting an F# note over the C chord. The fingering is a bit unusual - we'll look at a couple of grips. The bridge is nice and easy, though - the progression is Em, C, G, D; Em, C, G, D. The key to nailing the bridge is to feel the movement and replicate it in your rhythm guitar. It's pushing forward, driving. Accenting beats 2 and 4 really helps. ;) Exploring Different Styles & Add Your Own Twist There are tonnes of ways to play drivers license. You can use power chords and all-down eighth notes with palm muting to give it a rock vibe, play percussive fingerstyle for a country flavour… As I always say, if you're up for doing a cover on this song, don't feel like you have to copy the original. Find your own perspective on it. :) 🎸 How to learn drivers license - I suggest you lea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SIVYLoYYoeI 975 2021-02-06T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-i-feel-fine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bT851XYX2DY/hqdefault.jpg I Feel Fine by The Beatles Learn how to play the "I Feel Fine" riff' by The Beatles on guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the awesome Beatles riff I Feel Fine on the guitar. It's great fun to play, and It's an effective guitar technique workout. :) This riff is excellent practice for intermediate Grade 5+ guitar players. You'll encounter barre chords, Dominant chords, some flick-offs, and a tasty fingerpicking pattern! Grab your guitar, and get ready to rock! 🎸 Curious what guitar I'm playing? I’m using the Gretsch Malcolm Young model, not very Beatles themed but the closest I have to the 335. It's plugged into the old Super Champ amplifier. Chord sequence We're starting the riff with a D Barre chord up at the tenth fret of your guitar neck. To play it, you'll first need to place your whole chord down. Your fingers might feel tight, but they'll feel better with time! For this E shape barre chord, you're picking the sixth string, then the fourth string twice. Follow with a flick off with your little finger, and pluck the fifth string. Once you're done with this D chord, you're moving down to the third fret, which might be a bit of a stretch. 💡 This riff's chord sequence jumps around the fretboard a lot. Ease into it; start with a slow tempo and increase your speed as you go! Fingerpicking Pattern For the fingerpicking, play downpicks on beats 1,2,3,4. Your up-picks will happen between the notes on the 'And' count. You'll have to coordinate that with the flicks you're doing with your fretting hand! As soon as you put your little finger down on the 12th fret, you're doing an up-pick! Make sure you keep that hand moving at all times - it's the best trick to get in the flow of things! If you watch the video of the Beatles, you'll notice that Goerge's hand is doing the same thing. Make sure you listen to the riff to understand the melody and rhythm. Explore on your own and have a go at playing the whole song! Transcribing it will be a great way to get all those tasty elements in. :) Get Tabs to help you play this iconic Beatles r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bT851XYX2DY 295 2018-01-25T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/buddy-holly-that-ll-be-the-day-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-510 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I6SHnbkFj2U/hqdefault.jpg That'll Be The Day by Buddy Holly Learn to Play "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play That'll Be The Day by Buddy Holly on the guitar. We're going to start off simple, focusing on the basic chords and rhythm of the song. The original version uses a capo on the fifth fret, but we'll learn a simplified open-chord version. This is an excellent way for beginners to get a feel for the song and start making music right away. The Chords and the Rhythm The chord progression for That'll Be The Day starts with a D chord. The song then moves through E7, A, and B7 chords. We'll play four strums to a bar, keeping a steady rhythm and letting the song's melody shine through. The rhythm of the song is a key part of its appeal. We'll use a shuffle strumming pattern, giving the song a lively, upbeat feel. Practice your strumming pattern to get the feel of the rhythm. Remember to keep your hand moving even during the stops—this will help you stay in time and maintain the flow of the tune. The Guitar Solo We'll dive into the guitar solo once you've got the chords and rhythm down. The solo follows a 12-bar blues progression, which includes four bars of A, two of D, two of A, C7, D7A, and E7. It's not particularly hard, and it's a great way to start exploring the world of guitar solos. 💡The solo is pretty much minor pentatonic blues licks, most of which you'll find on the Blues Lead Guitar Course! Taking it to the Next Level After you've mastered the basics, you might want to come back and try playing the song just like the record. You'll need to put the capo on the fifth fret and use the "chunka chunka" rhythm to achieve this. This involves transferring the chords from the open position to the fifth fret, adding a new layer of complexity and authenticity to your playing. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoy learning to play That'll Be The Day as much as I did when I was starting out. It's a fantastic song that's fun to play and a great way to develop your guitar skills. Remember, it's important to let your playing develo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/I6SHnbkFj2U 490 2018-01-22T16:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ramones-sheena-is-a-punk-rocker-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-062 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LfGetELq-KA/hqdefault.jpg Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by Ramones Learn how to play the classic "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" by Ramones! In today’s lesson, we’ll learn how to play the classic Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by Ramones. Punk Justin is back! :) This song is an excellent example of Ramones’ early sound! You can make out the surf-rock-punk vibes coming from the power chords and full-energy strumming! To mimic the original Ramones version, you want to focus on the vibe. That’s the most important part! That said, I cheated a little bit in the demo. ;) I used upstrums, but the Ramones only used downstrums! My way is definitely easier, especially when you’re singing, so we’ll look at both approaches. Before we start, make sure you’re hip with your power chords! Check out my Ultimate Power Chords Guide for Beginners. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by Ramones: Intro Riff This is a classic rock-and-roll riff that the punks hijacked! We start with a B power chord rooted on string 6 before sliding up to a C power chord one fret higher. Strum the B once, then slide to C for the rest of the bar. We slide up on the “and” after the beat 1. When you do, keep your strumming arm moving but avoid the strings. You can use all downstrums, but you'll have to move your hand twice as fast! The strumming is pretty easy, but you can find all the details in the video lesson if you need a hand. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by Ramones: Verse Chords The verse sequence is a little more complex but you only need four chords - and they're all power chords. The progression is C C C C; G G C C; A F A F; C C G G; then G G. Note: here we also play the slide from B to C for every bar of C. :) You can play all of the chords in this song in a couple of positions: they all work as root-5 and root-6 chords! So which do we choose? 🔥 Move Power Chords Around The Neck: if you want to choose between root-5 and root-6 versions of power chords, it's crucial you know the notes on the two thickest strings. ;) There’s no right or wrong here. Even in the original, there are several guitar layers and you can hear each grip. And it see... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LfGetELq-KA 778 2021-01-29T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/band-aid-do-they-know-it-s-christmas-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YHDgyzDsDDM/hqdefault.jpg Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid Learn How To Play "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid On Guitar! A powerhouse Christmas classic with some of the best of 80's voices. This Christmas song was released back in the 80s by Band Aid. Band-Aid was a supergroup that featured different famous artists of that time. This includes legends like Bono, Phil Collins & even Boy George! In this lesson, you'll learn how to play Do They Know It's Christmas on guitar. You'll mainly need all open chords - it should not give you too many problems! I'll also show you how you can experiment with the rhythm patterns. :) 💡 If you dig this tune, watch the original film clip too, it's hilarious :) Live aid was an awesome idea and helped many thousands of people. I was lucky enough to play at the more recent version at Live Earth in Hamburg with Katie Melua (YouTube clip, I'm in the red and black striped top!) How To Play Do They Know It's Christmas Guitar To play this Christmas song, you'll mainly need open chords. There is an F chord in there - but don't panic. You don't need the bass note in it, so it'll be much easier. This makes the F chord an F major 7th chord - and it sounds better in this song! To play this tune, you're mainly alternating between C, F, G chords, with an odd D minor chord here and there. Don't worry about how I do the G chord grips in the video. Choose whatever grips feel more comfortable to you! 🚨 Want faster chord changes? Check out my One Minute Chords exercise - it helps improve this skill! Now let's talk strumming. You can keep it simple by playing standard strumming. Personally, I enjoy using a 6:8 pattern and adding an accent on 1! Experiment how you want - and see what you like! There's room for interpretation here. :) What Is Do They Know It's Christmas About Band Aid's goal was to combine musical talents to raise awareness of world issues like famine and poverty. For this song, they aimed to bring attention to the famine in Ethiopia. This massive event was a success and raised more than 28$ million for this issue. As cheesy as ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YHDgyzDsDDM 597 2017-11-17T07:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-basket-case-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-311 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y4Vs8FGQ12U/hqdefault.jpg Basket Case by Green Day For many years, I played "Basket Case" by Green Day on guitar… in the wrong way! When I decided to do this guitar lesson on Basket Case by Green Day, I realized that there’s so much nuance in both the rhythm and the chords. We'll explore all of them! As always, we'll learn a simplified version of playing Basket Case, and a more complex, authentic one. If you're a complete beginner, learn the strumming pattern and chords, and give it a go. :) We'll also get into how to play the rhythm like Green Day did and add The Push Technique and some palm muting. 💡 Basket Case is an awesome tune for practicing Power Chords on the electric guitar. If you're planning on playing it with a band, don't miss my advice on dealing with the volume. First things first, let’s get our guitar in tune. :) Basket Case by Green Day: Guitar Tuning To play Basket Case on guitar like the Green Day original, you'll need to tune to E Flat Tuning. If you have a chromatic tuner, just move all your strings down one semitone (E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, E♭). Another way is to put a capo on the first fret, retune the open strings to EADGBE, then remove the capo. You're now in Eb! 🎸 E♭ Tuning: For more detail on this tuning, head to this lesson. E♭ Tuning means tuning every string is tuned a semitone lower than in standard tuning. It makes the strings ever so slightly looser and so bends are a little easier. It also means that open chords are a semitone lower, so it's better for some singers. This detail was one of those I used to miss when playing Basket Case back in the day. So now you know! Before we learn the progressions, I suggest you listen loads to the original and jam along with it to make sure you absorb the order of the sections as well as their energy. There are a lot of chords and they change pretty quickly, so it’s crucial you memorize them. :) Basket Case by Green Day: Verse 1 Progression Basket Case starts with a verse with only guitar and vocals. We’ll need power chords here: we play E, B, C#, G#; then A, E, B, B. When you play these chords... https://www.youtube.com/embed/y4Vs8FGQ12U 1900 2021-01-09T18:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bb-king-help-the-poor-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-249 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dAR9IbL7gmw/hqdefault.jpg Help The Poor by BB King Learn to play "Help the Poor" by B.B. King on guitar This lesson will teach us how to play Help the Poor on the guitar. This Blues standard, originally written by Charlie Singleton and made famous by B.B. King, is a fantastic song that breaks away from the typical 12-bar Blues format. What makes this song special is its unique structure. Instead of following the standard 12-bar Blues pattern, Help the Poor uses a "song form" with distinct A and B sections. This arrangement allows us to explore different musical ideas and creates a refreshing change from typical Blues progressions. Song Structure We'll examine two main versions: the classic B.B. King arrangement and Robben Ford's interpretation. The song is typically played in D minor and follows an AABA or AABAA format, depending on your version. The A section is a 16-bar progression that starts in D minor and moves through various chord changes, while the B section (or bridge) is 8 bars long and introduces new chord movements that add variety and interest to the song. Chord Progression The A section starts with D minor for six bars, creating a solid foundation. Then, it moves to A7 for two bars, back to D minor for two bars, followed by G minor for two bars. The progression wraps up with D minor, A7, and finally resolves to D minor. The bridge section introduces a refreshing change: G minor is followed by B♭ major (though in some versions, B.B. King uses G minor instead). This different chord sequence adds variety and interest to the song. Different Versions to Explore We'll focus primarily on B.B. King's version, which keeps things relatively straightforward, focusing more on the vocal performance. The chord progression follows a classic pattern that allows for both simple and complex soloing approaches. This version is perfect if you're looking to get comfortable with minor Blues playing. While B.B. King's original recording emphasizes his powerful vocal performance, you can find great guitar-focused versions in his collaborations with Eric Clapton and othe... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dAR9IbL7gmw 1108 2024-12-07T09:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dua-lipa-love-again-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-057 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WGCwbGyNeyo/hqdefault.jpg Love Again by Dua Lipa Let's learn how to play "Love Again" by Dua Lipa on guitar! This cool tune from the album Future Nostalgia was one of the most requested during the last few weeks! Released in 2020, Love Again is a great dance-pop song! If you’re doing my Beginner’s Course and dig pop music, I recommend you give it a go! Get your capo on the second fret and let’s check it out - starting with the chords. :) Love Again by Dua Lipa: Guitar Chords Love Again is a four-chord song and the same progression repeats throughout. The chord progression is Em, C, Am, and D. We play each chord for half a bar of 4/4. :) Since Love Again by Dua Lipa is harmonically repetitive, we need to change up our strumming and volume to make sure it stays interesting for the listener. Love Again by Dua Lipa: Vary the Rhythm Song dynamics isn’t for complete beginners, but if you have some confidence with strumming and chords, you should start thinking about it as soon as possible. This is especially true if you want to do solo covers of four-chord songs. Listen to the original - you’ll hear how the instrumentation changes with the sections. 🤔 Why Vary the Dynamics? You can hear in my demo that if we play Love Again with the same volume and groove, it gets tiresome. Unless you’re an incredible singer like Dua Lipa, you need to vary the dynamics to keep it interesting! On the whole, we want the first verse to be the quietest section. The second verse should have an extra element to change the dynamics a little. In the pre-chorus, we’ll add stops, which are a nice way of defining that section, and in the chorus we’ll strum a bit more. Strumming one downstrum per chord is a good verse pattern because it brings the volume right down. A similar pattern is to strum one downstrum on each beat. This works for later verses. Varying the Dynamics: More Advanced If you feel confident with those basic patterns, let’s try adding all-down eighth notes with an accent on beats two and four with palm mute. This is easier than it sounds, and in the video we break it all down... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WGCwbGyNeyo 961 2021-01-15T20:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-petty-wildflowers-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ylrJIMr_sas/hqdefault.jpg Wildflowers by Tom Petty "Wildflowers" by Tom Petty is a wicked acoustic guitar song. I'm a Tom Petty fan, and Wildflowers has been super present in my playlist lately – it has lovely embellishments, a great strumming pattern, and loads of cool guitar to explore. I hope you enjoy playing this song as much as me. :) ☺️ I feel a bit weird about this video because I'd just got a new tattoo when I recorded it. Don't worry - I won't make that tank top a habit! #lmao Now grab your acoustic, put your capo on 5, and let's get stuck into Wildflowers! Wildflowers by Tom Petty: Guitar Chords The majority of Wildflowers by Tom Petty is based around four simple chords, with two extra chords in the bridge. And some simple chord embellishments will make you sound just like Tom! The main progression is |Fadd9 C |, |G C |, |Fadd9 C |, |G G | with each chord lasting half a bar. There are also two extra bars of C at the end of each verse. 🎶 Check out JustinGuitar Tabs to get chords, tabs, and lyrics for this tutorial. You can try it out for free! :) The note G on string 1 acts as a drone note. It sounds awesome, and it means you keep the pinkie down for the entire sequence. Fadd9 sounds difficult but it’s simply the open FMaj7 grip with little finger added to string 1. :) The C is not the standard open C chord - we keep the pinkie down to get a different sound. As for G, I tend to use Weak Finger G, with string 5 muted. Those are the basic chords - and we need to add embellishments with fingers 1 and 2 to get the authentic sound. Check out the video tutorial for the exact embellishments, or experiment with your own. Wildflowers by Tom Petty: Rhythm Guitar Once you're comfortable with the chord progression, it's time to practice the rhythm. Wildflowers gets its unique character from the 16th-note intro and verse strumming pattern that has a slight shuffle! We look at the pattern in tons of detail in the video. :) 🚨 Remember the Shuffle! I often fall into straight playing, and it doesn't sound right. If I do, I relisten to the song to trigger my memory of... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ylrJIMr_sas 968 2021-12-26T14:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jefferson-airplane-somebody-to-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T-M6j0iLxFw/hqdefault.jpg Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane Learn to Play "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane on the guitar. This fantastic tune was featured in the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It's a fun and engaging song for beginners, especially with a capo placed on the second fret, which allows for mostly open chords. Let's dive right in! Basic Strumming and Chord Progressions We'll begin with a simple run-through using basic strumming. Later, we'll look at strumming in more detail and even discuss some little things you can add to make your performance sound slicker. The song starts with an E minor chord for a bar, changes to an A for 2 beats, to a D, and then lands on two bars of E minor. This verse sequence is repeated for each verse in the song. Next, let's explore the chorus. It's a catchy sequence of G for half a bar, D, E minor for half a bar, and then A for half a bar. This sequence is played three times in a row, followed by D for half a bar and A for half a bar, leading us into a new section. Pushing the Beat and Strumming Pattern One of the really important things in this song, especially in the chorus, is a technique called a 'push' where we play a chord a bit earlier than usual. The main strumming pattern is a two-bar sequence. The way it works with the chords, particularly with the E minor and the A to D bit, is what really brings this tune to life. We start with the E minor, down, down, up, down, then the A, down, up, and now the next up is where we change to the D chord. This means the D chord is not exactly falling on beat 3–it's being pulled a little earlier. We call this a push. This sequence and the pushed chord also happen in the chorus. So, in the chorus, we've got G, D, E minor, and the A chord pushed this time. This different flavor really adds to the overall sound of the song. Extra Tips and Tricks A little trick I like using in this song is a little pop stop just before the chorus. On the E minor chord on beats one and two, I play th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/T-M6j0iLxFw 759 2018-02-04T23:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sting-shape-of-my-heart-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m9MMBtVmx8Y/hqdefault.jpg Shape of My Heart by Sting Learn to Play "Shape of My Heart" by Sting on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Shape of My Heart by Sting on the guitar. This song is a beautiful piece that demonstrates some interesting chord progressions. The fabulous Dominic Miller was the first to play this song, and his unique style features prominently in it. There are a few different ways to interpret and play this song, and we'll explore a couple of those in this lesson. So, let's dive in! Song Structure and Variations The song begins with a distinctive chord progression that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. This pattern repeats throughout the song, providing a strong foundation to build upon. After the initial progression, there's a shift in position that introduces a new chord, adding depth and complexity to the piece. One of the beautiful aspects of Shape of My Heart is its capacity for variation. Different guitarists might play the song in slightly different ways, each bringing their unique style and interpretation to the piece. In this lesson, we'll look at two main ways to play the song: the way Dominic Miller often plays it and a slightly different version that might be easier for some guitarists. Picking Technique An important aspect to consider when learning Shape of My Heart is the picking technique. In the song, the picking hand mostly takes care of the thicker two strings, while the first and third fingers handle the lighter strings. Keeping this basic rule in mind, you can practice the picking pattern until it becomes second nature. Final Thoughts I hope you've enjoyed this lesson on how to play Shape of My Heart. It's a beautiful song that will help you improve your chord progression knowledge and picking technique. Remember, learning to play a song like Shape of My Heart is a journey, not a destination. Take your time, enjoy the process, and don't rush. The more you practice, the more familiar you'll become with the song's structure and progression. So keep at it! Before you know it, you'll be playing Shape of My He... https://www.youtube.com/embed/m9MMBtVmx8Y 593 2017-12-15T11:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-dead-flowers-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-390 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YgrWfTcrfOU/hqdefault.jpg Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones Learn to Play "Dead Flowers" by The Rolling Stones on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dead Flowers on the guitar. This fantastic country-era Rolling Stones song is not only fun but also a great opportunity for beginner guitar players to work on their groove. The feel of this song is just right, and playing along with the original recording will help you improve your groove. For those who've played in a Rolling Stones tribute band like me, finding the actual melody can be a bit challenging, especially if you're used to singing the harmony. But don't worry, it's a very simple song with a straightforward strumming pattern, making it an excellent choice for beginners. More advanced guitar players will also find this song interesting as it offers some fantastic guitar playing to explore. You can listen to the balancing of country phrases and chord movements between Keith Richards and Mick Taylor, a characteristic of this song's beautiful guitar work. Strumming Patterns Dead Flowers has two strumming patterns that are really simple. The first strumming pattern, the main one, is just down, down, up, up, down, down, down, up, up, down - very simple indeed. In the chorus, it's sometimes that, and sometimes it's just even strumming with an accent on two and four, so just strumming slightly harder on two and four. Chord Progression The very beginning starts with a D chord and then goes to an A and then to a G chord and back to D. The intro and verses follow a similar pattern - D, A, G, D. That's the chord sequence, and it's done four times for one verse. The chorus starts with "Take me down, little Susie," which goes for two bars, followed by a D for two bars, and then back to A. Then it's a G for two bars, a D chord for two bars, and then back to G for two bars. The chorus ends with a D. Wrapping up When you're learning a song like Dead Flowers, always think of writing the chords out in the simplest way possible. Break the song down into building blocks and arrange them in the easiest ways for you. It... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgrWfTcrfOU 536 2017-12-08T09:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-lady-writer-4-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3634 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TXh8jWu60mI/hqdefault.jpg Lady Writer [4/4] by Dire Straits Folow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This song was very heavily requested when I last did a "request fest" and it's got loads of super tasty guitar lines. Was a monster job to transcribe learn break down and film, but got there in the end :) I'm sure you'll enjoy learning this, is got some sticky moments but it's not one of those 'impossible' kind of solos, it's more about getting the timing right and catching the feel behind the notes that's hardest. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TXh8jWu60mI 1179 2018-02-08T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ella-henderson-tom-grennan-let-s-go-home-together-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-160 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tEVaYTYLvbM/hqdefault.jpg Let's Go Home Together by Ella Henderson & Tom Grennan Play "Let's Go Home Together" on the Acoustic Guitar! This easy lesson will teach you how to play Let's Go Home Together by Ella Henderson and Tom Grennan on the acoustic guitar. This song has a nice, easy structure, but we can make it sound wicked by playing with the dynamics and adding some cool picking. :) You'll need to use a capo on the 5th fret to play Let's Go Home Together on the guitar. Then, you'll use the same four chords throughout the entire song: Am, F, C, and G. We'll play each of these chords for two beats! No matter your guitar level, you can learn this song if you put some effort into it! If you're following my free guitar lessons, you'll be in shape to play this tune right in our Beginner Grade 2, once we nail the infamous F Chord. :) Now, let's take a look at some chord variations. Chord Variations For the F chord, I usually play 1X3210, using my thumb for the bass note - this is an FMaj7 chord. Using the thumb is tricky when you're a beginner, so that you can play a standard F barre chord (133211) instead! Choose the one that feels easier and more comfortable. Another option is to play an open FMaj7 chord (XX3210). If you play this version, the switch to C is easy peasy. Try it and see. :) As for the G chord, the switch from C to G is super simple if we play it using fingers 3 and 4 (3X0003). The choice is yours – you can use this song to try out tricky chords or stick with the ones you already know. Song Dynamics Let's Go Home Together uses the same progression over and over, so you must explore the dynamics in this song! If not, it'll sound boring to the listener. Here's a cool way to play the verses so that we change the dynamics. On beat 1, pick the bass note of the chord using the thumb. On the “and" after 1, play string 4 with your index finger, then strum the other beats with fingers 2 and 3. Try adding a little percussive hit on beat 2 – it sounds awesome! 💡 I use hammer-ons and flick-offs in my cover for Let's Go Home Together. I feel these bring this song to life! I encourage you... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEVaYTYLvbM 892 2022-09-07T18:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-three-little-birds-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UY3YEMMFfSs/hqdefault.jpg Three Little Birds by Bob Marley Learn How To Play "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley On Guitar! A Great Option For Your First Guitar Song! 3 Little Birds by Bob Marley is a great guitar song to learn for beginners! You only need 3 chords to play it, and a simple strumming pattern to play it. This is a fantastic and optimistic song - and has the magic ability to put anyone in a joyful mood. This song is a great campfire song to have in your repertoire. This Bob Marley song is the very first song in my Beginner Songbook exactly for that reason. So if you're looking to play your first guitar song, or if you're a Grade 1+ student, this lesson is a great place to start! 🎸 I hope you enjoy playing this song & if this is the first song you're learning on the guitar - congrats! That's a really cool thing to achieve, and it'll be inspiring once you have it under your fingers. :) Let's get stuck in. Three Little Birds Chords Three Little Birds is a super simple 3-chord song! To play it, you'll only need the chords A, D, and E. If you've been following my beginner guitar course, you should already be familiar with these chords. It's really useful to write chord progressions in a simple form. It'll help you get back on track if you get confused. Here's the chord progression you'll follow for this song: A E A D A E D A This song follows a 4x4 strumming pattern and you'll need to strum on the beat. You'll play four downstrums per bar throughout the whole tune. Focus on not missing the beat when you're strumming your guitar. You should have a smooth and consistent flow of movement between your chord changes. Keep that rhythm solid - use a metronome if you need to. If your rhythm is consistent - people will be able to sing along to it! 🚨Want faster chord changes? Try doing the one-minute chord exercise between the chord. Pick two chords and move in between them. If you do this exercise regularly - for a few weeks, five minutes a day - you'll get faster chord changes! Three Little Birds Guitar Tips For Beginners Here are 4 helpful tips to help you play t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UY3YEMMFfSs 616 2017-11-12T12:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chris-cornell-nothing-compares-2-u-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-214 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hSEk7L9-GA8/hqdefault.jpg Nothing Compares 2 U by Chris Cornell Play "Nothing Compares 2 You" on Guitar! We'll base this easy lesson on Chris Cornell's cover, partly because the Sinead O'Connor one sounds ridiculous if I sing it and partly because Chris Cornell was one of the greatest Rock singers of all time. He did an incredible version of this classic. If you're unfamiliar with it, I'd encourage you to go and check it out. 🎼 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs! Get verified tabs and chords + lyrics for Nothing Compares 2 U and loads more. Start for free here. :) We'll start with a very simple and easy strumming pattern, and then we'll learn how to pick out some of the notes individually to highlight parts of the melody. How to Play the Sinead O'Connor & Prince Versions To play along with Sinead O'Connor, you need to put a capo on at Fret 5 and use all the same chords we'll learn in this tutorial, but with the capo there! If you want to play along with the original version from Prince, who wrote this song, you'd need to use these chords and tune your guitar down one semitone - as he plays it in the key of B. Nothing Compares 2 U: Guitar Chords Most of the chords are relatively easy, but you need a Bb Barre Chord and an F Barre Chord - the only tricky points. You can approach the rest of the chords in many different ways! Introduction The chord progression for the intro is C, G/B, Am, C, and then G. You'll play this progression twice. 👉 Fingering Choices! Chris Cornell used to play G/B by putting his first finger on the second fret of the fifth string, then playing the open fourth and third strings, followed by his third and fourth fingers on the third and second frets of the thinnest two strings. I prefer to use my second and fourth fingers instead, and I skip playing the thinnest string because I find it easier to transition from C to G/B bass, and I like the way it sounds. Ultimately, it doesn't matter which approach you choose. G/B is a G chord with a B bass note, which creates a nice progression to C, G/B, and A minor, which is the next chord. The same thing goes ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSEk7L9-GA8 1464 2023-08-13T08:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-seger-old-time-rock-and-roll-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-125 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JSyKhEe2FSw/hqdefault.jpg Old Time Rock And Roll by Bob Seger Learn to Play "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger on the guitar. This lesson is perfect for beginners but also offers insight for more advanced players. This song is an excellent example of an 8-bar blues form, offering a lot of flexibility for different skill levels. It uses three simple chords, and the strumming is really straightforward. As your skills progress, you can try using the rock n roll shuffle (covered later in the beginner course) or even give rock and roll picking a go! Chord Progression The song's chord progression is straightforward, making it a great option for beginners. It follows an 8-bar blues form of A, A, D, D, E, E, A, E. That's two bars of A, two bars of D, two bars of E, one bar of A, and one bar of E. This progression is the backbone of the song, and we'll be returning to it again and again. In the verses, the song stays on the A chord all the way through. After that, the progression starts again for the chorus. The chord sequence is a key part of this song, and getting comfortable with it is essential. Intro Riff All on the thickest string - here's a little tab for you! 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 . . X . . . X . Strumming and Rhythm Strumming is a crucial part of playing any song on the guitar, and Old Time Rock and Roll is no exception. If you're a beginner, your goal is to keep the rhythm consistent and smooth out the transitions between chords. You can explore different rhythm patterns once you've got the hang of that. This song is flexible, and you can try out many strumming patterns that will work well. One example is playing continuous down and up strums, then putting an accent on beats two and four. Wrapping Up Old Time Rock and Roll is a fantastic song for beginners to explore new concepts and techniq... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JSyKhEe2FSw 903 2018-02-04T17:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-traveling-wilburys-handle-with-care-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-410 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/varXjLc4bz4/hqdefault.jpg Handle With Care by The Traveling Wilburys Handle With Care is a proper awesome song from surely one of the superest supergroups of all time! We're looking at a strumming acoustic version of the song but also how to add in some of the lead lines into it which is a bit more challenging but lot of fun! https://www.youtube.com/embed/varXjLc4bz4 1138 2018-01-24T14:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-kingsmen-louie-louie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BjseTHngpg0/hqdefault.jpg Louie Louie by The Kingsmen Learn to Play "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Louie Louie on the guitar, a rock and roll classic that has seen many different versions over the years. We'll base our lesson loosely on the original Kingsman version, giving you a straightforward and enjoyable way to learn this iconic song. The Basics: Chords and Rhythm One of the groovy things about Louie Louie is that it's built around just three chords: A, D, and E minor. This sequence, similar to "Wild Thing," is just A, D, E minor, and then back to D again. The full sequence has two beats on each chord, making it a great choice for beginners or anyone looking to add a classic tune to their repertoire. The first thing to practice is playing the song with two beats on each chord. It's a rhythm that carries through pretty much the entire song, with a minor exception we'll explore later in this lesson. For now, using all down strums, try playing two on A, two on D, two on E minor, and then back to D. Adding Some Variation While the basic strumming pattern is a great place to start, you might want to add some variation to keep the song interesting as you get more comfortable with the chords and rhythm. Most covers of this song, including the original Kingsmen version, use a distinctive rhythm pattern: one and two, three and four. This pattern adds a bit of swing to the song and makes it sound more like the original. Also, the original version has a muted, staccato sound on the electric piano part. If you want to replicate this on your guitar, you can use the outside part of your palm to gently mute the strings after each strum. This is a slightly more advanced technique, but it adds a great touch to the song and is worth trying out. Another advanced technique involves a different rhythm that happens in some of the verses. It requires quick chord changes, making it a bit more difficult than the basic rhythm. But if you're up for the challenge, it can add a new dimension to your playing. Wrapping Up I hope you've ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BjseTHngpg0 521 2018-02-04T22:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stereophonics-dakota-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/or_TXx9bAL8/hqdefault.jpg Dakota by Stereophonics Learn to play "Dakota" by Stereophonics on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dakota by Stereophonics on the guitar. This super cool tune is not particularly difficult, but it has a few interesting elements that make it fun to play. Let's dive in and explore this fantastic song together! Capo, Tuning, and Chord Progression First things first, we're going to place our capo on the fourth fret. While the original album recording might not use a capo, it's commonly used in live acoustic performances. Using the capo at the fourth fret gives the song a brighter sound and makes it easier to play, so I highly recommend this approach. Dakota's chord progression is relatively straightforward, making it accessible to both beginners and intermediate players. Throughout the song, we'll be using four main chords: C (C major), Am (A minor), Fmaj7 (F major seventh), and F (F major). The verses and intro primarily utilize C, Am, and Fmaj7, while the full F chord is introduced in the chorus to create a distinct sound between sections. This simple yet effective chord structure allows players to focus on developing their strumming technique and dynamics while enjoying a popular song. Strumming Pattern For this song, we'll use a technique called "continuous eighth note strumming" or "chugging eighth notes." This involves playing down strums on each beat and each "and" count. The pattern goes: one and two and three and four and. To add some flavor to your playing, try emphasizing beats two and four more. This creates a backbeat feel, similar to a snare drum in a full band setting. It's a great way to give your playing more life and rhythm, especially when you're playing solo. Song Structure and Dynamics Dakota's structure is relatively straightforward, making it easy to learn and play. The song begins with an intro that utilizes the main chord progression of C, Am, Fmaj7, and C. This same progression carries through to the verses, providing a consistent foundation for the song. When the chorus hits, the full F chord is ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/or_TXx9bAL8 507 2018-01-25T10:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-mamas-the-papas-dream-a-little-dream-of-me-ukulele-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-sUfMIOe_3o/hqdefault.jpg Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Ukulele by The Mamas & The Papas Learn to Play "Dream a Little Dream of Me" by The Mamas & Papas on the Ukulele In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dream a Little Dream of Me on the ukulele. The Mamas & Papas made this beautiful, timeless song famous, and we'll follow their version for our ukulele arrangement. Dream a Little Dream of Me is perfect for ukulele players of all levels. Its gentle, dreamy quality suits the ukulele's warm tone perfectly, and the chord progression, while interesting, is manageable once you get the hang of it. The song has a lovely jazzy feel that will help you develop your musical ear and chord vocabulary. Song Structure The song follows a classic structure with an intro, verses, and a chorus. The intro sets the mood with a beautiful progression that repeats twice, creating that dreamy atmosphere the song is known for. We'll start with a C chord, move through some jazzy changes, including a diminished chord (which adds that vintage feel), and then smoothly transition into the verse. The verses tell the story with a flowing progression that supports the melody perfectly. There's a slight variation between the first and second verses, which adds interest and keeps you on your toes. The chorus brings a change of feel with some different chord choices that really lift the song. Chord Progression Breakdown What makes this song special is its use of some slightly more adventurous chords than you might be used to. Don't let that intimidate you, though–we'll go through each change. We use some lovely diminished chords that give the song its characteristic jazzy feel. Once mastered, you'll have some really nice chord transitions that will add to your overall playing vocabulary. The intro starts with a C chord, moves to an F# diminished, then progresses to an A♭ before resolving to G. This beautiful progression repeats twice to create the song's dreamy opening. In the verses, the chord progression goes: C, F# diminished, A♭ to G, then C to E7. It continues with A7, moves to F, then F minor, and finally goes to C, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-sUfMIOe_3o 550 2017-11-07T13:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/muse-hysteria-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-326 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H1RIi919OPY/hqdefault.jpg Hysteria by Muse Learn to Play "Hysteria" by Muse on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hysteria by Muse on the guitar. This iconic rock song has a lot to offer, from the distinctive bass riff to the powerful guitar solo and everything in between. If you've been looking to expand your guitar-playing repertoire, you're in for a treat! Getting Started The song kicks off with a catchy bass riff that sets the stage for the rest of the song. While it's technically a bass part, we'll tackle it on the guitar because it's just too cool to pass up. After getting a handle on this riff, we'll move on to the main melody that the guitar plays during the song. Exploring the Melody This melody is an essential part of the song's unique sound. It's a rhythmic pattern that involves muting the strings with both hands, which adds a percussive element to the guitar part. We'll also dive into the technique of bending strings to create a distinctive melodic effect. This technique involves pushing the strings up or down to raise their pitch, and it's quite common in rock and blues music. Chorus Chord Progression and the Solo When we reach the chorus, we encounter a progression of power chords C, G, D, and A. Power chords are a staple of rock music, and they're played with a specific strumming pattern that's a bit unusual. One neat trick we'll cover involves a little bend from the second fret up to the third while playing the C chord. This isn't an element that's explicitly in the original song, but it adds a nice touch that fits well with the overall sound. Then, we'll venture into the solo. This solo is divided into two halves, each with its own character. The first half features a series of picked notes and runs, while the second half is based on arpeggios. Wrapping Up Hysteria by Muse is a fantastic rock tune. Whether you're playing in a band or just jamming alone, this song is a lot of fun to play. From the catchy bass riff to the powerful guitar solo, there's a lot to learn and enjoy. Remember, when learning any new song, it's im... https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1RIi919OPY 595 2017-12-31T10:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-police-can-t-stand-losing-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-218 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dxnlYtWKHg0/hqdefault.jpg Can't Stand Losing You by The Police Learn How to Play "Can't Stand Losing You" by The Police on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Can't Stand Losing You by The Police - one of my all-time favorite songs! This classic features some incredible guitar work by Andy Summers, and it's a great song for Advancing Beginners. To get started, we'll learn all about the chords we'll use to play Can't Stand Losing You. The main chord progression revolves around three chords: Dm, Gm, and Am. These chords create a powerful, moody sound that perfectly captures the song's essence. Strumming and Technique Before we jump into the details of the chords, let's talk about the strumming and technique. We want to achieve a nice, tight sound with our chords, so we'll use a technique I call Chips. This technique involves strumming the chords and immediately relaxing our fingers to produce a short and crisp sound. It may take a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can create the song's signature sound. Song Structure Now, let's break down the song structure. Check out the video tutorial to watch how I put it all together. :) Verses The verse section starts with two beats in D minor and two in A minor. Finally, we play one bar in G minor. This progression repeats throughout the verse, creating a captivating and gloomy atmosphere. Focus on the chords' timing and feel to capture the song's essence. Pre-Chorus and Chorus After the verse, we move on to the pre-chorus section. Here, we play a B flat chord followed by an F chord. These chords add a dynamic and uplifting feel to the song, leading to the catchy chorus. The chorus is where the song shines. We return to the D minor, A minor, and G minor chords, creating a powerful and emotional sound. This part is perfect for singing along and letting your emotions flow through your guitar. Bridge and Outro In the bridge section, we introduce some harmonic techniques to add a unique twist to the song. Using half harmonics, we create a dreamy and ethereal sound that takes the song to another level. It may... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dxnlYtWKHg0 1452 2023-10-22T02:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/natalie-imbruglia-torn-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-211 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eD7OY-k827o/hqdefault.jpg Torn by Natalie Imbruglia Learn to play "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Torn on the guitar. It's a fantastic pop song and a really great one for practicing those barre chords as they appear throughout the whole song. We'll also focus on the strumming pattern, which is absolutely key to making this song sound right. It's all about getting that rhythm down, so let's jump right in! The Strumming Pattern The biggest hurdle for many people with this tune is definitely the strumming, so let's tackle that first. It's a 16th-note strumming pattern, and it might seem a bit complicated, but it's totally doable once you get the hang of it. Here’s how we’ll break it down: The basic pattern is: 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a. To get started, try strumming on every single 16th note like this: down up down up down up down up. It’s that simple to begin with! Then, you'll need to figure out when to press the chords down. This is where the rhythm starts to come to life. Muting is done by relaxing the fretting hand. This is super important for this song because it uses barre chords throughout. Remember, it's not just about moving your strumming hand up and down; it's about how you press down and relax with your fretting hand. I suggest writing out the pattern "1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a" and then writing the corresponding up and down strums above it. If you have a songbook, it might be written out for you already. If not, write it out yourself; it makes it so much easier to visualize. Here's the complete up and down strum pattern: down, up, down, up, down, up, up, down, down, up, down, up, down, up, up, down. It might look like a lot to start with, but just go super slow, write it out, and really get the strumming pattern down. Once you’ve got it right, you can gradually start to speed things up. There are loads of chord changes in the song, so for your strumming to become instinctive, it's worth spending time on. The Chords Once you've mastered the strumming, it's time to get into t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eD7OY-k827o 576 2017-11-29T18:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-weeknd-call-out-my-name-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-027 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6MMsvaEhnOU/hqdefault.jpg Call Out My Name by The Weeknd Learn to Play "Call Out My Name" by The Weeknd on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Call Out My Name by The Weeknd on the guitar. This song is a great opportunity to practice your A minor and E minor chords. The rhythm involves a six-eight time, giving the song a unique feel compared to many songs in four-four time. Understanding the Rhythm Understanding the rhythm of Call Out My Name is essential. The song is in six-eight time, which means you'll be counting to six in each measure. This is a change from the common four-four time found in many songs, where you would traditionally count to four. The rhythm has a one-two-three-four-five-six beat. You can choose to strum on every beat or just on the one and the four. The key is to keep your hand moving consistently, similar to how you would in a song with a four-four time signature. This consistent hand motion will keep your strumming in time and help establish the song's rhythm. Experimenting with Strumming Patterns Since there's no guitar in the original recording, you can explore and experiment with your own strumming patterns. This is a great opportunity to get creative and make the song your own. You can start simple and gradually incorporate more complex strumming patterns as you get comfortable. It's important to keep your hand moving even when you're only playing a few strums per measure. This consistent motion will make adding extra strums easier if you want to. The key is to keep the rhythm steady and consistent throughout the song. Using Rhythm to Keep it Interesting Since Call Out My Name only uses two chords, A minor and E minor, rhythm plays a crucial role in keeping the song interesting. Varying your strumming pattern helps define different song sections and keep the listener's interest. If you keep the strumming the same all the way through, it can get monotonous. So, experiment with different rhythms and strumming patterns to give the song depth and variation. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoyed this lesson on how to play Call Out My ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6MMsvaEhnOU 503 2019-11-17T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-you-shook-me-all-night-long-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-319 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ngwnX82pstM/hqdefault.jpg You Shook Me All Night Long [1/3] by AC/DC Learn "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC on the guitar. This classic rock song is a fantastic one to explore if you're keen to understand the essence of rock guitar playing. Its straightforward chord progression and infectious energy make it a must-know for every aspiring rock guitarist. Introduction and Chord Progression The song kicks off with an iconic intro that sets the stage for what follows. As we dive into this song, we'll focus on the main chord progression in the verses and how to strum the song to give it that characteristic rock energy. The chord progression of You Shook Me All Night Long is fairly simple, but the execution makes it special. The verses start with a G chord. A common technique in AC/DC songs, which you'll find here as well, is leaving off the B note. This technique creates a cleaner, less messy sound. The verse then follows a sequence of C, G, C, and D chords. With the C and D chords, aim to mute the thinnest string to give your chords a fuller sound. You'll often hear the open A string ringing out with the D chord, adding more depth to the sound. One thing that makes AC/DC's music captivating is their knack for adding depth and richness to simple chords. We'll discuss this in detail as we progress through the lesson. Strumming and Rhythm One of the key aspects of playing any song is achieving the right strumming rhythm and energy. This becomes crucial when dealing with songs as rhythmically driven as "You Shook Me All Night Long." We'll talk about how to strum this song to give it the right energy and make your performance sound authentic. Song Practice and Performance Tips Like with any new song, practice is key. Start slowly, familiarize yourself with the chord changes, and gradually build up your speed. Remember, it's not just about playing the chords right. It's about capturing the spirit of the song, and that comes with understanding the groove and dynamics of the song. And don't for... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ngwnX82pstM 439 2017-12-15T06:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/traditional-auld-lang-syne-1-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0hF35_XMVJE/hqdefault.jpg Auld Lang Syne [1/4] by Traditional Follow these links to go to Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this lesson. Here we are with this traditional classic Christmas and New Year’s song! It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit, is it? This song was actually part of the Xmas Special 2007 that was once available on YouTube, though I don't think it's there anymore. I really like this fingerstyle arrangement of the song. It sounds great just played on its own at a party or with vocals over top. If you’re not used to fingerstyle, this might just take a bit more practice than you may be used to, but it really helps to tackle it slowly. That way, you can make sure all of your fingers are in the right place at the right time, and you can focus on coordinating your left and right hands. For this song, I’ve broken it up into four different lessons to help you focus on a small chunk of the song at a time. In Lesson 1, we’re only going to be looking at the first two bars. On your picking hand, you’re going to be using fingers 1, 2, and 3 to pluck the thinner strings of the chord, while your thumb takes care of the rest of the notes. This is pretty standard for fingerstyle playing. For your fretting hand, we’re just looking at the C and G chords, so nothing too crazy there. There are a few ornamentations that work through the melody, though, so just be aware of those. This song actually starts off with an anacrusis, also known as a pickup note. This is just a fancy word for a note that starts on beat 4 of a previous imaginary bar. It’s meant to lead into the first beat of the first bar of the song. TAB and Notes Download the TAB for Auld Lang Syne here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hF35_XMVJE 470 2017-11-17T03:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-1153 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qy8o5ODe-Jg/hqdefault.jpg Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer [3/3] by Xmas Classic Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This song was part of the Xmas Special 2007 that was available as a YouTube Video and also as a bonus DVD (no longer available). I'll get around to remaking this video at some point - amazing how much better quality video is these days eh! Click here to download a TAB pdf file of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Click here to download a GuitarPro file of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer The TAB will help you know where to put your fingers and which strings to pick and the GuitarPro version is great to use it as a play along because you can slow the tempo right down and hear it as well as see it, and it's a lot more fun than playing along with a metronome! Check your dashboard (you need to be logged in) to get a discount on GuitarPro7 from me! Hope you enjoy it and I wish you a wonderful Xmas and the very best for the new year :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qy8o5ODe-Jg 466 2018-02-08T19:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-stir-it-up-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-193 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BPgrcLv71vE/hqdefault.jpg Stir It Up by Bob Marley How to play "Stir It Up" by Bob Marley on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stir It Up by Bob Marley on the guitar. This classic reggae tune, with its simple chord progression and easy-going rhythm, is perfect for beginners. Before we start, it's important to note that we're going for a simplified version of Stir It Up. While the original has that full-on reggae feel, we'll focus on a more beginner-friendly approach. This way, you can get comfortable with the song's basic structure before diving into more complex reggae techniques. Chord Progression One of the great things about Stir It Up is its simplicity. We'll use just three chords throughout the song: A, D, and E. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are still getting comfortable with chord changes. The basic progression goes like this: We start with a full bar of A (that's four beats), followed by two beats on D and two beats on E. Then we loop back to A and repeat. Don't worry if it doesn't sound exactly like the original recording right away. Remember, we're starting with a simplified version to help you get comfortable with the song's structure. Strumming Patterns When you're first starting out, it's perfectly fine to keep things super simple. Begin with just one strum per chord change. This approach allows you to focus on getting your chord transitions smooth and in time with the music. You can experiment with different strumming patterns once you're comfortable with the chord changes. A good next step is to try four down strums per bar. So, for the A chord, you'd strum down four times, then two down strums each for D and E. As you progress, you can start introducing some reggae-style offbeat strumming. In reggae, we often emphasize the "and" counts between beats. So instead of "1, 2, 3, 4," you'd think "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and." This creates that characteristic reggae "lift" that makes you want to move! Advancing Your Skills As you become more comfortable with the basic version of Stir It Up, you can gradually incorporate... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPgrcLv71vE 429 2018-10-04T12:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-everly-brothers-bye-bye-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-422 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M69ffp3QVi4/hqdefault.jpg Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers Learn to Play "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Bye Bye Love on the guitar. This classic Everly Brothers tune is perfect for beginners since it mainly uses three basic chords: E, A, and D. It's also excellent for practicing basic chord changes and developing your rhythm skills. The song structure is straightforward, making it ideal for guitarists who are just starting their musical journey. If you're a bit more advanced, no worries! We'll also take a look at the intro section, which is quite iconic. Basic Chord Progression We'll begin with the chorus, which starts with a D chord. The progression is simple and repetitive, moving between D and A chords, with occasional transitions to E. These chord changes create the signature sound that makes this song instantly recognizable. The verse follows a similar pattern, using the same three chords in a different sequence. Once you've mastered the basic chord changes, you can start adding more complex elements like the A7 chord for extra flavor, but there's no rush—keep it simple at first! Strumming Patterns Let's start with a basic four-down-strums-per-bar pattern. This will give you a solid foundation to build upon. As you get more comfortable, you can experiment with more complex strumming patterns to add rhythm and dynamics to your playing. When you're ready to advance, we'll explore different strumming patterns that can add more character to your playing. Remember, playing a simple pattern well is better than struggling with a complex one! The Intro If you've already completed the beginner's course⁠, you can dive into the intro section. However, I recommend focusing on the main progression first if you're just starting out. The intro uses some more advanced techniques that you can come back to later when you're ready.⁠ Here are the key components: It starts with a sequence of power chords: A to C to D, followed by an open A string⁠ ⁠​There's a muted section that follows, where you can optionally play an A chord ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/M69ffp3QVi4 897 2017-12-08T10:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/randy-newman-you-ve-got-a-friend-in-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-130 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Th10gZM-7HQ/hqdefault.jpg You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman Learn the Toy Story classic "You've Got A Friend In Me" by Randy Newman! Let's check out how to play You've Got A Friend In Me by Randy Newman! This song is, of course, part of the classic Toy Story movie, and I learned how to play it mostly for my daughter. Still, this is such a cool song – and full of the good vibes we need right now! :) In this tutorial, we'll check out an acoustic arrangement so you can play You've Got a Friend In Me (and sing it!). This one has several fingerstyle patterns that use the thumb for the bass note, along with percussive hits. First, we’ll make sure you know how to play the basic chords. Then we’ll look at the fingerstyle patterns and explore some embellishments. Enough talk – let's get stuck in and learn how to play You've Got a Friend in Me on the guitar! You’ve Got A Friend In Me by Randy Newman: Intro Chords You'll notice I have a capo on the third fret. The progression for the intro is: C E7 (020130) Am G#7 (464544); C G7 (3X300X) C Gaug (3X100X) C G7. Each chord lasts half a bar. You might not be familiar with the Gaug chord – this means G Augmented! The progression in the original song is C Gaug C6 (X322XX) Gaug. This brings out the melody C B A B C over the chords. 💡 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTABS! You'll get tab, chords and lyrics to follow along with this and over 600 other song lessons. Yep, all with my quality approval. :) You’ve Got A Friend In Me From Toy Story: Fingerstyle Guitar To play this acoustic arrangement for You've Got a Friend in Me, you'll need to master the fingerstyle patterns. :) To start, I'd recommend you play the thumb on the bass note (string 6 or 5, depending on the chord), finger 1 on string 4, and fingers 2 and 3 doing a little strum. Then finger 1 plays either string 3 or 4 again! :) The rhythm is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + T 1 S 1 T 1 S 1 S means strum This is pattern is a starting point. Later on, we’ll make it much fancier by picking out the melody notes and adding a hit on beats 2 and 4. Let’s check out the chord progressions. :) 🚨 Take it slo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Th10gZM-7HQ 1375 2022-03-04T01:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-gray-this-year-s-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-309 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gelPJuzatQM/hqdefault.jpg This Year's Love by David Gray Learn to play "This Year's Love" by David Gray on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play This Year's Love on the guitar. This beautiful ballad from David Gray's acclaimed album "White Ladder" is a perfect choice for both beginners and intermediate players looking to expand their repertoire. Before we dive in, it's worth noting that This Year's Love is written in 6/8 time, which gives it a wonderful, flowing quality. Don't worry if you're not familiar with 6/8 time—we'll break it down into simple, manageable steps that will help you get comfortable with this timing. Understanding 6/8 Time In 6/8 time, we divide each bar into six beats, typically felt as two main pulses with three smaller beats each. Think of it as having a gentle swing that goes "ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six." When you're first starting out, focus on the two main pulses per bar—this will help you get the feel of the song without getting overwhelmed. 👉 Check out this lesson to get a better grasp on 6/8 time and other time signatures. Basic Chord Progression One of the beautiful things about This Year's Love is its relatively straightforward chord progression. We'll be working primarily with C, D, G, Em, and A chords. The song follows a lovely pattern that creates a warm, emotional atmosphere while remaining accessible to players of all skill levels. Verse Structure The verses follow a gentle back-and-forth pattern between C and D chords before moving to G and Em. This creates a beautiful foundation for the melody. The progression flows naturally, giving you time to transition between chords while maintaining the song's emotional depth. Strumming Pattern We'll start with a simple strumming pattern that emphasizes the 6/8 timing. Once you're comfortable with the basic pattern, you can experiment with adding up-strums to create more texture. Remember, the original song was played on piano, so you have some creative freedom in how you interpret the rhythm on guitar. 👉 This lesson can also help you get started with 6/8 strumming! Final Thought... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gelPJuzatQM 785 2018-02-04T20:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/survivor-eye-of-the-tiger-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-055 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z8_ryfhhixE/hqdefault.jpg Eye of the Tiger by Survivor It's time to learn one of the great guitar songs... Lately I've been working on loads of cool power-chord song lessons, but I have to say that Eye of the Tiger by Survivor is probably the funnest of them all! What a classic - this could be the most recognizable power-chord riff ever. Eye of the Tiger became a hit with Rocky III, the famous movie with Silvester Stallone starring as Rocky Balboa. Stallone asked the band Survivor to write a song for his movie, and Eye of the Tiger was released as a single one day after the movie premiere. I dissected both guitars from the original recording. We'll explore the guitar lead, the riffs, and how all the parts connect together. Also check out my Eye of the Tiger cover tutorial - this is a really fun way of understanding the blending of the guitars. Eye of The Tiger by Survivor - Easy Guitar Part Incredibly, one of the guitars sits on the note C for almost the whole of this Survivor track! For this part, I'm using my custom Fender guitar made by Tom Gray, along with The Kemper Profiler, an all-in-one effects processor, and the Colonial 1.6 Pack. You want a straight, clean sound. While there’s nothing to do with your fretting hand, you’ll be surprised at how tricky it is to keep a steady, consistent rhythm for the entire song. And there are a couple of rhythmic patterns here. The first is to play 16th notes with alternate picking, adding accents on the beats. The second is a gallop pattern, which is a basic 8th note pattern. Check out the video for the details. :) 🎸 Nail the Rhythm: Make sure you’re right in the pocket and that the picking remains constant throughout the song. It’s easy to go too fast or too slow here. Try relaxing into the music - don’t be tense, or you’ll rush. Playing Tips It might seem easy to play the note C over and over again. How could that possibly be difficult, right? Not so fast - with some practice you’ll start to realize all the subtleties, like the timing, picking, accenting, palm muting, and so on. There’s a lot to pay attention to. You do... https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8_ryfhhixE 1557 2021-02-12T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-give-me-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-925 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0dxpcEIqfy8/hqdefault.jpg Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran Learn how to play "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. This beautiful and incredible song is a favorite among many guitar enthusiasts, and I'm excited to guide you through it step by step. Before we jump into the nitty-gritty details, let's take a moment to appreciate the overall structure of Give Me Love. This song showcases Ed Sheeran's exceptional songwriting skills and ability to create a captivating melody. As we progress through this lesson, you'll discover how the various elements come together to form this masterpiece. Let's dive in and explore the details of this wonderful tune! Rhythm and Time Signature One of the key aspects that makes Give Me Love unique is its rhythm. The song is in 6/8 time, which gives it a distinctive feel. This means we have six beats per bar, creating a flowing, almost waltz-like rhythm. As you play, try to internalize this rhythm: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 1-2-3, 4-5-6. This underlying pulse is crucial to capturing the essence of the song. Chord Progression Give Me Love primarily uses four chords: A minor, F, C, and G. These chords form the backbone of the verses and chorus, with some variations in the pre-chorus. For the verses, we start with A minor for one bar, move to F for another bar, and then spend two bars on C. This sequence repeats throughout the verses, creating a gentle, rolling feel that perfectly complements Ed's vocals. When we reach the pre-chorus, we introduce some new chords to build tension. We start with two bars of D minor, followed by two bars of F, then two bars of C, and two bars of G. This progression adds a sense of anticipation, leading us beautifully into the chorus. The chorus itself has a slightly more complex structure. We alternate between half bars of C and D minor, followed by a full bar of F. This sequence repeats three times before we hit the emotional peak with A minor, G, and then back to F. Strumming Pattern To really bring Give Me Love to life, we need to focus on ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0dxpcEIqfy8 923 2018-02-05T18:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-paperback-writer-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-147 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C01rdUbkCpM/hqdefault.jpg Paperback Writer by The Beatles Learn "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Paperback Writer by The Beatles on the electric guitar - including its high-energy, super popular riff. High energy also means a high tempo, but you'll want to start slow and gradually build your speed. 💡 This Beatles classic was born back in '66! It's an homage to numerous authors who John Lennon admired. Paperback Writer has a lively riff and a fun rhythm, making it a great practice for Intermediate Guitar Players and beyond! You'll also encounter barre chords, fast hammer-ons, and accents - loads to dive into! Grab your guitar, and get ready to have some serious fun. :) Paperback Writer by The Beatles: Guitar Riff The riff revolves around a G7 barre chord (353433), but you don't need to grab the full chord. We're only playing the three thickest strings. :) Start by using finger 1 to barre the three thickest strings at fret 3. In the first bar of the riff, we pick string 6, then string 5, before hammering on finger 3 at 5:5 (string 5, fret 5). Keep it in place. Then you add your little finger to 4:5 and hit string 4, play 5:5 again, then lift off your little finger to reveal 4:3 and pick string 4. The order of the notes is: 6:3, 5:3, 5:5, 4:5, 5:5, 4:3, and the rhythm is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D U H U U D The second bar is easier than the first. :) The notes are 6:3, 5:3, 6:3, 5:3, 5:5h, 4:3. We don't even need little finger! The rhythm does change, though. 1 + 2 + 3e+ 4 + D U U Dh D A couple of final details: the note on beat 1 is pretty quiet. You can even miss it. :) And the hammer-on to 5:5 is quick and comes before the "and" after 3; it lands on the "e." It's also crucial that you pick this one right. As you can see above, we use down picks on beats (1 2 3 4) and up-picks on off-beats (+ + + +). It might feel weird when your start, but it'll feel natural if you keep your hand moving consistently. 🚨 Getting the right picking is what makes this riff make sense. Look at clips of The Beatles playing live and you’ll see this ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/C01rdUbkCpM 512 2022-04-27T04:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-thinking-out-loud-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-822 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3Z1X-rvNz1c/hqdefault.jpg Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran Learn how to play "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran on guitar! The vocal on this track is exceptional. :) Ed Sheeran is a seriously talented musician, and Thinking Out Loud is such a great song. It's definitely a great one to play on the electric guitar! In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Thinking Out Loud as in the album recording, but the way it's played live - usually acoustic - is pretty much the same, just more emphasis on the muted backbeat. ;) Thinking Out Loud is relatively easy to play, but get ready for some string muting and a Bm Barre Chord. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, this is a great tune for Grade 3+ students. Now let's check it out. Thinking Out Loud - Chords & Rhythm The basic version of this song uses the chords D, D/F#, G, and A. The D with the F# bass gives a special touch to the chord progression! But there are also a few ways of fancying up those grips. If you're up for some little finger work-out, using a hammer-on will sound great. 💡 Hammer-ons are when you pick one note and then hammer a second finger down onto the same string to get a second note - without picking a second time! The technique is simple, but it does require some finger strength. Hammer-on is also a great exercise to help you develop finger independence and dexterity. Learn a great beginner hammer-ons exercise here! Once you're comfortable playing the chords, your second task is to get the rhythm right! The counting can help you out, but you'll probably be able to play it easier if you're well familiar with the song. For this lesson, I'm using an electric guitar - but the same grips will work great on the acoustic too. Now, for the fingerpicking - you'll need to use some palm muting! On the electric, it just takes a little bit of effort. On the acoustic guitar, it seems Ed Sheeran really accentuates the backbeat muted, so make sure you get that vibe too. In both cases, you'll be alternating the bass note, so stay aware of your thumb position when switching between chords. Want chords, t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Z1X-rvNz1c 904 2017-12-03T07:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dusty-springfield-son-of-a-preacher-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-088 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2owFvjH6UQo/hqdefault.jpg Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield Learn how to play "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield! In today’s lesson, we’ll learn how to play Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield - this song first appeared in her album Dusty in Memphis in 1969 and became a classic. We’ll learn how to play it the authentic way, in the key of E, using mainly the chords E, A, and B, and a little bit of D. Then, we’ll explore how to use a guitar capo to play the same song in different keys. :) Using a capo to change the key of a song is an excellent skill to have under your belt - and definitely not only for beginners. But, in the case of Son of a Preacher Man, using a capo to transpose does make it easier to play: you’ll avoid the B Barre Chord. 💡 Transposing songs also help you find the correct key for your singing, makes jamming loads of fun, and opens up many possibilities. Now let’s get stuck in and see what’s on the menu for this lesson! Son of a Preacher Man - Two Keys? Something funky happens for the bridge of this song. The song changes key - so, instead of playing E, A, B, and D, you’ll play D, A, B, and E. :) That’s kind of an exciting thing; it lifts up the song! 💬 We don’t really see this changing keys trick a lot nowadays, and I’m not sure why! What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Changing the keys during a song can be a bit tricky if you’re singing. But with some practice, you might be able to do it. :) The good news is that you can use a guitar capo to find the best keys for your voice - so at least that! Son of a Preacher Man - Strumming Pattern You can start by playing Son of a Preacher Man with a super simple strumming pattern. Use down strums only, and strum on the first beat of each bar. If you keep your hand moving and get relaxed, you’ll be able to free your strumming up. ;) If you prefer to try a set strumming pattern, a good one for this song would be: 1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a D D u uD uDu 😉 Don’t worry if the last up strum hits open strings; that’s normal. We all do it, and it's ok. Don’t be afraid of it. Be aware that the c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2owFvjH6UQo 1035 2021-08-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas-easy-arr-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z7oDgVcx6jc/hqdefault.jpg We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Easy Arr.) by Xmas Classic Learn an Easy Fingerpicking Version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play We Wish You A Merry Christmas on the acoustic guitar. This is a holiday staple for many of us! If you're following my Beginner Guitar course, this song lesson has excellent material for Grade 3 guitar players. There are some cool hammer-ons for you to practice in there! If you're an intermediate player looking to make it fancier, check out the advanced version. Make sure you're ace with this one first! I also made an easy strumming version if you want an even simpler option! Let's get stuck in. :) Wish You A Merry Christmas Easy Guitar Version The basic fingerpicking arrangement will allow you to explore other ways of playing We Wish You A Merry Christmas. But first, listen to the song a couple of times to grasp the original chords and melody. If you're a beginner, you might already dread that F chord. A nice thing about this particular F chord is that you don't need to barre it. You only need to play the thickest four strings, so don't worry about getting that barre down. I know - what a relief! :) If you look at the fretting hand, you'll notice a couple of hammer-ons. Make sure you're comfortable with the movement before moving on to the fingerpicking pattern! Choose which fingers feel best once you get to the fingerpicking pattern. Whether you use your pinky, Finger 1, or alternate, choose the one that feels the most comfortable & intuitive to you. Free Downloads to Help You Learn Faster! Need extra help? Check out the free tabs with the arrangement I made for this version. It will help you know where to put your fingers and which strings to pick. The GuitarPro version is also an excellent tool. You can slow down the song tempo and play along. It's a lot more fun than playing along with a metronome! 🔽 Free GuitarPro! Download a GuitarPro file of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Click on the 'Download' button. The page will say the preview is not supported, but the download button still works... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z7oDgVcx6jc 928 2017-12-15T01:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-cardigan-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-089 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CGdLMvlh7MY/hqdefault.jpg Cardigan by Taylor Swift Learn "Cardigan" by Taylor Swift On Guitar! A fantastic song for advancing beginners. Today’s song lesson will teach us how to play Cardigan by Taylor Swift on the acoustic guitar! Together, we’ll check out the chords, strumming patterns, and extra tips to help you sound great. :) This song uses mostly open chords, but it does have a B Minor Barre Chord in there. I'll give you a cheat for that one, but it’s an easy barre chord if you haven't tried it before! If you're following my Guitar Courses, this song will be perfect to practice techniques for Grade 3+ students. If you're a brave Grade 2 student, give it a try as well! It might be an awesome developer song for you! So grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. How To Play Cardigan By Taylor Swift On Guitar To play Cardigan, you'll start by placing your guitar capo on your first fret. The chord sequence follows E, A, G, A for one bar each for the verses. Now - the chorus is quite simple! You'll repeat the chords D, A, G, A a few times. Then you’ll encounter a Bm Barre Chord in this song. If you're struggling with barre chords, try playing the B7 Chord. Most of you might have already met the B7 Chord! It's the same as the B Barre Chord, but you'll lift your first finger off. So - you won't be playing the thickest string. This option might even sound closer to Taylor's original recording! 🚨 There are loads of variations for you to try in this song! Feel free to explore guitar chords - it's a great way to develop your musical sense! Taylor Swift Cardigan Strumming This original recording has a piano playing the bass notes. For guitar players, this means you can play around with the strumming pattern to emphasize some beats! As always, the key to strumming is keeping your hand moving consistently. Start with the basic strumming pattern. Then, embellish your sound and develop new strumming patterns as you gain confidence. Build on the chorus with some extra down strums here and there. It'll make a huge difference in the dynamic feel of the song. Remember - it's ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CGdLMvlh7MY 725 2021-08-28T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-the-man-who-sold-the-world-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-084 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gfZKKeOr3SE/hqdefault.jpg The Man Who Sold the World by Nirvana We all love a good cover, don’t we? And Nirvana’s version of David Bowie’s song "The Man Who Sold The World" is just fantastic. Even David Bowie loved it - he commented a few times about the Nirvana version, and he refers to it as heartfelt. And that’s pretty on point - Kurt Cobain’s performance on that MTV Unplugged in New York comes from his heart. In this guitar lesson, I’m playing The Man Who Sold The World on my acoustic guitar. If you want to sound more like Kurt Cobain’s version, the acoustic is the way to go - but this song will sound great on the electric guitar as well. Bowie’s original uses pretty much the same chords and rhythm we’ll learn in this tutorial so that you can play along with both versions! 🚨 To play this chorus, you’ll need a C#. If you can’t play it just yet, this guitar lesson is not you. :( There’s not a perfect substitution for this chord. You can try it, but it’s not great if you want to sound the record. You can choose another awesome Nirvana Song Tutorial here! Now let’s get into it. The Man Who Sold The World - Intro This song’s introduction has all its notes on the third string! That will make things a bit easier, but you’ll need some hammer-on and flick-offs to get it sounding right. 💡 If that’s the first song you’ll ever play that requires hammer-ons, check out this beginner guitar lesson! If you’re playing on your own and are a more advancing guitar player, you can mix the riff with the chords when playing the riff. You’ll need some barre chords there, but we’ll explore some alternative grips too. The Man Who Sold The World - Verse When we get in the verse, we’ll play A, Dm, F, and C. The A ‘Mini Barre’ Chord (not a bad habit, I promise!) will sound great and super Nirvana-ry in this song! The Man Who Sold The World - Rhythm For the strumming, that old faithful strumming pattern will sound just fine. But if you want to get that rhythm right and sound just like the original recording, you’ll have to switch between chords in the right place. 🚨 Check out the video lesson to ma... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfZKKeOr3SE 918 2021-07-24T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/black-eyed-peas-i-gotta-feeling-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uxuqR4DXYDo/hqdefault.jpg I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas How To Play "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas On Guitar! Black Eyed Peas is a fantastic contemporary pop band. They released I Gotta Feeling in 2009, and it quickly became a popular radio mega-hit! This song sounds super fun to play on the guitar. In this lesson, you'll learn how to play I Gotta Feeling on guitar with some other fun chord variations. We'll first check out the main riff in the original recording and then some ways you can spice it up. This song has the same riff throughout the whole song. The strumming pattern for this song should also is straightforward. It's one of that typical strum you should already be familiar with. Plat the regular chords if you want. You really don't have to get all fancy playing the riff! But, there are a few ways you can play this song! It's a good idea to figure out kind of ways of varying it up a little bit. Otherwise, it can get monotonous for the listener. So if you want a bit of a challenge, you'll have to get creative and see what you like. Adding a bass note can be a fun thing to do! You can even use open chords if you want. I Gotta Feeling: Guitar Chords This song has simple chords. You'll play G, C, Em, and E - for the whole tune. It does have a G chord in there, but that's the only big stretch! The rest of the chord changes are easy to achieve. If you're playing with a band, make sure these chords ring out properly. The rest of the band should be taking care of the dynamics. This is an excellent time for you to play chord variations between the verses and the chorus. I Gotta Feeling: Picking Hand Let's have a quick look at the picking hand. To keep the chords nice and tight, you can mute strings with your hand. It'll lessen your finger pressure and help ring out the notes. Now, if you want to mute the string and add a base note, keep your palm nice and round. Get all the chords and mute in between, and then you can strum any way you like. And most importantly, have fun and get in the groove to play this catchy tune :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/uxuqR4DXYDo 798 2017-11-29T17:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-lively-up-yourself-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YKpiJiAaLvs/hqdefault.jpg Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley Learn Reggae Guitar with "Lively Up Yourself" by Bob Marley! Let's check out how to play Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley on electric guitar. I recently did a session where I had to play some reggae, and I realized how rubbish I was! So I'm getting deeper into the style, and there's loads of great stuff to explore! There are only two chords in this song - D and G. But it's full of classic reggae techniques, and we'll cover the common terminology and how to play the various parts in Lively Up Yourself. 💡 Though I've been playing for over 30 years, I haven't explored reggae in any depth. Sure, I know these songs and even played in a reggae band - badly - when I was a teen, but I never learned the details. Learning this classic reggae song was a big lesson for me. :) There are certain elements that repeat throughout reggae music. In this lesson, we check out the Skank (also called the chop, hit or bang) and the Stuck, which is the guitar line that sits with the bass. Play Along with the Bob Marley Original Though we look at all the technical details in the video, the best way to practice and learn reggae is to play along with the original recording. I learned so much just jamming with it for half an hour. Try to lock into the groove and feel that you're part of the band. :) Let's look at the details. Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley: The Skank This is a key element of reggae music. In our language, the skank means chips! We play these on 2 + and 4 +. I go for D triad on strings 2, 3, and 4 - think of this as a mini-barre A moved up to fret 7. I then switch to G played as the top part of the E-shape barre chord. Think of this as mini F moved up two frets. Here's where it gets real reggae: aim for a heavily muted sound by pressing the fingers down lightly but strumming quite hard! We want way more mute than notes. :) This is harder than you think, but it's a fundamental part of the style. Lively Up Yourself on Guitar: The Stuck Line The Stuck Line is the electric part that doubles the bassline. The two Stuck riffs ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YKpiJiAaLvs 965 2019-08-29T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/mississippi-fred-mcdowell-you-gotta-move-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-246 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWKnqNkvxS4/hqdefault.jpg You Gotta Move by Mississippi Fred McDowell Learn to play "You Gotta Move" by Mississippi Fred McDowell on slide guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You Gotta Move on the slide guitar. This Blues standard, popularized by Mississippi Fred McDowell and later covered by The Rolling Stones, is a fantastic introduction to slide guitar techniques. Let's dive in! Slide guitar is a unique and expressive way of playing that can add a new dimension to your guitar skills. It's all about using a slide (or bottleneck) to glide along the strings, creating that distinctive, soulful sound that's so characteristic of Blues music. For this lesson, we're using a resonator guitar in open D tuning. Don't worry if you don't have a resonator—this will work just fine on an acoustic or electric guitar, too. The key is to set your guitar up with a slightly higher action than usual, making it easier to play with a slide. Open D Tuning Before we start, let's talk about the tuning. We're using open D tuning, which gives us a nice, rich sound that's perfect for slide guitar. Your strings should be tuned to D A D F♯ A D. This means that when you strum all the open strings, you'll hear a beautiful D chord. If you're new to alternate tunings, don't worry! There are plenty of free resources to help you get comfortable with open D. Once you've got your guitar in tune, you're ready to start sliding! The Basics of Slide Technique Slide guitar requires finesse and control. To master this technique, keep these key points in mind: Position the slide directly above the fret, not behind it, as you would with regular fretting. Apply just enough pressure to produce a clear note without touching the frets. Muting is crucial - use your picking hand to silence strings you're not playing, preventing unwanted noise and ensuring a cleaner sound. For a smooth vibrato effect, keep your thumb stationary on the back of the neck while moving the slide. Don't worry if your playing sounds a bit loose or rattly at first - that's part of the charm of slide guitar and adds to its unique character. The... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xWKnqNkvxS4 1592 2024-11-03T05:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bill-withers-lean-on-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-256 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NPLH8Ld_V_c/hqdefault.jpg Lean on Me by Bill Withers Learn How to Play Lean On Me on Guitar Lean On Me by Bill Withers is one of the most timeless soul songs ever written—and it works beautifully on acoustic guitar. In this lesson, we learn the simple chord progression, strumming pattern, and rhythmic feel that make the song perfect for beginners and sing-alongs. This tutorial breaks the song down step by step: Chords: Learn the straightforward shapes that drive the tune. Strumming: Discover how to keep a steady groove and capture the soulful feel. Playthrough: Put everything together and play along. Because the chords and rhythm are easy to master, Lean On Me is a fantastic first song for beginner guitarists. It's also a great piece to add to your campfire setlist, jam sessions, or performances where you want everyone to join in singing. 👉 Ready to expand your repertoire? Check out our Easy Beginner Guitar Songs playlists and keep building your skills! https://www.youtube.com/embed/NPLH8Ld_V_c 1114 2025-08-22T11:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stone-temple-pilot-plush-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-186 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Jmp6J-kfhZE/hqdefault.jpg Plush by Stone Temple Pilot Ready to play "Plush", a Stone Temple Pilots classic? In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Plush by Stone Temple Pilots on the acoustic guitar. What a tune! I rocked Plush so hard in my teens - it's just an amazing song. :) 🎸 Acoustic or Electric Guitar? Plush is clearly an electric guitar song, but I posted a clip on Instagram of me playing it on electric, and everyone was up in arms! Don't worry if you're an acoustic player – the electric and acoustic parts are almost identical. :) My cover for Plush is an acoustic arrangement with extra bits to make it work on one instrument, like the bassline. We'll learn all the details; whether you rock it on acoustic or electric will sound wicked. Plush by Stone Temple Pilots – Intro Guitar Chords We should mention that in the original intro to Plush, the guitarist plays only the thinnest strings. But as promised, we'll also look at the bass notes so you can play it on one guitar. Just miss them out if you only want the electric part. :) We start the intro with double stops: XXXX13, XXXX23, XXXX33. Keep your little finger down on 1:3 (string 1, fret 3), and use fingers 1, 2, and 3 to play 2:1, 2:2, and 2:3 in turn. Then you grab a G5 (3X0033) and strum the entire chord. See the exact rhythm below. :) Then we switch to B♭m6 (X1X323). The fingering is finger 1 on 5:1, finger 3 on 3:3, finger 2 on 2:2, and finger 4 on 1:3. Then it's C6 (X3X213) followed by folk G (3X0003) with fingers 3 and 4, which I've written as G* below. Plush by Stone Temple Pilots – Intro Strumming Here's the rhythm and strumming for the intro part. Repeat this sequence four times for one section. :) d.stops G B♭m6 C6 G* d.stops e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a U D D D M D D D M D U D M means mute You can count the rhythm, but it's best to listen to Plush's original recording and absorb it into your musical imagination. This is a framework for the strumming, your starting point. Think of these as the essential strums. 💡 Get Creative! Feel free to build on this ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jmp6J-kfhZE 1441 2023-02-22T11:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pulp-common-people-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UHqXUYXsGwE/hqdefault.jpg Common People by Pulp Laern how to play "Common People" by Pulp on guitar! What a fun song to play! Common People by the rock band Pulp is an excellent tune for beginner guitar players. It sounds fantastic on the acoustic guitar, and you'll only need three easy open chords to play it. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be able to play this song right in Grade 1. It's a great tune to practice faster chord change tricks with the A, D, and E Chords, and a more high-energy strumming pattern as well! 🚨 Capo Position - Songbook Mistake Alert! :( The JustinGuitar Beginner Songbook 1 says Capo 2, but that's wrong. The capo needs to be on the 3rd fret. There were bound to be a few errors sneak in, but I'm a bit bummed I missed this one. Sorry. Now, let's take a deeper look at playing Common People by Pulp on the guitar! Common People - Guitar Chords Place your guitar capo on the 3rd fret. Then, you'll need the chords A, D, and E. For the verses, you'll repeat the sequence of four bars of A and four bars of E twice. The choruses have four bars of D, with four bars of A, then four bars of E. Finish it up with A for two more bars. If you'd like to have the chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials, check out JustinGuitar Tabs. Common People - The Rhythm You can play and sing Common People along with an easy strumming pattern! It sounds ace. :) You can add the 8th Note Strumming Pattern to sound fuller. Here's the basic idea: You'll play a down strum instead of an up strum for every and of the beat. Remember about counting ands? We usually add up strums on those ands, but now you'll play only down strums! That strumming technique will give loads more energy to your playing! You'll feel the song picking up - but it might require a bit more practice than the strummings you might have been doing. That will come pretty easy with a little practice - but remember not to hurry it! When learning a new song on the guitar, the first thing you need to do is change between chords without pausing. Wait until you can ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHqXUYXsGwE 771 2018-02-04T21:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lana-del-rey-video-games-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/toEZe95j22c/hqdefault.jpg Video Games by Lana Del Rey Learn an acoustic guitar version of "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Video Games by Lana Del Rey on the acoustic guitar! The original uses mostly synths and keyboards, but this guitar arrangement sounds great and suitable for Advancing Beginners. 🎤 Video Games might be tricky to sing in the original key, so I did my cover without a guitar capo. :) If you want to play it in the original key, place your capo on the second fret and use the same chords. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Video Games. Check out the video lesson or head to JustinGuitarTabs for chords, lyrics, and verified tabs! Intro & Verse Chord Progression You only need four chords to play the intro and verses for Video Games. The chord progression is: |Em G | |Em G | |G/B C | |C C | |Em G | |Em G | |G/B C | |Em | Note that we strum the first C once, then let it ring out for one and a half bars - this is called a hold. We play this progression twice for one verse or intro. 🔥 I like to use a special voicing for the G chord, as I show in this video lesson. ;) If this grip is a bit tricky, go for the one you like most - or play around with these G chord variations. Intro & Verse: Rhythm Guitar The rhythm of the original Video Games is super simple. To mimic it, strum once on each chord. This sounds authentic and gives it a 2:2 feel - listen to the record. :) That said, I often add an extra D U on each chord, especially in the second rep of the progression. This gives a fuller sound, but don't go overboard - it's a gentle song! Start by practicing one strum per chord. Add extra strums in the second four bars once you're comfortable with the rhythm and changes. Pre-Chorus On to the pre-chorus, Lana Del Rey sings, "It's you, it's you, it's all for you…" And there's good news - this is a super-easy section. The progression is D D D D, and we use a simple eighth-note strumming pattern. 🎤 Pre-Chorus Melody: You might wonder why the pre-chorus works so well. The trick is in the vocal melody. ;) H... https://www.youtube.com/embed/toEZe95j22c 949 2023-07-09T10:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-american-idiot-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U5ypE5kllOA/hqdefault.jpg American Idiot by Green Day How to Play "American Idiot" by Green Day on guitar! Hey, how you doing? Let’s check out American Idiot by Green Day on electric guitar! This is an awesome song from an awesome band. This record’s got a massive sound, and the production is outstanding. I messed up a bit in the video (I really must listen more carefully!). It turns out the chord changes alternate between the open strings and the F# power chord. Sorry about that! This was also one of my earlier videos – from the first year I started on YouTube. It’s kinda scary looking back at this old stuff! Anyway, there are lots of power chords here, as can be expected with Green Day and punk music. And we’ll also check out the fun riff. Let’s get to it. American Idiot by Green Day – Verse Riff You just need power chords for the ultra-cool verse riff. We’re going to play Ab power chord (466XXX) followed by Db (X466XX), Gb (244XXX), and Db. At the end of the riff, lift off all your fingers and hit the top four open strings (0000XX). 💡 The Message – Green Day were already well established on the punk scene when this album and single came out, but this one feels a world away from their other stuff. Politically charged with a timeless message, this song was a big deal in the States when it was released amid the Iraq war. American Idiot by Green Day – Strumming You want to nail the strumming to really make it sound like the record! Here’s the rhythm (the giant “O” means open strings!): 1 + 2 + + 4 + 1 + 2 3 4 Ab Db Gb Db Ab O Ideally, you want to listen to the original and try to replicate it. That’s how you’ll really nail the rhythm! Time for that awesome chorus. :) American Idiot by Green Day – Chorus If you’ve got the verse down, the chorus will be real easy. We’re going to play power chords again. This time, each one lasts for two bars. It goes Db, Ab, Eb (X688XX), then Ab. The pattern 1 2 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + works great for all the chords. :) After the final Eb of the chorus, mute all your strings. Then it’s back to the verse. American Idiot by Green Day ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/U5ypE5kllOA 446 2017-12-03T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-main-solo-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-0122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jZGe67xqT1M/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [MAIN SOLO 2/2] by Guns N' Roses Learn Part 2 of Slash's "Sweet Child O Mine" Main Solo! Let's tackle the trickiest part of Slash's guitar. This Guns N' Roses song has many amazing layers. The section we're about to learn seems to be one of the favorite parts of many guitarists! However, it's also the trickiest. :) This lesson should help you learn to play it, but you'll need loads of string bending and a tricky rhythm that can be quite challenging. Not for beginners! If you're following my guitar courses, this is an advanced guitar lesson that suits Grade 7+ guitar players. 💡 If you haven't already, check out the first part before tackling this one. This final lesson wraps up my Sweet Child Series! :) Ready to shred it? Grab your electric guitar, and let's do it! Sweet Child O Mine Main Solo - Part 2 There might be more or fewer notes than Slash's original solo in this lesson. It's close enough for you to listen to it and decide which way you want to play it. Here's how to get started with the first part of this solos section: 12th fret on the thinnest string. 15th fret second string tone bend. 15th fret to 12th fret, followed by a flick-off on string two. Finger 2 on the 14th fret of the 3rd string. Listen and watch the close-up to help make sense of the sequence. Slowing down the video can help you visualize the fingering. You'll transition from the fast run part to a lick that is rhythmically looser! 🎸 Getting that vibrato right and using your wah-wah pedal will make your licks sound more like the original recording. This might be a bit tricky to nail - take your time. Tips For Using a Wah-Wah Pedal Here's what you need to remember when you add in your wah-wah pedal. With your heels, you're emphasizing the bass sounds. With your toe down, it gets a little bit more treble. Don't just flop your foot up and down! Find how to accent the notes you want in a particular riff. It's not about a specific pattern; it's about trying to find what works for you. 🔑 Remember - if it sounds good - it is good! Sometimes you'll have to go with your gut - an... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jZGe67xqT1M 1042 2018-02-05T14:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-gray-please-forgive-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-601 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tyWRmVd0ij0/hqdefault.jpg Please Forgive Me by David Gray Learn how to play "Please Forgive Me" by David Gray on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Please Forgive Me by David Gray on the guitar. This fantastic song perfectly blends simplicity and musicality, making it an excellent choice for players at various skill levels. Whether you're just starting out or looking to add new techniques to your repertoire, this lesson has something for everyone. For beginners, it's a great introduction to smoothly changing between four chords. The progression's repetitive nature allows you to focus on your technique without worrying about complex song structures. For more advanced players, this song is an excellent exercise in dynamics and subtle melodic embellishments. The techniques we'll cover can be applied to many other songs, making your playing more expressive and interesting. Song Structure and Chord Progression Let's start by breaking down the song's structure. Please Forgive Me follows a straightforward chord progression that repeats throughout most of the song. The main sequence consists of four chords: C, Em, Am, and G. This progression forms the backbone of the verse and most of the song. There's also a little variation towards the end of some sections, where we transition from Am to G. This simple yet effective chord progression gives the song its mesmerizing, almost hypnotic quality. Strumming Pattern Now, let's talk about the strumming pattern. We'll start with a really simple approach—four down strums per bar. This is a great way to get comfortable with the chord changes and the overall feel of the song. Once you've got that down, we'll spice things up a bit! The main strumming pattern we'll be using puts emphasis on the "and" after the first beat and the "and" after the second beat. It might sound a bit tricky at first, but don't worry—we'll break it down step by step in the video. Adding Some Flair Once you're comfortable with the basic chord progression and strumming pattern, we'll explore some techniques to add more character to your playing. We'll ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tyWRmVd0ij0 516 2018-02-04T23:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-heart-shaped-box-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-124 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tyy4EVPJ4xM/hqdefault.jpg Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana Learn How to Play "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana on the Electric Guitar Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana is an all-time guitar classic, and we'll learn it using Nirvana's authentic tuning. :) This will allow us to play along with Kurt Cobain on the original track, and it's lots of fun! We'll learn all the bits you need to play Heart-Shaped Box: the tuning, the intro and verses, the distorted part, and the solo. We'll also explore key performance tips so you can cover this Nirvana classic just like the original. 🎼 Get chords and lyrics and verified tabs for Heart-Shaped Box with JustinGuitarTabs! You can get started with a free trial. Let's get started! Our first step is to retune the guitar. Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana: The Authentic Tuning Start by ensuring your guitar is in standard tuning. From there, tune each string down one semitone, then tune the thickest string down a further tone. You should have the following: D♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, and E♭ (Thickest to Thinnest) 💡 First time trying out altered tunings? Don't be afraid! Many great songs use altered tunings, so conquer your fear - Heart-Shaped Box is a great way to get started! Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana: How to Play the Intro and Verse The intro is essentially a picking pattern, and it's pretty easy! You need a couple of one-finger chords and open strings. The picking pattern and rhythm stay the same throughout, and you don't need to be too fussy about the fingering. Note that the last bar of the intro is different from the rest. It's also a little bit trickier! 🧐 Chord Naming: I'm naming the chords as if we were in standard tuning. It might be a little confusing, but it's difficult for me to think about a standard open A Chord Shape as an A♭! So, for this lesson, we'll just call it A. :) This pattern repeats in the verse, with just a few little variations. So I suggest you stop and practice this riff before moving on! Getting the rhythm right while you sing is one of the most challenging bits of playing Heart-Shaped Box. You definitely want to practice it un... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tyy4EVPJ4xM 944 2023-03-08T09:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/radiohead-no-surprises-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-255 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bbz8xfsPhwI/hqdefault.jpg No Surprises by Radiohead Learn "No Surprises" by Radiohead on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we learn how to play No Surprises—Radiohead's beautiful classic from OK Computer—in an easy acoustic arrangement. We'll combine elements from the original electric parts with Thom Yorke's acoustic rhythm to create a solo performance version that works perfectly for one guitar. You'll start by learning the iconic intro riff, played here with a capo on the 3rd fret, before moving into the main verse rhythm. We'll cover chord shapes, strumming patterns, and how to transition smoothly between sections—including that tricky D to G minor change. You'll also pick up tips on dynamics so your performance captures the song's dreamy rise and fall, plus a few optional embellishments to make it your own. 💡 Want to lock in the groove and nail the timing for your favorite songs? The JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App has backing tracks so you can play along just like the real thing—no stopping, no slipping out of time. You'll find hundreds of songs graded by difficulty, plus interactive chord charts, strumming guides, and practice tools to help you master every tune faster. Download now and start playing! By the end of this song tutorial, you'll be able to: Play the intro riff accurately with the capo on the 3rd fret Switch between verse and chorus rhythms with confidence Use strumming hand movement to lock in the groove Add tasteful fills and variations for a fuller solo arrangement 👉 This one's perfect for advancing beginners and up. It's a must-learn tune to add to your repertoire if you're a Radiohead fan. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bbz8xfsPhwI 1235 2025-08-15T11:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ozzy-osbourne-dreamer-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-265 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Kcbc4x2w0ds/hqdefault.jpg Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne Learn Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne (Acoustic Guitar Lesson) In this lesson, we learn how to play Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne using simple open chords, a beginner-friendly strumming approach, and a guitar arrangement that captures the original piano feel. The recording is piano-driven, so we adapt the harmony and rhythms to work naturally on acoustic guitar while keeping the same emotional vibe. Chords You Need The song uses mostly easy open chords: C A minor G (with a quick Gsus4 variation) D minor F E minor If you want to play along with the original track, place a capo on the 1st fret. We keep the capo off in the lesson so we can explain everything clearly in open position. Verse Progression The verse cycles through: C → Am → C → Am → F → Dm → G → Gsus4 → G This progression repeats throughout the verses. It’s a great workout for smooth chord changes and for integrating the F and D minor shapes if you’re still building confidence with those. Chorus Progression The chorus moves into a lighter, flowing sequence: C → Am → Em → G This repeats twice. The progression opens up the sound and is a perfect place to add dynamic contrast with a fuller strumming pattern. Bridge Progression The bridge is very simple: Dm → G We use this section to explore dynamics by dropping the intensity, then slowly building again before the solo. Strumming Patterns We learn two main strumming approaches: 1. Verse Strumming (Piano-Inspired Feel) A gentle, pulse-based pattern: Down (big strum) → small strum / bass-targeted → repeat This mirrors the piano’s chord-then-bass movement. We aim for a steady flow without overthinking exact string targets. 2. Chorus Strumming (Lifted Dynamics) For a stronger, more open feel: All-downs or Down-up patterns similar to what you hear on the record (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 e and a...) Either works well depending on your level and comfort. Song Structure Overview Once you know the verse and chorus progressions, the rest of the song falls into place: Intro (piano-style guitar arrangement we learn in the lesson) Ver... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kcbc4x2w0ds 977 2025-11-18T01:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sam-cooke-what-a-wonderful-world-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-226 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/loHc_xGmd2w/hqdefault.jpg What a Wonderful World by Sam Cooke Learn to Play Sam Cook's "What a Wonderful World" In this easy guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play "What a Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke on the acoustic guitar—a beautiful song, perfect for honing your open chord changes and sticking to that trusty Old Faithful strumming pattern. 💡 Learn to play for free! If you're just starting out with the guitar, don't miss out Grade 1 of my Beginner Guitar Course. :) Starting with the chords, our main player is G. I prefer using the third and fourth fingers, making the shift to E minor smoother. Feel free to choose any G that suits you! The intro starts with a bar of G, followed by a bar of E minor. Then, we jump into the verses—G, E minor, C, and D. Repeat it, and we're into the chorus. Check out JustinGuitarTabs for the entire chord progression with lyrics and music sheet! :) 👉 This is the song structure: Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Verse, Chorus, Instrumental, Verse, Chorus, and a sweet finish. Now, you've got a couple of cool options for the instrumental section. You could improvise a vocal, dive into chord embellishments, or even experiment to jam with a friend! 💡 Quick note: I'm using a capo at the second fret. To align with the original recording, slap it on the fourth fret. However, I found it more vocally friendly two frets down, fitting my voice better. If you're feeling up to a solo, remember to stick to the key of the first chord. In this case, we're on a G shape, effectively an A note with the capo. So, improvise using the A major scale or A major pentatonic. Adjust accordingly if you're playing along with the original recording. The original recording flaunts some electric guitar single-note arpeggios—an advanced move suitable for a band setup. If you're starting, a strumming pattern is your best friend. The classic Old Faithful works wonders. Feel free to add that last upstroke or not—it's your call. The key is to maintain a consistent hand motion! 👉 Play songs with my guitar app! It's a goldmine with beginner lessons, guitar karaoke songs, and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/loHc_xGmd2w 530 2023-12-17T01:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/britney-spears-baby-one-more-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jn4ydR1m96E/hqdefault.jpg Baby One More Time by Britney Spears "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears is an easy pop song for beginners. It sounds great on the acoustic guitar! The song that launched Britney Spears into superstardom might help you on your way there, too. :) Seriously, this tune actually works quite well on an acoustic guitar, which, if you ask me, is the mark of a great pop song. :) The Travis is great, too - check it out! How to Play ...Baby One More Time on Guitar You’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret if you’re playing the Travis version. I find this works a bit easier for male vocals, but to play along with the original recording by Britney Spears, you’ll need your capo on the 3rd fret. Most of this song - verses and choruses - follow the same chord progression, and it doesn’t switch up until you get to the bridge. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be familiar with all of them by Grade 1. But, once you get to the bridge, uh-oh... There’s an F Chord in there! 💡 If you're not comfortable playing barre chords, you can try an F7 Chord - most beginners will get away pretty easily with it. :) If you play barre chords but are still struggling to get clear, good-sounding ones, check out my ultimate guide for perfect barre chords! For strumming, the 8th Note Strumming will work pretty well. They give the song some nice momentum, cool pop energy! Something else that works nicely is accenting beats 2 and 4, where you’d normally get a snare in pop songs. If you're comfortable with it, throw in a palm mute here and there! The key is to keep your strumming hand moving constantly. That way, you can add in a few little extras to the strumming pattern and sound awesome. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/jn4ydR1m96E 572 2017-12-02T07:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/travis-why-does-it-always-rain-on-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-125 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ufZ6pOBA9po/hqdefault.jpg Why Does It Always Rain On Me? by Travis Fran Healy is an incredible songwriter, and the album: "The Man Who" took over in the summer of 1999, you couldn't get away from it. It's wonderful hooks, catchy melodies and interesting lyrics were everywhere and this one is one of the biggest hits from the record (my favourite is another track called Writing To Reach You, which you should check out too if you don't know it!). Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufZ6pOBA9po 797 2017-11-29T15:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/janet-jackson-black-cat-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-260 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FZ8Q4JFs0gc/hqdefault.jpg Black Cat by Janet Jackson How to Play “Black Cat” by Janet Jackson on Guitar Black Cat by Janet Jackson is one of those riffs that just oozes power and groove. It’s part rock anthem, part rhythm workout, and a perfect song for guitar players ready to tighten up their timing and control. In this lesson, we break down every part of the track—from the main riff that kicks it off to the rhythm parts that drive the verses and pre-chorus. It’s a fantastic study in rhythm precision, muting, and dynamic control—skills that will take your playing to the next level. 🚨 This song is best suited for intermediate guitar players. It’s not technically complex, but it’s all about control and consistency. If you’re around JustinGuitar Grade 3 - 4, this lesson will push you in exactly the right ways. 🔥 The Main Riff The lesson starts with that signature slide intro, gliding up the neck before dropping into a tight, distorted riff in E minor. You’ll learn how to: Nail the timing (starting on the “and” after three) Use palm muting to clean up your gain Add short, expressive blues curls and light bends on the 5th fret Keep open strings under control for a crisp, professional sound We'll also learn how to shape your tone—rolling the volume back for clarity and using just enough gain to make it sing without turning it to mud. 🎸 Rhythm Parts & Power Chords We then move into the verse section, built on a driving E power chord pattern with precise muting on beats two and four. It’s simple in theory but demands attention to timing and feel. The pre-chorus introduces B and A power chords with little connecting riffs, giving you a great chance to work on chord transitions and consistent strumming. For a touch of contrast, we'll also cover the clean interlude section—a layered, melodic passage that adds space before the solo. It’s a great example of how dynamics can completely change the song’s mood. ⚡ Tone, Gear & Feel The guitar featured on this lesson is Justin's Joe Satriani Chrome Boy—its first outing on the channel—running through a Peavey 5150 profile... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZ8Q4JFs0gc 1249 2025-10-17T10:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-sultans-of-swing-4-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3224 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/csupfy1LvZ4/hqdefault.jpg Sultans of Swing [4/4] by Dire Straits How To Play Sultans Of Swing On Guitar: Part 4 This is the final lesson of this guitar classic. This Dire Straits song is broken down into four different parts. In part 1, you learn the rhythm of this tong. Part 2 & 3 also covers the fingerstyle lead of this classic tune - check them out first if you haven't already! You'll learn the final part of this Dire Straits classic song in this part. Have a blast learning this on the guitar :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/csupfy1LvZ4 578 2018-02-08T12:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-riff-raff-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-333 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QDKlR-ZC3sA/hqdefault.jpg Riff Raff by AC/DC Learn How to Play "Riff Raff" by AC/DC on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Riff Raff by AC/DC on the guitar. This song is known for its iconic rock and roll riffs that have inspired many guitarists throughout the years. This song is great for those looking to improve their skillset and learn classic rock riffs. We'll focus on five main riffs for this song. These riffs form the backbone of the song, and getting them right is essential for capturing the true essence of Riff Raff. We'll start with an overview of each riff, discussing the chord progression and rhythm, before moving into how these riffs fit together to form the song. Riff One and Two The first riff is a simple yet powerful progression that sets the tone for the song. It's followed by the second riff, which is arguably the most recognizable part of Riff Raff. This riff is a bit more complex, but once you get the hang of it, you'll realize how much it adds to the song's overall feel. Riff Three and Four Moving on to the third riff, we switch to a chord-based pattern. This riff is a nice contrast to the first two and helps to break up the song and keep it interesting. The fourth riff introduces a new element with a slight push on the first note, adding a bit of syncopation and excitement to the song. Riff Five and Song Structure The final riff, riff five, is an energetic power chord progression that drives the song forward. This riff is repeated throughout the song, providing a solid foundation for the other elements to build upon. Once you've mastered these five riffs, you'll be able to piece them together and play the entire song. Importance of Rhythm and Picking Throughout this lesson, we'll also discuss the importance of getting the rhythm right and using the correct picking techniques. These elements are just as crucial as the riffs and can really make or break the song. We'll spend some time breaking down these aspects to make sure you have a solid understanding before you start playing. Final Thoughts Riff Raff by AC/DC is a f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QDKlR-ZC3sA 939 2017-12-21T13:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/soundgarden-fell-on-black-days-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QcNeDbfBUes/hqdefault.jpg Fell On Black Days by Soundgarden Learn to Play "Fell on Black Days" by Soundgarden on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fell on Black Days by Soundgarden on the guitar. This song is a beautiful tribute to the late and great Chris Cornell, one of the finest rock singers of all time. It's a fantastic, deep, and meaningful song, which we'll explore in detail. Fell on Black Days is a song that is mostly in 6/4 time. This can make it a bit tricky to play, but you'll get the hang of it with some patience and practice. The song is known for its unique sound, which comes from the way the open strings are played and strummed along the way. It might seem difficult at first, but by being relaxed and accurate with your strumming, you'll find it relatively easy to play the basics of the song. I found that playing the basics of it is relatively easy. However, there are a lot of loose things going on as well, where open strings are being played and strummed along the way, which really gives it its unique sound. Parts of the Song We'll focus on the verse and chorus sequences, as well as the bridge and the little solo section. The song has a lot going on, with little stops that last a bit longer than other parts. But don't fret - this is where using your ears comes in handy. Listening to this song is one of the best ways to learn it. This is true not just for Fell on Black Days but for all songs. So, I encourage you to listen to the original recording a bunch of times and get used to where the puzzle pieces fit together. The Main Riff and The Chord Progression We'll start off with the main riff of the song. We'll learn a slightly slowed-down version so that you can concentrate on the deliberately hit notes. The hand doesn't move a lot during this part, but keeping your strumming relaxed and accurate is important. The chord progression for Fell on Black Days is a major part of what makes the song so impactful. The song starts off with an E5 power chord, moves to a B, and then to a C. This progression repeats throughout the song, creating a hau... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QcNeDbfBUes 1527 2018-01-24T12:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/arctic-monkeys-505-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-220 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4BVmpsJ7KXg/hqdefault.jpg 505 by Arctic Monkeys Learn How To Play '505' on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play 505 by the Arctic Monkeys on Guitar! The Arctic Monkeys have come to be darlings of the British indie-punk scene. 505 isn't too tricky, and it's great for beginners looking for some practice with their minor chords. Even Grade 1+ beginner guitar players can get around to playing this tune. This song is also a great option if you want to play around with your guitar effects. Grab your guitar, and let's start with the basics. 🚨 Play along with this song using my app! It'll help you with your rhythm and get you learning FASTER. :) 505 - Chords & Dmin Hack! This song starts simple enough, with just two chords – D minor and E minor. If you're one of those who have trouble playing the D minor chord the traditional way with fingers 1, 2, and 3, you can try subbing out your 3rd finger for your 4th. Also, you can get away with accidentally playing the 5th string with the D minor chord. The chord only consists of the smaller four strings but hitting that A string isn't the worst thing in the world. Avoid that thickest string, though! The One Minute Changes exercise will also come in handy to help you with those chord transitions. 505 - Tips & Guitar Effects The original has a ton of layers going on within it. For that reason, this is a great tune to learn, grow, and experiment with. Towards the end of the song, you can work on building up the intensity and maybe switching over to the barre chord versions of D minor and E minor. Also, suppose you're interested in playing around with different effects, like digital delays, tremolo, reverb, or loops, you can develop this song and explore with guitar effects. Adding in excitement by switching up the rhythm and strumming patterns can take your sound to the next level! In that case, you'll have to experiment to find a style you like. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/4BVmpsJ7KXg 516 2017-12-02T22:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-1-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-321 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4YLPDPJ3lTk/hqdefault.jpg Comfortably Numb [1/4] by Pink Floyd Learn to play "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd on the guitar. One of rock music's great classics, this song offers a wonderful opportunity for both beginners and more experienced players to deepen their understanding of chord progression and strumming patterns. Comfortably Numb is a fantastic song to strum along to. It's got a mixture of chords, including a B minor barre chord, and it shows how a song can be enriched by the interplay of lead and rhythm guitar parts. If you're not familiar with barre chords yet, check out the barre chords lesson on the website. 👉 Want to learn the Comfortably Numb's solos? Watch Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this lesson. The Chords The song starts off with a B minor, then moves to an A chord, and then G to E minor. There's also a point where it goes from G to D with an F# bass to Em7. Don't worry if that sounds complicated - you can play your regular G chord with the two fingers on the thinnest two strings. You then simply move your first finger down to the second fret, and the underneath of your first finger will mute the fifth string. You then land on an Em7. It's just like a regular E minor chord, but you leave your third and fourth fingers down on the thinnest two strings. Once you have a handle on the chords, you can focus on the strumming. Strumming The strumming pattern for this song is pretty straightforward. There isn't really an acoustic guitar part like that on the record. But for our purposes, a basic pattern will get you through the whole tune. The sequence is the same all the way through. Once you get the chord progression for the first chorus, it uses bits of the verses and choruses to play underneath the solos. Wrapping Up Once you've got the hang of these, you're well on your way to playing the whole song! I hope you'll have fun learning this tune. It's a great song to play. And if you're up for it, check out the solos in Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this lesson because they'r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YLPDPJ3lTk 525 2017-12-15T10:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eagles-take-it-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2YjECvHK1bE/hqdefault.jpg Take It Easy by Eagles Learn "Take It Easy" by Eagles On Guitar! A massive Eagles hit with easy strumming! This Eagles song is loads of fun to play on acoustic! Co-written by Jackson Brown and Glenn Frey all the way back in ‘72 - it's still relevant today! In this lesson, you’ll learn what you need to play Take it Easy by Eagles on acoustic guitar. The intro is a bit tricky to play ... until you know a little secret that'll make it way easier! 🎸This song is perfect for Grade 3 guitar players - some Sus chords in there and an upbeat tempo to put into practice! Grab your guitar, and let’s take it easy. :) How To Take It Easy On Guitar To play this song, you’ll be mainly be needed open chords starting with a G chord. Keep your strumming as simple as you need, you can even get away with playing four downstrums to the bar. Start by learning the main riff, then come back to learn the intro. Reversing your order of learning might feel awkward - but it’s the easiest approach since the intro is tricky. The strumming pattern is really simple here - as soon as you apply it’ll sound just right. You don’t need to be doing any extra fancy stuff - just keep it simple! Take it Easy Guitar Rhythm Let's talk a little bit about the rhythm of this Eagles song. There are a few rhythm guitar parts on the record - so you’ll hear some guitar layers going on. Give the original recording a few listens. Use your ear training. and focus on the most dominant guitar part. You’ll notice the intro’s rhythm is a bit strange - that’s what makes it so tricky. You won’t be starting on beat 1 - and that can be really disorienting. That’s because we naturally assume the first chord is one beat 1 of the bar. Watch the video so you can nail the strumming pattern. It might take a bit of practice to get right - be patient with yourself and you’ll get there! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YjECvHK1bE 790 2017-12-04T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-drifters-save-the-last-dance-for-me-play-along-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-697 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yzwvcwZuARc/hqdefault.jpg Save The Last Dance For Me [Play Along] by The Drifters Learn to play "Save The Last Dance For Me" by The Drifters on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Save The Last Dance For Me on the guitar. This classic tune by The Drifters is a fantastic choice to expand your repertoire and refine your chord transitions. Understanding the Song One of the key aspects of mastering Save The Last Dance For Me is getting to grips with the timing of the chord changes. If you're familiar with the song, it'll come naturally to you, but some of the chord changes may take you by surprise if you're new to it. They don't always fall into the typical four and eight bar groupings we're used to in most songs. So, give it a good listen and get familiar with the melody. Strumming and Rhythm The rhythm of this song is a fundamental part of its charm. I like to strum this one with my thumb to keep it mellow, but you can certainly use a pick if you prefer. The trusted down-down-up-up-down pattern works well with this tune. You'll play the bass note on the first beat and continue with the rhythm. This song is also a good opportunity to try out a picked fingerstyle technique, where you pick out some of the notes while maintaining the rhythm. Explore the Website and the App While this lesson is designed to be standalone, you can explore so much more on my website. All the lessons are structured by difficulty, so you can easily find more lessons that match your skill level. Another resource to consider is my beginner song course app. It's available for both Android and iOS and features hundreds of songs. The app is a fantastic tool for beginners, helping you explore different patterns while maintaining consistent rhythm. It provides backing tracks and melodies to follow along, making it easier to keep track of where you are in the song. The app offers additional features like adjusting the speed if it's a bit fast for you, changing the capo position to suit your voice, and the option to mute the melody to play along with just the drums and bass. It's a great supplement to these video... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzwvcwZuARc 295 2019-04-20T08:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-love-on-the-weekend-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-145 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tj4Zy_qYt0Q/hqdefault.jpg Love On The Weekend by John Mayer Learn to Play "Love On The Weekend" by John Mayer on Guitar! Let's check out Love On The Weekend by John Mayer! For the basic acoustic version, you'll just need three super easy open chords, G, C, and D. :) This is accessible to all guitar players. We'll also spice it up with chord variations and the lead-guitar parts. If you're new to learning lead solos, these simple ones are great. They are especially fun for jamming with another guitarist. 🎸 Make guitar friends from all over the world at the JustinGuitar Community! Join Open Mics, ask questions, and get to know great musicians to make music with. :) Love On The Weekend: Easy Guitar Chords The first chord we need is a G chord – I recommend the grip with fingers 2 and 3. Finger 2 plays 6:3 (string 6, fret 3) and mutes the fifth string, while finger 3 goes down at 1:3 (string 1, fret 3). Play this for two bars, then switch to a Cadd9 chord. 💡 Why Cadd9? You could play the regular C chord, but the Cadd9 adds some spice to the song and incorporates the flavor of the main lead line. Try it and see! I suggest a three-fingered version of Cadd9. Put finger 1 on 4:2, finger 2 on 5:3, and finger 3 on 2:3. Finger 3 needs to mute the thickest string too! This grip makes it real easy to change between G and Cadd9. This Cadd9 also gives you a nice third-finger anchor for switching from Cadd9 to D. 💡 A nice little variation you might like to try is a Gadd9 chord! Start with this G, then put finger 1 on 3:2. It adds a little bit of variation. Sounds great, doesn't it? The chord progression is two reps of G G Cadd9 Cadd9, then two reps of D D Cadd9 Cadd9. You can also play regular G and C – it's your call. And that's it for the chord progression. Check out JustinGuitarTABS to get chords, lyrics, and tabs to follow along with my tutorial for Love On The Weekend and make your practice easier! This song sounds great with those simple chords, so it's perfect for beginner guitarists. You don't have to do anything fancy: just learn these chords, and off you go. Love On The Weeken... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tj4Zy_qYt0Q 734 2022-05-11T03:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-doors-riders-on-the-storm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-355 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3iKmon61i7c/hqdefault.jpg Riders On The Storm by The Doors Learn how to play "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Riders on the Storm by The Doors on the guitar. This mesmerizing track showcases The Doors at their atmospheric best. Its hypnotic quality comes from its unique blend of jazz-influenced chord progressions, bluesy guitar licks, and that unmistakable keyboard sound. We're going to dive into how we can capture the essence of this song, even without a keyboard player at our side. This iconic song is a classic Rock staple and a great piece to enhance your guitar skills. Whether you're a beginner looking to push yourself or an intermediate player wanting to add finesse to your playing, this lesson has something for everyone. The Basic Chord Progression At its core, Riders on the Storm revolves around a simple yet effective chord progression. We'll start with an E minor chord, which forms the backbone of the verses. This E minor has a subtle shift to a D chord, creating that characteristic ebb and flow that defines the song's mood. Don't worry if you're a beginner - you can start by just playing the E minor chord throughout. As you get more comfortable, you can introduce the D chord to add more depth to your playing. This simple progression is a great way to practice your chord transitions and develop your sense of timing. Adding Complexity: The A minor Sequence Once you've got the hang of the E minor to D progression, we'll introduce the next part of the song. This section involves a series of chord changes starting from A minor. We'll explore how to move from A minor through B minor, C, and back to D, all while keeping that signature bass note. This sequence might seem challenging at first, but we'll break it down into manageable steps. We'll look at how you can start with a simple A minor and gradually introduce the more complex chord shapes. It's a fantastic exercise in chord voicings and will help you understand how to create different textures with your guitar. Exploring Keyboard-Inspired Voicings One of the c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3iKmon61i7c 1242 2017-12-15T12:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-traveling-wilburys-end-of-the-line-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-097 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ApbhUVr8C80/hqdefault.jpg End of the Line by The Traveling Wilburys Learn "End of The Line" by The Travelling Wilburys on guitar! Orbison, Lynne, Harrison, Petty, Dylan. There's no doubt about it: The Traveling Wilburys are one of the best bands ever! And their song End of the Line is great fun to play on the acoustic guitar. We'll look at a beginner-friendly version, using open chords and a simple strumming pattern. Once we get the basics down, we'll learn the super-authentic strumming and see how to play that awesome intro riff. Let's go! 💡 Play End of the Line along with my JustinGuitar Songs & Lessons App to hone your guitar skills! Try it out for free. End of the Line – Guitar Chords You only need three chords to play End of the Line on the guitar! And they're pretty easy: just D (XX0232), A (X02220), and G (320003). You can decide which fingers to use for each of these chords. I tend to go for a mini barre chord for A, but you don't have to! If you're a beginner, stick with a regular A chord to simplify the chord changes. 💡 Struggling to change between chords when playing real songs? This free beginner course will solve that. You'll learn all my tricks for the A and D chords and a special tip to help you switch between them. :) For the G Chord, I've chosen a 3-finger grip, the one I call Rock G (3X0033). It sounds great here, but just go for the G chord you're most comfortable playing! End of the Line – Chord Progressions The chord progression for the verses is easy to remember, but the changes are pretty fast. The first four bars are two bars of D, half a bar of D, half a bar of A, then a full bar of G. The next four are the same, except we play a D on the final bar instead of G. Repeat these eight bars twice for one verse. The second progression (with Tom Petty singing) is a bit different. The first four bars are G G D D, then switch to A for two bars. Notice that there's an extra bar of D between the verse and chorus. ☑️ Find chords, tabs, and lyrics for End of the Line at JustinGuitar Tabs. :) End of the Line - Strumming Pattern You can play End of The Line with ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ApbhUVr8C80 1288 2022-01-07T09:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chic-good-times-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-370 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cxiE9BG2qy0/hqdefault.jpg Good Times by Chic Learn How to Play "Good Times" by Chic on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Good Times on the guitar, a classic tune from Chic featuring the incredible Nile Rogers. This fantastic song showcases many of Nile Rogers' stylistic elements. Good Times has a rhythmic groove built around four main chords, and throughout the song, you'll notice quite a few variations that add to its richness. It's a fun and engaging piece to add to your guitar repertoire! Understanding the Chords The song starts with four main chords that set the stage for the entire track. We begin with an E minor seven chord, which many of you might already be familiar with. From there, we transition to an E7 sus4, adding a bit more complexity to the sound. Next, we move on to what I like to call an A9 chord with an E on the bass - it's the E minor seven chord, but we lift off the third finger. I like to think of it as an A chord because the harmony of the song on the bass is moving to an A note. The last chord is an A13 chord, again with an E bass. It's a lovely chord that rounds out the chord progression beautifully. Strumming Pattern There's a specific strumming pattern that accompanies the main riff. It's a rhythmic pattern you'll get the hang of with some practice. We'll go through it bar by bar, starting with the E minor seven. As you play along, remember that a big part of getting this song right is the 'pumping' of the chords – pressing down on the chord and then lifting it up straight away. This gives us a crisp, tight chord sound, essential to nailing that funky groove. As the song progresses, Nile starts to chill things out a little bit in the verses. You should try to play a little bit less during these sections and really try to absorb the feel of the song. More Learning Resources To enhance your learning experience, I've created this Rhythm Pattern. It sometimes helps to see rhythms as well as being able to play and count them! Rhythm Pattern of Main Groove D . x x D . x x D . x x x U . . D . D . D . D . D . D . D . x ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cxiE9BG2qy0 560 2017-11-28T11:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/r-e-m-the-one-i-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-140 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vAuUetliyao/hqdefault.jpg The One I Love by R.E.M. How to play REM: "The One I Love" on guitar The One I Love by R.E.M. might sound like a love song, but the lyrics have a deeper, somber meaning. Michael Stipe is an incredible songwriter, and this one sounds beautiful on the acoustic guitar. In this lesson, we'll learn different variations on The One I Love by R.E.M. on the guitar. If you're a beginner guitar player, a basic strumming pattern and easy chords will do the job. But if you're up for a challenge, there's a really cool riff in there you might want to try! Let's start with the beginner version and then explore how to add some character to your playing. Grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. :) The One I Love by R.E.M. – Guitar Chords and Song Structure The chords for the intro are nice and easy. It goes Em D Em Em, and we repeat it twice. We’ll use this progression repeatedly throughout the song. The verse is real similar: play the intro progression twice (for eight bars in total), then G D C C, then another rep of the intro progression. 💡 Open Chord Grips: Unsure about any of these essential open chord grips? Check out Grade 1 of my Beginner's Course for in-depth tutorials on Em, D, G, C, and many more open chords. For the chorus, we go back to the intro progression! Easy chords, right? :) You can also play the intro riff in the chorus. It’s your choice. :) The bridge is also really simple G D G C ; Em D Em Em. And that’s all the sections – it’s just a matter of remembering where they all go. The overall structure of the song is intro, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus, chorus. The One I Love by R.E.M. – Guitar Strumming Now for the strumming. I suggest you keep your strumming super simple to get comfortable with the form of the song. Using the backing track on the JustinGuitar App is a great idea. If you need to, just play one strum on beat 1 of each chord. Once you’re ace with that, try adding the Old Faithful strumming pattern (1 2+ +4; D DU UD). 🎸THE Strumming Pattern – Old Faithful is possibly the number 1 rhythm pattern of all time. Seri... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vAuUetliyao 780 2022-04-13T02:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-comes-a-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-915 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VgfbUE8CKJA/hqdefault.jpg Comes A Time by Neil Young Learn "Comes a Time" by Neil Young on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Comes a Time on the guitar. This classic Neil Young tune is excellent for those looking to expand their repertoire with some timeless folk-rock. This song is great practice for advancing Grade 3+ beginner guitarists. One of the most interesting aspects of Comes a Time is how the groove changes between the verses and the choruses. In the verses, the emphasis is on beats two and four, creating a rhythmic pattern quite distinct from the chorus, where the emphasis shifts to beat three. This change in feel is one of the features that make this song stand out in Neil Young's catalog. Neil Young performs this song differently live than on the original recording, adding an extra layer of complexity and interest. His live performances often include more intricate elements, making the song a fascinating study of the evolution of a piece of music over time. Chords and Progression The chord progression of Comes a Time is relatively straightforward, with a B minor barre chord and a combination of regular open chords. The song starts with a G chord, holding it for four bars before moving on to the verse. The verse follows the progression G-B minor-D, with an A minor and C thrown into the mix. The chorus has a similar pattern, using G-F-C and culminating in two bars of G. There are slight variations as the song progresses, but once you've mastered the verse and chorus, you'll find the rest quite approachable. As you become more comfortable with the song's basic structure, you might want to start adding some embellishments. For example, you could start picking out the bass note on beats one and three, giving the song a more intricate feel. You can also add a hammer-on with the second finger on the G chord, a common feature in many of Neil Young's songs. The Importance of Feel One crucial aspect to remember when playing Comes a Time is the change in feel between the verse and the chorus. This shift in groove gives the song its unique character... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VgfbUE8CKJA 733 2018-01-23T22:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/cat-stevens-father-and-son-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fP7VC-2J_Ok/hqdefault.jpg Father And Son by Cat Stevens Classic Cat this one from the amazing album Tea for the Tillerman. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fP7VC-2J_Ok 664 2017-11-29T09:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/rick-springfield-jessie-s-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-826 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V4JYP1X5Bfw/hqdefault.jpg Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield Learn to Play "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield on the guitar. This classic tune is a fantastic way to improve your power chord techniques and rhythm skills. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, this lesson has something for everyone. Jessie's Girl is a song that offers a variety of ways to play it. After watching numerous live performances, it's clear that Rick Springfield, a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist, likes to mix things up. He often alternates between power chords and open chords in his performances. This mixing of chords adds a level of sophistication to the song, showcasing the complexity of its arrangement. This song is a great opportunity for you to learn how to listen and adapt. We'll take a look at the basic components to play the song, but it's up to you to listen to the original recording and put those pieces together. Riff Number One The first riff of the song is a great place to start. You can play power chords using either your first and fourth fingers or your first and third fingers. If you're used to playing power chords with three fingers, that's also an option. The progression starts with a D power chord, moves to an A, shifts up to a B, drops down to a G, returns to A, and finally, goes back to D. This sequence is repeated twice to complete the riff. The Chorus and the Bridge The chorus of Jessie's Girl features some lovely guitar work. It sounds like an open A chord is played, followed by a D with an A bass. The progression for the chorus is A, then D, D, D, followed by an A power chord to a B power chord. The bridge is interesting as it's driven by the keyboard in the original recording. However, there's a way we can mimic this on the guitar. This section is a bit tricky, but it's a great exercise for those wanting to challenge themselves by combining power chords with other techniques. Wrapping Up After the bridge, the song returns to the chorus before moving into an ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4JYP1X5Bfw 886 2018-02-05T18:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-boulevard-of-broken-dreams-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-120 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYhOYK5da_s/hqdefault.jpg Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day Learn to play "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day on guitar! Boulevard of Broken Dreams is a fantastic song for advancing beginners! It's great practice for the power chords and open chords we cover in the Beginner's Course. If you're feeling adventurous, you'll also learn other layers to add a special touch to your playing. If you're playing with another guitarist: one could play acoustic while the other plays electric! 💡 Learn faster by getting the chords, lyrics, and tabs for this song lesson! Check out JustinGuitarTABS. :) Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day on the guitar. For this tutorial, I'm using my acoustic – but feel free to use your electric guitar or, if you have a jam friend, both. :) Make sure you've got your capo on the first fret of your guitar, especially if you're playing along with the original recording. Of course, if you're ever playing at a party and don't have a capo, you can skip it! Use the same chord grips, and off you go. :) Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Chord Progressions You can play Boulevard of Broken Dreams with all open chords except the B Major chord at the end of the verse. The verse progression is four repetitions of Em, G, D, A. Play each for half a bar. The chorus is a little more complex: C G D Em. Again, each chord lasts half a bar. Repeat this three times, then go C G B. 💡 A Chord Fingering: It seems Billy Joe uses a mini A barre chord instead of a regular open A Chord. If you want to play the A chord using only your first finger, make sure it doesn't press down at fret 2 of the thinnest string. That note sounds very wrong! Check out this mini A chord lesson for extra help. There are several ways to play a B Major chord. If you're cool with barre chords, I suggest using the A-shape grip: X2444X. If that's too much, try a B power chord: X244XX. It sounds almost identical. Whatever grip you use, strum only to beat 3 on the B: the song pauses until beat 1 of the next bar. Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Verse Strumming + Pe... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYhOYK5da_s 895 2022-02-23T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-taylor-sweet-baby-james-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-625 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cV_G5m0HaHc/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Baby James by James Taylor Learn to Play "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Sweet Baby James on the guitar. This beautiful folk classic showcases James Taylor's signature fingerpicking style, but don't worry—it's one of his more approachable songs to learn! Released in 1970, Sweet Baby James is one of James Taylor's most beloved songs. It features a gentle Waltz rhythm and a memorable melody that perfectly complements its heartfelt lyrics. The song demonstrates Taylor's masterful ability to blend folk and country influences into his unique style. The song is written in 3/4 time (Waltz time), giving it that gentle, rocking feel that matches its lullaby-like quality. We'll play it in the key of G, using a combination of common open chords that create a warm, flowing progression. Playing Technique What makes this song special is its distinctive fingerpicking pattern. While many James Taylor songs feature complex fingerstyle arrangements, Sweet Baby James uses a more straightforward approach that's perfect for developing your fingerpicking skills. The main technique involves alternating between bass notes and gentle strums, creating a beautiful rolling rhythm that carries the song. Chord Progression The song follows a lovely progression that includes G, D, Em7, and A7sus4 chords, among others. These changes flow naturally into each other, creating that signature James Taylor sound. The verse and chorus progressions are thoughtfully constructed to support the melody while maintaining interest throughout the song. Tips for Learning Start by practicing the basic Waltz rhythm without the fingerpicking pattern. Once you're comfortable with the chord changes, gradually incorporate the picking pattern. Remember, it's okay to simplify the arrangement at first—you can add more complexity as you become more comfortable with the basic pattern. Making It Your Own While we'll look at James Taylor's original approach, feel free to adapt the fingerpicking pattern to suit your skill level. The most importan... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cV_G5m0HaHc 559 2017-12-08T12:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-here-comes-the-sun-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-090 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qutDmOUqLdg/hqdefault.jpg Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles You have (really) asked for this lesson, haven't you? :) And I'm glad you did! Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles is one of my favorite acoustic guitar tunes to sing and play. Today's lesson will teach us how to play this song properly. We'll explore all its sections and the reasons why this George Harrison classic is one of his most incredible songs ever. The Beatles recorded Here Comes The Sun back in 1969. The song was part of the album Abbey Road, and it seems that Harrison wrote it out while visiting his friend Eric Clapton in the countryside. :) He said the lyrics talk about how happy he was with the arrival of the spring. Fifty-two years later, Here Comes The Sun is still one of the most upbeat songs out there. So, I feel personally happy this is today's lesson! 💙 This video is the first one I recorded in my brand-new studio and the first one from the new JustinGuitar Song Request Board. I tried to teach this song once before, but it's incredibly difficult to teach, so that this lesson wouldn't have happened without your request! :) Thank you for support my work and choose me as your guitar teacher! The road has really been sunny! :) 🗳 You can choose the song lesson I'm doing next! :) Keep voting and requesting your favorite tunes. Just ensure you logged in - and check out the Song Lessons page. If you're following my Guitar Courses, this song is a great practice for Grade 5+ Students. If you're a complete beginner, you'll need to keep it pretty simple and forget about picking out individual notes. Remember - you can always revisit songs you learned as a new guitarist as your skills grow. Check out the 3 Types of Songs You Should Practice (to get better at guitar) if you'd like to learn more about that! Now, grab your acoustic. Let's get stuck and have some guitar fun with The Beatles. How to play Here Comes The Sun on the guitar Here Comes The Sun is one of those songs that aren't very hard to play, but they're very hard to explain. It'll be especially awkward if you're not used to what I call picked fi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qutDmOUqLdg 2098 2021-09-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ben-e-king-stand-by-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-323 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KlHFye6_Icc/hqdefault.jpg Stand By Me by Ben E. King Learn how to play "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King on the Guitar Today, we're exploring the iconic song Stand by Me by Ben E. King. This classic is not just a crowd-pleaser at parties but also a go-to in the world of sing-alongs. Although countless artists have covered it, our goal today is to help you play your very own version of it. So, let's get started! An Introduction to the Song Before we dive into the specifics of how to play Stand by Me, let's take a moment to appreciate the history of this classic song. Released in 1961 by Ben E. King, Stand by Me quickly became one of the most famous soul songs ever. Its timeless message of unity and support and its catchy rhythm have made it a beloved piece across generations. Let's delve into how you can make this song your own. Understanding the Basics Our journey begins with the basics. We'll be focusing on a version of this song that is beginner-friendly. The primary chords we will play are G, E minor, C, and D. If these chords are new to you, don't fret! With practice, you'll be playing these like a pro in no time. The chord progression for Stand by Me is quite straightforward. We start with two bars of G, followed by two bars of E minor. Then, one bar of C and one bar of D before rounding off with two more bars of G. This progression repeats throughout the song, making it an excellent piece for beginners to practice. Exploring Chord Variation Music is about expression, and one of the ways we can express ourselves is through chord variations. In this song, before the chorus, I sometimes switch from a G to a D chord in the very last bar. This change adds a unique twist and lifts the chorus nicely. However, the original Ben E. King version does not include this change. Feel free to experiment with this variation and see if it suits your style. Diving into Rhythm Patterns Rhythm is the heartbeat of a song, and mastering the rhythm pattern can truly make a song come alive. For Stand by Me, I encourage you to explore different rhythm patterns for the verses and the cho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KlHFye6_Icc 862 2018-02-04T23:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jack-johnson-better-together-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PIfjvAuIxck/hqdefault.jpg Better Together by Jack Johnson Play "Better Together" by Jack Johnson on Acoustic Guitar In this tutorial, we'll learn how to play Better Together by Jack Johnson on the acoustic guitar. This song is perfect for working on your barre chords - you'll need them for the entire song. But the key to nailing it and making it sound authentic is the strumming. We'll pick the intro and strum the chords with our fingers to capture the authentic vibe. :) Beyond the techniques, Better Together sounds lovely and relaxed. The trick to mimicking Jack Johnson's sound is to relax into the music and feel laid back while you play. ☀️ I love Jack Johnson. He seems to channel the sunshine through his songs! Every time I feel a bit miserable or am stuck in traffic, a little Jack Johnson always cheers me up. Maybe it'll do the same for you. :) If you need an extra hand with your barre chords before we start this tutorial, check out my lessons on the E Shape and A Shape guitar chords - we use the E Major, E minor, A Major, and A minor shapes in this song. Ready? Let's get started! Better Together: How to Play the Intro (Guitar Riff) The intro guitar riff in Better Together is pretty simple in terms of technique. You hold one grip with the fretting hand and move it around the neck while picking with only two fingers. The rhythm is trickier because it's syncopated, but the riff will sound pro if you nail it. Watch the video for the exact count, and listen to the original loads. 👌 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs! Get started for free. :) Better Together: Verse and Instrumental Chords This sequence is an awesome workout for your barre chords! Each chord lasts two beats. E, E/D#, C#m, B A, A/G#, F#m, B These chords aren't as tricky as they seem, but they require a bit of explanation! We play the first four chords as A-Shape chords. The first chord is E as an A Major shape. This grip makes it easy to switch to E/D#: we move finger 1 back one fret. C#m is an Am Shape chord, and B is an A Major shape. 🧐 B fingering: You might have noticed that my fingering for B is pre... https://www.youtube.com/embed/PIfjvAuIxck 968 2023-06-11T03:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-miss-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-369 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5qbpU2flN3U/hqdefault.jpg Miss You by The Rolling Stones Miss You is an all time classic Stones song and really cool one for getting into what Keith calls Guitar Weaving. It's surely one of the finest examples of this technique ever recorded and the interplay between Keith and Ron is incredible. So start with this lesson and get the basics and then go explore it on your own and try to pick up soem more lines from the original. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5qbpU2flN3U 811 2018-02-08T14:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beautiful-south-rotterdam-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AN6hXRFmNRo/hqdefault.jpg Rotterdam by The Beautiful South Learn to play "Rotterdam" by The Beautiful South on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rotterdam on the acoustic guitar. This is a fantastic tune with a really catchy and recognizable acoustic guitar riff that you're going to love playing! It can be a little tricky at first to play the riff and sing at the same time. So don't worry if it takes a little while to get it right. Rotterdam uses a beautiful fingerpicking pattern that creates a dreamy, flowing feel throughout the piece. We'll be using a combination of fingerpicking and light strumming techniques to capture the song's gentle, romantic mood. While it might seem challenging at first, we'll break everything down into manageable sections to help you master this timeless tune. The Main Riff The song opens with a signature riff that combines C and F chords in a lovely fingerpicking pattern. This riff serves as the foundation for the verses and creates that instantly recognizable introduction. We'll use a combination of classical fingerpicking techniques to achieve the right sound. The pattern has a subtle swing feel, giving the song its characteristic dreamlike quality. Chord Progression (Verse, Bridge, and Chorus) The verse section primarily uses C and Fmaj7 chords, which give the song its smooth, jazzy feel. When we move to the bridge, we bring in G7, Am, and E7 chords, which add some beautiful harmonic variety. The chorus features a lovely progression, including C, Am, and D7, all working together to create that dreamy atmosphere. Rhythm and Feel One of the most important aspects of this song is its gentle swing feel. While we'll count it using straight eighth notes to make it easier to learn, the actual rhythm has more of a shuffle feel to it. Don't worry too much about getting the exact timing perfect at first - focus on getting comfortable with the basic pattern, and the swing feel will come naturally as you practice. Final Thoughts Rotterdam is such a great song to play on the acoustic guitar. It's an absolute classic! It's a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AN6hXRFmNRo 627 2017-11-29T13:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-fix-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-221 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tbz0AsEkX8E/hqdefault.jpg Fix you by Coldplay Learn how to play "Fix You" by Coldplay on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fix You by Coldplay on the guitar. This beautiful tune is mainly a piano piece in its original version, giving us a lot of freedom to interpret it on the guitar. Chord Progression The way that works nicest and is close to what is actually played on the record is to use a capo at the third fret. We're generally using open chords, but there are some nice little variations you can put in that really enhance the sound and help replicate the sound of the whole track. The chord sequence for the intro is a C chord for two beats, then an E minor for two beats, A minor for two beats, and G. It does this sequence twice for the intro. The first verse starts with A minor to G, which is then repeated. Then we come to the chorus, which starts with an F barre chord for three beats and then switches to a C with an E bass on the fourth beat. This sequence is then repeated three times, creating a beautiful melody. Rhythm Pattern Once you've sorted out all those chords, the next thing to talk about is the rhythm. Start with a 16th-note strumming pattern. This approach becomes a lot more intuitive to play, rather than trying to think of a specific pattern. One thing that you definitely want to explore is dynamically making it a little less busy in the verses. So, in the verses, keep it really simple. You can let loose and get into the rhythm when it comes to the chorus. This song is a great one to practice. The chords are pretty simple, but there are those nice little melodic elements you can add in that really make the song shine. This is a beautiful song to play and a great addition to your guitar repertoire. Final Notes For people who have the very first edition of the pop songbook, I'd like to point out that I wrote the song out as all barre chords. But having just run through it before this lesson, I much prefer the version using the capo. You can definitely do it using those regular chords. I recommend that you go for the capo vers... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tbz0AsEkX8E 912 2017-11-28T09:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chris-rea-driving-home-for-christmas-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FQ1pjtlvWc4/hqdefault.jpg Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea Learn How To Play "Driving Home For Christmas" 🚗 🎁 For many of us, it's not Christmas without this song. This song was released back in 1986. It's still part of Christmas traditions to play this in the car when driving to family & friends for the Holidays! This song is not too difficult - but it does involve some tricky Barre chords in there! This will be perfect practice for Grade 4+ intermediate guitar players. There are a few different ways of playing the verses. Some easy, some more complex. I'll show you different variations. :) Grab that guitar & let's spread some Xmas joy! :) How To Play Driving Home For Christmas Guitar You can play this Christmas classic in many different ways! Don't be afraid to keep it simple - it'll still sound great! :) To get started with this song, you'll need to play A Major seventh to a D major seventh. Those are the strongest bits if you listen to the piano part of the original recording. It sounds lovely on the guitar! For the chorus, you're mainly playing all barre chords - so make sure you're ace with those! There's no going around them. :) 💡 Struggling with your Barre Chords? Don't worry - I got you! Check out my lesson on A Guide To Easy Barre Chords to help you nail them. Driving Home From Christmas Strumming You'll play a down, up quickly followed by a palm mute pattern throughout the song. Use the outside of the palm to do the mute! Leep that same kind of rhythm pattern going throughout the song. It almost gives more of a reggae style to it. Explore and add your style to your playing if you like. Keep it simple if you want! Just make sure you have a consistent & continuous rhythm. Driving Home From Christmas Guitar Bridge If you're up for a challenge, follow this chord progression play the extra bridge bit! This part is more tricky & optional. Write them down if you need to. :) Driving Home From Christmas Bridge Chords B minor C sharp minor D E F sharp minor Then, you head back down on your guitar neck with: E D C sharp minor G E minor Lots of chords, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQ1pjtlvWc4 603 2017-11-11T14:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-i-m-tore-down-lead-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-809 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y2b3zRD8IjA/hqdefault.jpg I'm Tore Down [LEAD] by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play The Lead Guitar Of "I'm Tore Down" by Eric Clapton! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the lead guitar of I'm Tore Down by Eric Clapton. We'll learn the lead melody guitar played by Clapton, which is separate from the main rhythm of this song. Clapton does the same few licks consistently throughout the song. We'll explore those four main licks to piece your way through this tune. You'll need to have a proper listen to the original recording to see where they fit. :) 🚨The Essential Blues Lead Guitar module is very helpful for the techniques you need to play this bona fide blues tune. :) Check it out for a deeper dive into the concepts. Guitar Techniques You'll Need We're exploring the melodic parts that answer the vocals of this song. This will be great if you want to play this with your band or just for jamming! Many different guitar elements are happening in this blues standard, including some semi-tone bends, finger rolling, and flick-offs. What's great about the blues is that it's a bit more free-er. As long as you understand the structure and the rhythm, you can make it your own. You'll need some notes muted at some point, or else things might get muddy. You can either use your thumb or the heel of your hand - choose whichever way feels more comfortable to you. Learning From The Legends If you want to explore the solo, you're better off transcribing this song on your own. It'll be an excellent exercise if you're at your intermediate level. In iconic blues like this, you'll find some excellent material you can use in other songs. These guitar players have a massive influence on the blues genre, so it's worth studying a bit if you're into the blues! Learning the solo by ear would be the right way to do it! Think of Eric Clapton. He learned this from Freddie by listening to the record repeatedly until he absorbed it properly! Want Tabs to guide the lead guitar of I'm Tore Down? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2b3zRD8IjA 1392 2018-06-27T07:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-before-you-accuse-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N2zGDXSWba0/hqdefault.jpg Before You Accuse Me by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play "Before You Accuse Me" by Eric Clapton On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Before You Accuse Me by Eric Clapton on the acoustic guitar. We'll start with a simple, beginner version and build it up to playing it as Clapton did on the original recording. If you're following the Beginner Guitar Grade 2 Course, you'll be able to pull this one off! And you can revisit it later to embellish it with some tasty guitar elements. :) Let's get into it! 12-Bar Blues Rhythm To play this song, you'll need to get into that Blues rhythm. The easiest way to play it is with the Chunka-Chunka 12 Bar Blues pattern in E. 💡 Get into that rhythm! Watch the close-up if you need a guide to nail that Chunka-Chunka pattern, or check out the full lesson here. :) You'll also need to streeeetch over and play a B7 chord at some point. Yup - that's a barre chord, which we explore at the intermediate level. This might be a bit of a struggle for beginners, so practice it on your own if you need it! It's best to learn this tune properly in different sections starting with the basics. :) Get your thumb to work! In the intro, you'll learn this Clapton trick where he uses the thumb on the bass note. To replicate this you'll use all down picks with your thumb. Your other finger will only take care of up strums, and you'll need a bit of palm muting with the outside of your hand. 🚨 Don't skip those mutes - this technique really brightens up your sound. If you pay attention to Clapton playing live, you'll notice he's using his thumb for the rhythm. It sounds fantastic, and it's an excellent technique to learn! It gives an authenticity similar to the early blues style of strumming. Have fun experimenting with this song! Blues is all about improvising once you get the structure down. If you want to learn the whole piece, transcribing it and writing down the chords and patterns will be a great exercise! Learning by ear is how the great Blues legends, like Clapton, did it, so why shouldn't you try too? :) Want chords, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/N2zGDXSWba0 1377 2017-12-03T11:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/vance-joy-riptide-ukulele-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-152 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EUWwfpeJzbk/hqdefault.jpg Riptide (Ukulele) by Vance Joy How to Play "Riptide" by Vance Joy on Ukulele Let's check out Riptide by Vance Joy on the ukulele! This is a pretty simple song - you can play most of it with just three basic chords and a simple rhythm pattern. The bridge is a little more complex, and if you're up for a challenge, we'll look at the riff too. :) Let's start by making sure you have the right uke! Choose The Right Ukulele The original Vance Joy version was recorded on a baritone ukulele. I can't find mine, so I recorded this tutorial on a tenor ukulele, which is slightly bigger than the soprano I normally play. Ideally, you want to use a baritone. No matter which ukulele you're playing, you need to pay attention to the tuning. I tuned my tenor to the same notes as the bottom four strings of the guitar: D, G, B, and E, except D is an octave higher than on guitar. This is the same tuning used on the baritone in the original track and is much lower than standard soprano tuning. The intervallic relationship between the strings is the same on all ukuleles, so these chords grips will work on the soprano, but you'll be playing in a higher key. Explore your instrument and see what works best for your voice; you might want to tune all the strings lower, like I did. Let's get to a close-up on the chords that you'll need for Riptide by Vance Joy on the ukulele! Riptide by Vance Joy: Ukulele Chords The first chord we need is an Am chord! Finger 1 goes down on 2:1 (string 2, fret 1), finger 2 on 4:2, and finger 3 on 3:2. Then we go to a G chord, which is real easy: finger 3 goes down on 1:3 and we leave the other strings open. Next, we go to a C chord, which is the same as Am but without finger 3! 💡 Getting started with the ukulele? Follow my free ukulele course and discover cool tips and techniques to help you make the best out of your 4-string friend! These chords are the majority of what you'll need to be able to play Riptide on the ukulele. Your first step is to get them comfortable under your fingers. To learn - and practice! - the chord progression wit... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EUWwfpeJzbk 1078 2022-06-29T01:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/crowded-house-better-be-home-soon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-901 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vktPGFkm38A/hqdefault.jpg Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House Learn to Play "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Better Be Home Soon on the guitar. This is a fantastic song by Crowded House, a band that is a personal favorite of mine and has been creating beautiful music for decades. If you're a fan, you'll definitely want to check out their album Time on Earth. The Chords The first thing we'll dive into is this song's chords. Now, if you're an eager learner, you might want to try and figure out the song by ear using the chord information I'm providing here. For Better Be Home Soon, the chords you'll need are G, C, A minor, E minor, F, C7, and E minor 7. In addition to these, a few more chords come into play during the bridge of the song. These include a G with a B bass (or an E minor 7 with a B bass, depending on your perspective), B♭, A7, and D. Strumming Patterns Next, let's talk about strumming. For this song, there are two patterns that you can try out. The first one is a basic strumming pattern that's perfect for beginners. It's simple and will sound nice throughout the entire song. The strumming pattern goes like this: up, down, up, down, down, up, miss, up, down, up. The second pattern is a bit more advanced and is used in the original recording. This pattern is based on 16th note strumming, which involves strumming down on the beat and strumming up between the beats. It's a little more complicated but adds a nice touch to the song once you have it down. Final Thoughts Remember, practicing the chords and strumming patterns is just one part of learning a song. The other part is listening to the song and trying to play along. It's important to get your ears working and understand the song's rhythm and flow. So, take your time, enjoy the process, and before you know it, you'll be playing Better Be Home Soon like a pro! We'll see both the chords and the strumming in the video, so if you can't figure it out on your own, feel free to come back and watch the video. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vktPGFkm38A 597 2017-12-03T11:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/plain-white-t-s-hey-there-delilah-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-820 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FyPqUaDtnIA/hqdefault.jpg Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's Learn How to Play "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hey There Delilah on the guitar. This beautiful song, created by Plain White T's, has a lovely fingerstyle approach that we'll explore. The original version utilizes barre chords, but we'll also see how to achieve the same effect using a capo on the second fret. It might make the song easier for you to play, and you might also find it more comfortable to sing. The Strumming and Chord Progression The thumb and first finger play a crucial role in creating the signature sound of Hey There Delilah. The thumb plays the bass note of the chord, which changes according to the chord being played. Meanwhile, the first finger does a little up strum, brushing lightly over the strings. This combination creates a lovely, soft sound that suits the song perfectly. The chord progression starts with a C chord, followed by an E minor. This progression repeats, adding a sense of rhythm and movement to the song. After that, we move to an A minor chord, throwing in a G bass note on beat four. This slight change adds a lovely variation to the sound. The progression then moves to an F chord for half a bar and then to a G for the other half. It ends with a full bar of A minor and then back to G. This progression is simple but very effective, adding depth and complexity to the song. Singing and Playing Singing Hey There Delilah while playing can be a bit challenging, especially if you're not used to singing and playing at the same time. But with practice, it becomes easier. And remember, it's okay to sing in a key that feels comfortable for you. The goal is to enjoy playing the song and making it your own. The Authentic Version For those interested, we'll also see the original barre chords version of the song. This version is more complex and may be challenging for beginners. But it's worth exploring if you're up for a challenge and want to play the song as it was originally intended. Wrapping Up Hey There Delilah is a beautif... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FyPqUaDtnIA 959 2018-02-05T15:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-supermarket-flowers-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-812 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8G-CndQjLg8/hqdefault.jpg Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran Learn How to Play "Supermarket Flowers" by Ed Sheeran on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Supermarket Flowers on the guitar. This beautifully written and performed song by Ed Sheeran is a powerful, emotional piece that works wonderfully on acoustic guitar. This is quite a sad and moving tune that showcases Ed Sheeran's songwriting at its finest. While it may be emotionally heavy, it's really nice to play on the guitar and offers great opportunities for both beginners and intermediate players to develop their skills. Capo Placement and Key You'll want to put your capo on the 6th fret to play in Ed's original key. However, don't feel locked into this position–experiment with different capo positions to find what works best for your voice. For example, you might find that moving the capo to the 4th fret makes it more comfortable to sing. Female singers might prefer playing without a capo altogether, as this could better suit their vocal range. Remember, there's no "wrong" position - it's all about finding what works best for your voice. Song Structure and Chord Progressions The song follows a beautiful progression that centers around C, F, and G chords. In the verse, we start with a simple but effective pattern that creates the foundation of the song. The pre-chorus introduces some minor chords to build tension, leading to a powerful chorus that brings everything together. What makes this song special is how these simple chord progressions create such an emotional impact. The transitions between sections feel natural and help tell the story of the lyrics. Playing Styles While I demonstrate a fingerpicking pattern in the video that I think really suits the emotional nature of the song, you're welcome to explore different approaches. You might prefer strumming patterns or your own fingerpicking style–there's no single "right" way to play it. 👉 Check out my folk fingerstyle module for more on fingerpicking patterns If you're a beginner, start with basic strumming patterns to get comfortable with the ch... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8G-CndQjLg8 902 2018-07-17T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lewis-capaldi-someone-you-loved-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-189 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1V1Ng-cNR20/hqdefault.jpg Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi Learn "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi on the acoustic guitar! This song is a beautiful ballad and is pretty easy to play. :) It's a four-chord song, except for the bridge, which has an extra chord. 🔎 There are loads of approaches to Someone You Loved. Our main goal is to emulate the piano from the original record using fingerstyle, but we'll also look at how to play an awesome cover with simple strumming. Let's start by talking about the original key and how you might adjust it to fit your vocal range. Through the tutorial, we'll explore lots of tips and tricks as we go so that you nail this great song. :) Someone You Loved – Guitar Capo, Key, and Voice I cover and teach this song in a different key than the original. My guitar capo is on the third fret so that I can sing in a lower register. To match the original key, put your capo on fret 1 and sing an octave higher than me. :) 🎙️ Lewis Capaldi has an incredible voice and vocal range. I sound a bit ridiculous when I try to copy it! So I dropped the melody down an octave and moved the capo around to find the right key for me. I suspect most people will find it tricky to sing in his range, but not a problem! Use the same chord grips and move the capo up and down the neck to suit your voice. 💡 Change the Key to Suit Your Voice! Learn my top tips for figuring out the best capo position for your vocal range. Let's check out the chord progression for the verses and choruses. Someone You Loved – Verses and Choruses Good news – you'll only need one chord progression for the verses and choruses! It goes C, G, Am, and F, each for a bar. 💣 If the F Barre Chords is a little tricky right now, explore these F Chord cheats! Think of them as your get-out-of-jail chords. ;) Since this progression repeats for almost the whole song, it's best that someone sings – whether you or a singer! Let's look at some practice tips to totally nail Someone You Loved. Practice Tips & Strumming To b... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1V1Ng-cNR20 923 2023-03-15T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/buddy-holly-peggy-sue-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RQc3dN92yvg/hqdefault.jpg Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly Learn to Play "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holly on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Peggy Sue on the guitar. This classic tune, written by Buddy Holly, is a great choice for beginners. Peggy Sue is a rather humorous song known for its unique singing style. However, it's not just the odd singing style that makes it interesting. Its catchy rhythm and simple chords make it an enjoyable way to improve your guitar skills. Chords The song predominantly uses the A, D, and E chords, with a bit of an F chord. As a beginner, you might find the F chord a bit challenging. But don't worry, we'll learn a workaround so you can still play the song without having to tackle the big, nasty F just yet. 👉 What? You don't want to learn a workaround? No problem. Check out this lesson on the F chord! Now, let's run through the chords. The verse goes A, D, A. It's a straightforward chord progression. The chorus goes from an A chord, then to F, back to A, and then to D. That's really the first two lines. The rest of the chorus is the same as the verse. Strumming Pattern The interesting thing about learning Peggy Sue as a beginner is the strumming pattern as well as the chords. The chords should be fairly easy, but the strumming is really fast. It's not difficult since it's continuous and uses all down-strums, but it's important to control your picking hand to be sure you're picking from the correct string. You should be strumming from the fifth string for an A chord, not touching the thickest string. The lowest note you're picking there is the fifth string, the A. When you go to the D chord, you should aim to strum just from the fourth string. The strumming pattern is quite fast, so getting used to the continuous picking takes some practice. Final Thoughts Well, I hope you enjoy this lesson on this classic Buddy Holly tune. It's quite an easy one to play and a funny one to sing. It makes you sound a little bit weird, but hey, it's kind of amusing, so that's not a bad thing. Remember that practice is key to mastering this tun... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQc3dN92yvg 603 2018-02-04T22:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stereophonics-handbags-and-gladrags-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-318 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hAVvLYvCyNs/hqdefault.jpg Handbags And Gladrags by Stereophonics Gotta love the 'phonics, they rock it big time. Not many bands could cover a Rod Stuart song and do it justice, but the Welsh boys totally smashed it with this hit, brilliant. Hope you dig it too. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hAVvLYvCyNs 517 2017-12-04T12:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chuck-berry-you-never-can-tell-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-079 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mEy8znhWOTQ/hqdefault.jpg You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry Learn "You Never Can Tell", an easy two-chord Chuck Berry song for beginners! You Never Can Tell, AKA C'est La Vie and Teenage Wedding, is a classic Chuck Berry hit. Regardless of the name, this is an excellent tune for beginners. It's simple enough to be your first song ever! :) You'll only need the A and D open chords to play You Never Can Tell on guitar, and we stay on each chord for several bars, meaning the chord changes are slow! Let's check it out. You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry - Tuning If you play You Never Can Tell using the D and A chords with no capo, you're playing it in a different key to the original. It's possible to play along with the original recording - you'll need a capo on the 10th fret. but this is impractical and tricky for the fingers. Instead, try using Transcribe! to move the original up one tone. There's another option. The original chords are C and G, and if you've learned those as open chords, you can swap them for D and A. 🔥 On the JustinGuitar app the backing track is a tone higher than the original, meaning you can forget the capo and use the D and A chords. :) You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry - Guitar Chord Progression The chord sequence is real simple, and you stay on each chord for a long time, so you should have no trouble switching between them. :) It's six bars of D, eight bars of A, then two bars of D. In some versions of this song, we switch back to A for the final bar - it's your choice. Your Roadmap to Awesome Guitar Strumming Start by playing one strum per bar. See if you can play the song and either sing above that basic pattern or play with a backing track. :) When you're comfortable with the chord changes, you can increase the number of strums per bar. 🚨 Don't forget - the key to consistent, steady strumming is to keep your hand moving! The next step is to play four downstrums per bar. This is great practice for your strumming arm because you'll train it to move consistently. It might help to count the bars as you strum, like we do in the Strumming Pattern 1 c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mEy8znhWOTQ 542 2021-06-23T14:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-fade-to-black-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-063 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XbdPIi_7kF0/hqdefault.jpg Fade to Black by Metallica Wow, this is a monster Metallica song In this lesson, we'll explore the many guitar parts in Fade To Black by Metallica - my electric and acoustic guitars are out! Learning Fade To Black was actually how I first realized how to use the Major Scale. I was in my early teens and was a huge Metallica fan! This was an essential step for me - I developed my relationship with music theory. I'm sure that Fade To Black has had a massive influence on many other guitar players out there. 🚨 Subscribe to JustinGuitar Songs - I'm planning another tutorial to dissect some of the solos as well. Make sure you've subscribed to my Song Channel to get notified when the video is out! :) Fade To Black by Metallica: Acoustic Intro Let's grab our acoustic guitar and explore the intro to Fade To Black. I'm sure most of you will get it pretty quickly! In the lesson, we'll learn it step-by-step. The first section of the intro isn't too challenging. It uses mini chord shapes with open strings and alternate picking. Take it slow, and make sure your first finger isn’t muting the G string. This section repeats several times while the electric guitar plays a solo. 🎸 Practice Makes Permanent: Like any precise passage of music, your priority should be to get it right. Don’t play it sloppy by trying to rush ahead - take it slow and get the notes right. Keep a steady time and make sure your chord changes are smooth. :) Remember - practice makes permanent. The final four bars of this section are a little trickier. We switch between F6 and E/G# with a picking pattern! If you're up for it, you can find all the details in the video. But you can take the easy way out and simply alternate between F power chord and E power chord instead. ;) Fade To Black by Metallica: “Fingerstyle” Acoustic Section Later on in the intro, there’s a lovely part that people call the fingerstyle section - but it's not actually fingerstyle! James Hetfield plays it with a pick. ;) At this point, the guitar increases in volume and the riff is very clear. This part uses a pick... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XbdPIi_7kF0 1791 2021-02-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-the-chain-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-117 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YrdTLCYSewo/hqdefault.jpg The Chain by Fleetwood Mac Learn how to play "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac on acoustic guitar! You've asked for it, so here it is! The Chain by Fleetwood Mac is packed with awesome guitar parts, courtesy of Lindsey Buckingham. What a player! This acoustic guitar arrangement will be loads of fun to explore! And yes, we'll tune our guitar down to​​ Double Drop D! :) 💡 Following my guitar lessons? This song from Intermediate Grade 6, definitely beyond the beginner stages. If you're new to guitar but really want to play more difficult songs, check out this guide. The original recording contains many different guitar parts. This version is a hybrid of them all. It doesn't have absolutely everything you'll find in the original, but it's pretty damn close. And it sounds awesome! Before You Start Before starting, I'd encourage you to mindfully listen to the track. Listen to the whole song through the left speaker, then listen again through the right speaker. That makes it loads easier to clearly distinguish between the many guitar parts. When learning to play songs like The Chain, it's essential to understand how all the layers weave together. I'd also recommend you do a bit of transcribing yourself! Buckingham does change the patterns at various points in the song. Note down your findings so you don't forget! You'll also find bits that I haven't been able to squeeze into this version. :) 💡 Not sure how to get started? Check out what I have to say about music notation and guitar playing. The patterns we're about to explore aren't the same every time. You'll need to use your ears to get the right sounds. The Chain by Fleetwood Mac: Capo + Tuning This lesson teaches you The Chain in its original Double Drop D tuning. That means you'll need to tune the two outside strings of your guitar down by one tone. It seems that Fleetwood Mac play this without the capo nowadays, but if you're playing along with the Rumours version, you'll need your capo on the second fret. 🎤 Singing this song? Leaving off the guitar capo will probably make things easier for y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YrdTLCYSewo 2212 2022-02-04T08:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-gravity-solos-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-806 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GNdBnPyCUTs/hqdefault.jpg Gravity [SOLOS] by John Mayer Learn The Solo Guitar in "Gravity" by John Mayer! Gravity is packed with tasty John Mayer solo guitar. And we should never expect any less from this guy! Let's look at how to play those solos and make them sound super authentic. First, in case you missed the first part of this foray into Gravity, check out my lesson on the chords and rhythm parts. Second, before you even watch today's video lesson, give the solos a go on your own! ;) Gravity by John Mayer: Learn the Solos by Ear There’s so much more to music than notes. And though the notes in Gravity aren't too difficult to figure out, it has tons of subtleties that make a huge difference to the result. Give the original track another listen and pay close attention to the slides and embellishments, which notes are played loud and soft, where he lingers, where he moves the melody along, and more. You can’t get this stuff from seeing the notes on a page, but you'll pick them up if you transcribe the original. I think you’ll be surprised by what you discover. ;) 🎸 Sing through your instrument: If you’ve ever wanted to hear a guitar sing, this song is a prime example. He uses lots of finesse in these solos. Though there's plenty for us to learn, feel free to express yourself through the instrument as you play this song, just like a singer would. :) So, try transcribing these solos for yourself, then come back to this lesson and see how well you did! Gravity by John Mayer: Intro Solo This one ain't too difficult, but it takes some practice to nail John Mayer's feel. The count is also tricky - it's a 12:8 feel, and I think it's best you hear it out rather than counting beats. :) Jam with the original and pay attention to the chord changes. It's important to note that he's got his amp up high and is playing delicately, which gives his sound a particular quality. Also make sure you use the palm of your fretting hand to mute the thicker strings, and mute with your fretting hand too. You'll notice that he repeats the first phrase later on in the solo, showing us a cruc... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNdBnPyCUTs 1177 2018-06-15T08:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-something-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bAgfHCujh1E/hqdefault.jpg Something by The Beatles "Something" is gorgeous on the acoustic guitar. This George Harrisson classic has such a beautiful harmonic structure! I couldn't help but cover the entire song so that we'll learn an acoustic arrangement and the solo too. We'll learn how to play Something by The Beatles in good detail - great if you're playing on your own! You'll learn an acoustic arrangement rather than a specific layer that requires an entire band to make sense. :) 💡 Something has different guitar layers on the original recording. The band was full-on, and George Harrison played both lead and rhythm guitar on this one. Lennon was on the piano! To play Something by the Beatles on the acoustic guitar and sound just like the original recording will require some Intermediate guitar skills. But I've got you, and we'll take it slowly and as painfully as possible. 🎶 Get JustinGuitarTABS and make your life easier! You'll get access to detailed tabs, chords, and lyrics to follow along with this and over 600 other song lessons. Ready? Let's get stuck in and learn how to play Something by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. Sneak peek? We'll get my electric SG guitar for the solo - a little present for you. 🎁 How to play Something on the guitar The first thing you might want to do is get comfortable with a basic chord version. It starts with an E Shape Barre Chord - the infamous F Chord - and then you've got the first melody line right away. Right now, focus on the chord grips - we'll check out the melody later in this tutorial! So - back to the chords. To play Something's introduction, you'll need an F Chord, then an Eb, and the C Chord. For the verses, we'll start off with an open C Chord, play it for a bar, and then lift off your first finger to get a C Major 7 Chord. Then, you've got an F Chord with an E note bass, and you'll lift up your first finger again, getting a D7 Chord. 🚨 Notice that there’s a different motion when playing a G Chord! I'm muting the thinnest string with my third finger so, I’ve got a B note as the top note. :) That's an oft... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bAgfHCujh1E 1309 2021-12-24T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimmy-buffett-margaritaville-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dUHtev39ii8/hqdefault.jpg Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett Learn "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett on the acoustic guitar. This song is perfect for beginners; you mostly need easy open chords, which often last several bars, and the strumming pattern is pretty simple. If you're a more Intermediate Guitar Player, you can explore the awesome lead lines and other chord embellishments. :) 💬 Want more Jimmy Buffett songs? Leave your song request here! :) Margaritaville is super fun to play; I know you'll dig this song, so grab your guitar and let's get stuck in. Intro Chord Sequence The intro for Margaritaville lasts five bars, and the chord progression is D, G, A, D, D. 💡 Lasting give bars is strange! Music usually works in fours, eights, twelves, and sixteens. But the melody fits well, so as long as you're familiar with Margaritaville, you should find it easy to play this unusual intro. If you need extra help playing D, G, and A chords, Grade 1 of my free Beginner Guitar Course is the place to go. :) Verse Chord Sequence The verse sequence lasts 16 bars: it starts with six bars of D, then two bars of A, another six bars of A, then two bars of D. See how there are only two chord changes? It's best to think of it like this rather than thinking six of D, eight of A, and two of D. You'll find it easier to locate the two halves and the chord changes. If you need help, check out the Verse Demo chapter for the guitar and vocal. Chorus Chord Sequence The chorus also lasts 16 bars, but there are more chord changes. The progression is as follows: G, A, D, D G, A, D, D G, A, |D A/C# |, G A, A, D, D The A/C# is a bit trickier than the standard open A chord. If you're still learning the basic open chords, you can leave it out - it won't make a big difference. Just play open A instead. :) Arrangement To play the instrumental section, play the first eight bars of the verse, then the last eight bars of the chorus. We finish the song with a chorus, followed by the last eight bars of the chorus, and we f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUHtev39ii8 1142 2023-07-30T06:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/crowded-house-world-where-you-live-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-021 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0tIpLvqkJOw/hqdefault.jpg World Where You Live by Crowded House Learn How to Play "The World Where You Live" by Crowded House on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The World Where You Live by Crowded House on the guitar. This song is a personal favorite and an excellent choice for those looking to explore music with a distinct and interesting chord progression. Neil Finn, the songwriter, takes us on a musical journey with a few quirky timing things and some really interesting chords. Getting Started We'll start off by looking at a simplified version of the song, where we just focus on the basic chords. The song's backbone is built around the E minor chord, especially in the opening riff and the verses. We'll also see some unusual chord changes, particularly a 2-4 bar leading into the chorus and a chord that comes a little earlier than you might expect in the chorus. Verses, Chorus, and Bridge The verses revolve around the E minor chord, with lyrics that paint vivid images. The second verse switches back to the E minor chord, leading into a line that features two bars on each chord. The last line has two bars on the E minor, a full bar of D, and then just two strums on the D. It might feel a little odd at first, but with some practice, you'll get the hang of it. The chorus starts on a D chord, then transitions to G for two beats, followed by A for two beats, and back to D for a bar. There's also an interesting push in the chorus, which can throw people off a bit. But don't worry—we'll walk through it step by step to make sure you can master it. The bridge of the song introduces some new chords. It starts with an A chord, followed by a D with an A bass, an E minor with an A bass, and ends with an F major seven. This part is quite choppy on the original song, giving it a rhythmic and interesting sound. Strumming Patterns I recommend the 'Old Faithful' strumming pattern (down, down, up, up, down) for the verses. It's simple and effective, and it works well with the strong melodies of this song. The chorus requires a change in the strumming pattern due to the tw... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tIpLvqkJOw 1138 2018-02-04T20:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/traditional-auld-lang-syne-4-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-1144 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RjguDU-8unY/hqdefault.jpg Auld Lang Syne [4/4] by Traditional Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. We’ve reached the end of our four-part lesson series! In this lesson, we’re going to be going over the last few bars of “Auld Lang Syne.” For bars 17-20, bar 17 begins with a slide into it from bar 16. So, starting on beat 4 of bar 16, you’ve got that little anacrusis leading into the first beat of bar 17. This happens again at bar 19. The chords are mainly the same as they were earlier in the piece, except for the F chord. This time, you’re going to play it as an F7 chord. To do this, keep your third and fourth fingers down and slide them both up to the eighth fret. Then, place your first finger on the seventh fret, which you’ll notice is one fret higher than you had it when playing the regular F. Bars 21 and 22 are exactly the same as bars 13 and 14, so nothing too crazy there, and bar 23 is the start of our ending. Something you might want to try at the end is rolling that last chord with your picking hand, turning it into an arpeggiated chord. To do this, you can literally roll your picking hand over, allowing each finger to pluck their strings one after the other. The more you practice this, the less you’ll have to literally roll your hand. Finally, let’s talk a bit about dynamics and pacing. When you’re learning this song, as with any other, you want to get the basics and the technical stuff down pretty well. Practising with a metronome really helps with this. Once you’ve got it down, though, you can play with the musicality a bit more, maybe speeding up or slowing down at certain points, adjusting the volume as you go. This will make a big difference as far as infusing a more human aspect to the tune and making it “sing.” Give it some feeling! It’s a celebration, after all! TAB and Notes Download the TAB for Auld Lang Syne here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RjguDU-8unY 576 2017-12-03T07:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-natural-beauty-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-912 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vBk8wDPWjMk/hqdefault.jpg Natural Beauty by Neil Young Learn How to Play "Natural Beauty" by Neil Young on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Natural Beauty on the guitar. This beautiful tune by the legendary Neil Young is a great piece to improve your chord progression skills and deepen your understanding of guitar playing. The first significant element of this song is the double drop D tuning. This specific tuning is an essential part of capturing the unique sound of Natural Beauty. Besides, it changes how we'll be fretting the chords. 👉 Not sure about double drop D tuning? Check out this lesson! The Intro and the Verse The chords for the intro and the verse are an E minor seven, a C major nine, a D, and a C add nine. These chords create a lovely sound and form the foundation of the song. This repeating chord progression is simple yet effective, making it a great starting point for learning the song. A good way to start practicing this chord progression is by doing four down strums to the bar. This helps you get comfortable with the chord changes before adding more complex strumming patterns. The Chorus The chorus introduces a G chord for one bar. This G chord is played differently due to the double drop D tuning. It then transitions to a regular C chord that sounds like a C9 due to the tuning. The chord shape is then moved up two frets, creating a D add 4 chord. This sequence is typical of Neil Young's style and adds depth to the song. One of the unique aspects of the chorus is the double-time feel. This change in timing adds variety to the music and will challenge your rhythm skills. Playing the Song With the chords down, we can start strumming. A good starting point is doing four down strums to the bar. Make sure you're comfortable with the chord changes before moving on to more complex strumming patterns. The most important part is keeping the strumming hand moving consistently. Neil Young is known for his fluid playing style, and this continuous strumming hand movement is a big part of that. The Feel One of the most important aspects of play... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBk8wDPWjMk 1297 2017-12-15T13:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ritchie-valens-la-bamba-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/851OLzSkdSI/hqdefault.jpg La Bamba by Ritchie Valens This is an all time classic riff for guitar, and everyone should know it. It's not hard to play, sounds pretty cool, everybody knows it and it transforms you C, F and G into a great tune! And it's fun! :) Write it out in your own tab if you struggle to get it from the video - just use the blank tab. The rhythm is as follow - with the first bit being the pick up and the 1 in brackets has no note on it: +4+ | 1 2 + 3 4 + | (1) + 2 + 3 + 4 + | Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/embed/851OLzSkdSI 294 2017-12-15T12:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-dylan-the-times-they-are-a-changin-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-168 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5mtls7vj2NU/hqdefault.jpg The Times They Are a-Changin' by Bob Dylan Learn "Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar! In this lesson, we'll check out The Times They Are a-Changin' by Bob Dylan on acoustic guitar. This tune is one of the best protest songs ever written and remains relevant today. In keeping with the folk tradition, the structure of this song is loose. The chords move around a lot, especially in the harmonica section, where they're random. The song's story is much more important than the structure, so we'll look at a general version. You'll find the full TAB for the original song on the site if you want to be super authentic. :) The Times They Are a-Changin' – Intro and Verse Structure This one is in 3/4 time, and we need to use a capo on fret 1. The intro is three bars of G. To make changing to C easier, I often use "folk G" (3X0003), using finger 3 for the note on string 6 and finger 4 for string 1. Finger 3 also mutes string 5. If you use other grips for G, they should still sound great. The first word of the verse comes on beat 3 of the intro section. 💡 G Chord Variations – When you have a lot of switches from G to D, it's helpful to play G as 320033, keeping finger 3 in place on fret 3 of string 2. You’ll find lots of tricks like this on your guitar journey. :) In the first stanza, we play G, Em, C, G, G. Note there are five bars in this pattern – rather unusual! In the second stanza, we have four bars: G, Em, C, D. In the next stanza, we go G, Em, C, G, G, G. Note that we play three final bars of G in this stanza – in the others, we only play two bars. Then there's a longer stanza: G, Am, D, D, D, Cadd9 (X32030), G/B (X20030), D/A, G, G, D, G. Keep finger 3 down throughout the changes from D to Cadd9 to G/B. You'll find that some tabs have D/C (X30230) instead of Cadd9. I'm not sure what Bob Dylan plays, but I think the Cadd9 works better. The Times They Are a-Changin' – Harmonica Solos The first verse leads into one of several harmonica sections. Each has a different chord structure. I don't suggest you learn what Bob Dylan plays them... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5mtls7vj2NU 868 2022-12-21T10:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blur-coffee-tv-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-614 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4V9YBLj0II/hqdefault.jpg Coffee & TV by Blur Learn to Play "Coffee & TV" by Blur on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Coffee & TV by Blur on the guitar. This catchy tune is not only fun to play, but it's also a great way to work on your barre chords. Understanding the Song Coffee & TV is an absolutely cracking tune, and the barre chords work well in it. It also has a nice little strumming pattern that's a bit percussive. It has that little click as part of the strumming, which gives it a really good vibe. Chord Progression The chord progression of Coffee & TV is what makes it a really cracking tune and a great choice for working on your barre chords. There are loads of different barre chords in there. The chords are in a particular sequence, and remember that there are always two ways to play every barre chord. It starts with a B chord and then goes down to an E. It then moves down to an A chord, an E, G, and F, then jumps up to an A# or a B♭ chord. The verse sequence then ends with C# major or just C#. The second half of the verse is exactly the same chord, but instead of going to C# at the end, it goes to A. This interesting chord sequence is what makes Blur stand out. They come up with really interesting sequences. The chorus also has quite a few chords in it, starting from C# minor, then going to B, A, E, A, and ending with D. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern we use most of the way through the tune is a bit percussive and changes depending on the tune's vibe. The main vibe is going down, up, hit. Sometimes, it's just going down, up, down. Depending on how you feel the tune, you might want to click and put the click in. Wrapping Up So there you have it! A quick overview of how to play Coffee & TV by Blur on the guitar. Remember, practice makes permanent. Keep working on those barre chords—before you know it, you'll be playing this song like a pro! Don't forget to watch the video for a more detailed explanation and a live demonstration of how to play the song. And remember, keep practicing, stay positive, and... https://www.youtube.com/embed/G4V9YBLj0II 593 2018-01-23T22:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-manic-depression-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-325 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OgvGrrmgKj4/hqdefault.jpg Manic Depression by Jimi Hendrix Learn how to play "Manic Depression" by Jimi Hendrix on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Manic Depression on the guitar. This iconic Jimi Hendrix song is one of my favorites, and I'm excited to share it with you. It's a fun track to jam out to and features some classic Hendrix licks that will surely add some flair to your playing. Understanding the Song Before we get into the specifics, it's crucial to understand the song itself. Manic Depression is a unique piece because it's in 3-4 time, which is a bit unusual for rock songs. This unique time signature gives the song its distinct rhythm and feel. The song is also known for its improvisational solo. Though you won't be learning the exact solo from the record, we'll go through the process of creating your own improvised solo based on the song's chord progression. Chord Progression The main chord progression for the verses is centered around an open A string, creating a resonance that carries throughout the song. This progression is repeated frequently and sets the tone for the verses. The song also features a series of arpeggios using A and G chords. These sequences give the song its iconic sound and elevate the complexity of the composition. During the verses, the song shifts to an E major arpeggio, adding depth to the sound and highlighting Hendrix's innovative use of the guitar. Unison Bends and Playing Along with the Record One of the key elements in Manic Depression is the use of unison bends. This technique involves playing one note and bending another to match it, creating a powerful, resonating effect. It's a classic Hendrix move and adds a lot of character to the song. If you want to play along with the Hendrix recording, you'll need to adjust your tuning slightly. Hendrix's guitar was slightly flat on the recording, so you must tune yours similarly to match it. Wrapping Up Manic Depression is a fantastic song to learn and jam out to. Its unique time signature and iconic licks make it a great piece for expanding your repertoire and i... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OgvGrrmgKj4 588 2017-12-15T13:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jennifer-lopez-if-you-had-my-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-157 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Be0NJ_yVtbQ/hqdefault.jpg If You Had My Love by Jennifer Lopez Learn How to Play "If You Had My Love" on the Guitar! Jennifer Lopez's classic If You Had My Love is great if you're a beginner and keen to practice your A minor, D minor, and E minor chords. These are the three minor chords we learn in Grade 1 of my Beginner Guitar Course, so this is an awesome consolidation song! You can play If You Had My Love using very simple strumming. The chord progression repeats throughout the song, so you need to explore the dynamics and even consider switching between fingerstyle and strumming. 😞Before we get started, apologies for my vocal. I have a sore throat, but I also have loads of stuff to do, so I'm trying to crack on regardless! We’ll also look at the keyboard line from If You Had My Love. This isn’t for complete beginners because you need to pick out individual notes. But it's a great exercise for advancing beginners and definitely worth exploring! We explore this part in detail in the video lesson. :) Get your capo on fret 2 and let’s learn this song. If You Had My Love by Jennifer Lopez - Chords & Rhythm The progression is Am, Am, Dm, and Em. There’s an R&B section after the first verse, and it sounded weird for a middle-aged bloke to imitate it, so I left it out. But do check it out, try to make it your own, and see if you can make it work with the guitar. :) I suggest you play a single strum for each chord in the verses. This works especially well if you’ve got a female singer - it should nicely expose the vocal. When you hit the chorus, go for a fuller pattern with heavy accents on beats 2 and 4. 🎸 Master your rhythm accents and other crucial strumming skills with my Strumming Dynamics course. If You Had My Love by Jennifer Lopez - Singing and Playing If you plan to sing If You Had My Love, I recommend you learn each skill independently. When doing a solo cover of a song, you should work on the guitar part then the singing part before you try to put it all together. Learning two things simultaneously is hard and might discourage you! ;) 💡 How to Sing and Play ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Be0NJ_yVtbQ 658 2022-08-17T20:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/goo-goo-dolls-iris-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-070 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8G1CEXqpDz8/hqdefault.jpg Iris by Goo Goo Dolls Let's learn "Iris" a Goo Goo Dolls guitar classic In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the classic tune Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. I remember when this song came out. All the kids from the school where I was teaching came to me and said they wanted to learn that song - it was a total hit! Goo Goo Dolls originally wrote Iris for the soundtrack of City of Angels in 1998. Later on, they included this tune on the album Dizzy Up the Girl. It seems that are already many guitar tutorials out there for Iris, but I've decided to do my own so we can focus on the rhythm. It's the trickiest part of this tune! Let's get started! Iris by Goo Goo Dolls - How to Tune Your Guitar The tuning of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls is pretty unusual. It might be the only song that I know with this tuning. It's BDDDDD. Yes, you read that right! How on earth do we retune our guitar to those notes? String 1: The first string is easy - we tune it down one tone to a D. String 2: The second string is usually a B, so you'll have to tune it up to a D. Make sure your face is out the way so you don't get hurt if the strings snaps! Seriously, the second string needs to be quite tense to reach a D. String 3: The G string goes down to a D - not up! String 4: The D string stays the same, so no problems there. String 5: The A string goes down to a D too - that's a huge drop: seven semitones! I'd definitely put a thick E string there if I changed gauges. String 6: Finally, we retune the thickest string down five semitones to a B - another big drop. 🎸 Change Your Strings: If you're planning to spend a lot of time playing this tune, I recommend buying new strings! Have two thick E strings, one tuned to a B and another to D, two D strings, and two thin E strings, both tuned to D. An interesting thing in Iris is that the guitar is always in tune. Whenever I try to tune all the strings to a D, they seem to move. This adds to the character of the song, though. Aim for the perfect tuning, but don't worry if it doesn't stay there. Iris by Goo Goo Dolls – Main Riff The... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8G1CEXqpDz8 1189 2021-06-30T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-bowie-heroes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-360 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A0p9tOeZabc/hqdefault.jpg Heroes by David Bowie Learn to Play "Heroes" by David Bowie on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Heroes on the guitar. This beautiful song is a fitting tribute to the hero that was David Bowie. Suitable for guitarists of all levels, Heroes has a simple chord progression, making it a great piece to add to your repertoire. Verses and Choruses Heroes has two main sections - the verses and the choruses. The intro and the verses share the same chord progression: simply two bars of D and two bars of G. By just moving between these two chords, you can play the main part of the song. Don't worry if it seems too simple. Although the original track has a lot of layers, as a beginner, focusing on the basic chords is the best way to start. As you get comfortable, you can explore more complex elements and layers of the song. The 12-Bar Chord Sequence In addition to the verses, Heroes also features a 12-bar chord sequence. This is not a 12-bar blues but a different chord progression, which adds variety to the song. The sequence is two bars of C, two bars of D, one bar of A minor, one bar of E minor, and then back to two bars of D. Then you transition to a C chord, to a G chord, and back to two bars of D. This sequence forms what you could consider as the pre-chorus and the chorus of the song. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythm of Heroes can be approached in a couple of ways, depending on the energy you want to bring to your performance. You can use regular alternate eighth-note strumming with a bit of an accent on beats two and four. Alternatively, you can use all down strums, giving the song a bit more energy. If you're playing along to the original recording, remember it's often slower than live versions. Adjust your strumming accordingly to match the tempo and feel of the version you're playing along with. Wrapping Up Learning to play Heroes is not just about mastering the chords and strumming. It's about capturing the spirit and emotion of the song. So, take your time, practice, and enjoy the process. And remember, playing alon... https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0p9tOeZabc 627 2017-12-21T09:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-blackbird-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vVG5OYI6mh0/hqdefault.jpg Blackbird by The Beatles How to play Blackbird by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar Want to learn Blackbird by The Beatles on guitar? You're in the right place! In this detailed lesson, we learn how to master Blackbird using an authentic and surprisingly simple technique that makes this legendary song much more accessible, even for beginner and intermediate guitarists. We start by learning Paul McCartney's unique picking style, in which the thumb and first finger work together to create that beautiful, flowing sound. You'll see how a small adjustment can make the entire song feel more natural. Here's what we learn together: Essential Fingerpicking Pattern: Thumb and first-finger strumming to create the song's iconic rhythm. Fretting Hand Techniques: How to move smoothly through slides, chromatic climbs, and chord transitions. How to Stay in Rhythm: Why Keeping Groove Matters More Than Playing Every Chord Perfectly. Bridge and Chorus Walkthrough: Step-by-step practice of the climb-up and climb-down sections. Bonus Ending (Optional): An optional instrumental ending you can add to make the song your own! Whether you want to sing along or play Blackbird as a beautiful solo guitar piece, this lesson gives us the skills, confidence, and musicality to bring it to life. ✨ Pro Tip: Spend extra time practicing the picking pattern early on. Once it feels natural, the entire song becomes much easier to play. 👉 Want to learn by playing along with your favorite songs? Check out the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App to level up! https://www.youtube.com/embed/vVG5OYI6mh0 1340 2025-04-25T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-you-shook-me-all-night-long-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3193 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PqhfEwvyrIg/hqdefault.jpg You Shook Me All Night Long [3/3] by AC/DC Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This is an awesome song that I have been playing since I was 12, and I still don't get it quite as right as I would like. This simple stuff is deceptively hard to play well. Those of you that want to check out this song properly should have a go at working it by yourself! The chords are just G, C and D and the solo mostly uses the G minor pentatonic scale. Just get in there and have a go and see how much you can do yourself - it really is the best way to learn - hard I know when you start but it is WAY better in the long run! The first vid covers the intro, and the verses. The second vid shows the chorus and stuff and the third vid is just the solo. You can work out the little variations for yourself by listening to the recording. Hope you like it... For those about to rock... we salute you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/PqhfEwvyrIg 574 2018-02-08T18:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bryan-adams-everything-i-do-i-do-it-for-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-219 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UI4aoVWVb5s/hqdefault.jpg Everything I Do I Do It For You by Bryan Adams Learn How To Play "Everything I Do I Do it For You" by Bryan Adams On Guitar! This lesson will explore how to play Everything I Do I Do It For You by Bryan Adams on the acoustic guitar! The original recording mainly uses the piano, but this arrangement sounds beautiful on the guitar. 💡 This song plays during the closing credits of the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. Allegedly, it only took an hour to write! Loads of stuff going on in this 90s hit song! You’ll encounter barre chords, slash chords, sus chords, and different strumming options to level up your sound. Grab your guitar, and let’s dive in. Main Chord Progressions To play this song, we’ll start by playing a C chord. The barre chord version sounds excellent here, but you can get away with playing a simple open C. Since this is an adaptation of the original piano version, that means loads of Sus chords to put into practice! Especially during the verses, so make sure you work on separate bits. Once you feel confident, you can add them together and play to the whole song. The guitar solo is pretty simple to play! It’s worth exploring by yourself and sounds excellent on the guitar. Go ahead and transcribe to incorporate all those lovely embellishments. Strumming And Adding Accents Since this is a piano song, you can experiment with your strumming. You can play a fingerstyle version, but an 8th strumming pattern will sound amazing! To add some dynamics, use downstrums to pay the bass note. Slightly slowing things down and playing hard on the 1st beat will keep things exciting and moving. This is tricky to sing in tune, but if you got the range - go for it - it's a stunning ballad. It's a perfect song to serenade that special person in your life. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play this Bryan Adams Song? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/UI4aoVWVb5s 646 2017-12-02T09:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/america-a-horse-with-no-name-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lPVK7eI2dKY/hqdefault.jpg A Horse With No Name by America Learn How To Play "A Horse With No Name" by America On Guitar! In this easy guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play A Horse with No Name by America. This might be one of the simplest guitar songs ever! This one is an excellent option if you've just started Grade 1 of the Beginner Guitar Course. It's famous for being a two-chord beginner song, but a third chord sometimes sneaks in! ;) 🚨 Get this America song on the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app - this is a fun and interactive way to play A Horse With No Name and develop solid rhythm. :) A Horse With No Name by America on Guitar Chord Progression Let's start with the simple two-chord version - we'll leave the third chord for now! We'll need E minor and D6. For the Em, use the fingering I teach in my Em chord beginner lesson. The second chord is technically D6/9 with an F# bass, but that name is way too complicated - let's call it D6! We use the two fingers of the Em chord but spread out – the second finger goes up to the 6th string, and the 3rd finger comes down to the 3rd string. Changing between them is like a finger-stretching exercise. :) When you play D6, it's totally fine if your 2nd finger mutes the 5th string. In fact, I think this chord sounds clearer with only one bass note :) 💬 I'm sure these are the original chords, and to my ear this D6 voicing is cleaner. What do you think? Log in and share your thoughts in the discussion area. A Horse With No Name by America: Strumming - From Beginner to Authentic Once you're all good with the chord progression, it's time to look at the strumming. Start by strumming on beat 1 - this will allow you to sing along and jam with the original. :) The next step is to strum on all four beats. These patterns are beginner-friendly and help you get to grips with the song, but they're a bit boring. So let's change up our strumming pattern with some variations. We'll look at the authentic pattern in a minute, but it's good to start with bass D U, bass D U. On beats 1 and 3, you hit the thickest strings, and then you stru... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPVK7eI2dKY 608 2019-11-15T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-crossroads-legacy-lesson-2008-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dp0Jkf-7Iwc/hqdefault.jpg Crossroads [Legacy Lesson - 2008] by Eric Clapton Learn How to Play "Crossroads" by Eric Clapton on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Crossroads on the guitar. Crossroads was first recorded by Robert Johnson, a slide guitar master who didn't strictly adhere to the 12-bar form. This made it a bit challenging to play as a jam tune or cover. However, Eric Clapton took the song, transformed it with Cream, and delivered an amazing live recording in 1968. This version has become the standard, and it's the one you'd expect to play in a jam session. Even though it doesn't resemble Johnson's original recording that much, the Cream version does keep most of the lyrics. In this lesson, we'll focus on the Clapton version and its unique twists and turns. We'll use a basic shuffle and save the solo for a different lesson because there's so much to explore there. Understanding the Main Riff The first thing to check out is the main riff of the song. We start with the open A string, indicating that we're in the Blues in A. We then play the notes A, G, and A. The rhythm is really important here and is most commonly played four times. With Eric Clapton's version, this main riff is played twice, followed by a similar riff where you play strings two and three. It has a certain lift, with some notes being quite staccato. This gives it a bouncy feel. However, you should keep in mind that there are many ways to play this riff, depending on your personal style and the band you're playing with. Exploring the Chord Progression The chord progression in the song is interesting. We start on an A note, played twice normally, then twice with the harmony. This is followed by a D note, which is essentially a D7 chord. However, in this song, Clapton arpeggiates it, breaking the chord into a sequence of notes that adds a unique flair to the song. It's important to practice this pattern and nail the rhythm. After the D note, we move down to an E note. This is followed by a lovely little turnaround. This part of the progression is flexible. If you have a turnaround that you're al... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dp0Jkf-7Iwc 560 2017-12-15T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-blue-christmas-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CoSNDEJvEeA/hqdefault.jpg Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley Spread holiday joy with your guitar! 🎄 Learn how to play a Christmas classic by the king of rock and roll! Today's song lesson will teach us how to play Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley. Together, we'll check out a simple version of this tune and ways to make it sound fancier! Suppose you're like me and want to do a dodgy Elvis Presley impersonation - the more, the merrier! Especially if you're playing it for other people. Elvis was an incredible singer and musician - we can't argue that! He had a massive influence on rock and roll music. That doesn't mean you can't have a bit of fun with it! If you're following my Guitar Courses, this song will be perfect to practice techniques for intermediate students. So grab your guitar, and let's get into this Christmas special. How To Play Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley On Guitar This song uses simple chords, but it does have barre chords in there - so make sure you're ace with those! This Elvis song has a typical chord progression for country music - take note of them if you like to improvise country! Let me first walk you through verse 1 of Blue Christmas. This first verse has different chord sequences from all the others in the song. It has an extended stay on the A and F sharp. Follow the chord sequence below for the first verse: E E B7 B7 B7 B7E E E7 E7 A A F#7 F#7 B7 B7 Adding extra bars on chords A and F sharp 7 fits Elvis's lyrics perfectly. It adds a nice touch to the melody! Make sure you give the song a good listen to get familiar with the chord extensions. 💡 When Elvis says 'decorations of red on a green' - there's a big gap between the Christmas tree. Here - you'll start on the same chords then jump to the F sharp. This is different from all the other verses! Blue Christmas Guitar Rhythm To play this Elvis song, you have to choose between different approaches to the rhythm & strumming. You can play four strums per bar on your guitar to keep it simple. If you're a more advanced player, here's how you can make the rhythm a little more interesting. Here's ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CoSNDEJvEeA 766 2021-12-10T07:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/semisonic-closing-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-422 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RoGoRkxHN2E/hqdefault.jpg Closing Time by Semisonic Learn to Play "Closing Time" by Semisonic on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Closing Time by Semisonic on the guitar. This well-loved classic is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, whether you're a beginner or have been strumming away for a while. Closing Time is an all-time party classic and a great sing-along song. It works exceptionally well with open chords, so if you're a beginner who knows the G, D, C, and A minor chords, you can play this song in an open position. It sounds great! As you progress through your guitar journey and learn your power chords, you'll find that you can also play it with power chords. It adds a different texture to the song and sounds equally fantastic. Once you're a more advanced guitar player, you can start using full barre chords to add depth and complexity to the song. Chord Progression The song has a simple chord progression that repeats throughout, making it easy to learn and fun to play. You'll start with the G chord, move to D, then A minor, and finally C. This sequence repeats throughout the song, giving it its distinctive rhythm and sound. When you're starting out, strumming twice in each bar works nicely. As you become more comfortable with the song, you can start experimenting with the strumming, adding more strums to create a richer sound. The Bridge The bridge has a unique part where the synths come into play. The chords shift to an A flat, B flat, E flat, and C. This part is a bit unusual, and many guitarists choose to leave it out unless they're in a band with a synth player. However, if you're up for the challenge, it can add an interesting twist to your rendition of the song. Strumming and Rhythm The rhythm of Closing Time is its heartbeat. It's crucial to focus on the rhythm and make sure it's solid. Even if you fluff up the chords, it will still sound good if your rhythm is on point. The rhythm is a half-time feel with a fast tempo. You can start with a simple strumming pattern and add more complexity as you get comfortable with the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RoGoRkxHN2E 1116 2018-02-04T21:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-shape-of-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-393 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4UwXzgZnFFY/hqdefault.jpg Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran How to Play "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Shape of You by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. This song dominated the charts, and for good reason - it's incredibly catchy and fun to play. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, there are some great approaches for you to try out. So, grab your guitar, and let's get started! The Chord Progression One of the best things about Shape of You is its simplicity. The entire song revolves around just four chords that repeat throughout. These chords are C♯ minor, F♯ minor, A, and B. Don't worry if you're not comfortable with barre chords yet - There's a beginner-friendly version coming up! The chord progression follows a simple pattern, with one bar (or half a bar in double time) for each chord. This repetitive structure makes getting into the song's groove easier once you've got the chords down. Beginner-Friendly Version For those of you who find barre chords challenging, here's a great trick: use a capo on the fourth fret. This allows you to play the same chord progression using easier, open chords. With the capo on, you'll be playing Am, Dm, F, and G. This method produces the same harmony as the original but is much more accessible for beginners. This capo trick is not just for beginners - I've even seen Ed Sheeran use this technique live! It's a great way to simplify the song while maintaining its essence. Strumming Pattern The rhythm is crucial in Shape of You. The main strumming pattern is down, up, down, down, down, up. It might sound simple, but getting it right is key to capturing the song's groove. Remember to keep your strumming hand moving continuously—this helps maintain a smooth, flowing rhythm. Try adding some muted strums between the chords as you get more comfortable. This technique adds texture and helps drive the rhythm forward, giving your playing that professional edge. Playing the Melody The signature melody of Shape of You is surprisingly simple to play. It's primarily played on the second string ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4UwXzgZnFFY 736 2018-01-23T20:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lynyrd-skynyrd-sweet-home-alabama-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HrORN7sdsqY/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Alabama [2/2] by Lynyrd Skynyrd Folow the link to go to Part 1 of this lesson. This is a classic guitar song, lots of fun to play, and the riffs take a bit of practice to get them comfortable under your fingers. I got a bit of shtick from a few guys when I wrote here that I didn't like what this song stands for... Let me explain. Neil Young wrote a song "Southern Man" about the racism going on in the deep south and the Lynyrd didn't like him singing bad things about their homeland and this was their fight back. Neil Young also wrote a pretty heavy song called Alabama (great track actually, must do a lesson on that too...). But as it turns out there was a little more to it... I got sent an interesting email from a guy called Colin about it... and he sent in an interesting article. Worth a read I think... and maybe I missed a few things ;) But then I found this too... so if you are really into finding out more about this then this is deep. Anyhow, regardless of all the politics, it's a cracking song, great guitar parts and lots of challenges to overcome when you play it. So get stuck in! https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrORN7sdsqY 396 2018-02-08T21:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-your-body-is-a-wonderland-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-161 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vWnv1eTMviU/hqdefault.jpg Your Body is a Wonderland by John Mayer John Mayer's "Your Body is a Wonderland" in Drop D Tuning In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the great John Mayer song Your Body is a Wonderland on the electric guitar. This one is in Drop D tuning, so you have to tune your low E string down one semitone to a D. You can use string 4 as a guide. 💡Still afraid of Altered Tunings? No need to be! Learn Altered Tuning Basics and easily and safely retune your guitar. The basic guitar parts to play Your Body is a Wonderland are fairly easy, but I’m still finding it tricky to sing at the same time! Your Body Is A Wonderland: Chorus & Verses We start playing an F chord as an A Shape Barre Chord using fingers 1 and 3. That’s X 8 10 10 10 X. The rhythm repeats throughout the chorus and verse. On beat 1, we play the bass note (string 5) with the thumb. On the “and” after 1, we play the chord notes with fingers 2, 3, and 4. Then on beat 2, we do a little percussive hit, followed by the bass note again on the “and” after 2. That’s 1 (bass) + (chord) 2 (hit) + (bass). On beat 3, we move finger 2 to fret 10 of string 6, keeping finger 3 in place (10 X 10 10 10 X). We play the same pattern, changing the bass note. This is an F/C chord. In standard tuning, fret 10 of string 6 is the note D, but remember we’ve tuned this string down one tone, so the note at fret 10 is now C. And on the next bar, we play fret 8 of string 6 with the first finger, keeping finger 3 in place (8 X 10 10 10 X). Do you know what this chord is called? It’s really similar to the previous one! This one is an F/Bb – all we’ve changed is the bass note, which is a tone lower than before. On the next bar, we move back to F/C and play the same pattern. So we have F, F/C, F/Bb, and F/C, playing each for half a bar. 👌 Before singing along, play this nice and slowly, making sure it’s flowy and easy. You want the guitar part to be automatic. Once you can distract yourself a little bit, start adding in the vocal. Check my 10 steps for singing and playing at the same time to learn more! Your Body is a Wonder... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWnv1eTMviU 837 2022-09-14T08:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-ob-la-di-ob-la-da-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-200 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lkvjoRsSafs/hqdefault.jpg Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by The Beatles Learn the Beatles classic "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" on the guitar! In this super easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar! This song is great for all guitar levels: beginners can play it with four open chords, while more advanced players can add some fancy stuff. ;) We'll learn a different version from ordinary guitar covers, which often have a capo on Fret 1. With the capo on Fret 3, we avoid barre chords, and adding the bassline and embellishments is easier. 💡 Get chords, lyrics, and verified tabs for Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da by The Beatles with JustinGuitarTabs. You can get started with a free trial. :) Now let's start with the chords for Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da by The Beatles - Guitar Chords & Progressions You only need four chords for the basic outline of Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da: G, D, Em, and C. The progression for the verse is G, D, D, G; G, C, G, D, and G. It changes slightly in the chorus - we play G, D, Em, G, D, and G. Then, there's just one more progression you'll need, which is for the bridge. It goes C, C, G, G; C, C, G, D. This repeats twice. 🎸 Need a hand with these chords? Head to Grade 1 of my Beginner’s Course to master the essential open guitar chords. The structure is intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, and chorus! It's a great idea to write down the lyrics with the chords and the number of beats for each so that you keep track. Once you feel confident with those chord progressions and the simple strumming, it's time to make it more authentic. :) Learn the Authentic Strumming for Awesome Rhythm Guitar Playing a bass-strum pattern is a great way to mimic the original Beatles vibe. We pick a bass string on the beats and strum the thinner strings on off-beats, using down strums each time. 💡 Change the Bass: You’ll need to remember to change the bass note when you change chords: pick string 6 for G and Em, string 5 for C, and string 4 for D. This technique is useful for Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da: it pops up... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lkvjoRsSafs 1186 2023-04-30T01:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eagle-eye-cherry-save-tonight-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nEXrt8nh4r0/hqdefault.jpg Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry Learn how to play "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry on the guitar. This catchy tune is a fantastic choice for beginners, with its simple chord progression and repetitive structure. Save Tonight was released in 1997 and became Eagle Eye Cherry's breakthrough hit, and it's easy to see why. Its infectious melody and straightforward chord progression make it an ideal song for guitarists of all levels to learn and enjoy. Learning this tune is more than just mastering a popular song. It's about building fundamental skills that will serve you well in your guitar journey. The chord progression, while simple, is incredibly common in popular music. By learning this song, you're not just adding one tune to your repertoire – you're gaining skills that will help you play countless other songs. The song's repetitive nature makes it an excellent choice for practicing chord transitions and building muscle memory. As you play the song over and over, your fingers will start to naturally find the right positions, making your playing smoother and more confident. Let's dive in and get you strumming along to this '90s classic! The Chord Progression One of the best things about Save Tonight is its simplicity. The chord progression follows a consistent pattern throughout the song: Am, Fmaj7, C, and G. That's right, just four chords for the whole song! This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are still getting comfortable with chord changes. 👉 The G chord shown in the 'Chords' tab is the regular G chord and not the one I play in the video. The one played in the video makes it easier to move from one chord to the other. This sequence repeats for both the verses and the chorus, which means once you've got it down, you've essentially learned the whole song. How's that for beginner-friendly? Rhythm and Strumming Now that we've sorted out our chords let's talk about the rhythm. Save Tonight has a steady, driving beat that's perfect for practicing... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEXrt8nh4r0 567 2018-01-25T07:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-police-every-breath-you-take-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-224 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OBYYSvb08EQ/hqdefault.jpg Every Breath You Take by The Police 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 transcribe 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 yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OBYYSvb08EQ 1030 2017-11-29T18:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eddie-cochran-summertime-blues-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-429 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kcf0dyVYrVo/hqdefault.jpg Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran How to play "Summertime Blues" by Eddie Cochran on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Summertime Blues on the guitar. This classic Rock 'n' Roll tune is a blast to play and a great way to improve your rhythm guitar skills. Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran is one of those timeless tunes that just never gets old. It's got a great groove and a catchy melody and is perfect for honing your rhythm guitar chops. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, this song has something to offer you. So, let's get started and have some fun with it! The Main Chord Progression Alright, let's talk about the heart of this song - the chord progression. Summertime Blues uses a simple but effective combination of chords that creates that classic Rock 'n' Roll sound. We're going to be working with three main chords: E, A, and B7. These three chords form the backbone of the entire song. The progression is E, A, B7, E. It's a straightforward pattern, but the magic lies in how we play it. The key to nailing this song is getting the rhythm right. We'll use a specific strumming pattern that gives the song its distinctive bounce and energy. The Rhythm and Strumming Pattern Now, here's where things get really interesting. The rhythm in Summertime Blues is what makes it so fun to play. We're not just strumming away; we're creating a groove that drives the whole song forward. We start with a muted strum on the first beat. Then, we hit the A chord on the third beat. After that, we have a series of up-and-down strums that create a rhythmic pattern. This pattern repeats for each chord in the progression. Don't worry if it feels a bit tricky at first. Like with any new technique, it takes some practice to get it smooth. But once you've got it down, you'll feel like a true Rock 'n' Roll guitarist! The Verses and Bass Riff In the verses, we introduce a cool little bass riff that adds extra flavor to the song. This riff is played on the low E string, and it's a great way to add some variety to your playing. The riff involves a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kcf0dyVYrVo 489 2017-12-08T10:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/george-michael-faith-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-383 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ULyzla5qifE/hqdefault.jpg Faith by George Michael How to play "Faith" by George Michael on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Faith by George Michael on the guitar. This fantastic song is really cool on acoustic guitar and offers a great opportunity to work on your rhythm and barre chord skills. Let's dive in! The Rhythm Pattern The main focus of this lesson is the rhythm pattern. Most people struggle with this aspect of the tune, but the rhythm is what gives Faith its distinctive sound and groove. To start, let's break down the pattern. It goes like this: "One e and uh, two e and uh, three e and, four e and uh." This pattern involves a mix of down and up strums, as well as some muted hits. When you're first learning this rhythm, it's really helpful to practice it slowly. Start by writing down the pattern and marking where the down and up strums occur. Then, practice it bit by bit, making sure your hand moves continuously, and the rhythm feels relaxed and natural. Remember, it's not about speed at first - it's about getting the pattern right and making it feel comfortable. Strum Pattern D . . U . . D . . U D . D . X X 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a The Chord Progression Now, let's talk about the chord progression. Faith primarily uses barre chords, which makes it quite a workout for your fretting hand. The main chords you'll use are B and E, with a few others thrown in for good measure. The song starts with a B chord for the intro, then follows a pattern of B, B, E, and B for most of the verses. There's a slightly trickier section later in the song where we introduce an F# and a G# minor, but don't worry - we'll get to that! Putting It All Together Once you've got the rhythm pattern down and are comfortable with the chord progression, it's time to put them together. This is where the real challenge (and fun!) begins. Start by playing the rhythm pattern on a single chord, like B. Once that feels comfortable, try changing between B and E while maintaining the rhythm. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but with practice, it'll start to feel more ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULyzla5qifE 613 2017-12-21T10:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/kings-of-leon-molly-s-chambers-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-807 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PGg4SgISFGE/hqdefault.jpg Molly's Chambers by Kings Of Leon Learn how to play "Molly's Chamber" by Kings of Leon on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Molly's Chamber on the guitar. This Kings of Leon tune is great for mastering your power chords and learning how to give your guitar a bit of grunt. The Main Riff The main riff of Molly's Chamber is pretty straightforward. It's based on an F# power chord and has a very specific rhythm. Listen to the song a few times to get the rhythm down. Once you've got it, you can start adding your own flair to it. The song is played really hard, so don't be afraid to hit those strings. This main riff is played in two different ways throughout the song. It's important to listen to the song to understand how and when these variations occur. The Chorus The chorus of Molly's Chamber consists of a little B barre chord played four times, followed by an open A power chord. You can play the B and the D as just regular power chords if that's what you're familiar with. If you know the full barre chord shapes, you can play the B and the D like that. The Solo The solo of the song is where the guitarist really gets to shine. It's a great opportunity for you to make up your own solo if you want. All you need is the F# minor pentatonic. The solo is played at the 14th fret, so you'll need to be comfortable playing up there. In addition to the solo, a little lead riff works in and out of the song. This riff uses an open string and a normal note, adding a bit of funk to the tune. Final Thoughts Molly's Chamber by Kings of Leon is a really fun song to play on the guitar, and it's a great way to get comfortable with power chords. Don't be afraid to add your flair to the song and make it your own. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process. Ready to see all of this in action? Check out the video where we'll learn exactly how to play Molly's Chamber on the guitar. So what are you waiting for? Grab your guitar, and let's get started! I can't wait to see how you do. 💡 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs! :) Get ch... https://www.youtube.com/embed/PGg4SgISFGE 559 2018-02-05T16:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-under-the-bridge-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-312 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WMLcHIq7TPU/hqdefault.jpg Under the Bridge [1/3] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn How to Play "Under the Bridge" by RHCP on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Under the Bridge on the guitar. This song has been heavily requested on my site's forum, and for good reason—it's an absolute classic! I remember spending hours learning it when it first came out, and I'm thrilled that we'll have the opportunity to go through it together. Today, we'll focus on the intro. After you're comfortable with it, check out Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson to see the verses and the chorus. Playing the Intro The intro, which includes some beautiful fingerstyle work, starts with a D chord that looks a bit funny because it's a C-shaped barre chord, but it is actually a D chord. Then, we move to the F# major barre chord. 👉 Need help with barre chords? Check out this lesson. Start by plucking the strings with your thumb and fingers for the fingerstyle, creating a soft and intricate sound. Then, add in some scale runs and slides to transition between chords. Tips for Playing Under the Bridge Fingerstyle Technique: This song relies heavily on fingerstyle playing, so take your time to get comfortable with using your thumb and fingers. Practice plucking the strings softly and evenly to create a smooth sound. 👉 For lessons on fingerstyle, click here. Transitions and Slides: The transitions between chords and the little slides and scale runs are what make this song unique. Spend some time practicing these transitions to ensure they are smooth and seamless. Feel and Emotion: Under the Bridge is a song full of emotion. Try to capture that feeling in your playing by adding dynamics and expression to the chords and fingerstyle patterns. Final Thoughts I hope you have fun with the intro and are excited to dive into the rest of the song. Remember, practice makes permanent. The more you play, the more comfortable you'll become with the fingerstyle technique and chord transitions. Watch the video to get a better sense of the finger placement and strumming patterns. Seeing it in action can really help you underst... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WMLcHIq7TPU 595 2017-11-11T04:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/miley-cyrus-flowers-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TSDKWgpHNtA/hqdefault.jpg Flowers by Miley Cyrus Play the Miley Cyrus hit "Flowers" on the acoustic guitar! In this easy tutorial, we'll learn how to play Flowers by Miley Cyrus on the acoustic guitar. This is a massive hit - it's been number one around the world for months, and it was about time for a lesson on it. :) Flowers by Miley Cyrus is a perfect song for beginners! You only need open chords and 8th Note Strumming to play it! But we'll go further and also explore the original rhythm pattern, dynamics, and some quirks in the chorus that you might not have noticed. ;) 😂 F Chord Humour! My chord-vocal demos are a great way to learn where the chord changes fall, but F chord often comes at… unfortunate points, let's say. This is exactly what happened in this lesson, to my embarrassment - check out my Chorus Playthrough for some laughs! Singing Flowers by Miley Cyrus is a bit tricky, as you can hear from my falsetto in the post-chorus! If you want to sing it but find the original key tough, try using a guitar capo to suit your voice, or drop the high parts an octave, as I did later in the video when my voice got tired. :) Let's get to it. Flowers: Verse Chords The Miley Cyrus original has no full introduction, but a chord falls before the verse and helps you get the pitch. The chord is an Open CMaj7, which sounds tricky but is simply open C with finger 1 lifted off. There are tons of effects over this chord that are impossible to mimic on acoustic guitar. Try picking out a few strings or do a long strum. Play around and see what works. :) The verse progression is 12 bars long, uses standard open chords, and always returns to Am. Find the full chord chart and a chord–vocal demo in the Verse Chords video chapter. Now we've learned the chords, let's look at the really interesting part: the rhythm. Flowers: Strumming Pattern Use all-down eighth notes strumming pattern, with accents on beat 1, the "and" of 2, and beat 4, to play Flowers by Miley Cyrus. You can use the same pattern throughout the entire song! It gives amazing energy, so it's well worth practicin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TSDKWgpHNtA 615 2023-07-02T06:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-the-scientist-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-043 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W2N1v5xWwHc/hqdefault.jpg The Scientist [EASY] by Coldplay "The Scientist" by Coldplay – Easy Acoustic Guitar Version Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin here today for an easy version of The Scientist by Coldplay, one of the all-time great pop tunes. Check out my other lesson on The Scientist in 4ths tuning if you want a more adventurous version. That one is a little above most beginner players, but do check it out if you want to try your hand at a trickier song. :) For now, let's look at the beginner version. Get your capo on fret 5, and let’s go. The Scientist by Coldplay – Chords Just five chords in this song! The first chord we need is a regular old Am chord (X02210). Nothing fancy here – just remember to mute the thick string with the thumb. The next one is FMaj7/C (X33210). Don’t worry about the name – think of it as a simplified F chord. In fact, let’s call it an F chord to make things easier. :) Finger 3 plays 5:3 (string 5, fret 3) and mutes string 6, finger 4 plays 4:3, finger 2 goes on 3:2, and finger 1 goes on 2:1. It kinda looks like a C chord. 🧐 F Chord Variations: the FMaj7/C chord in this version is one of several F chord grips you can switch for the F barre chord. Check out the other F Chord Variations – no barre required. :) We switch from FMaj7/C to a regular open C chord (X32010). To switch, keep fingers 1 and 3 in place, lift off finger 4, and move finger 2 up to 4:2. Again, remember to mute the thickest string with either the thumb or finger 3. We’ll also need a Cadd2 chord (X30010). To get there from C, just lift off finger 2. The Scientist by Coldplay – Song Structure The verse progression is Am, F, C, then Cadd2, each for a bar. Play this four times for each verse. In the chorus, we go F for two bars, C for one bar, then Cadd2 for one. Repeat this twice, then switch to G for two bars. The song pauses for a few beats, so only strum on beat 1 in the final bar. 💡 Chord Book: We’re exploring a few different chords in this lesson, so now is a great time to start your own chord book. There’s another option for the G. Leave finger 1 down in 2:1 (string ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/W2N1v5xWwHc 434 2020-04-10T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-who-substitute-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-998 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i1HM5v9B_eU/hqdefault.jpg Substitute by The Who Learn to Play "Substitute" by The Who on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Substitute on the guitar. This is a fun and challenging song due to its unique chord progression and rhythm. Substitute by The Who is a fantastic tune that's a lot of fun to play on the guitar. The song is a bit tricky to sing and play at the same time due to several things going on. But don't worry. We'll break it down into manageable sections, and you'll have it under your fingers in no time. The Intro The song kicks off with a cool intro, which also appears in the chorus. It uses a technique called triads, which are three-note chords. In this case, we've got a D triad followed by another D triad, an A triad, a G triad, and a D triad again. Thus, the progression is D, D, A, G, G, D, D. Technically, the A chord should be called A/D and the G chord G/D, but for simplicity, we'll just refer to them as A and G. What makes it sound cool is the open D string, adding a unique flavor to the mix. Strumming The strumming technique in this song is also important. After playing the strings, you'll need to mute them to get a defined sound. Without this, things can get messy. Remember that slow and steady is the way to go with these kinds of riffs. Verse and Pre-Chorus After the intro, we have the verse, which is just D and G but has a rhythmic pattern of its own and a little riff at the end. Following the verse, we have the pre-chorus. This part involves a repeating riff, which is a bit difficult to play while singing, but you'll get the hang of it with some practice. Chorus The chorus uses the same triad riff that we learned for the intro. The key to playing this part is to pedal the open D string, which means playing it on every beat. It might feel a bit tricky if you're new to this technique, but it adds a great sound to the song. Final Thoughts Substitute by The Who is a rich and vibrant song with a lot to offer for guitarists. With its unique chord progression and rhythm, it's a fun song to play and a great way to develop your gu... https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1HM5v9B_eU 574 2018-02-05T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-hey-hey-my-my-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-907 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xAEA3N5afKY/hqdefault.jpg Hey Hey, My My by Neil Young Had loads of requests for this Neil Young masterpiece, really good fun to play this one, and uses his trademark technique, the continuous moving strumming hand! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xAEA3N5afKY 689 2017-11-17T07:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/simon-garfunkel-mrs-robinson-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-259 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pNw7uBigRf8/hqdefault.jpg Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel Learn to Play “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel on Guitar “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel is one of the most recognizable songs of the late 1960s. This timeless folk-pop classic perfectly combines catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and thoughtful guitar work. Whether you know it from The Graduate soundtrack or from singing along on the radio, it’s one of those tunes that feels great to play on an acoustic guitar. In this lesson, we learn every part of the song step by step, starting with basic chords and strumming, then building up to more advanced basslines, embellishments, and the famous intro riff. By the end, you’ll have a complete version that you can play solo, sounding musical and full, just as Paul Simon intended. Why Learn “Mrs. Robinson”? There’s a good reason this song has been at the top of JustinGuitar’s song request list for years. It’s fun, familiar, and playable at multiple levels. For beginners, it’s an excellent song to practice chord transitions, timing, and singing while strumming. For intermediate players, it introduces a handful of more advanced techniques, such as bassline movement, chord embellishments, and rhythmic phrasing, without becoming overwhelming. Plus, the song is a perfect example of how a simple folk chord structure can sound rich and sophisticated when paired with thoughtful strumming and musical variation. The Setup: Capo on 2 and Key of E Major To play along with the original recording, you’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret. The chords are then played as if you were in the key of E major, though technically the song sounds in F# major due to the capo. That means your main chord shapes will be E, A, D, G, C, and A minor, along with a few nice-sounding variations like E7, A7, and D/F# (D with an F-sharp bass). If you’re a newer player, don’t worry about the embellishments yet. You can play the entire song beautifully with just the standard open chords and simple strumming. Step 1: Understanding the Structure and Timing Before diving into the details, it’s worth kn... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pNw7uBigRf8 1725 2025-10-09T01:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/cold-chisel-khe-sanh-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-501 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r2wd3LqEbqE/hqdefault.jpg Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel Learn to play "Khe Sanh" by Cold Chisel on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Khe Sanh on the guitar. This iconic Australian Rock song tells a powerful story of a Vietnam veteran returning home, and it's one of the most requested songs in our lesson catalog. While Khe Sanh is primarily piano-driven, it features some beautiful guitar work by Ian Moss on both acoustic and electric. We'll first focus on learning a simplified acoustic version, then add some optional fancy elements to emulate those piano parts if you're feeling adventurous. Understanding the Structure The song's chord progression is quite intricate, with many changes throughout. The verse is structured in two similar halves but with slightly different endings. It's a good idea to write down the chord progression while watching the video—it'll help you internalize the pattern and make learning much easier. Learning Approach We'll break this down into manageable steps. First, we'll learn the basic chord progression using simple down strums. Once you're comfortable with that, we'll introduce the linking chords that give the song its distinctive sound. Don't worry if you find it challenging at first—we'll take it step by step. Strumming Patterns After mastering the chord changes, we'll work on the strumming pattern. We'll start with the basic four down strums per bar and gradually build up to the full pattern. The key is to keep your strumming hand moving consistently, even when you're not hitting the strings. This creates that smooth, flowing feel that makes the song so engaging. Final Thoughts While the original recording features complex piano parts, don't feel pressured to incorporate every detail. Focus first on getting the basic progression solid and in time. Once you're comfortable, you can start adding those extra flourishes and chord variations that make the song special. The video includes basic and advanced versions of each section, so you can progress at your own pace. The most important thing is to enjoy the learning process an... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r2wd3LqEbqE 1191 2017-12-08T13:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/roy-orbison-oh-pretty-woman-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-416 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/95Aj4LGIv_I/hqdefault.jpg Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison Learn How to Play "Oh Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Oh Pretty Woman on the guitar. This iconic Rock and Roll hit has one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in music history, and it's a fantastic song to add to your repertoire! Before we dive in, you'll want to be comfortable with your barre chords for this song. If you can handle them, you'll find the riffs quite manageable. The song features a mix of classic chord progressions and an unmistakable opening riff that everyone knows and loves. 👉New to barre chords? We've got you covered! Check out this lesson. Song Structure The song opens with that famous riff in an interesting time signature of 6/4 (or you can think of it as alternating bars of 4/4 and 2/4). After the intro riff is played twice, we transition into the main riff, which repeats four times before heading into the verse. Verse Progression The verse progression is straightforward but with a cool twist in the timing. We start with A, move to F#m, go back to A, and then F#m again. Next comes D, but here's where it gets interesting—a quick 2/4 bar of D creates a distinctive pause before moving to E for four bars. Cool, right? This timing quirk was common in music of this era and adds character to the song. Bridge Section The bridge section introduces more chord variety, starting with D minor and moving through G7, C, and A minor. This section has a different feel from the verses, creating a nice contrast that builds tension before returning to the main progression. You can play these either as barre chords or open chords - both approaches work well. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern primarily consists of steady eighth notes, but it's all about where you place your accents. While the recording features continuous strumming, you'll want to emphasize certain beats to capture the song's groove when playing solo. Think of it as filling in for both the rhythm guitar and drums when you're playing alone. Playing Tips When approaching Oh Pretty Woman, st... https://www.youtube.com/embed/95Aj4LGIv_I 544 2017-12-04T13:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-new-light-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xqJvSD4egcs/hqdefault.jpg New Light by John Mayer Learn "New Light" by John Mayer on Guitar! Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin here today for New Light by John Mayer. This is a really fun tune with lots of wicked guitar parts to learn. There’s something for everyone. Beginners can strum along with open chords and explore different rhythms. Intermediate players can explore barre chords, and you can get creative with work on looping and layering. The solo is nice and easy for Intermediate players too! Let’s check it out. :) New Light by John Mayer: Basic Chords & Structure Good news: you can play the whole song using open chords! There’s no set rhythm pattern, so feel free to play the pattern you dig most. Old Faithful works great. :) For the intro, we have Am, D, G, C; Am, D, G, G. The verse sequence is almost identical: Am, D, G, C; Am, D, G, C; Am, D, G, B7. And in the chorus, we play the basic Am, D, G, C progression four times, except we stay on G for two bars in the final repetition. 💣 Chord Changes: if you struggle to switch between these chords in time, try my game-changing one-minute chord changes exercise. Things get interesting in the bridge, but you can strum G, C, Em, and D (each for two bars) if you want to keep it simple. And the 8-bar solo section is the same as the intro. If you’re a beginner, make sure you write out the parts. This will aid your memory big time. Time to look at all the really cool stuff in the original. :) New Light by John Mayer: Lead Parts First, let’s check out the riff that repeats throughout most of the song. It uses 4:5 (string 4, fret 5), 4:4, and 4:2 (the notes G, F#, E): 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + G F# E G F# E Repeat this twice, leaving out the final E on the second rep. You can use fingers 4, 3, and 1 or 3, 2, and 1 – your call. :) New Light by John Mayer: Looping and Experimenting Using a looper pedal for this song is loadsa fun. Play the riff first, then start the looper to program it. Play the riff, making sure you start exactly on the beat. Once you’ve played the riff twice (it lasts two bars), stop the looper. Then you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xqJvSD4egcs 1028 2019-08-21T11:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-lennon-imagine-2023-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-224 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V5BI-BXGd5k/hqdefault.jpg Imagine [2023] by John Lennon Learn 'Imagine' by John Lennon on the Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play the timeless classic "Imagine" by John Lennon on the acoustic guitar. This enchanting song resonates deeply and sounds beautiful on the guitar. Whether you're a skilled player or an advancing beginner, this tutorial is perfect! 💡 Play Imagine with the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App and learn faster! Still not learning with my app? Download it now! Now, let's learn how to play Imagine on the acoustic guitar. :) Introduction We'll kick off our lesson with the basics. The intro of "Imagine" commences with a C chord that lasts for a bar, swiftly followed by an F chord for another bar. For those of you who find the F chord a bit challenging, don't fret! There are numerous variations of the F chord that you can play. This flexibility allows you to start simple and build up the complexity as you get more comfortable. One beginner-friendly option is the F major 7, which is easier to play and retains the beautiful sowe aiming for! Understanding the Song Structure The structure of "Imagine" is quite straightforward, which makes it fantastic for guitarists of all levels. After the intro, we transition seamlessly into the verses, which start with the C chord. The verses alternate pleasingly between the C and F chords, which results in the song's distinctive and soothing melody. Once you've got a good handle on the verses, it's time to move to the bridge section. The bridge begins with an F chord for two beats, then moves to a C with an E base. The second part of the bridge transitions from D Minor to D Minor over C and concludes on a G chord. Then, just like that, we're back to the verse again. This cycle repeats for the entire song, and voila, you've mastered the fundamental chord progression of "Imagine"! As you can see, the chord progression is easy to grasp and follow, making this song a joy to learn and play. 💡 Once you're comfortable and confident with the basic chords and rhythm, you can begin to add in some embellishmen... https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5BI-BXGd5k 1331 2023-12-25T08:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-smiths-this-charming-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-425 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pA2LLf0ODWA/hqdefault.jpg This Charming Man by The Smiths Learn "This Charming Man" by The Smiths on Guitar! This Charming Man is a classic guitar tune from The Smiths' first album. It’s still popular, and for good reason. Though Morrissey’s iconic vocals stand out, the tune is also a testament to Johnny Marr’s guitar voicing and phrasing. 🔥 This one is juicy: This Charming Man has some tricky parts, but we'll walk through it step by step. There are loads of arpeggiated chords throughout, some really fun riffs, and interesting timings and counts. Lots to unpack! Once it comes together, this is such fun to play. It’ll have you up and down the fretboard, and it’s a nice change from familiar rhythm patterns and chord structures. Let's start by checking out the sound and setup. The Sound and Guitar Setup I know you'll be dying to find out about the sound! Johnny Marr played it on a Jaguar, but mine never goes in tune, so I played it on my Strat instead. I'm on the split humbucker and middle pickup. I'm also using a Kempler profiler with a profile from a Fender Deluxe amp, along with a vintage chorus effect. You'll need to turn the chorus pedal on and experiment with the rate and depth until it sounds like The Smiths. I also went for 400ms delay with three repeats. 💡 Experiment: No two amps or pedals are the same, so the only way to truly nail the sound and setup is to experiment with your equipment until you find what works. This Charming Man by The Smiths: Playing Tips If you’re not familiar with This Charming Man, give it a few listens before trying to play it. It also helps to jam with the original recording at a slower speed, around 65 or 70%. Get the feel right, get used to the song, and sit in the groove. Then speed it up. :) The Tricky Parts Please forgive my bumbling over some of the counts, but Johnny often starts on beat 2, like in the opening part. The counting gets wonky from there, with a lot of notes landing on upbeats. Something else that might trip you up is the picking. 👉 Keep your hand moving: To nail the picking, keep your hand moving continuously, and... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pA2LLf0ODWA 1523 2019-09-24T21:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/avicii-wake-me-up-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-626 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SiY-2C00Sls/hqdefault.jpg Wake Me Up by Avicii Learn to Play "Wake Me Up" by Avicii on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wake Me Up by Avicii on the guitar. This catchy, cross-genre blend is a fantastic song that combines house rhythms with a folksy guitar part. You'll need a capo on the second fret to play along with the original recording. The chord progression is quite simple, but there are interesting ways to hold the chords that work really well. The strumming is fairly intense and consistent throughout the song. This feature, combined with the blending of folk and house styles, gives you an opportunity to mix it up a bit. However, I wouldn't recommend starting off at full speed right away. It's better to start slow, get the hang of it, and gradually increase your tempo. Chord Progression 101 The chord progression for Wake Me Up involves the chords A minor, F, C, G, and E. The sequence that gets used for the chorus is A minor, F, C, G, A minor, F, C, E. It's important to note that the G and E chords each last for only one beat, falling on beat four of their bars. There's also a slightly simpler sequence for the verses: A minor, F, and C, each for four beats. I highly recommend practicing the chord changes along with the original recording. Start slow, even slower than the original tempo, and gradually speed up as you become more comfortable. Strumming Pattern Strumming is a significant part of this song, and it can be a little tricky. While it's fast, the actual pattern itself is not difficult. It's essential to practice this pattern alone before applying it to the chord sequence. Remember, it's a fast song and quite demanding. However, don't be discouraged if you find the strumming challenging. You can still enjoy playing this song with simpler rhythms. Playing Along When you're playing along with a full production like an original recording, it can be equally satisfying to play simple rhythms and be in sync with the music rather than struggling to keep up. Remember that you can slow down the original track using software like Transc... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SiY-2C00Sls 962 2018-02-04T23:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-seek-and-destroy-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f4mHvjmPS3I/hqdefault.jpg Seek and Destroy [3/3] by Metallica Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. Seek And Destroy is a fantastic song off the early Metallica album, Kill 'em All, still my fav of their albums, really raw and worth checking out if you have not got it. Lots of cool riffs, learn them one by one and then string them together by listening. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f4mHvjmPS3I 562 2018-02-08T22:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blues-standards-worried-life-blues-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-238 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-UDMxDOlnY/hqdefault.jpg Worried Life Blues by Blues Standards Learn to play "Worried Life Blues" by Big Maceo on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Worried Life Blues on the guitar. This old blues standard is an excellent piece to expand your blues repertoire. It was first recorded by Big Maceo in 1941 and has been covered by many artists, each adding their unique interpretation. Worried Life Blues is an eight-bar blues, a form that might be less familiar to many guitarists than the 12-bar blues. This song provides a great opportunity to delve into the eight-bar form, which adds a fresh twist to the traditional blues structure. The Chords The song's basic form consists of two bars on the A chord, followed by two bars on the D7, then one bar each on the A and E7 chords. This sequence is rounded off with a turnaround, a common feature in blues songs to transition between the end of one verse and the start of the next. This progression is the backbone of the song, and getting comfortable with it will give you a strong foundation for playing the tune and understanding its structure. Exploring different interpretations One of the fantastic aspects of blues is that it leaves much room for personal interpretation. For instance, you can select any turnaround or stick with the basic chords. As you listen to different versions of the song, you'll notice various artists approaching the turnaround in their unique ways. This variation lets you pick the version that resonates most with you. The original version by Big Maceo is in the key of C and features beautiful guitar work driven heavily by the piano. I encourage you to check it out and try playing along with it. Similarly, the version by Big Bill Broonzy is worth listening to. It's in the key of E and adds a shuffle feel to the song. You'll find other versions by John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, BB King, Chuck Berry, and Robin Ford. Each version offers different chord variations and interpretations you can explore and learn from. Adding your touch As you become more familiar with the song, you may wish to add your p... https://www.youtube.com/embed/o-UDMxDOlnY 982 2024-05-26T07:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/damien-rice-the-blower-s-daughter-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-618 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/59OeuAifmgM/hqdefault.jpg The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice Learn to Play "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice on the guitar. This beautiful song is a great test for your strumming skills and a wonderful addition to your repertoire. Strumming and Rhythm This song uses a unique strumming pattern that really sets the tone. It's a 16th-note pattern with a down-up-down rhythm. As you'll see in the video, it's important to keep your hand moving consistently. This rhythmic flow helps keep you on track and adds a certain groove to your performance. Damien Rice changes the strumming quite a bit throughout the song. There are parts where the guitar is barely audible, which only adds to the ethereal quality of the tune. You should start with the simple strumming pattern I've laid out for you. As you become more comfortable, you can start to mimic the delicate strumming of the original version. Chord Progression The basic chords for this song start with an E chord followed by an A chord. The next chord is a B chord, which uses the same shape. At the end of the verse, there's an E power chord followed by a B chord. The second half of the first verse starts on A again and then transitions to a C sharp minor chord. The chorus brings a nice change of pace with regular barre chords. It starts with an A, followed by a G sharp minor, then an F sharp minor, an E, and then back to A. The last chorus is now up a tone, starting on a B. Wrapping Up As you can see, The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice is a beautiful song that offers a great opportunity to practice and improve your strumming and chord progression skills. Remember, learning a new song is always a journey. Take your time, practice the strumming pattern and the chord progression, and don't forget to enjoy the process! I hope you find this lesson helpful. The video will guide you through each step, making it easier for you to master this song. So why wait? Grab your guitar, hit play, and let's make some music together! 👉 Learn faster with ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/59OeuAifmgM 600 2017-12-08T13:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-fire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-398 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7FiBc8UUQ88/hqdefault.jpg Fire by Jimi Hendrix Learn to play "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fire by Jimi Hendrix on the guitar. This exciting classic is a favorite among many guitarists and fans of Hendrix's psychedelic blues-rock style. It's not just a song—it's a journey into the mind of one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Despite its seemingly simple structure, Fire is packed with compelling techniques and nuances, making it a fascinating study for any guitarist. While most people consider it among the easier Hendrix songs to play, it still presents its unique challenges and offers plenty of room for creative interpretation. Setting the Tone Achieving the right tone is your first step in tackling this song. For this, you'll need a Strat-type guitar, a Marshall profile, and a fuzz pedal. Like the Analog Man Sun Face pedal, the fuzz pedal can help you recreate that distinctive 'Hendrix sound.' It's a small detail, but it makes a world of difference in the authenticity of your sound. The Intro Riff The intro riff of Fire is one of its most recognizable components. It employs an octave effect, creating a unique musical texture that sets the mood for the entire song. The trick here is to master the art of muting the strings you don't want to play—this makes the riff sound clean and precise. It's a technique that requires practice, but it will greatly enhance your overall sound quality, especially when playing with a lot of fuzz. The Verse and the Chorus As we transition into the verse, the song takes on a more aggressive tone. This style adds a certain snap to your sound that's characteristic of Hendrix's playing style. To achieve this, you'll need to perfect your strumming and muting techniques. Hendrix was known for his thumb-over technique, which you'll use to mute the thinner two strings. This technique may be challenging at first, but once mastered, it will enable you to create a richer, fuller sound. We take a deeper look into Hendrix's unique style when we reach the chorus. The chords transition fr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7FiBc8UUQ88 957 2017-12-08T10:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/queens-of-the-stone-age-go-with-the-flow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_WNNW_o4x7w/hqdefault.jpg Go With The Flow by Queens Of The Stone Age 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... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_WNNW_o4x7w 610 2019-11-29T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-i-hope-that-i-don-t-fall-in-love-with-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-927 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4pzprfRRU8M/hqdefault.jpg I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You by Tom Waits Learn to play "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You" by Tom Waits on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You on the guitar. This beautiful song by Tom Waits is a perfect example of his exceptional songwriting skills. While it may seem a bit tricky at first, with some practice, you'll master this tune and add it to your repertoire. I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You is a heartfelt ballad that showcases Tom Waits' unique style. The song features a fingerpicking pattern that gives it a gentle, introspective feel. Don't worry if you find it challenging at first – we'll break it down step by step to make it more manageable. Chord Progression The chord progression in this song is what makes it so interesting. We'll use a capo on the second fret, which allows us to play in a comfortable key while maintaining the song's original sound. The main chords we'll use are C, F, F over G, and G9. These chords create a jazzy, melancholic atmosphere that perfectly complements the lyrics. One of the trickier aspects of this song is the F over G chord. This slash chord might be new to some of you, but don't worry – we'll spend some time getting comfortable with it. Remember, it's all about practice and patience! Song Structure and Fingerpicking Pattern The structure of I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You is quite interesting. It features a three-bar sequence, which is a bit unusual but works wonderfully in this context. We'll go through the verse structure, showing you how the chords fit with the lyrics. This will help you understand how the song flows and make it easier to play along. The fingerpicking pattern in this song is what really brings it to life. We'll use our thumb for the bass notes and our other fingers for the higher strings. This creates a beautiful, flowing sound that carries the song's melody. If you're new to fingerpicking, don't feel pressured to get it perfect right away. Start slow and focus on getting the basic pattern down. As you become mo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4pzprfRRU8M 1135 2017-11-08T02:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-last-train-home-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-075 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SRXnInoiaAY/hqdefault.jpg Last Train Home by John Mayer Time for another awesome John Mayer hit Let’s check out Last Train Home by John Mayer on guitar. :) I usually take a couple of years to teach hit singles, but I’ve been quick this time - it only came out yesterday! This is a fantastic pop song. You can hear the musical heritage in it - all the way back to Toto. It’s full of triad grips and barre chords, and we’ll look at both the John Mayer guitar part and the keyboard part. :) That's a lot to get your teeth into. This is your chance to experiment with fingerstyle, strumming, and more - all kinds of approaches sound wicked here. It works great on both electric and acoustic guitar, so experiment and see what sound you like. Let’s check it out! "Last Train Home" by John Mayer on Guitar Last Train Home by John Mayer: Intro Chords & Rhythm For the intro, we need three triad grips on strings 2-4. We’ll move these around the neck to play the various chords. Find the full chord diagrams and a slow demo in the video lesson. 💡 Know Your Fretboard: It really helps if you’re familiar with the notes on strings 2-4 and have learned your barre chords - you’ll find it way easier to move these grips around. :) If you’re yet to learn these, there’s no time like the present. ;) The original John Mayer part only includes the triads, but we look at adding the bass notes on the beat to make it sound fuller. In a band situation, you might like to play the triads only, leaving the low notes to the bass player. The rhythm is a little tricky, and keeping the bass note on the beat is a challenge, especially when you’re singing. John Mayer plays this sequence in the verses and choruses, but the original verse keyboard part uses different triad shapes. Let’s check it out. Verse Chords & Rhythm Guitar You can clearly hear the keyboard playing a different melody in the verse. With triad chords, the top note defines the melody. So we have to use different triad shapes to mimic the verse keyboard part. 👂 'Ear It: Listen to the original and see if you can figure out the A, B, and E tr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SRXnInoiaAY 709 2021-06-04T14:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jack-johnson-times-like-these-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-603 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SojqfX-OQRA/hqdefault.jpg Times Like These by Jack Johnson Learn to play "Times Like These" by Jack Johnson on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Times Like These on the guitar. This catchy tune by Jack Johnson is characterized by a simple chord progression and a distinctive strumming pattern. This makes it a great choice for those looking to hone their skills in these areas. A Quick Overview Times Like These is mostly composed of barre chords, which are a fundamental part of playing the guitar. The chords in this song are F sharp minor, open E chord, A chord, and B chord. Remember, learning these chords is the first step, but learning how to transition smoothly between them is equally important. This will help you maintain a consistent rhythm, which is key to capturing the feel of the song. The Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern in this song is particularly interesting. It includes a percussive 'click' sound that gives the song its unique rhythm. This click is created by hitting the strings with your hand, creating a clicking sound as the strings rattle on the frets. Once your hand is on the strings, you use the pick to pick the strings while your hand is still firmly placed on the guitar, creating a distinctive hit. It might take some practice to get it right, but it's definitely worth the effort! Chord Progression The chord progression of the song is simple but compelling. It starts with a B chord, then moves to an A chord, then to an E chord, and back to A. The strumming pattern adds an extra layer of complexity, but with practice, you'll be able to play it with ease. Wrapping Up Once you have the chords and the strumming pattern down, it's just a matter of practice. Start slow and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. Don't forget to enjoy the process! After all, learning to play a new song should be fun. If you're having trouble, don't get discouraged. Remember, it's not about how fast you learn but about the progress you make along the way. Now, Watch the video to better understand the chord progression, strumming pa... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SojqfX-OQRA 561 2017-12-21T11:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/arctic-monkeys-why-d-you-only-call-me-when-you-re-high-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-080 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xJpw_Nur0r8/hqdefault.jpg Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? by Arctic Monkeys Learn "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" by Arctic Monkeys on electric guitar! In this lesson we'll learn how to play Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High on electric guitar. We'll explore several variations: the original Arctic Monkeys recording - including the riffs, - the live acoustic version, and a beginner-friendly open-chord version as well! Alex Turner knows how to write an awesome guitar riff, eh? Arctic Monkeys are such a great band - I really dig playing their songs! I used my looper pedal for the playthrough and had loads of fun playing and singing along. This is a wicked song for experimenting with your looper pedal. If you're not sure how to get the best out of it, check out this lesson. Let's get going! Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? by Arctic Monkeys Intro & Chorus Guitar Riff The main riff in Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? is pretty simple. It’s all on strings 6 and 5 - except for the variation in the chorus - and only contains five notes. It’s not a bad idea to transcribe this riff. ;) The key is to get the rhythm right. It’s a bit syncopated, so practice with the original or learn the count from the video lesson. It also helps if you keep the notes nice and short, add around 120ms of delay, and use a little bit of palm mute. The other awesome riff starts in the chorus and is similar to the vocal melody. It’s from the F# pure minor scale, or the F# Aeolian mode. This one is also worth learning by ear. :) 🤔 The F#... What? Modes can be a pig when taught poorly, but we make them real easy - as they should be - in my premium Major Scale Modes module. Guitar Chords: Barres and Capo Version The chords for the verses and choruses are F#m, D, Bm, Bm. I play all of them as barre chords - F#m as an Em shape, D as a C shape, and Bm as an Am shape. This version of D is pretty tricky, so you can definitely switch it for an open D chord if you like. If you’re a beginner, you might find the barre chords tricky, but you can make this sequence loads easier by putting a capo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xJpw_Nur0r8 734 2021-06-26T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-let-it-be-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-910 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Kw4subj5z8/hqdefault.jpg Let It Be by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Let It Be" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Let It Be by The Beatles on acoustic guitar. This is a fun song to play for beginners, and it's a campfire favorite! Everyone loves to sing along to this one. :) There are different ways to approach it, and it works great with both simple strumming approaches and more complex strumming patterns. As long as you're cool with playing an F chord, you'll be able to play this one! The main chord sequence is pretty simple, so let's first start by checking that out. 💬 Did you know? Paul McCartney's got inspiration for this song in a dream. In this dream, his mother appeared to tell him to simply let things be. A beautiful backstory for a beautiful song, right? Even his subconscious self is a great song writer! Chord Progressions First, let's look at the main chord sequences for the intro and verse. You'll be playing two strums of C, G, Am, F major 7, C, G, F, and back to the C. These chords might seem intimidating, but practice the ones that challenge you the most with the One Minute Changes exercises. If you struggle with the full F barre chord, you can substitute it with the F major seven chords, and it's an easier grip option for beginners! You'll follow a similar chord sequence in the chorus. This is also where you'll encounter a C over G chord. This chord is as simple as taking your third finger off and putting it down on the third fret of the thickest string. At the same time, you'll mute the 5th string with the underneath of that finger. 🚨 Play along with Let It Be using my app! The backing tracks are loads of fun, and it'll help optimize your progress. :) Strumming Pattern This Beatles song heavily relies on the fantastic vocals, which means the strumming possibilities are open to interpretation. You can get away playing a simple strumming pattern, but it's also fun to switch it up! Try playing an 8th note strumming with all downstrums or adding an upstrum there! Explore, and see what you like. :) If you want t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Kw4subj5z8 423 2018-01-25T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/queen-crazy-little-thing-called-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-720 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FUHmOtITnbg/hqdefault.jpg Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen Learn to play "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen on the guitar. This classic Rock song is a fantastic choice for guitarists looking to expand their skills and repertoire. While it's included in our beginner songbook, mastering all aspects of this tune will push you toward an intermediate level. But don't worry if you're just starting out—we'll break it down step-by-step and provide options to simplify the song as you learn. Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a rockabilly-inspired track that showcases Queen's versatility. It's known for its catchy rhythm, memorable chord progression, and of course, Freddie Mercury's iconic vocals. We'll work on several important techniques, including chord transitions, strumming patterns, and even some fancy riffs. Chord Progression The song primarily revolves around these chords: D, G, C, and B♭. We'll also throw in a few others, like E, A, and F, during the bridge. Don't worry if some of these seem challenging at first—we'll see simpler alternatives to get you started. The verse follows a pattern of D, G, C, and back to D. The chorus introduces the B♭ chord, which adds a nice flavor to the progression. As we move through the lesson, we'll break down exactly how long to play each chord and where the changes occur. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern gives Crazy Little Thing Called Love its distinctive sound. We'll start with a simplified version and then build up to the full pattern. The basic idea is a down-up-down-up rhythm, but with a few tweaks that make it special. One cool aspect is using a D sus4 chord in the main riff. We'll learn how to add your pinky to the D chord to create this effect. It might feel a bit tricky at first, but with practice, you'll nail that iconic sound! The Riffs This song has some fantastic riffs that really make it stand out. We'll cover the main riff that opens the song and the little lick at the end of the bridge. These parts might seem challeng... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FUHmOtITnbg 913 2018-02-05T15:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-good-riddance-time-of-your-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-066 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uD_iA34SmgM/hqdefault.jpg Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day Is this the best pop-punk guitar song ever written? In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day. What a classic acoustic song! We'll start with a very easy beginner version and build it up to sound just like the original record. So grab your acoustic guitar, and let's get started! Good Riddance by Green Day - Guitar Chords Good news! We just need easy open chords to play Good Riddance by Green Day: G, Cadd9 (I'll call this C), D, and Em. Check out the video for all the chord progressions and a guitar demo with the vocal. :) We play G and C with Stuck 3&4 grips. This means we keep fingers 3 and 4 in the same place and switch between G and C by moving fingers 1 and 2. We use the standard open grips for Em and D, and you might like to try adding sus2 and sus4 embellishments over the D. Good Riddance by Green Day - Strumming There are loads of strumming options for Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). I like The Old Faithful Strumming pattern, one of the most common patterns ever. It sounds great on this tune! You can use it all the way through, though I suggest you change the dynamics to add some variation. 🔥 Transcribe Strumming - If you'd like to figure out any strumming pattern by ear on your own, check out my Rhythm Maestro course. :) Get very comfortable with the strumming pattern before moving on to exploring the picking. :) Authentic Rhythm Guitar Here's where the fun begins - and where many guitar players seem to get it wrong! To sound just like Green Day, we need to pick individual notes when playing. So, here are my tips on how to play Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) authentically! Strumming Pattern! The first tip here is to really get the Old Faithful strumming pattern down before picking out individual notes. It'll make it easier for you. ;) Mute The Thinnest String. Use finger 4 of your strumming hand to mute the thinnest string. That note shouldn't ring out at all. This makes a huge difference to your sound. Picking Pattern. I've always played th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uD_iA34SmgM 640 2021-03-21T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-denver-leaving-on-a-jet-plane-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-049 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/toL7cjyZek8/hqdefault.jpg Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver How to Play "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by John Denver on Guitar In this guitar tutorial, we'll learn how to play Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver. We'll explore the chord changes, rhythm, fingerstyle, singing, and more. :) This song is an excellent grower: you can start really simple and build it up! For beginner guitar players, it's a perfect chance to practice your progressions with G, C, and D, and advancing beginners will enjoy the fingerstyle patterns and blending them with strumming. Let's get stuck in. Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver: Chord Sequences Good news: you only need three chords for this song: G, C, and D. This makes it perfect for beginners: you can use it as an exercise to practice your chord changes (and play the song as a bonus!). The intro is D, D, D, D, and if you want to make it sound authentic, add some sus chords. You only need one progression for the rest of the song: G, C, G, C; G, C, D, D. Easy peasy! 💡 Change It Up: I demo this John Denver song with standard open chords, but you can try the Stuck 3&4 chords for a different sound. :) Strumming Patterns Start by working on the chord progression with simple strumming, making sure you don’t stop between chords. If you struggle with this, strum once per bar until you can change chords quickly. :) Then go to four downstrums per bar, before trying the Old Faithful pattern. If you're into fingerstyle or want to get started, this is the perfect song to explore. Remember: when learning fingerstyle, focus on getting the pattern 100% right. Only then can you think about chord changes and singing. :) Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver: Fingerstyle Guitar 🎸 The pattern for Leaving On A Jet Plane is beginner-friendly and in 4:4 time, but do check out my beginner fingerstyle exercises if you've never played this style before. :) The easy way to remember this pattern is that it’s Thumb, Finger 1, Thumb, Finger 2. We go into loads of detail in the Fingerstyle Pattern chapters in the video, so check them out for all the details - and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/toL7cjyZek8 1267 2020-12-12T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/motorhead-bomber-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-386 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZobvlNq5IVo/hqdefault.jpg Bomber by Motorhead How to play "Bomber" by Motörhead on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Bomber by Motörhead on the guitar. This all-time classic Motörhead tune is a must-learn for any aspiring Rock guitarist. Before we begin, it's important to note that Bomber is typically played in E-flat tuning. However, don't worry if you don't want to retune your guitar. You can still play along with the recording by simply moving everything I show you down one fret. This way, you can maintain standard tuning and still rock out to this classic! So, let's dive in and start rocking! The Main Riff and Chord Progression The heart of Bomber lies in its powerful main riff. This riff is based around a B chord and is the song's driving force. When you're learning this riff, focus on getting the rhythm right. The interplay between the guitar and bass (played by the legendary Lemmy) creates that signature Motörhead sound. The chord progression in Bomber is relatively straightforward, which is part of what makes it such a great Rock anthem. We start with that B chord for the main riff, then move to an A for variation. The chorus section shows a classic Rock progression involving E, D, and occasionally C. This simple yet effective chord structure allows the song's raw energy to shine through. Playing Technique When playing "Bomber," it's all about attitude and energy. Use a combination of up and down strokes to get that aggressive Motörhead sound. Pay attention to the accents in the music–even though it might seem like straightforward down-and-up strumming, there are subtle accents that give the song its distinctive groove. Listen closely to how the guitar interacts with the drums and bass to nail these accents. Learning by Ear One of the best ways to really get into the spirit of Motörhead is to learn their songs by ear. This might seem challenging at first, but it's an invaluable skill for any guitarist, especially if you want to play Rock. Start by listening to the original recording of Bomber multiple times. Try to pick out the differ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZobvlNq5IVo 350 2017-12-08T11:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-something-like-olivia-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-412 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vKliAHZqdxo/hqdefault.jpg Something Like Olivia by John Mayer Learn how to play Something Like Olivia by John Mayer A fun song to improvise Blues on the guitar! In this lesson, we'll take a look at the acoustic tune. John Mayer's approach to this song is not really structured. It's basically a riff and a motif - and loads of improvisation! So if you dig this song - it'll be amazing to practice your guitar improvisation skills! It's essentially a Blues in the key of G with a cool riff - and it's great fun. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/vKliAHZqdxo 914 2018-01-24T16:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-don-t-panic-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VY1AxDmABXI/hqdefault.jpg Don't Panic by Coldplay Huge hit from Coldplay this one, really groovy rhythm and in this lesson I teach you an arrangement of the electric and acoustic guitar parts merged together which makes it sound well cool when you are playing it on your own. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VY1AxDmABXI 795 2017-11-29T10:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bill-withers-ain-t-no-sunshine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-292 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kYEO1wgFqFY/hqdefault.jpg Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers Learn How To Play "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers on the guitar. A great tune if you're a beginner guitar player looking for practice with your minor chords! We'll explore some of Bill Wither's funkier ideas, but we'll also cover a simple beginner's version of this classic track. And a quick note; this song features a pick-up, meaning your vocals start before you play the first chord. 🚨 Play along with the JustinGuitarTabs and get chords, lyrics, and tabs for this song & loads more tutorials! Ain't No Sunshine - Chords & Strumming To play this song, you only need three chords! You'll be playing the A, E, and D minor chords throughout the entirety of the song. It's important to get your chord changes flowing, so practice them individually if you need to! Tapping your foot will help you stay on time. For much of the song, you'll be strumming on beats 1 and 3, but you can vary it up quite a bit once you get comfortable with the chord progression and chord changes. If you're singing along with the song, play that first chord for yourself before you start singing. This will ensure that your vocals are in the proper key, and prevent it from sounding wonky when the guitar comes in! 💡 Practice your chord changes with One Minute Changes, and focus on staying on the beat. Ain't No Sunshine - Level Up Your Playing Beyond the basics, you can play around with some suspended chords. They give a more complex feel to the song, and you can experiment with different arrangements and chord progressions. With time, you can make this song more interesting as you get more comfortable with different strumming patterns and chords. Of course, we do our best without an entire strings section backing us up! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to Ain't No Sunshine and other song tutorials? Try the JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kYEO1wgFqFY 601 2018-11-05T11:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/cat-stevens-wild-world-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-994 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SeDzGf7L3Fs/hqdefault.jpg Wild World by Cat Stevens Learn how to play "Wild World" by Cat Stevens on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wild World by Cat Stevens on the guitar. This classic folk-rock tune is a joy to listen to and a great song for improving your guitar skills. First released in 1970, Wild World is one of Cat Stevens' most beloved songs. It's a perfect blend of folk and pop, with a gentle, melancholic melody that's instantly recognizable. The good news is it's also quite accessible for guitarists of various skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, you'll find something to enjoy and learn from this song. So, grab your guitar, and let's dive in! The Chord Progression The heart of Wild World lies in its chord progression. We'll work with a handful of chords that create the song's distinctive sound. The main chords we'll use are A minor, D with an F♯ bass, G, C, F, and E. Don't worry if some of these chords sound challenging - we'll break them down and make them manageable. The verse starts with A minor, moves to D with an F♯ bass, then to G, and finally to F. This progression creates the song's dreamy, bittersweet mood. In the chorus, we introduce the C chord, which brightens up the sound a bit before returning to the minor feel. Strumming Pattern and Rhythm The strumming pattern in Wild World gives the song its gentle, swaying feel. We will focus on a pattern that captures the song's essence without getting too complicated. The basic pattern goes like this: down, down-up, up-down-up. It might feel a bit tricky at first, but with practice, it'll become second nature. Remember, the key to mastering this strumming pattern is to start slow. Get comfortable with the rhythm at a slower tempo before gradually speeding up. It's all about feeling the groove of the song. The Intro and Verse Let's start with the intro. It's a simple yet effective way to set the mood for the song. We begin with two strums each on A minor and D with an F♯ bass, then move to G and C, and finish with F and a quick D minor to E. This intro fl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SeDzGf7L3Fs 793 2018-02-05T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/men-at-work-down-under-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-128 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4U2Sd6_-jpI/hqdefault.jpg Down Under by Men At Work Learn how to play "Down Under" by Men At Work on guitar! Down Under by Men At Work is an all-time classic Aussie hit and great fun to learn on guitar. As an Aussie myself, I have to say that this song makes me feel happy and almost homesick. :) So, recording this lesson was very cool –– I hope you dig it too! We’ll start by exploring an acoustic arrangement that is a little bit similar to how Colin Hay plays it on his own. It’s not exactly the same, but it sounds awesome, and you can adapt it to your guitar level and preferences. As always, I recommend you explore your own cover of it! 💡 Following my guitar lessons? Beginners wrapping up Grade 1 will be able to play the easy version using a capo. New Intermediate players can use this song to practice their Barre Chords. :) We’ll also learn a simplified open-chord version that most beginners will handle. Avoiding the riff is also be a great idea, especially if you’re planning to sing and play. If you’d like chords, lyrics, and tab to follow along with this lesson on Down Under, check out JustinGuitarTABS. :) Down Under by Men At Work: Intro Chords For the intro, we’ll need three barre chords: Bm (799777), A (577655), and G (355433). It’s Bm, A, Bm, each for two beats, then G A for one beat each. I suggest you play these as E-shape barre chords. :) If you want to go more complex, switch the first A for this version of A: X 0 11 9 10 9. Also add a reggae feel to give an authentic sound. 🔥 Keen to get into barre chords? Start your journey with my Ultimate Guide To Barre Chords. :) This pattern has the right vibe and gives a cool reggae feel: 1 + a 2 + 3 + 4 + B D U M D B D M D B means bass note, M means muted strum Down Under by Men At Work: Verse Riff and Chords The chords are the same as the intro, but you can add a riff over the Bm to make it sound awesome and vary the dynamics. For the riff, finger 1 plays the note B at 5:2 (string 5, fret 2), and finger 4 plays F# at 4:4. The rhythm is: 1 e + a 2 B B F# F# B 🎸 Simplify: If you struggle to sing over the riff, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4U2Sd6_-jpI 697 2022-02-27T09:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-am-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-424 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6IHPULIzlA8/hqdefault.jpg While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Am] by The Beatles Learn How To Play "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles On Guitar! This lesson will teach us how to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles on guitar. We're exploring The White Album version this time, but with acoustic strumming. The reason? This key and these chords make for a lovely chord melody! 🚨 There's another lesson on George Harrison's demo version of this song. It's in Dm - check it out if you're looking for a mellow fingerstyle version. This version might be more useful if you're jamming in a band. The song's chord sequences don't require a capo, which plays well under the solo. It's a beautiful song, and there are many different ways you can approach it, so let's start by looking at the chords! Chord Sequence The chord sequences are pretty tasty; you'll need a mix of open and barre chords, and you'll often play the bass note of chords! The first chord you'll play is an A minor chord, which you follow with an A minor over G. For this one, put your little finger down on the third fret of the second string. There's a slight cheat using your third finger. One advantage of using your little finger is that the next chord, D7 over F#, will be much more accessible! You could thumb play the bass note for the F chord and muting the thinnest string, swap it out for an F major 7. Strumming & Chord Melody The original recording of the Beatles has a strong bass feeling. You'll want to play strong accents on beats 1 and 2. For those two down strums, focus on playing the thickest strings. When you get to alternating your strums, switch your focus on playing those thinner strings. This is a beautiful song, and it can be tempting to add loads of embellishment during the chord melody. It's not worth making it fancy if you're playing out of time. Make sure you have a solid foundation and can play the song through and well before starting to take it further. :) Follow along to While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Tabs and loads of other song lessons! Check out the JustinGuitar Tabs website feature. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IHPULIzlA8 856 2018-02-09T07:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/aerosmith-walk-this-way-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-B0PA9hUOM/hqdefault.jpg Walk This Way by Aerosmith Learn how to play "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Walk This Way on the guitar. This song is a true gem in the Rock world, known for its catchy riff and groovy rhythm. It's a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, and it's packed with some really cool guitar techniques that'll help you improve your playing. It is a bit challenging, but don't worry—we'll break it down step by step, and before you know it, you'll be rocking out like Steven Tyler and Joe Perry! The Main Riff Let's start with the heart of the song—that killer main riff. It's based around the A chord but with a twist that gives it that unmistakable Aerosmith flavor. The riff combines single notes and power chords, creating a rhythm that's both driving and funky. When you're practicing this riff, focus on getting the rhythm right first. The timing is crucial to nailing the feel of the song. Once you've got the rhythm down, you can start working on the nuances, like the slides, quick hammer-ons, and pull-offs that give the riff its character. The Verse Riff Now, let's move on to the verse riff. This is where things get a bit trickier but also a lot more fun! The verse riff is centered around a C power chord, but the little embellishments really make it stand out. This riff is a great workout for your fretting hand, especially your pinky finger. It involves some quick movements and position shifts, so take it slow at first. Remember, accuracy is more important than speed when you're learning. You can build up your speed as you get more comfortable with the fingerings. Mastering the Picking Pattern One key element to getting Walk This Way right is nailing the picking pattern. It combines downstrokes and upstrokes to create the song's distinctive rhythm. Although the pattern may feel awkward at first, with practice, it'll become second nature. Try practicing the picking pattern on open strings first to get the rhythm in your picking hand. Once you're comfortable with that, you can combine it with the fret... https://www.youtube.com/embed/o-B0PA9hUOM 455 2017-11-17T08:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jessie-j-price-tag-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AtMVHdgMF24/hqdefault.jpg Price Tag by Jessie J Learn How to Play "Price Tag" by Jessie J on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Price Tag by Jessie J on the guitar. This catchy tune is an excellent choice if you're looking to expand your repertoire. Its chord sequence is simple, and yet it has an exciting and engaging rhythm that's sure to impress. Plus, Price Tag is a great song to sing along to, making it even more fun to play. Chord Progression One of the appealing features of Price Tag is its simple chord progression. The song is structured around just four chords, which are played in the same sequence throughout the entire song. The chord progression starts with an F chord, followed by an A minor, a D minor, and a B♭. This sequence repeats for the verses and the choruses, giving the song a consistent and recognizable rhythm. The simplicity of this progression makes it a great choice if you're new to the guitar or looking to practice your chord transitions and strumming patterns. Singing Along If you're a singer as well as a guitar player, Price Tag is a fantastic song to practice your vocal chops. Once you've mastered the chord progression, it's a good idea to start practicing singing along to the song. Remember to keep the strumming simple as you practice singing. This will allow you to focus on the lyrics and melody, and help you get a feel for how the vocals and guitar parts work together. Variations on the Chords While the chord progression for Price Tag is straightforward, you can play the chords in several ways to add variety and interest to your performance. For example, you could play the chords in different areas of the neck. This can create a distinct vibe for the verses and choruses, adding depth and complexity to the song. Another option is to experiment with different chord variations. For instance, you could play the F chord as a C-shaped barre chord, giving the song a unique flavor. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern for Price Tag is flexible and can evolve as you become more comfortable with the song. However, if yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtMVHdgMF24 847 2017-11-29T18:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-wonderful-tonight-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-906 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d4_8TJaGBHo/hqdefault.jpg Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton Learn how to play "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton On Guitar! In this lesson, you'll learn how to play Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton on guitar. Mr. Clapton sure knows how to write a song! Wonderful Tonight is an eternally popular ballad with a great rhythm. This song is great to learn on guitar for advancing beginner guitar players and will put into practice basic techniques. Make sure you're confident with the G chord to play this tune. :) 🤔Did you know? Eric Clapton wrote this song for Pattie Boyd, a famous English supermodel from the 60s. Her blonde hair definitely inspired the lyrics! Chords & Strumming Wonderful tonight is in the key of G major on guitar. To play it, you'll mostly need G, D/F#, C, D, and Em chords. Some people actually leave off the D with the F-sharp bass and play a regular D. You can decide what's easier for you to play, but keeping the bass note will definitely give more depth to your sound. Now, for the strumming, start with the simplest strumming with 4 downstrums per bar. Once this basic strumming is consistent, you can get into Eric Clapton's picking pattern and add variations to make things more interesting! Picking Pattern For the alternate picking, use your finger as an anchor - it'll make things much easier! You'll want to rest your little finger on your guitar's body. Make sure your hands aren't stiff and relax your posture. Your finger will act as a bridge will help your reach different strings. The most important thing here is keeping your rhythm consistent. So focus on that, and experiment with different variations to find one that suits your own style! If you're liking this lesson, you can add it as your favorite in your dashboard! Follow along to Wonderful Tonight's Tabs with the JustinGuitar Tabs website feature. Try it out for free :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4_8TJaGBHo 1034 2018-02-05T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-purple-haze-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-331 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gcy-_kgzvNs/hqdefault.jpg Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix Easily one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time, maybe even THE greatest!! Really good fun to play and I think I got this pretty accurate, there's lots of ropey ones around. Note - the very intro it's often said (and seen in the TAB book) that there is a second note played with the higher octave, but after a lot of listens I'm convinced that it's the bass - but hey maybe it's there... add it in if you want? https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gcy-_kgzvNs 1139 2017-12-21T13:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-police-roxanne-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-217 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iGIXOTsHKRI/hqdefault.jpg Roxanne by The Police Learn to Play "Roxanne" by The Police on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the iconic song Roxanne by The Police on the guitar. This classic features some incredible guitar work by Andy Summers, making it a great song to work on to improve your barre chords and short staccato chord stabs. 💡Struggling with barre chords? Check out my free E Shape Barre Chords and A Shape Barre Chords courses. :) In this tutorial, we'll go through the chords used in the song and discuss some key techniques to help you master this classic tune! So, grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in! Roxanne: Guitar Chords The first chord you'll need is G minor, which I typically play using the third finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string and a first finger mini bar on the thinnest three strings. It's important to mute the thickest two strings, with the tip of your third finger touching the fifth string and your thumb muting the thicker string. The chord progression then moves from G minor to F6. Again, mute the thicker strings with your third finger and thumb. Next, we have an E flat major 7 chord, where the tip of the first finger mutes the thicker string. This is a major 7 shape that moves down one fret, transitioning to a D minor 7 chord, similar to D minor but with the little finger lifted off. Moving down two frets, we have a C minor 7 chord, which uses the same shape as the D minor 7. The last chord we'll cover is an F7 sus4 with a unique grip. While playing this chord, you can include the bass note or now! Then, we have a G7 sus4. Technique: Short Staccato Chords To truly capture the essence of Roxanne, it's crucial to master the short staccato way of playing the chords. This technique involves a concise and direct hit on the strings. While strumming the chords, focus on quickly pressing them down and then relaxing your fingers without releasing the shape entirely. This technique lets you achieve a muted sound, especially by muting the strings with your fretting hand. To practice this, start with the G minor c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGIXOTsHKRI 1235 2023-10-08T05:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/peter-green-need-your-love-so-bad-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZOKH6xZtw0o/hqdefault.jpg Need Your Love So Bad [SOLO] by Peter Green Learn to Play "Need Your Love So Bad" by Peter Green on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Need Your Love So Bad on the guitar. This fantastic solo by Peter Green is a great song to add to your repertoire and perfect for enhancing your transcribing skills. Transcribing, or writing down the music you hear, can help you pick up many subtle things about this solo that make it so great. The Importance of Transcribing One of the key points I want to emphasize is the importance of trying to transcribe this solo yourself before diving into this lesson. Though it may seem challenging, transcribing can help you understand the song better. It's not just about getting the notes right. It's about capturing the feeling that comes with the song. This includes understanding the subtleties of the bends, how fast and slow they are, the vibrato, where the slides are, and even how loud and soft the different parts are. Understanding the Solo Need Your Love So Bad is an eight-bar blues progression in 12/8. It's a standard blues chord sequence, so if you're familiar with blues, you might find it easier to follow along. Even if you're not, don't worry. It's a relatively simple solo, with nothing harmonically complicated. It revolves around chord tones and major and minor pentatonic, making it an excellent piece for those starting to get into solos. Analyze the Song Another crucial aspect of learning this solo is analyzing it. Pay careful attention to which licks are being played over which chords. If you transcribe by yourself, you'll see what chord is played over what part of the solo. For instance, you might notice an F# minor chord where the note E is bending up to the note F#. This kind of self-discovery can be more beneficial than simply being given the information. The Magic of the Solo What makes this solo so special is its simplicity. There's nothing overly complicated happening harmonically. It's all about the chord tones and the major and minor pentatonic interplay. So make sure you take the time to look into ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOKH6xZtw0o 624 2017-12-31T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-dylan-blowin-in-the-wind-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bc-700 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/https://player.vimeo.com/video/50064414/hqdefault.jpg Blowin In The Wind by Bob Dylan This song was in the Beginner Songbook for a while until ol' Bob pulled all my lessons on his songs from YouTube. So this is here for the folk that might have that first edition. https://www.youtube.com/embed/https://player.vimeo.com/video/50064414 2018-04-27T18:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-angels-am-i-ever-gonna-see-your-face-again-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eS3lK2dCxxk/hqdefault.jpg Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again by The Angels Learn to Play "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" by The Angels on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again on the guitar, a classic Aussie rock tune by The Angels. This song is a fantastic choice for those looking to expand their repertoire and improve their guitar skills. Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again is an all-time classic layered with some really cool guitar parts. Produced by Vanda and Young, it showcases their knack for layering up guitar parts to create a complex and rich sound. The Main Riff The song primarily features a blues riff that is used most of the way through the song. This riff is the dominant part and gives the song its distinctive sound. There's also a little lead line that we'll see in the video. Alongside these are simple chords that sometimes just hit once and let ring out. It really changes the song's dynamic, making it an important part of the structure. Before we get into the specifics, though, listen to the original recording. Understanding how the song sounds before diving into the breakdown is always a good idea. Chord Progression The key to the song is E, and the chord progression is quite simple. It's based on a power chord pattern that you'll need to master. This pattern repeats throughout the song, creating a steady rhythm that drives the melody forward. The Magic of Music What makes this song so special is the way it combines a variety of elements to create a memorable tune. Every aspect of this song contributes to its unique sound, from the distinctive blues riff to the chord progression to the layered guitar parts. The beauty of learning to play Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again is that it gives you a chance to practice and improve a range of guitar skills. So, whether you're a beginner or a more experienced player, this song offers a great opportunity to develop your musical abilities. On to the Video Don't forget to watch the video for this lesson. It will guide you through each part of the song and give you a clear i... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eS3lK2dCxxk 992 2017-12-03T12:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/rod-stewart-sailing-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-692 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kTUDxLrxkEY/hqdefault.jpg Sailing by Rod Stewart In this beginner version of Rod Stewarts song Sailing, I use my Beginner Song Course App for the intro. Few folk have scomplained about the karaoke style melody and prefer my singing, which is turn out for the books ;) ha ha! Seriously, the app is awesome for beginners and you don't have to use the dodgy organ melody but it can be very help for beginners to know where they are in the song while they learn it. Interesting fact - it was recorded at the legendary Muscles Shoals studio... at 10:30am and Rod says it was the first time he'd recorded without having a drink! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/kTUDxLrxkEY 1002 2018-02-04T23:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-eight-days-a-week-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-817 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_IcTgiwa7m4/hqdefault.jpg Eight Days A Week by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Eight Days A Week" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Eight Days A Week by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. It's a Beatles classic that everyone has heard at least once in their lifetimes. These Beatles are hard to get away from, aren't they? :) This particular song is great for Grade 6+ intermediate guitar players or maybe someone who's just graduated from the beginner course. We'll explore the chords and strumming, and then we'll see how we can add rhythmic interest. Chords & Strumming While learning the chord progression, keep it nice and easy with four downstrums per bar. Write the chords down, a lot is going on in this masterpiece, and it'll help guide your playing! There is one B minor barre chord, so look out for that. And, speaking of that B minor barre chord, it's followed by a G chord. If you're comfortable with your barre chords, you might want to consider playing the G barre chord instead of the traditional G chord. 💡 The G barre chord holds the same shape as the B minor barre, so it might be easier to switch to! The strum pattern here is pretty simple, but something that might be fun to try is adding a percussive mute on beats 2 and 4 throughout the tune. You can also avoid strumming altogether and try a picking pattern instead. Explore and see what you prefer! Make It Fancy With Sus Chords! Another way you can make the song your own is by playing around with some sus chords – it's incredible what a difference one finger can make. The final sound of the song is entirely up to you! 🚨 Try not to do too much at once. You typically don't want to throw your whole toolbox at any song. ;) Finally, there's a nice intro and ending bit, but it goes pretty high up the fretboard. If you're going to attempt it, be sure to use a cutaway acoustic or an electric guitar. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with Eight Days A Week and hundreds of song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IcTgiwa7m4 740 2018-08-24T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-wild-horses-open-g-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-016 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UYgCosFfAyE/hqdefault.jpg Wild Horses [OPEN G] by The Rolling Stones Learn How To Play "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones On Guitar! This is a beautiful acoustic version of the original recording by the Stones! It has more of a country feel than their typical songs, and shows a softer side of the Rock N' Roll band. In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones in Open G Tuning. It's a sweet acoustic version, and even Grade 2+ beginner guitar players can have fun learning this one! The chord structure is pretty simple, and you can revisit this song to develop it with exciting dynamics and finger patterns. We'll first look at the chords, then explore the rhythm and possible variations to make it fancier. :) Chords and Tuning To play this acoustic version of Wild Horses, you'll first need to tune your guitar to Open the G chord. Playing it in this key is worth any extra hassle! It adds loads of intricate layers to this song. It creates a different tone for the overall song but still does an excellent job of keeping the essence of the original recording, all whilst warming it up a bit. 🚨 New to this tuning? Check out my Open G tuning lesson for more details. Most chords are simple, but you'll encounter barre chords in there. Specifically, the B-minor barre chord. Practice it on its own if you need to! Take your time, and make sure all your strings are ringing out clearly before adding it to the chord progression. Strumming and Dynamics You'll need to boost your tempo and play a 16th note strumming pattern. As you're quickly strumming down and up, the key is to keep your strumming arm moving. That's the essential factor! You can practice by muting your strings to focus on your tempo. 💡 Add interest by switching up your strumming pattern between the verse and chorus. Get creative and explore different approaches to song's rhythm! The live acoustic version of this plays the strumming pattern in a more loose and inconsistent way. This is hard to replicate and learn if you're not a member of the band! But the best way to get that Stone's vibe is to list... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UYgCosFfAyE 983 2019-09-06T09:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-nobody-knows-you-when-you-re-down-and-out-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-2022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2gUfCJRlhC4/hqdefault.jpg Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [2/2] by Eric Clapton Part 2 On How To Play 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out' On Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn fingerpicking to play Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out on the guitar. Check out Part 1 of this lesson to know what's going on with your fretboard hand. This fingerpicking is challenging; practice is the cure! It'll sound amazing once you put it all together. Here's the strumming pattern you'll be playing throughout most of the song, which happens on the C chord. To play it, .you'll start by plucking with your thumb, then your first finger, which you follow by using your second and third fingers together to pluck a set of strings. Then, you're plucking once again with your first finger. 🚨 Ease into the tempo and take your time properly learning the picking patterns. This isin't east stuff, so count out loud and play along with the video to help guide you. You can slow it down too if it helps! Another fingerpicking pattern will have you consecutively picking three times in a row with your thumb. If you're finding this picking pattern too challenging, you can also strum through the song - it won't sound as beautiful as the fingerpicking, but it'll get you playing the song! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this Clatpon song? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gUfCJRlhC4 469 2018-02-08T21:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/etta-james-i-d-rather-go-blind-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2PpL1t_qsqw/hqdefault.jpg I'd Rather Go Blind by Etta James Learn how to play "I'd Rather Go Blind" by Etta James on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'd Rather Go Blind by the legendary Etta James on the guitar. This beautiful, soulful ballad is perfect for beginners, featuring just two chords that create a powerful emotional impact. We'll start with a beginner-friendly version that's ideal for those just getting started with guitar. Later, we'll explore some more advanced techniques and variations for those ready to take their playing to the next level. This arrangement is particularly suitable for Stage Two beginners who are comfortable with basic chords. Basic Chord Progression and Playing with a Capo The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. We only need two chords: D and Em (E minor). The progression follows a straightforward pattern: D for one bar, Em for two bars, then back to D. This creates the perfect foundation for Etta's powerful vocals and works wonderfully even with basic strumming. We'll use a capo on the seventh fret to play along with the original recording. Don't worry if you don't have a capo yet - you can practice the chord progression without one. The capo simply helps us match the original key of the song. 👉 When using a capo, especially at the seventh fret, always tune your guitar after placing the capo. This ensures your guitar stays in perfect tune throughout your practice session. Basic Strumming Pattern We'll start with a simple strumming pattern that anyone can master. Four strums per bar gives us a solid foundation to build on. As you get more comfortable, we'll introduce more complex patterns to add texture and feeling to your playing. Advanced Techniques Once you've mastered the basics, we'll explore some exciting ways to enhance your playing. We'll look at triplet strumming patterns that add a beautiful flow to the song and learn how to incorporate both downstrokes and upstrokes for a fuller sound. We'll also discover how to add subtle embellishments like hammer-ons and special riffs that can make your playing more d... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2PpL1t_qsqw 837 2018-02-04T20:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-1-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-314 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NRTAvyBMP-w/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [1/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn how to play "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin on the guitar In this six-part lesson, we'll learn how to play Stairway to Heaven on the guitar. This iconic song by Led Zeppelin is a classic that every guitar player should know. From the beautiful intro to the powerful solo, this song is a testament to the band's musical prowess. I've spent a lot of time studying and transcribing Stairway to Heaven to ensure it's as accurate as possible. To start off, we'll be looking at the intro, arguably one of the most recognized guitar parts in rock history. Don't worry if it seems a bit tricky at first - we'll be taking it slowly and steadily. Let's dive in and learn how to play this masterpiece! 🎸 This particular lesson suits Grade 6+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 of this lesson. The Chord Progression The chord progression in the intro of Stairway to Heaven starts with an Am chord. Next, we transition into an interesting chord - an Am9(maj7) or an Am9/G#. The progression then moves to an Am7/G. Finally, we transition to a D over F# chord. This chord adds a rich, full sound that wraps up the progression nicely. Wrapping It Up Learning to play Stairway to Heaven may seem challenging, but with patience and practice, you'll master it in no time. Don't be afraid to take it slow–remember, it's all about enjoying the music and having fun! Don't forget to check out the video to see these chords and melodies in action. And remember, practice makes permanent, so keep at it, and you'll be playing Stairway to Heaven just like Led Zeppelin in no time! Addendums 1 • After recording the lesson, I was told by Pete Whittard (The Director of the Guitar institute) that the big bend I have at the end (from the 9th fret, bending 2 1/2 tones) was actually a slide guitar overdub! 2 • I will get info on the strange timing just before the solo as soon as I have worked it out... 💡 JustinGuitarTabs is a great resource for learning your favorite songs. Start your free trial now and tak... https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRTAvyBMP-w 539 2017-11-11T10:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimmy-witherspoon-going-down-slow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bPriOCICjew/hqdefault.jpg Going Down Slow by Jimmy Witherspoon Learn to Play "Going Down Slow" by Jimmy Witherspoon on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Going Down Slow on the guitar. We're going to explore this classic blues tune, loosely based on the Robin Ford and Jimmy Witherspoon version. If you love the blues, you'll find this song an excellent addition to your repertoire! Going Down Slow is a 12-bar blues song that's great for practicing the G7, C7, and D7 chords. These dominant chords are staples of many blues songs, and getting familiar with them will help you easily navigate this musical genre. 💡Dig the Blues? Explore my Blues Rhythm and Blues Lead Guitar courses! Basic Chord Progression The basic sequence of this song involves switching between the G7, C7, and D7 chords. Here's a simple breakdown: Start with one bar of G7 for four strums, switch to C7 for four strums, go back to G7 for eight strums, back to C7, back to G7, D7 for one bar, C7 for one bar, G7 for half a bar (two beats), C7 for two beats, back to G7 for two beats, and then off to D7 for two beats. Don't worry if it sounds a bit slow at first. The vocals will give the whole thing a push, and you can always add a bit of a groove by introducing a triplet feel. Adding a Triplet Feel Adding a triplet feel can do wonders if you're playing it by yourself and want to give it a little more juice. Think of it as emphasizing the beat a little more. And remember, varying where you're putting those triplets can make quite a big difference to where it's going. Singing and Playing The most challenging part of playing a slow blues like this is getting the rhythm right for the words, especially if you're going to sing and play at the same time. It's not like other pop songs. The way you sing it and where you place the rhythms is pretty free. The key is to make sure your guitar playing is solid. You need to be really confident that you're doing the right thing before you start playing around with the vocal. Wrapping Up I hope you have fun playing this tune. It's a nice, easy one, just a 12-bar blue... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPriOCICjew 501 2018-02-04T18:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/zz-top-tush-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-263 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n46XjrGkW_s/hqdefault.jpg Tush by ZZ Top Learn “Tush” by ZZ Top on Guitar If you love gritty, groovy blues-rock, “Tush” by ZZ Top is a must-learn classic. In this lesson, we learn to play one of the most famous Texas shuffle riffs ever recorded—while exploring rhythm, feel, and technique in true Billy Gibbons style. What We Cover We start by breaking down the main G shuffle riff, the heartbeat of the song. You’ll learn to play it using a thumb-over grip for the low-end bass note and discover how to make it feel relaxed and powerful at the same time. Justin explains how to find the sweet spot on your thumb (near the knuckle) and how to balance muting, attack, and palm-control for that authentic ZZ Top groove. Once you’ve got the G riff down, we move into the C and D sections that make this tune a great mini-workshop on 12-bar blues structure. We compare how Billy Gibbons performs these parts live versus in the studio, uncovering the subtle differences that give each version its unique vibe. You’ll learn: The live “climb-up” run on the C chord using the thumb The studio open-string voicing adds that bright ZZ Top ring How to play the D-section shuffle with the correct picking pattern (two hits per beat for a driving feel) The E♭9 → D9 turnaround used in the final phrase Style and Feel More than just a riff exercise, Tush teaches how to internalize shuffle time—the swung triplet rhythm that separates blues rock from straight rock. We learn to “feel the pocket” by playing along with the record and adjusting hand motion to sync with the drummer’s swing. This lesson also highlights Billy Gibbons’ signature phrasing and tone choices, from muted bass pulses to his smooth slide-guitar licks, which he famously plays with the slide on his middle finger to keep other fingers free for rhythm. Why This Lesson Matters Practicing “Tush” builds skills that apply far beyond this song: Control and comfort with thumb-over technique Strong 12-bar blues foundation Tighter timing and groove for band playing Creative riff embellishment and chord substitutions Real-world app... https://www.youtube.com/embed/n46XjrGkW_s 999 2025-11-06T11:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/paul-kelly-the-coloured-girls-to-her-door-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-505 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k2ppRTvwubA/hqdefault.jpg To Her Door by Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls Learn to Play "To Her Door" by Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play To Her Door on the guitar. This beautiful Australian song combines country and folk elements with a compelling storytelling style that makes it a joy to play. Released by Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls, To Her Door showcases the distinctive Australian country-folk style that made Paul Kelly a household name. The song tells a powerful story through its lyrics while maintaining a groove that's both engaging and accessible for guitar players of various skill levels. Chords and Song Structure We'll be working with four basic chords throughout the song: G, C, D, and Em. While these are straightforward chords that many beginners know, it's how we use them in the context of the song that creates its distinctive sound. The chord progression flows naturally, making it perfect for practicing your transitions and developing a solid rhythm foundation. The song follows a clear structure that's easy to grasp. We start with a simple intro using G, D, C, and back to G. This pattern perfectly sets up the song's feel. The verses follow a similar progression, while the chorus introduces a slight variation that adds musical interest without becoming overly complex. Mastering the Rhythm The strumming pattern is what really brings this song to life. We'll use a pattern that goes down, down-up, down-up, down-up, down-up. While it might sound straightforward, the key is in the timing and feel. This song is an excellent opportunity to work on your rhythm skills and develop that crucial sense of timing that separates good players from great ones. Playing Tips and Techniques One of the most important aspects of playing To Her Door is getting the feel right. When you're practicing, focus on locking in with the rhythm. Try playing along with the original recording - this will help you develop that authentic groove that makes the song so special. Remember, it's not just about playing the right chords at the right time—i... https://www.youtube.com/embed/k2ppRTvwubA 507 2017-12-15T10:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/travis-sing-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jsQduA4LrmI/hqdefault.jpg Sing by Travis Learn how to play "Sing" by Travis on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Sing by Travis on the guitar. This fantastic tune was written by one of my favorite writers, Fran Healey, the lead singer of Travis. It's a cool tune with fairly simple chords. The strumming pattern is the key focus here when using open chords, but don't worry, we'll go through it step by step. The Intro and Verses First, let's talk about the intro sequence. It begins with E minor, followed by A minor, and then A minor seven, where you simply lift off your third finger. This pattern goes back to E minor, completing the intro. This sequence is also the basis for the verses. The lyrics "Baby, you've been going" are played over A minor and A minor seven. "Nothing seems to be going" is played over E and E minor. The rest of the verse follows the same pattern. The Chorus Now, let's move on to the chorus. The phrase "for the love" is played over G for half a bar to D. Then, we're back to the verses. The chorus has half a bar of G, half a bar of D to a bar of A minor, another bar of A minor, and then back to G. The Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern for Sing uses 16th-note strumming, which might be a bit tricky for beginners, but it's not too difficult once you get the hang of it. The pattern is continuous strumming, relying on accent patterns to give it some flavor. 👉 Check out the lesson on 16th-note strumming if you haven't learned it yet! The Banjo Part Another interesting bit in this song is the banjo part. You can play this part if you've got a banjo or another guitar. The actual part is fairly simple: E minor, A minor, A minor seven, back to E minor. This rhythm pattern is done with fingerstyle. 👉 Here's an introduction to fingerstyle for beginners. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoy this lesson. Remember, practice is the key. Take your time, and don't be too hard on yourself. Learning an instrument is a journey—every small progress is a step forward. Don't forget to watch the video for a more visual learning experience. Ha... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsQduA4LrmI 698 2017-11-29T15:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-rocky-raccoon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O6tqhCLHbDE/hqdefault.jpg Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Rocky Raccoon" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. This is a fun song to play, even for beginner guitar players! A lot is going on lyrically, so you might need to write down the words if you're planning on singing along too! 💬 Did you know? The idea for this song was born during the band's 1968 trip to India. This was when The Beatles studied transcendental meditation - which might explain the creative nature of this song! This song has a repetitive chord sequence, but you'll play unusual chords that might be new territory for a beginner! You'll encounter dominant 7th and sus chords in there, as well as different rhythmic approaches to make things more energetic. So, let's start by learning the basics, and then we'll see what we can do about that rhythm. :) Chord Structure We're starting with an A minor 7 chord. To play it, position yourself for a standard Am chord. Then, put your little finger on the third fret of the thinnest string. You can also lift off your 3rd finger, which seems to be happening in the original recording. You're playing this chord for 2 bars, then moving on to a D7 sus4 chord. This suspended chord is a mouthful, but it gives an interesting sound. You won't be playing the thickest two strings for this one, and it'll add some movement to the sequence. Check out the close-up to learn finger placement. :) Strumming & Rhythm Once you feel confident about the chord sequence, you can focus on getting that rhythm down. For the basic strumming pattern, you're playing a bass note on beat 1, followed by three downstrums. While you can add additional strums, make sure you feel confident with the basics before leveling it up. Start introducing some upstrums between the patterns, making things more energetic! Since the chord sequence is repetitive, you'll want to work towards varying the rhythm throughout the song. Keep things interesting by building up your energy throughout the tune and changing... https://www.youtube.com/embed/O6tqhCLHbDE 421 2018-01-25T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-come-as-you-are-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-723 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OXH4dojzDuQ/hqdefault.jpg Come As You Are by Nirvana Learn to Play the "Come As You Are" by Nirvana riff on Guitar In this lesson, we'll dive into the iconic riff of Come As You Are by Nirvana. This song offers a great opportunity to work on your picking and fingering techniques while getting those notes to resonate just right. So, let's get started! Breaking Down the Riff Start by strumming the open thickest string twice with downward picks. Remember, we'll be using downstrokes throughout this riff. Then, place your first finger on the first fret of the thickest string and your second finger on the second fret. It's important to note that this is beat one of the rhythm. Now, let's move to the second fret. Play the open A string (fifth string) followed by the second fret on the thickest string. Then, repeat this sequence by playing the second fret twice on the thickest string. After that, transition to the first fret of the thickest string and play it open. The rhythm for this section is "one, two, three and four and, one, two and three and." Next, we introduce the second finger on the second fret of the fifth string. Play the thickest string, followed by the second fret on the fifth string. The rhythm here is "one and two and three and four and, one two and three and four and." Exploring the Chord Progression While this lesson focuses mainly on the riff, if you're an intermediate player or looking to expand your guitar skills, you can incorporate the F# power chord into the mix. Remember, don't worry too much about the precise finger placement and intricate details of the strings. Focus on getting the overall sound and feel of the song. Listen to the original recording to familiarize yourself with the rhythm and melody. This will help you capture the song's essence and internalize its unique sound. Practice Makes Perfect Playing Come As You Are might present some challenges, especially when picking the right strings and getting the notes to ring out clearly. You may encounter difficulties with string crossing and finger positioning as you progress. Keep practic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXH4dojzDuQ 628 2018-02-05T11:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-patience-1-3-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-621 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9DgpDqXtee4/hqdefault.jpg Patience [1/3] - Easy! by Guns N' Roses If you want to play this song on guitar... All you need is just a little patience! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the classic rock ballad Patience by Guns n Roses on the guitar. We'll explore a simple version with chords and techniques perfect for Grade 3+ guitar players. That's right - even beginner guitarists can play this song! 🚨 This lesson has three parts! If you want to learn the whole tune, check out the guitar solo and how to add embellishments with rhythmic tricks. Now let's grab our guitar and get stuck in for Part 1 of this mini guitar series. JustinGuitar - Patience Lesson Part 1 There's a few guitar playing in the original recording. This easy version will combine all of these guitar parts. You won't need any barre chords to play this song until the end when you encounter an F chord. Other than that, all you need to play Patience are simple, easy open chords. 💡 Learn this song in sections. Slow things down if you need. Once it feels good, increase your tempo until you reach the original recording's speed. The chord sequence is straightforward. Check out the video close-up for chords variations - they can level up your guitar sound. You'll notice some flick-off happening in there too. This technique involves lifting your finger and flicking it back to that note. Arpeggio Picking Style You'll encounter some arpeggio picking in this Guns N' Roses tune. If you're a beginner guitarist, it might be the first time you run into this! Instead of strumming the chords, arpeggios means you're picking one string at a time. Don't worry if you find this tricky! It's an advanced technique, and you can get away playing this song without them. If you want to keep it simple - stick to standard strumming. 💡 Arpeggio picking tip: keep your hand moving like if you're playing standard strumming. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Patience & 600+ other song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/9DgpDqXtee4 594 2018-01-23T18:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-lennon-give-peace-a-chance-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-039 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sJfnWQR8INs/hqdefault.jpg Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon Is this the ultimate protest song? Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon is a super simple guitar song. It's perfect if you're a beginner and want to develop your strumming technique and work on the D-A chord change. There's scope for progression too - you can start with the real easy version and grow it as you work through the Beginner Grades. :) Let's check it out! How to Play "Give Peace A Chance" by John Lennon on Guitar Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon: Guitar Chords This John Lennon classic alternates between the D chord and the A chord. With the D, it sounds cool if you hit string 5 as you strum. Usually we avoid it, but it gives a nice, full sound here. When it comes to the A chord, you can play it the normal way, but I’m certain that John plays an open A7 chord on the original. To play an A7, all you need to do is lift off finger 1 from the standard open A grip. 🤔 Easier, Harder, Both? This A7 grip is both easier and harder than an open A chord! On one hand, you’ve got one less finger to worry about (no pun intended), but on the other hand, it’s easy to accidentally mute the G string. Give it a try and see what you think. :) If you choose to play the A7, make sure your 2nd and 3rd fingers sit upright. If they're flat, you'll mute a string or two. It’ll still sound fine, but it's best to aim for a perfect chord. :) Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon: Chord Progressions The chord progressions for Give Peace A Chance are ultra simple. The intro is four bars of D, and the verse is eight bars of D! In the chorus, we play four bars of A, four of D, four of A, then four of D. Easy! Watch out for the transition to the chorus. The chorus lyric starts on the last D chord in the verse, and we change to the chorus chords on “saying”. Play In The Original Key If you watch the video of John Lennon playing Give Peace A Chance during the bed-in, you’ll see he’s playing D and A. But when you play along with the original, you’ll realize this doesn’t sound right. His guitar is tuned down one tone in the video, meaning th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJfnWQR8INs 483 2019-12-06T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/crash-test-dummies-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-220 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TF0IfxQXjI4/hqdefault.jpg Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies How to Play "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies on the guitar. This fantastic tune from 1993 has stood the test of time and is still a favorite on the radio. It's a unique and catchy song that offers several learning opportunities. It features a beautiful fingerstyle pattern and clever use of open strings to help with tricky chord changes. While it requires more advanced techniques like barre chords and the thumb-over method for bass notes, don't let that intimidate you. With practice, you'll be able to master these skills and play this iconic tune. Chord Progression The song's chord progression is relatively straightforward but includes some interesting variations. In the intro, we start with an E minor and B minor, then move to an F sus2 and G sus4. These suspended chords add a lovely texture to the song. In the verses, we use A minor, G, and C chords, with a C with an E bass for some extra flavor. We also incorporate an F chord, which we'll play using the thumb-over technique for a smoother transition. The progression then moves through G and C before introducing an A♭ chord, which adds a nice twist to the harmony. One of the cool aspects of this song is the use of the open D string as a transition between chords. This clever technique helps smooth out some of the trickier chord changes and adds to the song's distinctive sound. Fingerpicking Pattern The fingerpicking pattern in Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm is what really brings the song to life. We'll start by learning the basic pattern on an E minor chord, then apply it to the other chords in the progression. The pattern involves using your thumb for the bass notes and your other fingers for the higher strings. Don't worry if it feels a bit tricky at first—we'll break it down step by step in the video. Remember, it's all about practice and patience. Once you've got the basic pattern down, you can apply it with just a few variations throughout the song. Special Techniques This so... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TF0IfxQXjI4 1166 2017-11-29T18:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/robben-ford-help-the-poor-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e6I3OvXjg0Q/hqdefault.jpg Help The Poor [SOLO] by Robben Ford Learn to play "Help the Poor" by Robben Ford on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo from Help the Poor on the guitar. This amazing solo piece by Robben Ford is from his album Talk to Your Daughter, one of the best modern blues records around. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend you do! About Robben Ford For those of you not familiar with Robben Ford, he's a blues guitar player who spices up his playing with some really fancy jazz tricks. He's one of my favorite guitar players of all time. He has a fantastic rhythm guitar DVD. His rhythm guitar playing is beyond amazingly good. So, if you want to get into your blues rhythm guitar, that DVD is a must-have. There's also an earlier DVD called The Blues and Beyond, which is just as brilliant, and I'd highly recommend that you get it. The Learning Process Learning to play the solo from Help the Poor will require some patience and dedication, but the rewards are totally worth it. The original tempo is around 120 beats per minute, but for the purposes of this lesson, I've slowed it down to around 90. This should help us delve into the subtleties and nuances of Robben Ford's style. Remember, learning to play a piece like this is not just about memorizing the notes. It's about immersing yourself in the music, understanding the chord progressions, and, most importantly, enjoying the process. Chord Sequence and harmonic devices Help the Poor is basically a 16 bar minor blues. Robben is an expert in the minor blues form and uses it often. Also worth checking out is BB Kings version of the same tune... well actually best to check out as many versions as you can. Dm Dm Dm Dm Dm Dm A7 A7 Dm Dm Gmin Bb13 Dm A7 Dm Dm Help the Poor is based on a D minor pentatonic scale, with some dorian too, using the 9th and 6ths that add a unique flavor to the piece. The core of the song is based on the blues scale, but Ford spices things up by venturing into jazz territory with the A Altered scale to create tension. Both the fast complex runs in this song ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/e6I3OvXjg0Q 1581 2017-12-15T11:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jeff-beck-hi-ho-silver-lining-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1OfDJ7QtZgM/hqdefault.jpg Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck Learn to Play "Hi Ho Silver Lining" by Jeff Beck on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck on the guitar. This classic tune is a great one to get your hands on, especially if you're in the mood for some sing-along fun! This song is pretty straightforward and perfect for a fun jam session. While the original version by Jeff Beck features some complex guitar voicings, we're going to focus on a simple, sing-along version. We'll use basic open chords, making it suitable for beginners and those who prefer a more laid-back strumming style. Chord Progression The song starts with a D chord for the intro. The verse then follows a chord progression of D to G to C to G, and then back to D. This progression is complemented by a rhythmic, muted strumming pattern, which you'll see in the video. This strumming pattern, when used in the verses and contrasted with a fuller strumming style in the choruses, really enhances the sing-along feel of the song. The chorus is just as straightforward, with a progression of D, D7, G, A, and then back to D. The simplicity of these chords and the recurring patterns make this song a delight to play and easy to remember. Strumming Techniques In this lesson, you'll learn a specific strumming technique called muted strumming, which is used in the song's verses. This technique involves using the outside part of your hand to mute the strings. It's a simple movement: lifting your hand slightly, strumming, and then placing it back down. You'll see this in slow motion in the video, so you can master the technique in your own time. For those not yet comfortable with muted strumming, don't worry! You can still enjoy playing the entire song with a regular strumming pattern. Final Thoughts This song is a fantastic way to practice and improve your strumming techniques. If you're feeling adventurous, try playing the song using barre chords, as Jeff Beck does in the original recording. That's the beauty of learning songs – you can always add your own twist and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1OfDJ7QtZgM 405 2017-11-11T10:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-suck-my-kiss-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-329 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lCJwzwrK8tk/hqdefault.jpg Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn How to Play "Suck My Kiss" by RHCP on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar. This is an exciting and fun song to play, with its unique and catchy riffs that will surely engage any guitar enthusiast. Suck My Kiss is a super cool song that has three main parts: the intro riff, the main riff for the verses, and the chorus part. We'll go through them one at a time, but it's essential to listen to the original recording to fully grasp the feel of the song and understand the variations. The Riffs The song starts with an intriguing intro riff that sets the stage for the rest of the tune. This riff plays three times before moving on to the next section of the song. Pay attention to the picking hand technique used here, as it involves a continuous down, down, down, up, down pattern that adds a unique flavor to the song. The main riff for the verses is equally engaging. It takes us further up the neck, introducing a hammer-on technique and slides that add to the song's complexity and enjoyable playing experience. There are a few fingering choices to consider, but ultimately, it's about what feels most comfortable for you. The Chorus The chorus part introduces an E chord and another unusual chord that adds a surprising twist to the song. There's a bit of a stop the first time they sing the phrase 'suck my kiss,' adding a dramatic pause amidst the energetic riffs. The chorus also includes short, stab notes that punctuate the rhythm and add to the song's funky groove. Wrapping Up Suck My Kiss is a groovy tune that's sure to get your fingers moving and your foot tapping. It's a fantastic song to play in a band setting, and learning it will undoubtedly enhance your guitar skills and your ability to play in sync with other musicians. The funk is strong in this one, making it an awesome, fun playing experience. So, grab your guitar, and let's get started! And remember, the most important part is to have fun and enjoy the process. After all, playing music is... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lCJwzwrK8tk 928 2017-12-08T13:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elliott-smith-everything-reminds-me-of-her-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-098 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m99Vfx0w8Jc/hqdefault.jpg Everything Reminds Me Of Her by Elliott Smith Playing "Everything Reminds Of Her" by Elliott Smith requires some Intermediate guitar skills. Especially if you want to sound as close as possible to the original recording, you'll have to work out many different bits. As many Eliott Smith songs, Everything Reminds Of Her contains different guitar layers, and there's enough tricky stuff going on in each one of them. :) For this guitar lesson, we'll try to condense the guitar parts in a way that makes sense for you to play on your own, using your acoustic guitar. We'll take it slowly and make sure you learn this song without any bad habits! Of course, it's easier to play if you don't want to sound accurate - but I'm a huge Eliott Smith fan, and we'll learn to sound as close as possible to the Figure 8 recording. 💡 When learning such a complex song, having the lyrics + tabs will help you learn faster! Check out JustinGuitar Tabs to get my tabs for Everything Reminds Me Of Her. I've transcribed this myself - accuracy guaranteed! ;) Now, let's get stuck in and learn how to play Everything Reminds Me Of Her on the acoustic guitar. Everything Reminds Me Of Her - Guitar Tuning Everything Reminds Me Of Her by Elliott Smith is in Regular D Tuning. That means you'll tune every string of your guitar down one tone. It's a very common Elliott Smith tuning. For this guitar lesson and to play along with the original recording, you'll need to tune down your instrument. But you can learn to play this song in regular tuning, too - just be mindful it'll be a different tuning, and it might sound awkward. It's up to you! How to play Everything Reminds Me Of Her on guitar Here are a few general guidelines - or extra guitar lessons you could check! - to help you nail playing Everything Reminds Me Of Her on the acoustic guitar: Just to start out, you'll need some string bending. Expect some hammer-ons too! You'll also need to slide on the strings - while keeping it in time. It's tricky, so be patient - and don't forget to listen loads to the original recording. The flick-offs you ne... https://www.youtube.com/embed/m99Vfx0w8Jc 1101 2021-11-20T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-la-s-there-she-goes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-308 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dbMAMrqe8Hk/hqdefault.jpg There She Goes by The La's Learn how to play "There She Goes" by The La's on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play There She Goes by The La's on the guitar. This super awesome song is full of guitar layers, making it a fun and engaging piece to learn. It's a perfect example of how multiple guitar parts can come together to create a rich, layered sound. As we go through this lesson, we'll break down these parts and see how they fit together like pieces of a musical puzzle. The Main Riff Let's start with the heart of the song—the main riff. This catchy sequence gives There She Goes its distinctive sound. We'll focus on getting the rhythm and feel just right. Don't worry if it seems tricky at first; with practice, you'll be playing it smoothly in no time. The riff combines single notes and chords, creating a melodic and rhythmic pattern that runs throughout the song. As we practice, pay close attention to the timing and how the notes flow into each other. This riff is a great exercise in developing your picking accuracy and timing. Chord Progression Now, let's talk about the chord progression. There She Goes uses a fairly simple sequence of chords, but the way they're played gives the song its unique character. We'll primarily work with G, D, and C chords, with a few variations thrown in. The key to nailing this progression is in the transitions. We'll practice moving smoothly from one chord to another, maintaining the rhythm as we go. This is where the magic happens—when you can switch chords without breaking the song's flow. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern in There She Goes is crucial to capturing the song's energy. We'll start with a basic pattern and then add some variations to match the recording. Remember, the goal is to keep a steady rhythm while adding enough variation to keep things interesting. As we practice the strumming, focus on your right hand (or left if you're left-handed) technique. The key is to relax and let your wrist do most of the work. This will help you maintain the rhythm for longer periods withou... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dbMAMrqe8Hk 828 2017-12-04T10:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/joni-mitchell-coyote-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-071 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QJN5yw-e1Ao/hqdefault.jpg Coyote by Joni Mitchell Let's check out this awesome Joni Mitchell tune on acoustic guitar Wow, I fell in love with Coyote by Joni Mitchell the first time I heard it on her 1976 album Hejira. What a tune! It's just incredible. I remember I bought Hejira because I knew Larry Carlton and Jaco Pastorius played on it. Their work on Hejira is just lovely, but then I ended up getting hooked on Joni Mitchell too. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to love her that much, but her performance blew me away. Joni Mitchell really is one of a kind. Her lyrics are deep, her tunings are unique as can be, and she's an incredible lyricist. Her vocal phrasings are all over the place - in a beautiful way! If you don't know the album, go and check out Hejira - you won't regret it. About Joni Mitchell Born in 1943, Joni Mitchell has a diverse and unique sound, which blends folk, jazz, and rock. At the age of 9, she fell sick with polio, which affected her hand mobility. Amazingly, this led her to develop her own playing style. She needed to tune the strings differently to make it possible to play! Her story shows how challenges can turn into opportunities - those strange tunings were precisely what led to her unique melodies. She didn’t let anything stop her from following her passion, and her 1971 album Blue was ranked #3 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020. 💙 Check out her live in-studio performance in this video Urge for Going. One of you suggested this video in the comments, and wow! Her music even blew away her band members. :) How To Play "Coyote" By Joni Mitchell On Guitar The Tuning Joni Mitchell songs are so fun to explore on guitar. She always uses pretty odd tunings, and it's no different on Coyote. To sound just like her, you'll need to tune your guitar to CGDFCE. :) Here it is in more detail: I don't know any other song or artist that uses this guitar tuning. If you do, please let me know in the Discussion section! It's a pretty weird set of notes. If you strum the open strings, you get a chord that sounds airy a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QJN5yw-e1Ao 1056 2021-05-01T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-baby-please-don-t-go-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-016 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b9HUjKwpZ1o/hqdefault.jpg Baby Please Don't Go by AC/DC Learn to Play "Baby Please Don't Go" on Electric Guitar! Hey! It’s Justin here, and today we'll check out Baby Please Don’t Go, a classic blues-rock song. It was written back in 1935 by Big Joe Williams, but it’s been covered by many bands over the years. For good reason, too. It’s such a fun one. I even played it back when I was in my first band! 🎵 Version Mix – Most of what we’ll cover today is from the AC/DC version, but I included some other bits, like the riff by Them (the band called “Them”!). Use the many versions to get inspired! I’m sure you’ll have loads of fun experimenting with this one. Let’s get to that insane riff. :) Baby Please Don’t Go – Malcolm Young’s Riff Lick 1 We start off with two simultaneous E notes on strings 1 and 2. You can slide up to the note E at 2:5 (string 2, fret 5) or do a tone bend from 2:3. Either way, you want to pick this note along with the open E string. Then pick the open B string and hammer on at 2:3 with finger 3. Pick the open E string and hammer on at 3:3. Then flick off to the open E. Play 2:3 and flick off to the open B string. 🔥 Blues and Rock Techniques – This tune is replete with super-common lead guitar techniques. Check out my Blues Lead courses if you need a refresher. :) Then it’s a tone bend from 3:2. You can use fingers 1 and 2 together, or simply play a slide from fret 2 to fret 4. I think the bend sounds cooler! Once the string is bent, play it twice and let it ring out for a few seconds. Lick 2 On to the second part of the riff! Hit the open B string and hammer on at fret 3. Then do the same with string 1 before flicking off to the open string again. Go back to string 2, play 2:3, then play the open E string. Then play 2:3 again and flick off to the open B string. Lick 3 This one starts with finger 2 on 3:2 (string 3, fret 2). Slide up two frets. Then play 2:3 with finger 1. Keep finger 2 in place – we then slide back from 2:4 to 2:2. Pick the open G string, then put finger 2 on 4:2 before playing the open G string again. Play this whole sequence twi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/b9HUjKwpZ1o 467 2017-12-03T10:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ray-lamontagne-jolene-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cvvDTidgqsw/hqdefault.jpg Jolene by Ray Lamontagne Learn How to Play "Jolene" by Ray LaMontagne on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Jolene on the guitar. As performed by Ray LaMontagne, this beautiful song has a lovely chord sequence and a slightly unusual structure, making it a joy to play. Intro The song's intro uses a G chord and an ornament of G, often called C/G. The rhythm pattern in the intro is quite simple, and the key thing to remember is to keep your hand moving. Even if you add an extra strum or miss one, as long as you keep the hand moving, you keep yourself in time. Verse The verse of the song starts with a sequence of G, C, G, and then stays on G for a while. It then moves to C, stays on C, and then goes back to G. The verse ends by moving from C to G. What makes this song special is that the chord changes aren't typical. They're not usually changing after two bars as in many songs, but this one has its peculiarities, which makes it really special and satisfying to play. Chorus The chorus begins with an E minor, moves to G, then to C, G, and D. It then repeats E minor, G, and C, but then introduces a G, C, G sequence. Towards the end of the chorus, there's a little addition of an F sharp bass note, and then it goes to C with the G base. The chorus ends by moving from C to G. Extended Chorus The song also features an extended chorus section, which you can think of as a really long pre-chorus and a short chorus. This section repeats E minor, G, C, G with a B base, A minor sequence twice, and then goes to G, C, G with a B base, A minor, and then it's back to the intro. This song is fairly simple, although the chords change in unusual places. A few plays through the original tune and actually writing a chart out will be incredibly helpful. Rhythm This song's rhythm has many different variations all the way through. A good starting point rhythm is a simple down, down, up, down, down, down, up, down, up, down, down, up, down, down, down, up, down sequence. Start with that as a building point and then play along with the original reco... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cvvDTidgqsw 883 2019-10-11T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-second-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P7x9MhJAIhI/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [SECOND SOLO] by Guns N' Roses Let's Explore The 2nd Solo of "Sweet Child O Mine"! Slash's build on the first Solo with loads of tasty guitar techniques going on. This lesson continues our Sweet Child O Mine Series (links below!). We'll focus on playing Slash's second Solo in Sweet Child O Mine, the classic Guns n Roses. 🚨 New to these Guns n Roses series? You'll need to tune your guitar to E flat tuning to play along with the original recording (and with me!) Before getting stuck in and learning how to play this bit of the song, make sure you get that first Solo down first! We explored a couple of twists in that lesson that will be useful here. This tutorial is particularly great if you're a Grade 6+ guitarist. We're about to get into some serious advancing Intermediate stuff! Now grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. :) How To Play Sweet Child O Mine Second Solo Let's tackle this solo one riff at a time. The first part is very similar to the first Solo - if you learned it already - you shouldn't have to spend too much time on it. Then, it will start getting considerably different with some flicks and ghost semitone bends. We've got this riff which sounds like an overdub - slightly different guitar sound. There is a couple of approach to playing it - check it out on the video's close-up. There are some semitones ghost bends in there. 💡 Choose your finger placement the way it works best for you. Even if it's different from what you see in the video or what Slash plays! Use one of your fingers and touch the strings to mute when needed. Otherwise - you get a little noise as the little finger lifts off. Resting your finger on the strings will help them stay quiet. Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Techniques String muting with your picking hand will help keep those notes from ringing out altogether. This is a big deal, particularly on the thicker strings. When Slash plays this lick, it looks a lot easier! It might feel a bit awkward a first if you're trying to play it like the original recording. Once we're back to the melody - some tasty things a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7x9MhJAIhI 856 2017-12-15T06:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/albert-king-born-under-a-bad-sign-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-241 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E71arjUayhA/hqdefault.jpg Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King Learn to Play "Born Under a Bad Sign" by Albert King on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Born Under a Bad Sign on the guitar. This track is the title song from one of the greatest blues albums ever. Interestingly, this song wasn't written by Albert King. It was penned by William Bell and Booker T. Jones of the renowned Booker T. and the MGs, the house band at Stax Records, where the song was recorded. While you might expect to learn Albert King's part, we'll focus on the rhythm guitar part. This part was played by the all-time legend Steve Cropper, an incredibly tasteful player and a favorite among many guitarists. Born Under a Bad Sign might initially sound a bit complicated, but there's a pattern to it. Nearly all of the cover versions of this song follow the same pattern, making it easier to learn. I encourage you to check out some of the awesome covers of this song. My favorite is probably the one by Robin Ford from the "Talks of the Daughter" record. The guitar playing there is fantastic. There's also a great version by Cream, a couple by Eric Clapton, and one by Joe Bonamassa. The Chord Progression and Song Structure The chord progression of Born Under a Bad Sign is unique and interesting. The song is usually played in the original key of C#, although some versions, like the Robin Ford one, move everything up one semitone to the key of D. As you go through the lesson, you'll discover how the progression and structure of the song work together to create its distinctive sound. If you're listening to the original recording, it has the verse, chorus, and verse. The verse is a four-bar section, and the chorus is the other eight bars. It's a good idea to break the song into these sections when learning it. After the solos, it does another verse and chorus, and then it goes into this little pattern that does the scale, the pauses, the low E, then the pauses, low E, pauses, alternating between those two at the end. The Importance of Rhythm In this song, rhythm is crucial. Understanding when to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/E71arjUayhA 1219 2024-06-30T10:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gotye-somebody-that-i-used-to-know-explorer-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-802 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uag60MHi0Qg/hqdefault.jpg Somebody That I Used To Know [EXPLORER] by Gotye Learn how to "Somebody That I Used to Know" On Guitar - Version 2.0 We'll learn how to play Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye on the guitar in this lesson. This version is beyond the beginner level! We'll use fingerstyle to play the bass and explore melody ideas and tasty grooves. Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' has different approaches for more advanced players. If you're a beginner, start by learning the beginner version first. Adding Some Interest With Your Guitar This lesson won't give you an exact arrangement for this piece, but I inspiration for a creative thought process when putting something together. We're adding in a bass part, some percussive hits, and melodic elements that go beyond just the basic chord progression of the tune. We're not getting quite to the level of Mike Dawes with it – his stuff is next-level stuff! But it's always a good idea to study talented musicians - and you should check him out! You can learn a lot from others, and they can be a great source of inspiration for curating your playing style. :) Guitar Exploration Goals The goal of these explorer lessons is to (hopefully!) inspire you to have a go at making your arrangement. The elements are all there, and it's up to you to experiment and add your spin to it. When we learn songs by other artists, sometimes we can get caught up in playing them just like the original artist did, down to every note and fingering and chord configuration. But when it comes to any art form, there's always room for artistic interpretation. You should always feel free to put your own personal spin on your guitar playing. Get verified tabs and, chords + lyrics for this song with the JustinGuitar Tabs website feature! https://www.youtube.com/embed/uag60MHi0Qg 1188 2018-05-23T16:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bill-withers-use-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-030 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n6tfI0M977M/hqdefault.jpg Use Me by Bill Withers Learn how to play "Use Me" by Bill Withers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Use Me on the guitar. This song is super groovy and funky, and you only need two chords: Em and A! It's such a magical tune, and you can really absorb a lot from playing along with the original recording. So, get your guitar ready, and let's get started! Simple Strumming If you're a beginner, don't worry! You can start with simple strums on the chord changes. The song is all about the groove and the rhythm, so just focus on getting a nice, consistent strum going between the Em and A chords. This is the song's foundation, and it's a great place to start. Be sure to check out the original recording–there's so much good stuff to absorb from playing along with it. Funking It Up Once you've got the simple strumming down, you can start to funk it up a little bit! Try adding some syncopation or a little swing to your strumming pattern. You can experiment with different rhythms and see what feels good. Even just adding a little clicky sound in between chords can make it sound really hip. Don't be afraid to try new things and find your own groove. Exploring Chord Variations The great thing about Use Me is that it's so simple with its chord structure that there's lots of room for exploration. For the Em chord, you can try adding a hammer-on or adding your finger to the second fret of the thinnest string. You can also try making it an Em7. For the A chord, you could also try lifting the little finger off (Asus2). Dealing with the Stops Now, the original recording has these little stops, but when you're playing with a group, you'll probably want to keep playing through those. The chords stay the same–it's just the rhythm that's stopping. If you want to pause, try keeping the rhythm going while doing it. You can chill out on open power chords to keep it real simple. Another option is to mute the strings by grabbing the guitar neck to stop them from ringing out. The key is to keep your strumming consistent. Don't let it get out ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6tfI0M977M 594 2020-02-13T10:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-little-wing-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-316 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EGXwik5wnb0/hqdefault.jpg Little Wing [1/3] by Jimi Hendrix Learn to Play "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix on the guitar. This song is a fantastic piece to learn for any guitarist looking to explore the style and techniques of Jimi Hendrix. It's a beautiful tune and one of Hendrix's signature songs. In this first part of the lesson, we're going to study the intro. After you've got the intro down, check out Part 2 and Part 3 of the lesson. Tuning The original song is tuned down a semitone. So, if you want to play along with the record, you'll need to tune your guitar down by one semitone. However, we'll stick to regular tuning to keep things simple for this lesson. If you want to play along with the record in regular tuning, there's software available that can adjust the pitch of the song. Learning the Song Little Wing's intro begins with a muted hit and a slide back from the 12th fret. Much of Hendrix's style involves using the thumb over the neck to play several notes, so this technique is well worth practicing. We'll also talk a little about the chord progression at the end of this part of the lesson in case you want to have a go at playing through the whole song without watching the other two parts. In this section, we're playing the open A string, hammering the second finger down on the second fret of the A string, and then plucking the open G string. Then, we quickly move up the neck, jumping right up to the fifth fret. Here, we're playing the fourth and fifth strings at the same time and hammering down our third finger on the seventh fret of the fifth string. Then, we're into the fun part of the tune. The thumb slides up to the third fret, play the open G quietly, and then the thinnest three strings. The first finger holds down like a little bar, the third finger hammers onto the fifth fret, then flicks off and plays the thinnest string again. 👉Unfortunately, I can't put the tab on the site, so the one mentioned in the video is no longer available, but we go through all the chords in t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGXwik5wnb0 575 2017-11-17T04:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-main-solo-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XrvtfODHXW4/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [MAIN SOLO 1/2] by Guns N' Roses One of the Most Epic Rock Solos of All Time! And you're about to learn it. :) In this lesson, we'll start our lesson on how to play Slash's main Solo in Sweet Child O Mine, the greatest Guns N' Roses classic. This is a killer guitar solo - loads of fun to shred it on your guitar. So many tasty elements to check out here. Great licks, great tone, and fantastic use of the wah-wah pedal. 🚨 This lesson covers Part 1 of Slash's incredible main solo in Sweet Child O Mine. Part 2 is here. This is not a beginner lesson! If you're new to guitar, you really need to be hip with other bits of this song before getting started here! Below, you'll find lessons to all other solos and sections of Sweet Child O Mine. Beginners should start simple and build their way up! 💡 Following my Guitar Courses? This Guns n Roses guitar solo is suited to Grade 7+ Advanced Guitar Players! Grab your guitar & get ready to shred. How To Play Sweet Child O Mine Main Solo First, listen to the solo without the wah-wah pedal all the way through. This is what you'll sound like when you're practicing it. Once you get it right, you can revisit it and add it as an ornament to spice it up. Listen to the original recording, and focus on the rhythm. It's too difficult to count - so you'll have to use your ear training skills for this. 💡 Start simple! Then, develop it as you get more comfortable with the chords, rhythm, and tempo! For the solo, different fingering can achieve the same thing. Do it the way that it feels the best for you - and in a way that'll make your string bends easier. Get your string bending ringing out clearly - this is what makes Slash's solo so incredible. Advanced Guitar Solo Tips Practice chunks of the solo until they feel right. Then, practice it until you feel it flow. You'll want to increase your speed as you go. It's better to play consistently than rushing through the bits. There's a monster lick in there - I know you're eager to learn it! Take things nice and slow down when you first practice it. Different guitarists mi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XrvtfODHXW4 895 2017-12-15T07:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jack-johnson-banana-pancakes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-250 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5-rVm6CdCaY/hqdefault.jpg Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson Learn to play "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Jack Johnson's super chill tune, Banana Pancakes, on the guitar. It's a classic for a reason, and we'll break it down together step by step. Even though it sounds pretty laid-back and simple on the surface, there's some cool stuff going on that we can dive into. Jack plays this song in a few different ways – on electric with a pick, acoustic with a pick, and acoustic with his fingers. We're going to focus on the fingerstyle approach here. If you're more comfortable with a pick, the notes are pretty much the same; you need to make a slightly bigger motion with your hand. Let's get to it! The Cool Intro Riff We start with that iconic little riff that kicks off Banana Pancakes. It's a fun little sequence of notes that sets the whole vibe. We start with a slide on one of the thicker strings, then some notes on the fifth string, and then back and forth. There's also an open string and another little slide in there. It might sound tricky at first, but once you get the hang of the movement, it'll feel natural. Sometimes, Jack changes the fingering slightly, but don't worry too much about that – the important thing is to get the general feel of the riff. Now, a slight variation of this riff happens just the first time it's played with the vocals when he sings, "Can't you see that it's just raining." It's a little different from how we play the riff the rest of the time. While it's good to be aware of this initial variation, don't stress too much if you don't nail it perfectly every time. Grooving Through the Verses Once the intro riff has played a couple of times, we move into the verses. The chords you'll be playing here are a G, a D7, an Am7, and a C7. Now, that Am7 is a barre chord. Getting all the notes ringing out clearly can be challenging, but you'll get it with good pressure on your finger and a little practice. The C7 is also a barre chord, and you'll want to ensure one of your fingers is muting the thickest ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-rVm6CdCaY 1299 2025-03-13T11:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-ring-of-fire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-054 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cpNDUupxWE0/hqdefault.jpg Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash Learn "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash on guitar. This tune appears on the album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash from 1963, and it’s another classic country tune by the Man in Black! :) I'll teach you a super-easy way of playing this tune that's suitable for most beginner guitar players. We'll cover some cool tricks for Intermediate players too. You’ll notice in the demo that I play fingerstyle, which helps me pick out the melody over the chords. We’ll look at how to do that later on, but let’s start real simple. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash: Simple Guitar Chords & Rhythm You just need G, C, and D open chords to play Ring of Fire. The rhythm is the difficult part. I show you how to strum this awkward rhythm - the easiest way is to count how many downstrums we need for each chord. The chord progression is a little confusing - do check out the tutorial for all the details. And don’t forget to jam along with me and the original track to help you absorb the chords. :) Time Signature Tips The time signature is interesting, and most beginners will probably find it strange. We’ll learn it in 7 time, but you could also look at it as 3 and 4 time or vice versa. This isn’t the most musically correct way, but I think it’s the way that makes the most sense. You can get all mathsy with this, but it’s way more important to listen to the song and use your musical feel instead. Sure, understanding the counts is useful, but I’m pretty sure Johnny Cash wasn’t counting in 7 time in his head. 💡 Funnily, nobody really notices that Ring of Fire has a strange time signature - me included. I’d heard Ring of Fire loads of times without hearing the bar of 7! As soon as you can, try to just feel the rhythm. The way to go is to listen to the original recording lots so you get it into your musical imagination. We’re about to look at the fancy stuff, so make sure you can play basic chords and strumming. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash: Fancy Rhythm Choices If ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cpNDUupxWE0 1192 2021-01-02T17:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-hurt-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-611 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r92xlsKveC0/hqdefault.jpg Hurt by Johnny Cash Learn How To Play "Hurt" By Johnny Cash On Guitar! A powerful song that is awesome for beginner guitar players. Initially written by Trent Reznor for the Nine Inch Nails back in 1994 - this cover is a very different version by Johnny Cash. Johnny released this cover in 2002, and the meaning and emotions took a completely different turn. It's considered one of the best covers of all time - it's really special. In this lesson, you'll learn how to play Hurt by Johnny Cash in an easy version. If you're following my Guitar Course, This song is perfect for Grade 2+ guitar students and will make you put many skills into practice. There's a simple strumming option and variations you can revisit later in your guitar journey. I'll also show you how to play the picking out a part so you can sound like the original recording. I'm sure you'll enjoy playing this one. Go for it, let loose and have fun! :) Hurt - Chords & Strumming Hurt by Johnny Cash is a fantastic tune with simple chords. You'll play the A minor, C, D, G, and with some F chord action going on there! So if you're still struggling with the F chord - this is a great practice exercise. 💡 There's not going around the F chord in this one. If you want some F chord cheats, check out alternatives grips here. You'll want to develop your simple 4x4 down strums for the basic chord sequence and add some up strums. Start simple and add on as you get more comfortable playing this song. The strumming can be challenging or straightforward. This choice depends on the way you want to play it! It's all about personal preference and how much effort you want to put into learning this song. But it's always a good idea to keep it simple to start. Make sure you're strumming is a consistent flow. :) Hurt - Guitar Picking Pattern For the picking strumming pattern - it might take a bit of practice to get used to, but you'll get the hang of it! On the A minor, you'll pluck all the 5th string first, followed by the 4th string. Then, you'll downstrums for the rest. If you want to pla... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r92xlsKveC0 602 2018-02-04T19:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-back-in-black-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-327 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r42sc0a5psw/hqdefault.jpg Back In Black by AC/DC Learn "Back In Black" by ACDC on Electric Guitar! Hey, how you doing? Today, we’ll check out Back In Black by ACDC. This is an all-time rock masterpiece. It’s great fun to play and has loads of interesting riffs. I think most people find it easier to play than it looks, but it'll likely still take you some practice. Like most AC/DC songs, simple doesn't mean easy! Let’s get to it. :) Back In Black: Intro and Verse Riff Let’s look at that classic riff played in the intro and verses. It’s based around E5 (022XXX), D5 (XX023X), and A5 (X022XX) power chords. We start with E5, using a barre with finger 1 to play the two notes at fret 2 and mute the higher strings. To get an authentic sound, we need to mute the strings after each strum. Rest fingers 2, 3, and 4 of the fretting hand on the strings, and use your strumming hand too. You’re looking for sharp, clean chords. Strum one downstrum on E5, DUD on D5, and DUD on A5. Here’s the rhythm: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 E5 D5 A5 After the first rep of this, we add an E Minor Pentatonic lick. Use finger 3 on 1:3 (string 1, fret 3), then flick off to the open E string. Now play 2:3, and flick off to the open B string. Then put finger 2 on 2:2 and bend a tone, using finger 1 to support it. Play the bend, release it, then flick off to the open string. Once you flick off, form the E5 chord again. Those notes come on 3 e + a 4 e + a. Beat 3 is a strong beat. Feel it before you play the riff, and you’ll stay nicely in time. 🚨 String Muting – In rock songs using loads of distortion, muting strings is definitely something you need to master. Nail it, and you’ll sound like a pro. After the second repetition of the power chords, we play a different riff. Start with finger 1 at 5:2 (string 5, fret 2). Then play 6:4 with finger 3. Then it’s 5:2, 6:5, 5:2, 6:6, 5:2, 6:7. The rhythm for this is: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a. I use downpicks for all notes on string 5 and ups for notes on string 6. Back In Black: Chorus Riff The chorus riff is based around E5, A5, D5, G5 (3X00... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r42sc0a5psw 1007 2017-12-03T08:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-polly-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-806 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DNHiXj3g_aE/hqdefault.jpg Polly by Nirvana Learn How to Play "Polly" by Nirvana on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Polly on the guitar. This classic Nirvana song appears on their MTV Unplugged album, where Kurt Cobain performs it beautifully on an acoustic guitar with an electric pickup, giving it a unique sound that bridges acoustic and electric tones. We'll take a look at three different approaches to playing this song: a beginner-friendly version using open chords, a Rock version using power chords, and Kurt's specific method from the MTV Unplugged performance. This gives you the flexibility to choose the style that best matches your skill level and the sound you're going for. Basic Chord Progressions The song uses two main chord progressions. For the verses, we cycle through E minor, G, D, and C, with each chord getting two beats. The chorus uses a slightly different progression: D, C, G, and B♭. Don't worry if the B♭ chord feels challenging at first - you can use either a barre chord or power chord version, whatever feels more comfortable for you. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern in Polly is what gives the song its distinctive feel. While it might seem tricky at first, it's less about complexity and more about getting the right groove. One of the cool features of Kurt's playing style is how he lets open strings ring out during chord changes, which adds to the song's character. Keep your strumming hand moving consistently to maintain the rhythm—this is key to capturing the song's feel. Kurt's MTV Unplugged Version The MTV Unplugged version has some interesting quirks that make it special. Kurt uses a mix of traditional and unconventional chord shapes, which creates that signature sound we all know and love. While we'll see his exact method in the video, remember that you can adapt these techniques to fit your playing style. Wrapping Up Before tackling the strumming pattern, start by getting comfortable with the basic chord progressions. Once you've got the chords down, focus on keeping your strumming hand moving continuously -... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DNHiXj3g_aE 680 2018-02-05T14:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pixies-where-is-my-mind-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-198 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ezLZ_ZxidfE/hqdefault.jpg Where Is My Mind? by Pixies Learn how to play Pixies' all-time classic "Where Is My Mind" on the guitar! Where Is My Mind is a great workout for your barre chords on the acoustic guitar, and there are some awesome electric guitar riffs, so we'll cover both parts! The acoustic guitar is pretty complex, so we'll look at a simplified version and all the fine details if you want to make it authentic. ;) 💡 Try JustinGuitarTabs for free and get the lyrics, chords, and verified tab for Where Is My Mind - and lots of other songs! You'll only need two chord progressions to play Where Is My Mind by Pixies, but they're laden with barre chords and tiny rhythmic details. Let's check it out! Where Is My Mind: Main Chord Sequence The chord progression is E, C#m/G#, G#, and A, with each chord lasting half a bar of 4/4. I play the E as an open chord with unusual fingering to make switching to C#m/G# easier. ;) 😅 C#m/G# sounds horrible, but in reality, it's just an Am Shape Barre Chord with a different bass note. Instead of muting string 6 with finger 1, we fret it. Barre Chords: G# might sound scary too, but switching from the minor chord to G# Major is super easy: keep the barre in place and move your other fingers up one string to make an E-shape barre chord. Easy. :) Then we slide everything up one fret for A Major. Try switching between these chords with two down strums on each. Make sure you can do that before moving on to the fancier strumming. ;) Let's cover those little rhythmic details that make all the difference. Make Your Rhythm Guitar Sound Pro! The video lesson covers the strumming pattern we need to nail The Pixies' version of Where Is My Mind. I've tried to distill the verses into one strumming patter, but the strumming in the original is much looser - there are extra strums, changes in volume, and more. Listen to the original to pick up on all the nuances! This includes changing the number of strings we strum, muted strumming, and 16th Note Strumming. This sounds horrible, but you'll find that the mutes land during the transitions betwee... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ezLZ_ZxidfE 1184 2023-04-16T05:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-norwegian-wood-this-bird-has-flown-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yxOm6odF32w/hqdefault.jpg Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Norwegian Wood by The Beatles. It's an all-time acoustic classic, and it's nowhere near as hard as it seems. It's one of my favorite Beatles songs! Many guitarists seem to learn this song wrong by using only Tabs. For this song, you should start with the bare bones of the tabs, and once you can play that, you can start adding all of the extra bits! We'll explore it by breaking it into two bits: the fretting hand and the strumming hand. And, we'll learn what's going on in the main riff and the bridge. :) 💡 Get that rhythm down using the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app! The backing tracks are a huge help to guide that tricky ryhtyhm. :) Chord & Strumming To play this classic Beatles tune, your guitar will be in standard tuning with your capo on the second fret. You'll mainly use your little finger to get the main riff melody. This chord structure plays around the D chord and requires lifting specific fingers to create that lovely melody. For the strumming, you're playing in 6:8 time using a mix of fingerpicking and strums. Your downstrums should always happen on the beat, and your upstrums on the 'And.' Make sure you keep that strumming hand moving, even if that means adding extra strums here and there! Tips For The Main Riff The chords of the riff are relatively simple, but you'll want to pay attention to the rhythm. With such a recognizable riff, many people only focus on getting the notes right without paying enough attention to the rhythm. The rhythm is what your audience will notice. Counting out loud will help. An even better idea is to use a metronome and gradually speed up your tempo. 🚨 Learn the basics nice and slow, get your melodies right, and just by playing, you'll start making it your own. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yxOm6odF32w 889 2018-01-25T05:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-layla-unplugged-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3242 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OujOCVtfUjs/hqdefault.jpg Layla (Unplugged) [2/3] by Eric Clapton Learn to play "Layla" by Eric Clapton on guitar (Part 2) In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Layla on the guitar. It's a fantastic tune that any Clapton fan will love to master. We've already looked at the intro and the intro solo, so now I'm going to take you through the chords for the song. They're pretty much all barre chords. It's kind of a shuffle strumming pattern, which we'll see together. So grab your guitar, and let's dive into this classic! Understanding the Chord Progression Now, the magic of Layla lies in its compelling chord progression. We'll start with a C minor, which sets the mood right from the get-go. This is followed by a G#7, adding a bit of complexity to the mix. Then, we transition to a C# minor, which brings in a beautiful tension. You'll move through chords like C, D, E, and E7, each adding unique flavor to the song. As you progress, you'll encounter an F# minor, B, and E, followed by an F minor. This sequence wraps up with a B, E, and A before circling back with the riff that's the C#. This progression might seem overwhelming at first, but take it slow, and you'll soon have it down. It's all about feeling the rhythm and letting the chords flow naturally. Mastering the Strumming Pattern One of the joyful challenges in this song is its shuffle strumming pattern. Picture it as a dance, with your hand moving in a down, down, up, up, down motion. Feel the groove, and let your hand flow with the rhythm. Remember, there are two guitars in the original recording, each adding its twist, so don't worry about matching it note-for-note. Instead, focus on capturing the essence of the song. Choruses and Verses: Keeping the Flow Keep that hand moving in the verses, whether you're strumming up or down. It's all about maintaining a steady groove. For the chorus, switch up the strumming to mostly down strums, which gives it a strong, driving feel. These variations make Layla so dynamic and exciting to play. Final Thoughts Take your time with each section. Break down the song into manageable parts, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OujOCVtfUjs 385 2018-02-08T14:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/leonard-cohen-hallelujah-melody-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-118 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xPK7WkYPzR4/hqdefault.jpg Hallelujah [Melody] by Leonard Cohen Learn how to play Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" guitar melody! Hey, how you doing? In this lesson, we'll check out how to play the melody of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen on the guitar. Playing melodies on the guitar is a great way to develop your musicianship and a crucial skill – especially if you want to play instrumental guitar music. Let's check it out. :) 💡 Learn how to play the melody of any song! Yes, by ear - and it's easier than you might think! Leonard Cohen Hallelujah Guitar Melody: Time Signature Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is in 6/8 time, meaning it has six beats per bar. We usually count the 6/8 rhythm in two groups of three pulses. Check out this beginner lesson to master this time signature. When we want to learn the rhythm and phrasing of a song, we have to imagine we're singing the melody as we play it on the guitar. The only difference is that you sing through the guitar, not your voice. :) 🎵 The phrasing varies enormously across the several famous versions of this song. Listen to Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright's versions. The vocals are all really different. We'll explore a very simple, beginner version of the melody! It works great if you're new to guitar. I suggest you get really confident with the basic notes, then start experimenting. One thing you can experiment with right away is the phrasing. It's a vocal melody – it's loose and flowing, not rigid and regimented. Play around with the feel and let your musical mind guide you as you play. Let's get into the melody. :) Leonard Cohen Hallelujah Guitar Melody: Verse The fingering and notes we cover here are a simple version. Learn this, then start exploring. For the first melody line ("I heard there was..."), you'll need 5:7 (E), played with finger 3, 4:5 (G), using finger 1, and 4:7 (A), played with finger 3. It goes: 5:7, 4:5, 4:5, 4:5, 4:5, 4:7, 4:7, 4:7. The next line (that David played...) is slightly different: 5:7 4:5 4:5 4:5 5:7 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:7. Then it's "but you don't really care...". The notes are all on string ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPK7WkYPzR4 1276 2022-02-17T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-whole-lotta-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QoZbYpbf0wg/hqdefault.jpg Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin Rock Guitar? Learn "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin! Whole Lotta Love is one of the most iconic's Jimmy Page riffs. If you're a complete beginner, you can keep this song super simple - you'll still be able to play the riff and sound cool! But Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin is full of awesome techniques to practice if you want to get into Rock Guitar. :) 💡 Following my Beginner Guitar Course? You'll get into Introduction to Rock Guitar right in Grade 2. :) It's relatively easy to play Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin on the electric guitar. Still, things get more advanced if you want to play it with details. The solo is definitely not for beginners either - but this tutorial will cover it too! So, we'll start off very simple and add on extra bits as we go. We'll also discuss how much accuracy you should look for when learning a song like Whole Lotta Love! Especially if your focus today is to learn how to play those Jimmy Page solos, knowing exactly how to get that stuff down will help you develop your musicianship. ;) Now, let's get stuck in and get our electric guitar on! How to play Whole Lotta Love - for beginners. :) Even if you're not a beginner, you'll probably want to start with the basics. The first thing we'll learn is the riff! You're starting with your third finger on the thickest string on the 7th fret. Off you go! 💡 Learning songs by ear is a skill I recommend to everyone. It's great for beginners who just want to play songs for fun and guitar players looking forward to becoming complete musicians. If you're up for it - check out my free lesson 4 Easy Steps to Transcribing. :) Transcribing is not on your plans for today? Not to worry - this free video tutorial will teach you this riff step-by-step, and your guitar skills will also benefit a lot from it! If you need extra help - get official JustinGuitarTABS to follow along with this Whole Lotta Love tutorial! Rock Guitar Techniques To nail this Whole Lotta Love riff, you'll need some basic rock guitar techniques. You're picking out individual n... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QoZbYpbf0wg 1431 2021-12-31T08:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/robbie-williams-angels-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-218 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DSk4LArTqgo/hqdefault.jpg Angels by Robbie Williams Learn How to Play "Angels" by Robbie Williams on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Angels on the guitar. This fantastic song by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers is a joy to play, filled with a mix of open and barre chords, which we'll explore together. The Rhythm Before we start strumming away, let's talk about the rhythm. This song relies on a steady, even eighth-note rhythm. It's quite simple, with each down strum coinciding with an 'and' count – one AND two AND three AND four. It's almost like having a conversation with your guitar, where you emphasize certain words (or strums, in this case) more than others. The Intro As we begin the song, we'll introduce an E sus4 chord. This chord adds a refreshing flavor to the familiar E major chord we all know and love. It's a beautiful way to kick off this heartfelt song. Verse and Pre-Chorus Moving into the verse and pre-chorus, we'll play around with a couple of chords, mainly E and A. As you strum these chords, feel the emotion of the song. Each chord is like a brush stroke, painting the song's emotion. We'll also introduce a B chord here, which adds depth to the melody. The way we play the B chord in this song adds a unique touch to its sound that really stands out. The Chorus and the Fill Then comes the chorus. It's a triumphant part of the song, and we'll start it off with a B chord. This time, we'll play the B chord in a different position, which lends a different tone to the song. We'll also play an E chord with a G# bass, which sounds complex but is quite straightforward once you get the hang of it. This chord brings a rich, full sound to the chorus. As a bonus, there's a nice little fill we can put in on the F# minor chord that mimics what the piano is doing in the song. Final Thoughts That's Angels in a nutshell. It's a really lovely one to play. Though the chorus might feel a bit high to sing along to, don't let that discourage you. The beauty of music is in the playing, not just the singing. And who knows, maybe with a bit of practice, y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DSk4LArTqgo 843 2017-11-29T17:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-band-the-weight-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-411 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5GCLDudED0/hqdefault.jpg The Weight by The Band Learn How to Play "The Weight" by The Band on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Weight on the guitar. This classic song by The Band features the talented Robbie Robertson, one of the most brilliant guitarists of his time. His style and technique are well worth exploring, and this song provides a perfect opportunity to do just that. The Weight is an iconic song that has left its mark on the music world. We'll focus on the version from 'The Last Waltz,' known for its memorable intro and distinctive chord progressions. Don't worry if you're new to guitar or not familiar with the song; we'll start from the basics and gradually build up to more complex techniques. The Chords The song begins with an A chord, which forms the backbone of the song's chord progression. Whether you play the open chord or the bar chord at the fifth fret, the choice depends on what you're comfortable with. A sequence that runs through A, C sharp minor, D, and then back to A characterizes this song. This sequence is repeated four times for each verse, creating a pattern you'll quickly get the hang of. The Verse and Chorus In the verse, the song starts on A for two beats, transitions to C sharp minor, moves to D, and then returns to A. It's a simple sequence, but it's the song's foundation. The chorus starts with an A again, but only for one beat. Then it switches to an E with a G sharp bass and transitions to a D chord. We repeat this sequence three times, then it stops on a D chord. A Unique Element One of the unique elements of The Weight is the introduction of a three, four bar in the chorus, a somewhat unusual feature in most songs. This little twist, combined with the song's stacked harmonies, gives The Weight its distinctive sound that has captivated audiences for decades. Tips for Learning While the chord progression and pattern might seem simple, achieving the right feel is crucial. The rhythm and groove of this song are what make it special. A good tip is to play along with 'The Last Waltz' version of the song,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5GCLDudED0 969 2017-12-04T13:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pharrell-williams-happy-uke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kyj5t9HDbTk/hqdefault.jpg Happy (UKE) by Pharrell Williams Learn How to Play "Happy" by Pharrell Williams on the Ukulele In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Happy on the ukulele. This upbeat, catchy tune is sure to bring a smile to your face and will be a hit at any gathering. This song is a great choice for those wanting to expand their ukulele skills. It offers a fun way to learn new chords and rhythms, and it's a song that everyone knows and loves. So grab your ukulele, and let's get started! The Verse The verse of Happy uses a chord progression that's easy to remember. It starts with an F7, moves to a B♭, jumps up to a C, and then back down to B♭. This progression repeats four times, creating the backbone of the verse. The Rhythm Getting the rhythm right is crucial to capturing the feel of Happy. We start by playing the F7 on beat one. After playing the chord, we also add some percussive elements by muting the strings with the outside part of the palm. This keeps the sound tight and prevents the chords from ringing out too long. The rhythm for the remaining chords is a simple down, down, down, up, up, up, up, up, down pattern. The Chorus Moving into the chorus, we encounter a cool D♭maj7 chord. From there, we transition to a Cmin7, a C7sus4, and then a regular F. These chords continue to repeat throughout the chorus, providing a catchy and uplifting backdrop to the lyrics. In the chorus, we also change the rhythm a bit to keep things interesting. A suggested strumming pattern to start off with is: down, down, up, up, down, down, down, up, up. Adding Some Flavor Try incorporating some muted strumming into your playing for a bit of added flavor. This technique involves lightly resting your fingers on the strings and strumming, creating a percussive effect. It's a great way to keep the rhythm moving during parts of the song where there are big breaks with no chords. This technique can also help keep the rhythm going during the bridges of the song, where there are long sections without any chords. If you plan to have a sing-along, it's crucial that someone keeps t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kyj5t9HDbTk 393 2017-11-07T13:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-wet-sand-the-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-009 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yT-ZVpAxJ-Q/hqdefault.jpg Wet Sand (The Solo)! by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn how to play the solo of "Wet Sand" by Red Hot Chili Peppers! Wet Sand is an incredible solo by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This solo is played by John Frusciante, a guitar genius. He plays a few notes - but really puts his heart and soul into it! And that passion delivers. There's nothing too technically difficult with this solo. Getting the right notes and putting some yourself is going to be the challenge here! You'll need plenty of skills and techniques to make it sound right - but it's not too tricky to get started on. This solo is excellent for intermediate-level guitar players who want to put their learning into practice. How To Play Wet Sand Solo The many string bending is what shines in this solo. You're playing big bends without vibratos, so you really have to make sure your string bends are spot on! This is what's going to give that incredible sound and depth to this solo. The best way to do this is to play along with the original recording. Listen to it and play along to really learn this solo. Focus on getting the string bending and notes right. Don't worry too much about the pick directions! And remember, don't expect to get it all straight away! These kinds of solos take effort and time to learn. And they're usually the most reward. You'll practice loads of skills in the process, and it'll help you with loads of more complex songs. Just focus on keeping the strings tidy & bending the strings in tune with the original recording. Wet Sand Solo Guitar Tips Like all great guitar solos, they're best learned by listening to them. Listen to the original recording and try to play along. If you can't play it up to speed right away, it's a good idea to use software to slow down the recording. In the transcribing section of my website, I put in some links for software that does this. When learning a solo, I like to slow down the original recording by 70 percent to really try and get the feel of notes. This will make sure you get the bends in tune, and it'll help you aim for that same sound. If you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yT-ZVpAxJ-Q 908 2017-10-24T12:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/wheatus-teenage-dirtbag-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-204 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vcyc3CmEIjM/hqdefault.jpg Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus Learn how to play "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus on guitar! Teenage Dirtbag has a distinctive vibe, and it's perfect for learning how to integrate riffs with power chords and vary your strumming dynamics. All the sections are the same, so it's pretty easy to turn out even after a beer or two - get it into your party repertoire! :) 🔥 Fun times! This 90's pop-rock classic is an awesome song that brings back great memories of playing in cover bands in my early twenties. Let's start by learning how to play the main chord part for Teenage Dirtbag. Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus: Intro & Verse Chords The chords for the main progression are simple, but to sound like Wheatus, you need to nail the strumming pattern. If you get it right, people will recognize the song right away. :) Each chord lasts half a bar, and the progression is: E, Bsus4, E, Asus2 (x3) C#m7, Asus2, Bsus4, Bsus4 (x2) See the video for a full demo of this chord progression with the lyrics. The chord names sound horrible, but they're pretty easy and should be no problem if you've done Grade 2 of my Beginner Course. :) Asus2 is an easy open chord, and Bsus4 and C#m7 are power-chord grips with open strings. And there's more good news - the exact strumming pattern is pretty simple: "U D D hit" on each chord. Practice it with one chord until it's automated, then try the full progression. :) 🚨 We create the percussive hit with the strumming hand, not the fretting hand. Check out this lesson on percussive hits to master them. ;) We need 16th notes to count this rhythm accurately, but it's best you feel the groove and try to mimic it. As always, it helps loads if you're familiar with the song! Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus: Chorus Chords & Guitar Riffs The chorus progression is four reps of |E A | |B C#5 G#5|. At the end, we add a short bar of 2:2 - more on that to come. The verse strumming pattern works well here, but make sure you up the volume by strumming (and singing!) louder. :) To help with this, I go for a full A open chord. You might notice we switc... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vcyc3CmEIjM 968 2023-05-28T07:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-shake-it-off-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-053 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GNCKfuNnvRQ/hqdefault.jpg Shake It Off by Taylor Swift LEARN HOW TO PLAY "SHAKE IT OFF" ON GUITAR! In this lesson, we’ll learn to play Shake It Off by Taylor Swift on guitar. I admire her pop songwriting, and this song demonstrates her skill. There are only three chords, yet it’s still fabulous because of how she structures the dynamics. Shake It Off is the perfect example of how a pop tune works, so we’ll explore a few things that you can apply to many pop songs! If you’re starting out on guitar, keep things simple. You can sound wicked with basic chords and strumming! But there’s lots for advancing beginners and intermediate players to check out too. 🌠 Make It Your Own: As always, I encourage you to get creative with the rhythm and chords. This is your cover of Shake It Off, so play it your way. :) Enough chat - let’s play. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift: Chord Progression As we know, there's only one chord progression in the entire song: Am, Am, C, C; G, G, G, G. Check out the Chord Progression chapter for a chord-vocal demo with simple strumming. :) 💡 Need to learn these three essential open chords? Check out the chord charts below this text, or head to Grade 1 of my Beginner’s Course for detailed lessons on each. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift: Strumming Patterns By Level If you’re a beginner guitarist, start by playing one strum per chord. This helps you get used to the chord changes, tempo, and phrasing. Jamming along with Taylor Swift also helps. :) This pattern is a bit dry, so once you feel comfortable with it, practice four downstrums to the bar. This gives it some more groove. And we can use a simple trick to spice it up and make it sound authentic: accents on the backbeat. On beats 1 and 3, we hit the bass notes, then we strum all six strings on beats 2 and 4, meaning these beats are louder. Can you hear that you sound groovier already? :) 🔥 Master Your Dynamics: Dynamics are so important for solo guitarists that I made a whole course on them! Check out my Strumming Dynamics course to transform your sound. The thing is, this rhythm pattern also gets borin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNCKfuNnvRQ 884 2020-12-30T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-screaming-jets-better-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-511 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o8aUwcIIfn8/hqdefault.jpg Better by The Screaming Jets Learn to play "Better" by The Screamin' Jets on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "Better" by The Screamin' Jets on the guitar. This Aussie classic is a great tune that always gets the crowd going, whether you're playing in a pub in Australia or an Aussie bar in London. It's not particularly difficult, but it's really fun to play and gives you a chance to let rip a bit towards the end. Main Riff The song begins with a main riff that underlies the verses. This riff might seem a little strange at first, but with the right rhythm and picking technique, you'll get the hang of it in no time. It's all about getting that rhythm right and keeping your picking consistent. Verse and Chorus After the main riff, we move into the verse. At the end of the verse, there's an A chord followed by a note on the thinnest string. Then we have an F sharp, A, D, and A twice. Keeping the rhythm here is also important, so we'll spend some time making sure you've got it down. In the chorus, we have an A chord followed by a C chord. You'll use a power chord here, trying to avoid the second string. We'll use a rock G that gives a nice, crunchy sound for the G chord. This sequence is played twice for the chorus. Bridge and Solo The song's bridge section is just an A chord with some harmonics ringing out. The solo section at the end is where things get frantic, with the chords A, C, G, and A again. It's all about thrashing it out on that same chord sequence to build up the energy of the song. Wrapping Up "Better" by The Screamin' Jets is a must-know for any guitarist, especially if you're playing in a covers band. It's a good, fun song to play and a great way to learn about picking direction and rhythm, and getting your sound just right. I use a Strat for this lesson, but you can use any guitar with a humbucking pickup. You'll want to have a lot of gain, but not too much - remember, it's rock, not metal. Ready to get started? Grab your guitar, watch the video, and let's dive in. You'll have a blast learning to play "Better" by... https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8aUwcIIfn8 602 2017-12-03T11:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lee-hazlewood-me-and-charlie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cTBBaVcVpmk/hqdefault.jpg Me And Charlie by Lee Hazlewood Learn How to Play "Me and Charlie" by Lee Hazlewood on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Me and Charlie on the guitar. This song by the fantastic producer and songwriter Lee Hazlewood is a great piece for beginners. It offers a rich learning experience with its interesting strumming aspects. You might know Hazlewood for producing great music by Nancy Sinatra, but he also has his own albums. This particular song is a fine example of his work. The Chords At the heart of Me and Charlie are three fundamental guitar chords - A, D, and E. If you're not familiar with these chords, check out the beginner's course lessons on my website. These lessons will guide you through the process of playing these chords and provide valuable tips on changing between them rapidly, which is crucial in mastering any song. Understanding how the chords and the lyrics relate to each other is another integral part of learning any song. Playing through the song while singing the lyrics can help cement this relationship in your mind. The Rhythm and Strumming Pattern As we dive into the rhythm of this song, we'll start with a very simple playthrough. We'll be playing four down strums to the bar. It's always a good idea to start with an easy rhythm, master the chords and the changes, and then gradually add more complex strumming patterns. The core sequence of this song begins with an A chord for a bar, followed by two strums on D, two on E, and then back to A for a whole bar, and then E for a whole bar. This sequence repeats throughout the song, but with some variations you'll need to be aware of. Once you're confident with the basic changes, it's time to spice things up a bit. The strumming pattern is down, down, down, up, down, up, down, down, down, up, down, up. It's not about being mathematically correct; it's about feeling the rhythm. The best way to feel the rhythm is to play along with the original recording. This will help you lock in the rhythm and feel more connected with the music. As your rhythm skills develop, yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTBBaVcVpmk 623 2018-02-04T22:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-a-boy-named-sue-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-048 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FiT3nyiZaFw/hqdefault.jpg A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash How to Play "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash on Guitar Howdy! This is one of my all-time favorite Johnny Cash songs. And it’s what I call a grower. It’s a great song for beginners because it only has three chords. But to make it sound really authentic, you’ll want to add some fancy strumming. If you want to play the San Quentin Prison version, you’ll need a capo on fret 1. Most of the other versions are capoless! Anyways, let’s get into it. A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash: Chords Good news: the chord progression is super simple and repeats all the way through. You’ll need A, D, E, and back to A. Play each chord for a bar. That’s A D E A. Start by strumming four downstrums to the bar, making sure you change chords in time and keep the rhythm steady. Once that’s solid, you can make it more complex. 🎸 One Minute Changes – if you’re struggling to make quick chord changes, don’t worry. Check out my super-popular One-Minute Changes exercise. A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash: Performance Tips With songs like this, there isn’t a set rhythm or phrasing to follow. This one is more like a story told over some chords than a song. So experiment with how you place the lyrics over the chords. If you keep the rhythm consistent, you can move the lyrics around as you please. Now let’s cover the strumming and rhythm. :) A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash: Rhythm This is a good one for experimenting with different strumming patterns. Try Old Faithful (1 2+ +4), playing it twice for each chord. To really make your playing sound authentic, pick the bass note with the thumb, then strum the chord by flicking finger 1 across the strings. On the A chord, we’ll play string 5 with my thumb, then strum strings 4, 3, 2, and 1 with finger 1. The rhythm is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + B D B D B D B D On the D chord, we do the same but hit string 4 with the thumb, and on the E, we hit string 6. Get comfortable with this pattern on each chord, then practice switching between them. 🔥 Pick specific notes as you play rhythm like a pro with my exclusive lesson on pi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiT3nyiZaFw 812 2020-11-28T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-dreams-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-215 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5tl0MnLo1yo/hqdefault.jpg Dreams by Fleetwood Mac Learn to play "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dreams on the guitar. This beautiful Fleetwood Mac classic is perfect for beginners and intermediate players looking to enhance their rhythm-playing skills. This song is a fantastic example of how simple chord progressions can create magical music when played with the right feel and groove. Most of the song revolves around just two chords - Fmaj7 and G - with a brief Am appearance during the instrumental section. Don't let this simplicity fool you, though - it's all about the rhythm and subtle variations that make this song special. 📱 Learn to play with my guitar app—beginner friendly lessons, interactive tutorials and exercises, and your favorite songs! Free trial available. Song Structure The song follows a straightforward pattern through the verses and choruses, maintaining that hypnotic Fmaj7 to G progression. There's a slight variation in the instrumental break where we introduce the A minor chord. Still, if you're playing this at a casual gathering, you can easily stick to the main progression throughout the song. Rhythm and Strumming The magic of Dreams lies in its rhythmic feel. We'll start with a basic four-down-strums-per-bar pattern to get comfortable with the chord changes. Once you've got that down, we'll explore a more dynamic strumming pattern that captures the song's groove. The key is to keep your strumming hand moving consistently, even when not hitting the strings. We'll work on varying the intensity between sections to keep the song interesting. The verses can be played with a lighter touch, while the pre-chorus builds tension, leading into a fuller, more robust chorus. Remember, it's not just about playing the right chords - it's about creating that dreamy, flowing feeling that makes this song memorable. Adding Character Once you're comfortable with the basic progression, we'll explore some chord variations and embellishments that can add extra flavor to your playing. These little touches will help ma... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5tl0MnLo1yo 1231 2025-04-04T17:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-sweet-virginia-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-185 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OMCp28iXEec/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones Learn "Sweet Virginia" by the Rolling Stones on the acoustic guitar! Learn how to play Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones on the acoustic guitar. Wow, what a tune! This song is great for working on shuffle strumming and linking open chords with fills. You'll need your capo on fret 2 for this one! I've seen a lot of versions of Sweet Virginia written with E, A, D, and B chords, but the fills only work with a capo and open chords. The capo can help us make fantastic music! We begin by looking at the chords and strumming. :) Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones – Guitar Chords and Rhythm The following is the simplest rhythm pattern you could play for this song, which I used in the video lesson. 1 trip let 2 trip let 3 trip let 4 trip let B U D U B U D U B means bass note 🎶 This is a Shuffle Rhythm: the upstrum (on the "lets") is closer to the next downstrum than the one before. Try it! It gives a totally different feel to the song. :) Go deep into shuffle strumming with my Strumming Dynamics course. Let's look at the chords. We only need the standard G, C, D, and A open chords. The intro lasts 20 bars: G, D, G, G C, A, G, G C, A, G, G C, A, G, C G, D, G, G And the verse is the same as the intro, except we miss the first four bars! I suggest you memorize the chord progression before looking at the fills between the bars. :) Got that progression down? Great – it's time to look at those wicked fills. Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones – Guitar Linking Lines The bass runs and embellishments have a clear pattern that repeats for most of Sweet Virginia. Let's start with the bass movement between the C and A chords. Hit string 5 on beat 3 of the C chord. On beat 4, we put finger 2 down on 5:2. This is B. When we change to A on beat 1, we hit open string 5 (the note A). Between the A and G chords, the run is E (6:0), F# (6:2), and G (6:3). The rhythm is the same. 💡 Fingering Choices: I like to play the F# note with my thumb, but this is a little tricky for many guitarists. Finger 2 also works great. :) When switching... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OMCp28iXEec 855 2023-02-08T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-the-heart-of-saturday-night-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YXeuPSmZ1KU/hqdefault.jpg The Heart Of Saturday Night by Tom Waits Learn to Play "The Heart of Saturday Night" by Tom Waits on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "The Heart Of Saturday Night" on the guitar. This is one of my all-time favorite songs. It's powerful and beautiful, and I think it will do something special for you, too. It's got a really beautiful fingerpicking intro and then a cool fingerstyle pattern for the rest of the song. It's very close to the original recording, so you'll be learning to play it the right way! Tuning First, we need to get our guitar in the right tuning. We're going to use a drop D tuning, which means you'll need to tune your thickest string down to a D note. You can use your open fourth string as a reference to tune that thickest string down. When you hit that big, fat D chord, you'll hear how much body it gives to the song! 👉 Need more help with drop D tuning? Check out this lesson! Song Structure The song follows a classic verse-bridge structure, with some beautiful chord progressions that really capture the late-night, melancholic feel of the lyrics. The verse progression moves through D to A7, then takes us through a series of G variations (G/B, G/A, G, G/F#) before landing on Em7 and Asus2. The bridge section provides a nice contrast, starting on G/B and moving through some half-bar changes that create movement and tension. Playing Technique The fingerpicking pattern is what really makes this song special. We use a combination of thumb and finger patterns that create a flowing, continuous movement. The thumb handles most of the bass notes while the other fingers create the melodic elements above. While it might seem challenging at first, we'll break it down into manageable pieces that you can practice separately before putting it all together. Learning Tips Start with the basic chord changes before adding the fingerpicking pattern. Once you're comfortable with the chord progression, focus on getting the thumb pattern solid–this is the foundation of the whole song. Then, gradually add in the finger patterns one at a time. Ta... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YXeuPSmZ1KU 1052 2017-11-29T15:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/billy-joel-uptown-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-254 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XHZehXvZioc/hqdefault.jpg Uptown Girl by Billy Joel Learn how to play Uptown Girl by Billy Joel on guitar! 👨 It's an absolute cracker of a tune. I rediscovered it because my daughter was learning it for theatre school, so I had to hear it over and over again in the car—and that's when I realized how cool it really is. We're not trying to copy the exact recording here—instead, we're putting together a version that works great for solo acoustic guitar. Think campfire vibe or a fun sing-along arrangement. This approach leads us to some very cool chord shapes and unusual movements that sound great. Interesting Chords to Explore This song gives us a great mix of chord types: Open chords Barre chords Fresh variations like F♯m11, E/G♯, and B half diminished (Bm7♭5) We'll examine different voicings and fingerings to determine what feels best under our fingers and sounds best to our ears. Great Practice for Intermediate Players This isn't a beginner tune, but if we're intermediate and looking to stretch, this is fantastic. It's a brilliant example of pop songwriting with: Multiple unique chord progressions A clever double pre-chorus A bridge with unusual changes And even key changes that keep things fresh We'll explore song structure, harmony, and arrangement while building our chord vocabulary. Strumming, Rhythm, and Dynamics We'll also spend time on: Strumming options (from simple to advanced) Building dynamics throughout the song Choosing how and when to intensify or simplify Starting simple and adding layers as we go gives us control and makes the arrangement our own. Whether we strum big or keep things chill, there's no one right way. 🤘 Extra Tip: Use Backing Tracks If we want help with rhythm, timing, or just jamming along, the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App has loads of backing tracks that can help us lock in the groove. Even if we’re beyond beginner-level chords, we can still use those tracks to try harder ideas—like triads, inversions, or second guitar parts—in an easier musical setting. If we're into songwriting, this is one to study. The way it shifts, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XHZehXvZioc 1084 2025-06-20T09:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/cyndi-lauper-true-colors-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/klSSARvmWeA/hqdefault.jpg True Colors by Cyndi Lauper How to Play "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play True Colors by Cyndi Lauper on the guitar. This beautiful classic pop song is a joy to learn and will be a great addition to your guitar repertoire. True Colors is a unique song to learn because there isn't any guitar on the original recording. This gives us a bit of freedom in the way we play it. The main part of the song that I'll be teaching is the keyboard part on the guitar, which forms the song's iconic riff. Once you've got that down, you can play around with the rest of the song. The Song Structure The song structure for True Colors is fairly straightforward. For the most part, we'll use two chords per bar throughout the song. The original recording has a few exceptions, but we'll keep it simple for our version. Some of these chords are "pushed," meaning they come in a little bit earlier than you might expect. The Verse The verse of True Colors has a beautiful progression that starts with A minor, then G with a B bass, followed by C to C with an E base. Then we have an interesting F add9 chord. This progression then leads to A minor and G. This sequence is the backbone of the verse and gives the song its distinctive sound. The Chorus The chorus introduces a few new chords. We start off with F, then move to C, followed by a G sus4 and G. This progression then leads back to F, C with an E base, and back to F. After this, we have a quick sus and G, followed by a sequence of F, C, D minor, and A minor. Make it Your Own One of the best things about learning True Colors is the room for experimentation it provides. You can explore different ways to play the chords, add extra notes, or even incorporate scales into your playing. This song is all about making it your own and finding your unique sound. True Colors by Cyndi Lauper is a wonderful song to learn on the guitar. It's a classic pop song that's sure to be a hit at any gathering. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or just starting out, this song will offer som... https://www.youtube.com/embed/klSSARvmWeA 927 2017-11-29T18:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/leonard-cohen-hallelujah-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mzm1enk7W4Y/hqdefault.jpg Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Learn "Hallelujah" By Leonard Cohen On Acoustic Guitar! I love this tune, and I'm sure you will too! Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is a relatively easy song to play on the acoustic guitar. After completing Grade 3 of my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll have all the skills you need to play this song. :) We'll look at a basic version of the song along with a more authentic version and ways you can make it sound real authentic. 💭 My personal favorite cover of Hallelujah is probably the one by Rufus Wainwright. The Jeff Beck version is also great! What's your favorite Hallelujah version? Let me know in the Discussion section! Definitely check out the many awesome covers of this song if you haven't already! That will also help you make your own cover. :) Now, let's get stuck in and learn how to play Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen on the acoustic guitar! Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen – Chords All the chords in Hallelujah are open chords except for the F Chord to play Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. We'll need C, Am, F, G, and E, and that's it for the entire song. The intro progression is real simple: C Am C Am. The verses are pretty similar: C Am C Am, F G C G. In the pre-chorus section, we go C |F G | Am F G E Am Am. And the chorus is also easy: F F Am Am, then F F C G C G. When the chord progression goes G to E to A Minor, I often play an E/G#, which is simply an E Chord with a G# in the bass. The grip I use is pretty stretchy! You don't have to do that – I do it because I enjoy the bass movement from G to G# to A. 💡 Check out this Essential Slash Chords lesson to understand more about moving the bass note on a chord. If you want to play Hallelujah as I do, use this grip for E/G#: 4X2450. I use finger 1 for 4:2, finger 2 on 6:4, finger 3 for 3:4, and finger 4 on 2:5. This isn't the kind of thing I'd typically show beginners, but if you're up for a challenge – this is a great one! If it's too tricky, just play a regular E open chord (022100). Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen – Rhythm Beginners might find that this song has a differ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mzm1enk7W4Y 853 2018-01-25T12:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/live-lightning-crashes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-133 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SvprIPI0XZg/hqdefault.jpg Lightning Crashes by Live Learn how to play "Lightning Crashes"by Live on guitar! Lightning Crashes by Live is a 90's classic and a fantastic song for practicing your barre chords – you'll need them for pretty much the whole song! :) You'll find a different strumming pattern in the verses and the choruses, so it's also an excellent song to practice your dynamics. 💡 Want to learn faster? Grab your JustinGuitarTABS subscription and get chords, lyrics, and tab to follow along with my song lessons! Though the tabs are great for picking up the chord progression, your ultimate goal should be to memorize the chords. Now let's get to a close-up and check out how to play Lightning Crashes by Live on guitar. Lightning Crashes by Live – Guitar Chords & Sequences The progression for the verses is E B F# F#. You'll start with an open E chord (022100) and then jump to a B barre chord with an A shape (X24442). If you can't play this chord change smoothly, I'd recommend spending some time practicing that alone. A smooth transition will make you sound way better! The next chord you need is an F# Major using E Major grip (244322). And that's all the chords you need to play the verses. To switch back to E from F#, you can either lift off the barre and slide fingers 2, 3, and 4 back two frets, or switch to the standard fingering with fingers 1, 2, and 3. Whatever you want! We repeat this progression four times for one verse. The chorus progression is the same except the duration of the chords: E and B last half a bar each, and F# lasts one bar. 🚨 Check out my Ultimate Guide to Easy E-Shape Barre Chords and learn how to play them! Playing barre chords is all about getting the right mechanics, and that video lesson will sort that out for you. :) The progression changes in the bridge: G#m (466444), D#m (X68876), G#m, D#m ; G#m, D#m, E (X79997), F#. So you'll need an E-shape minor barre chord for G#m, an A-shape minor barre chord for D#m, and an A-shape Major barre chord for E. :) Lightning Crashes by Live – Rhythm Lightning Crashes has a nice little groo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SvprIPI0XZg 716 2022-03-11T04:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-knack-my-sharona-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4ekpN-autHA/hqdefault.jpg My Sharona by The Knack Learn to play "My Sharona" by The Knack on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play My Sharona by The Knack on the guitar. It's an excellent song that will test your guitar skills. It might seem a bit complicated if you're new to band play. However, if your band has been jamming together for a while, this song will make an awesome addition to your playlist. We'll go through all the song's different parts, except for the lead solos. Your task will be to listen to the recording and make sure you place them in the right order. This might sound challenging, but it's not too hard, especially if you have a songbook in front of you. The Rhythm This tune uses eighth-note strumming throughout. So, any notes on the beat will be taken with a down pick, and any notes on the offbeats, or the "ands," are going to be played with an up pick. Riff, Pre-Chorus, and Chorus The first riff of the song is all based around the note G in an octave shape, and it's all about getting the rhythm right. It's not a tricky riff, but it does require careful listening. The pre-chorus part of the song is based around the octaves on the G. There is also a little slide up to the B flat. This slide from the third fret up to the sixth fret that starts on the "and" after four is a little interesting bit you need to get right. After the pre-chorus, we've got a C chord, then we go back to the main riff, and then we're into the chorus riff again. The rhythm is the only tricky bit here, and it's all about getting it right. The Rhythm Guitar under the Solo Under the solo, there is a really cool chord progression. It starts with a regular C bar chord, and we put our little finger down in the sixth fret of the second string, which gives us a C sus4. Then we move up to an E flat chord, and we pop a little finger down now in the tenth fret of the third string, and this time, we're only plucking the fifth, fourth, and third strings. There are other rhythm guitar parts that we need for this tune, including a bit that goes over a C bass note. This is... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ekpN-autHA 747 2017-12-04T11:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/radiohead-paranoid-android-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-211 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x-jxyRXLxVM/hqdefault.jpg Paranoid Android by Radiohead Learn "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn to play a one-guitar version of Paranoid Android by Radiohead that works great at open mics and parties. It incorporates almost all the best elements of the awesome Radiohead original - from the picking patterns to the 7:4 section and the fantastic riff. Paranoid Android by Radiohead is one of the hardest tunes I've tried to play on guitar and sing. Recording this lesson was a lot of work! :) But it was so worth it - it's an unbelievable song packed with awesome guitar playing. 💬 Want a Lesson for the Lead Parts? Join the Discussion and let le know! I'm still transcribing the crazy electric solos, and I may release a lesson on them if enough of you request it. ;) The Secret for Nailing Paranoid Android by Radiohead Before we dig into the detail, let's cover the most crucial part of playing this song - consistent hand movement. We go into the exact notes, strings, and beats that Radiohead plays, but don't get bogged down. The rhythm and feel are way more important, and you can only get it right by keeping your strumming hand moving as you play. 🚨 Always keep your playing musical - no matter how tricky the song is. Feel the music and get into the groove. :) Time to look at how to play Paranoid Android - so let's get stuck in! Paranoid Android by Radiohead: Intro & Verse You need some moveable chord shapes and picked fingerstyle to play the intro and verse. We go into loads of detail in the Intro & Verse chapters, and you can get full tabs, chords, and lyrics at JustinGuitarTabs. 💡 How to Learn It: Study this part and learn the details until you can play it perfectly, then loosen up. You don’t need to hit the exact notes - make sure you hold solid time and keep it musical. :) Counting this part is tricky, so I rely on my musical imagination to get it right. I think of the song and make my hands replicate the sound! You'll need to listen to the original loads to play like this. Don't get me wrong - counting is useful, and you shou... https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-jxyRXLxVM 1830 2023-07-16T04:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-1152 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GB5aYErGw5E/hqdefault.jpg Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer [2/3] by Xmas Classic Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This song was part of the Xmas Special 2007 that was available as a YouTube Video and also as a bonus DVD (no longer available). I'll get around to remaking this video at some point - amazing how much better quality video is these days eh! Click here to download a TAB pdf file of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Click here to download a GuitarPro file of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer The TAB will help you know where to put your fingers and which strings to pick and the GuitarPro version is great to use it as a play along because you can slow the tempo right down and hear it as well as see it, and it's a lot more fun than playing along with a metronome! Check your dashboard (you need to be logged in) to get a discount on GuitarPro7 from me! Hope you enjoy it and I wish you a wonderful Xmas and the very best for the new year :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/GB5aYErGw5E 447 2018-02-08T18:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-proud-mary-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-026 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BYmXqjtjU70/hqdefault.jpg Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival Learn How to Play "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Proud Mary on the guitar. This Creedence Clearwater Revival classic is not only fun to play but also features an iconic groove that will help develop your rhythm skills. While the intro might look intimidating at first, don't worry! We'll break everything down into manageable pieces and build up gradually. The song features a distinctive rhythm pattern that's become instantly recognizable, making it a great addition to your playing repertoire. Song Structure The verse and chorus structure is beautifully simple, making this an excellent song for beginners who are ready to tackle their first barre chord. The verse follows a straightforward progression of eight bars of D, followed by two bars of A7, two bars of B minor, and then four bars of D for the chorus. This simple progression allows you to focus on developing that signature groove that makes the song so special. The Signature Rhythm The heart of Proud Mary lies in its distinctive strumming pattern. It's a rhythm that's become synonymous with the song, and once you've mastered it, you'll be able to use it in many other songs. The pattern involves a combination of down and up strums with strategic mutes that create that infectious groove everyone knows and loves. When practicing the rhythm, remember that it doesn't have to be perfectly rigid. In fact, the song's charm comes from its slightly relaxed, loose feel. Think of it as having a laid-back groove rather than a strict mathematical pattern. This is especially important for beginners to understand—sometimes it's more about the feel than perfect precision. Building Up the Song We'll start with the basic verse pattern and gradually work our way up to the full arrangement. The intro, while slightly more complex, breaks down into manageable parts that you'll be able to master with practice. Remember, it's perfectly fine to start with just the basic chord progression and add the more intricate eleme... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BYmXqjtjU70 974 2018-02-04T19:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-who-behind-blue-eyes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-321 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uJ4mQW3ELSU/hqdefault.jpg Behind Blue Eyes by The Who Learn How to Play "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Behind Blue Eyes on the guitar. This classic song by The Who offers a great opportunity to develop both your strumming and fingerpicking skills. Originally recorded by The Who, Behind Blue Eyes features beautiful acoustic guitar work that alternates between gentle fingerpicking in the verses and more energetic strumming in the chorus. While it might seem challenging at first, we'll break it down into manageable sections to help you master this iconic tune. The song follows a classic verse-chorus structure, starting with a distinctive fingerpicked intro using an Esus4 chord. The verses maintain a mellow, introspective feel before building up to more intense choruses. Later in the song, a bridge section kicks up the energy with a faster, more rhythmic feel. Chord Progression The verse progression flows through Em, G, D (with occasional Dsus4), Cadd9, and Asus2. These chords create the song's contemplative mood. For the chorus, we move through C, D, and G, with some variations including an E to A transition that adds extra color to the progression. The bridge section introduces some variation with Em, Bm, and A chords, creating a more urgent feel that contrasts nicely with the gentler verses. Playing Tips Behind Blue Eyes presents two main challenges: the fingerpicking pattern in the verses and the timing of the strumming in the chorus. Don't worry if it feels tricky at first—that's completely normal! Start by practicing slowly and gradually build up your speed as you become more comfortable with the patterns. For the fingerpicking sections, try using your little finger as an anchor point on the guitar body. This can help you maintain better control and accuracy when moving between strings. Remember, adapting the picking pattern to suit your playing style is perfectly fine—even Pete Townshend varied his approach! When you're ready to tackle the chorus, start with simple strumming patterns and gradually add more compl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uJ4mQW3ELSU 1208 2017-12-03T11:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-walk-of-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zxsf9yvqA7M/hqdefault.jpg Walk Of Life by Dire Straits Learn The Easy Version Of "Walk Of Life" By Dire Straits on guitar! In this lesson, we'll explore the simplified version of Walk of Life of Dire Straits on guitar. This arrangement is ideal for Grade 1+ guitar players! You'll only need three chords to play this fun tune, and there are long stretches with no chord changes. We'll learn how to make it fancier and explore some rock and roll elements to sound like the original record. Grab your guitar & let's start with that easy version. How To Play Walk Of Life For Beginners To play along with the original Dire Strait recording, place your capo on the 7th fret. Putting your capo on the 7th fret will make things sound groovier, but you'll need to get your finger tightly together to get the core grip if you do this. This will be great practice and a solid workout for your fingers. To play this Direstrait song, you'll put to work your A, D, and E chords. For the beginner version, follow the chord sequences below: Intro: A, D, E, D, E, A Verse: A, D, A, D, A Chorus: A, E, A, D, A, E, D, E, A Work on the individual changes to make sure it's nice and flowing. Relax into this if you're a beginner! Start slow, and keep it simple. Practice doing One Minute Chord changes to prevent you from stopping between them! Walk Of Life Guitar Strumming If you're a beginner guitar player, keep your strumming real simple! Focus on keeping your rhythm consistent and anchoring your finger correctly. Make sure you do your downstrum on the beat. Once you feel confident with this tune, you can make easy strumming variations to make it tasty! You can strum twice as many instead of just going four beats per bar. If you do it this way - you'll be playing 8 all downstrums strumming by adding downstrum on the 'and' of your counts. Another variation incorporates a rock n roll pattern and will makes things sound more like the record. But it requires hammering techniques, palm muting, and some extra upstrums! This might be a challenge for guitar beginners, but still so much fun to try. It's so... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zxsf9yvqA7M 617 2018-02-04T19:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-don-t-look-back-in-anger-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-312 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AdWUg1eTxUE/hqdefault.jpg Don't Look Back In Anger by Oasis Learn to Play "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis on the guitar. This song is a fantastic example of the band's unique sound, and while it may seem simple at first, achieving the same feel as the record can take some work. * Note - the actual recording is not in A440 tuning so if you try to play along on a standard tuned guitar it won't sound good. If you have an adjustable tuner try tuning at A455. Or, search for a backing track that has been modified to standard. This song has quite a few little fills that give it its characteristic sound. We'll go through some of these fills and also see how you can create your own as you become more comfortable with the song. However, before we dive into the intricacies, we need to get a handle on the basic chords and strumming pattern. The Intro The intro of the song is straightforward, going from F to C. It's a good idea to play F just on the middle strings when playing the intro. This gives the song a unique feel and opens up the possibility of adding in those fills later. The Verse The chord progression for the verse is C, G, A minor, E, F, G, C, A minor, G. This sequence is repeated twice, with two beats on each chord, except for the A minor and G. When you're learning a song, it's a good idea to memorize it in chunks, so take it slow and break it down as needed. You can add a little downpick between the main beats to give the song some movement. This small detail can make a significant difference in how the song feels. But remember, starting with two strums on each chord line will be just fine. The Bridge Moving on to the bridge, we see a bit of a change. The chord progression starts with F and then moves to C for a whole bar, repeating this pattern. Then it transitions to A, G, and finally, an E with a G sharp bass. Let's Get Fancy We can get a bit more fancy once you've got the basic chords and strumming down. One technique to try is adding an extra down pick between the main be... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdWUg1eTxUE 1248 2017-12-04T12:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-gravity-rhythm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-805 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g0YBC1Ukwks/hqdefault.jpg Gravity [RHYTHM] by John Mayer Learn The Rhythm Guitar For "Gravity" by John Mayer! John Mayer’s guitar playing is always top notch, and Gravity is no exception. This song is among the best from his popular album Continuum, where he perfectly exemplifies his unique style. It features some tasty Hendrix-inspired rhythm parts alongside some lovely, simple, melodic solos. For this lesson, we’ll cover the basic chord structure and some embellishments. Switch over to the Gravity solo lesson to learn the awesome lead parts. Before you do though, give them a go on your own! Transcribing is great practice for your ear and helps you learn your fretboard inside out. :) These solos aren't difficult to figure out, and learning the key and chords first is a big advantage. Gravity by John Mayer: Chord Sequence Yes, a lot of guitar playing is about practice, but there are some aspects where anatomy plays a significant role! John Mayer's famously long thumb lets him play notes on the thickest string with incredible ease, so we often have to get creative when performing his music. 💡 Adapt it to you: You might be unfamiliar with some of the fingerings or find them uncomfortable. No problem - seek voicings that suit you and your anatomy. :) The progression has eight bars: G, C, G, C; Am, D, |Gm/B♭ E♭ |, D. This is the basic chord structure, but there's a lot more going on. For a start, the organ plays C6, and I think John plays C/E. For Am, he goes for Am7 with the thumb. This is an unusual grip and is too stretchy for me! Gm/B♭ is a cool chord - we use three notes from the Dm barre shape and add the note B♭ on string 6. Find out exactly how to play these chords in the video. :) Melodic Rhythm Guitar John adds a lot of melody to his rhythm playing in Gravity. To mimic this, you'll need to play G with the thumb and add embellishments with finger 3 or 4. He also adds Hendrixy embellishments by playing G as a C-shape chord. :) For C/E, we play a mini chord from the G shape. This shape is the A mini barre moved up three frets, with an extra note on string 5. The ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/g0YBC1Ukwks 818 2018-06-08T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/echosmith-cool-kids-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-083 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2lsSeEl6Exk/hqdefault.jpg Cool Kids by Echosmith How to Play "Cool Kids" by Echosmith on Acoustic Guitar In today's guitar lesson, we'll check out Cool Kids by Echosmith. If you dig pop as much as me, I'm sure you'll love playing this tune and trying out the vocal too. It's fun to play it solo, but you can really bring it to life in a band! Cool Kids sounds wicked excellent on the acoustic guitar. We'll learn an easy open-chord version, so even absolute beginners can play it! Then we'll look at all the tricks that give it that Echosmith touch. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Cool Kids by Echosmith in detail! To jam with Echosmith's original recording, you'll need a capo on the first fret. Here's What You'll Learn Capo Position Chord Progression Strumming Pattern How to Play the Riffs Chord & Strumming Alternatives Cool Kids by Echosmith - Easy Guitar Chords The sequence for the Cool Kids is Em, C, G, and D. It repeats for the entire song! If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you learn these grips in the very early stages. Make sure you use air changes to get your fingers ready for beat 1 of the bar. :) Check out the Chord Progression video chapter for a slow guitar and vocal demo of Cool Kids. Strumming Pattern When learning guitar, you should always allocate some time for playing songs along with the original recording. If you're a beginner, mute your strings and practice one strum per bar, making sure you change chords in time. 💡 The BIG secret of sounding awesome is to absorb and transmit the vibe of the song. Jamming with the original Echosmith recording is one of the best ways to do that! When you're comfortable playing the chord progression, it's time to experiment with strumming patterns! The Old Faithful pattern works well, but you'll notice it gets really boring since Cool Kids only has one chord sequence. To keep it interesting for the listener, you'll need to spice it up. Change Up Your Dynamics If you're a new guitarist, the easiest way to keep the listener engaged is by changing the dynamics using several strumming pat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2lsSeEl6Exk 897 2021-07-19T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/edwyn-collins-a-girl-like-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hak_BtyuyZQ/hqdefault.jpg A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins Learn how to play "A Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins on the guitar. This catchy '90s hit is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, and it's perfect for beginners looking to expand their skills. A Girl Like You is a great tune and an excellent practice piece for working on your A minor, D minor, and E minor chord grips. We'll use a capo on the third fret to make it easier for beginners, but don't worry – We'll see a more advanced version, too! So, grab your guitar, and let's dive in! The Chord Progression The chord progression for this song follows a simple yet effective pattern. It begins with an A minor chord played for four beats. This is followed by a D minor chord for two beats and an E minor chord for two beats. The sequence then repeats, starting with A minor for four beats, followed by D minor for two beats, and finally returning to A minor for the last two beats of the progression. This chord progression creates the song's signature sound, providing a solid foundation for the melody and vocals. The alternation between the minor chords adds depth and emotion to the music, while the consistent rhythm keeps the song moving forward smoothly. Mastering the Rhythm Now, let's focus on getting that rhythm right. The strumming pattern is what gives this song its groove. We'll start with a simple down-strum on each beat, but as you get more comfortable, we'll introduce a more complex pattern that I call the Old Faithful pattern: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Down, Down, Up, Up, Down. 👉 Check out this lesson for a more detailed explanation of Old Faithful Remember, the key to great strumming is keeping your hand moving smoothly. Your hand should be in constant motion even when you're not hitting the strings. This is the secret to achieving that effortless, professional sound. Song Structure and Variations While the main chord progression remains consistent throughout most of the song, there's a little twist to keep an ear out ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hak_BtyuyZQ 559 2017-12-03T08:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/buffalo-springfield-for-what-it-s-worth-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x4ZNerNVGIc/hqdefault.jpg For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield Learn How to Play "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield on the guitar. This iconic song is a timeless classic that's been inspiring guitarists for generations. The song's simple yet effective arrangement makes it particularly accessible for beginners while still maintaining its distinctive sound and feel. It features simple chord progressions and straightforward strumming patterns, making it an excellent choice for those just starting their guitar journey. Before we dive in, it's worth noting that the original recording is slightly flat compared to the standard concert pitch. While this might make playing along with the record a bit tricky, we'll be learning it in standard tuning, which works perfectly for performing the song on your own. Basic Chord Progression and Strumming Patterns The song primarily uses three basic chords: A, D, and E. You'll learn these fundamental chords in any beginner guitar course, making this song an excellent practice piece for new guitarists. The progression flows naturally, creating that signature hypnotic feel that makes the song so memorable. In this lesson, we'll explore two main strumming approaches. For beginners, we'll start with a simple, steady pattern that captures the song's essence. As you get more comfortable, we'll introduce a more nuanced strumming pattern that adds texture and dynamics to your playing. Verses and Choruses One of the beautiful aspects of this song is how it creates contrast between verses and choruses through different strumming patterns. The verses feature a floating, atmospheric feel, while the chorus tightens up with a more structured rhythm. This variation keeps the song interesting while remaining manageable for newer players. Singing and Playing This song is an excellent choice for practicing singing while playing guitar. The rhythm naturally complements the vocal melody, especially in the chorus, where the strumming pattern follows the vocal ph... https://www.youtube.com/embed/x4ZNerNVGIc 511 2018-02-04T22:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-brown-sugar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-350 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/51Lne9LYV7I/hqdefault.jpg Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones Learn to Play "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Brown Sugar on the guitar. This iconic tune from The Rolling Stones is well-known for its distinctive guitar riffs and unforgettable rhythm, making it a must-learn for any aspiring guitarist. Understanding the Song Brown Sugar is characterized by its lively rhythm and intricate guitar work. The song is played in open G tuning, a technique often used by Keith Richards. This tuning gives the song its unique sound and allows for the rich, resonant chords that are the hallmark of this track. The song doesn't use the thickest string, hinting at the stories of Keith Richards playing a five-string Telecaster in open G tuning. If you're a big fan of The Rolling Stones, you might want to try this out and experience playing the song in a way that mirrors the original technique. The Chords and Progression The song is made up of several distinct sections, each with its own chord progression. The first chord, which I'll call riff A, uses a bar with the first finger covering certain strings. This is followed by a series of movements between different chords, creating a classic Stones chord progression. The second chord, or riff B, starts with a bar at the eighth fret then adding and subtracting fingers to create a dynamic, moving sound. The song also incorporates a ninth chord, adding another layer of complexity and richness to the sound. In the verses, we move through a series of chords that create a lively, upbeat feel. This progression includes a six sus4 shape, an interesting chord that adds a unique flavor to the song. The chorus then introduces an open G chord and a series of notes that build up to a high-energy climax. Practice and Patience For more in-depth guidance, don't forget to watch the video. Don't worry if you don't get it right the first time. Playing Brown Sugar is about more than just the chords and the notes; it's about capturing The Rolling Stones' energy and spirit. Learning this song can be challeng... https://www.youtube.com/embed/51Lne9LYV7I 1440 2018-01-05T16:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-out-on-the-weekend-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-916 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hKdoT5BMceQ/hqdefault.jpg Out On The Weekend by Neil Young Learn how to play "Out On The Weekend" by Neil Young on Acoustic Guitar! Let's learn my favorite Neil Young song, Out On The Weekend, on acoustic guitar! This song contains many of his trademark tricks, and some are tricky to master. It's perfect for intermediate players who are getting into barre chords and alternative chord grips. Some parts are deceptively difficult, especially the rhythm. For instance, he plays the first A chord of the chorus an eighth note earlier than normal. That sounds easy conceptually, but it'll feel strange to play at first. Listening to the BBC live version will really help you master the details. :) Out On The Weekend: Rhythm Guitar The original recording is really slow and laid-back - I struggle to stay at his tempo! Sorry folks, I'm trying my best. :( A crucial part of the rhythm is the little palm-mute strum. It’s different from a normal rock palm mute, so practice with the original recording to nail the sound. We look at a rhythm pattern for the intro and verses, and a separate one for the chorus. 🚨 Keep Your Hand Moving: In all my Neil Young lessons, I encourage people to keep their strumming hand moving. This is one of Neil's trademark techniques and it gives him solid rhythm. Chords There are several barre chords in Out On The Weekend. On top of that, he often uses hammer-ons and flick-offs to add flair. Here’s another tricky part - he tends to play minor chords with his thumb fretting the 5th string! If you can pull this off, great. This will help you immensely when it comes to adding in the ornamental notes over Bm and C#m. :) 💡 Thumb Problems: Unfortunately for me, and it's not for lack of trying, I just can’t get my thumb over well enough to play that Bm chord easily and consistently. This means I have to do the embellishments differently. Ah well, I guess we can't all be Neil Young or John Mayer! In the chorus we move up the neck, and you'll need to get your thumb involved to copy Neil. :) He uses it to fret the note A on string 6 over several chords. But don't worry -... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKdoT5BMceQ 1103 2018-06-21T07:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/don-mclean-vincent-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-804 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TLo8MctNPt4/hqdefault.jpg Vincent by Don McLean Learn to play "Vincent" by Don McLean on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Vincent on the guitar. This song by Don McLean is truly beautiful. You might know it as "Starry, Starry Night," which is a common misconception, but Vincent is its correct title. This song has such a wonderful melody and a captivating feel that it's a joy to play and sing. We'll learn a few different ways to approach this song, starting with the basics and then moving on to the more intricate details. The exact recorded version can be quite challenging to play accurately, especially if you're also trying to sing along. So, we'll start with a super simple strummed version to get a feel for the chords and the song's structure. Then, we'll explore a simple fingerstyle version to add a touch of elegance. And for those ready for a real adventure, we'll go through the original-recording version because it's a truly interesting pattern and a fantastic skill builder. Simple Strummed Chords Let's kick things off with a really, really simplified version of the chords. For the verse, we typically begin with a G chord. We go from G to a C chord and then back to G for a bar. Next, an A minor chord, holding it for two bars, a C chord for one bar, moving to a D7 chord for another bar, before landing back on G. This pattern helps you build the foundation for the song's core progression. For the chorus, start with an A minor for a bar, followed by a D7. Then, it's a beautiful progression from G to E minor. From there, you'll move to A minor again, then D7, and back to E minor. The chorus concludes with an A7, then A minor, followed by D7, and finally, two bars of G. This foundational understanding of the chord progression is all you need to start playing Vincent and enjoying its beautiful melody. Adding Chord Variations Once you're comfortable with the basic chords, you might want to try some lovely little chord variations. We'll look at some that come directly from the fancy fingerstyle version in the original recording, but you can ex... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLo8MctNPt4 2121 2018-02-05T15:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bryan-adams-summer-of-69-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-701 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/owPLZdGkNFs/hqdefault.jpg Summer Of '69 by Bryan Adams Learn How To Play "Summer of 69" by Brian Adams On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams on the electric guitar. We'll look at the authentic way to play that classic keyboard riff on the guitar and a super-easy beginner version too! Many of us can relate to this song, those joyful days in our youth without responsibility and freely playing bands. But life gets in the way - and all we can do is remember those days. Grab your guitar, and let's dive in! Chords & Palm Muting To play this song, you start with a D5 chord, just like the regular D chord, but it requires lifting off your second finger. You'll need to put your palm-muting to work here! Palm-muting will accentuate the crunchy rock style; it creates this dead endnote sound essential to this song. To palm mute, use the outer part of the strumming hand and slightly lay down on the unwanted strings. This will prevent it from ringing out. Try it out without even playing a chord; see how it feels and how much pressure you need. You'll meet a slightly more challenging chord in the chorus: the B minor chord. This is beyond beginner level but not particularly difficult. It's worth trying if you're up for it, and it's a valuable chord for many other songs too! Rhythm & Strumming There are a couple of different strumming pattern options to choose from. Loads of different layers in the original recording means you can play it heavy, arpeggiated, or clean. There's no specific pattern here, so the choice is yours. :) If you're a beginner guitar player, you can play the chorus by hitting the chord once and letting it ring. It sounds great, especially if you're singing and playing with a band, and it'll be easier than picking out the notes. But if you're really feeling up for the challenge, experiment by only picking out a few notes to see how it feels! 🚨 If you're committing to the picking out version, make sure you turn your distortion pedal off for that specific section. Want to follow along to Summer of 69' with cho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/owPLZdGkNFs 1169 2018-02-05T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-slow-dancing-in-a-burning-room-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-411 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oGTuAbCroxU/hqdefault.jpg Slow Dancing In A Burning Room by John Mayer Learn to play "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" by John Mayer on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by the remarkable John Mayer on the guitar. This song is a wonderful blend of artistry and technique, showcasing John Mayer's songwriting and guitar-playing abilities. It's not too challenging to get a handle on, yet it's also not that simple. Subtle elements, such as the vibrato on certain notes and the improvisation parts, add an extra layer of complexity. But don't worry, We're going to take a look at all of these elements! John Mayer has a knack for varying his performances, so the way he plays this song changes between different versions. We'll focus on a mix of elements from the recorded version and a bit from the Live in LA version. The Chord Progression The song is primarily based around the C sharp minor chord but also includes the A and E chords. Notice the lovely little run of thirds, a series of notes that create a melodic pull that happens in the song. This progression is not too tricky once you understand it. The song then moves from an A to an E chord. Here, we're focusing on the notes played on the second and third strings, along with the bass note. This common technique is used by guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante, and you can incorporate it into your own playing. The song then takes a turn to a B to C minor progression, followed by an A. This is followed by a return to the C sharp minor chord, and then we transition back into the main riff. The Bridge The song's bridge moves from a B chord to a C minor to an A. This is then followed by a progression from C sharp minor to F sharp minor and then back to C sharp minor. This progression is then followed by a return to the song's main riff. Wrapping Up Slow Dancing in a Burning Room is a song rich with depth and emotion. It's fairly easy to get the basics right, but truly getting the nuances requires a bit of practice and dedication. Remember, the key is to keep practicing and gradually... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oGTuAbCroxU 1346 2018-01-24T15:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jason-mraz-i-m-yours-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-222 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-pfsh5c31es/hqdefault.jpg I'm Yours by Jason Mraz Learn How To Play "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm Yours by Jason Mraz on acoustic guitar. 'I'm Yours' is a mega-popular song and lots of fun to learn on guitar! This is a great campfire song to add to your repertoire, especially if you want ot get your audience singing. If you're an intermediate guitar player, this song is easy to pick up - a couple of barre chords to watch out for, but the strumming pattern isn't too complex. We're learning it with the capo on the 2nd fret, but you can choose to go bare. :) We'll start with the basic version, and once you've got the structure down, we'll move on to some more exciting things you can do with this song. 💡 Looking for some songs to play on your ukulele? Check out the Uke version - it's super easy! :) Getting The Right Groove! The first thing we need to do is get the groove right. If you listen to the song, the rhythm should sound pretty straightforward - and that's what we want to get down on our guitar. But, getting the groove to sit nicely is pretty tricky! Many chords are going on, with different chord progressions in the verses, chorus, and bridge. But you don't have to worry about playing everything precisely as it sounds in the recording; aim so that it feels excellent and consistent throughout the song. 🚨 Learning I'm Yours with my app will help you get the groove right. And don't you want to lyrics so you can sing along? :) So you've got the basics down, but are you ready to take your playing to the next level? Let's look at some ways you can spice things up. :) Add Some Variations & Make It Yours When you get comfortable playing the whole song, start adding some accents and mutes to switch your strumming pattern. But keeping the strings muted, putting accents on beats 2 and 4, and making it feel good will take practice. You can also incorporate that tasty intro riff. Remember, you don't have to do it all - choose what you want to focus on and what sounds good to you, and explore to add your spin to it!... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-pfsh5c31es 896 2017-11-29T17:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-black-crowes-she-talks-to-angels-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-320 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G2X_oPbLB3M/hqdefault.jpg She Talks to Angels [1/3] by The Black Crowes Folow these links to go to Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. I have loved this song for years. I was really diggin the Stones when I was first introduced to The Black Crows. The timing can be a little tricky but not too hard if you take it slow. Love this tune. The Black Crowes capture real rock 'n' Roll, and this is a rock ballad at it's best. Open E Tuning Open E Tuning: E B E G# B E to you tune the A and D strings up a tone, and the G string up a semitone. An alternative if you are worried about tuning your strings up like that is to drop it to Open D and then use a capo at the second fret. Open D Tuning: D A D F# A D (then add capo on fret 2 and you get your Open E). https://www.youtube.com/embed/G2X_oPbLB3M 442 2017-12-21T08:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/buddy-holly-heartbeat-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-096 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w8ouWW6caZk/hqdefault.jpg Heartbeat by Buddy Holly "Heartbeat" is one of those beautiful old-time classics we love to play on the guitar. It's a relatively easy song to play and sing along, too! If you're a total beginner, you'll keep the strumming pattern super simple, but you can grow it as you develop your guitar skills. :) If you're an advancing guitar player, we'll also learn how to play the little riff that we all recognize. 💡 Heartbeat by Buddy Holly is available on my Beginner Guitar app! If you haven't tried my app yet - get your free trial here and playalong with real backing-tracks. :) Let's get stuck in and learn how to play Heartbeat by Buddy Holly on the acoustic guitar. Heartbeat - Guitar Chords The chord progression to play Heartbeat by Buddy Holly is A, D, and E. These are simple open chords, and most beginner guitar players will be comfortable playing them. Try anchoring your fingers to get faster changes! 💡 Anchor Finger means you'll change between two chords and keep a finger on the same fret or string. That makes chord changes faster and more efficient. Your first task is to be able to strum once per bar consistently when changing between chords. Heartbeat bounces between two sections of A, D, and E - and that makes this an easy song to memorize. ;) If you're struggling to get the changes right while strumming or are struggling with finger pain, consistent rhythm, and other basics, check out my free Grade 1 Beginner Guitar Lessons! Ready to go further? Let's take a how at playing the rhythm for Heartbeat by Buddy Holly on the guitar. Heartbeat - Strumming Pattern Before learning a more complex strumming pattern to play this song, make sure you're hip with the chord changes and can keep your time! Not doing that is one of the most common beginner mistakes, and it makes you'll be stopping the strumming pattern from changing your chords. It just won't sound right. Once your changes are on point, practice this strumming pattern: D u u D u 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Sometimes, that last strum, an up strum, will fall on a chord change. It's the way it is -... https://www.youtube.com/embed/w8ouWW6caZk 955 2021-11-24T06:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-the-last-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2j12vjK1R9I/hqdefault.jpg The Last Time by The Rolling Stones Learn How to Play "The Last Time" by The Rolling Stones on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Last Time on the guitar. This is a classic British blues track by The Rolling Stones, filled with incredible riffs that are not only fun to play but also great to experience if you're in a band. The song has a groovy feel that allows you to immerse yourself while playing along with a band. The Riff and Chord Progression The Last Time is predominantly characterized by its classic riff. This is the defining feature of the song, the part that everyone recognizes immediately. The riff is a superb blend of notes that ring together, creating a unique, distinctive swing to this track. Another important aspect of playing The Last Time is understanding the chord progression. The song's verses revolve around the same riff and then transition into the chorus. The chorus introduces a slight variation with a little A chord, moving up to D, then back to A, before returning to the riff and the chorus. The Solo Section and the Groove One of the most captivating parts of The Last Time is the solo section. This part features a series of slides and strums that create a rich, bluesy sound. The solo's distinct rhythm and the specific swings give the song its unique groove. Playing The Last Time isn't merely about mastering the chords and riffs but also capturing the song's groove. This tune has a very particular kind of swing you need to feel and embody as you play. And the best way to do that is to play along with the original recording. The Sound and Rhythm Playing The Last Time also requires paying attention to the sound and rhythm. The song has a very distinct and thin guitar tone in the original recording. It's a bit cleaner than you might initially think, with a hint of dirt for the solo section. The rhythm guitar on the original is an acoustic guitar, which sounds fantastic. It's mostly about strumming the open chords. The rhythm part is about getting that swing feel right, and it's especially enjoyable if you can g... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2j12vjK1R9I 941 2018-01-24T13:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-only-love-can-break-your-heart-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-081 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/twN2rx19kXo/hqdefault.jpg Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Neil Young "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Neil Young on Acoustic Guitar Today we'll learn how to play the beautiful tune Only Love Can Break Your Heart from Neil Young's album After the Gold Rush. I got a request for this song a couple of weeks ago and immediately decided to make it. I don't need an excuse to make another Neil Young guitar lesson, do I? ;) Most of the chords are simple, but there are some interesting voicings that change the flavor. Let's start with the tuning. :) Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Neil Young - Guitar Tuning You'll need a capo on the second fret if you want to play along with the original recording from After the Gold Rush. But it seems that Neil plays this song without the capo most of the time in his live concerts. That's what I'll be doing for this lesson - using the same grips that Neil does! Verse Chords The intro and verse progression is C, FMaj7, G, G7, with chord changes on beat 3. I usually go for the four-finger FMaj7 grip, but you can go for any of the voicings we cover in my video F Chord Variations video. You can hear the vocal singing the note F over G7, then the note E over C. This is harmonically perfect. :) And from the first strums on the G7 Chord, you'll hear that the C is coming. It sounds like the G7 wants to go somewhere, doesn't it? Can you hear it too? That's because G7 is a functioning dominant here. ;) 💡 Functioning Dominants: Sorry if I baffled you with jazz terminology. This is the fancy name we give to 7th chords that come before the parent Major chord and sound like they pull towards it. Check out my lesson on Functioning and Secondary Dominants to learn more. Pre-Chorus and Chorus Chords The progression in the pre-chorus is: CMaj7, FMaj7, CMaj7, |FMaj7 G7 |. Each chord lasts a full bar except for the final FMaj7 and G7. For the chorus progression, you'll need two reps of: FMaj7, Em7, Dm9, |G G7 | If you're unsure about those chords, don't worry - they're all open guitar chords, and we cover all the details in the video lesson. :) Only Love Can Break You... https://www.youtube.com/embed/twN2rx19kXo 791 2021-07-03T15:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-where-did-you-sleep-last-night-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lIKzfrSoWcM/hqdefault.jpg Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Nirvana Learn to Play "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" by Nirvana on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn to play Where Did You Sleep Last Night on the guitar. This is a great opportunity to delve into the grunge genre, made popular by bands like Nirvana. The song has a unique rhythmic pattern, and some interesting chord transitions that we'll explore. Where Did You Sleep Last Night, a song popularly covered by Nirvana, is an intriguing piece with an original strumming pattern. The beat is in 6/8 time, meaning each measure contains six beats, and each beat is played as an eighth note. This creates a unique rhythmic pulse that is crucial to capturing the song's feel. The song follows a straightforward sequence throughout, making it a perfect tune for beginners or those looking for something fun and relatively simple to play. However, it does have a few interesting elements that we'll break down, making it engaging even for more advanced players. The Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is a key aspect of playing this song authentically. It's essentially a series of down and upstrokes that follow the 6/8 time signature. The pattern is repetitive and helps drive the song's rhythm. It's crucial to keep your strumming hand constantly moving, following the rhythm of the song. This fluid motion is a fundamental technique for any strumming pattern. The Chord Progression The song kicks off with an E chord, setting the tone for what follows. The E chord is held for a full measure and then transitions into a quick, triplet-based run that leads into the next chord. From there, the song moves to an A chord, followed by a G chord. Each of these chords is played for three counts, giving the song its distinctive, almost galloping rhythm. The progression then moves to a B chord. The B chord can be played in a few different ways, but the full barre chord version works best for this song. It's also where we encounter a unique, curled note that adds a bit of flavor to the sequence. Completing the sequence, the song returns to the E ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lIKzfrSoWcM 343 2017-11-29T10:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lynyrd-skynyrd-sweet-home-alabama-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-310 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IlPp04KaWmg/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Alabama [1/2] by Lynyrd Skynyrd Learn to play "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd on the guitar Greetings, music lovers! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the iconic song Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd on the guitar. This classic track is a staple for many guitarists and is sure to impress your friends and family when you play it! Sweet Home Alabama is a fantastic song with a lot of different parts. Don't worry, though. We'll break it down into manageable sections, making it easier to learn. This song is a great way to practice chord transitions and strumming patterns. So, let's dive in and start learning this amazing track! Chord Progression The intro of Sweet Home Alabama is truly distinct and sets the tone for the rest of the song. We begin with a D chord, which transitions into a C chord and then into a G chord. This progression is the backbone of the intro and is repeated several times. As we move on, we introduce a climbing riff, adding a little flair to the mix. This riff integrates seamlessly with the initial chord progression, adding a touch of complexity and depth to the song. In the next section, we slightly alter the first sequence, adding a variation of the climbing riff. This keeps the song interesting and helps to develop your playing skills further. Wrap Up That concludes the intro for Sweet Home Alabama. If you're already comfortable with the intro, click here to go to the second part of the lesson. You're doing great so far, and I'm sure you'll master this track in no time! Remember, practice makes permanent. So keep at it, and don't forget to have fun along the way. Music is all about enjoyment, after all. Be sure to watch the accompanying video lesson for a more detailed breakdown and demonstrations of the techniques discussed. 👉 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs. Get verified chords, lyrics, and music sheet for Sweet Home Alabama and loads more! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IlPp04KaWmg 341 2017-12-21T06:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-tunnel-of-love-solo-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3hrKh-cfQHo/hqdefault.jpg Tunnel Of Love [SOLO 3] by Dire Straits "TUNNEL OF LOVE" BY DIRE STRAITS: OUTRO GUITAR SOLO PART 2 Let’s learn the second part of the outro guitar solo from Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits. This is among the best lead guitar ever - it’s suble, it’s potent, the phrasing is wicked, the techniques are cool, AND it fits the song! This part is pretty long and difficult to learn. But you can make it easier by creating your own tab, so download your own blank tab and get started! You might find the rhythms tricky to write by hand, but this is a handy skill - take on the challenge. ;) You'll find all the notes and rhythms in the video lesson - below we summarize what's involved and discuss how to use this solo to become a better player. Copy Mark Knopfler's Pick-less Playing We use our fingers, just like Mark Knopfler does. Rest your thumb on strings 6, 5, and 4 to mute them throughout - we don't want to hear them! :) And don’t get too picky with the fingering (pardon the pun) - I don’t know exactly what fingers he uses when, and I doubt Mark does either! As always, if it sounds good, it is good. ;) Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love: Learn The Phrases In the video, we go into a bunch of detail on all of the phrases. You can see a full-speed demo at the start of the video and several slow demos sprinkled throughout. :) 🤔 Which Position? At some points I transcribed the phrases in the wrong position of the guitar. This shows that it's okay to move these phrases around, but we focus on the authentic Mark Knopfler version. :) The trickiest part of these phrases is the rhythm, so jam with the Dire Straits original at a slower speed, making sure you’re in time, and slowly build up to full speed. Understand This Guitar Solo You'll get loads more from this lesson if you understand how the phrases harmonically fit with the chords. I analyzed the first Tunnel Of Love solo in some depth - if you find harmonic analysis tricky, check out that lesson. If you’re an advanced guitar player, I suggest you write out the entire part by hand. Mark beat 1 of the bar with a line, writ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3hrKh-cfQHo 1320 2019-06-08T14:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/midnight-oil-beds-are-burning-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-508 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S0rV8p4-bwM/hqdefault.jpg Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil Learn to Play "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil on the guitar. This iconic rock song offers some cool and interesting guitar parts layered across both electric and acoustic guitars. We'll explore how to integrate these parts and negotiate the keyboard parts into our guitar playing. Beds Are Burning is a masterclass in layering, with a strong acoustic guitar part, particularly in the chorus. We'll explore the strumming pattern for the acoustic and the simple open chords that create a beautiful texture over the acoustic guitar part. The Intro The song kicks off with an intro consisting of an E chord, a G chord, and an A chord. What's important to note about the intro is the timing. The chords come in on beats three, four, and one. This might feel a bit strange because we tend to think of the first chord we hear as being on beat one. Understanding where you are in the bar will help you play the chords, especially if you're playing with a band. This timing happens at a couple of points in the song, and on different beats, which can add to the complexity, but with practice, it becomes more natural. The Main Riff The main riff in Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil is a simple pattern based on the thickest E string that creates a catchy melody. It also involves a bit of palm muting. It's not a particularly difficult riff, and it continues through the first verse and in the pre-chorus. The Pre-Chorus The chord progression transitions from E to D to A in the pre-chorus. The E note keeps going through the D and A chords, even though it might be considered a "wrong" note. However, it still works within the context of the song. Towards the end of the pre-chorus, there's an F# barre chord. This chord is based on the second fret, and the pattern is second, fourth, fourth, third, second, second. You play this chord and let it hold on for two bars. Then, the chords from the intro come into play again—the E, G, and A. But they happen on beats... https://www.youtube.com/embed/S0rV8p4-bwM 943 2017-12-15T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-old-phone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-273 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EZyz95lA9oM/hqdefault.jpg Old Phone by Ed Sheeran Learn how to play Old Phone by Ed Sheeran on acoustic guitar using simple open chords and a steady strumming pattern. This lesson is ideal if you’re around Grade 2 level and building confidence with smooth chord changes and consistent rhythm. Is Old Phone easy to play on guitar? If you’re looking for an easy Ed Sheeran guitar song, this is a great choice. The chord progression repeats through most of the song, which makes it manageable once you get the shapes under your fingers. If you’re comfortable with basic open chords, you’ll be able to focus more on timing and feel rather than learning lots of new shapes. What chords are used in Old Phone? If you’re searching for the Old Phone guitar chords, you’ll be working with common open chord shapes that are beginner-friendly and widely used in acoustic songs. You’ll practice: Clean chord transitions Preparing the next shape early Avoiding gaps between changes Keeping all strings ringing clearly Because the progression repeats, it’s a strong exercise for building muscle memory and smoother changes. What strumming pattern should you use? If your strumming sometimes feels uneven, this lesson focuses on keeping your right hand relaxed and consistent. You’ll work on: A steady down-up motion Staying in time without speeding up Letting chords ring naturally Supporting the vocal with a simple groove The key is consistency. Once the pattern feels automatic, the whole song becomes easier to play through without stopping. How to make Old Phone sound better If your playing sounds stiff, small dynamic changes can make a big difference. Try playing a little softer in the verses and slightly fuller in bigger sections. If you want to add more detail, you can experiment with subtle embellishments around the chord shapes once the rhythm is solid. Why learn Old Phone? If you want to improve: Chord changes Strumming control Rhythm consistency Playing full songs smoothly This song fits perfectly into your beginner practice routine. Start slowly, focus on clean transitions, and build u... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZyz95lA9oM 1034 2026-03-20T02:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-bad-habits-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-093 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QP_7XkNga90/hqdefault.jpg Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran I'm not sure if Ed Sheeran wrote "Bad Habits" on guitar or not - but it works so well played on electric or acoustic guitar! On the original recording, it sounds like Ed Sheeran is using a synthesizer to play this song. But the riff fits so well on the guitar that I wouldn't be surprised at all if he wrote it on the guitar. I didn't really plan to do a tutorial on this song, but I heard it the other day and couldn't avoid learning to play and sing it. It's a bit tricky, but it was definitely a great practice session for me - and I'm sure it'll be for you too! 💡 Following my guitar courses? This song is great for Grade 4+ Students! We'll learn a simplified version of it, but to sound just like the original recording, you'll need to ace your Bm Barre Chords! Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. Bad Habits - Guitar Chords If you use your guitar capo on the second fret of your guitar, you'll be able to play this song using open chords only. You'll need an F Power Chord or even a full F Barre Chord, depending on how comfortable you feel with it! If you're just getting started with your F Chord, this easier version of Bad Habits can be great practice for you! You'll use the same chord progression throughout the entire song! So, keep in mind that exploring the song's dynamic is super important to sound good. A song tells a story - so you should try to incorporate that into your playing. Especially if you're playing on your own, you should find ways to make the choruses and the verses sound differently. If not, it only gets really boring! A great trick is adding more strums and making the song sound louder for the pre-chorus and chorus. For example, you can also play an F Power Chord on the chorus and a full F Barre Chord on the verses! It adds a slight variation that makes the song sound even more interesting to the listener. ;) 💡 Struggling to sing and play this song at the same time? Check out my 10 tips on how to sing and play guitar! To play the synthesizer riff, yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QP_7XkNga90 1365 2021-11-07T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-solo-1-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NH_eUOOHKLY/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [SOLO 1] by Guns N' Roses Learn the 1st Solo of "Sweet Child O Mine"! :) What a classic from Slash - loads of string bending and fun! We'll learn how to play Slash's first solo in Sweet Child O Mine in detail in this lesson. It's relatively simple, but you'll need to add in some ornaments and more advanced techniques if you're trying to sound a bit like the original! You'll also need to find your way around some tricky fingering so that you get the bends right and in tune. 🚨 Are you new to my Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Lessons series? Don't forget to tune your guitar to E-flat tuning. Learn more about it in this lesson. Now grab your guitar, and let's get ready to rock! Sweet Child O Mine - First Solo It's best to learn how to play this solo is approaching it one step at a time! Here's how to get started with the solo: Finger 3 in the 14th Fret of the 3rd String Flick off to the first finger in the 12th fret on the 3rd string Move it back one fret to the 11th and play that note again. Make sure you keep things nice and tidy without too many strings ringing out! Use the palm of your picking hand to mute your string. Resting it on the thicker string will help with your string muting. Practice is the cure here. :) You'll encounter this wonderful little lick with loads of guitar techniques going on. Use your ear training, listen to the original recording, and notice the small details to replicate it. String Bending Tips & More Slash judges brilliantly and plays his string bending to perfection. To get there, you'll need to spend some time practicing getting the bend in tune. This is a huge deal to get Slash's solo sounding right! Use your judgment on how far you bend. Try it out and see how it feels and sounds, depending on how far you bend. 💡 What's a ghost bend? This string bending technique starts with a bend even before playing the note! Spend a good deal of time listening to the original recording and trying to play along with it. It's super helpful to use transcribing software so you can repeat the section you're learning. Try and... https://www.youtube.com/embed/NH_eUOOHKLY 684 2017-12-31T04:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-photograph-dadgad-tuning-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-392 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LhRx9nYbU_w/hqdefault.jpg Photograph (DADGAD Tuning) by Ed Sheeran In this lesson we're going to learn how to play Photograph the way Ed Sheeran plays it live now, which I think is different to the way it's recorded but it sounds ace, imho. It's in DADGAD tuning which I run through in the lesson briefly but here's the full lesson on DADGAD tuning. Note that usually live Ed loops the melody and triggers it on and off when needed, sometimes adding percussion guitar loops too - the way of playing that melody is just my arrangement really, Ed plays it without the bass note. Hope you dig it! https://www.youtube.com/embed/LhRx9nYbU_w 1055 2017-12-15T13:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/toto-africa-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-174 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tEXBf0wOukI/hqdefault.jpg Africa by Toto Learn "Africa" by Toto on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn an acoustic arrangement of Africa by Toto on the acoustic guitar. I've always loved this song but have never successfully figured out all the chords and bass notes. It's pretty complex harmonically, and I've never solved the puzzle… until now! 👉 Get verified chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this tutorial and others with JustinGuitarTabs! Click here to get started for free. :) Yesterday I decided I'd create an arrangement that sounds good regardless of whether it's 100% accurate. Grab your guitar and put a capo on fret 2. Let's get started. :) Africa by Toto – How to Play the Intro The original intro uses synths, but we can replicate this on the acoustic. Start with a G chord (3X000X). Use finger 2 to play 6:3 (string 6, fret 3) and mute strings 5 and 1. Then we switch to F#m7 (2X22XX). Finger 2 goes on 6:2 (string 6, fret 2), finger 3 on 4:2, and finger 4 on 3:2. Use a combination of these fingers to mute strings 1 and 2. After that, we move to a variation on Bm: X24430. 💡 A classic part of the Africa intro is a picked fingerstyle line over the Bm chord. Make sure to tune up your picked fingerstyle technique before tackling the riff. As for the rhythm, there's some muting involved – M means mute! You can mute the strings with your strumming hand or by placing fingers 3 and 4 of the fretting hand over them, as I do in the video. The rhythm is 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 D M U M U M U D On the "+" after 3, we switch to F#m7 and play a single down strum. On beat 4, we switch to Bm, again playing a single down strum. The riff pattern starts on the "+" after 4 over the Bm. The numbers below show which strings we play and when. 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 3* 3 3* 3 1 2 The 3* means 3:2 (string 3, fret 2) rather than 3:4. I usually flick off finger 4 when I need to play fret 2. To play 3:2, you must barre strings 5, 4, and 3 at fret 2 and ensure the Open E string still rings out. It's a bit tricky! Africa by... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEXBf0wOukI 1116 2022-12-07T11:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/van-morrison-have-i-told-you-lately-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-270 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CRrCgxAQ_-8/hqdefault.jpg Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison A timeless love song that works beautifully on acoustic guitar! In this lesson, we’ll learn how to play “Have I Told You Lately” by Van Morisson using easy, familiar chord shapes with a capo on the 4th fret, making it comfortable to play and sing without complex techniques or flashy strumming. This song sounds especially great when we keep things simple and let the song breathe. 📲 Get the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App. Real songs. Interactive backing tracks. Way better practice. Download here. We’ll break the song down into clear, manageable sections, starting with a straightforward verse progression built around C, E minor, F, and G. The focus is on: Smooth chord changes Keeping the rhythm steady Playing in a way that supports the vocal rather than competing with it This is a great example of how simplicity can sound musical and expressive. Optional Chord Variations Once the basic progression feels solid, more advanced beginners can explore a few optional ideas: Alternative ways to play the F chord (including an easier, more open sound) Subtle G sus-style colours that add tension without overcomplicating things Simple embellishments that can be added only if they feel comfortable None of these are required—the song works perfectly well without them—but they’re there if we want to experiment. Chorus and Musical Feel The chorus uses longer chord durations, which gives us space to: Relax the strumming Focus on timing and feel Experiment gently with melody notes if we want an instrumental moment. It’s a great lesson in restraint and control, rather than speed or complexity. Singing Tips This song doesn’t need big vocals to work. In fact, it often sounds best when we: Sing lightly or “talk-sing” Focus on phrasing rather than power Choose a key that suits our voice We also look at how moving or removing the capo can make the song easier to sing, depending on the vocal range. Who This Lesson Is For This lesson is ideal if: We want a meaningful song that’s playable without advanced technique We’re learning to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRrCgxAQ_-8 1269 2026-02-06T08:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/joe-south-games-people-play-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-095 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dzzt8K40CWA/hqdefault.jpg Games People Play by Joe South "Games People Play" was originally released way back in 1969 by Joe South and gained a cover by the Jamaican band Inner Circle on their 1994 album, Reggae Dancer. And the great news is that no matter if you’d like to sound like Joe South or Inner Circle, you need only three easy open chords to play Games People Play on the acoustic guitar. The rhythm in this song has a great reggae feel, and that’s great to practice your strumming patterns skills. :) If you’re following my Beginner Guitar Course, you learned this song’s chords, A, D, and E, right in our Grade 1. That makes Games People Play a great one to practice your new chords! 🚀 Take your guitar skills even further! Play Games People Play along with my Beginner App and get a real-band experience! Get your free trial here. :) Now let’s get stuck in and learn how to play Games People Play on the acoustic guitar. Games People Play - Guitar Chords The chord progression to play Games People Play is A, E, and D. This is the perfect song to practice anchoring your fingers: 💡 Anchor Finger means you'll change between two chords and keep a finger on the same fret or string. That makes chord changes faster and more efficient! When learning a new song, I recommend you start by getting hip with the chord progression and changes. Sometimes, you’ll have to start your chord change earlier to get to the next grip in time. If you’re a complete beginner, it’s normal to struggle to do that, even for the easiest songs! Just take it slow, and aim to make the chord changes as efficiently as possible so that you can strum at least once per bar while you keep a consistent rhythm. Observe your movements, and remember to use all the tricks and fundamentals we’ve learned in our first guitar lessons. Ready to move on? Let’s take a look at the strumming pattern to play Games People Play on the guitar. Games People Play - Strumming Pattern First, you should be able to strum once per bar. That means you’ll count One, Two, Three, Four, but only strum on the first beat of the bar. When yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzzt8K40CWA 578 2021-11-17T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-harvest-moon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-903 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MPER54Kdpto/hqdefault.jpg Harvest Moon by Neil Young Learn the Beautiful Neil Young Guitar Ballad "Harvest Moon" On Guitar! This song is a beautiful guitar ballad, and there are loads of exciting things going on here. You might already know that Neil Young is one of my favorite artists. He's a seriously talented guitar player and songwriter. Harvest Moon has to be one of my favorite NY ballads! It's lovely to play and great for learning the play the bass out separately on your guitar. In this lesson, I'll do some close-ups and explain what's going on with the fretting hand. 🎶 Harvest Moon is a great tune for Grade 6+ guitar players. You'll put into practice many of your guitar skills when learning this acoustic song. :) Now, grab your guitar & let's get stuck in. How To Play Harvest Moon On Guitar To play this tune, you'll need a couple of chords, including D, Dmaj, and there's a G6 chord in there. To follow Young's version, you'll play it in Drop D tuning. Tune your thickest string down to the D note using your fourth string as a reference. Playing that thicker string down will give a nicer and bigger sound to your D chord! On the original recording, there's a little riff with 12/12 seven harmonics all the way through. This will be tricky to do - give the tune a listen to understand what's going on before tackling this. Explore it if you're up for a challenge! You'll also want to learn the fingering for the fretting hand. If you've got a bit of experience as a guitar player, try to get it in your head and make it sound just like you think it should. It'll put into practice your ear training. 🎵 Allow your body the freedom to find it. It most likely will if you've got a good rhythm technique in your strumming hands. Harvest Moon Guitar Strumming The get the strumming nice, you need just the right amount of hard strums and soft strums. You'll need to accent the right notes, which can take a bit of practice. A big part of Neil Young's playing style is consistency with his strumming hand. He picks out the right notes and accents within the strum. This will be ex... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MPER54Kdpto 775 2018-01-25T14:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-425 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uUzGD2YD_Vw/hqdefault.jpg Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry Learn to play "Johnny B Goode" by Chuck Berry: A Classic Blues Guitar Riff Learn it today and have loads of on your guitar! In this lesson, you'll learn how to play Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry on the electric guitar. This song has quite a fast tempo, so feel free to slow it down when you're learning it on the guitar! We'll focus on the intro of this song, and I'll show you the verse and chorus rhythms. This way, you'll be able to play it if you ever want to jam! 🚨 There's a couple of funky techniques in there, and with the fast tempo - so this Chuck Berry tune is best suited for Grade 5+ guitar players. Listen and hear where the embellishments fit in the rhythm! It'll be a good ear training practice and a practical way to build your internal blues groove. If you want to have a go with the solo, it's fully tabbed out in my vintage guitar book. Check it out if you dig this song! How To Play Johnny B Goode On Guitar To play this iconic Chuck Berry tune, you'll need to be familiar with the 12 bar shuffle riff and 12 bar blues progression. There are a couple of barre chords in there, so make sure you've got those under your belt too! And -there's also some tasty stringing bending and muting in there. Altogether, it'll give you that danceable bluesy sound. You have a B Flat, E flat, and F chord in there. At some point in the song, your chord change will be from B flat to E flat. To get from a B flat to an E flat - you have to move all the way up to the 11th fret of your guitar. You can also move it a string down - it'll be a lot easier to do. If you're not worried about playing the authentic way, try it out this way first! Adding That Chuck Berry Groove If you want to play Johnny B Goode like the original recording, you'll have to pump your hand. When you leave your fingers pressed down, it might sound like the notes are ringing for too long. You'll want to relax your finger and then press down. This will take practice, especially if you're doing it at a fast tempo. It'll be great practice to get your groove on! S... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uUzGD2YD_Vw 1101 2017-12-08T11:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-172 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4oDusJMXstE/hqdefault.jpg Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Xmas Classic Ho, ho, ho. 🎄 This not-so-easy lesson will teach us to play Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas on the guitar. This classic has many incredible covers - Frank Sinatra, Sam Smith, Michal Bubblé, and Carrie Underwood are some examples! However, this tutorial will approach Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas with a jazzy arrangement. I think it sounds ace - and comfy. :) 💡 Get verified tabs, chords, and lyrics to follow along with this tutorial. And over 700 others! :) This version mainly uses basic jazz chords, but we'll add some fancy tricks too! Let's check out the intro section first. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Intro Section The basic chords I'm using in the intro are GMaj7 (3X443X), Em7 (X79787), Am7 (57555X), and D7 (X5757X). Each chord lasts half a beat, as do all the chords unless I say otherwise. For the rhythm, see the section further down. We can spice this up! On the GMaj7, pick strings 6, 4, 3, and 2 one by one. Then on the Em7, target the note on string 2 on beat 3, then string 1 on beat 4. That way, you play the melody notes. You can also add melody notes over Am7. Play 1:7 (string 1, fret 7) with finger 4, and flick off to fret 5, which the barre covers. Then move to string 2 and play fret 8, then fret 7, both with finger 4. These melody notes follow the rhythm 1+2+. On the D, play a D9 (X57555). Pick the bass note and string 2 together on beat 3, then add your little finger to 2:7 on beat 4. That way, you play the melody notes. 🎸 10 Basic Jazz Chords – Learn 10 fundamental grips for Major 7, 7, min7, m7b5, and dim 7 chords! For the melody over Am7 and D7, there's another option. With finger 1 barring fret 5, play 4:9 with the little finger, then fret 7 with finger 3, fret 6 with finger 2, and fret 5 with finger 1. On beat 3 of the D, play X54XXX, and on beat 4, play a D7b9 (X5454X). Sometimes I use a D Aug (X5433X) or an alternative D7b9 grip (10 X 10 8 7 X). When the music changes to GMaj7, you can also play G 6/9 (3X223X), a common substitute for the Maj7. There are lots of ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4oDusJMXstE 1043 2022-11-02T15:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/van-morrison-brown-eyed-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-304 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QoZoklnIbtI/hqdefault.jpg Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison Easy Tutorial: Learn Brown Eyed Girl on Acoustic Guitar (including the riff!) In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Van Morrison's evergreen hit, "Brown Eyed Girl." This song is fantastic for beginners, as it only requires four chords: G, C, D, and E minor. It's mostly played with the Old Faithful strumming pattern, with a slight variation leading into the chorus. 🎉 I first recorded this lesson in February 2018—so it was time for a remake, eh? :) You can watch my original take teaching this classic here. :) If you're new to guitar, I highly recommend the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app. It contains hundreds of backing tracks to help beginner guitarists develop a solid rhythm. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is stopping their strumming hand between chord changes, which can be a hard habit to break. Playing along with backing tracks prevents this because the track won't stop. Basic Chords G chord: Place the second finger on the thickest string and the third finger on the thinnest string. Mute the fifth string. C chord: Standard C, but remember to mute the thickest string. D chord: Avoid strumming the thickest two strings. E minor chord: Usually played with the second and third fingers, but any comfortable finger combination works. Chord Variations G chord with fingers 3 and 4: Easier transition to C. Cadd9 chord: Often interchangeable with C for a richer sound. Song Progression Intro/Verses/Chorus: G, C, G, D. Bridge ("You're my brown-eyed girl"): C, D, G, E minor, C, D, G, D. Start by strumming on the beat to lock in the chord changes before adding the Old Faithful strumming pattern: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down. Work slowly to ensure smooth transitions. Tips Practice the strumming pattern independently. Keep your strumming hand moving consistently. Once comfortable, combine the chords and rhythm. Singing and Playing If you struggle to sing and play simultaneously, focus on mastering each independently before combining them. I have a 10-step program to help with this. Iconic Intro Riff Play o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QoZoklnIbtI 1141 2025-01-17T04:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-half-the-world-away-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-227 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J3ll6G06DXQ/hqdefault.jpg Half the World Away by Oasis Learn to play "Half the World Away" by Oasis on the guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Half the World Away by Oasis on the acoustic guitar. This is a fantastic song—it features some nice chord grips, and advancing beginners should be able to play it! Chords The song uses a variety of chords, but the most common ones are C/G and Fmaj7/C. These aren't your regular chords, but they add a unique depth to the song. The song starts with a C chord, followed by F, then back to C and F. This sequence forms the intro and the verse of the song. It's worth noting that the F chord used here is an F major 7 over C, which gives a nice flavor to the song. The C chord used here is a C with a G bass, essentially a fatter version of the C chord. The second verse follows the same pattern as the first, with the chords C and F played alternately. This pattern is broken when the song transitions to C with a B bass, followed by an A minor, then D7, and finally to F. As we move into the chorus, the chord progression changes. The chorus starts with an A minor to C, then moves to E, and back to A minor. This is followed by an F chord, a D7, and a G to G7. The E chord is sometimes played as an E7 for a richer harmony. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern for this song is known as Old Faithful. You should practice a simple down, down, up, up, down pattern before getting into the song. Sometimes, this pattern varies with an upstroke on the 'and' after four. If there are two chords in one bar, the strumming pattern changes to four down strums in the bar when the song goes from C to G with a B bass. One of the key aspects of playing this song well is relaxing into the groove. It's a slower song; getting into the rhythm and feeling like you're part of the band is important. This relaxed groove is an essential skill to learn for this song and your overall musicianship. Wrapping up I hope you enjoy this lesson on how to play Half the World Away by Oasis on the guitar. The unique chord grips and relaxed groove make this song ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/J3ll6G06DXQ 914 2024-01-21T03:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-clash-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-n7GV6DRT48/hqdefault.jpg Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash Learn how to play "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash on guitar! Wow – this is my first Clash song lesson! What a great Punk-rock guitar classic. Let's learn it! Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash is a fairly simple song. You can play the whole tune with just a few chords and one strumming pattern, except for the fast bit. It's a real fun one to play on the guitar and a must-know if you've got friends that are into punk. It's also an excellent one for parties – loads of people know the words for the verses! 💡 This song was a request from my assistant Laryne. :) Put in your own song requests here! I'm using my electric, but you'll sound just as cool on your acoustic guitar! If you're following my guitar courses, this lesson is perfect for practicing skills you learn in Beginner Grade 2. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash on the guitar. Should I Stay Or Should I Go – Intro Chords The classic intro guitar part lasts four bars, with two cycles, each lasting two bars. We start on an open D chord (XX0232) and switch to G on beat 3. I use the Rock G grip (3X0033), with finger 2 both fretting 6:3 (string 6, fret 3) and laying down on string 5 to mute it. The rhythm is a little quirky: D G D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D D D D D D D D ​​​​​​ Notice that we use all downstrums, with our first strum on the "+" of 1. After strumming D on beat 1 of the next bar, mute the strings with your strumming hand, and pause until the next bar. There are a couple fancy bits in the intro, too. They come during the pause. In the first cycle, play muted strums on beats 2, 3, and 4. In the next cycle, play 5:5 with finger 1, and hammer-on at fret 8 with finger 3. These two notes come on " 3 + ". Should I Stay Or Should I Go – Verse Chords The verse progression is 12 bars long. The first sequence is six bars of the intro progression, but the chords change on bars 7 and 8. We use the same rhythm but play G and F instead of D and G. I suggest you avoid the usual chord gri... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-n7GV6DRT48 712 2022-01-27T04:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-merry-christmas-baby-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KDeuM_EpRik/hqdefault.jpg Merry Christmas Baby by Elvis Presley Learn "Merry Christmas Baby" by Elvis Presley on Guitar! ☃️ A Blues Christmas classic by Elvis Presley! My students requested this song! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Merry Christmas Baby by Elvis Presley on the guitar. This song is perfect for Grade 6+ intermediate guitar players - you'll be putting your 12 Bar Blues in G to work! It's quite tricky to sing over the riff - but you can simplify the chords if you struggle too! We'll dive into different ways to play this groovy holiday song, and focus on the main riff & intro. If you struggle with the intro - you might want to check out Going Down Slow by Jimmy Witherspoon to help you out! Grab you're guitar & let's get into this Christmas special. :) How To Play Mery Christmas Baby On Guitar All you need to play this Elvis blues is a quick change 12 bar blues in G. You can choose to play it simple or add some embellishments depending on your guitar skills! This one is great to learn early and develop embellishments as you get closer to the Holiday. The fun thing about this tun is the improvising. Suppose you got others to the singing, this song is an awesome vehicle to practice your blues guitar improvisation. It's great to be on your own and try to create your own blues thing! Go for it and have fun. :) 💡 Check out the original recording to help guide you! It would be a great Christmas song if you got a guitarist mate to play with you. You can switch parts and layer the blues riff on top of the other improves. Play along with my JustinGuitarTabs and get tabs, lyrics, and chords. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDeuM_EpRik 635 2017-11-11T08:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J6pBHzCE6Hw/hqdefault.jpg The Gambler by Kenny Rogers Learn to play "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Gambler on the guitar. This country classic is a great one for beginners! We'll only use 3 simple chords in this song, and it can be played with simple or more complex strumming depending on your ability to strum and do fast chord changes. It's heavily simplified because the original has quite a few key changes that I have removed, so playing along will only work up to the end of the first chorus! Remember, you can play this one without a capo if you don't like playing so far up the neck... especially as playing along with the recording isn't possible for long! We'll take it step by step, starting with the basic rhythm and chord, adding more complexity as you get comfortable. This song uses just the A, D, and E chords, and it's a lot of fun to play. We'll be setting a rhythm of four strums per bar for each chord, but feel free to experiment with having just two strums for each chord shown for each bar. The choice is up to you! Verse and Chorus The intro is straightforward, with just A, D, A, and D. After that, we move into the verses, which introduce an E chord. Don't worry, it's simpler than it sounds! And now, onto the chorus. We haven't talked about the chords in the chorus yet, but here's a sneak peek: we will be using the same three chords. :) As always, feel free to experiment with the strumming pattern depending on how comfortable you are with different strumming patterns. Changing Keys The Gambler has a unique element - it changes keys! It jumps up a semitone after every couple of verses. You will have to grab the capo and move it up one. Now, this means you can't play along with the record for the whole song. But you can certainly play through the first three verses in the first chorus. Another thing to remember is that you can move the capo around. Yes, that's right! Moving the capo down to the second or third fret can become more in your range, making it sound better with your voice. So, you might w... https://www.youtube.com/embed/J6pBHzCE6Hw 385 2018-02-04T20:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/mike-oldfield-moonlight-shadow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-622 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/39XFu8S6Owo/hqdefault.jpg Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield Learn to Play "Moonlight Shadow" by Mike Oldfield on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Moonlight Shadow on the guitar. This is a beautiful song by the incredible Mike Oldfield, and it's got some terrific guitar solos, although we won't be covering those today. Instead, we'll focus on the rhythm guitar part, which is great fun to play and features an interesting rhythm technique called "framing" in the chorus. Intro and Verse First off, let's talk about the chord progression. We'll keep it nice and simple with four down strums to the bar. We start with a C chord for a bar and then move to a G chord for a bar. Then, we play A minor for half a bar (that's two strums), and then for the other half of the bar, we play F. We finish the intro with another bar of G. Now, let's move into the verse. The chord sequence here is A minor, F, G, C, and G for half a bar each. This sequence repeats throughout the verse. It's a good idea to write down the chord progression without the lyrics to see how they work together. This way, you can start to recognize patterns and anticipate changes. Pre-Chorus and Chorus Next, we have the pre-chorus. The chord progression here is a bar of C, a bar of G, A minor, and F (just two beats each), and then a bar of G. This sequence also repeats, making it easier to get into the song's groove. The chorus has a slightly more complex chord sequence. We start with a G chord for one strum, then a C, and back to G for two strums. This pattern repeats twice at the beginning of the four-bar sequence. Then we play C for half a bar, F for the other half, and then a bar of G again. This sequence repeats throughout the chorus. Rhythm Technique Let's dive into the special rhythm technique called "framing." This involves a fast down and up strum, doubling the normal speed of your arm movements. Your hand should be moving consistently at this tempo: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. But for the framing technique, we'll double that up: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. This adds a unique flair t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/39XFu8S6Owo 917 2018-02-04T23:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-rock-and-roll-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-374 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fo1oPFOBsx0/hqdefault.jpg Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin Learn how to play "Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin on the guitar. Rock and Roll is an all-time guitar classic that's incredibly fun to play. It's based on a 12-bar Blues pattern but with some cool variations that make it uniquely Led Zeppelin. If you've done my beginners course, you'll recognize the basic structure, but we'll take it up a notch with some awesome riffs and techniques. So, let's dive in and start rocking! The Main Riff The heart of Rock and Roll is its iconic main riff. It's a great example of how to take a basic 12-bar Blues and turn it into something extraordinary. The riff starts with an A chord, but here's the tricky part - it doesn't start on the downbeat. Instead, it kicks in on the "and" after one. This syncopation is what gives the riff its driving, energetic feel. As we move through the riff, we'll use A, D, and E chords with some cool embellishments that make it pure Led Zeppelin. There's a lot of movement between these chords, and getting the rhythm right is key to nailing the sound. The Verse Structure When we get to the verses, we're still working with our A, D, and E chords but adding some tasty variations. We'll use a little bend on the low strings on the A chord to give it that bluesy feel. When we move to D, we'll use a similar technique, adding a bend to give it some extra flavor. One of the coolest parts of the verse is when we hit the E chord. Here, Jimmy Page uses a classic Rock pattern that slides up the neck. It's a simple pattern, but it adds so much to the song's overall feel. The Secret Sauce: Overdubbed Guitar Parts Now, here's where things get really interesting. On the original recording, Jimmy Page overdubbed some cool two-note chords high up on the neck. These little dyads add a whole new dimension to the song. They form A7, D7, and E7 chords that ring out over the main riff. You can split these parts up if you're playing in a band with two guitarists. But if you're playing solo, don't w... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fo1oPFOBsx0 1157 2017-12-21T11:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/passenger-let-her-go-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-625 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ocMzlKbCRV4/hqdefault.jpg Let Her Go by Passenger Learn to play "Let Her Go" by Passenger on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Let Her Go on the guitar. This beautiful song features fingerstyle and strumming patterns that create a rich, engaging sound. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate player, we'll learn everything you need to know to master this popular tune. We'll start with a simpler strumming version of the song, perfect for beginners or if you want to focus on singing while playing. Then, for those looking for a challenge, we'll explore the beautiful fingerstyle arrangement that makes this song truly special. One interesting aspect of Let Her Go is that it starts with the chorus–something quite unusual in popular music! We'll be using a capo on the 7th fret to play in a comfortable key while matching the original recording. Chord Progression The chorus follows a lovely progression that creates the emotional foundation of the song: Fmaj7, C, G, and Am. These chords repeat in a pattern that perfectly supports the memorable melody. The verse introduces a slightly different progression with Am, Fmaj7, G, and Em, creating a nice contrast with the chorus. We also incorporate a G sus chord that adds a beautiful color to the progression - it's what I like to call the "holy chord" because it creates such a magical sound! Strumming and Fingerpicking Patterns The strumming pattern is what really brings this song to life. While it might seem simple at first, the key is in the accent pattern. Without proper accenting, the strumming can sound flat and lifeless. We'll learn how to add these crucial accents that give the song its characteristic groove and drive. The fingerstyle arrangement follows a consistent pattern throughout the song, making it easier to learn than you might expect. We'll break down the pattern into manageable pieces, starting with the beautiful intro and moving through the verses. The best part? Once you've mastered the fingerpicking pattern, you can apply it to many other songs! Final Thoughts What makes this arrangement spec... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ocMzlKbCRV4 1239 2018-01-26T08:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/motorhead-ace-of-spades-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-359 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1QPa7I9-Svo/hqdefault.jpg Ace Of Spades by Motorhead Learn how to play "Ace Of Spades" by Motorhead on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ace Of Spades on the guitar. It's a classic, and breaking down this song was a real honor. It's a bit sad because the great Lemmy Kilmister has passed away, and I felt I needed to make a lesson to honor his work, especially because I didn't have any Motorhead lessons on my site. The Bass Riff So, let's get to the good stuff. We're going to start with what I think is the best part of the whole song–the bass riff. It's only two notes, but it has a fantastic rhythm and a super fat sound. There's a ton of distortion going on, which makes it sound so huge. We'll learn how to play it, and you'll see it's all about getting the right picking direction. Getting that right will really help keep your hand moving consistently. It's all about keeping that pick moving in the right direction; it can get tricky if you don't. The Main Riff Next up, we have the main guitar riff. It starts with two notes and a little strumming pattern. It's essential to get the strumming pattern down. It's a down, down, up, up, down pattern. I've been known to go into autopilot and play it with a slightly different pattern, more like down, down, up, up, down, down, down, and though that's not technically correct, it feels better to me. Just listen to the riff and get the feel of it. You'll find that a pattern of down, down, up, up, down is a lot easier. Verse Chords Now we're at the verses. We start with a G chord. I use a big open G, which I'm pretty sure is what was used on the original recording. We're going to strum this one on the bar except for the fourth time. It's just a simple strumming pattern for the most part. After playing the G chord a few times, we have a cool little lead riff, which is a transition. You won't hear this on the original recording, but a good idea is to put in a low E string to move from the chord to that riff. This gives a moment to play a note and get ready for the next part. Transition Riff So, the next little rif... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1QPa7I9-Svo 1555 2017-10-27T11:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w5TcpfP_pEo/hqdefault.jpg Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer [1/3] by Xmas Classic Learn to Play "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the guitar. This is a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire and a fun one to play around the holidays! I just finished arranging this piece not too long ago, so it's quite fresh. This means there's plenty of scope for you to add your personal touch to it! Flexibility is Key This piece is different from others I've taught before. It offers a lot more freedom for you to make it your own. We'll use an alternating thumb technique similar to the one in the "Craggy Island Blues" piece from my Solo Blues 2 DVD. If you're familiar with that technique, you'll have a head start here. But don't worry if you're not. We're going to take it slow and make sure you understand every step. Breaking It Down We'll take this piece in small, manageable chunks - four bars at a time. I'll walk you through what each hand is doing, allowing you to focus on the details. However, if you'd like to use different fingerings or plucking patterns, feel free to do so. The goal is to make the piece comfortable for you to play and enjoyable for you to learn. Understanding the Structure This piece follows an AABA structure, which means we have a melody (A section) that repeats, followed by a different melody (B section), and then a return to the A melody with a slight variation. This variation creates a nice ending to the piece. You'll find this structure quite common in many songs, and understanding it will help you learn new pieces quicker in the future. Importance of Sheet Music I highly recommend downloading the sheet music for this piece from the website. Trying to learn it without the sheet music could be quite challenging, especially if you're new to guitar playing. A little tip: Use a colored pen (any color but black) to mark the fingering you decide to use on the music sheet. It will make the learning process a lot easier. Encouraging Note Learning a new piece of music can seem daunting, but remember,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5TcpfP_pEo 473 2017-11-17T03:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-falling-from-above-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-221 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5AbaUwY-lpc/hqdefault.jpg Falling From Above by Neil Young Learn "Falling from Above" by Neil Young on Electric Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Falling from Above by Neil Young on the electric guitar. We'll explore its unique sound and how to sound like the original. While Falling from Above may not be one of Neil Young's greatest hits, I have a special fondness for this song. It's the opening track on Greendale, a personal favorite Neil Young album of mine. This fantastic record is a must-listen, complete with a film accompanying it. 💭 I had the opportunity to see Neil Young perform this live on an acoustic guitar at the Hammer Smith Apollo for the album's launch tour. It was an experience that left me in awe. Greendale is a concept album that touches on significant themes like climate change, corporations, and greed. These themes resonate deeply with me and feel more relevant now than ever, making it a worthwhile experience. Now let's get stuck in! The Intriguing Journey of the Song Falling from Above presents an intriguing adventure for solo electric guitar enthusiasts. Originally played with the Crazy Horse band, recreating its magic using an acoustic guitar style on an electric guitar makes the experience even more interesting. The technique primarily involves the thumb and first finger, picking out notes and strumming to create a distinctive sound. One key thing to remember here is the balance in gain. You want a little bit of gain, but not too much. The goal is to achieve a sound that can be distorted yet clean, depending on how hard or soft you play. It's a delicate balance, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it. Unpacking the Chord Progression The song kicks off with a chord that might be familiar to most guitarists. It's a C-shape shifted up two frets, creating a pleasing dissonance between F sharp and G. The song then transitions back to a C and then to a D. This progression is a common motif in this song! 👉 Get verified tabs and chords + lyrics for Falling from Above and other Neil Youngs songs with JustinGuitar Tabs! Get started... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5AbaUwY-lpc 1265 2023-11-12T06:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-steve-miller-band-the-joker-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-215 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ASB2FbpXVwM/hqdefault.jpg The Joker by The Steve Miller Band Learn "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band on guitar using only 3 chords! In this easy beginner lesson, we'll learn how to play the all-time classic The Joker on the acoustic guitar. We'll explore a few different approaches to playing it. At the most basic beginner level, you can play The Joker with just G, C, and D chords - 3 easy open chords! If you're more advanced, you can play the riff also, incorporating a bit of strumming at the same time. That gets more complicated, especially if you're singing it too. However, as long as you maintain good energy and keep the vibe going, minor mistakes in the riff when playing alone are not a big deal. 💡 Depending on your skill level and what you're aiming for, you can mix things up a bit! You may have noticed during the demonstration that I wasn't playing the riff correctly all the time. I was alternating between focusing on the riff, thinking about the singing, and doing a little bit of strumming. If you're playing in a band, you will want to perform well. Someone else may be singing, so you can focus on playing your part more accurately. In the original recording, multiple guitars are weaved together. So if you play it in a band with multiple guitars, you may want to break down the parts we'll learn in this tutorial into separate components. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play The Joker by Steve Miller Band on the acoustic guitar! Guitar Tuning You must tune down a whole tone to play The Joker with the original recording. I decided not to do that, which makes it a bit harder to sing, but most people probably won't bother tuning their guitar down to play it if they sing this song at a party or something. You can still sing it without hitting all the high notes and even speak some of the lyrics. So, you can play it a little higher without much trouble and learn the song without having to retune your guitar. Guitar Chords Start with a G chord. I recommend you use the grip with just Fingers 3 and 4. So, the third finger plays the thicker string, muting the fift... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ASB2FbpXVwM 1499 2023-08-19T10:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-albatross-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-379 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JjUSs8tLYE0/hqdefault.jpg Albatross [1/3] by Fleetwood Mac "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac: Electric Guitar Demo + Lesson Albatross by Fleetwood Mac is a really nice B-side instrumental track. Peter Green’s guitar playing is always sublime, but this track in particular is a great example of his musicality and finesse. I was playing around with a dual screen but then I figured I’d use my recording it for a lesson. Part 1 is just a cover of the tune so you can see how to play it. We go into all the details in parts 2 and 3 of the lesson. See you there. :) Albatross by Fleetwood Mac – Part 2 Albatross by Fleetwood Mac – Part 3 https://www.youtube.com/embed/JjUSs8tLYE0 195 2017-10-29T08:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-you-can-t-always-get-what-you-want-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-375 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ESkUcEvY7Nk/hqdefault.jpg You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones Learn how to play "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones on the guitar. This iconic song is a crowd-pleaser and a fantastic opportunity to expand your guitar skills. One of the things that makes this song so special is its use of open E tuning. Now, don't let that intimidate you! Open E tuning gives the song its unique sound, allowing for some interesting chord voicings. It's like discovering a whole new guitar! We'll walk through how to get your guitar into this tuning, and once you hear how it sounds, you'll be excited to start playing. So, let's dive in and explore this classic tune together! 👉 Need more help with Open E Tuning? Check out this lesson! Chord Progression: The Heart of the Song The chord progression in You Can't Always Get What You Want gives the song its distinctive sound. We'll be working with chords that might feel a bit different due to the open E tuning, but don't worry - we'll look at each one of them in detail. We'll start with a C chord shape, which gives us a beautiful, full sound in this tuning. Then, we'll move to what would typically be an F chord shape, but in this tuning, it creates a different harmonic color. As we progress through the song, you'll see how these unique chord voicings contribute to the song's rich texture. Mastering the Rhythm and Adding Special Touches The rhythm in this song is crucial to capturing its essence. We'll work on a strumming pattern that really brings out the song's groove. It's not just about playing the right chords; it's about playing them with the right feel. We'll start slow, focusing on getting a steady rhythm, and then we'll gradually build up to the full tempo. Remember, it's all about practice and patience! Rhythm Pattern of Main Groove D . . . D . . U D . D . D U D U D . D . D . . U . U D . D . x x 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a What makes this song shine are the little embellishmen... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ESkUcEvY7Nk 1029 2017-12-15T13:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-you-shook-me-all-night-long-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3192 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IPqyZ6Yeuh8/hqdefault.jpg You Shook Me All Night Long [2/3] by AC/DC Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This is an awesome song that I have been playing since I was 12, and I still don't get it quite as right as I would like. This simple stuff is deceptively hard to play well. Those of you that want to check out this song properly should have a go at working it by yourself! The chords are just G, C and D and the solo mostly uses the G minor pentatonic scale. Just get in there and have a go and see how much you can do yourself - it really is the best way to learn - hard I know when you start but it is WAY better in the long run! The first vid covers the intro, and the verses. The second vid shows the chorus and stuff and the third vid is just the solo. You can work out the little variations for yourself by listening to the recording. Hope you like it... For those about to rock... we salute you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPqyZ6Yeuh8 327 2018-02-08T17:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/booker-t-the-m-g-s-green-onions-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-427 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nMcTHPlBzjo/hqdefault.jpg Green Onions by Booker T. & the M.G.s Learn to play "Green Onions" by Booker T. and the MGs on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Green Onions on the guitar. This tune is a classic, and we're going to explore all the main parts and the solos, too! The composition of Green Onions is interesting because it has multiple parts. We'll focus on the bass part and the little "chips" that really give this piece its distinct flavor. Explore the Chords, Riffs, and Solos Even though the first guitar part you'll hear on the record is actually these little chips, we'll start by dissecting the guitar riff that pairs up with the bass. This will give us a solid foundation to build on. The sequence of chords in Green Onions is F, B flat, and C. The chip, or the little thing you hear between the main chords, is played on the third fret of the second and third strings. It's an unusual note sequence that might surprise you at first, but it blends perfectly with the overall sound. After getting comfortable with the main parts of the song, we'll take a look at the solos. Don't underestimate them; they might seem straightforward at first, but they have many subtleties that you'll want to pay attention to. Steve Cropper, the guitar legend behind these solos, is known for his intricate and nuanced playing. Practice along with the Original Recording One of the best ways to sharpen your skills and get the feel of the song is by playing along with the original recording. This will help you absorb the groove of the piece and better align your timing with that of Steve Cropper. It's a great way to ensure your playing isn't just technically accurate but also musically expressive and in tune with the spirit of the song. Using your ear is a big part of learning any song, especially a classic like Green Onions. It's essential to listen to each note, each bar, one note at a time, and try to reproduce it on your guitar. This practice will help you pick up on those little subtle bends and the song's phrasing that no one can teach you but that you need to absorb and int... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nMcTHPlBzjo 721 2017-12-08T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-righteous-brothers-unchained-melody-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-410 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/haUa8ymmf5A/hqdefault.jpg Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers Learn to Play "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Unchained Melody on the guitar. This beautiful song, made famous by The Righteous Brothers, has also been recorded by various other artists. Although we're focusing on a finger-style acoustic arrangement in this lesson, I'll also explain what's happening in The Righteous Brothers' version. Understanding the Song Structure Unchained Melody is a remarkable song in many ways. One of its key features is its 12/8 time signature. This means that each bar has four beats, and each beat is divided into three pulses. This creates a strong rhythm that we can count as one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. However, for simplicity, it's easier to count it as one, two, three, four, with each beat divided into three. The Chord Sequence and the Bridge The best place to start any song is with the chord sequence. In Unchained Melody, we'll use four down strums to the bar, playing a down strum on each beat. The chords are mostly open chords, except for a part in the bridge, which we'll see later. We start with a C chord, followed by A minor, and then G. You may add a G7 if you prefer, but it's not necessary. The sequence continues with another round of C and A minor, followed by an F chord, and then back to C. The sequence ends with a C7 chord, signaling the arrival of the bridge. The bridge introduces a few new chords: F, G, and E flat. You could play the F and G chords in their usual positions, but to transition to the E flat, you'll find it better to use A-shape barre chords. This allows for smoother transitions and a richer sound. Strumming and Fingerstyle Techniques Once you're comfortable with the chord sequences, you can explore different ways to play the song. You can either strum it or use fingerstyle. Both techniques have their unique charm, and it largely depends on your personal preference. If you opt for the fingerstyle technique, you'll want to use your thumb to play t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/haUa8ymmf5A 1065 2017-12-04T09:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/death-cab-for-cutie-i-will-follow-you-into-the-dark-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2T4MShSWVuI/hqdefault.jpg I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie Wonderful dark ballad from Death Cab For Cutie, not a band I'd heard much from before but I'm really digging them. The singer Ben has a solo project which is awesome too. Check them out: Death Cab For Cutie Hope you dig it as much as I do. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2T4MShSWVuI 625 2017-11-29T10:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-costello-alison-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-319 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oXuWLTGocI4/hqdefault.jpg Alison by Elvis Costello Learn how to play "Alison" by Elvis Costello on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Alison by the wonderful Elvis Costello on the guitar. This classic tune is not only a fantastic song but also a great opportunity to work on your barre chords and explore some interesting rhythm techniques. Before we start, let me tell you why I love this song. Alison is one of my favorite Elvis Costello tunes, and it actually introduced me to his entire catalog. It's a beautiful piece that showcases Costello's songwriting prowess and offers us guitarists a chance to refine our skills. While the original version features a lot of lead guitar work, we will focus on a more rhythmic approach in this lesson. We'll be adapting the piano part to the guitar, which gives us some flexibility in how we play it. We'll learn a way to play the rhythm that captures the song's groove, perfect for when you're playing alone. However, if you're playing in a band setting, you should explore those lead guitar parts on your own time. Let's dive in! Chord Progression Let's start by looking at the main chord progression. Alison primarily uses barre chords, making it an excellent workout for those looking to improve in this area. We'll use A, C, and E as our main chords, with some G# minor, C# minor, and B thrown in for good measure. 👉 If you need a refresher, we get into barre chords in my Intermediate Course. The verse progression goes like this: A, C, E, then back to A. Then, we move to G# minor, C# minor, and B before returning to A. It's a bit of a workout, but don't worry - you'll get it down with practice! In the chorus, we introduce a Bsus4 chord, which adds a nice touch of tension and release when resolving to the B chord. If you're not familiar with sus chords, think of them as a way to add a bit of flavor and movement to your playing. Rhythm and Strumming Now, let's talk about the rhythm. The strumming pattern I recommend for this song is down, mute, down-down, mute. This pattern gives the song its characteristic groove. We'r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oXuWLTGocI4 1059 2017-12-03T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-walking-the-dog-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-524 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YCxGB57VjP4/hqdefault.jpg Walking The Dog by The Rolling Stones Learn How to Play "Walking The Dog" by The Rolling Stones on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Walking The Dog on the guitar. The Rolling Stones made this blues tune a big hit, and it's one we're going to enjoy learning together. Walking The Dog is a 16-bar blues tune. Don't worry if you're not sure what that means yet – we'll go through it together. What's important here is that this song has a couple of different ways to approach it. We can keep it simple with strumming or add a bit of a rock-and-roll shuffle. For those intermediate guitar players out there, we'll also take a look at the exact part that Keith Richards was playing. It's a bit more difficult, but it's a cool riff that adds a lot to the song. Chord Progression and Strumming The chord progression for "Walking the Dog" primarily uses A7, D7, and E7 chords. If you're not familiar with these chords, I recommend you check them out in the beginner's course on my website. The strumming pattern is quite simple, and we refer to it as the Old Faithful strumming pattern. It's a pattern of down, down, up, up, down, down, up, up, down. This pattern, combined with the chords, gives you the song's basic structure. To play the song in its simplest form, we'll begin with eight bars of A7, followed by two bars of D7, then back to A7 for two bars, and finally E7 for two bars. This cycle repeats throughout the song. The Shuffle Rhythm Now, if you're ready for something a bit more advanced, we can introduce a shuffle rhythm into our strumming. This isn't exactly how it's played in the original recording, but it sounds just as good and adds a bit of a challenge. The shuffle rhythm gives the song a 12-bar blues feel, and it's something I also cover in more detail in my beginner's course on my website. Keith's Riff For those looking for an even greater challenge, we'll take a look at Keith Richards' main riff for this song. It's a very cool riff, and even though it's not exactly the same every time, I'll teach you a standardized version that works thr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YCxGB57VjP4 688 2018-01-22T17:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-brothers-in-arms-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-342 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lZ-IrqzCEw4/hqdefault.jpg Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits Learn How to Play "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the iconic Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits on the guitar. This legendary song, featuring the great Mark Knopfler on guitar, is an absolute classic and a must-learn for every guitar enthusiast. Its intricate chord progressions and unique sound offer a captivating study for guitar players of varying skill levels. Brothers In Arms is a song that's both challenging and rewarding to learn. It's filled with different fills and intricate details, making it a fascinating piece to dissect and learn. We'll break it down part by part, focusing on the chord progressions and the unique techniques used to create its distinctive sound. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a deeper understanding of the song and be well on your way to mastering it on your guitar. Understanding the Chord Progressions We'll start off by discussing the chord progressions that form the song's structure. The intro sequence, which also forms the underlying progression for the solos, starts with a G sharp minor transitioning to an E chord, followed by a C sharp minor and then another E chord. This sequence is repeated three times. Next, we have the verse progression. It starts with an E, transitioning to an F sharp, followed by a B sus4 B. The progression then moves to an F-sharp major chord with an A sharp bass, then G sharp minor to D sharp minor, then E, F sharp sus to F sharp, and finally back to G sharp minor to D sharp minor, E to F sharp sus to F sharp. Understanding and familiarizing yourself with these chord progressions will give you a solid foundation to build upon as we dive into the detailed licks and fills that are characteristic of this song. The Sound and Technique Brothers In Arms is known for its unique sound. Achieving this sound involves a combination of factors, including the choice of guitar, the settings on the amp, and the use of pedals. Mark Knopfler is often seen playing this song on a Les Paul. His amp gives a clean... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lZ-IrqzCEw4 1967 2017-12-21T13:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-blue-suede-shoes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-522 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9ldr_iy4tg/hqdefault.jpg Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley Learn how to play "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Blue Suede Shoes on the guitar. This iconic Rock and Roll tune by Elvis Presley offers multiple playing approaches, from basic strumming to more advanced techniques with stops and accents. It's an excellent song to grow with - you can start with simple patterns and add complexity as your skills develop. Chord Progression and Song Structure The song primarily uses dominant seventh chords: A7, D7, and E7. While you could use regular A, D, and E chords, the seventh chords give that authentic Rock and Roll sound. Don't worry–these seventh chords are surprisingly easy to play and add a fantastic vintage flavor to the song. The verse structure uses eight bars of A7, creating that classic Rock and Roll groove. The chorus follows a simple progression: two bars each of D7, A7, E7, and back to A7. There's also a solo section that follows a simplified 12-bar Blues form, making it perfect for practicing your rhythm playing while backing up lead guitar. Strumming Patterns and Adding Swing In this lesson, we'll explore several strumming options. Beginners can start with simple down strums—four to a bar—which work perfectly with the original recording. As you get more comfortable, you can incorporate more advanced patterns with accents and stops that really capture that authentic 1950s Rock and Roll feel. One of the key elements that gives this song its infectious groove is the subtle shuffle feel. Instead of straight eighth notes, we'll add a slight swing to our strumming. This creates that characteristic bounce that makes early Rock and Roll so danceable. Don't worry if it takes some time to get this feel–it will come naturally as you listen to and play along with the song. Advanced Techniques For more experienced players, we'll explore some signature elements like the iconic stops and muted strums that give the song its distinctive sound. These techniques include the strategic use of muting and specific accent patterns ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/u9ldr_iy4tg 674 2018-05-20T08:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-lithium-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-155 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DpOlKs2zUGA/hqdefault.jpg Lithium by Nirvana Learn "Lithium" by Nirvana on the guitar! Let's check out how to play Lithium by Nirvana on the guitar! This all-time classic Grunge song is super fun to play, but I couldn't sing the "yeah" part. :) Nothing I tried sounded good, so I decided not to sing that part in my cover for the lesson's introduction! If you happen to be able to sing it, duet me on TikTok. ;) 🎤 Now… do you suck at singing? Check this these singing tips! Now let's get started and learn how to play Lithium by Nirvana on the guitar. If you're following my courses, this song fits students at Grade 4 and beyond. Drop-Tune Guitar Tuning To play Lithium by Nirvana on the guitar, you need to tune your guitar down one tone. The tuning, starting from the thickest string, is: D, G, C, F, A, D. Every string is a tone lower than in standard tuning! This is called Drop-Tune tuning. I originally thought about playing Lithium in regular tuning, but it makes the song a lot higher and I wanted to encourage you to retune your guitar, so that's what I ended up doing. :) An easy way to do get to this tuning is to put the capo on the second fret and tune the strings to EADGBE. Take the capo off, and your open strings will now be DGCFAD. You’re unlikely to break a string, unless they’re old and ready to be replaced anyway! Lithium by Nirvana - Versions Beginners can play Lithium on the guitar using simple Power Chords. You don't have to worry too much about the details if you're starting on the guitar and just want to have fun playing the songs you love! You'll need to slide them up and down the guitar neck, and you should be comfortable muting strings. More advanced players can explore the ghosted notes and the open strings that ring out. You can also cop the dynamics and all the interesting tricks on this Nirvana classic. Lithium by Nirvana - Guitar Chords We start on an open E5 chord. Sometimes Kurt’s finger lays down and frets the note A on string 3 too. It’s not “correct”, but it’s part of his style. The rest of the chords are power chords rooted on 6 and ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DpOlKs2zUGA 1132 2022-08-10T08:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-denver-take-me-home-country-roads-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-137 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hgrEDY8o82U/hqdefault.jpg Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver Learn "Take Me Home Country Roads" by John Denver on guitar. In today's lesson, we'll check out different ways to play Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver on the acoustic guitar. This is a road-trip essential! There's nothing like belting it out when you've been driving for hours. :) And it’s a wicked guitar song. The chords are simple, and there are some cool rhythmic possibilities that can take your strumming to the next level. 🚨 Want to accelerate your learning? Learn this song karaoke-style using the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app. It's a fantastic tool for beginners to prevent bad rhythm habits, like stopping when the chords change. When playing along with my app, you have no choice but to keep going! So let's explore everything you need to play this song, along with some tricks to spice things up! Let's start with the basic chords and strumming. :) Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver: Intro and Verse Chords Let's look at the intro of this easy country song. We start with four bars of G. I usually go for the version with fingers 3 and 4 (3X0003), muting string 5 with finger 3. You can also try 320003 with fingers 1, 2, and 3. It doesn’t really matter – choose the grip you like most. :) Then we have the first verse, which is another simple chord progression. We play two reps of G,G, Em, Em, D, D, C, G, G. Super easy chords, right? :) Just make sure to chop off the final G before you go to the chorus. The chorus progression changes a little bit. It goes G G D D Em Em C C, then G G D D C C G G. Still pretty easy to remember. :) Bridge: Guitar Chords The bridge is a little trickier because there’s no obvious pattern to the chords. It’s a good idea to write it down – or even better, use the app. :) The chord progression is Em, D, G, G; C, G, D, D; Em, F, C, G; D, D, D, D. Now for the strumming! Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver: Basic Strumming For Guitar You don’t want to pause as you play rhythm guitar. It’s a really, really, really bad habit! To prevent this, let’s start with simpl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hgrEDY8o82U 754 2022-03-23T02:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beach-boys-surfin-usa-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-076 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYni-2CuGzA/hqdefault.jpg Surfin USA by The Beach Boys No matter who you are, you've probably danced to this song. Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys is such a classic song! There's debate as to whose it is - many consider it a rewrite of Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen and credit it to him. Rock drama apart, this one is great for acoustic guitar and perfect for beginners! 💡 My Journey: Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys was one of my first songs on guitar. My first teacher, Pete Thompson, taught me it in a shop called Southern Music in Tasmania. Teaching it brings back so many great memories. :) We'll start by looking at the basic chords and strumming, then we'll check out the riff and some authentic rhythm tricks! Let's go. How to Play "Surfin' USA" by The Beach Boys on Guitar First Things First - The Capo If you want to play along with the original Beach Boys recording, you'll need to use a capo on the 6th fret. If not, don't put the capo on. Playing with a capo on 6 feels pretty uncomfortable when you're a beginner. I didn't use a capo for this lesson, and the guitar still fits with the song. Most people won't even notice the difference. ;) Learn Guitar Faster! Before we get to the chords, let's discuss a crucial aspect of playing guitar. This is a really big deal! You see, the big danger for beginners is stopping while you change chords. If you do this often, you're developing a bad habit that you'll have to correct later in your journey. 🎆 JustinGuitar Beginner Songs & Lessons App: Check out my beginner guitar app - you can try it for free! There are hundreds of songs with great backing tracks, meaning you'll never develop the habit of stopping while you change chords. The app really speeds up your progress. Playing with backing tracks from the early stages of guitar will help you with chord changes, rhythm, feel, and much more. :) Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys - Guitar Chords You just need the A, D, and E chords to play Surfin' USA. These are the first three chords we cover in my free Beginner Guitar Course, so this Beach Boys song is perfect for course studen... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYni-2CuGzA 850 2021-06-09T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/a-great-big-world-say-something-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-811 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CEgHP5lU4Ak/hqdefault.jpg Say Something by A Great Big World Learn to Play "Say Something" by A Great Big World on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Say Something on the guitar. This beautiful tune is a fantastic piece to explore with various approaches and offers excellent opportunities to enhance your fingerstyle techniques. Let's dive into it! Understanding the Song's Structure Say Something has a rich musical structure despite its seemingly simple composition. The song revolves around two main chord progressions, offering a great balance of repetition and variation that makes it enjoyable to play and listen to. The chorus revolves around the chords A minor, F, C, and G sus (the holy chord, as I like to call it). If you plan on playing along with the original recording, you'll need to put your capo on the second fret. Chord Progressions Understanding the chord progressions in Say Something will make learning and playing the song much easier. The song begins with an intro that uses the same chords as the chorus, creating a cycle that's easy to follow. We have almost two bars on each chord when the verse kicks in. Starting with two bars of C, then moving to E minor for two bars, followed by two bars of F, and then one bar each of C and G sus4 again. This cycle continues throughout the song, making it a beautiful exercise in chord transitions and progressions. Building on the Song One of the fantastic things about Say Something is its flexibility. Even though it's a mellow tune, there's plenty of room for you to explore and develop your own interpretation. Part of this exploration involves looking at different approaches to the rhythm guitar part or the accompaniment. After all, the original recording is mostly piano and strings, so there's plenty of room for interpretation when playing it on the guitar. Tips and Tricks A helpful technique to keep in mind when playing this song is to ensure that your strumming hand moves in six. This gives you 12 options, as you have upstrokes in between all of those downstrokes. Starting with the feeling of C and playi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CEgHP5lU4Ak 805 2018-07-10T16:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-thinking-out-loud-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0rzlm733apo/hqdefault.jpg Thinking Out Loud [SOLO] by Ed Sheeran Learn to play "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo from Thinking Out Loud on the guitar. This is a really cool solo, and it's a great one to learn, especially if you want to improve your lead guitar skills. We'll be breaking down all the parts step by step so you can follow along and learn this solo in no time. Let's dive in! Understanding the Solo The Thinking Out Loud solo is based on the D major pentatonic scale. It's a very melodic solo based on classic country licks, so it's a great one to learn if you're exploring this kind of style. The solo includes a lot of hammer-ons, bends, and slides, which are fundamental techniques for guitar solos. Don't worry if you're not familiar with these techniques yet–we'll take each part slow and easy, and you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Breaking Down the Solo - Bar by Bar Let's get into the nitty-gritty of how the solo is played! The solo begins with a lick where you use your first finger to bar strings four and five at the seventh fret and then hammer on with your third finger on the ninth fret of the fifth string. You then repeat this movement on the middle two strings. The next part involves a country-style lick with a tone bend. After that, you go back to the intro lick with the hammer-ons. Then, there is a rake into a lick where you slide up two frets and then slide back. The solo continues with another country lick that uses a hammer-on, followed by a note. This is followed by a bend on the 12th fret. Then, the lick is repeated several times, followed by an open note. The solo transitions into a part with a hammer-on, flick-off, and slide. This is followed by a slide and a stop on a specific fret. The final part of the solo consists of a run down of thirds, moving your fingers down the frets in three sets. The first set begins with your first finger on the 10th fret of the thinnest string and the second finger on the 12th fret of the second string. Then you move down one fret and then another tw... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0rzlm733apo 648 2017-12-31T09:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/redgum-i-was-only-19-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-199 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zobFQBsbp-w/hqdefault.jpg I Was Only 19 by Redgum The beautiful fingerstyle song "I Was Only 19" by Redgum is perfect for Anzac Day! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play I Was Only 19 by Redgum on the acoustic guitar. This powerful song about the Vietnam War is well-known in Australia - my home country! :) 💙 This lesson is my Anzac Day tribute to everyone who has served in the armed forces. I have massive respect for them - it's a tough gig. We'll start with the chords and strumming before checking out several fingerpicking options. My fingerstyle arrangement isn't the same as the original Redgum version, and it's your choice whether you strum, pick, or use a mixture. :) Let's start this guitar tutorial with the chord progressions for I Was Only 19. I Was Only 19 by Redgum: Intro & Verse Progression Good news - there are only four chords in the intro and verses. The intro progression is: Am, C, G, D; Am, G, Am, Am Each chord lasts for only one bar of 4/4, and the tempo is fast, meaning the chord changes are pretty quick. :) 🤔 Extra Bars? In Folk, the story is more important than the chords, so sometimes you stay on chords a little longer. This trend started in Blues music, where "12 Bar Blues" often aren't 12 bars long, and folk musicians adopted it. Since I Was Only 19 is a folk song, you can add extra bars if you need a break from singing or forget the lyrics! Don't stop strumming, though - you have to keep the rhythm going if the vocal stops. You can hear an extra bar in the Redgum version after the lyric "the passing out parade at Puckapunyal": the music stays on Am a little longer. Let's check out the chorus. I Was Only 19 by Redgum: Chorus Progression The chorus has a key change, so we'll need different chords. ;) The progression changes to two reps of E, E, D, A; E E, D, A then F#m, E, D, A, followed by E, E, E, E; D, D, D, D. All the chords are simple open chords - except that F#m! Let's see a couple of ways to play it. The most common grip for F#m is the E Shape Minor Barre Chord. But I cheat. ;) I use a mini barre with finger 1 and grab ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zobFQBsbp-w 1409 2023-04-23T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/girl-in-red-we-fell-in-love-in-october-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-073 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6E616yU_4f4/hqdefault.jpg we fell in love in october by Girl in Red girl in red is an inspiration to us all... Let's learn we fell in love in october by girl in red on guitar! I randomly heard this at my friend's place, and immediately I was struck by the beauty of the melody and the quality of the production. So I looked it up afterwards and found out the artist wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed this song herself. She has loads of other great tunes - I love her sense of melody, and the arrangements are incredible. Her music is probably too hip for an old-timer like me, but I really dig it. :) 🔥 Get Inspired to Create: This song is a great reminder that if you have the drive to make music, you can go and do it right away - on your own. :) It's all about putting in the effort! girl in red put her single on YouTube, and it now has over 40M views and is inspiring so many people. Well, she definitely inspires me. Now let's take a look at how to play we fell in love in october. I hope you dig it as much as I do! we fell in love in october by girl in red is pretty easy to play on guitar, and it's great for beginners. :) You only need two chords to play it, and that's awesome - but it also brings some fun challenges, which we'll explore! Ready? HOW TO PLAY "WE FELL IN LOVE IN OCTOBER" BY GIRL IN RED ON GUITAR we fell in love in october by girl in red – Guitar Chords You just need two chords to play we fell in love in october, and they both use the same shape but in two positions. The two chords are CMaj7 and GMaj7. Don’t worry if that sounds complicated - they’re way easier than they seem! 🤔 CMaj7 and GMaj7: While these chord names are common, the fingering in we fell in love in october is unusual. Think of these as songwriting grips. :) They sound real interesting and work great with some reverb. girl in red's CMaj7 grip is very close to a root-6 power chord. So grab C5 with the string-6 root, then put finger 2 one fret behind your pinkie and lift off your pinkie. That's the grip. :) We also strum all six strings to get a lovely, open sound, so make sure all the strings ring out ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6E616yU_4f4 558 2021-05-16T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-3-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3143 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sGYZrBcHlA8/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [3/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn Stairway To Heaven On Guitar - Part 3 Get your guitar pick out for this section. In this lesson, we explore the third part of the Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin guitar series. Some tasty chords, odd rhythm - make sure to get that rhythm hand consistent. To get this as accurate as possible, feel free to transcribe this song and check out the video close-ups. This guitar lesson is part 3 of my 6 part guitar lessons for this song. 🎸 This guitar lesson suits Grade 5+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 of this lesson. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Stairway To Heaven? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sGYZrBcHlA8 489 2018-02-08T16:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-under-the-bridge-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ojJXLKzoG8A/hqdefault.jpg Under the Bridge [2/3] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 3 of this lesson. I'm really happy that so many people requested this song on the forum, it really is a classic, and it's fun to play - and there is lots to learn in it! If you are struggling with the barre chords you should check out this lesson here. and if you want more info on the Hendrix style playing check out this lesson. They should help! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ojJXLKzoG8A 564 2018-02-08T15:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/alanis-morissette-hand-in-my-pocket-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-909 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_M8PG0v3qBI/hqdefault.jpg Hand In My Pocket by Alanis Morissette Learn to play "Hand In My Pocket" by Alanis Morissette on guitar! Mega huge pop hit from the '90s! You really couldn't escape this record, and that was a good thing. :) Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette is one of the best pop-rock albums of the last few decades. It has many songs that work great on the acoustic guitar too! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the song Hand In My Pocket, one of my favorites from that record. It's a pretty easy one to play in a basic way, but you can get all fancy on it too and make it harder. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, this lesson is great for Grade 3+ students. But it can be an awesome Developer for newer guitar players too. Now let's get stuck in and check out a few details on how to play Hand In My Pocket. Hand In My Pocket - Guitar Chords You'll only need four open chords to play this song. You'll start by playing a G5 chord: play a regular 4-finger G chord, lift off your first finger, and use the underneath of your second finger to mute the fifth string. You'll play that G5 for pretty much all the verses! 📚 Hand In My Pocket is one of the 100 songs on my Beginner's Songbook 1. Check it out if you'd like to have the printed lyrics, chords, tabs, and strumming pattern to follow along with this tutorial! Then, you'll need to move your first finger around a little bit! The good news is that your third and fourth fingers will stay in the same position all the way through. So, right after playing the G5 chord, your first goes to the first fret. It'll fret the thickest string and mute the fifth one. That might be a bit stretchy to some of you, but some practice will get you there. :) That chord is a G5/F, which means that the F is the bass note now. Check out this lesson to understand more about those slash chords! Next, you'll need a Csus2. Bring your second finger on the third fret of the fifth string to play it. Use it to mute the thickest string and the fourth string as well. The last grip you'll need is a G5/D chord. Just lift your first finger a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_M8PG0v3qBI 703 2018-01-25T14:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-i-shot-the-sheriff-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-6132 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DXqMvpjQX5M/hqdefault.jpg I Shot the Sheriff [2/2] by Bob Marley Folow this link to go to Part 1 of this lesson. https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXqMvpjQX5M 367 2018-07-06T12:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/justin-sandercoe-from-katie-s-window-2-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-js-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w9j-w0JSi90/hqdefault.jpg From Katie's Window [2/4] by Justin Sandercoe How to play "From Katie's Window" by Justin Sandercoe on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play From Katie's Window on the guitar. This beautiful fingerstyle piece by yours truly is a great way to improve your fingerpicking skills and add a touch of melody to your playing. Before we start, I want to mention that From Katie's Window is a song from my first solo record, Small Town Eyes. It's a gentle, melodic piece that really showcases the beauty of fingerstyle guitar. The song is divided into three main sections: A, B, and C. Section A is fairly straightforward and serves as a nice warm-up for what's to come. Sections B and C are where things get more interesting; we'll focus on those in this lesson. This is the second part of the complete song lesson. Click here if you haven't seen Part 1, in which we cover section A, or if you're ready to go to Part 3 and Part 4. Don't worry if it seems challenging at first – we'll break it down step by step, and with some practice, you'll be playing it smoothly in no time! The Main Technique: Replicating Drums One of the coolest aspects of From Katie's Window is how we use the guitar to replicate drum-like rhythms. This technique is the heart of the song, especially in Section B. We're essentially creating a full band sound with just our guitar! Here's how it works: We play bass notes on beats one and three and add a percussive hit on beats two and four. This creates a steady rhythm that runs through most of the song. It's like having a bassist and a drummer right there in your hands! To get comfortable with this rhythm, try practicing just the bass notes and percussive hits first. Count it out: "One (bass), two (hit), three (bass), four (hit)." Once you've got that down, we'll start adding in the other notes to flesh out the melody and harmony. Remember, it's all about consistency and timing. Take it slow at first – there's no rush! Using a metronome can be really helpful here to keep your rhythm steady. Adding Melody and Harmony As we move into Section C, we intro... https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9j-w0JSi90 662 2018-03-13T13:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gotye-somebody-that-i-used-to-know-beginner-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-801 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IdOMn7Tm1U0/hqdefault.jpg Somebody That I Used To Know [Beginner] by Gotye Learn To Play "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye on the acoustic guitar - an easy version using easy chords. What a catchy song this is! Somebody That I Used to Know is quite an earworm, which explains the massive success it saw during its release back in 2011. We're learning a very basic, beginner's version. The original version appears to use barre chords, but to start with, we'll stick a capo on the 5th fret. You can adjust the capo to fit your vocal range more comfortably if you plan to sing along while playing. Chord And Strumming Most of the song alternates between two chords Am and G. The chorus gives you either an F or an Fmaj7 chord, which is pretty simple to play! The strumming pattern is also pretty simple, as a lot of the song's interest comes from the vocal lines. When you're playing this acoustic version, you'll somehow want to differentiate between the verses and the chorus. Most songs will have a more subtle feel for the verses and build it up for the chorus, so you can achieve this by varying the strum pattern. Or, you can even stick to playing a super simple bass line for the verses and then breaking out the full strums for the chorus. Ready For The Next Level? For more adventurous players, you'll want to check out the “explorer” version of Somebody That I Used to Know. This is where we explore some more interesting approaches to the song, with techniques that suit intermediate guitar players. This includes a fingerstyle pattern to play the bass, melody ideas, and some tasty grooves to explore! And if you fancy giving up the guitar (just kidding, don't ever give up!), check out the Mike Dawes version where he plays all the parts simultaneously - incredible! Get verified tabs and chords + lyrics that perfectly fit this tutorial with JustinGuitar Tabs. If you haven't already, get a free trial at JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IdOMn7Tm1U0 677 2018-05-22T16:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-under-the-bridge-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JWx4LGPe2Ms/hqdefault.jpg Under the Bridge [3/3] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. I'm really happy that so many people requested this song on the forum, it really is a classic, and it's fun to play - and there is lots to learn in it! If you are struggling with the barre chords you should check out this lesson here. and if you want more info on the Hendrix style playing check out this lesson. They should help! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JWx4LGPe2Ms 591 2018-02-08T15:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-allman-brothers-band-stormy-monday-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-248 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c2HmwbjHjBU/hqdefault.jpg Stormy Monday by The Allman Brothers Band Learn to play "Stormy Monday" by The Allman Brothers on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stormy Monday on the guitar. This classic Blues tune has an amazing heritage, starting with T-Bone Walker, then Bobby Bland's version, and finally, the Allman Brothers' incredible interpretation, which we'll be exploring today. Stormy Monday is a fantastic Blues tune that features some really interesting chord changes and wonderful rhythm work. While it's based on a 12-bar Blues progression in G, it includes some unique twists that make it stand out from your standard Blues progression. What really makes the Allman Brothers' version shine is the interplay between the two guitar parts. The rhythm work is absolutely sublime, featuring what I call "gospel slides" and some really tasteful chord voicings. The solo work is equally impressive–it's a masterclass in how to navigate complex changes while keeping things musical and not overcomplicated. 👉 Want to take your Blues guitar skills to the next level? Check out our Blues Immersion course! Understanding the Chord Progression The song follows a modified 12-bar Blues structure in G but with some really cool variations. We start with a G7, move to C7, and then there's this lovely chromatic movement from G7 to G♯7 and back. The most unique part comes in the middle section, where we move through a series of minor chords - Am, Bm, B♭m - before hitting a D7 and then Cm. It all wraps up with a classic turnaround: G to C, back to G, and then to D. Throughout the song, we use some beautiful extended chords, particularly ninth chords (G9, C9), which give the song its distinctive sound. These voicings create a rich, full sound while still maintaining space in the arrangement. The way these chords are played–with slides, subtle variations, and specific rhythmic patterns–really brings out the soul in this Blues classic. The Two Guitar Parts One of the most exciting aspects of this song is how the two guitar parts work together. The first guitar handles the main rhythm and cho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/c2HmwbjHjBU 2329 2024-12-01T02:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-3-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BljrBsuG-PM/hqdefault.jpg Comfortably Numb [3/4] by Pink Floyd Folow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of this lesson. We finish off the main solo in this lesson. Next lesson we look at the first solo! https://www.youtube.com/embed/BljrBsuG-PM 597 2018-01-08T14:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-yellow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-124 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RZu6rMffErE/hqdefault.jpg Yellow by Coldplay Learn "Yellow" By Coldplay On Guitar! A Coldplay mega-hit everyone knows! Yellow was released over 20 years ago, and it's still a song you'll often hear on the radio. It has a lovely melody, and you'll have fun playing it. Yes, I'm aware the vocals at the start are pretty ropey in my video playthrough. This is a tricky song to sing, and this was the best I could get without spending hours practicing it! In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play Yellow By Coldplay. We'll learn how to get the correct tuning! That's the biggest issue for many. You have to do a tuning tweak to get that original record sound! Playing this song is pretty easy once you get that right. If you're following my guitar courses, this song will be perfect for practicing techniques for Grade 3+ students. 🎵 Love this tune? It's part of my JustinGuitar Acoustic Songbook. It also has 50 songs for guitar players that are into playing acoustic guitar. It's got all the proper names of the chords & you'll also find loads more songs to play along with! Check it out if you're an acoustic guitar lover. :) How to Play Yellow by Coldplay To play this tune, you'll need chords like Badd11 and Emaj7. Don't worry about their names - they're quite easy to play, and I'll walk you through it. :) Yellow is in the key of B, and you'll have to make a tuning tweak to sound like the record. All you have to do is tune the thinnest string down on the semitone. If you're doing it manually, put your first finger in the fourth fret of the second string. Or you could use a tuner and tune your thinnest string down to one semitone of the D#. The tuning gives this new rich sound that makes these common chords sound lovely! Yellow Guitar Strumming Most of the way through, the strumming will be continuous down strums. If you're a beginner - I suggest you keep it simple and start with this! You can start putting in small up strokes here and there. But start by driving eight notes for all down strums. To give this Coldplay song more movement, accent your strum on beat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZu6rMffErE 735 2017-11-29T16:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/leon-bridges-beyond-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-087 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cj7yhPKzl4k/hqdefault.jpg Beyond by Leon Bridges Up for a lovely acoustic guitar ballad? Even if you don’t know Leon Bridges yet, check this out! In today’s song lesson, we’ll learn how to play Beyond by Leon Bridges - what a great songwriter! And he also has a fantastic voice. So much talent - I recommend you give Leon’s original recording a listen! This song is excellent for anyone who's getting started with a B Minor Chord. If you're following my Guitar Courses, this is a fantastic acoustic tune for Grade 5+ students. Now let’s get stuck in. How to play Beyond by Leon Bridges on Guitar To play Beyond, start by placing your capo on the fourth fret. This song is relatively easy to play - but you can’t avoid a Bm Barre Chord in there if you want to sound like the recording. 🚨 Another option would be using your capo up on the sixth fret and playing only open chords - but you’ll lose the song’s character. There's a couple of chords, fillers, and things that sound off with the 6th capo position. The starting intro lick is easy AND tasty! It's a mix of the A Major Pentatonic for the lick. You'll start with the first finger barring the thinnest two strings at the ninth fret. You'll need a couple of hammers in there and a good time to put your guitar slide into practice! For most of the verses, you're playing A Chords - which you can do in many different ways. You'll need a couple of suspended chords in there as well. And, I recommend you keep the thinnest string open! It's one of those things that give a bit of character to this song. That clash and the little sus chord happening on the beats give Beyond a lovely sound! Leon Bridge Beyond Guitar Strumming This song doesn’t have a set pattern. Focus on keeping your hand moving at all times. You'll get the freedom to play less or more. It's a love song - so it's not supposed to be constantly busy! Adding a variation in the strumming pattern will give your personal touch. 💡 Strumming is a skill that needs to become an automatic motion! Keeping that hand moving will give you loads more strumming options! If you do it... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cj7yhPKzl4k 962 2021-08-14T14:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/traffic-feelin-alright-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q_g2EdK97fU/hqdefault.jpg Feelin' Alright by Traffic Learn to play "Feelin' Alright" by Traffic on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Feelin' Alright on the guitar. This classic song, originally by Traffic but popularized by Joe Cocker, is a fantastic choice for beginners and more advanced players. It's a great tune to add to your repertoire! First things first, Feelin' Alright is often considered one of the easiest songs to play on guitar. Don't let that fool you, though - it's also one of the most fun! The simplicity of the chord progression allows for a lot of creativity in your playing, making it a perfect song to experiment with as you develop your skills. While there are several versions of this song out there, we'll focus primarily on the Joe Cocker version. However, I'll also give you some tips on how to adapt it for other popular renditions. Chord Progression Now, let's talk about the chord progression. At its core, Feelin' Alright uses just two chords: A and D. That's right, just two chords for the entire song! This makes it incredibly accessible for beginners but also leaves room for more advanced players to add their own flair. The basic structure is simple: one bar of A, followed by one bar of D. This pattern repeats throughout the entire song. If you're just starting out, you can simply strum each chord four times before switching. As you get more comfortable, you can experiment with different strumming patterns to add more rhythm and groove to your playing. Capo Positions for Different Versions One of the great things about Feelin' Alright is how versatile it is. By changing the position of your capo, you can easily play along with different versions of the song. Here's a quick guide: Joe Cocker version: Capo on the 3rd fret Dave Mason (original Traffic) version: Capo on the 2nd fret Grand Funk Railroad version: Capo on the 5th fret Lulu version: Capo on the 8th fret (great for singers with higher voices) Remember, regardless of where you place the capo, the chord shapes and progression remain the same. This is a great example of how a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/q_g2EdK97fU 397 2018-02-04T20:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/freddie-king-hide-away-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-803 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mMkVzeDO79o/hqdefault.jpg Hide Away [1/2] by Freddie King Follow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. All time classic Blues song this one, and while I love the Clapton version too, I figured we should start with Freddies as it's not only awesome music, but a great study in moving between lead and rhythm! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mMkVzeDO79o 1210 2018-06-05T12:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/extreme-hole-hearted-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FeL5OjShg18/hqdefault.jpg Hole Hearted by Extreme Learn how to play "Hole Hearted" by Extreme on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hole Hearted on the guitar. This is a fantastic and super fun song by Extreme, and we'll see how to play it on a 12-string guitar. But don't worry if you have a six-string guitar; it will work fine too. I've played this song in cover bands for years on a six-string guitar, and while it sounds more like the record on a 12-string, it's still a blast to play on any guitar. Tuning The first important thing is that we are in E♭ tuning, which Extreme used for the album version. This means each string is tuned down one semitone. This tuning is quite common on a 12-string guitar and can also be tuned down a tone. Depending on what you want to play along with, you might want to explore tuning options. Riffs and Rhythms There are four riffs in this song: the intro, the main riff, the chorus, and the little riff at the outro of the chorus. These riffs are packed with interesting rhythmic syncopations that make the song unique and fun to play. Rather than trying to write them all down or count them out, the best way to learn them is by listening to the original recording. The intro is a great place to start. It revolves around a D chord that moves around the fretboard. We start in the regular position, playing a D chord, then move it up two frets. This sequence repeats with some slight variations. The key here is to listen to the original recording to get a feel for the rhythm and the accents. The main riff is where the song gets really exciting. It's built on a series of chordal movements and rhythmic patterns that create a dynamic and engaging sound. The rhythm of this section is primarily made up of sixteenth notes. Keeping your hand moving in a consistent pattern is crucial to nailing this part. Even if it looks like my hand is barely moving, it's still doing a little wobble for the count. The chorus introduces some lovely chord progressions and continues to emphasize rhythmic precision. We start with the familiar D chord... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FeL5OjShg18 1406 2017-12-04T10:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-dylan-knockin-on-heaven-s-door-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-170 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zoPj5Z80AxA/hqdefault.jpg Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan Learn to Play "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan This easy lesson will teach you how to play Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar. He wrote the original song, so we'll look at the chords he uses, along with some cheats for beginners. :) If you're looking for the Guns N Roses version, check it out here. My lesson covers all of the guitar parts, including Slash's superb solos, and it's a bit different from the Dylan version. 🎵 Party Bag – Knockin' On Heaven's Door is a great one for parties. You should remember the chord progression even after a few beers! What's more, your friends will definitely sing along, and guitarists of all levels can grab a guitar and join in. Knockin' On Heaven's Door – Chord Progression The basic chord progression is half a bar of G (3X0003), half a bar of D (XX0232), then one bar of Am (X02210). Then it's back to half a bar of G, half a bar of D, followed by a full bar of C (X32010). It stays the same the whole way through! We use folk G for this song. To play this chord, put finger 3 on 6:3 (string 6, fret 3) and finger 4 on 1:3 (string 1, fret 3). Mute string 5 with finger 3 too. You'll find it much easier to switch from C to folk G than to the other versions of G. 🎸 Open Chords – I don't explain the basic open chords like D, C, and Am in this lesson. Head to my Beginner's Course for free lessons on the essential open chords. :) To vary this, you can play the G chord that Guns N Roses use in their version: 320033. Put finger 1 on 5:2, finger 2 on 6:3, finger 3 on 2:3, and finger 4 on 1:3. This makes the transition to D easier because finger 3 stays in the same place. However, it's trickier to switch to this G than to the folk G. Try both and see which sounds good. If you prefer a tricky change to D and easy changes from Am and C, use folk G. If you'd prefer the opposite, use the Guns N Roses chord. Bob Dylan often adds an embellishment on the Am chord, making it Am7: he adds finger 4 to 1:3. He does the same over the C chord, which sounds awesome. We'l... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zoPj5Z80AxA 840 2023-01-04T12:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/steve-earle-copperhead-road-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-023 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/05HNUkqqELw/hqdefault.jpg Copperhead Road by Steve Earle Learn how to play "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Copperhead Road by Steve Earle on the guitar. This song is a fantastic choice for beginners and those looking to diversify their skill set with a fun and catchy tune. It has a straightforward chord progression, mainly revolving around the D chord. This song is a great one to play along with, and with some practice, you can start adding in a little riff to take your playing to another level of fun. Chord Progression Most of this song is dominated by the D chord, giving it a distinct sound that is easy to follow. But there's a section in the song where it changes to G for two bars. This transition adds a dynamic twist to the song. After two bars of G, it goes back to D. The riff is also played over a D chord, and it's a fun element to add. One thing to note about this song is the timing. It may feel a bit slow, which is why keeping count is so important. The counts follow a pattern of 'one, two, three, four' throughout the song, and this is something you'll want to get used to as you practice. Strumming and Singing When you first start, if you're looking for the most basic version, you'll want to do just one strum per bar. This allows you to focus on your chord changes and the timing, which is crucial for this song. The song lends itself well to singing along as you strum, making it a great choice for those who enjoy singing while they play. Song Structure and Chord Choices As you get more comfortable with the chords and strumming, you can start paying attention to the song's structure. You'll notice that there are two bars of G, two bars of D, and then a D chord where you strum once and let it ring out for two bars. This pattern repeats throughout the song, adding a rhythmic consistency that can help you keep time. While playing this song, you might choose to use different variations of the G chord. Some of the variations include using fingers one, two, and three; two, three, and four; two and three; three a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/05HNUkqqELw 1058 2019-11-08T02:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gnarles-barkley-crazy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dHvI2nBbsIo/hqdefault.jpg Crazy by Gnarles Barkley How to Play "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley on Guitar Today, we're going to explore a truly fantastic tune: Crazy by Gnarls Barkley. This is a great song to add to your repertoire, and I'm excited to guide you through all the details. We'll break down the chord sequences, understand the rhythm, and explore some tips and tricks to make the song your own. So grab your guitar, and let's get started! Breaking Down the Chord Progression The first step toward mastering any song on the guitar is understanding its chord progression. Crazy has a unique structure that makes it a joy to play. This song has three sections, each with its own four-bar chord sequence. You're already halfway there once you've got a handle on these sequences. Verses We start off with an A minor chord in the verses, giving the song a slightly melancholic feel. As the verse builds, we transition into a C major seven. The chord progression then moves to an F major seven, creating a beautiful contrast. Finally, we round off the sequence with an E7 sus4 to E7, adding a touch of suspense and anticipation. Chorus Moving on to the chorus, the chord progression is almost identical to the verses. The only difference is that we switch to a regular F chord instead of the F major seven. This subtle change adds a new layer to the chorus, making it stand out from the verses. Bridge Last but not least, we have the bridge. This section introduces an unexpected twist with an A major chord, providing a refreshing change from the A minor and C major chords that dominate the rest of the song. The progression here goes from A major to F major, then to C major, and wraps up with an E7 sus4 to E7. Mastering the Rhythm and Timing Now that we've dissected the chord progression let's turn our attention to another crucial component of the song: rhythm and timing. The rhythm in Crazy is unique yet straightforward, primarily following a one-two-and-three-four pattern throughout the song, giving it a smooth, flowing feel. In the original recording, the guitarist focuses on playin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dHvI2nBbsIo 815 2017-11-29T17:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-fortunate-son-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-724 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xe8nmZA4cfQ/hqdefault.jpg Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival Master "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival on the Guitar Today, we're going to embark on a musical journey, exploring one of the iconic anthems of the rock 'n' roll era, Fortunate Son, by the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival. We'll take this journey step by step, ensuring that by the end of the lesson, you'll be strumming this classic tune with confidence and style. So, grab your guitar, and let's get cracking! Introduction to the Song Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a timeless song that reverberates through the ages. Its simplicity and powerful rhythm make it an ideal choice for guitarists of all experience levels. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newbie passionate about rock 'n' roll, this song offers an enjoyable challenge. Understanding the Chord Progression Our first stop on this musical journey is understanding the chord progression. The beauty of Fortunate Son lies in its simplicity. The verse consists of a straightforward sequence of chords: G, F, C, and then back to G. We hold each of these chords for one bar, and the sequence is repeated twice for the verse. Transitioning into the chorus, we encounter another sequence: G, D, C, and back to G. This sequence repeats twice, mirroring the verse's pattern. There's a beautiful simplicity to the chord progression in this song that allows the powerful lyrics and rhythm to shine. Unpacking the Rhythm Pattern Now that we've got our chords down, let's dive into the rhythm pattern. The rhythm is the heartbeat of the song, and for "Fortunate Son," it pumps life into the chord progression. The rhythm pattern that best complements this song and matches the original recording is a combination of down and up strums: down, up, up, up, down. This pattern brings out the song's rock 'n' roll vibes and will surely have your foot tapping in no time! Power Chords vs Open Chords: Making the Choice One question you might have is whether to play power chords or open chords. The answer depends on the sound you're aiming for. Go for power cho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xe8nmZA4cfQ 756 2018-01-22T17:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-patience-2-3-embellishments-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-6212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ntm6ArFkc6M/hqdefault.jpg Patience [2/3] - Embellishments! by Guns N' Roses "Patience" by Guns n Roses is a guitar ballad with loads of awesome embellishments. Those rhythm tricks are very cool to play! In this guitar lesson, we'll keep learning how to embellish Patience by Guns n Roses on the guitar. In a previous lesson, we learned how to play a very easy beginner version of this song. Now, we'll add on some rhythm tricks so that you sound awesome on the acoustic guitar. 🚨 Make sure you've checked out the first part of this lesson! You'll need that knowledge before starting this one. If you're following my lessons, we learn most of the techniques we'll use here in Grade 4+. So this bit of the lesson suits Intermediate guitar players! :) Why You Should Transcribe Patience If you're a massive Gun n Roses fan and want to learn it exactly like the record, you'll want to transcribe Patience to play it correctly. This way - you can mute one of the speakers. You'll be able to focus on the separate guitar parts & do a thorough analysis. This is a fantastic song for two acoustic guitars because there are two different guitar rhythms. Slight rhythmic changes can work incredibly well when playing with another guitarist! Especially when you play along with the solo. If you're lucky to have a jam buddy - playing two different parts is a great learning exercise. Patience Extra Guitar Tips There's really cool stuff going on in this song. Listen and know the original record's sound before adding embellishments. This way, you'll have balance in your sound. It's easy to add too many tricks and overdo it! You might find arpeggiating chord segments difficult. It's a little random, and there's no set pattern. It's normal if you struggle with it at first. 💡 Keep that hand moving as if you were strumming. Practice this technique separately if you need. When you encounter that F-sharp bass-like, use the thumb over technique. It'll make things a bit easier! Want to learn more? The solo lesson for Patience by Guns n Roses is here! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntm6ArFkc6M 475 2018-02-08T11:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-can-t-stop-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3062 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/95J8oBHOBYA/hqdefault.jpg Can't Stop [2/2] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Follow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. The RHCP are as funky as it gets and this tune is a cracker. Follow the pick directions carefully because when you play it for real you will need to mute all the strings except for the note that you are playing! I don't teach it this way because in my experience it is too hard to learn at the same time as the tune... I will get another vid up explaining it sometime in the near future, but in the mean time, try and get this down! https://www.youtube.com/embed/95J8oBHOBYA 529 2018-06-21T21:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-hoodoo-gurus-like-wow-wipeout-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-507 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qAG0S6WVL-s/hqdefault.jpg Like Wow Wipeout by The Hoodoo Gurus Learn to Play "Like Wow Wipeout" by The Hoodoo Gurus on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Like Wow Wipeout on the guitar. This energetic Australian classic from The Hoodoo Gurus is packed with interesting rhythms and clever guitar arrangements that make it both challenging and incredibly fun to play. The Hoodoo Gurus were a fantastic band that emerged from Australia's vibrant Rock scene. Like Wow Wipeout showcases their signature sound, featuring intricate guitar interplay between two guitarists, creating something bigger than the sum of its parts. While the original recording uses two separate guitar parts, we'll learn how to capture the essence of both parts in a single guitar arrangement. Main Riff and Rhythm The song opens with a distinctive main riff that alternates between E and Asus4 chords. What makes this riff particularly interesting is its unique strumming pattern. While most songs follow conventional down-up strumming patterns, this one breaks the rules in a way that creates its signature groove. Don't worry if it feels a bit awkward at first–this unconventional pattern is part of what makes the song special! Verse and Chorus Structure The verses follow a straightforward progression using B and A chords. The lyrics flow naturally with the chord changes, making it relatively easy to sing along once you've got the rhythm down. For those of you who are still working on your barre chords, this song provides excellent practice opportunities. The chorus is where things get really interesting! It features a distinctive chord progression with mid-bar changes that create a dynamic, driving feel. While it might look simple on paper–alternating between E, D, and then moving to G and A–the timing of these changes gives the chorus its characteristic bounce. Take your time with this section; it's worth getting these transitions smooth to capture the song's energy. Key Change and Outro Just when you think you've got it all figured out, the song throws in a key change for the third chorus and outro. T... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qAG0S6WVL-s 755 2017-12-15T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-xo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-018 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hiIlzbFb5LM/hqdefault.jpg XO by John Mayer Learn the John Mayer Cover of "XO" by Beyonce! John Mayer is known for his interesting guitar arrangements, and XO is among his best. It's crazy to think this is a cover of a Beyoncé song, but he transforms it into something fresh. And his version is great for strumming on an acoustic guitar! 💡 About John Mayer: His hands are perfect for guitar playing. It seems he’s been genetically gifted with huge thumbs that allow him to reach fingerings and shapes that most of us simply can’t, no matter how much we practice! But his music presents a fun challenge, and we can dissect his songs, learn from his style and techniques, and make his songs our own. The chord grips in John Mayer's version of XO are pretty simple - we only need to use the thumb for one chord, unlike in Neon! There’s some fun strumming that will hone your ability to keep a precise and full rhythm while holding your pick lightly. With tricky patterns like this, I suggest you strum on muted strings before adding in the fingerings. This is a great example of breaking things down into bitesize parts to simplify the learning process. We'll also look at hammer-ons and accented notes, which add dynamism and life to your guitar playing. All of these tricks transform a simple chord progression into a proper song. :) So get your capo on fret 2 and let's go! XO by John Mayer - Chords Intro As mentioned, the chords in XO are pretty simple, so let's learn them before the strumming. For the intro, we need a C chord and some embellishments - we keep fingers 2 and 3 in place for the entire section and use finger 1 to get melody notes. We want to hear the melody C - B - A - G as the bars progress. Think of the sequence as C, CMaj7, C6, C*. 🎸 Full Demo: If you want to see me doing a demo of this progression, head to the video lesson. :) We start on an open C chord, letting finger 1 touch string 1 so it doesn't ring - make sure string 2 is the highest one that sounds when you strum. Then we lift off finger 1 to get CMaj7, still muting string 1. I do this with the bott... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hiIlzbFb5LM 767 2019-09-20T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-holiday-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-197 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C6e5W-t_pbk/hqdefault.jpg Holiday by Green Day Learn "Holiday" by Green Day on Electric Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Holiday by Green Day on electric guitar - including its solo! This is such a cool song, and there are many wicked guitar parts to learn. I love Green Day, and it's been ages since I taught one of their songs. Everything about their songs is awesome - the arrangements are great, the lyrics are on-point, and they have an angry, punk attitude while remaining intricate and interesting. ⚡️ Warning: this song is packed full of Power Chords! Need a refresher? Head to The Ultimate Power Chords Guide for Beginners. This one is perfect for two guitars, so we'll check out the rhythm guitar for all the sections, along with that amazing solo, learning tips, and the arrangement. Let's dive in. Holiday by Green Day: Rhythm Guitar Parts Intro The intro to Holiday is so cool! You need four mini chord shapes for this - they use the interval of a 10th, but it's best to see them as little chunks of the parent A Shape Chords. These grips are like little Major and mini chords - each containing a bass note and the 3rd or minor 3rd tone. On electric guitar, sometimes playing the full grip is a bit much. We get the same flavor by playing just two notes while avoiding the fluff. 💡 These mini grips come from the A Shape Major and A Shape Minor Barre Chords. Understand them fully with my A Shape CAGED lesson. The chords are Fm, D♭, A♭, and E♭, all rooted on string 5. We even throw in a sus4 embellishment over the E♭. ;) If you have another guitarist, one can play these mini shapes for 16 bars while the other joins in with the power-chord equivalents after eight bars. Check out the video lesson or JustinGuitarTabs for verified tabs, chords, and lyrics! Verse The chord progression changes slightly in the verse, and you get a great workout for your power chords. It lasts 16 bars, with the chords F, D♭, A♭, E♭, F, D♭, A♭, C. These are all power chords. :) Play this twice, switching directly to C after D♭ the second time around. Chorus The chorus also... https://www.youtube.com/embed/C6e5W-t_pbk 1234 2023-04-02T05:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-touch-too-much-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-423 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bN_dRgqy9-E/hqdefault.jpg Touch Too Much by AC/DC Up For Learning An Iconic AC/DC tune? Let's learn how to play "Touch Too Much" on guitar! In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Touch Too Much by AC/DC, focusing on Malcolm's brilliant rhythm parts! There's nothing too tricky in this one, and it's packed with rock techniques that are great for Grade 5+ Intermediate players! Before you watch the lesson, I recommend you listen closely to the original recording. And if you want to jam with it, you need to tune this one up 33/100 of a semitone on transcription software. We don't learn the solo here, so let's discuss why you should transcribe it yourself. ;) Transcribe This AC/DC Solo The Touch Too Much solo is perfect if you're getting into transcribing. It's basically Chuck Berry licks with some distortion, and is pretty easy as far as their solos go. Not only is it satisfying to learn solos by ear, it transforms your musicianship. And you can bet that's how Angus learned to play! 🚨 Why Transcribing? Take a moment to watch my video on Why Transcribing Is So Important - it's a paradigm-shifting lesson. ;) Let's get to the rhythm parts. Accent Passages Being able to play a consistent all-down eighth-note pattern with palm mute and accents is a crucial skill for rock guitar. And you get plenty of practice here! Adding the accents totally brings this tune to life. In the intro and verses, for example, we play all-down eighth notes. This is a simple pattern, but the sound completely changes as soon as you add the accents. Watch the video lesson or listen to the original to get the right count. :) It can get real tricky to remember all the counts, so it's best to listen loads and trust your musical memory. 👂 Just listen: If you've ever got a question about a song, listening is your way to the answer! Touch Too Much by AC/DC - Guitar Chords We mostly play power chords, so make sure you're hip with open power chords and the root-5 and root-6 shapes. There are also standard open chords and Major barre chords, and one of the defining riffs uses Asus4 and A mini ba... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bN_dRgqy9-E 1375 2018-02-09T10:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-bad-moon-rising-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-121 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tFPs89WBPuU/hqdefault.jpg Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival Learn "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival On Guitar! A simple version awesome for beginner guitar players! In the lesson, you'll learn the beginner version of Bad Moon Rising. This version is fantastic if you're a Grade 1 guitar player. You'll need your capo at the 5th fret - so make sure you have one of those! You'll discover how to play this iconic tune in its most basic form. As you gain confidence and improve in your guitar journey, you can revisit it to add some SUS chords in there, strumming patterns, accents patterns! So it's a fun one, even if you're more advanced in your guitar journey. Grab your guitar & let's get stuck in! How To Play Bad Moon Rising On Guitar To play the simple version of Bad Moon Rising, you'll only need A, E, and D. Since you'll be placing your capo on the 5th fret - it might make things feel a bit tighter. Now don't worry - this tension is normal! Ease into it, lower the tempo if you need, and take your time! Feel free to use a metronome to help slow you down. If you're a beginner, it's essential to keep the strumming super simple. Make sure you're moving that strumming arm consistently. You probably heard me say this before - but don't stop moving your arm! Keep going - even if you mess up. It'll help you get used to the feel. 🚨 If you're struggling with certain chords changes - practice through One Minute Changes! It'll help you get faster chords changes, and you'll get familiar with the transitions. This is a great guitar element to add to your Practice Asssitant. Play the Original Version Of Bad Moon Rising Now, if you're more advanced - or you want to sound more like the original recording - you'll swap those simple chords for D, A, and G. This is where things can get interesting. Add some SUS chords in there, different strumming patterns with up strums & accents patterns! To practice any new strumming patterns - mute your strings and play along with the original recordings. It'll help you focus only on the strumming so you can get comfortable with the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tFPs89WBPuU 560 2017-12-03T11:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-the-zephyr-song-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-391 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H3UXKgsBzuE/hqdefault.jpg The Zephyr Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn to Play "The Zephyr Song" by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Zephyr Song on the guitar. This song is a beautiful piece by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and features some of the fantastic guitar work of John Frusciante. Let's dive into the chord progression and the unique techniques used in this song. The Chord Progression The Zephyr Song follows a pretty straightforward chord progression. However, John Frusciante, the guitarist, adds a unique flair to it with his playing style. He uses predominantly first, second, and third fingers to produce a distinctive sound. The song starts with a steady rhythm, which remains consistent throughout the song. This rhythmic pattern serves as the base for the chord progression and gives the song its unique feel. The Intro The intro sets the stage for the rest of the song. It introduces the main chord progression and starts to develop the song's unique rhythm. The chord progression in the intro is also repeated throughout the song, giving it a consistent and familiar feel. The Verses & Chorus The verses in The Zephyr Song follow the same chord progression as the intro but add a bit more complexity. The chord shapes remain the same, but the way they are played changes slightly, adding a little more depth to the sound. The chorus brings a delightful change to the song's progression. It introduces new chords and a new strumming pattern, providing a contrast to the verses and the intro. The change in the chorus adds a new layer of complexity to the song and helps to keep it engaging and fresh. The Solo and the Outro The solo in The Zephyr Song is relatively simple but incredibly effective. It continues with the same chord progression and adds a new layer of melody, enhancing the song's overall feel. The outro brings the song to a close, returning to the chord progression introduced in the intro. It provides a satisfying end to the song and ties everything together nicely. Final Thoughts Learning The Zephyr Song is a great way t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/H3UXKgsBzuE 1545 2017-12-08T11:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gary-moore-walking-by-myself-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-240 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pE9tLMOfM_s/hqdefault.jpg Walking by Myself by Gary Moore Learn to play "Walking By Myself" by Gary Moore on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "Walking By Myself" on the guitar. This classic tune is a great addition to any blues repertoire. It's based on the Gary Moore version, but we'll also touch on the original Jimmy Reed version. Whether you're a blues or rock fan, this song is worth learning. The Rhythm and the Riffs This song features one of the great guitar riffs of all time. It has a catchy rhythm that's an absolute joy to play. Understanding the beat division into triplets is crucial here, but if you find that too complicated, remember that learning it just by listening is perfectly fine. In fact, with blues and rock, learning by listening is often the best approach. The rhythm guitar part is our main focus for this lesson, but the song also features a fantastic solo by Gary Moore that we might revisit. There's a lot to learn from that solo. The A Section The A section, essentially the chorus, starts with the iconic riff. It then transitions into the B section, which features a basic shuffle. This simple yet effective chord progression gives the song its distinctive bluesy feel. The B Section In the B section, we play with the basic shuffle, an essential element of blues music. This section also features a B power chord and a turnaround at the end, which adds a nice flavor to the song. Variations and Embellishments As we go along, we'll discuss some variations and embellishments you can add to make the song your own. Whether you add these or not is entirely up to you, but they can certainly add an extra touch of flair to your performance. These embellishments are particularly prominent in the Gary Moore arrangement of the song. Conclusion It's worth noting that Jimmy Rogers's original version of this song was played in A and had a different feel. However, in many blues jam sessions, people tend to base their performances on the Gary Moore version in the key of E. Whichever version you prefer, the important thing is to enjoy playing the song ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pE9tLMOfM_s 1041 2024-06-16T00:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-tears-in-heaven-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3172 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIbBee-rmDs/hqdefault.jpg Tears in Heaven [2/2] by Eric Clapton Learn The Chorus and Bridge for "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton! One of Clapton’s most heartbreaking songs, meaningful for many people. A beautiful, emotional song - so brave of Eric Clapton to write this song on something personal. In this final part of the Tears In Heaven guitar series, we’ll check out the chord and handpicking for the chorus. In this lesson, we’ll also explore the bridge and have a play-through of all the parts, with a close-up of the fretting hand. 🎸If you haven’t already, click here to learn Part 1 of this song - you'll learn how to play the intro and main verses. This song lesson best suits Grade 6 + guitar students. Let’s start by taking a look at that beautiful chorus. Tears In Heaven Guitar Chorus The first chord is straightforward, F sharp minor. Then, we’re tackling a C sharp over E sharp. It might look intimidating first, but here’s a breakdown of how you play it: Thumb is playing the first fret. Finger 3 is playing the third fret of the D string. Finger 1 is doing a little barre of the thinnest string. Finger 2 is going in the second string of the second fret. To get comfortable with this chord, play it on its own a couple of times. Clapton plays it with his thumb over the top, but do it how it feels best for you. The chords are straightforward for the song’s bridge, but the picking is quite random! Check out the close-up to get a better idea of how you can approach the picking pattern. :) Tears In Heaven Picking hand The picking hand is another interesting technical part of the song. Using 3 fingers, you'll start on strings 2,3,4. You’ll be bouncing around these strings and strings 1,2,3. You’ll also need to incorporate playing the bass on the top string. Try it out first with the F sharp chord. Make sure you’re confident with this pattern before moving on to the following chords. 💡Alternating between base and chords can be tricky. Slow your pace down, and take your time! Practice is the cure here, and make sure you listen to the original recording to get the melody. Want chord... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIbBee-rmDs 580 2018-02-08T15:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-that-s-all-right-mama-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W3xCSuYf7yQ/hqdefault.jpg That's All Right Mama by Elvis Presley Learn to play "That's Alright Mama" by Elvis Presley on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play That's Alright Mama on the guitar. This classic Elvis Presley tune is a fantastic choice for beginners, with its simple chord progression and catchy rhythm. The song was originally written and recorded by the Blues musician Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup in 1946 but became famous when Elvis recorded it in 1954. Widely considered to be one of the first Rock 'n' Roll recordings, That's Alright Mama blended elements of Blues, Country, and Gospel music, creating a new and exciting sound that would define the Rock 'n' Roll era. The Chord Progression The beauty of That's Alright Mama lies in its simplicity. We're working with just three chords: A, D, and E. This makes it an ideal song for those just starting their guitar journey. The progression follows a Blues-inspired pattern that repeats throughout the song, giving you plenty of opportunities to practice and perfect your transitions. We start with four bars of A, setting the song's foundation. Then, we move to two bars of D, adding a bit of variation. Following that, we have two bars of E before returning to one bar of A to complete the sequence. It's a nine-bar Blues pattern, which is a bit unusual and adds to the song's unique charm. Strumming Patterns When it comes to strumming, That's Alright Mama offers flexibility for players at different skill levels. If you're just starting, keep it simple with four down strums per bar. This approach lets you focus on cleaning your chord changes and maintaining a steady rhythm. As you become more comfortable with the chord progression, you can start experimenting with more complex strumming patterns. The song's upbeat tempo lends itself well to a variety of rhythmic styles. Consider incorporating some up-strums or even attempt a shuffle rhythm to capture that classic Rock 'n' Roll feel. Growing with the Song One of the great things about That's Alright Mama is that it can grow with you as you develop your guitar skills. You... https://www.youtube.com/embed/W3xCSuYf7yQ 442 2018-02-04T21:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-verve-lucky-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-703 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cD4-ycLTH2g/hqdefault.jpg Lucky Man by The Verve Learn to Play "Lucky Man" by The Verve on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lucky Man by The Verve on the guitar. This song, written by the talented Richard Ashcroft, offers a different feel compared to other songs we've covered in the beginner's course, making it an exciting challenge. Strumming and Picking Techniques One of the key features of this song is its use of 16th note strumming. While we'll start with the regular four strums per bar that we usually do for beginner songs, I strongly encourage you to experiment with this faster strumming pattern. Using a thinner pick really helps when you're doing this continuous strumming. It makes the guitar a bit quieter, making it easier to hear your voice over it if you're singing along. So, if you've got a thin pick lying around, now would be a good time to bring it out. Chord Progression Moving on to the chords, we've got a simple yet beautifully flowing progression. We start with two beats on G, followed by two beats on D, and then we linger on A sus4 for a whole bar. This sequence is maintained throughout the verses, creating a melodic rhythm that's characteristic of The Verve's sound. When we enter the chorus, the chord progression changes slightly. We begin with E minor, transition to D, and then round it off with A sus4. This variation adds depth to the song and provides a nice contrast to the verses. Exploring 16th Note Strumming Now, let's delve deeper into 16th note strumming. Although it's not something I usually teach in the beginner's course because it involves accenting certain strums, it's a worthwhile technique to explore. It adds a dynamic feel to the song and could be a fun challenge. However, remember that if 16th note strumming is done without any accents, it can sound a bit off. If you're keen to experiment with this, start with just down strums. Once you're comfortable, add the up strums as well, and then try varying the volume of your strums to create a rhythmic feel. 👉 Want to know a bit more? Check out my Introduction to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cD4-ycLTH2g 524 2018-02-05T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bill-haley-rock-around-the-clock-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-520 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V2e_xQ_s7bA/hqdefault.jpg Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley Learn How to Play "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rock Around the Clock on the guitar. This iconic Rock and Roll classic is not only fun to play but also teaches essential techniques that will help develop your Rock and Roll playing style. Rock Around the Clock features classic Rock and Roll elements, including rhythmic stops, a signature shuffle feel, and a straightforward chord progression. It's a perfect song for practicing your timing and getting that authentic early rock and roll sound. Basic Chord Progression The song follows a simplified 12-bar Blues pattern using just three chords: A7, D7, and E7. The progression starts with four bars of A7, moves to two bars of D7, then two bars of A7, followed by two bars of E7, and ends with two bars of A7. What makes this version special is its simplified approach to the traditional 12-bar Blues ending. Instead of the typical E7-D7-A7-E7 turnaround, this Rock and Roll adaptation keeps things straightforward with just E7 to A7. This makes it more accessible while maintaining that classic Rock and Roll feel. Getting the Rock and Roll Feel The heart of Rock and Roll lies in its rhythm, particularly the backbeat–emphasizing beats two and four. This creates that signature groove that makes people want to dance. The rhythm has a slight shuffle feel, giving it that distinctive Rock and Roll bounce rather than straight timing. When you're starting out, focus on simple eighth-note strumming. You can add the shuffle feel to give the song its authentic Rock and Roll character as you get more comfortable. Remember, it's not about playing perfectly even beats. It's about finding that groove that makes the music feel alive. The Iconic Intro One of the most recognizable parts of Rock Around the Clock is its intro with those classic stops. These stops are a quintessential Rock and Roll move that creates excitement and draws listeners in. While it might seem challenging at first, breaking it down into countable segments makes ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/V2e_xQ_s7bA 810 2018-05-20T08:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/black-sabbath-war-pigs-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-258 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bqtq4XRJFz8/hqdefault.jpg War Pigs by Black Sabbath How to Play War Pigs by Black Sabbath on Guitar War Pigs by Black Sabbath is one of the most legendary heavy Rock songs of all time. Released in 1970 on the Paranoid album, it helped define the sound of heavy metal. For guitar players, it's a perfect study in riff-based playing, dynamics, and feel. Instead of relying on complex solos, the song is built around a series of memorable riffs, each one contributing to the track's intensity. In this lesson, we learn how to play War Pigs step by step. By breaking it into sections, you'll be able to practice each riff individually, then connect them until you can play the full song. Why Learn War Pigs on Guitar? It's one of the most influential Rock riffs ever written. Great for practicing triplet rhythm, slides, and dynamics. Builds confidence in riff memorization and timing. Encourages players to improvise in the solo sections rather than copying note for note. Fun to jam with a band or along with the original recording. The Intro Riff The intro riff is slow, heavy, and full of character. It uses slides, open low strings, and syncopated triplet accents. The rhythm can feel unusual at first — many of the accents fall slightly off the beat — but it's worth taking time to get comfortable with it. We start on the 7th fret of the fifth string with the open low E, sliding down while muting the thicker string. Later, we slide up to the 11th and 14th frets, combining single notes with power chord shapes. 👉 Tip: Count in triplets ("1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let") to lock in the rhythm. Verse Riffs and Fills Once the vocals enter, the guitar moves between chord stabs and small fills. These little phrases often involve hammer-ons, pull-offs, and trills, creating a call-and-response feel against the vocal line. For example: Hammer-on/pull-off between open strings and 2nd fret notes. Trills that start on beat three but resolve just in time for the next chord. Descending chord sequences that push the music forward. These details may look small on paper, but they make a huge dif... https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqtq4XRJFz8 1837 2025-10-02T01:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/george-harrison-my-sweet-lord-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-119 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/31OSYcxEe1M/hqdefault.jpg My Sweet Lord by George Harrison Learn to play "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play My Sweet Lord by George Harrison on the guitar. This fantastic song is a unique blend of Christian and Hindu spiritual elements, making it quite revolutionary for its time. The song's message calls for an end to sectarian religious beliefs, promoting a more unified approach to spirituality. As we learn to play this tune, we'll appreciate how Harrison's musical genius brings these ideas to life through his composition. Before we start, let's get our guitar ready. We'll play in standard tuning with a capo on the second fret. This setup allows us to play in a comfortable key while achieving the right sound for the song. Don't worry if you're new to using a capo - it's a great tool that opens up a world of possibilities in guitar playing! Chord Progression We start with a simple yet effective sequence of E minor to A, which forms the backbone of the intro and verses. As we move through the song, we introduce more chords like D, B minor, and a unique F♯ diminished chord that adds a touch of complexity and interest to the progression. One of the exciting aspects of this song is the key change that occurs later. This shift adds a new dimension to the piece, moving us into a slightly different tonal landscape. Don't worry if this sounds challenging—we'll break it down step by step in the video lesson, making it easy for you to follow along. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is crucial in capturing the feel of My Sweet Lord. We'll be using a pattern that goes: down, down, down-up, down-up, down-up, down, down-up, down. This might seem a bit tricky at first, but with practice, you'll find it becomes second nature. The key is to focus on the 'push'—a technique where we change chords slightly earlier than expected, giving the song its characteristic groove. Remember, it's not just about playing the pattern mechanically. We'll explore how to add accents and slight variations to make your playing sound more natural and m... https://www.youtube.com/embed/31OSYcxEe1M 777 2017-11-28T12:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-tell-me-why-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-232 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4u25dP2fquk/hqdefault.jpg Tell Me Why by Neil Young Learn to play "Tell Me Why" by Neil Young on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "Tell Me Why" on the guitar. This song by the legendary Neil Young is not only fantastic but also great fun to play. It does come with a few tricky moments, especially in the chorus, but don't worry! With a little practice and patience, you'll be playing this song in no time. Tuning and Arrangement Before we get into the song, there are a couple of things to note. First, we'll be tuning down one tone, a common practice for Neil Young's songs. Don't be discouraged if you don't have a tuner or can't remember the tuning. You can always put a capo on the second fret, tune as usual, and then take the capo off. The arrangement we'll be looking at today is based on several versions by Neil Young. The original recording starts immediately with the vocals, but most times when he performs it live, he includes an instrumental riff at the beginning before he starts singing. On the original recording, there are quite a few guitar layers that weave beautifully together. What we'll do is take most of the distilled versions of the way he plays it live and some elements from the original recording and combine them. The Intro Riff We'll start with the intro riff, which is used for the intro and happens after every chorus. The first chord is a C, but we've got a nice country-style run-up. In the C chord, we play the fifth string, then there's a down and an up strum, then we play the fourth string. As we continue to the D chord, we play the bass note for the D, then the A, which is the fifth string, back to the D, and then we go down to the A minor. So, the chord progression here is C to D to A minor. The Verses Luckily for us, the verses are a lot simpler. The same core progression is going: C, D, A minor, G. Then, the fun starts when we get to the chorus, but don't worry! We'll take it step by step. The Chorus The chorus is where things get a little tricky. There's a two-four bar of D, then it goes into a kind of regular bar of the A... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4u25dP2fquk 1227 2024-04-14T03:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/soundgarden-black-hole-sun-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-320 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CogrvlpM7DE/hqdefault.jpg Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden Learn How To Play "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden on the electric guitar. One of my favorite grunge songs of all time! This song has techniques, including hammer-ons, flick-offs, and complex chords that suit Grade 6+ intermediate guitar players. We'll learn the main acoustic guitar part similar to Chris Cornell's version. And, we'll also explore the original version further up the guitar neck. 🚨 Rock out to this song with chords, lyrics, and Tabs using the JustinGuitarTabs! Black Hole Sun - Guitar Settings & Effects For this video lesson, I'm using this 335, and I've gone into an Analog Man King of Tone for some distortion, and then I've gone into an Analog Man by chorus pedal. The chorus effect is what I'm using, but I'm pretty sure the original was a Leslie Speaker Cabinet. You can get that with a chorus pedal—I've got the speed turned most of the way up and the depth on about half, but you'll have to experiment with your chorus unit to try and find that. I've also added a little analog delay courtesy of a Strymon El Capistan delay pedal. 💡 Want to learn more about guitar effects? Great guitar tone starts here. Black Hole Sun - Playing Tips This song is all about the guitar layers. If you're playing it in a band, it's best to divide the parts and have some guys playing heavier sounds while others play riffs. Transcribing it will help you make sense of what's going on! This song is perfectly pickable! Picking it makes finding the right strings easier than finger-picking would. But you could play it fingerstyle, use a pick, or even combine both! The choice is yours. :) Want professional Tabs for Black Hole Sun? Check out the JustinGuitarTabs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CogrvlpM7DE 1135 2017-12-04T04:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-5-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3145 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mLnwBc7q-3s/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [5/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn Stairway To Heaven On Guitar - Part 5 Let's explore the chords underneath that awesome solo! In this lesson, we explore the fifth part of the Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin guitar series. Before the solo, we have to explore the chords going on underneath the solo. A minor, G, and F are the chords you'll need for this. :) This is part 5 of my 6 part guitar lessons for this classic rock song. :) 🎸 This particular lesson suits Grade 5+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 6 of this lesson. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Stairway To Heaven? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLnwBc7q-3s 586 2018-02-08T16:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-layla-unplugged-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3243 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xYnbfBKO8pI/hqdefault.jpg Layla (Unplugged) [3/3] by Eric Clapton Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. The unplugged album by Eric Clapton is a classic album and this is one of the most famous tunes from the album. It's fun to play - great for working on your barre chords and the solos are full of nice licks to steal :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYnbfBKO8pI 589 2018-02-08T13:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lola-young-messy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-257 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-S8q_1qhb68/hqdefault.jpg Messy by Lola Young This one's a bit of a gem, and the whole song is just two chords, D and E. That makes it perfect if you're starting and want to practice chord changes and rhythm without things getting too complicated. We'll start by strumming on the downbeats so you can play along with the original recording straight away. Then, we'll add a bit more flavour—like mutes, accents, and percussive hits — to make it groove. There's also a really nice little chord you'll want to try: Dmaj7. It's even easier than a normal D (just one finger across three strings) and gives the song a fresh sound. I'd recommend using this one whenever you're strumming. If you fancy taking it further, we'll explore power chords for the verses. They give the track a darker, heavier feel — a great contrast to the brighter open chords in the chorus. You'll also get tips on using dynamics: play it quieter in the verses, then open up and go louder in the choruses. That kind of contrast keeps a two-chord song really interesting. And if you're jamming with a friend, this one's great fun—the whole tune sits in the A major scale, so someone can strum the chords while the other improvises some lead lines over the top. Singing and playing simultaneously can feel awkward here because of the phrasing, but once you line up the chord changes with the lyrics, it starts to fall into place. So, yes—it's a simple tune, but you can do loads with it. Start with the basics, then experiment as you get more confident. 👉 If you struggle with keeping your rhythm solid, check out the Lessons & Songs App. It's packed with interactive exercises, tutorials, and backing tracks. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/-S8q_1qhb68 810 2025-09-12T11:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/snow-patrol-chasing-cars-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8eXitzfsrSU/hqdefault.jpg Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol Learn how to play "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Chasing Cars on the guitar. This is a fantastic pop tune with a really cool riff, and it's a great song to experiment with layering if you're into home recording or just want to try something new. The main riff is played throughout the song, and we'll also look at chords for the chorus. 👉 Need more information on home recording? Check out this link! To capture the signature sound of Chasing Cars, you'll want to use reverb - and plenty of it! While the original recording features a Thinline Telecaster, you can achieve great results with any electric guitar. The key is in the reverb settings. Aim for a higher level than you might typically use, creating that spacious, atmospheric sound that gives the song its distinctive character. The Main Riff The main riff is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. It's based on two notes, and you are bouncing between them. The first part is two bars of A, then two bars of E with a G-sharp bass, then to D for two bars, and then back to A. This sequence repeats throughout the verses. And don't forget to crank up that reverb! The Chorus The real change in the song comes between the verses and the choruses, so if you are playing it by yourself, you'll want to change it up to keep the listener engaged. One way to change things up for the chorus is to introduce the open A string. Instead of picking out the individual notes of the riff, strum the notes of an A chord using downstrokes. It should feel familiar since we were using all downpicks for the riff. The chorus sequence is A, E, Dadd9/Dsus2, and then back to A. You can also use power chords for the chorus, which you may hear in the original recording. The power chord sequence is A, E with G-sharp bass, D, and back to A. Another option is using open A, regular E, regular D, and back to A. Play around with these options and see what sounds best for you. Rhythm and More When playing chords, you'll likely use mainly downstrokes... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8eXitzfsrSU 727 2017-11-29T18:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elton-john-your-song-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-407 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uTqrALDT2Ag/hqdefault.jpg Your Song by Elton John Learn How To Play "Your Song" by Elton John On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Your Song by Elton John on the acoustic guitar. Bernie Taupin is the co-writer of this beautiful song, and the original recording mainly uses piano. It makes for a lovely ballad on the guitar! Many fun guitar elements are going on in this, with loads of intricate chords. And there's a fingerpicking pattern that helps replicate that beautiful piano arrangement. There are a few options for playing it, some that might be easier than others. Let's dive in first with the fundamentals. :) 💡 This song suits Intermediate Grade 6+ guitar players. If you're not there yet, and you're a big fan of Elton and this song, this is a great dreamer song to add to your repertoire. Chords Progression It requires quite a few stretchy jumps and barre chords. There are some lovely chord movements in it, some challenging bits, so take your time and practice them independently. We start with the D chord for half a bar for the intro. Then, we're playing the G with an open D bass, and we move that shape to A over D. We finish the opening back to a G chord over D. For the verse, you'll also encounter a G major 7. After that, you'll move on to A with C# sharp bass - told you there was a lot of movement! Since there are a lot of chords happening, the best way to help memorize them is by writing them down yourself. Or, you can make things a bit easier for you and follow along with the Chords & Tabs using the JustinGuitar Tab website feature. :) Fingerstyle & Strumming Pattern Rhythmically, you can get away with strumming this tune! You'll get away with it, and the chords will still sound beautiful. Use all downstrums to start, and then you could add upstrums later on. To replicate what's happening on the piano, you can apply a fingerstyle pattern. You'll need to hit the bass note of the chord with your thumb on the chord change. This usually happens on beats 1 & 3. The rest is pretty free - so you can really your personal spin on it. Fo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uTqrALDT2Ag 927 2017-12-04T09:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-ride-on-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-418 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/db5INlFcnuw/hqdefault.jpg Ride On by AC/DC Learn to play "Ride On" by AC/DC on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ride On by AC/DC on the guitar. This song showcases a subtler side of the band, proving that not everything has to be balls-to-the-wall rock and roll. What makes Ride On a fantastic piece to learn is its compelling blend of rock and roll and blues. Even if you're deeply into AC/DC, this song offers a refreshing perspective. It's a beautiful use of blues vocabulary in a rock context and showcases the seamless relationship between rock and traditional blues. So, as we go through this lesson, remember to enjoy the ride (pun intended) and relish the rich musical experience it offers. Let's dive in! A Deeper Look at the Chords First off, let's talk about the verse chord progression. It's mostly open chords, with a little B flat barre chord thrown in for good measure. What's interesting about this song is the top note of each chord. This might seem like a small detail, but it's actually quite significant, and you can hear Angus and Malcolm doing different things with this concept. The first two chords are a C chord and an F chord. The C chord is a regular old C, but for the F chord, you leave your first and third fingers where they were for the C chord, put your little finger down the third fret of the fourth string, and move your second finger down onto the second fret of the third string. It sounds to me that Angus is doing the top note here on the second string, and when he goes to the F, he's making the top note the note A, which is the third string. On the other hand, Malcolm seems to keep the C note the same both times. These subtle variations in the chords' top note add depth and richness to the sound. Strumming Techniques Another thing worth noting here is how hard you're picking. If you play the chords quite hard, it gets a bit of dirt in there. But if you play softly, it's essentially clean. So, it's a good thing to learn about pick control and being able to change the tone just by how hard you pick. Verse Chord Progress... https://www.youtube.com/embed/db5INlFcnuw 825 2018-01-24T16:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elliott-smith-angeles-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-045 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Ld-hv1FawA/hqdefault.jpg Angeles by Elliott Smith Learn "Angeles" by Elliott Smith On Guitar! Hey, how you doing? Today we’ll check out Angeles by Elliott Smith. What an incredible song. It’s just beautiful in every way and is a real challenge! There are some pretty unusual elements in it. 💡 DIY TAB: It's best you write your own TAB for this song. It will really help you digest all its wonderful complexity. But If you want to check it’s accurate, head to JustinGuitar TABs. :) When you try to play this song, you’ll likely notice it’s way faster than it sounds! I definitely suggest you use some software to slow it down to 60-70% of the original speed and play along with it. Before you do that, play the parts really slowly and make sure the notes are in the right order. We’ll need a capo on fret 5. I’m going to describe everything relative to the capo: fret 2 means two frets up from the capo, meaning I'm actually referring to fret 7. The same thing goes for Em: 022000 with a capo on 5 is really an Am, but I’ll call it Em. It’s way easier to describe everything relative to the capo. Enough talking – let’s check it out! Angeles by Elliott Smith: Picking Pattern The picking pattern we want for most of this tune is: Beat 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a String 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 1 2 2 1 1 2 Finger T T T T T T T T 2 1 1 2 2 1 That’s the version with string 6 as a bass note. For chords with the bass note on string 5, we’ll play this: Beat 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a String 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 1 2 2 1 1 2 Finger T T T T T T T T 2 1 1 2 2 1 Practice this pattern a lot – we’ll use it several times! Take it nice and slow to begin with, making sure you avoid mistakes. Then speed it up. Your goal is to be able to talk while you pick it – if you can do that, you’ve pretty much mastered the pattern. :) Angeles by Elliott Smith – Intro Chords The song starts with an Em9 chord: 0X4032. Use finger 1 for 1:2 (string 1, fret 2), finger 2 for 2:3, and finger 4 for 4:4, and pick the string 6 pattern. After one bar of Em9, we switch to A: X02X20. Remember to use the string 5 pattern. On ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Ld-hv1FawA 1930 2020-10-30T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas-fingerstyle-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-113 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TxfjJazo1co/hqdefault.jpg We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Fingerstyle) by Xmas Classic Level Up This Christmas Classic With This Finger Style Version 🌟🎄 A fingerpicking twist On We Wish You A Merry Christmas! In this lesson, we're back again for another look at We Wish You A Merry Christmas! This version is the most advanced and will suit intermediate guitar players. I strongly recommend looking at the easy versions first to make sense of the harmony. If you're finding this stuff too challenging, I made an easier fingerstyle version and easy strumming lesson. These are also good options if you're learning this song last minute. :) The bass movement is the star here. It's what levels up this classic Christmas song! So get ready - grab your guitar, and let's get into it. : How To Play We Wish You A Merry Fingerstyle Version You might run into a few sticky moments - I know I did when creating this arrangement. So be kind to yourself, and take your time! Focus first on learning it slowly and accurately. If you get stuck on a barre chord, stop and play that barre chord again until it's right. Get your fingers learning the chords the right way. This way, you build that correct muscle memory. Make sure you can play it nice and slowly all the way through before you speed it up. Then - you can get creative and improvise on your own! For this kind of fingerstyle pattern - play it with the fingers that feel best for you. Spend a bit of time exploring that yourself and note what feels most comfortable for you! The biggest deal for this fingerstyle is adding that thumb action. Focus on getting ace with that - it's the baseline and what makes this Christmas classic so intricate! Downloads For Extra Help Need extra help? I made a We Wish You A Merry Christmas guitar TAB for extra help! It'll help you make sense of where to put your fingers and when to pick with this arrangement. Download a TAB pdf file of We Wish You A Merry Christmas (V2) The GuitarPro version is also an excellent tool. Slow things down so you can see and hear what's going on. It might be more fun than playing with a metronome. Login to your ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxfjJazo1co 1390 2017-12-21T00:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gary-jules-mad-world-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lbGJHlbHMo0/hqdefault.jpg Mad World by Gary Jules Learn how to play "Mad World" by Gary Jules on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mad World on the guitar. This beautiful, melancholic song, originally by Tears for Fears but popularized by Gary Jules, is a great choice for beginners and intermediate players. It's a perfect song to practice your strumming and chord transitions. You can even explore some fingerstyle playing if you're up for the challenge! Mad World is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that showcases how simple chord progressions can create a powerful emotional impact. The Gary Jules version we'll focus on is a stripped-down, acoustic rendition that really lets the lyrics and melody shine. It's an excellent song for developing your rhythm skills and exploring different playing techniques. Getting Started with the Intro The intro starts with a bar of Em followed by a bar of A. You can definitely use your standard Em and A chord shapes here. But there are a couple of cool little variations you might want to try to give it a slightly different feel. One option is to play Em and then move to Asus2, adding more of an open, airy sound compared to a regular A major, which can sound a little brighter. Then there's another neat trick for playing an A-ish chord. You can play an Aadd9, which creates a cool sound with a bit of a clash that works really nicely in the song's context. Feel free to experiment with these different ways of playing the A chord in the intro and see which one you like the best – or even mix them up! Cruising Through the Verse and the Chorus Once you've got the intro down, the verse follows a simple and repeating pattern. It goes Em for one bar, G for one bar, D for one bar, and A for one bar. And that's it! That sequence repeats all the way through the verses. The chorus is even simpler than the verse! It's just two chords: Em followed by A, and this repeats. It's a really straightforward progression that contrasts nicely with the slightly longer verse progression. After the chorus, you can either go back to the intro fo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lbGJHlbHMo0 1307 2025-03-21T10:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-georgia-satellites-keep-your-hands-to-yourself-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-077 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Bdj3nvY5qo/hqdefault.jpg Keep Your Hands To Yourself by The Georgia Satellites How to Play "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" by The Georgia Satellites! Who's up for some proper rock and roll? Keep Your Hands To Yourself by The Georgia Satellites sounds wicked on acoustic guitar! If you're a beginner, you can keep it simple and still make great music. The Georgia Satellites are such a killer band, aren't they? I saw them back in Tasmania in the ‘90s at one of my first concerts. What a great night! I even hooked up with a girl that I really liked! :) Anyways, we'll keep it simple things this lesson and focus on the chords and rhythm guitar. Let's go! Guitar Chords You only need the A, D, and E chords to play this one. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, Keep Your Hands To Yourself is perfect for the early stages of Grade 1. And you can play along with the original with these three easy open chords - no capo needed. :) Chord Progressions on Guitar You'll find the full chord progressions and a guitar–vocal demo in the video lesson. Good news: the sequences are standard 12-bar blues that you'll likely play hundreds of times on your journey. But be careful - the verse and chorus progressions are slightly different. ;) You'll notice that in bar 11 we play the A chord on beat 1 then mute the strings. It's easy - just rest your fretting hand or the side of your strumming hand on the strings. :) 💡 No Chord! In sheet music you'll often see silent bars written N.C. - no chord - and in Keep Your Hands To Yourself the silence lasts two bars. Strumming Start by strumming on the first beat of each bar, focusing on the timing of beat 1 and where it falls in relation to the lyrics. After some time, strumming once per bar gets a bit boring! Let's spice it up. :) The next step is to play four strums per bar. Play along with the record and try to soak up the feel - that's what makes your playing sound great. If that's cool, let's switch to even eighth notes with accents on the backbeat - beats two and four. The accents really bring the rhythm to life. :) You can make your rhythm sound even cooler by s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Bdj3nvY5qo 547 2021-06-16T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/justin-sandercoe-from-katie-s-window-3-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-js-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8jMqssKWiBQ/hqdefault.jpg From Katie's Window [3/4] by Justin Sandercoe . https://www.youtube.com/embed/8jMqssKWiBQ 476 2018-03-13T13:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/donavon-frankenreiter-it-don-t-matter-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEc_SHg0-I0/hqdefault.jpg It Don't Matter by Donavon Frankenreiter Learn how to play "It Don't Matter" by Donovan Frankenreiter on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play It Don't Matter by Donovan Frankenreiter on the guitar. This feel-good track embodies the carefree spirit of summer and is perfect for those looking to expand their chord vocabulary and experiment with different playing styles. As we learn this song, we'll discover that there's more than one way to play it, which is an exciting aspect of guitar playing. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, this lesson will offer something for everyone. Let's dive in and explore the various ways we can approach this song! Chord Progression The heart of It Don't Matter lies in its simple yet effective chord progression. We'll work with four chords: C, Em, F, and G. These chords form the backbone of the entire song, repeating in a cycle that creates the song's laid-back groove. What's interesting about this song is that we can play these chords in different positions on the fretboard. We'll explore various ways to voice these chords, allowing you to choose what feels and sounds best to you. Remember, there's no strict right or wrong here – it's all about what suits your playing style and the sound you're after. Playing Techniques One of the key aspects we'll focus on is the rhythm technique. We'll learn a fingerpicking pattern that involves using your thumb for the bass notes and your fingers for the higher strings. This creates a full, rich sound that really captures the song's essence. If fingerpicking isn't your thing, don't worry! We'll also cover how to play the song using a pick. The great thing about It Don't Matter is its versatility–whether you're using your fingers or a pick, you can make it sound fantastic. Exploring Different Positions As we delve deeper into the lesson, we'll explore playing the chord progression in different positions on the fretboard. We'll start by learning the chords higher up the neck, around the 8th and 10th frets. This approach gives the song a slightly different flavo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jEc_SHg0-I0 493 2017-11-29T14:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-2-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A8rBa6jTzJk/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [2/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn Stairway To Heaven On Guitar - Part 2 This part has great fingerstyle practice on the acoustic guitar! In this lesson, we explore the second part of the Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin guitar series. We got some cool guitar techniques to explore, including fingerpicking and hammer-ons. This is part 2 of my 6 part guitar lessons for this classic rock song! 🎸 This particular lesson suits Grade 5+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 of this lesson. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Stairway To Heaven? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/A8rBa6jTzJk 599 2018-02-08T16:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-nothing-else-matters-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-8213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ET9h6kENrog/hqdefault.jpg Nothing Else Matters [3/3] by Metallica Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. This song was one of my favourites as a teenager. Really connected, and maybe you feel that too. You can play this real simple, as a beginner's open-chord strummy thing, or you can learn all the fingerstyle and solo parts and do it for real. There's a vid for each bit, one for the intro, one for the chords, verses and chorus and another for the solo. I didn't do the harmony part solo bit, cos it was going to be hard to teach, and it's not hard to play if you get a tab. There's something for everyone in this lesson! See this Natural Harmonics lesson I mention in the video. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ET9h6kENrog 380 2018-01-24T08:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/justin-sandercoe-from-katie-s-window-1-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-js-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/so17d15x2q8/hqdefault.jpg From Katie's Window [1/4] by Justin Sandercoe Learn how to play "From Katie's Window" by Justin Sandercoe on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play From Katie's Window on the guitar. This beautiful track from my first solo record, Small Town Eyes, offers a fantastic opportunity to delve deep into the world of guitar playing. Don't worry if some elements seem challenging at first. Remember, learning a new song is a journey, and each step you take brings you closer to mastering the tune. The song might have a few tricky bits, and you might find yourself playing it a little differently every time. That's part of the beauty of music! I've divided this lesson into four parts. Click on the links to go to Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Structure of the Song It's important to understand the structure of From Katie's Window. I strongly suggest you download the tab and print it before watching the video. You'll see that the song is divided into different sections, labeled A through K, simplifying the learning process. It's like having a map guiding you through the song! Even if the tab seems lengthy, don't be intimidated. A lot of it is repeated, and the detailed form makes it easier to understand. Chord Progression The chord progression of From Katie's Window brings the song to life. The song starts with a catchy riff in section A. This riff forms the basis of the song and sets the mood for what's to come. Each section introduces new elements, adding layers to the melody and enriching the overall texture of the song. The brilliance of this song lies in its ability to seamlessly blend these elements, creating an engaging musical narrative. As we go through each section, you'll learn how different chords interact, leading to smooth transitions and a cohesive sound. Double drop D Tuning One of the unique features of this song is its double drop D tuning. This tuning style involves tuning the outside two strings, normally tuned to an E, down one tone to the note D. This tuning style gives this song its distinctive sound and sets it apart from the crowd. 👉 Nee... https://www.youtube.com/embed/so17d15x2q8 536 2018-03-13T10:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-vaccines-if-you-wanna-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-322 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TITohJm7pH4/hqdefault.jpg If You Wanna by The Vaccines Learn to Play "If You Wanna" by The Vaccines on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play If You Want To on the guitar. This energetic Indie Rock song is a super fun one, and it's based on a pretty simple chord progression and infectious rhythms that make it perfect for both beginners and intermediate players looking to add some punch to their playing. At its core, If You Wanna is built around three basic chords: D, G, and A. The song uses open chords, but you can also use power chords. We'll be sticking with the open chords in this lesson, as they are what the song is based on. While these chords are straightforward, the magic lies in how they're played and layered throughout the song. The track features multiple guitar parts that combine to create that signature Vaccines wall of sound. Intro and Verse The intro starts with the D chord. You'll hold the D chord for two bars, then play it on every beat. It's all down strums here, just a nice steady rhythm. On the last D chord, make sure you give it a really solid strum, letting it ring out for a good four bars. It can help to have some volume for good sustain. The verse starts with the D chord held for four bars. Then you'll switch to a G chord for one strum held for a bar, then to an A, then to a G, and back to the D for two bars. This is the same sequence for each verse. The sequence of chords is D, G, A, G, D. Pre-Chorus, Chorus, and Bridge Before the chorus, there's a quick little down-up-down pattern. The final down strum should land right on the beat with the drums. Many bands use this technique to add some punch when a chord has been held for a long time. The chorus uses the same chords as the verse: D, G, and A. They are all played as down strums using energetic eighth notes. This is where the song really picks up energy. Make sure you're consistent with your timing and eighth notes. It can be helpful to practice with the guitar muted to get a feel for the rhythm. The bridge has sustained chords similar to the intro and verse: D, G, A, G, D. The D ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TITohJm7pH4 862 2018-02-04T23:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elton-john-can-you-feel-the-love-tonight-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-183 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a3XI4oCfHH0/hqdefault.jpg Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John Learn "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" on Guitar In this super easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Can You Feel The Love Tonight on the acoustic guitar. We all know this Elton John song from the Lion King film; it's another masterpiece from the fantastic duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. :) We'll start with the chords, along with easy options for beginners. Then we'll look at the strumming before finishing with the string melody in the intro and interludes, which is a nice challenge for intermediate players and finger pickers. This lesson is my guitar arrangement of a piano/orchestral tune, so there are loads of approaches to it. I've decided to strum it without a pick, but you could also play fingerstyle throughout. 🧐 Rhythm and Chords: Each chord lasts half a bar, unless I say otherwise. Can You Feel The Love Tonight is in 4/4, so half a bar lasts two beats. The key to performing this song well is to vary the dynamics in each section. Play less in the verses, then lift the volume in the choruses. We'll talk about this in loads more detail further down. :) Grab your guitar, pop your capo on fret 3, and let's get to it. :) Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John – Intro The first two bars of the intro sequence are G, D/F#, C/E (032010), then G. Notice that the slash chords give us a lovely movement in the bass: G, F#, E. The third bar is C to G/B. In the final bar, we play D/F#, G, Am, then G/B, each for one beat. There are several grips for D/F#. You can go for 2X0232, using a regular D chord shape and wrapping the thumb around the top of the neck to fret 6:2 (string 6, fret 2). That grip is pretty tricky for beginners. You might prefer 2X023X, using finger 2 on 2:2, finger 3 on 3:2, and finger 4 on 2:3. It's a fairly easy change to this grip from G (3X0003) played with fingers 3 and 4. If you don't like either of these, play a standard open D chord. :) 💡 Slash Chord Theory: D/F# means a D Major chord with an F# as the bass note instead of D. Can you guess what C/E means? That’s a C Major chord with an E ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/a3XI4oCfHH0 1311 2023-02-01T14:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-lay-down-sally-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nQm7iBH8rCw/hqdefault.jpg Lay Down Sally by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play "Lay Down Sally" On Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Lay Down Sally by Eric Clapton on the acoustic guitar. This tutorial is simplified and loads of fun for beginners! :) This easy Eric Clapton song only uses three beginner open chords, but some variations can spice it up! This lesson will explore the most basic version and how to develop it as your guitar skills grow! Chord Progressions To play Lay Down Sally, you'll only need the A, D, and E chords throughout the song! We'll start with the A chord, but you could also try an A7 chord. 💡 A7 is a Dominant Chord. If you're unfamiliar with Dominant Chords, this song is a great way to learn them - it's optional but will make things more interesting. :) Here's how to play an A7 on the guitar: Position yourself for a standard A; Lift your first finger; Make sure your second and third fingers are not touching the open G string! The chords are easy! Now, let's learn the strumming. You can keep it simple, but some variations will make your rhythm tasty! Strumming Pattern Play the first four down strums to the bar - this is the most basic pattern. Then, your next level will be alternating between down and ups and slightly adding some accents on some beats. You can practice that by muting your strings! 💡 In my Beginner Guitar Course - Grade 2, we learn the Chunka-Chunka Strumming Pattern. It's a Rock rhythm and sounds fantastic here! It flows nicely with the lyrics and adds a slightly more Classic Rock feel. On the original recording, Clapton also plays a bass line riff, which adds some nice movement to this tune. Eventually, when you learn the 12 Bar Blues, build on it with some Blues variations if that's your style. :) 👉 Get chords, tabs, and lyrics to Lay Down Sally and other Eric Clapton songs on the guitar! https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQm7iBH8rCw 384 2018-02-04T22:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-doors-break-on-through-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-025 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gi8MlT5JYaE/hqdefault.jpg Break On Through by The Doors Learn to play "Break On Through" by The Doors on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Break On Through by The Doors on the guitar. This iconic song offers a variety of techniques and levels of complexity that can be explored, making it an excellent choice for guitarists of all levels. This is a song that I spent a lot of my teenage years playing, and hopefully, you'll soon understand why. Whether you're looking for a great, collaborative song to play with a band or if you'd rather go it alone, Break on Through is a great one to try. Basic Chords Starting with the most basic level, this song is fundamentally an E minor chord with an occasional D. For all of the verses, we're just going to start off with a regular E minor. The simple down strums at the start of the beat set the rhythm for the song. As the verses continue, a D chord is introduced. You'll find it's a really nice song to play along with the original recording, providing a simple yet effective practice for beginners. Rhythm Patterns As you become more comfortable with the basic chords, you should explore different rhythm patterns to add some interest to your strumming. A nice pattern to start with is what I call "Old Faithful": down, down, up, up, down. This rhythm can be applied to the D chord, adding some variety to the chord progression. Incorporating Riffs For more advanced guitarists, incorporating some of the riffs presents a challenge and offers an opportunity to emulate the interplay between the keyboard and guitar in the original song. The keyboard riffs are easier than the guitar ones but still fun to play. The rhythm is key–working on this element can take your rendition of Break On Through to the next level. Understanding the Song This song is mostly E minor, making it a great tune for jamming. For those of you who are a bit more advanced in your theory, it's kind of an E Dorian thing because you've got the D chord there as well. So you're kind of thinking D major scale if you want to get into major scale stuff, or you can ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gi8MlT5JYaE 803 2019-11-22T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-ol-55-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-253 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IgqsA5H78q8/hqdefault.jpg Ol' 55 by Tom Waits Learn to Play Ol’ 55 by Tom Waits Ol’ 55 is one of my all-time favorite songs—and for good reason. Written by the legendary Tom Waits (and later covered by The Eagles), it’s a gentle, soul-stirring tune about late-night drives, sunrise reflections, and the bittersweet feeling of heading home from something you don’t quite want to leave. In this lesson, we explore a thoughtful and playable acoustic arrangement using a capo on the 6th fret—not exactly how it’s done on the original recording, but it beautifully captures the feel of the song. If you’d like to play along with The Eagles’ version, simply move the chords to open position with no capo—it’s the same shapes! What we learn: Basic open chords: C, E minor, F, G, A minor, D7 How to add emotional depth with Gsus and Csus variations Tips on switching between chords smoothly for a flowing sound A simple strumming pattern using the thumb and index finger How to emulate piano-style embellishments on the guitar That signature descending bass line captures the feel of "freeway cars and trucks" We also discuss some subtle touches—like when to use a regular G vs. a Gsus, how to bring out that sweet Csus hammer-on, and how to make your version sound more like you. Justin walks through fingerstyle and strumming options, encouraging you to explore what feels right for your hands and your ears. This is one of those songs where the melody is so strong, you don't need to overthink it—just let the chords breathe, stay close to the groove, and let your emotion do the heavy lifting. So whether you're a die-hard Tom Waits fan or just discovering the magic of Ol’ 55, this lesson gives you the tools to play it in a way that feels personal, expressive, and deeply satisfying. 👉 Keep learning with my guitar app. Download it here to enjoy a special offer! https://www.youtube.com/embed/IgqsA5H78q8 1483 2025-05-16T03:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/cat-stevens-the-first-cut-is-the-deepest-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-417 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LjznbPlbBSs/hqdefault.jpg The First Cut Is The Deepest by Cat Stevens Learn to play "The First Cut Is The Deepest" by Cat Stevens on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The First Cut Is The Deepest on the guitar. This beautiful tune, originally written by Cat Stevens (also known as Yusuf Islam), has been covered by many artists over the years. It's a heartfelt ballad that showcases the power of simplicity in songwriting. Despite its emotional depth, The First Cut Is The Deepest is surprisingly easy to play, making it perfect for beginners. It only uses three chords, but it has some interesting variations that make it sound more complex than it actually is. The song's charm lies in its memorable melody and the subtle variations in its chord progression. Chord Progression The song primarily uses three chords: G, D, and C. However, the way these chords are arranged throughout the song gives it its unique sound. Initially, you might think the song follows a simple G, D, C, D pattern all the way through. In fact, that's how many people (including myself!) have played it for years. But there's more to it than that. In the verse, the chord progression starts with the standard G, D, C, D sequence but then switches things up. It goes G, C, D, C before returning to the regular pattern. This small change adds a lot of character to the song and really enhances the emotional impact of the lyrics. The chorus follows a slightly different pattern. It starts with the usual G, D, C sequence but then introduces some variations. Pay close attention to the timing here, as there's a little trick in the original recording - a 2/4 bar that can catch you off guard if you're not prepared for it! Playing Technique While the chord progression is straightforward, what really makes this song shine is the way you play it. We'll learn a cool little riff that's used in the intro and verses. This riff adds a lot of flavor to the song and makes it sound more intricate than just strumming chords. The riff involves some finger-picking and a sliding technique that gives the song its distinctive sound. Don... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LjznbPlbBSs 553 2017-12-04T12:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-from-hank-to-hendrix-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-154 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rrw3pwLNLY0/hqdefault.jpg From Hank to Hendrix by Neil Young Lern how to play "From Hank to Hendrix" by Neil Young on the acoustic guitar! Let’s check out From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young on the acoustic guitar. The chords and rhythm are pretty easy, though the F and Bm chords might be tricky for beginners. But if you know F, it makes Bm real easy! We'll look at the harmonica parts too. :) I don't consider myself a very good harmonica player, but I can still teach this part. It's quite simple, so I managed to learn it through trial and error. We’ll get to the harmonica later - first, let's learn how to play this incredible Neil Young song on the acoustic guitar! From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young - Guitar Chords The chords for From Hank to Hendrix aren't particularly difficult, but there are a couple of barre chords. You'll need to be hip with the F Chord and the B Minor chord, which is one of the easier barre chords ever. :) If you're still not confidently playing barre chords, this free Ultimate Guide to Barre Chords will help! The intro and verse progressions are the same. It’s an eight-bar sequence: G, Bm, C, Am; Em, G, C, Am. For the G chord, use whichever fingering is easiest for you! Other than that, the chords are standard open shapes. For the Bm, remember to mute string 6 with the tip of finger 1. 💡 Check out JustinGuitarTABS to get verified tabs, chords, and lyrics to play along with this and over hundreds of songs! The chord progression for From Hank to Hendrix might not be the easiest sequence to remember because it doesn’t repeat in bars of four. Still, it's not the too difficult, right? :) We add two bars of G to the end of the verse, then we head to the chorus. The progression is two repetitions of F, F, C, G, with an extra two bars of G at the end. Easy peasy. :) From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young on Guitar - Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern for From Hank to Hendrix is pretty simple too! See the video for the exact pattern. :) The strumming and chord progressions make this Neil Young song a great option for advancing beginners. 🎸 Perfect Practic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rrw3pwLNLY0 1022 2022-07-20T02:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ben-e-king-stand-by-me-uke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DiJ9sQqx9jA/hqdefault.jpg Stand By Me (UKE) by Ben E. King Learn to Play "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King on the Ukulele In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stand By Me by the great Ben E. King on the ukulele. This timeless song is a fantastic choice for beginners and experienced players who want to expand their repertoire with a classic. Stand By Me is a brilliant song that only uses four chords throughout. It also features an optional fifth chord that you can throw in if you feel adventurous. The beauty of this song lies not only in its simplicity but also in its rhythmic features. One of the exciting elements we'll cover is adding a little percussive hit on the second and fourth beats. The Chords The beauty of Stand By Me lies in its simplicity. The song revolves around a four-chord pattern: C, Am, F, G. The sequence is quite straightforward, with some chords repeated for emphasis. This repetition provides a steady rhythm, making the song incredibly catchy and easy to play. Feel free to experiment as you become more comfortable with the basic chords. You can add variations to the A minor, F, and G chords to give your rendition a unique flavor. While the original song doesn't include it, you can add an optional G7 chord as a build-up into the chorus. It's an extra touch that can give your rendition a unique twist. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythmic pattern of Stand By Me is as distinctive as its melody. The percussive hits on the second and fourth beats give the song its iconic feel. We'll practice a down strum on beat one, then a percussive hit on beat two, and an upstroke on the "and" after beat two. We'll follow the same pattern on beats three and four. For the chorus, you can experiment with different strumming patterns. A basic pattern such as down, down, up, up, down often works well. Remember to add a bit more energy to the chorus to contrast with the verses. Wrapping Up Stand By Me is a fantastic song to add to your ukulele repertoire. Its simple chord progression, rhythmic elements, and timeless melody make it a joy to play. As you learn this song, remember ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DiJ9sQqx9jA 431 2017-11-07T13:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-redemption-song-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-905 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cHFMobs6BW0/hqdefault.jpg Redemption Song by Bob Marley Learn How to Play "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley on Guitar Hey there! Are you ready to dive into another exciting guitar lesson? Today, we're journeying into the world of reggae with the timeless classic, "Redemption Song," by the legendary Bob Marley. This masterpiece is renowned worldwide, not only for its powerful lyrics but also for its beautiful melody. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, this lesson will be an absolute treat regardless of where you are in your guitar learning journey. Remember that we're all music lovers here, even if you feel a little out of your depth. There's no judgment, only a shared passion for music that transcends barriers and unites us. So, let's embrace this exciting learning journey together! Redemption Song - A Closer Look Redemption Song is a truly splendid tune and an absolute joy to play. It's an enjoyable song to learn that resonates with rich emotions and carries a strong message. The composition has a delightful intro that we'll explore in detail. The chords are relatively simple - we've got G, E minor, C, and G with a B bass. This chord progression perfectly complements the song's lyrical depth, making it deeply satisfying to play. Understanding the Chord Progression The beauty of Redemption Song lies in its interesting chord progression. It starts with a G chord, followed by E minor, C, and G with a B bass, leading into A minor. This sequence repeats, creating a melodic rhythm that captivates both the player and the listener. Following this, we end the verse with a full bar of C to a full bar of D. The transition from the verse to the chorus is seamless and keeps the rhythm flowing beautifully. When we dive into the chorus, we've got another full bar of D, followed by a four-bar G, and then a quick transition of C, D, and G. It's a fun and smooth pattern that we repeat with a slight variation, adding to the song's overall charm. Mastering the Strumming Pattern Strumming is the heartbeat of any song. It brings the chord progression to life and adds a uniqu... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cHFMobs6BW0 645 2018-02-05T16:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/roy-orbison-you-got-it-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-196 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qUYUAyjKmLI/hqdefault.jpg You Got It by Roy Orbison Double Lesson: "You Got It" by Roy Orbison on Electric & Acoustic Guitar Learn how to play the classic You Got It by Roy Orbison on electric and acoustic guitar! There's a ton of cool stuff to learn here: quirky strumming patterns, how to blend open chords with barre chords, and, of course, the iconic riff. You Got It is the perfect song for learning separate electric and acoustic parts and mixing them. The arrangement is a little complicated, but the chunks repeat. Once you've learned the main framework - the verse, chorus, and pre-chorus - it's just a question of writing down the order and practicing it. 😪 I should point out that I missed a bar in the double chorus in my introduction cover. I hate making mistakes like that! And I also didn't hit the triplet crochets - I was too busy with my singing. Sorry! You can always jam along with the original if you want a perfect version. :) We'll start with the acoustic parts and the arrangement. Then, we'll get to those wicked electric parts. Let's start with the intro to this Roy Orbison classic. :) You Got It on the Acoustic Guitar: Intro & Verse We need only open chords to play the intro: A, G, and D. There are a few variations for A and G; we'll cover my preferred grips for this song, but the choice is yours! I teach my version of the A Chord to ensure you get good notes every time you play it. I think "Big G" sounds best in You Got It and switches easily to the D Chord. The verse progression is similar to the intro, but you'll need an Open E Chord. 🎸 Get JustinGuitarTabs to speed up your learning! You'll find lyrics, chords and verified tabs for You Got It and lots of other songs! I promised you quirky strumming, so let's get to it! ;) Over the G and D chords in the intro and verses - but only when there's no vocal - the strumming pattern is a mix of 16th notes and eighth notes. We strum 16th notes in bars 1 and 3, but eighth notes in bars 2 and 4. When you sing the vocal lines, stick to even eighth notes, then return to the mixed pattern in the gaps. :... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qUYUAyjKmLI 2011 2023-03-26T11:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-lennon-yoko-ono-happy-xmas-war-is-over-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lCCBOV5NwR8/hqdefault.jpg Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono Learn "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon & Yoko Ono on guitar! ☮️💟 An all-time Christmas favorite! It's a meaningful one too! John Lennon & Yoko Ono released this song in December 1971 as a symbol of their active role in the anti-war protest. A symbol of hope for many. And - a simple and beautiful melody people love to sing along. There's some tasty guitar stuff in this tune. This includes Barre chords, sus chords, and other cool chord extensions! Some might be a little tricky - but I'll show you how you can tackle them. :) So grab your guitar, and get ready to learn how to play Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) on guitar! If you're following my beginner guitar course, this song is excellent practice for Grade 5+ guitar players. First, let's take a look at the rhythm. Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) Rhythm To play this Christmas song, you'll follow a 12:8 rhythm. This rhythm is similar to 4:4 times, but each beat is divided into 3. Now - for the strumming pattern, you'll mix up and downstrums. If you need to, practice the strumming on its own. This way, you can make sense of the movement. Follow the strumming pattern guide below: D D U D U D 1 2 + 3 + 4 Make sure to add a strumming accent on the first beat of each bar. Go for it - make it heavy - it's part of what makes this song so catchy! Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) Chords Loads of chords going on here. Some open chords, followed by sus chords & tricker barre chord transitions. With many different transitions, it's helpful to write them down. You'll encounter cool chord extensions and add9 chords, which is great practice for intermediate guitar players. Go slow and ease into it! Few challenges in there, but with a bit of practice - you can nail it! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/lCCBOV5NwR8 628 2017-11-11T10:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/george-michael-careless-whisper-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-382 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GZ5v8swtAGY/hqdefault.jpg Careless Whisper by George Michael Learn How to Play "Careless Whisper" by George Michael on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Careless Whisper on the guitar. This beautiful and popular song by the late and great George Michael is a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire, and it's easier than you might think! It's a great choice for both beginners and more advanced players. Careless Whisper is actually built around just four chords, making it a relatively easy song to learn. Even though it's simple, it's also incredibly rich and emotionally resonant. We'll start by learning how to play the song using open chords, but we'll also cover how to play it with barre chords, just like on the original recording. Getting Started You'll need to put a capo on at the fifth fret to play along with George Michael's original version of Careless Whisper. Don't worry if you struggle to sing along at first - even the best of us find it challenging to match George Michael's incredible vocal range! The Chord Progression The song follows a fairly simple chord progression: A minor, D minor, F major seven, and E minor. This sequence is used throughout the entire song for both the verses and the choruses. If you want to make your rendition of the song a bit more fancy, there are a couple of ways to modify these chords. For example, you can play a D minor seven instead of a regular D minor. You could also play an F major seven instead of a regular F major. Strumming and Rhythm There are many ways to approach strumming for this song. You could do it fingerstyle, pick out the notes, or a combination of both. We'll learn a simple strumming pattern that works great with this song. Once you're comfortable with the pattern, you can start experimenting and find your own style. Barre Chords We'll also cover how to play the song using barre chords for the more advanced players, just like on the original recording. We'll go over the specific barre chords used in the song and learn some minor variations that can make your playing sound even more like the origin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZ5v8swtAGY 626 2018-01-23T20:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/robert-plant-alison-krauss-please-read-the-letter-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-167 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xiiT9mx-IOw/hqdefault.jpg Please Read The Letter by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Learn "Please Read The Letter" by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on acoustic guitar. Learning to play Play Read The Letter is a great exercise for all guitarist levels! If you're a beginner guitar player, you can play most of this using simple, easy, open chords. And if you're more advanced, you can add many extra parts to bring it to life. :) Ready? Let's get to it! 🚨 JustinGuitarTabs now available for Please Read the Letter. :) Explore it now! Please Read The Letter – Basic Chords and Structure The intro uses an A chord (X02220) and an E chord (022100), each for a bar. Repeat twice. For the verse, we do the same (one bar of A, then one bar of E) before switching to a D chord (XX0232) for half a bar, A for half a bar, then E for a full bar. Repeat the whole sequence twice for one verse. 💡 One-Minute Changes – See rapid progress in your chord changes using my One Minute Changes Exercise. This is the most important video in my entire Beginner’s Course! If you're new to guitar, play along with the original, using one strum on the chord change and trying to stay in time. If you're comfortable with that, it's time to tackle the big obstacle – the B chord in the pre-chorus. Please Read The Letter – B Chord In Pre-Chorus In the pre-chorus section with the "ahhs," we play the B Major chord for one and a half bars and A for half a bar. B is a tricky one. The most common grip is X2444X, using a barre on fret 4 with finger 3. Beginners will likely struggle with this, so another option is to play a B power chord (X244XX) or a Badd11 (X24400). You can also try a B chord as an E-shape (799877). Or you can play 799800. This chord is not a barre chord! You can slide this down two frets for the A chord (577600). 💡 Barre Chords – This lesson is the most complete barre chords guide I could ever make! We cover all the elements you need to play brilliant barre chords. As for the chorus, we play E and A, each for half a bar. This little sequence lasts for two bars, and you repeat it twice or three times, depending on which section... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xiiT9mx-IOw 831 2022-10-24T16:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-rock-and-roll-ain-t-noise-pollution-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cjqwm2Cq3os/hqdefault.jpg Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution by AC/DC Learn "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" by AC/DC on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution on the guitar. This classic rock hit from the legendary band AC/DC is beloved by many and is a great tune to add to your repertoire. Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution is arguably one of the greatest rock riffs of all time. It's a piece that truly embodies the raw energy and spirit of rock 'n' roll. And the best part? It's a fantastic song for guitar enthusiasts to learn and play. The Chord Progression The chord progression in Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution is simple yet effective. It's a testament to the fact that sometimes, less is more. The song starts with an interesting mix of notes that immediately captivates the listener. As the song progresses, the chord progression evolves, introducing new elements that keep the listener hooked. The brilliance of this song lies in its simplicity. AC/DC shows us that you don't need complex arrangements to create a memorable piece; sometimes, simple chords played with passion and precision are all you need. Techniques to Master As we go deeper into the song, we'll explore various techniques that add depth to the performance. These include the effective use of palm muting and the inclusion of bass notes at key moments. These techniques layer sophistication onto the song, making it a joy to play and listen to. Practice Makes Permanent The key to mastering any song, including Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, is practice. Take your time with the song; don't rush through it. Focus on getting the chords and techniques right. Remember, the goal is not just to play the song but to feel the music and enjoy the process. Wrapping Up By the end of this lesson, you should have a good grasp of how to play Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution. But remember: learning to play any song takes time and patience. Keep practicing, and soon, you'll be able to play this iconic rock riff with ease and confidence. Don't forget to watch the video ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cjqwm2Cq3os 442 2017-12-15T14:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-petty-free-fallin-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-407 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HSwaGGa6HAM/hqdefault.jpg Free Fallin' by Tom Petty Learn to play "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty—one of the greatest pop songs ever written! "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty is a fantastic tune to play on guitar, especially if you've got a buddy to jam with. One of the coolest things about this song is that it has two distinct guitar parts that blend beautifully. One guitar uses a capo at the third and the other at the first fret. Each part sounds great individually, but that's where the magic happens. If you're playing on your own, I recommend starting with the capo-at-third-fret version, based around a D chord, because it nicely highlights the melody. I'll walk you through this one first, and then I'll also quickly cover the capo-at-first-fret version, which is built around E, Asus2, and a cool-sounding open B power chord. The rhythm is a key part of what makes "Free Fallin'" so special. I suggest starting simple and gradually adding extra strums as you feel comfortable. If you're jamming with someone else, it's great to experiment by having one guitar play a simpler rhythm while the other adds a busier pattern. That dynamic captures the vibe of the original recording. Speaking of the original, there's also a cool electric guitar power chord part tucked in there. It's perfect to try out if you're playing in a band or just having fun with friends. It adds another great texture to the mix. Remember, even though the chord progression is repetitive, varying your strumming between verses and choruses—keeping verses simpler and choruses livelier—really helps keep the song engaging and fun. Most importantly, relax into the groove. Playing slightly behind the beat usually sounds way cooler than rushing ahead. 📱 Learn with my guitar app! If you want to dive deeper into this song with interactive tabs and explore thousands of other awesome tunes, check out the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App—it's a great way to practice, jam along, and sharpen your skills. 👉 Ready for more? Check out hundreds of free guitar tutorials here! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/HSwaGGa6HAM 1083 2025-03-28T10:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/crowded-house-into-temptation-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-177 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SG4FYh64r_g/hqdefault.jpg Into Temptation by Crowded House Learn "Into Temptation" by Crowded House on the Acoustic Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Into Temptation by Crowded House on the acoustic guitar. I had a blast recording this cover and tutorial, and I hope you'll enjoy this video too! I've loved this song since I was a teen, and I've no idea why I took this long to do a song lesson. The chords in this song are pretty curious. Not difficult, just unusual. But also lots of fun to play. :) Let's check it out! Into Temptation by Crowded House: Chord Progressions The main chord progression used in the intro and verses is Em, Em/F# (022X00), CMaj7/G (332000), which I'll call C, to B7* (X21000). It lasts two bars in total; each lasts half a bar. For the Em/F#, try to mute string 4 with the underside of finger 3. What I've called B7* means some variation of B7. I haven't figured out what to call this chord, but the name is irrelevant. If it sounds good, it is good. :) 🤔 To name or not to name? Naming chords can be a quick and easy way to communicate with other musicians. But naming the B7* chord for real would create more problems than it solves. It’s easy to play, and it sounds good. Use it! :) In the first verse, we have Em, C (I'm calling it C instead of CMaj7/G), A5 (X02200), B7sus4 (X22200), and B7 (X212000). Use fingers 2, 1, and 3 for the sus4, then slide finger 1 back one fret for B7. After that, we play the intro sequence five times, then Em to Em/F. The first chorus comes next. The second verse is identical, except we play the intro progression six times before moving into the chorus. Into Temptation by Crowded House: Chorus Progression The chorus progression is standard. We go G for a bar, D for a bar, then Em for two bars. Then it's G for a bar, D for half a bar, then B7 for half a bar. You can hear a riff over the Em on the original. It uses a minor 7 and a minor 6 chord. Fret the basic Em chord (022000) with fingers 2 and 3. Add your little finger to 2:3 (string 2, fret 3) on the "and" of beat 4, slide it back to 2:2 on beat 1, then m... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SG4FYh64r_g 1080 2022-12-14T00:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-kinks-sunny-afternoon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0xErWvt-55Y/hqdefault.jpg Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks Learn to Play "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks on the guitar. This classic song by the legendary Ray Davies is a fun and interesting one to learn. It has some unique chord voicings and a rhythm that really moves, making it an absolute joy to play. The Chords The first chord we'll tackle is the D minor. This chord forms the foundation for much of the song, so getting a feel for it is crucial. It sets the tone for the unique chord progression that makes this song so memorable. The next chord in the sequence is D minor over C, or D minor/C, which is just a D minor chord with a C bass note added in. This variation creates a fuller, more complex sound that adds depth to the song. We then move on to D minor with a B bass note, followed by D minor with a B flat bass. These changes in the bass notes give the song its distinctive melodic progression and contribute to its rich, nuanced sound. We then transition to an A chord, adding a G bass note for added depth. Next, we have an A with an F bass and then an A with an E bass. This sequence of chords creates a melodic line that complements the D minor chords beautifully. The main sequence we need to focus on is D minor, D minor/C, D minor with a B bass, D minor with a B flat bass, A, A with a G bass, A with an F bass, and A with an E bass. This sequence forms the backbone of the song. The Structure Now, let's talk about how these chords come together in the song. The intro of Sunny Afternoon follows the exact sequence of chords we just discussed. We start with the D minor and then progress to the D minor/C, and so on, ending with the A with an E bass. The song's verses follow this same chord progression but with a twist. We have a whole bar of D minor, followed by F, then C7, and then we run down from A with a G bass, A with an F bass, to A with an E bass. Then, we repeat this sequence. The chorus uses the same chords but changes up the progression a bit. We start with D minor, then switch t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xErWvt-55Y 1073 2017-12-04T13:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/hank-williams-jambalaya-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-041 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iYEeSHeQtpY/hqdefault.jpg Jambalaya by Hank Williams HOW TO PLAY "JAMBALAYA" BY HANK WILLIAMS ON GUITAR Let's learn how to play Jambalaya, the guitar country classic by Hank Williams! This song is awesome if you're working through my Beginner Guitar Course and have just learned the C and G chords. This song only uses those two chords, so it's the perfect opportunity to work on them! 🎶 About Jambalaya by Hank Williams: Hank Williams wrote this song about jambalaya, which I've been told is a type of meat, seafood, and rice dish from Louisiana! I'll have to try it next time I'm down south in the States. :) There are several versions of this tune, and we'll look at how to play them all on guitar. Some artists use A and D, while The Carpenters went for G and D. We’ll stick with C and G for now and cover the other options later. :) Jambalaya by Hank Williams: Guitar Chords There's only one sequence in Jambalaya, and it lasts eight bars. It’s two bars of C, four bars of G, then two bars of C: C C G G; G G C C. I suggest you go for Weak-Finger G in this tune. It works great for the country picking pattern and makes the chord changes easy. If you want to work on harder changes, try Traditional G or Hack G. :) 💡 Need Help with C and G? Head to Grade 1 of my Beginner's Course for detailed lessons on these essential guitar chords. Beginner Strumming If you feel ready to play the tune, start with one strum per bar to get used to the rhythm and chord changes. Check out the Play Through section for a demo of this pattern with the chords. :) Let’s gradually make it sound like the Hank Williams original. If you’re a beginner, try playing two strums per bar, on beats 1 and 3. Make sure you keep your strumming arm moving even though you only strum on half the beats. Once you nail this, you can make it sound even better by picking out bass notes. ;) Authentic Country Strumming If you want to get fancy with the strumming, try this country technique. It gives movement to the rhythm, but it can be tricky for some beginners. We pick the bass note on beats 1 and 3, then strum the full c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iYEeSHeQtpY 571 2020-01-03T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/4-non-blondes-what-s-up-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-308 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r5NMiCVB85Y/hqdefault.jpg What's Up? by 4 Non Blondes Learn How to Play "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes on the Acoustic Guitar! In this easy song lesson, we'll learn how to play What's Up by 4 Non Blondes on the acoustic guitar. We'll learn the chords, strumming patterns, and other details you need to make your cover of this song, even if you're a beginner! 💡 If you're a fan of 90s music, you're probably familiar with this hit, written by Linda Perry. Great song to play for friends, and you can learn it faster using my guitar app! What's Up has a catchy melody, and you can play it with 3 easy open chords and a guitar capo. Let's look at the details! Only 3 Easy Open Chords! The easiest way to play What's Up is with the chords G, A minor, and C using a capo on the second fret. If you don't have a capo, you can still play the chords without it, but it will sound slightly different from the original recording. To play the G chord, place your third finger on the third fret of the thicker string and mute the fifth string. Leave three strings open and place your little finger on the thinner string's third fret. If you find it challenging to use your third and little fingers, you can use your second and third fingers or the first finger on the second fret of the fifth string. The A minor chord is easy to play. Put your first finger on the B string at the first fret. Your second finger is on the second fret of the fourth string, and your third finger is on the second fret of the third string. Leave the other strings open, and you're done. To play the C chord, move your third finger from the A minor's third fret to the third fret of the fifth string. Your second finger will slide forward a little bit as well. Then, mute the thicker string with the tip of your third finger. Check out the video tutorial for the chord progression! Strumming Pattern The authentic strumming pattern for What's Up may be challenging for beginners, so I recommend starting with four strums per chord. Gradually increase the strumming speed until you're comfortable playing the pattern. If you want to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/r5NMiCVB85Y 979 2023-08-27T08:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-cocaine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-058 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WkF6kaqcV3I/hqdefault.jpg Cocaine by Eric Clapton Beginners Can Play This Easy Version of "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton! Let’s learn how to play a simplified version of Cocaine by Eric Clapton on the guitar. This easy tutorial is perfect for beginners practicing their Power Chords! 💡 Cocaine was written by JJ Cale and covered by Eric Clapton - Clapton's version is probably the one you recognize. The chord progression is more or less authentic, but this song has many other, excellent guitar layers, including a few incredible solos. We're talking about Eric Clapton, right? He's one of the greatest Rock and Blues guitarists ever. :) I’ll need to do another lesson with all the details! Our goal is to learn the power chords in Cocaine and practice sliding them up and down the guitar neck. We’ll also check out the lick that lands between the power chords and adds a little something to the sound. ;) Let’s get stuck in. Cocaine by Eric Clapton: Power Chords For the main riff, we only need two power chords: D5 and E5! The root notes are on the fifth string - how about you figure out how to play it? ;) As for the riff between those chords, it’s pretty simple. Check out the video lesson for a slow demo with the count, or head to JustinGuitarTABS for full TAB. :) 🚨 Need a power-chord refresher? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Power Chords for Beginners! In the chorus, we’ll need a couple of other chords: C5 and B5. The progression is E5, D5, C5, and B5. We use the same chord shape for the four chords and slide it up and down the guitar - no need to jump strings here. The first three chords are all pushed, and we strum the B5 once before muting the strings for the rest of the bar. 🎸 JJ Cale Version: The original version is in a different key from Clapton's cover. Harmonically, the chords in JJ Cale's Cocaine are C#5, B5, A5, G#5, but I think he tuned his guitar down one semitone and is using D5, C5, B♭5, and A5 grips. Cocaine by Eric Clapton: Playing Tips for Guitar Since we officially only strum once on the D5 in the main riff, it can sound a little sparse. So it’s a good ide... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WkF6kaqcV3I 567 2021-02-05T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/motorhead-killed-by-death-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-385 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pVhMEyLAyMM/hqdefault.jpg Killed By Death by Motorhead Learn How To Play "Killed By Death" by Motorhead On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Killed By Death by Motorhead on the guitar. Motorhead is a GREAT band to get into transcribing. There is a lot to learn from them! This is a proper rock song, so you should learn it on your electric guitar. We'll explore one section at a time, look at the chord and some of the rhythm elements. There are some great riffs to explore, and obviously, the fantastic Oslo will be a bit thicker. So grab your guitar, and let's start with the basics. 💬 Join the discussion. I spent many, many hours mining Motorhead as a teenager. What type of music were you in your youth? Log in and share in the discussion area. Chords & Accents So before watching the video - have a go at working out the song on your own and see how you get on! There's nothing too complicated going on, mostly power chords! There's some accenting there, which is a big part of the Motorhead's iconic rock sound! So you'll want to watch out for that. You'll be putting your palm mutes to work to replicate the rhythm. It's essential to watch out for that to get the correct rhythm! Using Your Ears & Tips Motorhead is an incredible band for learning by ear, and this song has a fantastic Blues-rock solo, especially great if you want to venture into transcribing solos. Writing down the chord arrangement will be super helpful here. See what's going on in the intro, verses, chorus, and bridge, and write out the chord progression. Same for the solo, the best thing you can do is write out each section's chores. This exercise is beneficial for your musicianship! What other songs from Motorhead should I cover? Send your request on the Song Request Board. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVhMEyLAyMM 923 2017-12-21T12:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-ronettes-be-my-baby-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-415 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wF0kwHIgxJE/hqdefault.jpg Be My Baby by The Ronettes Learn to play "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Be My Baby on the guitar. This classic hit by The Ronettes, produced by the legendary Phil Spector, offers a fantastic opportunity for beginners and more advanced players alike to delve into the world of pop-rock music. Be My Baby is a fantastic song, and in this lesson, I've simplified it a bit to make it really accessible for beginners. We'll use a capo on the fourth fret to make it easier. However, if you're up for a challenge, you can play it without the capo, using barre chords all the way through. This could be a great exercise if you're learning barre chords and want to put them into use. But the song still sounds great played in an open position using chords with the capo. Chord Progression The chord sequence in this song is quite straightforward. We start with a C chord, followed by a sequence of D minor, G, G7, C. This sequence builds up to the chorus of the song. The song's rhythm and progression give it that timeless pop-rock feel that begs for a sing-along. But it's not all as straightforward as it seems. There are a few things that I've done slightly differently, mainly to keep the harmony the same as it was in the original recording. For instance, the original recording sounds like it goes straight to E7 when we get to the E chord. However, I believe it sounds better if you start with E for a bar and then add E7. The same principle applies when we move to the A and D chords. Instead of going directly to A7 and D7, I suggest starting with the regular A and D chords and then transitioning to the seventh chords. This gives the song a richer, more layered sound. Strumming Techniques Now, let's talk about strumming. I recommend using 16th-note strumming with all down strums for the verses. This technique imbues the song with energy and drive. However, it's not just about the strumming. There's also the matter of accents. By adding accents to certain beats, you can add another dimension of rhythm to the so... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wF0kwHIgxJE 566 2017-12-03T11:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/mumford-sons-the-cave-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df1Yyk8eBYM/hqdefault.jpg The Cave by Mumford & Sons Learn to Play "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Cave by Mumford & Sons on the guitar. This exciting tune is a lot of fun to play and not as difficult as it sounds! This song has three main parts, or 'vibes' as I like to call them. We've got the intro, the main section, and the instrumental part, which is rich with different instruments in the background. Each part brings a unique flavor to the song, making it more interesting to play. Open D Tuning and Introduction We're going to start off with open D tuning. This means that your guitar will be tuned to D, A, D, F sharp, A, D. However, I recommend that you tune up with the capo on. This will give you a different sound and a unique tuning that adds a special touch to the song. Learning the Riffs and Chords The song starts off with a simple riff and then moves on to the chords. The first chord we play is simple, with no fingers down on the frets. Then, we move on to another chord, which is slightly more complex. Next, we transition to a G chord, which is similar to an E7 chord in this open D tuning. We then round off with a D chord. Riff 2 forms the chorus and starts slightly muted with a D chord. This gives a nice dampening effect and adds a different dimension to the sound. Finally, Riff 3 is a mix of the chord progression and the riff. This is where we start strumming, adding a different texture and rhythm to the song. Playing the Song and Having Fun One of the things I love about this song is that it's really enjoyable to play. It sounds great and is a fantastic introduction to the open D tuning. You get all those extra drone notes ringing out that aren't really chord tones, but they sound fantastic. Remember, practicing a song is not just about learning the chords and riffs but also about enjoying the process. Don't worry too much about getting every note perfect. Instead, focus on the overall sound and rhythm of the song. Wrapping Up Thank you for joining me in this lesson today. I hope you enjoy lea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Df1Yyk8eBYM 750 2017-11-29T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-man-in-black-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-118 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xGZ9in0lI4U/hqdefault.jpg Man In Black by Johnny Cash Learn to play "Man in Black" by Johnny Cash on the guitar Today, we're diving into the rich country music history to learn how to play one of the greatest tunes ever, Man in Black by the legendary Johnny Cash. This song is an absolute classic, and the best part is it's just a 16-bar chord sequence that repeats through the whole tune. It's all about the story and the emotion this song carries. It might be a bit challenging to sing, especially if you're not comfortable with low registers, but don't worry; it's fun to play and sing along to. Rhythm and Chords Before we start with the chords, let's talk about the rhythm. We'll be using the classic boom-chicka strumming pattern. Here's how it works: you play the bass note on beat one, followed by a down strum and an up strum on two and three, and then up, down, up on four. The dynamic of this rhythm pattern is what gives the song its unique sound. Now, let's move on to the chord sequence. It's simple and repetitive. We start with four bars of G, then move to A for two bars, and then to C. And finally, G, A, and then D7. The sequence goes on like this for the whole song. On the last line of the last verse, he plays A7, and instead of staying on A and then going to D7, he goes A7 bar, D7 for one bar. Singing and Playing One of the crucial aspects of this song is memorizing the chord sequence so you can sing along with it. Just the chord progression on its own won't win too many hearts and minds. So, the real goal here is to learn to play and sing the song's story at the same time. This song tells a fascinating story about why Johnny Cash always wore black clothes. Even if you don't usually wear black, you can still relate to and convey the song's message through your performance. Final Thoughts And there you have it! That's the whole tune. The key elements to work on are the rhythm, getting the chord sequence right, and then trying to sing it. I can't wait to see how you do. I wish I could sing it better, but it's a bit too tricky for me. Otherwise, I'd love to do a ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xGZ9in0lI4U 305 2017-11-29T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/audioslave-cochise-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i0JFC4tGIOk/hqdefault.jpg Cochise by Audioslave As a second tribute song for the great Chris Cornell I thought I'd pick this awesome song by Audioslave which also features some wicked riffing from Tom Morello (he of Rage Against The Machine fame!). It got a couple of real fat awesome riffs to sink your teeth in to and if you got some cool out there effects to try you should unleash them in the intro and or the bridge! I put out a question on twitter asking if anyone knew for sure the correct pronounciation of the song name, and I got an answer from Tom Morello himself :) And it's Cochise as in Niece (the city in France!). I gather it was an Indian cheif too, but need to do some reading of US History books me thinks! Hope you dig it :) Watch Tom Morello explain how he does the intro riffs! Have a look on the right of the page for a clip someone just sent me of TM playing the tune, he shows how he plays the intro and also that the fingering for the chorus riff is slightly different to what I teach - right notes and everything, I find the way he does it way hard, but y'know... it's his tune! https://www.youtube.com/embed/i0JFC4tGIOk 1122 2018-01-24T12:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-shins-pink-bullets-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mqnowwxp3OM/hqdefault.jpg Pink Bullets by The Shins Learn to Play "Pink Bullets" by The Shins on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Pink Bullets by The Shins on the guitar. This is a great opportunity for you to learn a new song and practice working out the chord progression on your own! First off, let's talk about The Shins. If you haven't heard of them before, you're in for a treat. They're a fantastic band that I've recently discovered, and I think they're particularly amazing. Their song, Pink Bullets, is a beautiful tune that will surely make a great addition to your guitar repertoire. Getting Started Before you start playing, you'll need a capo. For this song, the capo is placed on the third fret. With the capo in place, you're ready to dive into the song's chords. In no particular order, we have D, A, E minor, G, C, and F. Here's a little extra hint: the song starts on an E minor. Now, this is where it gets fun. Print out the lyrics and try to figure out the order of the chords by yourself. It's a great exercise to help you develop your musical intuition. Don't worry if you get stuck or unsure; you can always check back here for the answers. Don't read any further if you want to give this exercise a try. Learning the Chord Progression The song starts with an intro using the E minor chord. The main riff for the verse is also E minor. The chorus then uses the progression G, E minor, G, D, G, D, G, D. The bridge changes things a bit with a progression of C, E minor, G, C, and F. That's pretty much the whole tune. Of course, the song has some additional details and variations, but I'll leave those for you to discover as you get more comfortable with the basic structure. Some Final Thoughts I hope you enjoy this journey of learning Pink Bullets as much as I enjoyed creating this lesson for you. Remember, it's not just about learning the chords. It's about understanding the song and making it your own. 👉Don't forget to check out The Shins' album "Chutes Too Narrow"; it's a fantastic listen. I can't wait to see how you progress with this song. S... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mqnowwxp3OM 593 2018-02-04T22:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/culture-club-karma-chameleon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-236 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2OXpdyRd4EQ/hqdefault.jpg Karma Chameleon by Culture Club Learn How to Play "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Karma Chameleon by Culture Club on the guitar. This classic 80s hit is a great choice for beginner guitar players, with its easy chord progression and catchy melody. We'll start with a beginner-friendly version of the song. This version avoids the tricky B minor chord that only pops up a few times in the bridge so you can play almost the entire song without it. This song is perfect for practicing your open chords. We'll also discuss simple strumming techniques and ways to add variety to your playing between the verses and the chorus to keep things interesting. Chord Progressions The song starts with an intro that consists of four bars of G. You could strum down on beats one and three or experiment with a different strumming pattern or riff. The verse starts with a G chord, followed by D, and then goes back to G. This pattern is repeated twice. Then, we move to a C chord followed by D, repeated three times. Then we move on to A minor for two bars, followed by one bar each of G and D. The chorus is slightly different, starting with a G chord for one bar, then D with an F base (or a regular D if you prefer), E minor for two bars, A minor for two bars, and then G to D and again G. It's really helpful to play with the original recording or an acoustic version to familiarize yourself with the rhythm and chord changes. Strumming Techniques How you strum the guitar can greatly affect the song's feel. For beginners, it's recommended to start with simple strumming patterns and gradually build up to more complex patterns as you get more comfortable. For instance, you could start with strumming on beats one and three, then continue to strum on every beat once you're comfortable. Another great tip is to use different strumming patterns for the verses and choruses. This adds variety to the song and keeps it from sounding monotonous. If you're feeling adventurous, try picking out individual notes during the verses for a diff... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2OXpdyRd4EQ 1231 2024-05-12T03:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-breathe-in-the-air-electric-guitar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BN68Didl7y0/hqdefault.jpg Breathe In The Air (Electric Guitar) by Pink Floyd Learn "Breathe In The Air" by Pink Floyd on Electric Guitar! Hey, how you doing? It's Justin here today for an awesome electric guitar tune! We'll check out Breathe In The Air by Pink Floyd. 💡 Sound Setup – If you're a gear geek like me, check out the video to see all my gear and the settings. :) I also have a simplified beginner version, which makes for a good sing-along. It's well worth knowing how to play it on acoustic. Let's start by looking at that incredible intro. :) Breathe In The Air by Pink Floyd – Intro The first chord is Em9 (024000). Finger 1 goes down on 5:2 (string 5, fret 2), and finger 4 plays 4:4 (string 4, fret 4). We will do an up rake here – a slow upstrum nearer the bridge than usual. You should get a crunchy, metallic sound. This happens on beat 1 in the first bar and beat 2 in the others. On beat 3, we go into a picking pattern. Play a downstrum on string 6. Then, on the 3e+a, do an up-pick on string 2. On 4e+a, do the same on string 2. Remember the picking for the 16th notes. We use down strums or down picks on beats and "and" s, and up strums or up-picks on "e" and "a." So, using upstrokes on the final two notes in the pattern will help you keep solid time. Now we switch to an A chord (X02220), using finger 1 to barre fret 1. We pick: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 5 4 3 2 2* 2 (2* means 2:3) Then we switch back to Em9. Pick 6:0 on beat 1, then do an up rake on beat 2. Now we use the same picking pattern as the previous Em9, only this time we play string 1 and then string 2. We return to A and pick strings 5, 4, 3, and 2 with the same rhythm as the previous bar of A. Then we play a fill. Hit the open A string on the "+" after 2. Play 4:2 with finger 2 and slide up to 4:4. Form the shape XX4030 with fingers 2 and 1 and pick strings 2, 3, and 4. Now form an A7 chord (X02020) and pick strings 2 and 3. Some people like playing A7 with fingers 2 and 1, but it doesn't feel pleasant, so I go for fingers 2 and 3. Play around and find what works for you. The rhythm for this bar is 1 e + a 2 ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BN68Didl7y0 1229 2019-08-14T08:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-in-bloom-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OxsNlaq5yCI/hqdefault.jpg In Bloom by Nirvana How to play "In Bloom" by Nirvana on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play In Bloom by Nirvana on the guitar. This song is a perfect example of the raw energy that defined the Grunge movement, and it's packed with some really cool guitar parts that are sure to get your fingers moving and your head banging. Before we get started, you should know that there are actually a couple of different ways to play the main riffs in this tune. I've seen videos of Kurt Cobain playing it in different positions on the neck, so we'll explore both versions. Don't worry if this sounds a bit confusing—by the end of this lesson, you'll have a solid grasp on how to play this killer track! The Intro Riff Let's kick things off with the intro riff. This is the part that really sets the tone for the whole song. We're starting with a B♭5 power chord, which is the foundation of this riff. Now, here's a little Nirvana secret for you: Kurt often played his power chords using just two fingers instead of three. This technique sometimes allows an extra note to sneak in, which has become a signature sound in many Nirvana songs. So, if you hear that extra note, don't freak out - it's all part of the charm! The rhythm for this riff is crucial. We've got a mix of down and up strums that create this driving, energetic feel. It's "down, up, down, down, up, down, down, up, down, up" on the B♭5 chord. Then we drop down to an F, keeping a similar rhythm. After that, we've got a little lick that takes us back to the B♭. This part might take some practice, but it's what gives the riff its distinctive sound. Verse and Chorus Progressions Moving into the verses, we're working with a progression that includes B♭, G♭, and E♭ chords. The key here is the strumming pattern. It's a driving, energetic strum that's characteristic of a lot of Nirvana's music. Remember, it's all about capturing that raw, powerful feel. For the chorus, we simplify things. We're mainly bouncing between B♭ and G chords. It's a straightforward progression, but the magic is in ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OxsNlaq5yCI 653 2017-12-04T08:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-all-you-need-is-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-926 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z1jt2QpnT3M/hqdefault.jpg All You Need Is Love by The Beatles Learn How To Play "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play All You Need Is Love by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. Such a classic Beatles tune with a couple of cool tricks in it. :) The Beatles' songs are often tricky to play! Their melodies seem easy and catchy, but they're known for throwing in little sticky moments here and there. 'All You Need Is Love' is no exception! This is a great one to learn, and it's a hit at parties or gatherings. I mean, who doesn't love singing along with that chorus? But there are a few things you've got to tackle first, starting with the chords. :) Chords & Strumming The chords for this Beatles tune are not your average open chords. Many of them are variations on the classics, often using a different bass note than you might be familiar with. Your thumb even gets in on the action, too! For example, you'll play a D with an F# bass. For this grip, your thumb hangs over the top of your neck and mutes your 5th string. The song uses a simple strumming pattern with a picked riff making occasional appearances. It's nothing too crazy, but if you're new to switching between strumming and picking, it's something to work on. Practice is the cure here. :) Rhythm The rhythm of this song is funky. Most songs you're probably familiar with are played in 4/4 time, but this one switches between 4/4 and ¾ time. If you're familiar with the song already, you should be able to mimic the pattern. It takes some time to ace this dynamic rhythm! Make sure you give the original recording a good listen to guide your rhythm. That said, it's still essential to know the proper counts. Counting out loud will help if you're less comfortable with the funky rhythm. Another tip is to play through the song slowly to make sure you've got it all right. No rush, increasing your tempo as you gain confidence with the structure. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics for All You Need Is Love and 600+ more song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/z1jt2QpnT3M 879 2018-01-25T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-frusciante-the-past-recedes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1_e7BKMUSbk/hqdefault.jpg The Past Recedes by John Frusciante Learn to Play "The Past Recedes" by John Frusciante on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Past Recedes on the guitar. This song is by John Frusciante, one of my all-time favorite guitar players and a true musical genius. He never fails to impress, especially with this track, which has some interesting things happening rhythmically in the verses. The Verse and Rhythm We're going to kick off with the verse. The chord progression for the verses is a sequence of G, D, A minor, and E minor. It might seem like a simple chord sequence, but John Frusciante is a master at taking something straightforward and adding just enough spice to keep it interesting. He puts his unique spin on it and keeps it really musical, which is part of his genius. The rhythm might initially seem odd because it shifts between four-four and three-four bars. This gives the song a unique feel, but it works so well that it doesn't feel disjointed. Odd times can sometimes feel a bit jerky, but in this case, it feels musical and natural, which is quite an achievement. Understanding the count is crucial to mastering the rhythm. I'll guide you through it, but remember, listening to the song many times is just as important as counting. It helps to get the rhythm in your ears. Chords Once you feel confident with the rhythm, we'll add the chords. The G chord goes with the down-up-down, then the D with down-up-down, then the A minor with down-down-up-down. This pattern moves between four beats and three beats in the bar. If you're struggling with any part of this, don't worry. Just keep practicing, and you'll get it. The pre-chorus throws in a twist with a change in rhythm. It's still the same verse progression for the first bar, but it stays on A minor in the second bar and the rhythm changes. We then move the standard open acoustic grip of a B7 chord. The chorus is a sequence of C, D sharp diminished, E minor, and D. This is followed by C, B minor, A minor, and B7. The chorus' rhythm is simpler than the song's other parts. Wrapping... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1_e7BKMUSbk 1192 2018-01-24T13:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-legend-all-of-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-388 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WJyf8JqNdhE/hqdefault.jpg All Of Me by John Legend Learn to play the beautiful piano piece "All of Me" by John Legend! Yes! We’re going to be adapting this song for the guitar. Any time you’re going from piano to guitar, the chords will, of course, be the same, but you can really get creative with the arrangement. For this lesson, I’ll start off by giving you a very beginner-level version of the song, and by the end of it, I’ll have some more advanced techniques for more advanced players. To play along with the original recording, you’ll need a capo on the 1st fret. The Chords To start off with, this song can be broken up into three different chord progressions. Verses and Intro: Em, C, G, D (one bar each) Pre-Chorus/Bridge: Am, G, D (one bar each) Chorus: G, Em, Am, D (two bars each) Chorus Tagline: (same as verses and intro) Something you can try doing if you’re comfortable with it is playing a modified version of the D chord. It’s just a C chord shape played two frets up. It’s just a nice variation that sounds sort of interesting and quirky. Rhythm and Strumming Pattern The rhythm pattern for this song is quite specific. 1 2 + 3 4 For the strumming pattern, you’re only playing beats 1, the “and” of 2, and 4. When strumming, you could use all down strums, but I find that using an up strum for that “and” beat works pretty well, too. When you’re strumming, your hand should more or less be keeping a steady up-down rhythm the whole time whether or not you’re actually hitting the strings on each beat. This helps keep time, acting as a metronome of sorts. If you’re already doing this, your hand is already coming up on the “ands,” making it easier to strum the “and” of beat 2 with an up strum. Strumming Variations and Fingerstyle Picking For more advanced players, you could try to mix it up a bit. This adds to the overall composition of the song, and it keeps it from sounding too same-y throughout the whole thing! One thing you could try instead of strumming the full chords is plucking the strings with your fingers. What I’ve done in my version is place my thumb on... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJyf8JqNdhE 1203 2017-12-03T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-bandit-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-052 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GWH_HWNvtWU/hqdefault.jpg Bandit by Neil Young Learn "Bandit", Another Neil Young Acoustic Guitar Classic In this lesson, we'll learn to play Bandit by Neil Young on guitar. I'm a big Neil Young fan, and this song means a lot to me, as do the album and movie. :) Like much of Neil's work, the message they contain is so powerful. The chord progression in Bandit is rare and beautiful, and the tuning is pretty crazy – it's Double Drop D in B♭! This is really low. The chords are simple, but the strumming and rhythm can be tricky, so I suggest you listen to the original loads and absorb the vibe. The better you know the tune, the more comfortable you'll be when playing it. :) And we'll cover the number 1 skill you need to play Neil Young authentically. If you want to sound like him, stick around. Let's check out this song! The Authentic Tuning The Bandit tuning is pretty unusual, but it sounds wicked. Think of it as Double Drop D down two tones, making it “Double Drop B♭”. ;) There are several ways to get to this tuning – perhaps the easiest is to use a chromatic tuner. Here are the notes from thickest to thinnest: B♭, F, B♭, E♭, G, B♭. Warning: when you detune the guitar strings this much, the neck is bound to move. This pushes the strings closer to the frets, so be gentle - don’t strike the strings hard or press them down too firmly, otherwise you might knock them out of tune. Bandit by Neil Young: Guitar Chords Let’s call the chords by their names relative to open position. In this tuning, open D chord is really a B♭ chord, but we’ll call it D for simplicity. :) Open D is the only chord we need for the intro, which lasts four bars. We play it with an extra note on string 4 - find the fingering in the Chords video chapter. :) There are effectively only two chords in the verse, but we add passing chords between them, just like Neil did. We play D for the first two bars, then switch to G for two bars. The timing is a little bit odd, especially when we add the passing chords - best to learn it by listening. 🚨 Beware The Strange Chord Grip: because of the tuning, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GWH_HWNvtWU 1853 2020-12-05T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/starsailor-silence-is-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-194 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SSdGCevfCA4/hqdefault.jpg Silence Is Easy by Starsailor Learn to Play "Silence Is Easy" by Star Sailor on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Silence Is Easy on the guitar. This beautifully simple tune from Star Sailor, written and often performed by James Walsh, is a fantastic piece for beginners and experienced players alike. With only two chords, it's a great song to play at a party or sing-along. The Chords The chord progression of Silence Is Easy is quite simple. It's just two bars of E and two bars of A. This straightforward structure makes it a great choice for beginners. But don't be fooled by its simplicity! There are many ways to approach this song and make it your own. 💡If you're at the very beginning of your guitar journey, you might still struggle with chord changes! Check out One Minute Changes if you need extra help making those chord transitions! Strumming Techniques You can strum the chords in Silence Is Easy in many different ways. You could simply strum once per bar, or you could add a bit more rhythm and strum four times per bar. For those who want to take it up a notch, you can strum eight times per bar, emphasizing the strum on beats two and four. Each strumming technique lends a unique feel to the song, so feel free to experiment and find what suits you best. Playing with a Capo One of the interesting aspects of this song is how well it lends itself to experimentation. For instance, you can use a capo to practice other chords. You can create the same tonality as the open E and A by placing the capo on the seventh fret and playing an A chord to a D chord. This technique opens up a whole new range of possibilities and sounds for the song. Playing with Others Silence Is Easy is not just a great song to play solo; it's also an excellent piece to play with others. One person can play the chords in one part of the neck, while another plays the chords in another part using a capo. This technique creates a full and rich sound that is truly amazing. It's a really fun thing to explore, especially if you have access to someone else who ca... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SSdGCevfCA4 610 2018-02-04T20:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-one-of-these-days-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-765 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JhLW-HQjAkI/hqdefault.jpg One Of These Days by Neil Young Play "One Of These Days" By Neil Young On Acoustic Guitar! Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin here for an all-time acoustic classic: One Of These Days by Neil Young. This one is in double drop D tuning. The chords are pretty easy; as with much of Neil’s music, the tricky part is the strumming. Let’s get our guitars tuned! We need to tune strings 6 and 1 down one tone to the note D. Use the open D string and the harmonic at 4:12 as a reference. A handy way to check if you’ve re-tuned correctly is to strum a D5 chord (000230). If it sounds good, you’re ready to rock and roll. :) 🎸 Double Drop-D Tuning: If you’re unsure about this tuning, check out my double drop-d tutorial. The chords in double drop D are different from standard tuning. Neil plays some chords in his own unique way, so I’ll show you what he does along with my preferred options. One Of These Days by Neil Young – Verse We’ll need an A chord (X02220) played with fingers 1, 2, and 3 in a row: finger 1 on 4:2, 2 on 3:2, and 3 on 3:2. You’ll need to press pretty hard with finger 1 to make sure the note rings. Though it looks like an A Major, it’s actually Aadd11 because 1:0 is now the note D. 🧐 A Chord Options: In my courses, I teach A using fingers 2, 1, then 3 because it’s easier to get a clean chord. It’s totally fine to play this chord. But I usually go for Neil’s option (fingers 1, 2, and 3 in a row) when I play his tunes. Use the one you dig most. :) The next chord is F#m7. When his guitar is in a drop D tuning, Neil tends to use fingers 3 and 4 on strings 6 and 5 (442222) for minor chords, but I don’t hear this on the original. I think he plays 4X4222. Finger 3 plays 6:4, finger 4 plays 4:4, and finger 1 barres fret 2. Definitely try both grips and see what you like. Now it’s onto the D chord, but not just any old D chord! Neil plays 004232 with finger 1 barring fret 2, which is really a Dadd9 chord. It’s the final chord in the verse, and it lasts a bar. So the verse sequence goes Aadd11, F#m7, Dadd9, Dadd9. 💡 Double Drop-D Chord Grips: Just like t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JhLW-HQjAkI 1268 2019-05-01T17:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-back-to-december-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nH9JH3Jm2R8/hqdefault.jpg Back to December by Taylor Swift Learn "Back to December" by Taylor Swift Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin, and today we’ll check out Back to December by Taylor Swift (not Taylor Smith! How embarrassing.) Great pop tune this and written by Taylor herself. She gets my respect. This song uses 16th notes. Since we don’t cover this in the Beginner’s Course, I’ve written the rhythm using 8th notes in The Beginner’s Songbook. We’ll look at some extra tricks to make the rhythm sound really cool. :) Get your capo on fret 2, and let’s go. Back to December – Intro If you have my Beginner’s Songbook, you’ll see the intro for this song isn't written down! Not to worry – the intro is the same as the “Link” section. It’s a full bar of C (X32010), half a bar of Am (X02210), then half a bar of FMaj7 (XX3210). You have options for FMaj7. If you want to play mini F (the one above), by all means do so. Just make sure you don’t hit the two thickest strings. 🧐 F chord options – let’s check out the many F chord variations. They’re all useful in different contexts, and you want to have them all in your armory. My favorite F grip uses the mini F with fingers 1, 2, and 3, and the thumb to play the bass note at 6:1 (string 6, fret 1). But using the thumb like this is tricky for beginners and took me years, so don’t fret if you find it impossible. Another real common way to play FMaj7 is X33210 (technically FMaj7/C). It’s pretty easy to transition to this one from C: move finger 2 from 4:2 to 3:2 and add finger 4 at 4:3. To move back to C, just do the opposite of what I said. 🙂 Back to December – Verse and Pre-Chorus The verse progression is pretty similar to the intro. We play C for a bar, Am for a bar, F for a bar, C for half a bar, and G for half. For the pre-chorus, it’s Am, G, C, and F, all for half a bar. On the second rep, it’s Am, G, then a full bar of FMaj7. You definitely want to build the volume on that final bar of F before the chorus. Even if you’re only using simple strumming, building the volume here really adds a lot to the dynamics. People will dig it a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nH9JH3Jm2R8 1022 2017-12-03T11:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stereophonics-have-a-nice-day-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-707 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t7uIY_epExs/hqdefault.jpg Have A Nice Day by Stereophonics Learn to Play "Have a Nice Day" by Stereophonics on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Have a Nice Day by Stereophonics on the guitar. This fantastic Rock song features an interesting rhythm pattern that makes it both challenging and fun to play. This song is built around a distinctive strumming pattern that gives it its characteristic groove. The rhythm is what makes this song special, and once you master it, you'll have added a great technique to your playing arsenal. The Rhythm Pattern The heart of this song lies in its rhythm. We'll be using a specific down-and-up strumming pattern that creates the song's driving feel. Don't worry if it seems tricky at first—we'll break it down step by step in the video. The key is to start slowly and build up speed as you become more comfortable with the pattern. Song Structure and Main Chords Have a Nice Day follows a traditional verse-chorus structure, with each section maintaining that core rhythm we discussed. The song primarily uses three chords throughout: A, Asus2, and Dsus2. These suspended chords give the song its bright, open sound. During the verses and chorus, we'll be cycling through these chords with our signature strumming pattern. At certain points, a G chord comes in, adding a nice change to the progression. There's also an instrumental break that introduces some variety with E and D chords before returning to our main progression. Tips for Learning Start by practicing the rhythm pattern without any chord changes. Once you're comfortable with the strumming, slowly introduce the chord changes. Remember, it's completely normal if coordinating the singing with the playing feels challenging at first—this is actually quite a complex song when you break it down! The best way to approach this song is to break it down into smaller, manageable sections. Start with just the verse, then add the chorus once you're comfortable. The rhythm is the foundation, so make sure you've got that locked in before adding the vocals. Remember, even if your rhythm isn't... https://www.youtube.com/embed/t7uIY_epExs 577 2018-02-05T15:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pat-benatar-hit-me-with-your-best-shot-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-825 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y4QGJQlhTK0/hqdefault.jpg Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar Hit me With Your Best Shot is one of those tunes that's fun to play and great one if you're new to powerchords. Most important is getting the rhythms right and keeping the Power Chords clean, meaning not letting open strings ring out when you don't want them to. More advanced players should listen out for muting strings between chords, amount of Palm Muting and dynamics (how hard to play). https://www.youtube.com/embed/y4QGJQlhTK0 550 2018-02-05T15:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-cry-baby-cry-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-230 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uoj9Ih2p6kw/hqdefault.jpg Cry Baby Cry by The Beatles Learn "Cry Baby Cry" by The Beatles on the Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Cry Baby Cry by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. This song is a real John Lennon classic and a great one for advancing beginners. It primarily features open chords with some fun rhythms but also has a nice descending baseline, which is much easier than it sounds. Chorus and Verse The song starts with a chorus, with two beats on every chord. It moves from G to A minor, F, and then to G, transitioning from E minor to A, to F, leading us into the verse. In the first chorus, the F is played for two beats and goes directly into a verse. This is what we call a two-four bar - a bar with only two beats. However, all subsequent choruses add a G after the F chord. Rhythm The rhythm for the intro is a bass strum and then a full strum, creating a bass, chord, bass, chord pattern. This pattern continues into the verse. The verse progression consists of two bars of E minor with a descending baseline. The baseline moves from the E to a D#, to a D, and then to a C#. It then transitions from C to G. This chord progression and rhythm continue throughout the song, with variations in individual verses and choruses. Strumming Dynamics One thing that works well for the earlier part of the song is playing an even eighth-note pattern. This allows the bass note to shine through, making the song's character more pronounced. But don't be afraid to experiment and make this your version. Play with different dynamics and variations to keep the song interesting for you and your listeners. 💡 Add Dynamics to Your Rhythm Guitar! Check out Grade 3 of my Strumming SOS Course and take your playing to the next level. Remember, when you're performing a song on acoustic guitar, particularly on your own, you want to have a good dynamic range. The choruses lift, and the verses become a little bit more quiet. You want your audience listening to it, listening to the words, when you're playing a verse and then singing along for the chorus. That's a good way ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uoj9Ih2p6kw 869 2024-02-11T07:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/justin-sandercoe-from-katie-s-window-4-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-js-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZYGraJRn8W4/hqdefault.jpg From Katie's Window [4/4] by Justin Sandercoe . https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYGraJRn8W4 504 2018-03-13T13:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-enter-sandman-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-372 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zbuL0vJ2xho/hqdefault.jpg Enter Sandman by Metallica Learn to play "Enter Sandman" by Metallica on guitar! Enter Sandman by Metallica is an absolutely classic rock song, definitely one of the great rock songs. In this lesson, we'll check out all the iconic guitar riffs. You ready to rock 'n roll? :) Enter Sandman: Riff 1 Fingers 2 and 4 stay put all the way through the first riff. Finger 4 goes on 5:7 (string 5, fret 7), while finger 2 goes on 4:5 (string 4, fret 5). This will feel stretchy! Make sure fingers 2 and 4 are right up next to the fret, and keep them fingers in place while you play the other parts. This is a great exercise for working out your little finger. You'll build finger independence by holding down fingers 2 and 4 while you manipulate the others. But if this feels too stretchy, use finger 3 on 5:7 and replace 4:5 with the open G string (the notes are the exact same). Here's riff 1 in TAB: Finger 3 plays 6:6 and finger 1 plays 6:5. For the easier version, play 3:0 instead of 4:5, and use fingers 2 and 1 to fret the notes on string 6. Enter Sandman by Metallica: Riff 2 Let's check out the second riff. We start by strumming the open E string with all downstrums and some palm mute. The rhythm is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. After the downstrum on beat 4, finger 1 goes on 5:5. Pick, then slide up to 5:7. We return to a downstrum on the E string on beat 1. The rhythm for this is: 4 e + a 1 D 5:5 5:7 D Keep finger 1 down on 7:7, using the underside of the finger to mute strings 4, 3, 2, and 1. Keep playing the same rhythm on the open E string, then play 5:7 with finger 3 followed by 4:7 with finger 1. 💡 Palm Mute – It's crucial you use the correct amount of palm mute. You should still be able to hear the chord. Enter Sandman by Metallica: Riff 3 The next riff involves an F power chord (13XXXX). Strum it, then flick off both fingers to reveal the open strings (00XXXX). If you find this tricky, you can simplify it by just playing 6:1 and flicking off to 6:0. The rhythm for this is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 e + a D D 5:7 5:5 D D D 6:1 6:0 Enter Sandman by Metallica: Riff 4 Riff... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zbuL0vJ2xho 1459 2017-11-28T05:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/chris-stapleton-tennessee-whisky-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-272 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Zb0K4FrIeEY/hqdefault.jpg Tennessee Whisky by Chris Stapleton In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Tennessee Whiskey, a beautiful song with a great feel. Surprisingly, it only uses two chords all the way through. That makes it a fantastic option for beginners, but there’s plenty here for more advanced players as well. We start with a simplified version using a capo on the 2nd fret and easy open chords. From there, we move to the full version without a capo using A and B minor barre chords. We also break down the 12/8 feel and work on getting the strumming hand to move consistently, which is key to making this song feel relaxed and natural. Chords Capo 2 (Beginner Version): G A minor The progression is: G → A minor → A minor → G That four-bar sequence repeats for the whole song. No Capo (Original Key): A B minor Same progression pattern: A → B minor → B minor → A The goal is to keep the strumming hand moving steadily because once the groove is automated, everything becomes much easier, especially if we’re singing at the same time. Rhythm & Feel (12/8 Groove) This song has a strong 12/8 feel—count it as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Or feel it as 12 if that works better. The important thing is the groove: big–small–small, big–small–small Start with all downstrokes to lock in the motion, then build up to the full strumming pattern with ups on the “ands.” The key idea is that the hand keeps moving consistently—that’s what keeps everything in time. A Chord Fill Every second time, return to A, then add a small hammer-on fill. It’s subtle, but it adds a lot of character and helps outline the chord beautifully. Learn how that fits into the groove and how to place it correctly within the 12/8 feel. Lead Lines & Solo After locking in the rhythm, more advanced players can explore the lead parts. The intro and solo are great examples of playing chord tones rather than just running scales: C# clearly outlines the A chord Notes from the B minor chord are targeted during that section Slides, bends, and subtle phrasing create a very tasteful sound It’s not a technically difficult ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zb0K4FrIeEY 1890 2026-03-13T05:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-from-me-to-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-816 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R_2Iz-u__fk/hqdefault.jpg From Me To You by The Beatles Ah, The Beatles. They’re always fun to play around on the guitar! From Me to You is one of the many upbeat Beatles songs released in 1963. It’s a great song to learn for intermediate guitar players just getting into grips with barre chords. It’ll make you practice getting in and out of your barre chords. Let’s explore how to play this awesome Beatles tune! :) HOW TO PLAY "FROM ME TO YOU" ON GUITAR! To play From me to You by The Beatles on the guitar, you’ll need C Major Chords, combined with unique chord variations - to give that unique Beatle quirk! It’s primarily open chords, and there’s a couple of opportunities where you can use different barre chords or escape them if your hands get sore. However, there is a G minor barre chord in there, and I’m sorry to say, there’s no way around this one. If you're struggling with barre chords, you might want to check my Intermediate Guitar Course. We start by looking at my best guitar tricks to nail barre chords, and then we dive deep into the fun stuff! When it comes to barre chords, you need to be careful not to fatigue your first finger too much. If you feel your fingers getting weaker or the chords just aren’t sounding as good, take a break! Give it a rest and come back to it. And don’t feel bad – it’s a normal thing that happens to the best of us. Over time, you’ll build up your guitar stamina! :) To play From Me To You on guitar, we've also got this G Chord to G Augmented Chord. The easiest way to play a G Augmented is to go from a regular G chord using the third and fourth fingers. I know - the G chord is already a big stretch. But that will add a lovely sound if you can manage your fingers! :) WHAT IS THE TEMPO FOR FROM ME TO YOU? The Beatles have - once again - played around with the time signature here. The song is mostly in 4/4. However, the bridge briefly goes into 3/4 for 4 bars. It’s also a pretty quick tempo (120 BPM). Give it a few listen - focus on the beat and get a feel for the timing! FROM ME TO YOU - STRUMMING & RHYTHM VARIATIONS This particula... https://www.youtube.com/embed/R_2Iz-u__fk 882 2018-08-24T09:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-black-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-050 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0fkBXJE9tvo/hqdefault.jpg Black by Pearl Jam 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 ma... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fkBXJE9tvo 1253 2020-12-27T19:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-dandy-warhols-bohemian-like-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z-EtCM7mp84/hqdefault.jpg Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols Learn to play "Bohemian Like You" by The Dandy Warhols on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols on the guitar. This catchy and fun song is a great way to get introduced to open G tuning, one of the favorite techniques of Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones. The Magic of Open G Tuning Open G tuning is a technique that involves tuning three strings down one tone. It's a unique style that brings a distinctive sound to the music you play. The fundamental concept of open G tuning is to tune the thinnest string down one tone to the note D. Similarly, the thickest string is also tuned down to D. The fifth string is then tuned down to the note G. This creates an open G chord, which you can play without having to put any fingers on the strings. One of the cool things about this open G tuning is that it allows us to use a barre to play the whole chord. This greatly simplifies the process and allows faster and smoother transitions between chords. Throughout most of the song, we simply move this barre up and down the fretboard to create different chords. 👉 If you need more help, be sure to watch this lesson on Open G Tuning. Classic Keith Richards Move We will also use another classic Keith Richards move in this song. It's a technique that, once mastered, can be spotted in numerous Rolling Stones songs. It involves putting two fingers down on certain strings and then lifting them off. It's a fun technique to experiment with, and you will find it used in many cool songs and riffs. Chord Progression The chord progression in Bohemian Like You is fairly straightforward. We start off with a B chord, then move up to a D chord, down to an A, and finally up to an E. This progression is repeated throughout the song with slight variations in rhythm and strumming patterns. Rhythm and Strumming One key thing to remember while playing this song is to maintain a consistent rhythm. Your strumming hand should be moving consistently throughout the song. However, feel free to experiment an... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z-EtCM7mp84 855 2018-02-04T16:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-deck-the-halls-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-117 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FfqEzKjdg4w/hqdefault.jpg Deck The Halls by Xmas Classic Learn How To Play "Deck The Halls" On Guitar 🎄 A fun Christmas song to celebrate that holiday season :) Looking to spread some holiday joy? I got you! In this lesson, you'll learn not one but two versions of Deck The Halls! The traditional way - and a funky option that'll make your friends and family laugh! It's not a bad idea to have a few Xmas carols under your finger for the holidays! We'll start simple - and then I'll show you how you can develop & give a fun twist to this Xmas classic. :) If you're following my beginner course, this song suits Grade 3+ guitar students! So grab that guitar & have a blast with this iconic Christmas song! How To Play Deck The Hall On Guitar You only need chords D, A, E, and G to play this song. You should already be confident playing these chords, but some of the chord changes will be on the fast side! Make sure you start slow and increase your speed as you go. :) 💡 Struggling changing between two specific chords? Add them to your One Minute Changes. Track your progress through your Practice Assistant and increase your speed! This fingerstyle version is an excellent introduction to playing this song chord melody style - a version available in my Christmas Songbook. Check it out if you're a big fan of Christmas music. :) Deck The Halls: Different Guitar version There are loads of different ways you can switch up this Christmas classic. Explore and improvise it how you want. :) For the country-style version of Deck The Halls - play the bass note of the chords and follow with a strum. Speed it up, and you get a cool funk to it! This tune works well as a fingerstyle ballad too! Experiment and adapt to your playing style - maybe you'll stay longer on one chord or add in some hammer-ons. It can be fun to make up your version, so go for it! The one rule I'd stick to is playing the baseline of the chord when the chord changes. Have a lot of fun with this tune! Enjoy spreading that Holiday joy with your guitar. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/FfqEzKjdg4w 513 2018-01-22T17:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/radiohead-high-and-dry-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-231 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h3s9N2bKL2w/hqdefault.jpg High and Dry by Radiohead Learn how to play "High and Dry" by Radiohead on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play High and Dry on the guitar. This song is a great choice for advancing beginner guitar players as it's simpler than you might think and a perfect way to practice different chords and strumming techniques! High and Dry by Radiohead is a fantastic piece, notable for its beautiful and powerful melody. It's a song with only three chords, making it a perfect choice for beginners looking for a cool tune to learn and play. The simplicity and powerful sound make it a great choice for those looking to advance their skill levels. The Chords and Progression The song starts with an F#m11 chord, which might sound complicated but easy to play. From there, it transitions to an Asus2. Despite the big name, it's a very easy two-finger chord. The progression then completes with an E chord, creating a smooth transition and a rich sound. The chord progression remains the same throughout the song, making it easy to follow. It starts with one bar on the F#m11, continues with one bar on the Asus2, and finishes with two bars on the E. This progression repeats throughout the verses. Interestingly, it stays the same for the chorus as well. This consistency makes it easier for beginners to catch onto the pattern and focus on mastering the rhythm and strumming techniques. The Rhythm, Dynamics, and Strumming Pattern A key element of "High and Dry" is its steady, rhythmic strumming pattern. This pattern helps to drive the song forward and imbues it with its distinctive, pulsing energy. The strumming pattern for the verses is a good starting point. It's a simple down, down, down, up, down, up pattern that you can repeat throughout the verse. When you move into the chorus, it's important to build it up, making it a bit more powerful for listeners to connect with. Try moving to all-down strums and gradually building the volume to create a powerful, engaging chorus. With a song like this, one of the key things you've got to think about is how you'll ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/h3s9N2bKL2w 1886 2024-02-18T10:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-troggs-wild-thing-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vDAyJmefBY8/hqdefault.jpg Wild Thing by The Troggs Learn How To Play "Wild Thing" by The Troggs on Guitar Wild Thing by The Troggs is a cracking tune! And in this lesson, we'll learn everything you need to play it on guitar. An excellent song choice for beginner guitar players! It's not easy to replicate Reg Presley's lusty voice, but it's so much fun to sing along! It might be surprising, but this song is from the mid-60s and significantly influenced punk and garage rock. It has a dominant guitar rhythm that makes it super catchy and straightforward to learn! If you're digging this song, it might be worth memorizing and adding to your internal song repertoire. Wild Things - Key & Guitar Chords Wild Thing is in the key of A major, and you'll mainly need three chords to play it! Throughout the song, you're alternating between doing two strums on the D, E, and A. But, we also explore a chord variation you can easily add there - the G6 chord. If you're still in your early beginner guitar stage, you might not be familiar with this chord. But don't worry! It's easy to play since you don't need to play any fingers on the guitar's neck! Check out the video to learn exactly how. For the strumming sequence, ease into this song and play the chords with simple strumming. Focus on evenly spacing out your strumming and getting the chord changes right. Wild Thing - Rhythm To get the rhythm, listen to the original recording a few times. You should be able to feel the rhythm of the song as it's pretty dominant. To help guide you, either play along with the original recording or count the beats out loud. Play it slowly and increase your tempo as you progress! Your playing speed should naturally increase as you start to feel confident with the chord changes. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with Wild Thing? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/vDAyJmefBY8 480 2018-02-04T22:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-rockin-in-the-free-world-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-910 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P8Bvo1MTgtY/hqdefault.jpg Rockin' In The Free World by Neil Young How to play "Rockin' In The Free World" by Neil Young on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rockin' In The Free World by Neil Young on the guitar. Originally performed on electric guitar, Rockin' In The Free World also translates beautifully to acoustic. Neil Young himself has done some great acoustic versions, so we'll explore both electric and acoustic approaches in this lesson. The good news is that the parts are very similar, so you'll be able to adapt your playing to either style. It's a fantastic addition to any guitarist's repertoire! Main Riff and Chord Progression We start with the main riff, a powerful, driving sequence that really sets the tone. It's played with a bit more edge on electric guitar, while on acoustic, it's often simplified to open chords. Don't worry if it takes a bit of practice to get it right—that's all part of the learning process! The chord progression for Rockin' In The Free World is relatively straightforward, which is part of what makes it so effective. We're primarily working with E minor, D, and C chords. These open chords form the song's backbone, and Neil often adds subtle variations to give it that signature sound. For instance, he sometimes plays an E minor 7 instead of a regular E minor, and on the D chord, he might lift a finger to create a slightly different sound before moving to C. These little touches aren't essential, but they can help capture Neil's style if you want to get as close to his version as possible. The Chorus and Strumming Patterns When we hit the chorus, we introduce a G chord into the mix. The chord progression for the chorus goes G, D, C, with a little riff thrown in at the end. This riff is a signature part of the song, but don't stress if you find it tricky at first. You can always start by playing the basic chords and add the riff later as you get more comfortable. The strumming pattern is a key element in this song. We start with a continuous down-strumming pattern, creating that driving, energetic feel. As we move into the verses, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8Bvo1MTgtY 616 2017-12-15T14:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-twist-and-shout-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Al_F4iSay1o/hqdefault.jpg Twist And Shout by The Beatles Learn to play 3 Different Guitar Versions of "Twist And Shout" by The Beatles! A Classic Beatles Song this classic Beatles song This easy lesson shows you a very easy beginner-friendly guitar version of Twist and Shout by the Beatles. We’ll also explore ways to develop this song as you progress on the guitar. This way, you can revisit it and add some tasty stuff in there. Even Grade 1 guitar players can have a go at this one. 💡 These kinds of tunes are a great one to include in your guitar journey! If you’re an absolute beginner, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple! Then, you can gradually improve in complexity. Some many different bits to dive into with this one! Grab your guitar, and let’s get twisting. How To Play Twist And Shout On Guitar We’re going to be doing a few different versions here. First, start with the basic three-chord beginner version. You’ll only need the A, D, and E chords and a capo to play this version. For this simple version, you only need two strums per chord. Make sure your timing is consistent - and keep that hand moving! 🚨If you struggle with chord changes, check out the One Minutes Changes exercise - one of the best ways to improve your chord transitions. Explore a slightly more complex version using the D, A, and G chords if that’s too easy. The rhythm will also pick up here - it has a bit no more juice! If you’re familiar with upstrokes, then you can go ahead and get that rhythm in! If you want to add some interest to it, look at the barre chord part how to add the riff and lead part. Use Your Ear Training! As you can see, there are many ways to play Twist and Shout! Keeping this in your song repertoire is an excellent way to increase your knowledge, especially if you dig it. :) Start with the simple version. Then as you improve, your song can improve too! It’s a very fulfilling way to measure your progress. :) Want Tabs, chords, and lyrics for Twist and Shout? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Al_F4iSay1o 595 2018-01-25T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-brown-i-got-you-i-feel-good-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-371 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0QdfJVcIvns/hqdefault.jpg I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown Learn how to play "I Feel Good" by James Brown on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Feel Good by James Brown on the guitar. One of the most crucial aspects of playing I Feel Good is understanding the importance of space in Funk guitar. The original guitar part in this song is surprisingly sparse, but that's what makes it perfect. In Funk music, less is often more, and this song is a prime example of that principle. The guitar in I Feel Good plays very few notes, but each one is precisely timed and contributes significantly to the overall groove. This teaches us a valuable lesson: in a band setting, especially with a horn section, you don't need to (and shouldn't) play all the time. Giving space allows other instruments to shine and creates a more dynamic and full sound. Let's dive in! 👉 If you really want to get into playing Funk music, check out my Funk Guitar Course! The Main Guitar Part and the Horn Riff The main guitar part in I Feel Good is deceptively simple. It consists of just a few well-placed notes complementing the bass line and horn section. This simplicity is what makes the song so groovy and danceable. When you're learning this part, focus on getting the timing just right. It's not about how many notes you play but when and how you play them. While the original guitar part is minimal, learning the horn riff can add some excitement. This riff is a great way to challenge yourself and add variety to your playing. It's a fun line that really captures the essence of the song. Try incorporating this riff for a more complete sound when you're comfortable with the basic rhythm guitar part. The Chord Progression and Playing in the Pocket The chord progression in I Feel Good is straightforward but funky. We mainly use D, G, and A chords, with a few variations. The key is to keep these chords short and punchy, in line with the Funk style. Remember, we're not strumming full chords all the time—instead, we're playing quick, rhythmic stabs that work with the rest of the band. One of the most imp... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0QdfJVcIvns 839 2017-11-28T13:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-highway-to-hell-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-322 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ffvsK3o9-oE/hqdefault.jpg Highway To Hell by AC/DC "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC is one of the most incredible rock riffs of all time, and it's pretty easy to play! :) AC/DC - rock excellence with total simplicity, eh? Their biggest hits use a few simple ingredients combined in unexpected ways! Highway to Hell is an excellent example of that! We’ll learn how to play the chord progressions for the verse and chorus in this guitar lesson. We'll also take a close look at the solo, which is simple yet effective. Highway to Hell - Chords & Strumming Highway to Hell is not a difficult song to play. Still, muting techniques will be a crucial thing to sound like the original recording. You'll need to be able to mute the strings both on your strumming and fretting hand. Learning to mute the strings is an essential rock technique for guitar players. It adds the right flavor to your rhythm playing and makes a massive difference to the overall sound! We’re using an electric guitar for this guitar lesson, but you can practice it on an acoustic guitar too. The strumming pattern to play Highway to Hell is pretty straightforward. It only uses downstrokes! Highway to Hell - Guitar Solo The solo on Highway to Hell is in the key of A. It starts off as a classic Chuck Berry riff - it's rock and roll, baby! Get ready for some guitar bending - it can be tricky, so check out my Bending Strings Guitar Lesson to get more help! Here, I should remind you that figuring out solos by yourself is a great way to develop your musicianship. You can use my guitar lesson to check out if you've got it all right, but try and work out some of the notes on your own too. ;) Nothing left to say except rock on. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffvsK3o9-oE 942 2017-12-04T10:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/r-e-m-losing-my-religion-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-114 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xr3fB3GZt0Y/hqdefault.jpg Losing My Religion by R.E.M. "Losing My Religion" by REM is an all-time classic acoustic guitar tune! Hey, it's Justin here! Today, we'll check out Losing My Religion by REM. I used to play this song on the mandolin in cover bands back in Tasmania. Oh, to be a teenager. :) I also played and sang Losing my Religion many years ago. However, I wasn't playing it right. I was playing a much simpler beginner version, particularly for the chorus. In today's lesson, we'll learn both versions: an easier one suitable for advancing beginners and an authentic version too. You can adapt this song according to your level! Keep it simple to start, especially if you're new to guitar playing, then build up the difficulty over time. 💡 Use JustinGuitarTABS to help you learn faster. :) Get the chords and lyrics right in front of you to follow along with this easy tutorial. But remember: your goal is to play Losing My Religion by memory! Simultaneously singing this song and playing it on the guitar is pretty tough. Maybe you won't agree, but singing the chorus with all the chord changes and syncopated rhythm was tricky for me. Let's look at the intro. Losing My Religion – Intro Part We'll start by looking at the authentic version. Then, we'll dig into a few tips and tricks for a simplified, easy way of playing Losing My Religion on the acoustic guitar. Now let's get stuck in! The classic mandolin riff comes on "3 + 4 +" before the chords begin. And you need four notes! Place your little finger on 2:3 (string 2, fret 3). Then pluck the thin E string before hitting string 2 again. Now, finger 2 goes down on 3:2 (string 3, fret 2). Make sure to use my suggested fingering – it makes moving to the first chord easily. Finger 2 stays down for the jump to our F chord. :) 💡 You don't have to play the little starting riff, but it's a lot of fun! In R.E.M.'s original version, this part is played on the mandolin. F is the first chord, and we'll play a mini version of F: XX3211. This grip allows us to lift off finger 2 to get Fsus2 (XX3011). If you like, you can grab the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xr3fB3GZt0Y 1333 2022-01-29T06:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/paul-weller-you-do-something-to-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-323 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/twey3RwLxgE/hqdefault.jpg You Do Something To Me by Paul Weller Learn how to play "You Do Something to Me" by Paul Weller on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You Do Something to Me on the guitar. Paul Weller, often referred to as the "Mod Father," created this stunning piece that showcases his songwriting genius. While the original recording features some gorgeous piano chord progressions, we'll explore how to adapt it beautifully for guitar, maintaining all the emotion and musical sophistication of the original. The Intro We'll start with a lovely interpretation of the piano intro on guitar. We'll learn a few different ways to approach this, from a simple version that any beginner can handle to some more advanced variations. The intro sets the mood for this emotional song perfectly, and you can choose the version that best matches your current skill level. Verse Structure The verses follow a beautiful chord progression, creating the perfect foundation for Weller's heartfelt lyrics. We start with E minor, which gives us that melancholic feel that's so essential to the song's character. This moves through D and Am7 before landing on Bm7. These chord changes create a wonderful sense of movement that really captures the essence of the original recording. What's particularly interesting about this progression is how it cycles through these chords, creating a hypnotic pattern that perfectly supports the emotional delivery of the lyrics. The pattern repeats twice for each verse, giving you plenty of time to settle into the groove. The Chorus When we hit the chorus, the song takes on a different character. We introduce some really interesting chord voicings here, including a C7 with a G bass that gives us that powerful, driving feel. The chorus progression moves through several chord changes that create a beautiful sense of tension and release. One of the most interesting aspects of the chorus is the rhythmic element. We'll explore a technique called "pumping," where we use the fretting hand to create a pulsing effect that adds tremendous energy to the performance. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/twey3RwLxgE 600 2017-12-04T12:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hRsOFp6x64Q/hqdefault.jpg With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles Learn "With A Little Help From My Friends" By The Beatles On Guitar! A fun song to learn on a guitar that is great for singing along. The Beatles released this song back in 1967, in their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Did you know? This whole album was recorded as if Sgt. Pepper was a real band! A pretty cool band-within-band concept - and totally funky visuals to make this fictional band come to life. In this lesson, we’ll explore how to play With A Little Help From My Friends on guitar. This is a classic Beatles song, and it’s sure to cheer you up and anyone who’s listening to it. So much fun to play too! 🎸 This song is great if you’re practicing combining your barre and open chords. This song will be perfect practice for Grade 5+ guitar players. Grab your guitar & let’s get stuck in. How To Play With A Little Help From My Friends There are three different chord sequences in this tune. We’ll explore all of it, including that fun bridge. At some point, you’ll encounter some slightly more advanced Barre chords, including that B7 barre chord. If you’re not familiar with this, check out theis chord lesson . You'll learn everything you need you to need to nail this chord. It might take you a few attempts to get this chord right! 💡 Make sure the tip of Finger 2 is muting your sixth string. And, be mindful your second string is ringing out clearly. There’s a cool little riff in there, but we're not going to be learning the fancy stuff. Go ahead and use your ear training for that. Transcribing the original recording is really helpful too! It’ll help you add ornaments to make it sound more accurate to the original. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/hRsOFp6x64Q 291 2018-01-25T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-i-used-to-love-her-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-068 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZX14HlgaNx0/hqdefault.jpg I Used to Love Her [Solo] by Guns N' Roses Slash's solos are just incredible. And learning his Country-style solo in "I Used to Love Her" is a great way to grow your musicianship. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the I Used To Love Her solo in detail. We'll explore it lick by lick and analyze it too. Slash is such a legendary guitarist and there are many things to learn from this riff. If you want to learn how to play the rhythm guitar for this Guns N' Roses classic, check out the I Used to Love Her song tutorial. And as always, take some time to figure out the solo by yourself. It's a great way to develop your musical ears and become a better solo guitarist. 🚨 Following my guitar courses? This solo lesson for I Used to Love Her by Guns N' Roses suits Grade 5+ guitarists! I Used to Love Her by Guns N' Roses - Guitar Tuning To play along with the Guns N' Roses original, you'll need to tune your guitar down by one semitone. Of course, you can also change the pitch of the original song - it's what I usually do! I use the Transcribe Software; it works great and saves time. I Used To Love Her by Guns N' Roses - Learning Tips It's best to learn this solo one section at a time, so Each lick has a specific video chapter. Rewatch the parts you need to improve and practice them up before trying to play the entire solo. There are a few different approaches to the fingering. Use the fingers that work best for you and make it easy for you to play the string bends. Melodic Analysis We also analyse the solo against the chords - this is a powerful exercise. With enough melodic analysis, you'll be able to target the chord tones in your improvisation and create awesome solos like Slash in Guns N' Roses. The solo on I Used To Love Her mostly comes from the D Major pentatonic scale. You can almost hear the chords within the solo, which is a sign of incredible lead playing. :) When you study how the notes relate to the chord progression, you'll see that they outline the chords brilliantly. 💡 Ask yourself - How does each note in the solo relate to the chord being pla... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZX14HlgaNx0 1024 2021-03-27T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-lady-writer-1-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-363 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XsziH8E3r8A/hqdefault.jpg Lady Writer [1/4] by Dire Straits Learn to play "Lady Writer" by Dire Straits on the Guitar Hi there! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lady Writer on the guitar. This iconic song by Dire Straits features some incredible guitar work from the legendary Mark Knopfler. We'll break down the intro solo into manageable licks, check out the chord progression, and even discuss some of Knopfler's unique techniques. Intro Solo and Chord Progression We'll start with the exciting intro solo. It's packed full of really delicious little licks that you'll be itching to steal and incorporate into your playing. The solo is set in C-sharp minor, giving it a moody and intense feel. As you learn the licks, try to visualize them around the C-sharp minor chord shape. This can be a helpful way to remember the patterns and note structures. Our chord progression for this song is quite straightforward. Interestingly, although the chords are a B to C-sharp minor, you'll be soloing over this progression. So, keep that C minor shape in mind to help you visualize the licks. Fingerstyle and Practice Another important element to note is that we use fingerstyle to play this song. This is a technique where you pluck the strings directly with your fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to your fingers instead of flatpicking or strumming all the strings of the instrument in chords. This unique technique gives the song its signature sound. As with any new skill, practice is key. Some of the techniques used in this song, such as fingerstyle or holding a bend while moving your fingers to play another note, might seem tricky at first. The most important thing is to keep practicing and not get discouraged. With time and patience, you'll get the hang of it. Ready to Rock? So that's the rundown of how to play Lady Writer by Dire Straits on the guitar. With some practice, you'll be playing this amazing song in no time. Don't get too caught up in playing each note perfectly. Instead, focus on capturing the song's feel and putting your unique spin on it, and enjoy the journey. A... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XsziH8E3r8A 782 2017-11-28T05:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stevie-ray-vaughan-pride-and-joy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-399 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uy_c5VEmtnA/hqdefault.jpg Pride And Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan Learn How To Play "Pride And Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Pride And Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the guitar. It's an all-time Blues classic with excellent techniques to learn. 💡 I played this song wrong for years! So for this lesson, I spent quite some time researching, watching SVR play live, and practicing it. Transcribing it really helps understand all the intricacies of this tune! This is a seriously killer tune! There's some classic Stevie thing going on, including a circular strumming technique we'll explore. And you'll also encounter some string muting with your fretting hand. Loads to dive into! Grab your guitar, and let's get groovy! How should you tune your guitar? The original recording uses E flat B tuning. We'll be exploring it in standard tuning, which is easier to play. If you want to play with the original recording, you can transcribe it and tune it up a semitone. Circle Picking Technique We have this high-energy circle picking technique throughout most of this tune. You'll quickly pick over the neck for the down pick, then come back forward into the bridge. This creates this circular motion, which you'll notice if you watch SVR play this song live! The strum is more of an arpeggiated click; you hear the individual notes. It's subtle but is part of what makes this song so unique.Nailing the picking like the record will take some time. Don't rush it - this masterpiece is tricky! Fretting Hand Muting With your fretting hand, you'll mute all the strings you don't want to hear. Lay your fingers on the strings, except for the one you want to play. Learn the notes first, then try it out and figure out the best fingering to tidy up the sound. It's a complex technique, but once you learn it, it'll be helpful for other tunes too! Practice the muting before adding the upstrums. Take it slow enough not to lose control of your technique, but fast enough for it to feel nice! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along for this Stevie Ray Vaughan Masterpiec... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uy_c5VEmtnA 1563 2017-11-14T19:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/iron-maiden-run-to-the-hills-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-325 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G_2NlsYXEFc/hqdefault.jpg Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden Wow doing this lesson bought back a lot of memories playing this song in my mates garage aged about 15, not that I played it very well or accurately back then! In this lesson we're looking at most of the parts, but not the solo, that will come later once I've finished the Awesome Lead Guitar Solos book :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/G_2NlsYXEFc 1013 2017-12-04T13:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/harry-styles-boyfriends-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-184 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cIWf44LOP1E/hqdefault.jpg Boyfriends by Harry Styles Let's learn to play the Harry Styles acoustic song "Boyfriends"! In today's tutorial, we'll learn how to play Boyfriends by Harry Styles on the acoustic guitar. This song has something for everyone – beginners can go for strumming and open chords, while intermediates can try their hand at the lovely 6:8 fingerstyle guitar. :) We'll start with the chords for the intro, verses, and bridge. No barre chords are required! Then, we'll dive deeply into each section's excellent fingerstyle patterns – picking and embellishments. 🧐 Two Guitar Parts – It’s worth noting that there are two distinct but complementary guitar parts in the original recording of Boyfriends by Harry Styles – one in the left speaker, one in the right. Unlike the originals, this version blends the two guitar parts and uses a consistent fingerstyle pattern. If you want to get into each part's fine details, I suggest you listen closely to each and figure it out yourself. There are loads to explore, so let's get playing! Boyfriends by Harry Styles – Intro Chords First, we'll need our capo on fret 5, and all the chords and frets are relative to this. So if I say "fret 3," I mean three frets above the capo, not fret 3 of the guitar! Boyfriends' time signature is in 6:8 time, meaning there are six strums per bar. We start on a G chord. I suggest you use this two-finger grip, especially if you want to play fingerstyle. Place finger 3 on 6:3 (string 6, fret 3) and finger 4 on 1:3 (string 1, fret 3). Finger 3 should also mute string 5. 🤔 Why Fret String 6? – Though we often won’t pick string 1 in the fingerstyle patterns, you might accidentally hit it. So let’s fret the entire chord to avoid any bad notes ringing out. There's a nice embellishment over G in the intro. Fingers 1 and 2 hammer down simultaneously: finger 1 on 2:1 and finger 3 on 4:2. Practice this by strumming the G chord and hammering the two fingers. Make sure the notes ring clearly. We'll look at the exact rhythm for this riff further down. :) The intro is three bars of G followed by a paus... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cIWf44LOP1E 1282 2023-02-15T11:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-clash-london-calling-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-129 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ADX7m5EC9GU/hqdefault.jpg London Calling by The Clash Learn to play "London Calling" by The Clash on guitar! This lesson will teach you how to play London Calling by The Clash on the electric guitar. Yep, you can also play this Punk classic on your acoustic!. :) The original Clash recording is pretty complicated to play because there are a lot of guitar layers going on. It’s a really fun thing to explore if you’re a big Clash fan, are into multi-track recordingl or want to play it in a band with two guitarists. However, I know most of you will probably play this one on your own! So today, we'll learn a one-guitar version of London Calling! 💡 Are you a Clash fan? Don't miss out on my Should I Stay or Should I Go guitar lesson! :) Now let’s get stuck in and learn how to play London Calling on the guitar. London Calling by The Clash: Intro Chords and Strumming We start with an E Minor barre chord: X7998X. The most common version of this chord also uses 1:7 (fret 1, string 7), but having the G at 2:8 as the highest note means we mimic the three parts on the original. Let’s call this Em*. Play four downstrums to the bar, relaxing the fretting hand slightly after each strum to mute the strings. Make sure the chords are nice and short. Use this rhythm for the whole intro. :) After one bar on Em, we switch to an F/E barre chord. This is a standard A-shaped barre chord but with finger 1 back one fret (X 7 10 10 10 X). It plays the note E (2:7) instead of F (2:8). F/E has a pretty dissonant sound, mimicking the original song. In bar 3, we switch back to Em, this time fretting the top note (1:7) too. The intro is eight bars long and goes Em*, F/E, Em, F/E. 💡 Struggling with barre chords? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Barre Chords. For the complete tab, and lyrics with chords, grab your JustinGuitarTABS subscription. :) It's also essential that you notice I'm pumping the chords to get the notes nice and short; the tutorial shows you exactly how to do that! London Calling by The Clash: Verse Chords and Strumming The rhythm is interesting here. For the muted strums, mute the ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ADX7m5EC9GU 537 2022-03-01T11:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-you-ve-got-to-hide-your-love-away-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-403 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xrsr996gq90/hqdefault.jpg You've Got To Hide Your Love Away by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You've Got To Hide Your Love Away by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. A beautiful acoustic number by Mccartney, and lots of fun to play! This tune is campfire classic, and great practice for Grade 3+ advancing beginner guitar players. You have some tricky chord changes there, but I’ll show you some cheats that’ll make things a bit easier! Let’s start by looking at the rhythm and accents, which is crucial to playing this song correctly. Rhythm & Accents If you check out the Beatle's Help! movie, you’ll notice John Lennon playing this song on his 12-string guitar, which is also present in the original record. There are also all sorts of guitars playing the riff and melody line, including a nylon guitar. This acoustic version sums all of them up so you can sound great playing this solo. :) You’ll be playing it 6/8 times with rhythmic pulses. The stronger accents happen on Beats 1 and 4. Mute your fretting hand and go through the chords. It'll help you focus, and understand the rhythmic aspects. It’s essential to get this right! When you start adding the chord sequence, practicing the rhythm first will help keep things from getting too tricky. Chords & Fingering The fingering for this some of the grips you'll play is a bit unusual. We’re starting with a regular G chord, but you leave off the finger. The underneath of your second finger is muting the fifth string. You don’t need that second finger down if you’re not used to it, but it helps to transition from the F to D. At some point, you’re dealing with a D with a C bass, which changes into a D with B bass, then a D with C bass. This is a challenging chord sequence, which some tricky transitions and fingering. If you’re struggling with that, here’s a little cheat: Play a regular D, to a Sus2 chord, then back to a D chord. It doesn’t sound as tasty as the original chords, but it gets the job done! 💡 Use the video chapters to check out the close up o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xrsr996gq90 762 2018-01-25T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/santana-black-magic-woman-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-810 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BoW9B8NOPvU/hqdefault.jpg Black Magic Woman by Santana "Black Magic Woman": Fleetwood Mac and Santana Versions on Guitar! In this guitar lesson, we'll learn the Fleetwood Mac and Santana versions of Black Magic Woman. I put this down as a Santana song because his version is more widely known, but I actually prefer the Fleetwood Mac original! :) This lesson is all about the chords and rhythm options - you gotta know this before you think about taking solos! :) The Santana version is great for a jam because it sticks to a standard blues format, whereas the Fleetwood Mac version is a bit more complex. Black Magic Woman Chords: Santana and Fleetwood Mac Variations The first chord you hear on the Fleetwood Mac version comes before the band begins. It's a mini Dm grip played way up the neck - it’s actually the top part of the Am shape moved up an octave. See the video if you’re unsure. :) The chord progression for both versions is pretty simple and repeats throughout. It starts with Dm, Dm, Am, Am ; Dm, Dm, Gm, Gm, all for one bar. Here's where it changes. On the Fleetwood Mac version, you then hear Dm, C, Bb, A, each for two beats. Santana plays Dm, Am, Dm, Dm, which is a standard 12-bar blues arrangement and is easier to jam with than the Fleetwood Mac version. 💡 Barre Chords: to play the Fleetwood Mac version, you'll need three barre chord shapes: the E minor, A minor, and A Major shapes. The two minor shapes are enough for the Santana version. :) For the Fleetwood Mac version, we play a little riff then finish on the Dm triad from before. This adds an extra bar to make it a 13-bar progression. There's another variation of this later in the song! On the Santana version, we omit that riff and the progression lasts 12 bars. Black Magic Woman: Rhythm Guitar It’s tricky to hear exactly what’s happening on the Fleetwood Mac version, but I’ve come up with a 16th-note pattern that sounds close. :) Though we don’t strum on all the beats, we still keep our hand moving consistently. It’s a great idea to mute the strings and practice the strumming on its own before you add chor... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BoW9B8NOPvU 1133 2018-07-06T11:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-hound-dog-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-103 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hf9SxtjvA5U/hqdefault.jpg Hound Dog by Elvis Presley This one is an easy to play 3 chord wonder from The King. Really good one for complete beginners because it sounds cool with very simple strumming and this 12 Bar Blues chord sequence can be used to play hundreds of songs! To play along with the record you need Capo 3 - but it works just as well without, as seen in my video lesson! https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hf9SxtjvA5U 265 2018-02-04T19:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/radiohead-karma-police-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-216 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R-O3M1rS7L8/hqdefault.jpg Karma Police by Radiohead Learn to Play "Karma Police" by Radiohead on the Acoustic Guitar! In this easy tutorial, we'll learn how to play Karma Police on the acoustic guitar. If you're a Radiohead fan, you probably already love this song, but playing it on guitar is next-level fun! 💡 Is this song the right level for you? This lesson is perfect for Advancing Beginners and Early Intermediate Players already comfortable with B minor, the easiest barre chord ever, :) If you're following my free guitar course, you will make the best out of this tutorial if you're around Grade 4! Before We Start To play Karma Police, you'll need to know how to play a B Minor Barre Chord, which is tricky to get the hang of if you're a beginner. You'll also need to know how to play a G chord as an open or a barre chord. And finally, you'll need to know how to play an F#7 chord. But don't worry if you're not comfortable with these chords yet. We'll see how to simplify the versions if you need to, and we'll focus on how to play the song the way it is on the original Radiohead recording. The Chord Progression The chord progression for Karma Police is quite long, so memorizing it may take a few tries. It's an eight-bar sequence without too much repetition, so it can be tricky to remember. But it fits beautifully with the song's melody, so it's worth learning. The first chord is an A minor, which you're probably already familiar with. The next chord is a D9/F#. To play this chord, you'll need to move your second finger down to the second fret of the thickest string to mute the first string. Then, you'll need A minor, E minor, and G chords. 💡 You can play the G chord differently depending on where you are in the song. What's your favorite way of playing the G chord? Let me know in the comments! You'll also need the B minor chord and a D chord. The chord progression for this song is quite long, and the best way to memorize it is to write it down! If you're in a hurry, try JustinGuitarTabs to get the chord progression suggested in this tutorial with the lyrics of Kar... https://www.youtube.com/embed/R-O3M1rS7L8 1176 2023-09-17T12:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-lucy-in-the-sky-with-diamonds-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-409 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tOlC_s70zIM/hqdefault.jpg Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles. This song is from the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Bands album, and it's incredible! We'll learn how to play the main organ part but on the guitar. So let's explore the different chord progressions, strumming patterns, and an awesome hand picking technique to embellish your sound! 💬 I almost didn't include the guitar cover ... I know my singing is rough! I had a badly blocked nose and had trouble pitching... but I think even out of tune, the playthrough helps the lesson! Sometimes, you have to put your ego to the side for the greater good. :) Chords & Strumming Original plays on the larry organ but sounds great on the acoustic guitar. For the intro part, the chord sequence follows A, A6, A7, and F7. Check out the video close-up to help guide your finger placement for that interesting F chord variation. In the pre-chorus, you'll want to be strumming all downstrums, and when you hit the D chord, you're moving into 4/4 time. You'll only need basic open chords to play the actual chorus, which after all those variations is a relief, eh? :) Picking Hand Pattern You can add some fun melodic embellishment to make things a bit more interesting. If you learn which string to play, this won't be too complicated! For the intro riff, follow the finger placement below. Your thumb is playing the third-string Your first finger is playing all the notes on the second string Your third finger is playing the thinnest string all the way through. Make sure you listen to the original recording so you can really understand the rhythmic sequence. For the pre-chorus, your thumb will take care of picking out the bass note. So Fingers 1, 2, and 3 are the ones actually playing the chord. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and other song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/tOlC_s70zIM 841 2018-01-25T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-perfect-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-395 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KocXMtSue7E/hqdefault.jpg Perfect by Ed Sheeran Learn How to Play "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Perfect by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. This beautiful pop ballad is a beautifully crafted love song that's destined to be played at weddings for generations to come. It features a romantic melody and heartfelt lyrics, making it a joy to play and sing. One of the great things about this song is its flexibility with capo positions. The original recording uses a capo on the first fret, but Ed himself sometimes plays it without one. In the video, we'll learn it without a capo first, but feel free to experiment with different positions to match your vocal range or playing style. While Perfect might seem challenging at first, it's actually quite approachable for most guitarists. Let's dive into how you can master this song! Basic Chord Progression The song's main verse chord progression follows a classic pattern of G, Em, C, and D. It's a tried-and-true progression that creates a warm, romantic feel. Ed uses some specific voicings that give the song its characteristic sound, particularly in how he approaches the G chord with what's often called a "Rock G" formation. We maintain a similar progression for the chorus but with a slight variation in timing. The first chorus keeps things relatively straightforward, while the second chorus picks up the pace with faster chord changes, adding dynamic interest to the arrangement. Song Structure One of the interesting aspects of Perfect is its double chorus structure–a clever pop arrangement technique. The first chorus maintains the song's gentle feel, while the second chorus intensifies with faster chord changes, creating a natural buildup of energy. There's also a beautiful instrumental break that features a simple but effective walkdown progression, adding a classic soul music feel to the arrangement. Playing Techniques The song can be played in several ways, making it versatile for different skill levels and playing styles. You can approach it with fingerstyle picking for a more intim... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KocXMtSue7E 1103 2018-01-23T21:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-4-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3144 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VSAsFPjekws/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [4/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn Stairway To Heaven On Guitar - Part 4 This part has great fingerstyle practice on the acoustic guitar! In this lesson, we explore the fourth part of the Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin guitar series. Similar to the fingerstyle part, but using the pick! After the climb up, you'll even have to play a note using your finger and pick. This is part 4 of my 6 part guitar lessons for this classic rock song. :) 🎸 This particular lesson suits Grade 6+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5 and Part 6 of this lesson. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Stairway To Heaven? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSAsFPjekws 553 2018-02-08T16:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-hold-on-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-104 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8wfTFE0927s/hqdefault.jpg Hold On by Tom Waits Learn to Play "Hold On" by Tom Waits on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hold On by Tom Waits on the guitar. We'll explore the song's chord progression, strumming pattern and how to adapt it to suit different vocal ranges. This song's beautiful melodies and soulful lyrics make it a classic you'll love learning! The Basics The original song is played in an open position, which is perfect if you have a low, husky voice like Tom Waits. But don't worry if you can't sing that low - I can't either! We'll see how to use a capo on the 3rd fret to adjust the song to your own vocal register. If you wish to play along with the recording, you should move the capo a little higher or take it off entirely. Remember, the chords are the same—it's just the pitch that changes! Strumming and Tone We're going to take a simple approach to strumming with continuous eighth notes. I recommend not using a pick as it can sound a bit harsh for this soft, ballad-style song. Instead, I prefer to use the fleshy part of my thumb for a round, quiet sound that does this beautiful song justice. So, all you need to do is keep the strumming continuous in a '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and' rhythm. Chord Progression The chord progression for Hold On is refreshingly simple, making it a great song for both beginners and experienced guitarists. The song starts off with a D chord for the intro and follows a sequence of D, G, D, G, D, G, D, G, D, G, E minor, G, D. This sequence forms the backbone of the song, but the beauty of this piece is in its flexibility. If you want to linger on a chord a bit longer or feel the song needs a break at a certain point, you can do that. This song is not strictly symmetrical, and that's part of its charm. Playing Along with the Record If you're feeling confident and want to play along with the record, grab your songbook and follow along. I've written out one chord for each type of bar that the chord is played. This way, you can understand the song's rhythm and structure. But remember, music is an art form, a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wfTFE0927s 649 2017-11-29T11:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-landslide-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-426 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9RD501YLvmE/hqdefault.jpg Landslide by Fleetwood Mac Fantastic Fleetwood Mac song written and sung by the incredible Stevie Nicks and featuring some beautiful fingerpicking acoustic guitar from Linsey Buckingham. Revised Chorus TAB So though I take great care and attention when I write my songbooks, there are occasions when I start working a song to do a lesson then I decide to make a few changes. I'll get it revised for future editions, until then, here's the amended tab... I've basically just simplified it a bit and tried to merge some of the (many) parts into one so it sounds more like the album. ..G...............D7/F#..........Em.................................. |-------3----------------------|-------0------------0----------------| |-1^0-------------3------1-----|-1^0-----------3---------0-----------| |-----------0-------2------2---|-----------0-------------------0-----| |-----0-------0-------0------0-|-----2-------2--------2-----------2--| |------------------------------|-------------------------------------| |-3-------3-------2------2-----|-0-------0--------0----------0-------| ..C............G/B.................Am..............D/F#............ |---------------------------------|--------------------------------| |-------1--------3-------3--------|-0^1---1--------1^3---1---------| |---0--------0-------0-------0----|-----------0--------------2-----| |-----2--------2-------0-------0--|-----2-------2------0-------0---| |-3-------3--------2-------2------|-0-------0----------------------| |---------------------------------|----------------2-------2-------| https://www.youtube.com/embed/9RD501YLvmE 1294 2017-12-08T10:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/steely-dan-josie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LsN6eX9dijc/hqdefault.jpg Josie by Steely Dan Learn to play "Josie" by Steely Dan on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Josie on the guitar. This classic Steely Dan track features the legendary Larry Carlton on guitar, and it's a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire. This track comes from Steely Dan's iconic album Aja (pronounced Asia), which is widely considered a masterpiece of Jazz-Rock fusion. The song features intricate harmonies and some truly fascinating chord progressions that make it both challenging and rewarding to play. Musical Structure The song opens with a distinctive guitar intro that's become a classic in its own right. While it might seem intimidating at first, we'll break it down into manageable sections. The intro features a beautiful sequence of chords including Fmaj7, F#7#9, D over G, and Ab major 13. This progression showcases Steely Dan's signature sophisticated Jazz harmonies. What makes this song particularly interesting is its harmonic complexity. As we'll discover, Steely Dan often employs unusual chord combinations and surprising progressions that might seem unconventional at first but create that distinctive sound they're famous for. Learning Approach We'll take a systematic approach to learning this song. While it might seem complex initially, remember that even the most intricate pieces can be mastered with patience and practice. The song features some keyboard-oriented chord voicings that we'll adapt for guitar, making them both playable and authentic to the original. The beauty of this song lies in its sophisticated harmony and the way different parts weave together. While technically challenging, it's not impossible - it's more about understanding the musical concepts and taking time to get comfortable with the progressions. Historical Context Larry Carlton, one of the most respected guitarists in the industry, performed the guitar work on Josie. He's known for his incredible tone and tasteful playing, and his work with Steely Dan is particularly celebrated. If you're interested in exploring more of his ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LsN6eX9dijc 408 2017-12-15T12:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gary-moore-parisienne-walkways-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-327 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dzJraVHLOSM/hqdefault.jpg Parisienne Walkways [1/2] by Gary Moore Learn to play "Parisian Walkways" by Gary Moore on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Parisian Walkways on the guitar. This iconic song is a tribute to the great Gary Moore, who sadly passed away. This song is from the 1979 album "Back to the Streets." Let's take a deep dive into the chords and leads of this classic hit. Starting off with the Chords We're going to kick off this lesson by exploring the chords. The song begins with the note A. After that, we slide back and play the seventh fret of the fifth string, followed by the note C, which is the third fret of the fifth string. This sequence is doubled by the bass, and it's here that we start with the first chord - an A minor. After the A minor, we change to a D minor seven. This pattern is quite common throughout the song. Following this, we transition to a D minor seven with a G base, then move on to a C major seventh chord. Next, we shift to an F major. It's a little one. You don't need to do the full bar chord, although it doesn't hurt if you want to. Then we have a B half-diminished chord or a B minor seven flat five, which might be new to some of you. The next chord is E7. And then it would be A minor, but instead, we do a little riff like we did in the intro. The Verse and the Solo After the intro section, we move into the verse. The verse and the rest of the tune are very similar but not quite the same. The first verse starts with the A minor as usual, then transitions to D minor seven, D minor seven over G, C major seven, and F major. Towards the end, the chord progression changes slightly. The solo is absolutely riveting and starts with the same chord sequence but a little different this time. It starts on the D minor seven, goes to the D minor seven with the G bass, and then goes to the C major seven. Wrapping it Up As you can see, there are a lot of different chord changes in this tune. The basic sequence stays pretty much the same, so writing out your own chord chart would be incredibly helpful. This will help you see the tune's... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzJraVHLOSM 873 2017-12-31T08:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-alive-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-329 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LKIDh7LyRwI/hqdefault.jpg Alive by Pearl Jam Learn to Play "Alive" by Pearl Jam on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Alive on the guitar. This iconic song by Pearl Jam is a great way to dive into the world of rock guitar riffs. It's an awesome song from an amazing band, and it's not too difficult to learn, despite what you might have heard. Alive is one of Pearl Jam's most popular songs and has a truly unforgettable riff. The Power Chord Riff Our journey into Alive starts with a powerful A power chord. This chord forms the backbone of the riff and sets the stage for the rest of the song. From there, we move into a cool sliding motion that gives the riff its distinctive sound. You'll really get a feel for the groove as you slide into those higher frets. Adding Some Flavor Once the basic structure is down, we add some extra flavor to the riff. This includes some quick strumming on the open middle two strings and a classic rock bend on the ninth fret. The riff rounds out with an F power chord, a slide up to a G, and a final chord that sounds a lot like a C. All these elements come together to create a riff that's as fun to play as it is to listen to. 💡Tab it out if you have a hard time getting it from the video. It helps to read it off a piece of paper sometimes. You can use the (very posh) blank tab paper available on the website if you'd like – that's what it's there for! Playing Along Now that we've covered the basics of the riff, it's time to play along! We'll go through the song slowly to start, and then we'll ramp up to full speed. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can pick up this iconic Pearl Jam song. Wrapping Up Alive by Pearl Jam is an awesome song from a fantastic band. Pearl Jam's songs are great to listen to and a ton of fun to play on the guitar. So, grab your guitar and watch the video! And remember, learning to play the guitar is a journey, not a destination. Keep practicing, keep playing, and most importantly, keep having fun. See you for another riff sometime very soon. Take care of yourselves! 💡 Get verified chords, ly... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LKIDh7LyRwI 301 2017-10-24T12:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/little-big-town-pontoon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-112 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8kxKPWCtyZk/hqdefault.jpg Pontoon by Little Big Town Learn "Pontoon" by Little Big Town on guitar! Country Music on the Acoustic Guitar? For Beginners?! YES! Pontoon by Little Big Town is a great tune for beginners learning to play the acoustic guitar! You'll only need 3 simple chords – A, D, and E. These are the first ones we learn in my Beginner Guitar Course. :) We'll look at simple strumming for beginners as well as a more authentic option and the riff, which is suitable for intermediate guitarists and above. Now grab your acoustic guitar, and let's get stuck in! How to Play Pontoon by Little Big Town You'll need only two 8-bar chord progressions to play Pontoon by Little Big Town on the guitar, and both are super easy! The first one goes A A A A, D D A A. This is what we play for the verses. Check out my Anchor Finger lesson to learn how to change chords super-fast between A, D, and E chords. :) The second progression, found in the choruses. goes D D A A, E E A A. When you change from E to A the final time, strum the A chord once and let it ring out for two bars. Easy, eh? These are fairly simple progressions to remember, especially because they fit very well with the lyrics. 💡 Are you a beginner? Your first task should be to play these chords along with the original recording. The chord changes in Pontoon happen on beat 1, but you can always start your changes a little early to get your fingers in place. It's crucial you're ready for the next chord on beat 1. Switching chords in time is a basic beginner skill, and if you're not comfortable with it, I'd recommend following Grade 1 of my Beginner Guitar Course. When you're hip with the chord changes, it's time to work on your rhythm. You can try Old Faithful, which is a super common strumming pattern. It's easy enough for beginners to play, and it'll add a cool vibe to your rhythm. If you're not familiar with Old Faithful yet, here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D D U U D U 🚨 Don't stop strumming! Your aim is to switch chords without interrupting the movement of your strumming hand. It doesn't matter if you fudge th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8kxKPWCtyZk 674 2022-01-15T04:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bon-jovi-wanted-dead-or-alive-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-702 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/goJ9RfsNf-Q/hqdefault.jpg Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi Learn to Play "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi on the guitar. This song is a fantastic tune and a favorite among guitarists. Whether you're new to the instrument or an experienced player looking for a new challenge, this song has something to offer. Getting Started The first thing to note about Wanted Dead or Alive is that it can be played at various difficulty levels, making it a great song to grow with as you develop your guitar skills. From simple chord progressions to more intricate finger placements, there's always something new to learn with this song. Chord Shapes and Progressions You play Wanted Dead or Alive using the regular D, C, G, and F chords. There's also a slightly more advanced variation for the G chord, which I call the 'Rock G.' This particular shape was popular in many 80s rock songs, including those by Bon Jovi. In this song, it's nice to replace the C's with a C add 9, and the G with the big G. This also makes the change to the D chord easier. Remember, it's just written as C and G in the music. You don't have to worry about writing all those extensions down every time. The Rhythm The rhythm is perhaps the trickiest aspect of playing this song just like the record. However, don't be worried! We'll be simplifying the rhythm down to just four strums of bar to start off with. Then, we'll learn a little bit about how to embellish that as well. Don't rush to try and get the more complicated strumming. Even simple strumming sounds cool in this tune. Remember that the trick is to keep the hand moving. Even though the strumming gets complicated, your hand stays moving continuously. It's not simple, but it's not too hard either. The Verse and Chorus The chord sequences for the verse and chorus are quite simple. For the verse, we start with a whole bar of D, followed by half a bar each of C, G, C, G, F, and D. This sequence is repeated for the verse. The chorus follows a slightly different sequence with half a ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/goJ9RfsNf-Q 868 2018-02-05T15:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elliott-smith-between-the-bars-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-117 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JmCD0yQatf4/hqdefault.jpg Between The Bars by Elliott Smith Learn How To Play "Between The Bars" by Elliot Smith On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Between The Bars by Elliott Smith on the acoustic guitar. A great tune to learn on acoustic from a fantastic songwriter! We'll be looking at the different chord progressions, strumming, and the basics to get you playing this whole song. We'll explore each section to get you playing this piece and some alternate fingering that might make things easier on your fingers. This song is one favorite from Elliott, my favorite writer after Neil Young... and this is one of his finest. Of course, there are some tricky bits, as is often the case with him, but it's worth it. 💡 You'll find this song in my acoustic songbook, which features 50 song including 3 Elliott Smith. A great book choice if you're an acoustic lover, and to build your song repertoire! What Guitar Tuning To Use? Elliott Smith tunes down a whole tone and takes a bit of mucking around to play along with the original recording. The easiest way is to put your capo on the second fret and use your regular guitar tuner to tune up to standard. Then remove the capo, and you'll have the correct tuning. Intro & First Chord Progression The intro strumming is a bit different from the rest of the tune. It's 6:8, and we're playing the base with some back-to-back upstrums. Practice that on its own if you're struggling with it. After the intro, the chord sequence for the first verses follows A min 7, F add9, to C, then to C with a B base. Then, we repeat that, but we're playing an E and a full F chord after the C. To help you memorize the chords, you can write them down - it'll help you memorize the progressions! Throughout the song, choose which fingering feels most comfortable for you, even if it differs from the tutorial or what Elliott's originals play. You want to make these tricky chords as straightforward as possible! The best way to learn a song like this one is to transcribe it and use your ear training. That is especially true if you sound just like the o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JmCD0yQatf4 893 2017-11-29T14:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-the-wind-cries-mary-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-323 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dpHCoZrgleI/hqdefault.jpg The Wind Cries Mary [1/2] by Jimi Hendrix Folow this link to go to Part 2 of this lesson. This is a great song to start learning some Hendrix, not too hard but plenty challenging. Solo is really nice, fun and repeats a lot so not got too much to learn, many of the licks are quite similar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dpHCoZrgleI 507 2017-11-17T04:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-tunnel-of-love-solo-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-003 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6pe_taiYCpc/hqdefault.jpg Tunnel Of Love [SOLO 2] by Dire Straits "Tunnel Of Love" by Dire Straits: Outro Guitar Solo Part 1 Let’s check out the outro guitar solo from Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits. This is one of the great guitar solos - it’s sensitive, it’s powerful, it’s got great phrasing and awesome techniques, AND it fits the song perfectly! This is a tricky solo to learn because it’s pretty long, so I suggest you create your own tab for it. Go download your own blank tab and get started. :) It's tricky to write down these rhythms, but also a super-useful skill. You'll find all the details in the video lesson - below we outline the skills involved and how to use this solo to become a better guitar player. Outro Solo from Tunnel of Love by Dire Straits: Fingering We’re going to play it fingerstyle like Mark Knopfler does. I suggest you lay the thumb across the three thickest strings to mute them throughout the solo. Don’t get too picky with the fingering (pardon the pun) - I don’t know exactly how he does it, and I doubt Mark either knows or cares! If it sounds good, it is good. ;) Learn The Phrases In the video, we look at the phrases in a bunch of detail. You'll find a full-speed demo at the start and several slow ones sprinkled throughout. :) 🤔 Which Position? At some points I transcribed the phrases in the wrong CAGED position. It isn’t a huge deal if you play these phrases in other positions, so long as it sounds good, but I’ll teach you what Mark Knopfler did. The trickiest part of these phrases is the rhythm, so jam with the Dire Straits original at a slower speed, making sure you’re in time, and slowly build up to full speed. Understand This Guitar Solo You'll only get the most out of this solo if you understand how each of the phrases relates to the chord it accompanies. I analyzed the first Tunnel Of Love solo in some depth. Check out that lesson as a reference. If you’re an advanced guitarist, I suggest you write out this solo in tab. If you don’t fancy writing out the rhythm, at least signal beat 1 with a line on your tab. Then write the chords above the ba... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pe_taiYCpc 1237 2019-06-07T10:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lovelytheband-broken-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-239 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/goa4bsjfto4/hqdefault.jpg Broken by lovelytheband Learn"Broken" by lovelytheband on Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Broken by lovelytheband on the guitar. This is a wonderfully accessible song for guitar learners of all levels. Its simplicity is its charm, offering a great opportunity for beginners to practice their open chords. At the same time, the song has a few nuances that make it an engaging study for more advanced players. Chord Progressions: The Basics One of the first things we'll dive into in this lesson is the intro and chorus chord progressions. The chords are E minor, C, G, and D. Each chord lasts one bar. There are a few interesting variations you might want to try out, which can add a little extra flavor and help you make the song your own. The chord progression shifts slightly for the verses. The verse and the pre-chorus share the same chord progression: A minor, E minor, G, and D. Again, each chord lasts for one bar. Strumming: Keep it Interesting Strumming is a crucial part of playing any song on the guitar, and Broken is no exception. In this lesson, we'll look at a strumming pattern that is fairly busy for the choruses but breaks down a bit for the verses. This variation helps to keep the song interesting and avoids monotony. Ultimately, the goal is to make the song sound as dynamic and engaging as possible. One of the main things to remember, especially for beginners, is the importance of consistency in your strumming. This down-and-up motion should be smooth and consistent. Remember, practice makes permanent! Picking Out the Melody: A Challenge for Advanced Players For the more experienced guitar players, this lesson will also cover picking out the melody. This can be tricky if you're new to the guitar, but it's a great way to add some extra elements to your playing. Don't worry if you find it a bit challenging at first. With practice, you'll get the hang of it! Wrap Up There's something in this lesson for everyone, from beginners just getting started to more seasoned players looking to add some new elements to their... https://www.youtube.com/embed/goa4bsjfto4 974 2024-06-02T08:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/deep-purple-black-night-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-025 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DLCjzRE89Yo/hqdefault.jpg Black Night by Deep Purple Learn how to play "Black Night" by Deep Purple on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Black Night on the guitar. This Deep Purple classic features some really cool riffs that are perfect for developing your Rock guitar skills. Released in 1970, Black Night is one of Deep Purple's most iconic tracks. The song is built around a series of memorable riffs that showcase the band's signature Hard Rock sound. While it might sound complex at first, the song is actually quite approachable for intermediate guitarists. Song Structure and Key Techniques The song follows a classic Rock structure with distinct sections. We start with the iconic intro riff, which sets up the track's energy. This leads into the main verse riff, which is one of the most recognizable parts of the song. The chorus section brings in some power chord action, creating that big, powerful sound that Deep Purple is known for. This lesson will help you develop several essential techniques. You'll learn alternate picking to achieve clean and precise riff playing, master smooth power chord transitions, practice palm muting for tight rhythm control, and perfect your sliding between chords to capture that classic Rock feel. Learning Tips Break this song down into smaller sections and practice each part slowly at first. Pay special attention to your timing and make sure each note rings out clearly. The key to mastering Black Night is getting comfortable with the main riffs before putting everything together. One great way to approach this song is to first learn the basic structure without worrying too much about the exact details. Get familiar with how the different sections flow together, then go back and perfect each part. This approach will help you build confidence as you progress through the lesson. Advanced Elements Once you've got the main parts down, you can explore some of the lead guitar elements. The song features some great solo work that's worth checking out. While we'll focus mainly on the rhythm parts in this lesson, knowing these ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLCjzRE89Yo 504 2018-02-04T19:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-hives-hate-to-say-i-told-you-so-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-609 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SZzX2sK6u0s/hqdefault.jpg Hate To Say I Told You So by The Hives Learn to Play "Hate to Say I Told You So" by The Hives on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hate to Say I Told You So on the guitar. The Hives, hailing from Sweden, created this explosive Rock anthem that's packed with raw energy and attitude. It's an excellent choice for guitarists looking to dive into punk Rock and Garage Rock styles. The song's straightforward yet powerful structure makes it particularly suitable for intermediate players wanting to polish their power chord technique and develop their rhythm-playing skills. Musical Structure The song follows a classic Rock arrangement with distinct verse and chorus sections. The main riff, which drives most of the song, uses a series of power chords in a catchy, memorable pattern. The verses maintain this energetic riff while the chorus shifts to a simpler, more open sound that lets the vocals take center stage. 👉 If you're not familiar with power chords yet, check out this lesson! Key Techniques This track is all about mastering power chords and rhythm playing. You'll practice transitioning between chords smoothly while maintaining a steady, driving rhythm. The song also introduces palm muting techniques that add dynamics and attitude to your playing. These skills are essential for any Rock guitarist's toolkit. 👉 Check out my lesson on palm muting for a head start! Chord Progression The song primarily uses power chords built on D, C, F, and B♭, with a G power chord appearing in the chorus. The progression creates a powerful, moving bassline that's characteristic of Garage Rock. While the chord changes might seem challenging at first, they become natural with practice and help develop your fretboard navigation skills. Playing Tips Focus on maintaining a consistent rhythm and clean chord transitions. The key to nailing this song is the attitude and energy you bring to your playing. Don't worry too much about perfection–this style of music is all about raw energy and excitement. Practice the chord changes slowly at first, gradually building up spe... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SZzX2sK6u0s 412 2017-12-21T12:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-269 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wzohF_pQvTU/hqdefault.jpg Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Learn Bohemian Rhapsody on Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we’ll learn an acoustic guitar arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody, which I really think is one of the greatest songs of all time. It’s an absolute masterpiece, with incredible creativity and harmony. When I was planning this lesson, I didn’t want to try to cover the whole song in one go. There are already lots of lessons out there doing that, and it’s a very big job. What I decided to focus on instead was arranging the piano part for acoustic guitar, picking out the most important elements, and making them playable without overcomplicating things. Most of the time, when people want to play this song—at a singalong, a party, or just for themselves—it’s really the opening sections that everyone is waiting for. The operatic middle section would definitely be fun to tackle, especially with a few musician friends, but it would be hard to do well... so for this lesson, the focus is on the intro and early verses. We’ll be covering the solo and the rest of the song in a later lesson; you can make that happen faster by leaving a comment/request in the Discussion tab! :) Guitar Capo You’ll want to play this with a capo at the 3rd fret. I did experiment with versions without a capo, but it’s significantly easier this way. Most of the time, I’ll be talking about frets relative to the capo, but occasionally I’ll also mention the actual fret number if I think it makes things clearer. The TAB on screen is always shown relative to the capo, so keep that in mind as you’re following along! ;) Arrangement approach We’ll go through the song section by section, sometimes bar by bar, where it makes sense. In a few places, I’ve worked out little piano-style licks to help capture the feel of the original part, but I’ll also point out where those bits are optional. If something feels too complicated, you can leave it out and still have the song work musically. The idea here isn’t to copy the piano note-for-note, but to suggest it. Keeping the harmony, bass movement, and overall ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wzohF_pQvTU 1515 2026-01-23T05:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-police-message-in-a-bottle-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-010 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vWEu12L7VC4/hqdefault.jpg Message in a Bottle by The Police Learn "Message in a Bottle" by The Police on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Message in a Bottle on the guitar. The iconic riff for this song was masterfully created by the brilliant Andy Summers, and it's a staple in The Police's discography that every aspiring guitarist should know. The Chord Progression To kick things off, we'll delve into the chord progression of this iconic riff. The song begins with a C sharp, then transitions to an A. Next, it shifts up two frets to a B add 9. The progression then slides all the way down to an F sharp, concluding the sequence. This pattern repeats throughout the song, creating an energetic rhythm that's characteristic of The Police's music. The Push Effect What's particularly interesting about this song, and what makes it stand out amongst others, is the little push happening within the progression. Except for the first chord, all the chord changes happen on the 'and,' a beat earlier than expected. This is what's known as a 'push'. This technique adds a lot of energy to the song, and it's a fun skill to master as you refine your guitar-playing abilities. The Strumming Pattern Now, let's talk about the strumming pattern. Many guitarists, myself included, favor alternate picking, where you play a down pick on the beat and an up strum on the notes that fall between the beats. However, in this particular song, it felt more natural for me to play a down pick on the bass note, an up pick in between, and a down pick on the highest note. This might not align perfectly with the theoretical approach, but the key to mastering any instrument is to find what feels right for you. It's a personal decision, and I always encourage my students to choose the most comfortable and intuitive method. Wrapping Up By the end of the video, you'll have a good grasp of how to play Message in a Bottle. With its unique chord progression and strumming pattern, it's a great song to add to your repertoire, whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist. Remember, learning to play ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWEu12L7VC4 277 2017-12-15T12:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-blunt-you-re-beautiful-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-991 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tyk6V9-rKLQ/hqdefault.jpg You're Beautiful by James Blunt Learn How to Play "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You're Beautiful on the guitar. This wonderful song has become a modern classic, and it's a great choice for practicing your strumming patterns and chord transitions. We'll use a capo on the 8th fret to play in the original key. However, if you're planning to sing along and find the key too high (like I do!), feel free to move the capo down a few frets. That's the beauty of using a capo - you can adjust the key while keeping the same chord shapes. Chord Progression The song follows a straightforward chord progression that repeats throughout most of the verses. We start with G, move to a G with an F# bass, then Em7, and finally C. This progression creates that gentle, flowing feel that makes the song so memorable. For the chorus, we switch between C, D, and G chords, with some variations using G with an F# bass and Em. There's also a lovely little 2/4 bar that adds character to the progression. Don't worry if it feels tricky at first - we'll break it down step by step in the video. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is what really brings this song to life. We use a 16th-note pattern that creates that smooth, flowing feel. Don't worry if you're new to 16th notes—We'll learn how to build up to it gradually. Remember, it's all about keeping your strumming hand moving consistently. 👉 Want to know more about 16th-note strumming? Check out this lesson! One of the secrets to making this song sound great is allowing yourself some flexibility in the strumming. You don't need to hit every string perfectly every time - sometimes those slightly imperfect strums add to the song's overall feel. Tips for Success Take your time with this one. Start slow with the chord changes and basic strumming, then gradually build up speed as you get comfortable. Remember, it's not about playing it exactly like the record - it's about making music and having fun with it. If you find the chord changes challenging, try practicing them in... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tyk6V9-rKLQ 745 2018-02-05T19:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-taylor-fire-and-rain-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-6242 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iLDoFWvYbOQ/hqdefault.jpg Fire and Rain [2/2] by James Taylor Follow this link to go to Part 1 of this lesson. I love this song... I'm a huge James Taylor fan and listen to his stuff all the time, but I've not been playing any, but that's about to change - it's wonderful and fun to play and I'm sure you are going to enjoy learning it as much as I did! :) He uses some pretty odd fingerings when he plays, I don't really recommend that you use those fingers, they are very unconventional, but he makes them sound amazing, guess you could too with a bit of practice! Worth checking out his live versions too - he's pretty consistent with the intro but makes wonderful embellishments through the rest of the song. And if you have not heard his album Sweet Baby James, check it out, superb songs, and some really awesome fingerstyle guitar playing! Watch a lesson from the man himself in the additional videos to the right (below if your on a smaller screen). https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLDoFWvYbOQ 365 2018-02-08T10:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jack-johnson-gone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-602 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6g3h6_yadO8/hqdefault.jpg Gone by Jack Johnson Learn to Play "Gone" by Jack Johnson on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "Gone" by Jack Johnson on the guitar. This beautiful song by the legendary songwriter primarily uses E-shape and A-shape barre chords, and you'll be strumming along in no time! We'll learn all the song's different sections, breaking down the chord progressions in a way that's easy to understand. You'll be able to play along in no time! 👉 Here's a beginner's lesson on barre chords! Intro and Verse The song kicks off with an E barre chord using an A-shape. This chord progression is unique and interesting, with a picking pattern that uses the thumb and first finger for plucking and the other two fingers for a small hit. The intro switches between an E and C# minor chord. When the song heads into the verse, it continues with the E chord before moving into G# major, C# minor, and finally, A. This progression is played three times, and on the third loop, it switches to F# minor at the second fret into B at the seventh fret. Chorus The song's chorus uses a chord progression similar to the verse, but not quite the same. The chords used in the chorus are E, B, C minor, and A. Wrap Up By the end of this lesson, you'll have a good grasp of the chord progression and be well on your way to mastering "Gone" by Jack Johnson. Remember, practice makes permanent, so keep at it, and you'll play this song smoothly in no time! Remember, everyone learns at their own pace, so don't rush. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process. Guitar playing is not just about the destination—it's also about the journey. So, take your time and enjoy every strum, every chord, and every song. I hope you have a great time learning this song. Keep strumming and keep smiling! And as always, keep on rockin'! 💡 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs! :) Get chords, lyrics, and verified tabs for "Gone" and lots more. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6g3h6_yadO8 373 2017-12-31T10:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-305 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZvElkxKU5j4/hqdefault.jpg Yellow Submarine by The Beatles Learn An Easy Beatles Song On Guitar Yellow Submarine is loads of fun to play for guitar beginners. Who doesn’t love belting out to this song? It’s quirky, and a Beatles classic everybody has fun with. :) In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Yellow Submarine by The Beatles. This is an easy song for beginner guitarists - you change chords on beats one and four and approach it slowly. Yup - it’s even great for Grade 1 beginner guitar players. We’ve got mostly open chords going on in here. Some D, C, G chords and other easy minor chords are part of the progressions. We’ll also explore the exciting rhythm going on in the verses. It’s a cracking tune to learn! Hope you have fun playing it :) How To Play "Yellow Submarine" On Guitar To play this song, you’ll start with a D chord on beat 1. You’ll follow with a C, G, for a bar, then an Em and Am. Then back to C and D. If you’re not familiar with how to play these chords, it might be worth checking out my Beginner Guitar Course. For the strumming, get it right by first learning one strum per bar. Once you're comfortable with that, experiment with your strumming pattern as you develop it! You can then alternate between down and upstrums. Feel free to approach this slowly when you’re starting to learn! Then, as you get more comfortable, you can increase your tempo. Your metronome is your friend here. :) Yellow Submarine Guitar Strumming You'll need to play some strums on beats one and four, then back to one again to play the rhythm. We end up having a pattern that might mean faster chord changes than what you’re used to! This is excellent practice for novice guitarists. :) 💡If you dig this song - make sure to add it to your practice routine with your My Practice Assistant. :) Figure out when the chord change happens relative to the lyrics. This will be the best trick for this song! It’s going to read along with the lyrics. Focus on making those chords sound nice and tight! Make sure to get the chords playing on the correct beat each time! Consistency is key. Sta... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZvElkxKU5j4 315 2018-01-25T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-sultans-of-swing-2-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3222 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pQ2z0J4a9sQ/hqdefault.jpg Sultans of Swing [2/4] by Dire Straits Learn Sultans Of Swing On Guitar: Part 2 Dire Straits class all the way, with plenty of grooves! Before we get stuck in, I broke down this guitar lesson into 4 different parts. Part 1 covers the rhythm part of this Dire Straits classic - check it out if you haven't already! For this lesson, we'll be exploring the first part of the fingerstyle lead for the track. Once that's complete, you can head over for Part 3, and Part 4 to complete the song! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/pQ2z0J4a9sQ 574 2018-02-08T13:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/freddie-king-hide-away-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-804 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8lWj4v4DF8/hqdefault.jpg Hide Away [2/2] by Freddie King Follow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. All time classic Blues song this one, and while I love the Clapton version too, I figured we should start with Freddies as it's not only awesome music, but a great study in moving between lead and rhythm! https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8lWj4v4DF8 1773 2018-06-05T12:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/steppenwolf-born-to-be-wild-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-305 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZrX6BeJ6bg0/hqdefault.jpg Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf Learn how to play "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Born To Be Wild on the guitar. This is an awesome song that is known as the place where the term heavy metal came from. It's a really iconic tune, and I'm stoked that you're going to see and learn all the riffs. Let's get started! The Main Riff We'll start with the main riff, which uses a full E barre chord. There are three down strums on the E chord, then three more down strums on the off-beat, playing a two-note power chord. Then, we add a note with the little finger before moving up a fret. It's important to get the muting right. You do this with the outside part of your picking hand. It's just a touch to mute the strings, not a full hit. This muting is a big part of this riff. You'll get it; it just takes a little practice. Verse Riff Next up is the riff that is played in the verses. The second part is very similar to the intro riff. There's a muted part that's created by resting the palm of your hand on the edge of the bridge. You'll play the open thickest string and a note on the seventh fret. This is followed by a two-note power chord on the "and" of the beat. The mute happens on beat two. You may need to experiment a bit to find the right spot for your palm mute. Pre-Chorus Now, let's tackle the pre-chorus. We will go through an easy version first with G, A, and E5 power chords. You can then move on to the licks to sound more like the proper version. The first lick involves an open thinner string, a slide, and a bend. The second lick involves an open thicker string and a bend. The third lick includes a quick note followed by a hammer-on. This might sound complicated, but if you take it slow, you'll get it! Chorus Moving on to the chorus, we start with an E chord with muting. On the down strums, you'll move your strumming hand down to mute the strings while your chord hand holds the chord down. This is followed by a G6 chord, with the thumb playing the low G. You can play a regular G if this is too d... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrX6BeJ6bg0 1052 2017-12-04T10:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-viva-la-vida-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-813 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vt9H3NqmDxk/hqdefault.jpg Viva La Vida by Coldplay Learn how to play "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Viva La Vida on the guitar. Though it's a decade old, this Coldplay classic is a cool tune that's still popular and fun to play. The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity and the cool little quirks that make it exciting to learn. The original recording of Viva La Vida has some unique elements, such as the synth parts and the strings. We won't replicate it exactly, but we'll learn how to mimic these elements on your guitar. We'll switch to strumming for the chorus because it needs a lift to make it stand out. If you stick to the little riff throughout, the song may sound flat and a bit monotonous. Getting Started The first step is simple: if you intend to play along with the original recording (which I strongly recommend), you'll want to put your capo on at the first fret. The chord progression for this song is fairly straightforward - we have C, D, G, and E minor for most of the song. One exception is the bridge–this section in the instrumental part goes C, E, E minor, D. For the Beginners If you're a beginner, don't worry! You can start by strumming once on each chord while playing along with the original recording. This will help you get a feel for the rhythm and ensure you're changing chords in time. And don't forget, even if the chords are simple, that doesn't mean you can't experiment with different ways to play them. Singing and Playing For those of you who want to sing along while playing, remember that the phrasing of this song is a little bit unusual. To help you out with this, check out my video on how to sing and play at the same time. Being able to strum and sing independently is a crucial skill for playing a song like this. Experimenting with Rhythm and Chords Once you've got the basic chords and rhythm down, feel free to experiment with different strumming patterns. You can change it depending on the part of the song–keep it simple during the verses and then strum more during the choruses. This... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vt9H3NqmDxk 734 2018-07-24T17:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sheryl-crow-if-it-makes-you-happy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-426 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yfc1_pGVd3c/hqdefault.jpg If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow Learn How To Play "If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow On Guitar! In this easy acoustic guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow. If you're looking for a laid-back song, look no further! This tune has a tasty groove, a super laid-back vibe, and an easy-ish riff. And getting that nice lazy feeling on the guitar is really special! This campfire classic is great to add to your repertoire, with many embellishments that can add some interest to your sound. It's one that your audience will love belting out to - especially during the chorus. :) 🚨 Get ready to put your Grade 2+ skills to practice. We got an alternate strumming pattern, sus chords, a peculiar G chord and hammer-ons to work out here. G chord Fingering You'll encounter Sus chords many times throughout the song, so make sure you're ace with that! The chord progressions mainly work around a spread-out G chord, which requires you to use your third and fourth fingers on the opposite side of the guitar. This grip might be tricky for the average beginner guitar player, but it's an excellent way to get comfortable with stretchier chords! It's different from the standard G chord for beginners, so check out that close-up to help you get the correct fingering. With practice, stretchy chords like this one help you build your finger's dexterity. Another benefit is that it frees up your first and second fingers, which you can use to play that tasty little riff and other cool embellishments. Strumming & Playing Tips The strumming pattern requires alternate strums, but what's most important is that your hand moves constantly. During those strums, you're targeting different areas of your strings. This should be effortless - so try not to overthink it! A good practice tip is to mute all the strings with your fretting hand and play along with the original recording. This will help you get that lazy time feeling. This song has a lovely laid-back groove to pocket, and you want to embody that vibe with just your guitar! The riff is a ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yfc1_pGVd3c 1224 2018-02-04T18:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-razor-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-906 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x8_EsUfu3Zc/hqdefault.jpg Razor Love by Neil Young Learn to play "Razor Love" by Neil Young on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Razor Love by Neil Young on the guitar. This beautiful ballad from Neil Young's Silver and Gold album is a relatively easy tune that showcases his signature style. Razor Love is an excellent choice for beginners due to its accessible nature. The song features a limited chord vocabulary, with the main section using only two chords. This allows new guitarists to focus on perfecting their technique without being overwhelmed by complex chord changes. The song's structure is also straightforward and repetitive, making it easier to memorize and play along with. Despite its simplicity, Razor Love introduces an interesting yet manageable strumming pattern, adding depth to the song without being overly complex. The song offers growth opportunities as players progress, such as incorporating more advanced techniques like the full Bm barre chord or adding subtle variations to the strumming pattern. This combination of simplicity and room for advancement makes Razor Love an ideal learning piece for guitarists at various skill levels. Let's dive in and explore this fantastic song! Song Structure and Chord Progression The song is divided into two main sections, which we'll call Section A and Section B. Section A makes up most of the song and consists of just two chords, while Section B introduces a few more chords to spice things up. This structure allows us to focus on mastering a few elements at a time, making the learning process more manageable. Let's talk about the chord progression in Razor Love. For Section A, we'll be using just two chords: G and Cmaj7. These chords form the backbone of the verses and what you might consider the chorus (the "I got faith in you, it's a razor love" part). In Section B, we introduce a few more chords to the mix. We'll be playing Am, D, Bm, B7, C, and Am7. Don't worry if some of these chords seem challenging at first—we'll work through them together and learn some easier alternatives if needed. Str... https://www.youtube.com/embed/x8_EsUfu3Zc 543 2017-11-17T07:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-angie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-408 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sREFTTqiIz4/hqdefault.jpg Angie by The Rolling Stones Learn how to play"Angie" by The Rolling Stones on guitar! Hey, how you doing? Today, we’ll look at Angie by the Rolling Stones. This is an all-time classic featuring one of the finest acoustic guitar intros ever, courtesy of guitar legend Keith Richards! A very special thanks to Steve Elson from the Counterfeit Stones for joining me. :) Angie by The Rolling Stones – Classic Intro The intro is easy if you play it badly, but you’ll need to put in some work if you really want to nail it. The timing is the real tricky bit. Learn it slowly at first, and try to play with the original recording slowed down a bit! ☑️ Use TAB – Us guitarists tend to learn songs by watching and listening, but seeing it all written out really makes a huge difference when it comes to these more complex tunes. Head to JustinGuitar TABs or pick up my Vintage songbook to see the TAB for this one. Let’s talk about the notes and melody first, then we’ll cover the rhythm. We’re gonna start with a harmonic at 5:12 (string 5, fret 12). Now grab an Am chord (X02210) and strum. Pick the open e string, strum the chord again, then pick string 4. Now add little finger to 1:3 (string 1, fret 3), and pick the thinnest two strings. Then pick the open e string, followed by strings 3, 2, 4, 4. Then we move to E7 (0X0430). Use finger 1 on 2:3 and finger 3 on 3:4. Start by hitting the open thick E string, followed by 3, 2, 1, 2, 3. Then use finger 2 to play 6:4, pick it and strum the top three strings. Staying on E7, pick 1, 2, 3, with string 3 open. I sometimes leave finger 3 on 3:4 for this bit – decide which option you like best. Now the music moves to Gsus4, which we’ll play as XX5533. Pick strings 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, then 4. Now move that whole shape down two frets (XX3311) and play the middle two strings. 💡 Do You! – I tend to play certain parts differently each time I come across them, so find what works for you and what you’re comfortable with. Plenty of melody lines and riffs are difficult to play exactly. So as the kids say, “do you!” Just try to at ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sREFTTqiIz4 1313 2017-12-03T09:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/noah-and-the-whale-five-years-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-127 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wBC3FmHD5EU/hqdefault.jpg Five Years Time by Noah And The Whale Learn to play "5 Years Time" by Noah and The Whale on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play 5 Years Time on the guitar, a fantastic song for beginners. This song is a wonderful introduction to guitar playing with a simple chord progression of just three chords: A, D, and E. Chord Progression The chord progression for 5 Years Time is straightforward and repetitive, making it an excellent choice for those starting their guitar journey. The song begins with the A chord. After two strums, we switch to the D chord for another two strums. Then, we move down to the E chord for two strums and back to the D chord for the last two. This sequence (A, D, E, D) repeats throughout the entire song. Strumming Pattern Once you're comfortable with the chord progression and can switch between the chords without pausing, you're ready to tackle the strumming pattern. Beginners should start with simple down strums on each chord, keeping the timing consistent and your strumming hand nice and steady. One of the fun aspects of learning this song is that you can use this simplified strumming to play along with the original recording. Playing along with the band can be quite inspiring and beneficial for beginners. However, you'll need to place the capo on the third fret to play along with the original recording. Of course, you can play the song without a capo, but it won't match the original recording. As you progress and gain confidence, you can start experimenting with the strumming pattern of the original recording. Keep Going! The key to mastering 5 Years Time, like any song on the guitar, is practice. Start slow and ensure you're confident with the chord changes and strumming pattern before increasing the speed. Remember, it's better to play slow and steady without stops than to rush and stumble between chord changes. Every beginner guitarist experiences challenges and frustration. But don't hurry or feel bad if a song doesn't sound perfect within a week. Most beginners need more time than that. The important thing is ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBC3FmHD5EU 496 2017-12-03T09:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/shania-twain-you-re-still-the-one-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YEkz4kSqxYc/hqdefault.jpg You're Still The One by Shania Twain Learn to Play "You're Still the One" by Shania Twain on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You're Still the One by Shania Twain on the guitar. Released as a single in 1998, this beautiful country-pop crossover became one of Shania Twain's signature hits. The song's heartfelt lyrics and memorable melody have made it a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions. It's a fantastic addition to your repertoire, especially if you play at weddings or in cover bands. We'll play You're Still the One with a capo on the third fret, which helps us achieve the original key while using familiar open chord shapes. Let's dive into this romantic classic! Chord Progression The song follows a beautiful progression using primarily C, F, and G chords, with some variations that give it its distinctive sound. In the verses, we use a C chord with an E in the bass, which adds a lovely depth to the progression. You can also experiment using F major 7 instead of regular F chords for a softer, more romantic feel. The verse progression is C to C/E (C with E bass), then to F and G. This pattern repeats throughout most of the verses, creating that gentle, flowing feel that makes the song so special. When we hit the chorus, we get this wonderful progression: "Still the one I run to" (C to F), "The one that I belong to" (D minor to G), and it continues with this pattern, creating that emotional lift that makes the chorus so powerful. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is what really brings You're Still the One to life. We're using a two-bar pattern that creates a gentle, swaying rhythm perfect for this love song. What makes this pattern special and gives the song its unique groove is the timing of the chord changes–they often come slightly later than you might expect. As you get more comfortable with the basic pattern, you can add some variations, especially during the chorus, where we have some rhythmic accents that really make the song pop. Don't worry if getting these down takes some time–start slowly and gradually ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YEkz4kSqxYc 814 2017-11-29T15:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-little-wing-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3162 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uPGDYzmUAow/hqdefault.jpg Little Wing [2/3] by Jimi Hendrix Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This is a classic Hendrix tune, learned by pretty much everyone at some point. Bit tricky to get the thumb over but great fun and pretty easy to use the licks in other tunes (like Under The Bridge, RHCP). https://www.youtube.com/embed/uPGDYzmUAow 599 2018-02-08T18:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elliott-smith-say-yes-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-120 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rQHdUinQ8Qc/hqdefault.jpg Say Yes by Elliott Smith Learn How to Play "Say Yes" by Elliott Smith on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Say Yes by Elliott Smith on the guitar. This beautiful song features interesting chord progressions and slash chords that make it both challenging and rewarding to play. We'll be tuning down one whole tone for this song, which is common in Elliott Smith's music. If you're singing along, this lower tuning makes it more comfortable for male vocalists. Female vocalists might prefer using a capo and keeping standard tuning to find a key that suits their voice better. Song Structure and Basic Rhythm Pattern The overall structure follows a verse-bridge pattern with some variations. We've got two full verses, followed by a bridge, then a half-verse, and finally that more intricate second bridge. The song then wraps up by returning to the familiar verse progression. The song follows a consistent rhythm pattern throughout most of the tune. It's a simple but effective pattern that creates the song's gentle, flowing feel. You can play it with either fingerpicking or using a pick—both approaches work well, so choose what feels most comfortable for you. Verse Progression The verse progression is relatively straightforward. It starts with a G chord, moves to G with an F# bass, then to Em7 (or regular E minor), followed by D, C, G6 over B, and finally A7. These slash chords add movement in the bass line while maintaining the song's melodic feel. While it might seem complex at first, it becomes quite natural once you get the basic pattern down. Bridge Sections The song features two distinct bridge sections. The first bridge keeps things simple with standard open chords. It goes C, Em, and A7 for two bars, ending with C/G (C with a G bass). The second bridge is more complex, featuring a series of slash chords, but don't let that intimidate you—we'll break it down into manageable chunks in the video. It starts with G5, then moves through G5/D#, G6/E, G7/F, G6/E, G/D, and C/G. This sequence repeats, followed by an A minor with a distin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQHdUinQ8Qc 845 2017-11-29T15:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-happier-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-017 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qi_NI-DptYM/hqdefault.jpg Happier by Ed Sheeran Learn "Happier" by Ed Sheeran on Acoustic Guitar! Ed Sheeran is a super-talented guitar player and musician, and while his songs can get complex, Happier is pretty simple. Or at least it can be! This song is perfect for advanced beginners, or beginners who are ready to add in some interesting flairs. We cover several versions of Happier, from the basic campfire version to the original fingerstyle part and how to combine the two. :) We'll also discuss dynamics - an area that will transform your playing if you exploit it. Let's go! Happier by Ed Sheeran: Guitar Chords In its humblest form, Happier is easy enough for most beginners to play. The chord progression is two beats of Am, two beats of F, and four beats of C - for the whole song! In fact, this one is perfect if you’re learning the F barre chord. The progression allows you to practice the most important F Chord Changes: Am to F is super-common, as is F to C. Not only do you play an awesome song, you practice a crucial technique. :) 🔥 Alternatives to F: If F barre chord is too tricky right now, try these three F-chord variations. Good news - in the fingerstyle part we ditch the F barre chord in favour of FMaj7. ;) If you want to play barre chords, you can copy the original by playing Am as an E minor shape, F as an E Major shape, and C as an A Major shape. Power chords work well too: play Am and F with the root-6 shape and C with the root-5 shape. Happier by Ed Sheeran: Original Fingerstyle Guitar For those of you who are a bit more advanced or up for a challenge, we also dive into the fingerstyle version of this song. See the Fingerstyle chapter for all the details! With plenty of opportunities for hammer-ons, flairs, and dynamic changes, you can really play around with the sound and personality of the tune. Ed Sheeran is amazing at voicing, so give his original a listen and see what you can learn from what him. 🎶 It's All About Rhythm: Beyond the technical details, it's crucial you get the rhythm right if you want to sound like Ed. And if you want to do ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qi_NI-DptYM 852 2019-09-13T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-paint-it-black-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-332 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nN3na1YV1oc/hqdefault.jpg Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones Learn to Play "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Paint It Black on the guitar. This iconic Rolling Stones track features one of the most recognizable riffs in Rock history, and I'm excited to show you how to play it! Originally recorded with Brian Jones on sitar, we'll be learning Keith Richards' guitar version–the same arrangement you'll hear at Rolling Stones concerts today. It's a fantastic song that combines exotic melodies with driving Rock rhythms, making it a crowd favorite and an absolute blast to play. The original recording is in a slightly unusual pitch, but don't worry about that for now. We'll learn it in a more guitar-friendly key using a D minor chord as our foundation. Learning it this way makes playing it much easier while maintaining the song's essential character. The Main Riff and Rhythm Guitar Parts The signature riff of Paint It Black is built around two main sections. The first part centers on a D minor chord, creating a haunting Eastern-influenced melody. The second part moves to an A major chord, giving the riff its distinctive resolution. While it might sound complex at first, we'll break it down into manageable pieces in the video. Behind the main riff, there's a great rhythm guitar part that really drives the song forward. It follows a simple but effective pattern between D minor and A, creating the perfect foundation for the melodic riff and vocals. The strumming pattern has a distinctive groove that we'll explore in detail. Strumming Pattern Now, here's where the fun really starts! The rhythm part has this great bouncy feel to it that makes the song groove. Think of it like this: Down, up, up, up, up, down, up, up, up, down, up, up, up, up, down, up, up. It looks like a lot written down, but it'll feel natural once you get it going! You'll want to count "ONE and two and three and four and" as you play. Give that first beat a nice strong downstroke–that's what gives the rhythm its punch. Then lightly mute the strings with your p... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nN3na1YV1oc 789 2017-12-21T13:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ariel-posen-how-long-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-818 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/njNxFpi6LYM/hqdefault.jpg How Long by Ariel Posen Learn "How Long" by Ariel Posen on Guitar! Let's check out how to play How Long by Ariel Posen on guitar. We'll learn this awesome song in the original tuning, in standard tuning, and on electric and acoustic. You can decide what version you like most. :) I only found out about Ariel in mid 2018, so I'm real late to the party, but this cat sure can play. He's an incredible slide player that worked with Bros Landreth. And now he's got his own album, where he exhibits his great playing, singing and songwriting! Guitar & Tuning In the video lesson, I’m using a baritone guitar that has a longer neck and thicker strings than a regular electric. This means we get deeper, fuller sounds. It’s awesome. :) The open strings are tuned to Open C, which is Open D down one tone. The notes are CGCEGC from thickest to thinnest. But Ariel then puts a capo on 2, meaning harmonically it’s in Open D tuning! Another option is to leave off the capo and tune to Open D (DADF#AD). To clarify Ariel’s tuning, leave the capo off and you’re in open C (C, G, C, E, G, C). Strumming all six strings gives you a C Major chord. Pop the capo on two and you’re in open D (D, A, D, F#, A, D). If you want to see my setup, head to 04:00 in the video. :) 👉 Open Tunings: To learn more about open tunings before you tackle this song, check out this lesson on the essential Open Tunings. How Long by Ariel Posen: Chord Grips It’s crucial you keep in mind that though this song contains common chords like Bm7, G/B, and A, they look nothing like standard chord grips. If you know your music theory, you should be able to figure out the notes played and understand the chord names. There are a couple of non-diatonic chords in the verse: F#7 #5 and Dm6. These are weird-looking grips. If you’re not convinced, check the notes in the F#7 #5 chord (F#, A#, D, E) and the Dm6 (D F A B) and see that you’re playing them! 💡 Learn How Long in Standard Tuning: We also look at all these grips on an acoustic in standard tuning. Check this out if you don’t fancy retuning or w... https://www.youtube.com/embed/njNxFpi6LYM 1215 2019-02-07T07:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-patience-3-3-solos-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-6213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bjfuDApmCT8/hqdefault.jpg Patience [3/3] - Solos! by Guns N' Roses Learn Slash's All-Time Classic Solo For "Patience" by Guns n Roses! This Country-style solo has loads of techniques to put into practice! This lesson will explore the intro and main solo in Patience by Guns n Roses on the guitar. This tutorial on Slash's guitar solo suits Grade 4+ guitarists - it's an Intermediate lesson with loads of techniques going on! 💡 This is the last bit of my Patience song lesson mini-series. If you haven't already - check out Part 1 for the chords and Part 2 to add rhythmic tricks. Slash plays some slides, Country licks, full bend in, and semitones bend. You'll also encounter some Finger Rolling, which might be a new technique for you. 🔑 Make sure you don't overdo it with too many embellishments. Listen and learn from the original recording - it'll help you keep balance. Use transcribing software to learn all the little bits to sound exactly like the original recording. You'll be able to slow down the original recording to analyze what's going on in different parts of the song. The process of transcribing is a great way to build your musicianship. Learning From Great Guitar Solos Patience is an acoustic masterpiece from back in the '80s. This guitar ballad showed a more vulnerable and soft side of Gun's N Roses, but the guitar solo is powerful! What's impressive about classic guitar solos like Patience is that you always remember how the harmony goes. It has distinctive parts that brilliantly flow together and are rhythmically solid. This is part of what makes this song timeless and musically relevant years later. A true sign of a great solo! There's a lot to learn from this all-time classic guitar solo, so make sure you understand beyond the chords and rhythm. Try to absorb the essence of the melody and how to convey emotions with a song. I'm a big Guns n Roses fan! Are you too? Check my Sweet Child Series out! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/bjfuDApmCT8 600 2018-02-08T11:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eagles-take-it-easy-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-187 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rOl01G9r6HU/hqdefault.jpg Take It Easy (Solo) by Eagles Ready to learn the classic Eagles solo from "Take It Easy" on the guitar? In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the Take It Easy solo by the Eagles on the electric guitar. This is a superb solo to learn for so many reasons! Aside from being a beautiful piece of music, it's wonderfully constructed, perfect for learning to improvise using chord tones. Beyond learning to play this solo, we'll also explore why the licks work, how they work, and how to incorporate them into your improvising. 🎸 Take It Easy Rhythm Chords & Strumming! Check out my Grade 3 Take It Easy lesson for the chords, rhythm, and song structure. :) I suspect the original solo is played on a b-bender guitar, which makes a difference to the tone. At some points in the song, the finger bend doesn't sound right, but we'll look at several fingering options to make up for it. :) You might find some unusual, but we'll look at familiar options too. Ultimately, it's up to you what fingering you choose. :) ℹ️ I've divided the Take It Easy solo into ten licks, roughly corresponding to the chord changes. Get a verified tab for this solo with JustinGuitarTabs! Take It Easy is a cracking song! So grab your guitar and get straight into the first Lick. :) Take It Easy By The Eagles: Guitar Solo – Lick 1 JustinGuitar · Take It Easy - Solo Lick 1 The first Lick is based on a G chord. Some might say playing the sixth makes this a G Pentatonic riff, but I feel this note is more of an embellishment. Ultimately, the notes are based on the E Shape G Major Chord! 💡 Explore! This lick is based around a G chord, so you should use these little lines whenever soloing over G. Explore it – make a little loop with a G chord and see what you can do. :) Never just learn the lick as it appears in the song; you only get half the value that way. Take It Easy By The Eagles: Guitar Solo – Lick 2 JustinGuitar · Take It Easy - Solo Lick 2 The chords under this riff are G, D, and C; you can see how this Lick fits over them. :) 🚨 Chord Tones: The AC double stop is played over the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rOl01G9r6HU 1178 2023-03-01T11:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/skid-row-i-remember-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-264 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIJd4iF30E0/hqdefault.jpg I Remember You by Skid Row In this lesson, we learn one of the biggest Rock ballads of the late ’80s, “I Remember You” by Skid Row. It’s a really fun song to play and perfect for advancing beginners who are ready to go beyond simple open chords. The shapes are fairly easy, but the strumming and small details will keep things interesting. Chords & Key Techniques We’ll use G, Cadd9, D, E minor, and A minor. There’s also a special variation of the Cadd9 chord—we lift the little finger so that the open D and E strings ring together, creating a brighter, more colorful sound. The thick string is muted with the tip of the second finger, and this little change gives the chord a lovely, airy tone. A hammer-on from open to the 2nd fret on the fifth string adds a signature touch to the intro. The main strumming pattern goes: down, up, up, down, up, up, down, hammer, down, up Rather than counting every beat, we focus on feeling the groove and keeping the hand moving smoothly throughout. Playing Tips If you find it tricky to hit individual strings while strumming, try lightly resting your little finger on the thinner strings — it helps with accuracy without affecting your movement. And remember: if the riff or the embellishments throw off your timing while singing, it’s always better to simplify and stay in time. Groove first, twiddles later! We’ll also pay attention to dynamics — keeping the verses softer and lifting the energy for the choruses. Listening to the original track is key to understanding how the rhythm breathes and how the band builds tension and release. Song Structure Intro / Verse: G → Cadd9 → D (with rhythmic embellishments) Chorus: G – D – Em – C – G – D – Em – G Bridge: Am – Em – Am – D (five-bar sequence) Solo Section: follows the verse progression (G–C–D), with expressive bends, melodic phrasing, and pinch harmonics. In the bridge, we’ll drop the dynamics to create space before the solo. Although the original recording combines acoustic and electric parts, this arrangement works beautifully on acoustic guitar alone. Practic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RIJd4iF30E0 1146 2025-11-13T09:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-gray-babylon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-251 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RPbeNdddhWw/hqdefault.jpg Babylon by David Gray Learn to play 'Babylon' by David Gray on the acoustic guitar David Gray's 'Babylon' is a heartfelt acoustic track that blends gentle fingerstyle riffing with emotional dynamics, and in this lesson, we learn how to make it sound great on your guitar. The main riff might sound delicate and intricate, but it's built from a few core techniques that you can master with some focused practice. You won't need a pick for this one — just your thumb, a capo at the first fret, and a relaxed, rhythmic approach. We break down the entire song section by section so you can follow along, even if you're still working on getting comfortable with finger control and strumming feel. Here's what you'll learn: The Intro Riff: A smooth thumb-led pattern with a hammer-on and flick-off using your pinky, sliding into position with your third finger, and muting unwanted strings for a cleaner tone. Chord Progressions: Familiar shapes like D, A, E minor, and G—plus a beautiful F#m11 that adds richness to the chorus. If you're not quite ready to wrap your thumb over for that one, don't worry—we'll go over an easier alternative that still sounds great. Strumming Groove: This song has a unique strumming pattern that uses both down and upstrokes with the thumb. It may feel new at first, but you'll get there, and once it clicks, it really helps you find the song's flow. We also discuss how to adjust your dynamics to bring emotional movement to the performance. Feel Over Perfection Like many great acoustic songs, 'Babylon' shines when you relax and focus on the vibe. Even if you miss a few notes, getting the groove right and playing with intention make a big difference, and we work on building that mindset in this lesson. If you're working through the Beginner or Intermediate courses, 'Babylon' fits beautifully as a Developer Song—one that strengthens key skills through practice, not just repetition. Why this song is worth learning 'Babylon' is ideal for intermediate players who want to move beyond basic chord strumming and explore more expressiv... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPbeNdddhWw 1292 2025-05-02T01:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-black-crowes-she-talks-to-angels-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TV1-xpB50-Q/hqdefault.jpg She Talks to Angels [3/3] by The Black Crowes Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. I have loved this song for years. I was really diggin the Stones when I was first introduced to The Black Crows. The timing can be a little tricky but not too hard if you take it slow. Love this tune. The Black Crowes capture real rock 'n' Roll, and this is a rock ballad at it's best. Open E Tuning Open E Tuning: E B E G# B E to you tune the A and D strings up a tone, and the G string up a semitone. An alternative if you are worried about tuning your strings up like that is to drop it to Open D and then use a capo at the second fret. Open D Tuning: D A D F# A D (then add capo on fret 2 and you get your Open E). https://www.youtube.com/embed/TV1-xpB50-Q 482 2018-02-08T17:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-dylan-mr-tambourine-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-173 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ti1hIelY40/hqdefault.jpg Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan Learn how to play "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar! We'll learn how to play it the right way so it sounds as close as possible to Dylan's original record! Like many of his songs, Mr. Tambourine Man is a little quirk. Many people miss it and end up playing the song incorrectly. But it's not difficult to play correctly, and it sounds better. What is that quirk? Let's find out. :) Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan – Tuning And Capo First, this tune is in drop D tuning and uses a capo at fret 3. Make sure your guitar is in tune (in standard tuning), then move the thickest string down one tone to a D. You can do this with a chromatic tuner or by using the open D string as a reference. Since string 4 is an octave higher than the retuned string 6, you should hear the sound of an octave when you play one after the other. Adjust string 6 until you find that sound. 🎸 Here's how you get to Drop D Tuning! And remember, don't be afraid of retuning your guitar. :) Now put your capo at fret 3. If using a chromatic tuner, you should retune the strings with the capo on. The notes on your chromatic tuner are F, C, F, Bb/A#, D, and G. :) Mr. Tambourine Man – Intro The intro is four bars of D (000232), using the rhythm 1 2 3 + 4 +. Target the bass notes on beats 1 and 3. One huge advantage of drop D tuning is that we can strum all six strings on a D chord – they're all part of the chord! In this song, a common embellishment on the D chord is to lift off finger 2 on the "+" after 3 and beat 4 (000230). Add it again on the "+" after 4. This is a sus2 embellishment. Mr. Tambourine Man – Song Structure Like most of Bob Dylan's songs, this one isn't an exact science. He plays different structures nearly every time, so we'll cover a general one. To learn all the details, you need to listen to him and figure them out yourself! Here comes the big quirk. :) Mr. Tambourine Man – Chorus Here's the key to this song, the detail that most guitarists miss: the G/B chord! The first chord of the choruses and verses is a G/B ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ti1hIelY40 658 2022-11-09T19:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-hells-bells-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-313 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z6NO6zHdkmo/hqdefault.jpg Hells Bells by AC/DC Learn How To Play "Hells Bells" by AC/DC On Guitar! An All-Time AC/DC Classic! Hells Bells is the first release from AC/DC Back in Black album in 1980. This is the 7th studio album and one of the Australian hard rock bands' best-known and most iconic albums. In today's song lesson, you'll learn how to play Hells Bells by AC/DC on guitar. It's loads of fun to play, and there are some exciting parts to put into practice. You can play it individually, or even better, have a guitar mate join you! There are two separate parts of the guitar to learn here made for layering. If you're following my Guitar Courses, this song will be perfect for Grade 4+ guitar players. So grab that guitar & get ready to rock! :) How To Play Hells Bells On Guitar To play Hells Bells, you'll need to learn four separate riffs. Learn the bits one at a time. Once you're confident with them, you can start piecing them together. The best way to learn how to play this AC/DC tune is by giving the original recording a few listens. It'll help you get the groove and darker feel of this tune. I remember learning this riff as a kid and rockin' out 'doing an Angus' around my bedroom. Playing AC/DC is about as good as guitar gets & simple brilliance. 🚨 Remember that simple ain't easy. Getting these riffs solid and tight is a proper challenge, best faced by jamming with the original recording a lot! So take your time, take it slow & ease into it. Start slow, then increase your tempo as you improve. Hells Bells Guitar Tips Hells Bells has two separate guitar parts - the rather extreme one by Angus and Malcom. You'll have to choose what you want to play. You can play Angus' rather flashy role - but stay aware of the rhythm. The rhythm of this song is not mathematical - when you play the music, you have to have a soul! That's what makes AC/DC a solid band - the unity between the instruments and the rhythm. So make sure you listen to the song to understand the emotion evoked behind it! In the second repetition of the first riff, I recommend usin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z6NO6zHdkmo 827 2017-12-08T13:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-intro-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-376 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t3yol_zrt7g/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [Intro] by Guns N' Roses The Greatest Rock Guitar Intro Ever is HERE! Sweet Child O Mine is a favorite hit for many! So, I made a full series teaching you how to play this Guns N' Roses classic in detail. Today's lesson explores the Intro for Sweet Child O Mine in-depth - but this is just the beginning! This lesson is the first part of my Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Lessons Series (links below!) that contains 7 video tutorials. 😅 7 song lessons for one song, and days and days of research! I think I'd never recorded such a detailed lesson before! And the first time I taught this - long time ago - I taught it wrong! #oops. But before getting stuck in, let's talk about how hard it is to play Sweet Child O Mine on the guitar. I get that question a lot! Is Sweet Child O Mine Hard to Play?! Well - it depends on how accurate you want to sound! Sweet Child O Mine chords and strumming patterns should be fine for most advancing beginners. So, if you're new to guitar (Grade 2+), head over to that lesson. You can keep things simple to start with - you'll still sound super cool and be able to play along with the original recording. It's great fun for beginners! This classic Slash Intro that we're about to learn does require some Intermediate skills! But it's excellent stuff to build your finger agility and speed. And, of course, loads of fun too. :) 💡 Following my guitar courses? This song is perfect for new Intermediate guitarists, so Grade 4+ guitarists. If you dig Slash, make sure you check out the other parts of this series and learn the whole thing. We cover all the other bits, including chords, different solos, and everything else you need to rock out to this Guns N' Roses song on the electric guitar. Now, let's get stuck in! What Tuning is Sweet Child O Mine? First, let's talk guitar tuning. To play Sweet Child O Mine, tune your guitar to E flat tuning, which means tuning each string of your guitar down one semitone. 💡 Not sure about about guitar tuning? Learn to tune your guitar to Eb Tuning. There's a lot of string bending in this song's so... https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3yol_zrt7g 693 2017-12-15T10:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ozzy-osbourne-dee-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-262 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/db_b5kaRt5E/hqdefault.jpg Dee by Ozzy Osbourne In this lesson, we learn “Dee”—Randy Rhoads’ beautiful instrumental from Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz album. This short piece was written for his mother, Delores (“Dee”), and shows a completely different side of Rhoads’ playing. Known for his fiery metal solos, here he channels something much more delicate and emotional—a classical-inspired composition full of space, melody, and sincerity. It’s one of those timeless guitar moments that connects instantly. It’s not technically extreme, but the beauty is in the touch, timing, and phrasing. Once we get the flow right, it becomes a meditative and expressive tune that’s a joy to play. Revisiting an Old Friend This tune brings back loads of memories for us. It was one of the first pieces we ever played in front of people—back at a college exam when we were sixteen! Coming back to it decades later, we could still remember nearly every note. After polishing a few details and comparing transcriptions, we’ve landed on what feels closest to the original record while keeping the spirit of it alive. It’s always amazing how certain songs stay in your hands even after years, and Dee is one of those. It’s a reminder of how a simple, heartfelt tune can make a lasting impression—on us, and on anyone who listens. What We Learn In this lesson, we go step by step through every section of Dee, exploring both the technical details and musical feel that make it so special. Here’s what we work on: The opening G chord uses a C-shape barre at the 7th fret, with a flowing arpeggio pattern. A B minor passage and G6 movement that bring beautiful colour to the harmony. Subtle slides, hammer-ons, and flick-offs that make the melody sing. A section of natural harmonics at the 7th fret—essential for capturing the right sound. The final descending run and closing harmonics that give the piece its signature ending. There are a few ways to finger some of these phrases—some players prefer open strings, others use fretted notes for tone control. We explore both, so you can decide what sounds and... https://www.youtube.com/embed/db_b5kaRt5E 1176 2025-10-23T08:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-pogues-kirsty-maccoll-fairytale-of-new-york-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/keDD4q_wsb4/hqdefault.jpg Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl Learn to play "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fairytale of New York on the guitar. This beloved Christmas song by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl is a perfect addition to your holiday repertoire, and we'll learn multiple ways to play it—from super simple to more advanced arrangements. We'll begin with a simplified version that's perfect for beginners. The basic version uses straightforward chords and simple strumming patterns, giving you a solid foundation before moving on to more complex variations. Remember, it's essential to master these basics before attempting the fancier stuff! Understanding the Song Structure The song starts with a memorable intro that we can play with just a few basic chords—G, D, and A. The verse follows a similarly straightforward pattern, making it accessible for players of all levels. If you're just starting out, don't worry about complex chord voicings - stick to the basic shapes and focus on smooth transitions. Chord Progressions The song mainly uses D, G, A, and B minor chords. If you find B minor challenging, you can substitute it with D—they're related chords, and while it's not exactly the same, it works well enough, especially when playing casually with friends! Here's the chord progression breakdown: Intro: Two strums on G, two on D, then D-A pattern⁠ First verse: D to A to B minor to G ⁠Later verses: D to A to D to A, then D to G to A to D⁠ Instrumental sequence: D-D-D-A-D-G-A-D Chorus: A to D to B minor to G (with variations) Time Signature and Rhythm One interesting aspect of Fairytale of New York is its timing. The song shifts into 6/8 time, which gives it that distinctive waltz-like feel. We'll start with simple strumming patterns and gradually build up to more complex rhythms as you get comfortable with the basic groove. Basic pattern: Strum only on beats 1 and 4 of the 6/8 measure⁠ Intermediate pattern: All downstrokes on each beat (1-2-3-4-5-6)⁠ Advanced pattern: Add "and" after beat 2 and 5 (1-2-and-3-4-5-and-6)... https://www.youtube.com/embed/keDD4q_wsb4 1360 2018-05-11T08:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mellencamp-jack-diane-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-146 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Au5-pI5yLfM/hqdefault.jpg Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp 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 ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Au5-pI5yLfM 1115 2022-05-04T04:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-diamond-cherry-cherry-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-423 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nkekKVE-nDQ/hqdefault.jpg Cherry, Cherry by Neil Diamond A massive hit for Mr Neil Diamond, though his music is forever tainted for me by the fake "Story Tellers" sketch with Will Ferrell which I thought was hilarious (but not suitable for kids, hence no link!). My buddy Richard Bennet played on all these big hits and you'll notice that the guitar work on all his records it top shelf! Lot of great stuff to learn in this song, some interesting pushes and accenting in the rhythm makes it a little challenging but a lot of fun! Note that to play along with the original recording you'll need to play with Capo 1 - but I don't both putting it on for the lesson - it's onl;y needed when you play with the recording! https://www.youtube.com/embed/nkekKVE-nDQ 627 2017-12-08T06:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-cream-crossroads-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-243 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cN6ZaGrt5Zg/hqdefault.jpg Crossroads by Eric Clapton (Cream) Learn to Play "Crossroads" by Eric Clapton on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play "Crossroads" on the guitar. Originally recorded by Robert Johnson, this classic tune was transformed into a standard by the great Eric Clapton with his band Cream. Understanding the Song The version of "Crossroads" that we'll be exploring is vastly different from the original by Robert Johnson. Clapton's rendition, recorded live in 1968 with Cream, doesn't strictly adhere to the 12-bar form common in blues music. This gives it a unique character and a bit of a challenge if you're used to more traditional blues songs. However, the Cream version has become the standard if you're asked to play "Crossroads" in a jam session. The Basics We'll be using a basic shuffle for this song. There are a few twists and turns that you could add in, but these are optional. The main riff of the song is where we'll start. It's a simple progression that captures the essence of the song. There are also a few different ways to play this riff, so feel free to find the one that works best for you. This main riff is played twice with the original recording, followed by a similar riff where you play strings two and three. However, you should remember that there are many ways to play this riff, depending on your style and the band you're playing with. Chord Progression The song starts on an A note, played twice normally, then twice with the harmony. This is followed by a D note, essentially a D7 chord. However, in this song, Clapton arpeggiates it, breaking the chord into a sequence of notes that adds a unique flair to the song. After the D note, we move down to an E note. This is followed by a lovely little turnaround. This part of the progression is flexible. If you have a turnaround that you're already familiar with and like, feel free to use it. Wrapping It Up Remember, this is just a framework for the song. You can add or leave out parts depending on your comfort level. The important thing is to have fun and make the song your own. So, w... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cN6ZaGrt5Zg 1153 2024-07-07T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-nobody-knows-you-when-you-re-down-and-out-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kDNBD_WIflE/hqdefault.jpg Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [1/2] by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out by Eric Clapton on the acoustic guitar. This lesson shows a simplified version of Clapton's playing, with some extra bits here and there, which will suit Grade 5+ guitar players. This version is not the same as the original recording - it's an arrangement of the many different guitar parts. This way, it'll sound nice with only one guitar! And, before you mention it ... I know, this video quality is not the greatest! But this lesson is over a decade old and there's still some good material in there This Eric Clapton arrangement of the Blues classic has a melody all of its own and works without a vocal and with one! There's a tasty riff in there that sounds great too. Typical of Claton's playing style, you'll encounter some extensive fretboard jumps too. Ready for the next section? Check out Part 2 of this song lesson, this is where you'll learn the right-hand fingering! Get extra help with this country Blues using JustinGuitar Tabs! If you haven't already, get a free 7-day trial. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/kDNBD_WIflE 492 2017-11-11T16:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-2-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m99m3qiEwSY/hqdefault.jpg Comfortably Numb [2/4] by Pink Floyd Folow these links to go to Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4 of this lesson. In this lesson we look at the main solo. I play it at the top so you can hear it but in hindsight, I wish I'd done a backing track... but hey - this was very early days :) Hope you dig it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/m99m3qiEwSY 598 2018-01-08T16:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lady-gaga-bradley-cooper-shallow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zz1wEPuRXyM/hqdefault.jpg Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper "Shallow" by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper is an incredible tune on many different levels! And in today's lesson, we'll learn how to play Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, from the A Star Is Born movie, on the acoustic guitar. We'll explore each bit to sound as close as possible to the original recording. Shallow mostly requires open chords, but once we reach the song's bridge, you'll need to play a Bm - probably the easiest barre chord we've got! :) 💡 Can't play barre chords yet? No worries, we'll also check out alternative fingering to play Bm on guitar. But - barre chords are a big deal, and you should eventually learn them. The picked fingerstyle can get a bit trickier for beginners - it's a skill learned in Grade 5 of my Guitar Courses! Of course - you can keep things simpler and leave out some of the legato techniques we'll see in this video tutorial. When you're a beginner, keep everything super simple! If you just play the chords and strum on the beats, you'll probably be able to sing along with the original recording - and that's super fun already. As your guitar skills develop, you can revisit songs you've learned as a beginner and add some embellishments to them! So let's get stuck in and check out what's on today's menu. Shallow - Guitar Cover I can't believe it took me so long to dive into Lady Gaga's music and realize how incredible she is. Shallow is the song responsible for getting me into her - it's when I realized how powerful Lady Gaga is! Then - I wanted to release a lesson on Shallow a long time ago, but it's not an easy song to sing! Finally, I've found a great solution for it… So, a big thank you to Salena Mastroianni - who nailed singing this song so much that I've included a full cover on it at the beginning of this video lesson! 🎤 Check Salena out on Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook. :) You can leave her a comment showing your appreciation! ;) Now, let's learn how to play Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper on the acoustic guitar. If you want the chords, tab, and lyrics ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zz1wEPuRXyM 1303 2021-12-03T04:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-love-in-vain-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-242 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z0t3F523lDw/hqdefault.jpg Love in Vain by The Rolling Stones Learn How to Play "Love In Vain" by Robert Johnson on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Love In Vain by Robert Johnson, but mainly studying the version by The Rolling Stones. It is a beautiful piece of music with an incredibly rich texture. The guitar part that Keith Richards created is truly sublime, and there's a lot we can learn from his approach. Love In Vain is a song that's all about feel and nuance. The Rolling Stones version features a capo on the third fret. This allows for some beautiful chord voicings and unique sounds that make the song stand out. Remember to tune your guitar after placing the capo to ensure everything sounds as it should. The G-shape chord is the tonic chord. Technically, that places it in the key of Bb. As is often the case with a song using a capo, the chords are named by their shapes for ease. Picking & Song Structure The song is in 6/8 time. There are some distinctive features in the arpeggiation of the chords meaning there is no fixed picking pattern that runs throughout. For example, the intro has a unique picking that creates a rhythmic "skip" on the D chord. Take your time to practice these parts carefully. Once you've got the basic chord progression down, the structure of Love In Vain is fairly straightforward. The song consists of several verses, each following the same chord progression. However, there are slight variations in how the chords are played in each verse, which adds a bit of complexity and keeps the song interesting. Conclusion I hope you enjoy this lesson and find it helpful. Love In Vain is a wonderful song to learn on the guitar. Its rich chord progression and unique picking patterns and rhythms make this song a joy to play. With some practice, you can master this song and add it to your guitar repertoire. So grab your guitar, tune it up, place your capo on the third fret, and let's start. Watch the video to catch all the details of how to play Love In Vain. I can't wait to see your progress. Remember, practice makes permanent, so keep at... https://www.youtube.com/embed/z0t3F523lDw 1710 2024-06-23T02:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/steve-harley-cockney-rebel-make-me-smile-come-up-and-see-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-418 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7ZAz54qVX9s/hqdefault.jpg Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel How to play "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on the guitar. Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let me tell you—this is a really, really good tune! It's got a fairly standard arrangement, but there's a little twist that makes it interesting. There's an extra bar of G that sneaks into the verses, which you'll need to keep an eye out for. Trust me, you don't want to be the one who moves on to the next chord while the rest of the band is still on G – talk about embarrassing! This fantastic tune is a joy to play and features a great acoustic guitar solo by the legendary Jim Cregan, which we'll explore in a future lesson. He's a fantastic guitar player worth checking out beyond this song. He played with Cockney Rebel and later with Rod Stewart, among other big names. I've had the pleasure of working with Jim a couple of times, and he's not only a great musician but a lovely guy, too. For now, let's dive into the main parts of the song! Chord Progression and Guitar Solo Section Let's break down the chord progression for this song. We'll start with a simple strumming pattern – just four strums to the bar to get us going. The song starts with an intro in G, but don't worry, we'll circle back to that later. For the verses, we're looking at a progression that goes something like this: F to C, then to G, back to F, then C, and finally landing on G. It's a pretty straightforward sequence, but it's that extra G that you need to watch out for. When we hit the chorus, things change up a bit. We've got D, F, G, then back to D, F, and finishing with C to G. There's a little stop after this sequence that adds a nice touch to the song's overall feel. Now, let's talk about the guitar solo section. The chord sequence here is slightly different, which keeps things interesting. We start with an F chord, move to E minor, back to F, then to A minor. After that, we've got two... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZAz54qVX9s 494 2017-12-04T11:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-seek-and-destroy-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RM0VQBK-8g8/hqdefault.jpg Seek and Destroy [1/3] by Metallica Learn to play "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Seek and Destroy on the guitar. This iconic Metallica song is a favorite of mine, and I remember being totally into their music when I was in my late teens. I recently taught this song to one of my students and was reminded of how incredible Metallica's early music really is. Now, let's get started! Breaking Down the Song Structure Seek and Destroy is characterized by its nine distinct riffs, each one contributing to the song's overall energy and drive. It's important to listen to the record and understand the sequence of these riffs, as they tend to jump around and repeat quite a lot. We'll see four of them in this first part of the lesson. Diving into the Riffs We'll begin with the first riff, which is based on the open A string. The transitions between the riffs and the fills add a dynamic dimension to the song. The second riff introduces a different tone as we move down to the open E string. This shift adds depth and variety to the song's chord progression. Riff three is interesting because it's the same as the verse melody. It's a continuous sequence of eighth notes on the low E string, followed by a short riff. Riff four features a structure similar to riff two, but it takes place on the G and D strings. This riff incorporates a couple of fills, giving the song a fuller sound. Wrapping Up To truly master Seek and Destroy, you'll need to practice each riff independently and then listen to the record to understand how they fit together. Remember, practice makes permanent—the more you play, the more natural it will feel. I hope you're as excited about learning this song as I am about teaching it. It's a fantastic piece of music and a great addition to any guitarist's repertoire. After you are comfortable with these four riffs, continue the lesson watching Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. Now it's time to grab your guitar and start practicing. And remember, you don't have to be a heavy metal rocker to enjoy p... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RM0VQBK-8g8 494 2017-12-31T08:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eddie-vedder-society-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-219 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kLI0ASXz3lM/hqdefault.jpg Society by Eddie Vedder Learn to Play "Society" by Eddie Vedder on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play the song Society by Eddie Vedder - soundtrack of the movie Into the Wild. This beautiful tune is an absolute gem and a real pleasure to play on the acoustic guitar. It features a cool strumming pattern and uses relatively easy open chords with a few optional embellishments. Advancing beginners following my free guitar courses should be able to play Society if they put some effort on it. ;) So grab your 6-string companion, strap on your capo at the second fret, and let's get into it. Don't forget to check out JustinGuitarTabs to get complete chord progression and lyrics to follow along with this Society guitar tutorial! Now let's get stuck in. Introduction and Strumming Pattern Society's introduction is simple yet captivating, setting the perfect tone for the rest of the song. The intro consists of an A minor chord played for four bars. The strumming pattern has a distinct rhythm we'll discuss after going through the chords. So, remember, the intro is all about those four bars on the A minor chord. Feel the groove and let the music flow! Verse Chords Once you've mastered the intro, it's time to dive into the verse. The verse starts with a C chord with a G bass. Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with it, my friend. It's just a slight variation of the regular C chord but with a twist. Trust me, it sounds fantastic! After the C with a G bass, we smoothly transition to a G chord. 💡 I strongly recommend using the particular G chord variation we learn in this tutorial. Place your third finger on the third fret of the thickest string, muting the fifth string. Then, leave the other strings open. This fingering allows for seamless transitions between chords and gives the song that extra touch of brilliance. Next, we return to the C with a G bass for one bar before moving to the F chord. Ah, the F chord! It can be a bit challenging for some but fear not. We'll explore different ways to play it, and I promise you'll find one that... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kLI0ASXz3lM 1072 2023-10-29T10:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/hollow-coves-coastline-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-267 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eca3vFGDvsQ/hqdefault.jpg Coastline by Hollow Coves Learn Coastline on the Acoustic Guitar—with Original Tuning! Coastline by Hollow Coves is one of those songs that instantly makes you feel like you’re somewhere else—sun, sea air, wide open space, and that calm, reflective energy that only great acoustic songs seem to have. It is simple, emotional, and beautifully written—and that makes it perfect for learning and playing on the guitar. In this lesson, we learn how to play the full song using a unique tuning that gives Coastline its dreamy, ethereal sound. We tune the guitar to C-G-D-G-G-D and then place a capo on the 7th fret, creating a lush, open-string texture that you can’t achieve in standard tuning. Don’t worry—everything is tuned down, so it is completely safe for your guitar, and it is a fantastic way to explore new sounds and new creative ideas. Although the tuning may appear unusual, the left-hand shapes are actually quite simple. We use just three main chord shapes throughout most of the song, which means we can focus on tone, timing, and feel rather than complicated fingering. That makes this a great song for players who want to move beyond basic strumming and into more expressive acoustic playing. The heart of the song is the fingerstyle pattern. We learn a steady, flowing picking pattern that remains consistent as the chords change, making it easier to build muscle memory and stay relaxed while playing. There is also an optional variation used in the second verse if you want to push a little further and add more movement to your playing. In the chorus, we add a beautiful melodic riff that slides between notes, giving the song its emotional lift. We also briefly switch to finger-strumming, which creates a natural dynamic contrast between the gentle verses and the larger, more open chorus sections. Learning how to transition between picking and strumming in this manner is a significant step forward for expressive acoustic playing. This song is perfect if you want to: Explore alternate tunings Improve your fingerstyle technique Learn how to mix pic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eca3vFGDvsQ 1333 2026-01-09T02:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-wish-you-were-here-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sG_K8sGflBY/hqdefault.jpg Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here In 5 Levels In this lesson, we learn ‘Wish You Were Here’ by Pink Floyd from the ground up in five progressive levels, along with the full song chords and strumming patterns. The goal is simple: help you play one of the most loved acoustic intros of all time in a way that fits your current level, then level up your skills until you can play the intro, solo, and full song with confidence. You can start at Level 1 as a beginner or drop in at a higher level if you are more experienced. 🎉 Winner Announcement! Lee Billins is the winner of the Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge that took place in December 2025. Results were announced by the JustinGuitar team via this newsletter and social media post, and the winner was contacted on December 12, 2025. Thank you so much to everyone who joined the sweepstake. You can watch al the valid entries here. Level 1 – Beginner Intro: Chords, Riff, And Timing In Level 1, we learn: The three main intro chords: Em7, G (or G5), A7sus4 The “stuck 3 and 4” grip, where the 3rd and 4th fingers stay on the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings The main lead lines using hammer-ons. How to play the riff with the right rhythm - ear and/or 16th note counting. Level 1 is about clean chords, clear hammer-ons, and solid timing. Once this feels natural, the next levels become much easier. Level 2 – Strumming Pattern And Groove In Level 2, we focus on the strumming hand and build a groove that sounds close to the original recording. We learn: The core pattern: down up up down as part of a 16th-note flow How to keep the picking hand moving in continuous 16th notes Solidify the use of downstrokes on the beats and offbeats (’ ands’). Ups in between! How to keep the intro recognizable even at slower practice tempos Your fretting hand stays pretty much the same as Level 1. This level trains you to lock into the groove and stay in time without your fretting hand getting tangled. Level 3 – Ghost Strums And Fine Rhythmic Detail Level 3 adds the subtle rhythmic details that make t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sG_K8sGflBY 3322 2025-11-28T00:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stevie-wonder-superstition-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-065 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/13tpw6c2dwQ/hqdefault.jpg Superstition by Stevie Wonder 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:... https://www.youtube.com/embed/13tpw6c2dwQ 1117 2021-04-03T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-breathe-in-the-air-acoustic-guitar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-019 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WdIxIS9hvtk/hqdefault.jpg Breathe In The Air (Acoustic Guitar) by Pink Floyd Wow, this Pink Floyd tune is a classic What do Pink Floyd remind you of? They've been around for ages and mean so much to so many. Their sound has proven to be both progressive and timeless, and Breathe is one of their classic songs. 💙 Acoustic version of Breathe: I wanted to look at a softer version of Breathe. It’s a great campfire tune, so I thought an acoustic version would work well. Some of the intricate finger patterns translate over nicely from the electric version too. Pink Floyd aren't known for simplicity, though - this is what gives their music its distinct sound - so I’ve done my best to break it all down for you. You’ll find that the fingerings are close to the standard grips, with an added finger here or there. Take it slow and you'll get there! You can really transform this tune with your strumming too. We'll look at a simple pattern along with fancier rhythmic ideas for guitar. They can make a big difference to your sound and get it closer to Pink Floyd’s iconic psychedelic vibe - even without all the lights. Play "Breathe In The Air" by Pink Floyd on Acoustic Guitar Breathe by Pink Floyd: Chord Progressions on Guitar For the intro we alternate between Em and A for eight bars. Open chords are fine! Then in the verse we switch to a four-bar progression: CMaj7/G, Bm7, FMaj7, to G6. At the very end of the final bar, we play D7#9 to D7b9, which are are unusual chords. We'll come back to them. Authentic Chord Grips To play the verse chords the authentic way, we'll need barre chords for Bm7, FMaj7, and G6. We use the thumb to fret the bass note of FMaj7 and G6. Hold down a regular FMaj7 open chord then wrap your thumb around to play fret 1 of string 6, making sure string 1 rings out. To get to G6, move that grip up two frets, making sure string 1 rings out clearly - the open E string is what makes this grip a G6! D7#9 and D7b9 are strange grips, but they should be fine if you’re an intermediate guitarist. 🎸 Tips for the D7 extensions: We play D7#9 and D7b9 on the middle four strings - finger 2 plays... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WdIxIS9hvtk 867 2019-10-04T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-wonderwall-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-805 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5V81btmYxgE/hqdefault.jpg Wonderwall by Oasis Learn how to play "Wonderwall" by Oasis on guitar. Hey, Justin here! In this lesson, we're diving into the iconic "Wonderwall" by Oasis — a must-learn for any guitarist. It's one of those songs that people love to sing along to, and with a little practice, you'll be playing it with confidence. Even if it seems tricky initially, it's very approachable once we break it down. Most folks think the chords are hard, but it's all about getting the rhythm right. That's where we'll spend most of our time: nailing the groove that gives this tune its magic. One tip: keep your strumming arm moving—always. Watch Noel Gallagher play, and you'll notice how relaxed and consistent his strumming is. That flow is key, especially if you want to sing along while playing. Trust me; I've played this at countless parties—if the rhythm's solid, people will sing along. 🎸 Want to make learning songs even easier? Try the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App—it's beginner-friendly, full of guided tutorials (including Wonderwall!), and comes with interactive chords, lyrics, tabs, and practice tools. Start your free trial today and take your guitar playing to the next level! Chords and Progressions (Intro + Verse) The chords are manageable and take 10 minutes to get under your fingers. You'll need a capo on the 2nd fret. Some chord names might sound fancy — like Em7, Dsus4, A7sus4, Cadd9 — but for ease, we'll refer to them as Em, G, D, A, and C when we're singing or talking through the song. Intro progression: Em – G – D – A (repeats a few times) Verse progression: G – D – A – Em, then again: G – D – A At the end of the first verse: Em – G – A – C – D – A The second verse goes back to: Em – G – D – A (repeats) Chunking it this way makes the structure easy to memorize. Pre-Chorus and Chorus The pre-chorus is the trickiest part to remember. It goes like this: C – D – Em (whole bar) C (2 beats) – D (2 beats) – Em Then, we shift into a quicker progression: G – D/F# – Em – G – A (for two bars) It helps to sing the lyrics in your head (or out lou... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5V81btmYxgE 2099 2025-04-11T15:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-fray-how-to-save-a-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-307 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fE-Q5oWNrjg/hqdefault.jpg How To Save A Life by The Fray Learn how to play "How to Save a Life" by The Fray on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play How to Save a Life by The Fray on the guitar. This beautiful song is a heartfelt ballad that lends itself well to guitar. While it's primarily a piano-driven song, our guitar arrangement captures its essence beautifully. We'll explore different ways to play it, starting simple and gradually adding complexity. Let's dive in! Basic Chord Progression and Strumming Pattern We'll start with a simplified version of the song, perfect for beginners. The verse primarily uses two chords, G and D. We alternate between these two chords, creating the foundation of the song. For the chorus, we introduce a few more chords: C, D, Am, Em, and G. This progression gives the chorus its distinctive, emotional feel. For this song, we'll use what I like to call the "old faithful" strumming pattern: down, down-up, up-down. This pattern works well for both the verses and the chorus, providing a steady rhythm that complements the song's emotional tone. Remember, the key to a great performance is in the dynamics - keep the verses a bit quieter and let the chorus ring out with more energy. 👉 Need help with the Old Faithful strumming pattern? Here's a lesson for you! Adding Complexity As you become more comfortable with the basic version, we can add some complexity to make our guitar arrangement sound more like the original piano part. One way to do this is by introducing a D chord with an F# bass note. This small change adds depth to the sound and brings us closer to the piano's rich harmony. We can also vary the chord progression slightly in the verses. Instead of simply alternating between G and D, try this sequence: G, D with F# bass, Em, D with F# bass. This progression adds more movement and interest to the verses, mirroring some of the piano's melodic lines. Picking and Strumming Combination To further enhance our arrangement, we can combine picking and strumming techniques. In the verses, try picking out individual notes from the c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fE-Q5oWNrjg 463 2018-02-04T21:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/leann-rimes-how-do-i-live-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-203 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/olXGVSm4zwA/hqdefault.jpg How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes Learn The LeAnn Rimes Hit "How Do I Live" on Acoustic Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes on acoustic guitar. It's a great song to explore key changes, sus chords, unusual timing, picked fingerstyle, and more! We'll learn How Do I Live with a guitar capo on Fret 2, which enables us to play the song in its original tuning, mainly using open chords, but you'll need some barre chords too. We also cover embellishments, dynamics, and other elements you can incorporate to jazz up your cover of How Do I Live. 💨 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs. It comes with verified tabs, chords, and lyrics for How Do I Live and lots of other cool songs! Now let's get started and check out some basics on how to play this LeAnn Rimes hit on the acoustic guitar. How Do I Live: Chord Progression The chords last half a bar in some sections and a full bar in others, and a few only last for one beat! We'll discuss the duration of each chord in the video lesson, but it helps if you're super familiar with the original track. Guitar Chords for the Intro Each chord in the intro lasts half a bar (except the final G and Asus4), and every second chord is pushed, meaning we change to it half a beat early. Here's the progression: C, G, F, Em C, G, F, G, Asus4. Note that we strum Asus4 only on beat 4! You can pick out some melody notes to add some interest. Before the first C chord, I always play the notes G, A, and B, then make sure C is the highest note from the C chord that rings. 💡 Pro Tip! It's much easier to make sense of these fills and runs if you know the notes in open position. I also strike the open E string before switching to G, then mute it over the G. I don't think the traditional G chord sounds good, so I make D the top note instead. Over F, I like playing a C-B-A-B run by using the open FMaj7 grip. Guitar Chords for the Verses This is an 11-bar sequence, with each chord lasting a full bar, except for F#m and Bm7. The sequence is: D, A/C#, Em, Asus4 D, A/C#, G, |F#m Bm7 | Em, |F#m Bm7 |, Gs... https://www.youtube.com/embed/olXGVSm4zwA 1087 2023-05-21T02:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/deep-purple-smoke-on-the-water-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-311 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dr9izvP4a6E/hqdefault.jpg Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple Learn how to play "Smoke on The Water" by Deep Purple on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Smoke on The Water on the guitar. This iconic tune by Deep Purple is probably one of the most played guitar riffs of all time. The Main Riff We'll start with the main riff. This is the part of the song that is most recognizable and often the first thing people learn when they pick up this song. What's interesting is that many people learn the main riff and don't learn the rest of the song. But the rest of the song isn't very difficult at all. So, after you've finished learning the main riff, check out the rest of the song because it's fun to play and not tricky. The Verse and the Chorus Moving on to the verse, it's using a G and an F power chord. It's important to mute it after playing the sixth string, fifth string, and fourth string. In between the chords, it's just a case of relaxing the hand and the fingers. They're staying in position but then relaxing the pressure there, which helps make the mute happen. The chorus uses a C power chord, an A flat power chord, and then a riff using similar notes to the little intro thing. Each note is played on the beat. So, have one, two, three, four, and then this riff. A Bonus Trick If you're feeling adventurous, I have a clever clogs thing you might want to check out. Once you've played the riff, the bass comes in doing continuous notes there. If you're using your fingers to pick the main riff, you can use your thumb to play that bass note and do them both at the same time. It takes a bit of practice, but it just fattens it up a bit. It's a fun thing to do. Final Thoughts I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun playing this tune. It really is probably one of the biggest guitar riffs of all time and definitely worth having in your repertoire. You know, if you're going to try and do it properly, just like the record, you're going to have to listen to the original recording a bunch of times because it's not just the right notes in the right place; it's getting the feel o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dr9izvP4a6E 671 2017-12-04T12:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-little-wing-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3163 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YWYDy46mjC8/hqdefault.jpg Little Wing [3/3] by Jimi Hendrix Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. This is a classic Hendrix tune, learned by pretty much everyone at some point. Bit tricky to get the thumb over but great fun and pretty easy to use the licks in other tunes (like Under The Bridge, RHCP). https://www.youtube.com/embed/YWYDy46mjC8 541 2018-02-08T18:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dolly-parton-jolene-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-324 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rXB-fRTrdyg/hqdefault.jpg Jolene by Dolly Parton Learn How To Play "Jolene" by Dolly Parton On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Jolene by Dolly Parton on acoustic guitar. This country classic uses only 3 easy open chords, but it has some tricky fingerstyle parts too! We'll start the simple version for any beginner guitar players and develop it to make things a bit more interesting! We'll also explore the proper finger style you need to sound just like the original recording. This is a great campfire song to learn - an acoustic favorite that will get people singing! It's a great tune to have under your belt, so grab your acoustic, and let's dive in! 🤔 Did you know? Miley Cyrus is Dolly Parton's goddaughter, and she has her own version of Jolene. Her cover projects completetly different emotions, but also sounds beautiful. Dolly must be very proud of her. :) Simple Beginner Version If you want to play along with the original recording, you need a capo on your fourth fret. You can also adjust it or play it open if it suits better your singing range. You only need three chords with slightly different chord progressions to play this song. You'll play arrangements of the A minor, C, and G chords. Use all downstrums; you can even use your thumb instead of a pick. Make sure you can play the whole song and get the feeling of the form and how it works with the lyrics. It'll help stick in your musical mind! Now for the strumming pattern, take it easy and start with super simple strumming if you're a beginner. You'll play 2 beats per bar with an accent on beat one. This might feel different than your typical 4x4, but relax into the pattern and start slow & you'll get it in no time! Strumming Variation & Fingerstyle Time to see what we can do to make things interesting. :) These options will take some practice depending on your skill level. Adding upstrums already makes the rhythm a bit more lively. Increase your tempo as you gain confidence. Keep that strumming hand moving! For the fingerstyle pattern, the movement really happens by picking the ba... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXB-fRTrdyg 1040 2018-01-22T06:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-i-could-have-lied-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-067 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUHCymI4YDU/hqdefault.jpg I Could Have Lied by Red Hot Chili Peppers Let's learn this Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar classic. In this guitar lesson we'll learn how to play I Could Have Lied by Red Hot Chili Peppers. John Frusciante is a true genius - in my book, he's one of the greatest guitar players of the 20th and 21st centuries. In this song, Frusciante plays acoustic guitar in regular tuning. We'll focus on the original guitar parts here - but I've noticed he varies them in live versions, so we'll take a look at the differences between the two. This tune is just amazing - in so many ways! The riff is cool, and Frusciante uses his quirky “barre chord substitute” grips. They’re great fun to learn! So if you're up for some barre chords, a cool riff, and some rhythmic challenges, grab your guitar and let's get going with this Red Hot Chili Peppers classic. I Could Have Lied by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Playing Tips for Main Guitar Riff In the video, we'll spend some time working on the rhythm for the intro and verse riff. There's quite a lot going on, and it'll take some practice to get it right. It's a syncopated rhythm, so it's tricky to play and even harder to sing over. 🚨 Music Is All About Rhythm: Those of you following my Rhythm Maestro Course will understand how important rhythm is. We also cover 16th-note rhythms, like the one from I Could Have Lied, in depth in Grade 5 of my guitar-learning system! I always say that it's best to learn rhythm by listening, but it’s good to dig deeper into tricky rhythms like this and know how to count them. We look at the exact count in the video. If you want to nail it, your main goal should be to listen to where the notes fall in relation to the beat. Playing Guitar & Singing? The riff in I Could Have Lied is the perfect example of a syncopated pattern (a rhythm that contains silent beats). Frusciante repeats the same notes in a cycle but starts on different subdivisions of the beat, making the riff feel strange but cool. One thing about syncopation is that it can make it really tricky to sing as you play. As always, I'll remind you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TUHCymI4YDU 1217 2021-03-12T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lisa-loeb-stay-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-266 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mPJGvJ9B9To/hqdefault.jpg Stay by Lisa Loeb Learn to Play ‘Stay (I Missed You)’ by Lisa Loeb ‘Stay (I Missed You)’ is a standout acoustic track from the mid 90s and a great example of how thoughtful guitar parts can support a vocal line while carrying the emotional weight of a song. In this lesson, we learn how the arrangement works, how the guitar part is constructed, and how to play each section with confidence and clarity. The tune blends creative chord shapes, a bright capoed tone, and a fluid rhythmic feel, making it a rewarding study for any intermediate guitarist. Capo Placement and Upper-Neck Voicings One of the defining features of this song is the capo placed at the sixth fret. This unusual placement instantly changes the guitar’s character, giving it a lighter, more delicate sound. It also lets us use familiar shapes in much higher positions, creating chord voicings that would otherwise be awkward or impossible. We learn how to navigate this upper area of the fretboard without losing our sense of position and how to count frets accurately when the capo shifts our visual reference points. Working in these higher registers is an excellent way to develop comfort with the so-called dusty end of the neck. Melodic Intro Figures and Picking Patterns The opening riff is built on a sequence of three-string patterns that outline the harmony one note at a time. These figures rely less on full chords and more on carefully chosen intervals that move through the progression in a melodic way. We learn how the shapes connect, how to keep each note precise, and how to hear the rhythmic placement of each figure. While counting the subdivisions can help, most players benefit from repeated listening to absorb the natural flow of the line. Once the rhythm is internalized, the hands tend to follow more comfortably. This section is also valuable practice for maintaining relaxed picking motion while playing in high positions. Harmonic Movement and Creative Chord Shapes Beyond the intro, the song uses several interesting chord shapes that bring out its unique sound. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPJGvJ9B9To 878 2025-12-04T12:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lenny-kravitz-always-on-the-run-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5_vbj3cMIGo/hqdefault.jpg Always On The Run by Lenny Kravitz Learn to play "Always On The Run" by Lenny Kravitz on guitar! Hey, how you doing? It's Justin here! Today, it's all about Always On The Run by Lenny Kravitz. Before we go any further, I just want to apologize! It seems one of my strings is a touch out of tune, which is odd because I’m usually pretty fussy about tuning. This one slipped past me somehow, sorry! I loved this period for Lenny Kravitz – raw, edgy, super funky, and twice as cool. :) Always On The Run is a great tune, and it’s loads of fun to play on the guitar, especially if you’ve got a jam buddy or a looper pedal. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the riff in detail. Let's go! Always On The Run – Main Riff Lick 1 The riff begins with the low E string. Then finger 3 plays 5:7 (string 5, fret 7), followed by finger 1 on fret 5, which we slide back to fret 4. Play fret 5 again, then move up to 4:5 (string 4, fret 5). Play the note, then flick off so the open D string rings out. Then we go back to where we started: finger 3 on 5:7. 🧐 Playing With Distortion – This riff sounds wicked with distortion, but you must mute adjacent strings with your fretting or picking hand. Any mistakes are always really noticeable with distortion! Lick 2 The first four notes are the same as Lick 1. But instead of playing 5:5 with finger 1 the second time, we use finger 4. Pick it three times, then flick off to finger 1 at 5:2. Now finger 2 goes on 6:3 and flicks off to reveal the open E string. Then we pick open string 4 and hammer on at fret 2 with finger 1. Done! Always On The Run – Picking In the video, I exaggerate the hand movement a little so you can see what's going on. It's almost like I'm strumming, except I pick out individual notes. Why am I doing this? This technique keeps the hand moving, ensures I'm in time and reveals when should use down or up picks. For example, in lick 1 we need upstrums on the second D note (at 5:5) and on the final E (5:7). In the second riff, we use two consecutive upstrums on the D (5:5) with finger 4 because they are on off-be... https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_vbj3cMIGo 302 2017-10-24T12:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-teardrops-on-my-guitar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-214 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3fNRNYfQndU/hqdefault.jpg Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift Huge hit for Mz Swift this one, and it's nice one to play on acoustic. In the intro, I use a thing I call 'picked fingerstyle' for the second verse, and there is a lesson on it in the Intermediate Course IM-156 which should help you out if you wanna get going with that kind of thing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3fNRNYfQndU 561 2017-11-29T17:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-everlong-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-417 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2IsJM_lhtBY/hqdefault.jpg Everlong by Foo Fighters Learn "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters On Guitar! A classic rock song to play in Drop D Tuning. In this guitar lesson, we’ll learn how to play Everlong on guitar. Super clever and loads of fun for Intermediate Grade 5+ guitar players. We'll explore the chords and strumming for this Foo Fighters classic in Drop D Tuning. You'll need to tune your thickest E string down a tone to your D note. This Foo Fighter song is fantastic fun to play, and there's an excellent picking pattern in the intro. 🚨 Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, and Chris Shiflett all play different parts of this tune. The three parts together are a bit sticky, so you'll learn an approximation of them! There are a few different approaches to the strumming pattern with down and up strums. You'll have to try it out and see what works best for you! Grab your guitar & let’s get stuck in. How To Play Everlong On Guitar For the first riff, it’s all about the rhythm! You’ll start with open chords, but the intricate picking pattern is much more than the chords. Dave stabs his finger on and off when playing to get that unique riff groove. For an easy approach, push through a little harder with your pick to get those accents. 👂 Hopefully, you can hear that accent passage - it's fairly obvious! The accents come on beat 2, 3 ''and'', and the ''and ''after 4. Put into practice some heavy palm mute, and play quietly so you can make those accents stand out! Dave Ghrol’s Strumming Everlong If you watch some live versions, you’ll notice Dave playing all downstrokes in the intro. Then, when he gets into the rhythm, he adds some upstrums in the mix. You’ll need to put your palm muting into action to get this sounding right. Use the outside of your palm to mute the strings. The pre-chorus is also super interesting - we’re using an octave shape to play it. Mr. growl is a fine guitar player - he tends to do things in a simple way. Not too complex, and he makes it sound terrific! His approach is not the usual thing you might come up with - that’s what makes Foo Fighter such a g... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IsJM_lhtBY 912 2018-01-24T16:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-hey-jude-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-384 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VjJR46HdSqc/hqdefault.jpg Hey Jude by The Beatles Learn to play "Hey Jude" by The Beatles on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hey Jude by The Beatles on the guitar. This classic tune is a party sing-along favorite that will impress your friends and family. Let's dive in and explore this beautiful song together! Hey Jude is a timeless masterpiece that showcases The Beatles' songwriting brilliance. With its relatively simple chord progressions and memorable melody, it's perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. The song has three main sections: the verse, chorus, and bridge. Each section has its unique charm and offers different playing techniques to practice. You'll need to place your capo on the third fret to play along with the original recording. However, don't feel obligated to do this if it doesn't suit your voice. Experiment with different capo positions to find the perfect key for your vocal range. Remember, there's no right or wrong here – it's all about what feels comfortable for you! Chord Progression The verse follows a simple 8-bar pattern: D, A, A7, D, G, D, A, D. This progression creates a warm, inviting sound that perfectly complements the lyrics. The chorus introduces a few new chords and a slightly more complex progression. We start with D7, then move to G, D (with an F# bass), E minor 7, Dsus, A, and back to D. There's also a cool little transition from D to D major 7 to D7 that adds a nice touch of sophistication. The bridge section is where we really let loose! It's a simple yet effective progression of D, C, G, and back to D. This part repeats, building in intensity as the song reaches its climax. Strumming Pattern and Singing Along Beginners should start with a simple down-strum pattern: four down-strums per bar. You can add some up-strums and experiment with different rhythms as you get more comfortable. Remember, keeping a steady beat and letting the music flow naturally is key. One of the best things about Hey Jude is its sing-along quality. As you play, try to sing along with the lyrics. Don't worry if you're... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VjJR46HdSqc 683 2018-06-03T20:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-kinks-lola-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-414 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H7rksWU7G3E/hqdefault.jpg Lola by The Kinks Learn How to Play "Lola" by The Kinks on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lola by The Kinks on the guitar. This iconic tune, written by the legendary Ray Davies, is a fantastic choice for those looking to expand their repertoire and improve their guitar skills. The Chords: Verse and Bridge We'll start by looking at the chords for Lola. One of the key characteristics of this song is its distinct chord progression. Throughout the song, you'll find a variety of chords, including E, A, D, and C. The song kicks off with an E chord, setting the tone for the rest of the tune. The verse begins with the E chord, then transitions into an A chord, followed by a D, and finally concludes with a C chord. This progression is repeated throughout all the verses, with a slight variation in the third verse. One interesting feature to note is the use of an A sus4 chord that only occurs for a single beat, adding a unique flair to the melody. The bridge introduces barre chords, starting off with a B barre chord. This section also includes an F-sharp, an A, and an A minor chord. These chords contrast the more straightforward chords used in the verse, adding depth and complexity to the song. Strumming and Rhythm The strumming pattern for Lola is an essential aspect of the song's rhythm. It involves a combination of picking and strumming, allowing you to emphasize certain notes while playing. This technique adds a distinctive sound to the song, making it stand out. The rhythm of Lola is a bit more intricate than your typical song, making it an excellent choice for those looking to challenge themselves. The song incorporates 16th note strumming, creating a lively and upbeat rhythm. The rhythm varies throughout the song, providing an opportunity to practice different strumming techniques and patterns. The Intro and the Link The intro to Lola is a hallmark of the song. It begins with a C chord, followed by a unique rhythmic pattern that sets the tone for the rest of the song. This intro is a great opportunity to practic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/H7rksWU7G3E 1254 2017-12-04T14:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-lennon-imagine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-992 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MhoFmjMYt9g/hqdefault.jpg Imagine by John Lennon Learn to Play "Imagine" by John Lennon on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Imagine on the guitar. This timeless classic by John Lennon is not only one of the most beautiful songs ever written, but it's also quite approachable for guitarists of various skill levels. While Lennon originally performed Imagine on piano, it translates beautifully to guitar. We'll explore a guitar arrangement that captures the essence of this iconic song while keeping it accessible and enjoyable to play. The song follows a straightforward progression that creates its signature peaceful atmosphere. We start with a gentle C chord that flows into an F, creating that familiar opening sequence. The verse maintains this relaxed feel, and we'll learn how adding some subtle variations with major seventh chords can enhance the overall sound. Chord Progression The verse progression is built around C and F chords, with some beautiful variations that add color to the song. When we reach the chorus, we introduce E and E7 chords, creating a distinctive emotional lift that makes this song special. The progression feels natural and flows smoothly, making it perfect for both beginners and more advanced players who want to add their own touch. Strumming Pattern We'll start with simple strumming patterns that anyone can handle. Once you're comfortable with the basic progression, we can explore some more nuanced rhythmic patterns that capture the song's gentle, flowing quality. Remember, the key is to keep it smooth and not overcomplicate things—sometimes less is more, especially with a song like Imagine. Final Thoughts While we'll learn how to play it close to the original style, feel free to experiment with different strumming patterns and chord voicings once you're comfortable with the basic progression. The song's simple structure makes it perfect for adding your own personal touch while maintaining its essential character. Focus on maintaining a steady, gentle rhythm that lets the song breathe. The magic of Imagine lies in its simpli... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MhoFmjMYt9g 706 2018-02-05T18:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/violent-femmes-blister-in-the-sun-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-127 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gxqk0UUwPOk/hqdefault.jpg Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes Learn "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes on guitar! In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes on the guitar. This is a worldwide hit and an easy acoustic song for advancing beginners. :) There are some tricky parts, but take it slowly and you’ll get there. Also – don’t worry a lot about precision. This song will sound great even if you play it sloppily! 💡 Following my guitar lessons? This song best suits Grade 3+ guitar players! Follow the song tutorial for details, and grab your free trial for JustinGuitarTABS to get lyrics, chords, and tab to follow along. And if you’d like some extra inspiration, check out Violent Femme’s live versions – there’s lots of killer stuff in there! Definitely improvise and make your own cover of Blister In The Sun too. :) Now, let’s grab our guitars and get stuck in. How to Learn Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes Let’s start by learning that cool intro riff. Don’t worry about counting the rhythm here. The best way to learn it is by listening a lot to the original recording. Start with finger 3 on 6:3 (string 6, fret 3). Finger 2 then plays 5:2, we pick string 6 again, then lay finger 3 over on 5:3, before lifting it off to play 5:2. Repeat that three times before finishing on 6:3 with finger 3. After each repetition of the full riff, strum down-up with muted strings. See the video for a demo. :) 💡Start slow! You can gradually build your speed to match the original song’s tempo. Gordon Gano's Picking It turns out I was playing this song wrong for years! When researching for this video, I realized that Gordon Gano – the lead guitarist of Violet Femmes – plays all down picks. You’ll notice this in the live videos! He also uses a sweep motion when he picks 6:3 then 5:3. This is part of what gives this tune that swing. The sweep is a smoother motion than two separate downpicks – it feels like a mini strum. It takes a bit of practice to make this effortless! Let’s look at the verse riff now. Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes – Verse Riff Th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gxqk0UUwPOk 515 2022-02-25T09:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/woody-guthrie-this-land-is-your-land-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-126 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Qq9qZKakAY/hqdefault.jpg This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie Woody Guthrie was one of the finest folk singers of all time! He wrote many great songs. Today's lesson will teach us how to play the classic This Land is Your Land, one of the greatest American Folk songs ever. We'll learn a simplified version - the original recording is a bit more complicated. Still, this more friendly version sounds excellent, and you'll be able to sing along with it in no time! If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be fit to play this song right in Grade 1. You can keep the strumming pattern simple, and you'll only need the open chords A, D, and E. You'll also need your guitar capo on the fifth fret of your guitar neck. The original recording is a bit more complicated. The bass notes of the chords work with the melody and using the capo on the second fret. Then, we play the shapes of a C, a G, and an F Chord. This Land is Your Land - Rhythm Woody Guthrie was playing in an era where the strict adherence to bars and the number of strums in each bar wasn't kind of the norm. So, very often, he'll put an extra strum in or leave one out. Mathematically, that's not correct, but it sounds great! It connects with the audience, and that's the important stuff in music! If you've got the skills to add and remove a beat here and there, great! But if you're totally new to guitar, I'd recommend you learn how to play This Land is My Land in a more straightforward version and not miss or add incorrect strums. Later on, in our guitar journey, you'll learn that if it sounds good, it's good. For now - just practice the foundations, so you don't fell into bad habits. :) 🤐 Why Is Strumming So Hard? Well, you may be doing it the wrong way. Check out my 11 Tips for Guitarists Struggling With Strumming Patterns! But the golden rule for a beginner guitarist is: keep your hands moving consistently, like a pendulum, even when you don't need to strum. ;) Now let's explore a bit more how to play the chords on This Land is Your Land. This Land is Your Land - Guitar Chords So, place your capo on the 5th f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Qq9qZKakAY 535 2018-02-04T22:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-easy-chords-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-377 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UDXEciRSGm8/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child O Mine [EASY CHORDS] by Guns N' Roses Beginners Guitar Players Can Play "Sweet Child O Mine"! Use these basic chords & rhythm arrangements to rock out on your guitar. :) This easy guitar lesson will teach us how to play the chords and rhythm for Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N' Roses. This lesson aims to give beginner guitar players a way of playing through this whole song. But we'll go further! We'll also explore the harmonies in the song behind the solo and the rest of the tune. :) 💡 This lesson is the second part of my Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Series! If you want to learn how to play Slash's Intro to Sweet Child O Mine, click here and watch the first lesson. You'll fnd links to solos and riffs lessons below in this page. Sweet Child O Mine is a mega-hit! It has incredible guitar playing and also great production. Many amazing guitar layers give body to this all-time classic rock song. There's the lead guitar part, the rhythm guitar, and even some acoustics parts with loads of embellishment. Without talking about the many awesome solos... Ah, Slash. 💡 Following my guitar courses? This lesson is excellent for Grade 2+ guitar players! Now grab your guitar & get ready to rock. Sweet Child O Mine Main Chord Sequence It's a relatively easy arrangement to pick out. Here is the first chord sequence to play Sweet Child O Mine: Two bars of the D chord. Two bars of C chord. Two bars of the G chord. Go back to two bars of the D chord. This eight-bar chord sequence plays underneath the main riff at the beginning. It gradually gets louder and louder. You'll play this same chord sequence in different parts, four down strums to the bar. Check out the close-up in the video for more chord variation options. Listen to the Original Recording! After you learn the primary sequence, listen to the original recording. It's a great way to advance your guitar skills and pick out which bit you might want to play. Listen and try to work out who does what. It's a fun exercise and helpful if you're fortunate to play this Guns N' Roses tune with a band. Take note of how... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UDXEciRSGm8 1227 2017-12-31T03:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sting-fields-of-gold-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-803 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sj_9-svbePA/hqdefault.jpg Fields of Gold by Sting Learn to Play "Fields of Gold" by Sting on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fields of Gold on the guitar. This popular song from Sting's album "Ten Summoner's Tales" has a beautiful melody that's sure to impress your friends. So, let's dive right in and start making some music! First, I want to mention that the original version of this song has a more fingerstyle, nylon-string vibe, played by the talented Dominic Miller. However, we'll look at a simplified version for this lesson. But there's no need to worry. We'll also see some interesting embellishments you can add to make your rendition a little bit more elaborate. Understanding the Chord Progression The song starts off with eight bars on an A minor chord. From there, we'll just strum through it quite simply, with four strums per bar. This way, you can get a feel for the song and understand where you're at with it. When we get to the verse, the chord changes to an Asus2, which is simply lifting your first finger off while playing the A minor chord. You'll play Asus2 for a whole bar, then you'll switch to D over F#, then another bar of that, going to C, and then back to Asus2. The verse progression continues with E minor, to C, D, and D - G - A minor for a whole bar, then half a bar of A minor, half a bar of F, and then two bars of C – C sus if you want to get all fancy. That's the sequence for the verse. Adding Interest with Strumming The strumming pattern I've suggested for this song is quite simple. However, it's just a starting point. As you gain confidence, you can add more strums, or what I call "ghosting," where your pick lightly hits the strings to create a little bit more interest. Wrapping Up Remember, when you're learning a song, it's not just about playing the right notes. It's also about making it your own. Feel free to experiment with different strumming patterns, chord voicings, and even fingerstyle patterns. The beauty of playing guitar is that there's always room for creativity and personal expression. Remember, practicing... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sj_9-svbePA 684 2018-02-05T16:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bb-king-the-thrill-is-gone-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-006 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/newoHrsbEG0/hqdefault.jpg The Thrill Is Gone [SOLO] by BB King Learn to Play "The Thrill is Gone" by BB King on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the intro solo of The Thrill is Gone on the guitar. This iconic song is popularly known as one of BB King's most famous pieces, and it's a fantastic introduction to his unique style of blues. The Thrill is Gone showcases BB King's talent and mastery of the blues genre. It's a song that holds a lot of emotional weight, and this is beautifully translated through the guitar. The song's solo is a perfect blend of technical skill and soulful expression, making it both challenging and rewarding to learn. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or a beginner looking to expand your repertoire, this song is a great choice. We'll dive into the solo one lick at a time. 👉 Click on the link if you don't know the rhythm of the The Thrill Is Gone! You should know it if you're learning the solo. Nailing the Techniques One of the key techniques in this song is the 'BB vibrato.' This style of vibrato, named after BB King himself, is a beautiful way to add expression to your notes. Getting it right can take some practice, but it's well worth the effort. Another technique to master in this song is the 'blues curl.' This slight bend on the note adds a touch of bluesy flavor to your playing. It's not a full bend, but just a little nudge to give the note some extra character. The Beauty of Bends Bends play a significant role in The Thrill is Gone. They add a lot of emotional depth and really help to convey the feeling behind the music. But remember, the bends in this song are not always in tune. This is part of what gives the song its unique sound. Final Tips Listening to the original recording is crucial when learning The Thrill is Gone. It will give you a clear idea of the rhythm and feel of the song, which are just as important as the notes themselves. Try to immerse yourself in the music and really get a sense of the emotions behind it. Check out the video for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to play The Thrill is Gone. You'll find d... https://www.youtube.com/embed/newoHrsbEG0 1132 2017-12-15T13:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-daughters-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-414 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JFimkHUAB8w/hqdefault.jpg Daughters by John Mayer Learn to Play "Daughters" by John Mayer on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Daughters by John Mayer on the guitar. This fantastic tune is relatively easy to play, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned guitarists. Verses and Choruses One of the most intriguing aspects of Daughters is the nearly identical chord progression in the verse and chorus. There's just one note that changes each time, creating a subtle yet impactful difference in the melody. This cleverly designed chord progression is a characteristic feature of John Mayer's music, and it's part of what makes this song so interesting to play. The verses and choruses primarily revolve around four chords: B minor 11, E minor 7, A7 sus, and D. These chords create a smooth, flowing progression that is easy to play and pleasing to the ear. The rhythm is in 3/4, enhancing the relaxed and comfortable feel of the song. Song Structure The structure of Daughters is relatively straightforward. The song begins with the verse, followed by the chorus, and this pattern repeats throughout. However, there is a bridge that introduces some more complex chords, adding a layer of depth to the song. The bridge is quite different from the rest of the song, with a harmonic progression that sets it apart. However, don't let this intimidate you! With a little practice, you'll be able to master this part of the song and add a new level of sophistication to your guitar playing. Practice and Progress As with any song, the key to mastering Daughters is consistent practice. Start by focusing on the verse chords and the rhythm, making sure you're comfortable with these elements before moving on to the bridge. Remember, it's not about rushing to learn everything at once but gradually building up your skills. You can tackle the bridge once you feel good with the verse and chorus. This part of the song introduces some more advanced chords, giving you a great opportunity to stretch your guitar-playing skills. Keep practicing, and before you know it... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JFimkHUAB8w 1220 2018-01-24T16:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/of-monsters-and-men-little-talks-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-620 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zc7HJ-A5gIk/hqdefault.jpg Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men Learn how to play "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Little Talks on the guitar. This energetic folk-rock song is a fantastic addition to your repertoire, combining simple chord progressions with dynamic strumming patterns that'll help develop your rhythm skills. This high-energy tune features a straightforward chord progression that's perfect for practicing your F chord alongside other open chords. While the chord sequence is simple, the fast-paced nature of the song makes it an excellent workout for your strumming hand and helps build stamina. Basic Chord Progression Let's look at the chords you'll need to know. The main chords you'll be playing are Am, F, C, and G. The structure is pretty consistent, so once you have it down, you'll have the song down. You'll notice that sometimes, instead of the G, the song holds onto the C for two bars, but that's the only real variation. For most of the song, you'll be moving through Am, F, C, and then G. It's a super common progression that pops up in a bunch of tunes, so it's a good one to really learn and get comfortable with. This simplicity makes it an ideal song for beginners who are comfortable with basic open chords and ready to work on their rhythm skills. Strumming Patterns and Rhythm The strumming patterns in Little Talks change to match the energy of the song. During the verses, the strumming is simple, with one strum per bar for each chord, so you'll strum the Am, then the F, and then the C, which you'll let ring out for two bars. When the song's energy increases, such as in the pre-chorus, you should strum twice per bar, hitting on beats one and three. The main chorus uses a more complex pattern: down, down, up, down, up, down, down, miss, up, down, up. It's important to keep your strumming hand moving consistently through this pattern. As you play faster, you may naturally emphasize the bass strings on the first down strum of the chorus pattern, which adds a nice accent to the second strum. Remember to s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zc7HJ-A5gIk 602 2018-02-04T23:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-folsom-prison-blues-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-502 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/etYciOKiPUQ/hqdefault.jpg Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash Ready for some Boom Chicha Strumming Pattern? :) I love playing Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash on the acoustic guitar. It has that Johnny Cash signature rhythm, but you can keep it simpler if you're a total beginner. That's a fun song to play, and you'll only need the E, A, and B7 Chords. 🎸 If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be fit to play this song in Grade 2! Cool stuff, eh? :) More advancing players can experiment with alternating the bass note, but before you even get there, make sure you've got the basics right. You should be able to change between chords while keeping a steady rhythm. Don't stop the strumming pattern when you change between chords! Now, let's check out a few tricks on playing Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash. How to Play "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash on the guitar! To sound good when playing Johnny Cash songs, you have to know how the rhythm is working! The Chicka Boom Chicka strumming only needs a strum on beats 1 and 3. If you're using the JustinGuitar Beginner Songbook 1, you'll strum twice every time the chord is written! To play the intro, you'll do two bars of E and two bars of A. Then, you'll get into the main sequence. For the verses, you'll play four bars of E, then four bars of A. You'll get back to E for the other four bars, then four bars of B7. To end the verses, you'll play the E Chord per two bars. Writing down the chord progression is an excellent way of visualizing the structure of a song. It might help you memorize how to play it too! So, if you don't have my songbooks, you might want to write the chord sequence out. Just check out the video tutorial for tips on how to do it! The Johnny Cash Strumming Pattern Here's how you can play this signature Johnny Cash rhythm. You'll play the bass note on Beat 1 and strum down and up on Beat 3. Start by doing that slowly until you get it right! Don't rush your practice, or you might end up grabbing some bad habits. When you play the bass note, in this case, it's ok if you hit one of the other notes... https://www.youtube.com/embed/etYciOKiPUQ 759 2018-02-04T23:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-neon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-328 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z6oDmSANUOg/hqdefault.jpg Neon by John Mayer Learn to Play "Neon" by John Mayer on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Neon by John Mayer on the guitar. This is a fantastic song to learn, especially for those looking to challenge themselves and improve their guitar skills. Neon is a complex song, and it's taken a lot of research to get it right. The fretting hand is not easy, but don't worry, we'll go through it step by step. While we can't all play it exactly like John Mayer, we can learn how he plays it and adapt it to fit our own finger shape and size. The big deal here really is the picking hand. Mayer uses just his thumb and first finger, which can make it a bit challenging at first. But once you've got the pattern under your thumb and finger, it makes it sound much more like the record. Chord Progression There are some beautiful chord progressions in Neon. The song starts with a distinctive chord that sets the tone for the rest of the song. As we progress, we encounter a variety of chords that make the song rich and varied. The song keeps fluctuating between these chords, creating a mesmerizing rhythm that is both soothing and exciting at the same time. There are also some open strings being played between the chords, which add to the overall beauty of the song. Next, we move onto a slightly more complex chord, but the transition is so smooth that it feels natural. John Mayer's ability to seamlessly transition between different chords is truly remarkable and is one of the things that make this song so enjoyable to play. Several other chords come into play throughout the song, each adding a new layer of complexity and richness. The chord progression in Neon is unique and beautiful, making it a fantastic song for those looking to challenge themselves and enhance their guitar-playing skills. Practice and Patience Mastering Neon by John Mayer on the guitar will require a lot of practice and patience. But don't get discouraged if you find it challenging at first. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. So, keep practicing, and soon, y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/z6oDmSANUOg 1439 2018-01-05T10:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-she-s-electric-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-208 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i3VQ22YCntQ/hqdefault.jpg She's Electric by Oasis Learn to play the Oasis hit "She's Electric" on guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play She's Electric by Oasis on the acoustic guitar. This is an absolute belter and so much fun to play! This acoustic version tutorial combines the three original layers and sounds really authentic. There's a lot to explore: barre chords, sus chords, extensions, movable shapes, drone chords, the shuffle feel, and more. 💙 The production on She's Electric is incredible, with genius-level layering and tons of memorable hooks. The guitar weaving even reminds me of The Rolling Stones. During the tutorial, we'll also look at some hints so you can figure out the separate layers in She's Electric. Learning songs and riffs by ear is crucial for your musical development! If you could only practice one area of the guitar, I'd recommend you focus on transcribing! :) Let's start with the intro. She's Electric by Oasis: Intro The intro chord progression for She's Electric is: F#11, F#11, F#11, |F#11 F| F#11 is easier than it sounds - don't let the name spook you. :) We play it using a songwriting grip. Hold a regular F# chord as an E Shape Barre Chord, then lift Finger 1 to reveal the open B and E strings. That's F#11. The F Barre Chord is a passing chord and falls on beat 4 of the final bar. If you're unsure about the timing, check out the Intro Chords video chapter. :) The rhythm stays consistent for the whole tune, so let's discuss it now. She's Electric by Oasis: Strumming Pattern The original strumming pattern to play She's Electric is pretty simple - we strum 8th Notes with accents on 2 and 4. Sure, there are slight variations, but this pattern is the framework. 🤔 To Accent Or Not To Accent? In live versions, Noel has a super relaxed strumming technique and doesn't play accents - the other instruments take care of them. But if you're playing alone, you should definitely add them - they really lift the tune. The trick is that the rhythm isn't straight - it has a slight shuffle feel. :) This means the "and" fall closer to the nex... https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3VQ22YCntQ 1104 2023-06-25T03:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-shouldn-t-matter-but-it-does-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-222 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zylXaOh3LIg/hqdefault.jpg Shouldn’t Matter But It Does by John Mayer Play "Shouldn't Matter, But It Does" by John Mayer In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play the chords and rhythm of Shouldn't Matter, But It Does from John Mayer's amazing Sob Rock album. This song is great to explore on the acoustic guitar, and we'll have a lot of fun learning it. 💡 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs! :) Get chords + lyrics and verified Tabs to follow along with my song lessons. Free trial here! Ready? Now let's get stuck in! Unpacking the Verse's Chord Progression Let's kick things off by peeling back the layers of the verse chord progression. This progression is the song's backbone, giving it its distinct sound and feel. The sequence is E, G# minor, C# minor, and A add9. This sequence creates a rich, layered sound that forms the song's foundation. The progression starts on the E chord, setting the song's tone. From there, we transition into the G# minor. After that, we move into the C# minor, and finally, we round off the progression with the A add9 chord. This chord progression flows beautifully and is repeated throughout the verses, giving the song its signature sound. But here's where things get even more interesting: John Mayer introduces an unexpected 3/4 bar. This subtle change might initially go unnoticed, but it adds an intriguing rhythmic twist to the song. These kinds of details make Mayer's songwriting unique and captivating. Exploring the Chorus After the verses, we arrive at the chorus, where some fresh chords enter the spotlight. Here, we're introduced to an A chord, an E chord with a G# bass, a C# minor, and a B chord. These new chords add a new layer of complexity and interest to the song, further enriching its harmonic canvas. The transition from the A chord to the E chord with a G# bass is particularly noteworthy, creating a beautiful melodic movement that really stands out. This transition is followed by the C# minor and the B chord, rounding off the chorus. The Rhythm: The Heart of the Song Now, let's talk about rhythm. The rhythm is the heartbeat of Shouldn't Mat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zylXaOh3LIg 898 2023-11-19T10:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/snow-patrol-run-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-518 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sp54DmmDRTA/hqdefault.jpg Run by Snow Patrol Learn to play "Run" by Snow Patrol on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Run on the guitar. Released by Snow Patrol, Run has become one of their signature songs. It's known for its memorable melody and emotional depth. The song features a mix of gentle verses and powerful choruses, making it perfect for both intimate performances and full-band arrangements. It's an incredibly catchy Pop-Rock song that showcases beautiful chord progressions and engaging strumming patterns. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate player, you'll find this song both challenging and rewarding to learn. Main Riff and Verse Structure The song opens with a distinctive riff built around variations of an A minor chord. This creates a haunting, atmospheric introduction that immediately draws listeners in. The progression moves through some interesting chord variations, giving the verse its characteristic sound while remaining relatively straightforward to play. What makes this part special is the way the chords flow into each other, creating a continuous, rolling feel. The rhythm follows a steady 8-count pattern that, once mastered, becomes almost meditative to play. This foundation is crucial for capturing the song's essence. Understanding the Rhythm The timing in Run follows a standard 4/4 time signature, but we'll count it in eight beats to make it easier to follow. This approach helps us nail the precise moments when chord changes occur and ensures we maintain that hypnotic groove throughout the verses. The key to getting this right is maintaining a steady count while letting the chords ring out naturally. Don't worry if it takes some time to get comfortable with the timing–it's worth taking it slow to build up that muscle memory. The Chorus When we hit the chorus, the song opens up dramatically with full, open chords. The progression here is beautifully simple, starting with C and moving through G, Am, and F. What makes it special is the strumming pattern, which emphasizes certain beats, giving the chorus its powerful,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sp54DmmDRTA 574 2019-01-07T15:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-meters-cissy-strut-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-365 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pOZE30jUH6Q/hqdefault.jpg Cissy Strut by The Meters Learn to play "Cissy Strut" by The Meters on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cissy Strut on the guitar. This funky classic by The Meters is a fantastic introduction to Funk guitar and showcases the brilliance of Leo Nocentelli's guitar work. As we explore this song, we'll discover that Funk guitar is all about timing, groove, and playing in perfect sync with the band. While the individual notes might seem simple at first, the real challenge (and fun!) lies in nailing the rhythm and feel. Funk guitar often involves a lot of muted playing and precise chord work. The key is to lock in with the rest of the band, especially the drums and bass. This creates that irresistible groove that makes Funk so captivating. As we dive into Cissy Strut, keep in mind that we're not just learning notes—we're learning how to be part of a tight, Funky unit! 👉 If you're into Funk, you'll love my Funk Guitar Course! We'll focus on three main parts in this lesson: The main riff of the song, a complementary riff, and a funky chord progression for the organ solo. Each of these parts has its own unique flavor and challenges. Don't worry if they seem tricky at first - we'll break them down step by step, and with practice, you'll have them under your fingers in no time! The Importance of Rhythm and Timing I can't stress enough how crucial rhythm and timing are in Funk guitar, especially for a song like Cissy Strut. The magic of this tune isn't in complex chord progressions or flashy solos—it's all about the groove. When you're practicing, focus on getting your timing spot on. Try to match Leo Nocentelli's playing exactly, aiming to make your guitar almost disappear into the original recording. Practicing with the original track is a great way to develop this skill. Start by learning the parts on your own, then gradually incorporate them with the recording. Your goal should be to play so tightly with the original that you can barely distinguish your playing from Leo's. This exercise will do wonders for your timing and overall... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pOZE30jUH6Q 992 2017-12-15T08:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/mark-knopfler-redbud-tree-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-207 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CVoW3ODyCyY/hqdefault.jpg Redbud Tree by Mark Knopfler Mark Knopfler told me how to play "Redbud Tree" right! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the beautiful Redbud Tree by Mark Knopfler on guitar. This is the first track on his Privateering album, and apart from being an incredible song, it also has cool hidden tricks like alternating time signatures - but they are almost invisible! The time signatures seamlessly flow together, thanks to Mark Knopfler's awesome musicianship. This makes it tricky to play, but don't worry - we cover all the details in this lesson. 🙏 Thank you, Mark Knopfler! I wasn't sure if the acoustic guitar was played in the open position or with a capo on the 5th fret, but Mark Knopfler was very generous and emailed me the secrets to get Redbud Tree right. You won't find these details anywhere else. :) The guitar parts on Redbug Tree are sublime. We'll learn the main acoustic part, the electric lead solo, and how to make it sound like the original. 💡 Learn faster with JustinGuitarTabs. Get tabs, chords and lyrics for Redbud Tree and loads more songs, including some classic Dire Straits tunes! :) Now let's get started and learn how to play Redbud Tree. We'll start with the acoustic guitar tutorial and then explore the solo on the electric guitar. Redbud Tree by Mark Knopfler: Acoustic Guitar We play Redbud Tree with a capo on 3, and all the chords are relative to the capo. For example, when I say Bm, I mean a minor barre chord two frets above the capo. :) 🤩 It took me a while to find the right capo position, but luckily Mark Knopfler helped me out! ;) I transcribed it without a capo, then put a capo on 5, but I wasn't sure which was right, so I emailed my friend Richard Bennett, who is Mark Knopfler's rhythm guitar player, and the outcome was better than I thought! Mark Knopfler emailed me the original guitar takes and shared his secrets, which we're about to uncover. Intro Chords & Rhythm The intro chords are simple - you need four bars of Bm. The key part is the rhythm, and the intro pattern is handy for the rest of Redbud Tree. Pla... https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVoW3ODyCyY 2264 2023-06-18T02:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blake-shelton-boys-round-here-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-106 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Th64W_6IoSQ/hqdefault.jpg Boys 'Round Here by Blake Shelton Easy 2-Chord Country Song on Guitar? 🤠 Learn how to play "Boys Round Here" by Blake Shelton! Even if you're not the biggest country fan - this song is so much to play. It has a high-energy beat that instantly boosts your mood. :) In today's easy lesson, you'll learn how to play Boys Round Here by Blake Shelton on the acoustic guitar. This song is excellent for beginners. Even if you’re a new guitar player, you can get around this one! You only need two simple chords and an easy strumming pattern. Go ahead - lasso that wild guitar & let's get stuck in. :) Boys Round Town - Guitar Chords To play Boys Round Here, you only need the A and D chords. Not sure how to play those chords? Go check out my Beginner Guitar Course. These are the very first chords you’ll learn with me. :) 💡 A great way to improve your chord changes is by practicing One Minute Changes exercise. This exercise is super effective in improving this skill! Playing along with the original backing tracks is also super helpful. It prevents you from getting into the habit of stopping between chords. This can easily become a habit for beginners, which is trickier to break than prevent! In the video lesson, you'll notice my thumb creeping over my guitar neck. Your muscles first need to strengthen before playing the guitar like this! I recommend keeping your thumb in the back of your guitar neck. This way, you’ll develop the proper muscle in your fingers, which will prepare you for stuff like Barre chords. :) Boys Round Town - Guitar Strumming For the guitar strumming, keep it really simple. Use a metronome if you need it, and start with one strum per bar. Aim for an even motion with your strumming arm. Keep your rhythm steady and consistent. Counting out loud helps! Once you're comfortable with that - move on to strumming once every beat. Follow this standard strumming pattern below: D D D D 1+2+3+4 If you're more advanced, you'll need to add up strums to sound like the original recording. Up for that challenge? Use the strumming pattern to help guid... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Th64W_6IoSQ 517 2021-12-17T15:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-085 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KQLuv-9gtN4/hqdefault.jpg Waiting On A War by Foo Fighters Keen for some acoustic rock? "Waiting On A War" by Foo Fighters is a must-play! Waiting On A War is one of my favorite Foo Fighters songs, and playing it on guitar is lotsa fun. When I was younger, I was always waiting on a war - and I'm sure many of my generation have the same memories. Unfortunately that was the reality back then, and sometimes it still feels the same. This is a great tune for practicing your barre chords - you'll need them to play like the Foo Fighters did. If you've just started your guitar journey, barre chords can be really tricky, and I suggest you don't overpractice them. If you're comfortable playing your F Chord, you can give this song a try by checking out the chord diagrams and the guitar tricks I give you here. But if you haven't nailed F yet, check out this Ultimate Guide To Easy Barre Chords then come back. :) HOW TO PLAY WAITING ON A WAR BY FOO FIGHTERS ON GUITAR Intro and Verses The intro and verses are pretty simple to play. Here's the progression: D, D, A7sus4, A7sus4 Em7, Em7, G, G. We leave our 3rd and 4th fingers on the thinnest strings at fret 3 for all the chords except A7sus4. You'll be familiar with these if you're following my Beginner Guitar Course - they're what I call Stuck 3&4 chords. The strumming is interesting - we’ll look at it further down. :) Waiting On A War by Foo Fighters: Pre-Chorus The pre-chorus sequence is Em7, G, D, A7sus4 Em7, G, Cadd9, Cadd9 Cadd9, Cadd9. Cadd9 is also a Stuck 3&4 chord, and you should have no problem with it if you’ve nailed the other ones. Waiting On A War: How to Play the Chorus The sequence for the Waiting On A War chorus is: D, Bb, F, C D, Bb, F, G. In this context, it's best to play Bb as an A-shape barre chord. You can use the standard version with fingers 1 and 3, or my unusual version with 1 and 4. If that’s too tricky, the E-shape chord is option number 2. If you go for this one, fret the bass note with finger 1, and mute strings 1 and 2 to make D (at fret 7 of string 3) the top note. This is part of the previous... https://www.youtube.com/embed/KQLuv-9gtN4 848 2021-07-10T15:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-don-t-let-me-down-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-099 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VprtBdfDI8g/hqdefault.jpg Don't Let Me Down by The Beatles Who's up for some Hendrix style? :) "Don't Let Me Down" isn't a beginner song - if you want to play it properly - but it's very satisfying to play! So, in this lesson, we'll get full-on and learn how to play Don't Let Me Down by The Beatles on the electric guitar. It's a song with very tasty bits going on - great for more advanced guitar players working on that Hendrix guitar technique. If you're following my guitar courses, we'll get into that in Grade 7 - our Advanced Course! 💡 Don't Let Me Down might seem pretty straightforward, but there is some complex message going on in its lyrics, eh? The Beatles credited it to the Lennon-McCartney songwriting duo, but it seems it was written mostly by Lennon on some dark days. You can feel his anguish, can't you? Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Don't Let Me Down on the electric guitar. We'll explore the lead line that happens on the verses as well. So tasty! How to play Don't Let Me Down on guitar The song starts with an open E note: you'll be moving your fingers between the 9th and the 11th fret! Check out the video tutorial and make sure you've nailed this first bit before moving any further. You'll need some hammer-ons and a basic understanding of how that Mayfield & Hendrix Style Fills technique works. 🎸 I recommend you use your ears first. Listening and sorting out what you're trying to play is a mandatory part of becoming an advanced guitarist. But, when learning a new, more complex song, having the tabs right in front of you might be a big, big help! If you'd like to get accurate chords/lyrics + tabs to follow along with my song tutorials, check out JustinGuitar Tabs. Once you've got through that, you'll start using your first finger as a mini barre. You'll be playing parts of a G Shape Barre Chord - and the lesson shows you exactly how to nail it. :) Then, off we go: the lyric starts on an F# chord, and from there - it's fun and groove! 💡 Don't Let Me Down by The Beatles has a 4/4 time signature. So, the strumming pattern for it should be easy... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VprtBdfDI8g 753 2021-11-28T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/buddy-holly-it-s-so-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-413 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tWQam6zXlTU/hqdefault.jpg It's So Easy by Buddy Holly Learn to play "It's So Easy" by Buddy Holly on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play It's So Easy by Buddy Holly on the guitar. This classic tune features some really cool lead guitar parts and a fantastic solo that we'll explore together. Buddy Holly was one of the most influential pioneers of Rock and roll in the 1950s. Though his career lasted only a few years, he made an indelible impact on popular music with his distinctive vocal style, innovative songwriting, and ability to combine catchy melodies with accessible yet clever guitar work. Basic Chord Progression We'll start with the basic chord progression, which is straightforward but essential to master. The rhythm uses simple four down strums per bar, with chord changes every two beats in many sections. The main sequence consists of A, E, D, E, followed by A, D, E, A. This pattern is crucial as it appears in both the intro solo and verses. Song Structure and Lead Guitar Elements The song follows a classic structure with verses and a bridge section. The bridge introduces a new progression, starting with D for two bars, moving to A for two bars, back to D for two bars, and then through B7 to E. Understanding these sequences is key to playing the whole song smoothly. The song also features an engaging intro solo that reappears as part of the main guitar solo. What makes this piece particularly interesting is how it combines simple chord progressions with melodic lead parts. The solo sections add wonderful texture to the song while remaining accessible for intermediate players. Rhythm and Strumming Tips One of the most important aspects of this song is maintaining a steady rhythm. The strumming pattern is relatively straightforward, following a "1 and 2 and 3 and 4" pattern. Here's a helpful tip: don't worry too much about perfectly clean chord changes. Even in the original recording, you can hear some open strings ringing during transitions. This actually adds to the authentic feel of the song. Playing the Solo The main solo is a fantastic piece t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tWQam6zXlTU 882 2017-12-04T13:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-night-prowler-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-237 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/re2dZd-zMck/hqdefault.jpg Night Prowler by AC/DC Learn to play "Night Prowler" by AC/DC on the guitar. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Night Prowler by AC/DC on the guitar. This song may not be the band's most famous track, but playing along with the original recording is an absolute joy. The slow pace and melodic rhythm can send you into a meditative state. It's not particularly challenging, but it feels so satisfying when you lock into the rhythm section. We'll be focusing on the Malcolm Young guitar parts. This song presents some truly intriguing chords for you to explore. It offers unique approaches to playing rock rhythm guitar. For this song, we're in E♭ tuning. To play with the original recording, you must tune every string down one semitone. 👉 Need help with E♭ tuning? Check out this lesson! The Intro and the Main Riff The intro starts with an open A5 power chord. The progression then goes from an A to a D to a Cadd9, and then back to a D. It's a pretty straightforward sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the song. After the intro, we look into the main riff of the song. This riff involves playing the open thicker string, the third fret, the open A string, and the fifth string. Then, we land on our A chord. The riff is played with a shuffle, dividing the beat into three. This creates a rhythmic pattern that's both engaging and fun to play. Verses and Chorus The verse introduces some distinctive Malcolm Young style chords. As we progress with the song, we get to the chorus. The trick with the chorus is to avoid over-strumming. It might be tempting to add extra strums, but the beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. Letting the chords hang creates a more effective sound. Playing Along with the Original Recording One of the most enjoyable parts of learning this song is the opportunity to play along with the original recording. The blend of the chords and the rhythm creates a beautiful sound that's satisfying to play. Remember, playing AC/DC is about the groove and the feeling. It's relaxed and laid back, so try to get into that state.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/re2dZd-zMck 954 2024-05-19T02:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-knockin-on-heaven-s-door-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-164 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qbdO1ly_MSU/hqdefault.jpg Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Guns N' Roses The Most Requested Song Lesson Ever is Here! 💪 Learn how to play the Guns N' Roses version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door on the electric guitar. This song is incredible, and it features awesome playing by Slash. I got over a thousand requests for this tutorial in the last months. And I get it – there are tons of guitar layers on the original, and Slash is just incredible as always! Although the chords are easy and beginners can play this song using easy, open chords, we'll be focusing on the electric guitar today. We'll check out the main parts and also some tips to help you get this right. 🚨 PRO-TIP! Use the chapters below the video lesson to navigate this long, detailed tutorial. And don't forget you can get verified tabs, chords and lyrics for this and all my other song tutorials! With Tabs, you learn faster – and accurately. ;) Slash is amazing at picking out the chord tones in his solos, so we'll also look at what he does and why! Get yourself ready for some Harmonic Analysis. As you already know, understanding music is key to unlocking your full potential as a guitar player, and digging into the songs you love will help you get there and unveil your fretboard. 🚨 BEFORE WE GET STARTED! TUNING: Eb I forgot to mention it in the video, but this lesson is in Eb tuning! Please retune your guitar before getting started. Knockin' On Heaven's Door – Basic Chords and Structure We'll check out the exact picking for the iconic intro rhythm part but not for the whole song. Once you've mastered the intro part, you can improvise around it in the verses. Let's look at the chords before we cover the picking. Knockin' On Heaven's Door uses 16th notes throughout. We start this part on a Rock G chord (3XXX33) for half a bar, using fingers 2, 3, and 4. We follow this with a standard open D chord (XX0232) for half a bar. 💡 Chord Embellishments – this song is packed with embellishments: extra notes outside the basic chord shapes. We cover the main ones for the D chord in my D Shape Explorer! The first time around, we lift off f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbdO1ly_MSU 2557 2022-10-05T12:07:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/billy-bragg-wilco-way-over-yonder-in-the-minor-key-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XrwJwyst1sc/hqdefault.jpg Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key by Billy Bragg & Wilco Learn to Play "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" by Billy Bragg and Wilco on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key on the guitar. This song, originally by Woody Guthrie, is a fantastic piece with a traditional, folky feel. The song has some really interesting things going on. The time changes where it's flipping between 2/4 and 4/4 are quite unique, and there's a really interesting technique here with using the thumb and finger instead of a pick. You can play it with a pick, too, if you prefer. The Timing and Capo Placement Before we start, it's noteworthy that the capo is on the fourth fret for this song. The timing here is a lot of the way through, but not all of the way through. The most common time signature changes go from 4/4 to 2/4 to 4/4 to 4/4. This is one of the key aspects of the song that you'll need to master. Playing the Song In the video, we'll go through the song slowly and methodically, making sure that you can follow along and understand the time changes and chord progression. The song's time changes might feel a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will start to feel natural. This song uses a simple chord progression that's quite common in folk music. It starts with a full bar of G followed by a 2/4 bar of G, then a 4/4 bar of C, and another 4/4 bar of C. This pattern repeats throughout much of the song. One interesting thing to notice in the verse is in the third/fourth line of the verse, there's a full bar cut into kind of half a bar of C and half a bar of G. It's important to realize that this kind of funny time changes is really done just to fit the music and the melody together. So it's not trying to be fancy or anything. That's really what it's all about. The chorus has the same kind of thing going on. We've got C, E minor two three four, D two, G two three four. So it's the same kind of vibe, the 4/4, 2/4, 4/4, 4/4 thing. Let's Play! Now that you're familiar with the chord progression and the song's timing, it's time... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XrwJwyst1sc 750 2017-10-30T17:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gracie-abrams-i-love-you-i-m-sorry-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-268 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kTnYDTt7Il8/hqdefault.jpg I Love You, I'm Sorry by Gracie Abrams Learn how to play 'I Love You, I'm Sorry' by Gracie Abrams on guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll use a simple chord progression, a flowing 6/8 strumming feel, and expressive dynamics that bring the song to life. This tutorial is perfect for players building timing, control, and emotional delivery—all with beginner-friendly chords. The song may look simple on paper, but the feel is everything. That is where it really shines! Capo & Setup We play the song with a capo on the 3rd fret, which places the chords in the right range to match the original recording. Chords We Use Most of the song uses the same four-chord loop: G → D → A minor 7 → C We explore several comfortable fingerings for the G chord, and we use A minor 7 (A minor with the 3rd finger lifted), which makes the movement to C smoother and more fluid. There is only one chord change in the whole song: On the lyric “I tend to laugh whenever I’m sad”, the G chord becomes E minor for that line only—then the progression returns to D → Am7 → C. Strumming & Rhythm The song is in 6/8 time, counted: 1 2 3 4 5 6 with strong accents on 1 and 4. We first lock in the feel using simple downstrokes to build the groove, then move to the full strumming pattern: 1 2& 3& 4 5& 6& The key is keeping the strumming hand moving evenly at all times—even when some strokes don’t hit the strings. This maintains a steady and musical rhythm. We also practice the pattern without fretting chords first, so the rhythm becomes automatic before adding chord changes. Dynamics & Palm Muting Because the chord progression remains the same throughout the verses, choruses, and bridge, dynamics are what create emotion and contrast. We use palm muting in the verses to make the sound: quieter more intimate more focused on the story Then we release the mute in the chorus so the song opens up and lifts. This creates a significant emotional difference between sections, making the song feel powerful rather than repetitive. The natural flow becomes: Quiet verses Big open cho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kTnYDTt7Il8 985 2026-01-16T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-money-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-011 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iWtNwac9THc/hqdefault.jpg Money by Pink Floyd Learn to play "Money" by Pink Floyd on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Money by Pink Floyd on the guitar. This iconic track features one of the most recognizable riffs in Rock history, and while it might seem challenging at first, we'll break it down into manageable pieces. One of the most fascinating aspects of Money is its unique time signature of 7/4, which gives the song its distinctive groove. While this might sound intimidating, don't worry! We'll work through it together and learn some simple tricks to master this rhythm. Understanding the Time Signature The 7/4 time signature means that there are seven beats in each bar instead of the usual four. This creates that unmistakable driving rhythm that makes Money so special. The key to mastering this song is getting comfortable with counting to seven while playing. Think of it as adding three extra beats to a standard 4/4 time signature. The Main Riff The main riff is built around a bluesy, pentatonic-based pattern that repeats throughout the song. What makes it particularly interesting is how it perfectly complements the famous cash register sound effects in the intro. The riff has a strong, punchy quality that drives the entire song forward. Breaking Down the Structure We can divide this song into two main parts: the primary riff that opens it and the second riff that comes in later. The first riff establishes the song's groove and serves as its foundation. The second riff adds variety and helps build intensity as the song progresses. Playing Tips When you're first learning this song, focus on getting comfortable with the counting. Start by simply counting "1-2-3-4-5-6-7" along with the recording before you even pick up your guitar. Once you've got the counting down, add the guitar parts slowly. Don't rush - it's more important to play it correctly than quickly. Common Challenges The trickiest part for most players comes when the vocals enter. David Gilmour's vocals often cross over the bar lines, which can throw off your counting. The key ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iWtNwac9THc 430 2017-12-31T08:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/hozier-take-me-to-church-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-924 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O3qSsZpVHKc/hqdefault.jpg Take Me To Church by Hozier Learn how to play "Take Me to Church" by Hozier on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Take Me to Church on the guitar. This powerful and emotionally charged song is a blast once you get the hang of it, and it's packed with interesting timing and chord changes that make it really unique. Don't worry if it seems a bit tricky at first; we'll break it down step-by-step, and you'll be playing along in no time! One of the most interesting aspects of this song is its use of different time signatures. The verses are primarily in 6/4 time, which gives the song its distinctive rhythmic feel, while other sections switch to a more familiar 4/4 time signature. Don't worry if this sounds complicated–we'll break everything down into manageable pieces! Verse Progression The main verse follows a haunting progression. It starts with Em, then goes to Am, back to Em, and then another Am. After that, we switch to a G, then Am again, Em, and Am one last time to wrap up the sequence. What makes this particularly interesting is how we space these chords within the 6/4 time signature. For each chord, the first one lasts for four beats, and the next one lasts for two beats. Each chord pattern creates a hypnotic rhythm that perfectly complements the song's spiritual themes. After the verse, there's a brief change to 4/4 time with a simple but effective D to C progression. We play a D chord for four counts, then a C chord for four counts, and then we jump right back into the verse again! The second verse has the same chord sequence but goes through it only once. When this second verse ends, we go back to 4/4 time but with a different progression. It starts with a D chord for four counts, then a C for four counts, another C for four counts, and then holds the C for another bar before we get to the "Amen" part. This creates a slightly different feel and more dynamic contrast between sections. The "Amen" Section This part is where things get really cool. It's one of the most powerful parts of the song. We go back to a six-count,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/O3qSsZpVHKc 630 2018-02-05T19:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/u2-desire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-221 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7BOVGe21xoU/hqdefault.jpg Desire by U2 Learn to play "Desire" by U2 on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Desire by U2 on the guitar. This energetic track from their Rattle and Hum album is an excellent challenge for beginners who are ready to take their playing to the next level. Desire is a fantastic practice song for developing your chord-changing skills. While it requires quick transitions between chords, we'll see some helpful tricks to make it more manageable. The main progression uses basic open chords that most beginners are familiar with, making it accessible despite its faster tempo. Main Riff and Chord Progression The heart of the song lies in its driving main riff, which consists of a simple but effective chord sequence: D A E A E. This pattern repeats throughout most of the song, creating that signature rhythmic foundation that makes Desire so distinctive. Here's a great tip for the chorus section: instead of using a standard D chord, we can use a Dsus2 chord. This small modification makes the chord transitions much smoother and matches what The Edge plays on the original recording. It's these kinds of practical adjustments that can help you nail the song more quickly. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythm is what really brings this song to life. We'll start by breaking down the strumming pattern slowly, focusing on getting the timing right before building up speed. The pattern combines both downstrums and upstrums to create that characteristic driving rhythm that powers the song forward. Playing Along with the Recording The original recording is tuned down a half-step, which means you have two options for playing along. You can either tune your guitar down to match the recording or use software (like Transcribe, for example) to adjust the recording's pitch to match standard tuning. We'll take a look at both approaches in the video, so you can choose what works best for you. Final Thoughts While Desire might seem challenging at first, it's an excellent choice for developing your guitar skills. The repeated chord progression helps... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7BOVGe21xoU 570 2018-02-04T20:52:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/alicia-keys-fallin-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-024 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SnQHdPTPLRE/hqdefault.jpg Fallin' by Alicia Keys Alicia Keys – wow, what a voice! Today we’re going to be taking a look at her very first single, “Fallin’,” which still holds up today as one of her strongest and more vocally impressive ballads. For a singer whose career mainly consists of strong vocal performances, that’s certainly saying something. If you’re any bit familiar with Alicia Keys and her music, you’ll know that she is a pianist, not a guitarist. As such, most of her songs center around the piano, but no problem – they can still be adapted to guitar. They’re just chords, after all, aren’t they? For this tune, there are really only two chords that alternate for the duration. When you’re given such a bare-bones song, there’s plenty of opportunity to play around with the sound, the dynamics, and the textures. Also, the song is in 6/8 time, which gives a sort of “waltz” feel to the song. If you’re less familiar with 6/8 time, give the song a few listens and pay attention to where the downbeats fall. In this lesson, I’ve given you a few different chord and fingering options, as well as tips on how to fingerpick and strum it. If you’re new to fingerpicking, this is a great tune to practice with. Just start slowly, working with one chord at a time, and make sure each note is ringing out clearly as you hit the string. Once you’ve nailed that, practice going from one chord to the other. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnQHdPTPLRE 713 2019-11-01T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-love-me-do-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HWVWVTjkXK8/hqdefault.jpg Love Me Do by The Beatles Learn "Love Me Do", an Easy Beatles Songs For Guitar Beginners! You only need 3 chords to play it on guitar! In this easy guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Love Me Do by The Beatles. This is an AWESOME song for beginners - it only uses D, A, and E chords. Go for it & have fun! Following my Guitar Course? Even Grade 1 guitar players can play this song! If you dig it - it's a great tune to learn by heart and add to your own songbook. So Grab your guitar & let's get stuck in! How To Play Love Me Do On Guitar This Beatles tune is a super easy three chord song that uses D, A, and E chords. There are two different ways you can play it. If you want to play along with the original recording, put your capo on the tenth fret of your guitar. This will make the frets closer together up there - which might be a bit tricky, especially if you're only starting your guitar journey! The other option is easier - you'll play it without the capo, only using open positions. If you're a beginner - this is how I recommend you play it! 💡 The chord progression is simple and repeats throughout the song! Start slow and ease into it if you're a beginner guitar player. To get faster chord changes between them - you can practice doing One Minute Changes between them to help increase your playing speed! Love Me Do - Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is nice and simple. With a time signature of 4x4, feel free to use a metronome to get used to the tempo. Once your strumming is consistent, to get that Beatle's groove going, you'll want to accent on beat 2. You'll have to play a heavier strum on that beat! 🎸 If you want to get fancy - you can add a few extra strums in there. Make sure you keep your downstrums nice and even, and get that little accent going! Keep that strumming hand going at all times! That's what's going to give this song that particular character and danceability! So go for it, and I hope you dig playing this easy song. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinG... https://www.youtube.com/embed/HWVWVTjkXK8 210 2018-01-25T06:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-cinnamon-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-876 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YCKzAuIjZEw/hqdefault.jpg Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young Learn to Play "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cinnamon Girl on the guitar. This classic track from Neil Young's incredible album "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" is an amazing tune with lots of interesting things to explore and some all-time classic riffs. Double Tracking Technique A notable feature of Cinnamon Girl is that it is double-tracked. Double tracking is when you play the same part but pan it hard left and right, so each part comes out of separate speakers. In this case, Neil Young and Danny Whitten each play different guitar parts, creating a unique sonic experience. This detail might influence how you approach learning and playing the song. Chord Progression and Tuning In Cinnamon Girl, the chord progression is straightforward, but there are subtle elements, like how a chord is played, whether it's left to ring out, or whether there are little muted hits that make the song unique. We start with a D chord, followed by an A minor, then a C, and finally a G with a B bass. This progression is then repeated, creating a captivating, cyclical melody, an important characteristic of Neil Young's style. An important detail is that both guitar parts are in double drop D tuning. This means that both E strings are tuned down one tone. So, your tuning will be: D A D G B D. This gives a nice big fat D chord when you play it and lift off your second finger. The Solo The solo in Cinnamon Girl is a classic Neil Young moment - simple yet impactful. It predominantly focuses on the D note, creating a powerful, resonating sound. While it might seem straightforward, the solo adds another layer of depth to the song and is something you can have fun experimenting with as you learn the song. Listen to the original recording and try to pick out these elements for yourself. Listen to how the chords are played, whether they're left to ring out, if there are little muted hits, and other details. These elements will help you better understand the song and improve your overall ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YCKzAuIjZEw 1414 2019-04-27T08:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eagles-peaceful-easy-feeling-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-138 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X-_GdJ2XmKQ/hqdefault.jpg Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles Ready for a classic Eagles tune? Here's "Peaceful Easy Feeling" for you to learn. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles on the acoustic guitar. This easygoing song was on The Eagles' iconic debut album back in 1972. It's a great song to add to your repertoire. Even Grade 1 beginners can play it! To keep the chords simple, we're learning it in the key of D. The original recording is in E, but that requires barre chords. To play along with The Eagles, just pop your capo on the second fret! 🚨 Struggling with your rhythm? Play along with this song and hundreds more with the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App! It's a fantastic tool to accelerate your learning, and helps you avoid bad habits as a beginner. This is an excellent campfire song, but you can also revisit it later with different rhythmic approaches. Let's start simple and explore the basic chords and strumming. :) Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles: Chord Progressions For the intro, you play four bars of D. The chord progression for the verse mainly alternates between D and G chords. This is a great time to put your One-Minute Changes exercise into action! The progression is D G D G; D G A A. The chord progression for the chorus is similar, but we’ll need an Em chord too. It goes G G D D; G G A A; D Em G A; D D D D. 🎸 Chord Recap: Want to learn or recap how to play the D, G, A, and Em chords? Check out my Grade 1 of my Beginner's Course. :) Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles: Guitar Strumming For the strumming, you'll want to find a pattern that feels best for you. If you need to, just keep it simple and focus on keeping your strumming hand moving consistently. I love strumming even eighth notes and adding accents (slightly louder strums) on beats 2 and 4: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D U D U D U D U Practice this by muting your strings to ensure your accents are solid and consistent. Make sure you feel nice and relaxed as you strum. :) Once you add it to your chord progression, those accents should be strong enough to hear over your chor... https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-_GdJ2XmKQ 565 2022-03-24T03:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/rainbow-since-you-been-gone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-315 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DGTzsO0rnzs/hqdefault.jpg Since You Been Gone by Rainbow How to play "Since You've Been Gone" by Rainbow on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Since You've Been Gone on the guitar. This classic Rock tune by Rainbow is an absolute gem, packed with memorable riffs and interesting chord progressions. Let's dive in and explore the different parts of this fantastic song! The Main Riff We'll start by tackling the main riff, which is the heart and soul of this song. It's an instantly recognizable sequence that'll have you rocking out in no time. The riff uses power chords, giving it that classic Rock punch. We'll move through G, D, E, and C power chords, creating a dynamic and energetic progression. One cool thing about this riff is the strumming pattern. We've got a mix of downstrokes and upstrokes, with some muting thrown in for good measure. This combination gives the riff its distinctive rhythm and feel. Don't worry if it feels a bit tricky at first – with practice, you'll get it down, and it'll become second nature. Verse Chords Moving on to the verses, we've got a nice sequence of chords that create the backdrop for the vocals. We start with a G, then move to a D with an F# in the bass. This little bass note change adds a nice bit of movement to the progression. From there, we hit an E minor, followed by a Dsus2, which gives us a slightly different flavor than a regular D chord. The progression continues with a C, then a G with a B in the bass (another cool bass note change), an A7, and finally back to that Dsus2. It's a great sequence that really captures the mood of the song. When you're playing these chords, focus on getting a smooth transition between them. It might take some practice, but you'll get there! Pre-Chorus and Bridge The pre-chorus introduces a new element with an E♭ power chord. This section has a unique rhythm that stands out from the rest of the song. It's a bit syncopated, which means the accents fall on unexpected beats. This creates a cool, unusual feel that builds tension before we launch back into the chorus. In the bridge, we've g... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DGTzsO0rnzs 995 2017-12-04T10:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dido-thank-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-807 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tg8wsJLTABQ/hqdefault.jpg Thank You by Dido How to Play "Thank You" by Dido on Acoustic Guitar! Let's learn Thank You by Dido on guitar. This is one of the songs that epitomized the female pop vocals of the 90s and early 2000s. Many of you have probably heard it sampled in Eminem’s hit Stan, but the original can certainly stand on its own. It's a wicked tune. :) Thank You by Dido is great for beginner and intermediate players who want to practice strumming patterns and chord changes. We’ve got a sneaky B minor chord in there, along with some tricky thumb work, but we'll look at cheats for them. We'll need a capo on fret 4 to play in the original key. Let's go! Thank You by Dido: Guitar Chords The intro is nice and easy: we alternate between open Em and CMaj7. Stay on each for two beats. :) In the verse, we go Em, CMaj7, D, each for two beats, then G to D/F#, each for one beat. We look at several options for D/F#, and you can always play regular D instead. If you find this chord tricky, master the chords and strumming separately, then bring them together. As for the chorus, we play G to C three times, then Bm to Am. Oh no, it's the Bm barre chord! The Bm Barre Chord Let’s talk about the B minor chord for a moment. Dido threw this into a song that mostly contains open chords, but no problem - it’s one of the easier barre chords. 💡 Barre Chords for Beginners: Have you learned your F barre chord? Then Bm is easy! Check out my Barre Chords for Beginners lesson to play Bm using the F chord. There's also an open Bm7 you can use as a cheat for the B minor chord. :) It's a bit awkward but should get you through the tune if you haven’t quite mastered barring. If you’ve done my beginner’s course, you'll remember the B7. To get Bm7, grab this B7 but leave off finger 1. Try both options and see what you’re most comfortable with. Rhythm Patterns The strumming pattern here is pretty fun! There are tons of variations, so get creative and find the sound you like. This is also a good tune to practice your 16th note strumming. We learn a fixed pattern for the verse, but t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tg8wsJLTABQ 1135 2018-06-20T14:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/simple-minds-don-t-you-forget-about-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-139 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VXcZE33-owA//hqdefault.jpg Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds Learn "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds on guitar! Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds is a really fun one to play! What an incredible tune! You know this song from the iconic 80s movie The Breakfast Club, right? :) It’s also perfect for beginners. You can keep the strumming simple, and you'll only need open chords. While Don't You (Forget About Me) is a great tune, that video clip is just awful… I'm very glad I didn't ever get involved with that fashion! But ok, back to guitar! Let's look at how to Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds on the acoustic guitar, starting with that classic intro. Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds – Intro The intro for Don't You (Forget About Me) has several chords with a single strum on each. We start on D then switch to E. Leave a bar silent, then it’s D to E, followed by C to D in the next bar. I often use the C/G chord (332010), meaning the bass note is now G. Here’s the rhythm. This is key! Get it right, and people listening will instantly recognise the song. D E 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + There’s a silent bar, then we continue with: D E C D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Repeat these four bars twice for the intro. :) Even though we normally play downstrums on beats and upstrums on off-beats, it’s okay to play downstrums here since we only strum twice in each bar. Just make sure you stay in time. Time for the verse. :) Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds – Verse The verse progression is nice and easy: just three chords needed. :) It goes E D A D, and we repeat this four times for one verse. See the strumming below. A few variations are going on throughout the song, but it's simple enough to memorize them. Writing the sections down might help you learn faster, but playing along with the original recording (or a backing track!) is always the best idea. And your ultimate goal should be to play your songs without reading the chords! :) Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds – Strumming It’s crucial you get the rhythm right when playing this Si... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXcZE33-owA/ 536 2022-04-06T09:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/harry-styles-matilda-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-178 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HRfvzXq0yWc/hqdefault.jpg Matilda by Harry Styles Learn how to play "Matilda" by Harry Styles on the acoustic guitar! Matilda by Harry Styles is very interesting. The verses are pretty easy, but the intro has a tricky fingerstyle part. Singing along is a real challenge; its tuning means your usual open chords won't work to play this song! So, let's start this tutorial by retuning your guitar and better understanding what's going on there! :) Matilda by Harry Styles: Tuning We'll need to retune the guitar to what we'll call D6 tuning to play this song: D A D F# B D We tune the two E strings to Ds and the G string to an F#. Use string 4 as a reference for the D notes. A tuner also works fine. It's probably best to use a tuner to tune the G string down a semitone to F#, but you also have the note F# at 4:4 (string 4, fret 4) as a reference. 💡 Don't be afraid of altered tunings! D6 tuning is double drop D tuning but with the G string tuned down one semitone. Check out my lesson on Double Drop D to learn more. :) How to play the intro for Matilda by Harry Styles The intro uses a beautiful fingerstyle guitar part. A lot is going on, but it sounds wicked when you get it right. Let's ensure your picking hand is in the right place – the thumb plays the notes on string 6, finger 1 picks string 5, finger 2 plays 4, and finger 3 picks the harmonics on strings 2 and 3. All four bars are pretty similar. Here are the rhythm and notes for the first one: 1 + a 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 5:2s5:4 4:0 6 2:7* 6 3:7* 6 (* means harmonic) Let's look at this in more detail. We start by picking open string 6 with the thumb on beat 1. On the "and," place your first finger on the second fret of the fifth string. Pick it, then slide it up to fret 5 on the "a" of 1. Now we get to the great part: we play harmonics at 2:7 and 3:7 with finger 4 of the fretting hand. Keeping finger 1 down, we lightly rest finger 4 on string 2 above fret 7. Pick string 2, and you should hear an open, airy sound. That's a harmonic! So on beats 3 and 4, we play harmonics at 2:7, then 3:7. On the "and" of beats 2, 3, and 4, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/HRfvzXq0yWc 1296 2022-12-28T12:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ronan-keating-when-you-say-nothing-at-all-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-144 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IohvdWRo35k/hqdefault.jpg When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating Learn "When You Say Nothing At All" by Ronan Keating on Guitar When You Say Nothing At All is a beautiful Ronan Keating guitar song that even advancing beginners can play! We'll start with an easy approach, using basic strumming and relatively easy chords. Then we'll go into more advanced stuff like picking out individual notes and spicing up your rhythm dynamics. :) 💡 This song is perfect for Grade 2+ guitar players! You'll practice some Stuck 3&4 chords and great chord changes as well. When You Say Nothing At All is a beautifully crafted pop song that's played at loads of weddings! Big credit to the producer Stephen Lipson for the instrumentation. It's just incredible. The key change is distinctive and unusual, but it works very well! And it's a great tune to explore if you're getting into songwriting. Let's get stuck in and learn how to play When You Say Nothing At All using easy chords and strumming on the acoustic guitar. When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating: Chord Progressions Start with a G chord. I recommend the Stuck 3&4 fingering. To play this grip, put fingers 3 and 4 on the thinnest two strings at the third fret and finger 2 on the third fret of the thickest string. You don't need the first finger down, so mute the fifth string with the underside of finger 2! After G, you switch to D, Cadd9, and then back to D. 💡 ​​Get verified chords + lyrics and tab to follow with my When You Say Nothing At All tutorial! Start your JustinGuitarTabs free trial right now. :) You'll play this sequence twice for the intro and four times for the verse. Verse 2 is a bit different. Instead of beginning with G and D, we play Em and Bm. The progression changes to Em, Bm, C, D. The pre-chorus starts with Cadd9 to D, each for a bar. Then we play G, D, Cadd9, D, each for half a bar, then two full bars of D. Note that you'll only play the D chord for two beats at the end of the second verse. Check out the video lesson for more info! 💡 Practice Tips: When you're learning a tune like When You Say Nothing At All,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/IohvdWRo35k 1534 2022-05-25T03:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-buffalo-springfield-again-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-904 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X5Vd97bYXQM/hqdefault.jpg Buffalo Springfield Again by Neil Young Learn to Play "Buffalo Springfield Again" by Neil Young on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Buffalo Springfield Again on the guitar. This song is a favorite of mine, with loads of cool elements to learn. It's an excellent piece for getting a feel for Neil Young's unique style, especially his distinctive strumming pattern. Chords and Progression We'll begin by looking at the chords used in this song. The first chord we'll tackle is the G chord. This is a key chord in the song and forms the foundation of the melodic progression. Following this, we'll learn the C chord with a G bass. These two chords form the basis of the intro and verses of the song. We'll also briefly touch on the D chord, but I assume you're already familiar with this one. One of the defining features of this song is the chord progression. Neil Young uses a unique pattern of thumb, down, up strumming to create a rhythm that's both engaging and fun to play. This pattern is the backbone of the song and is repeated throughout. Strumming and Rhythm Strumming is a big deal in this song. Neil Young has some really interesting ways of strumming, and this song is a great introduction to that. He uses his thumb to play the bass notes on beats one and three and the first finger to strum in between. In addition, you'll notice a percussive hit happening on beats two and four. This distinctive feature of the song adds an extra layer of rhythm to the music. These small details make Buffalo Springfield Again such a unique and enjoyable song to play. Song Structure The song structure of Buffalo Springfield Again is fairly straightforward. The intro and verses revolve around the G and C chords, with a transition to the D chord later in the song. The chorus introduces a few more chords, including D minor and E7sus4 over B, before returning to the C chord. Once you've got the groove and rhythm down, the rest of the song follows a predictable pattern. We'll go through each section of the song, focusing on the chord changes and strumming patterns... https://www.youtube.com/embed/X5Vd97bYXQM 1035 2017-11-17T04:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-cash-i-walk-the-line-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qDXOa0DCnuA/hqdefault.jpg I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash Learn to play an easy version of "I Walk The Line" on the guitar In this easy lesson, you'll learn how to play a simplified version of I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash on the acoustic guitar. If you're following my free Beginner Guitar Course, this song will be great practice for Grade 1+ Students. 🎤 Let me apologize for my singing attempt - no one can do it quite like Johnny! I Walk the Line is tricky to sing, but I promise: it's so easy to play! If you're not familiar with Johnny Cash, check him out! He's an American icon. There are a few different ways you can play this tune. The original recording has key changes and loads more tasty guitar elements. You'll most likely want to revisit this song as you progress to add some fancy strumming patterns! But it's always better to keep it simple and build that confidence. Now, grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. You only need 3 Easy Chords to play this Johnny Cash classic! You'll need the E, A, and D chords to play I Walk The Line. Your challenge here is to make those chord changes without stopping! If you're still struggling with your chord changes - don't worry; that's a common problem for many beginner guitar players! Check out how you can force chord changes to improve your overall rhythm. 🎶 This song is available in the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app. You'll be able to play along with the backing tracks and full lyrics to this song - and over a 1000 more! If you haven't downloaded it yet, it's free to try out. :) I Walk The Line - Time Signature & Strumming The time signature for this tune is 4x4, meaning you'll be evenly strumming four down strums per bar. Use a metronome to make sure you're strumming g on the beat! And - remember, keep your strum smooth and relaxed. The goal is to keep your hand moving! :) The best way to do that is to keep your strumming simple. Make sure you can get those chord changes in without stopping your strumming! 💡 Strumming is a skill that needs to become an automatic motion! Keeping that hand moving will give you l... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDXOa0DCnuA 380 2018-05-09T19:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-black-dog-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-019 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NRH5zAAfl_s/hqdefault.jpg Black Dog by Led Zeppelin Learn the riff of "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin on Guitar! Let's check out the lead guitar for Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. This is such an awesome riff - Jimmy Page is the master. :) The main riff shouldn't be too difficult, but it gets tricky when the drums and guitar start playing in an odd time signature. To tell the truth, I still haven't properly figured this part out, but it seems the drums stay in 4:4 while the riffs move around. Pay attention to your picking direction and you should find it loads easier! 💬 I'd love to see a video of you playing Black Dog! Make a video, tag me on social, and I'll do my best to check it out and give you feedback. :) We break this riff into three chunks to make it easier to learn. Let's go! Black Dog by Led Zeppelin - Lead Guitar Techniques There are a few crucial lead skills you need to play this Led Zeppelin tune - finger rolling, vibrato, blues curls, legato playing, AND you have to pick it! I use alternate picking, meaning I pick down on beats and up on off-beats. Some of the riffs start on an "and", so we start with an up-pick, which feels strange. See the video for a slow demo. :) For the second riff, it's crucial you know where the beat is. This will help you pick correctly and replicate the feel. Practicing with a metronome or with the original really helps you stay in time. Learning Tips Once you nail the riff, be sure to play along with the track at half speed so you get the feel right. I use a program called Transcribe! for this, but there are others available too. Playing along slowly and gradually speeding up is the best way to get awkward riffs down! They didn't always play with click tracks back then, so the count isn't mathematically perfect, and you'll need to listen and feel the groove. One last thing - you might find it tricky to start in time with the band. But there's a trick: on the original, you can hear a slight drum click before the song starts. This is your cue! 🎶 Learn more Led Zeppelin classics in my dedicated artist section. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRH5zAAfl_s 665 2018-01-09T07:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-cult-wild-flower-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-397 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hqH2dKZDL2o/hqdefault.jpg Wild Flower by The Cult Learn how to play "Wildflower" by The Cult on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wildflower by The Cult on the guitar. This iconic rock song is a blast to play and is a great choice for those looking to dive into the world of classic rock. Wildflower by The Cult is an all-time classic rock song that's both fun and relatively easy to play. Its charm lies in its catchy main riff and rhythm, which makes it a favorite among many guitar players. The song is based around a few simple chords, making it a great choice for beginners and intermediate players looking to expand their repertoire. The Rhythm One of the most important aspects of Wildflower is its rhythm. This song employs a technique called "pushing a chord," which involves playing a chord an eighth note earlier than the bar. This gives the song its unique rhythm and makes it stand out among other rock songs. This technique is a staple in rock music and is definitely something you'll want to get familiar with. Chord Progression Wildflower follows a simple chord progression that revolves around the B, D, and E chords. The song starts with the B chord, moves to the D chord, and then transitions to an open E power chord. This progression is played throughout the song, giving it its classic rock feel. The rhythm and muting are key to getting the feel of this song right. The rhythm follows a pattern of playing the chord on the 'and' after four, then on the 'and' after one, and then on beats two and three. This pattern, combined with the muting technique, gives the song its distinctive sound. Final Thoughts Learning to play Wildflower by The Cult on the guitar is a fun and rewarding experience. This song is a great choice for those looking to expand their rock repertoire and improve their rhythm playing. Listening to the original recording is highly recommended to get a feel for the rhythm and timing of the song. Practicing along with the track will also help you nail the rhythm and chord changes. Understanding Wildflower's rhythm and chord progres... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqH2dKZDL2o 869 2017-12-15T15:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-bowie-ziggy-stardust-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-027 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wG34AqOahpc/hqdefault.jpg Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie How to play "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ziggy Stardust on the guitar. This classic David Bowie tune is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, with its iconic riffs and chord progressions. Before we start, it's worth noting that while I'll be using an acoustic guitar, the original recording features a prominent electric guitar. The great news is that the techniques we'll cover work well on both acoustic and electric guitars, so feel free to use whichever you prefer. One of the fascinating aspects of this song is the interplay between the acoustic and electric guitar parts. As we go through the lesson, you'll see some of the layering techniques used in the recording. This will help you understand how the different guitar parts work together to create the full sound of the song. So, let's dive in and explore the different elements that make this song so special! The Intro Let's start by looking at the intro. We'll build it up step by step, starting with the basic chord progression and then adding some more intricate details. The intro kicks off with a G chord, followed by a quick muted hit for some percussive effect. We then move to a D chord, adding a little embellishment by alternating between D and Dsus4. This creates a lovely, shimmering sound that's characteristic of the song. Next, we transition to a Cadd9 chord, followed by a G with a B bass and then a G with an A bass. These chord changes create a beautiful, flowing progression that sets the song's tone. Mastering the Rhythm One of the key elements that makes Ziggy Stardust so engaging is its rhythm. The strumming pattern might sound simple at first, but it has some interesting nuances that give the song its distinctive feel. The basic pattern is down, up, down, down, up, down, down. However, the rhythm of the second bar is a bit trickier. To master this, I recommend practicing the strumming pattern without worrying about the chord changes at first. Focus on keeping your strumming hand moving cons... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wG34AqOahpc 1371 2017-12-02T09:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-monkees-i-m-a-believer-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-602 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cPyJIIylb_4/hqdefault.jpg I'm a Believer by The Monkees Learn How To Play "I'm A Believer" by The Monkees On Guitar! This easy lesson will teach us how to play I'm A Believer by The Monkees on the acoustic guitar. With easy chords & strumming, beginner guitar players will have a blast learning this! I'm A Believer was originally by Neil Diamond but made famous by The Monkeys. It has a fun rhythm and is a party pleaser! Back in Tasmania, we often covered this song, but I'd play it on the keyboard. We'll start by going through the basics chords, then explore how we can play that famous intro riff which is not the easiest - but sounds so cool! 💬 Recognize this song from a DreamWorks film franchise? (hint: get out of my swamp!) I'm A Believer - Chords & Strumming You'll mainly be playing the G, D, and C chords throughout the song. It's a pretty simple chord progression, but you will encounter an F chord in the chorus - so watch out for that! For the strumming, start real simple with four down strums per bar. Once you get the structure down, you can start adding some up strums and switching up your pattern. The old faithful strumming pattern works great in the verses, but you'll need to change it up for the chorus. I'm A Believer - Intro Riff If you're more advanced or up for the challenge, you'll want to add that iconic intro riff into your playing. It'll add a lot of movement and make things more interesting! Here's how to get started with this tasty riff: Start by playing the fifth fret of the fourth string. Follow with the seventh fret of the third string. Then, play the sixth fret of the second string. Down picks or fingerstyle both work great - so choose what feels most comfortable with your agility. Getting from the riff into the song will take you some practice - this jump is quite tricky. And the hammering happens quickly, so work on it separately until it feels good. Practice is the cure here, but start slow, and you'll get there! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/cPyJIIylb_4 623 2018-02-04T21:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/robert-johnson-sweet-home-chicago-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-228 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VdiYasPjtDI/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson Learn How to Play "Sweet Home Chicago" on the Acoustic Guitar! In this easy guitar lesson, we'll explore different ways to play Sweet Home Chicago on the acoustic guitar. We'll look at an easy beginner version using a 12-bar Blues Shuffle; then, we'll go into more detail on the original Robert Johnson version. 💡 We'll learn some of the key features of this song! You'll end up with very handy tips if you ever wanted to play it at a Blues jam. :) "Sweet Home Chicago" is a 12-bar Blues in the key of E using a basic shuffle pattern, which we learn in my free Beginner Guitar Course - Grade 2. If you're unfamiliar with this, check out this lesson—it also shows you important tips for palm muting! Thumb Pick I'm using a Thumb Pick for this lesson. I don't normally use one; it's not my thing. But I've been practicing this style of music quite a lot these last couple of weeks, and I've got a big blister on the side of my thumb, so I decided to give it a go. I looked into a few, and my favorite one is this model by Black Mountain. It's a regular pick shape, and it never feels too tight. I don't know why I always avoided Thumb Picks; I thought they were difficult to use, but it was ok! You can play Sweet Home Chicago with a regular pick—or even use your thumb, like a proper Robert Johnson fingerstyle version! 👉 Do you love the Blues? Learn Blues Lead Guitar Essentials—for free! https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdiYasPjtDI 1451 2024-01-28T02:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-kinks-all-day-and-all-of-the-night-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-428 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v3AtRAxHq1A/hqdefault.jpg All Day And All Of The Night by The Kinks Learn How to Play "All Day and All of the Night" by The Kinks on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play All Day and All of the Night by The Kinks on the guitar. This iconic track, penned by the legendary British songwriter Ray Davies, offers a fantastic opportunity to work on your power chords and full A-shape barre chords. And the best part? You'll learn the song exactly how it was played on the record and live performances! Getting the Groove On A unique aspect of this song is the rhythm. Despite having a very specific rhythm, The rhythm hand is almost always moving. You'll want to mute this hand when you're not playing a chord. It's important to keep it moving, even if it's just slightly touching the strings sometimes. This constant movement is crucial to getting the song's groove on. Chords and Riff If you're a beginner guitar player, you can play power chords. They work fine for this song and sound just as good as using a full barre chord. However, we're focusing mainly on the thickest strings for this song, so we're not playing the thinnest strings too much. I'll be discussing the chords in their full form rather than saying five all the time. The song's riff is a simple yet catchy progression. It goes G, G, F, F, B flat, G, and G, with a specific count that helps you maintain the rhythm. Learning the count can be very helpful if you're struggling with the rhythm. Of course, it's always better to listen to the original recording to get the rhythm of it in your ear. Pre-Chorus and Chorus Just like a great story, a song also needs a build-up, and that's where the pre-chorus comes in. In this song, it's the only time we use an A-shaped barre chord. If you're struggling with that barre chord, don't worry! There's always the option to play the B flat up at the 6th fret with the 6th string root. The chorus is where the song truly shines. In the chorus of All Day and All of the Night, we're staying on the thicker strings. It may seem unusual at first, but it adds a certain character to the song that... https://www.youtube.com/embed/v3AtRAxHq1A 482 2017-12-03T11:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/feeder-just-the-way-i-m-feeling-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-328 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rq8QhjwYY70/hqdefault.jpg Just The Way I'm Feeling by Feeder Learn to play "Just The Way I'm Feeling" by Feeder on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Just The Way I'm Feeling on the guitar. This is a really great song with a cool, funky vibe, and the best part is that it only uses four chords! While the original recording features an electric guitar, you can play this on either electric or acoustic. Both versions sound great! It's entirely up to you which way you want to go. We'll go through the song step by step, and you'll be playing it in no time. So grab your guitar, and let's get started! The Chords and the Verse The song revolves around a few interesting chords, and the changes are pretty smooth. The first one we'll tackle is a Bm7. Then we move into an Asus4, and from there, we go to a Dsus2/G, which you might also see written as a Gadd69. For the verses, the sequence is just Bm7, Asus4, Dsus2/G repeated over and over. You'll be playing that progression quite a few times through the verse, so you'll get into a nice groove. You'll also use these chords in different ways throughout the song, so don't worry; you'll get plenty of practice. It's a super cool sequence, and as you get more comfortable with it, you'll notice how these chords just work so well together. The Pre-Chorus and the Chorus Then, we move into what I like to call the pre-chorus. Here, we introduce a D with an F# bass. The pre-chorus sequence goes D with an F bass, Dsus2/G, Bm7, Dsus2/G, then D with an F bass again and back to Dsus2/G. This little transition will set up the chorus nicely, and you'll see how we add a little more interest to the song with this pre-chorus. The last chord in the sequence really hangs there over the rest of the tune. Now for the chorus. We're using the same four chords, but we start on a different one. We go Asus4, B7, Dsus2/G, D with an F# bass, and that pattern repeats throughout the chorus. They're the same chords as the verse but in a different order, adding a nice lift to the song. You'll notice that this chord sequence fits the chorus perfectly, ma... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rq8QhjwYY70 595 2017-12-04T11:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/traditional-auld-lang-syne-2-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-1142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b8GPXBQAiuA/hqdefault.jpg Auld Lang Syne [2/4] by Traditional Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4 of this lesson. Alright, moving on to Lesson 2 of the Christmas classic, “Auld Lang Syne.” Assuming you’ve got the first two bars down, let’s take a look at the next six bars. In bars 3 and 4, you’re starting off with a C chord, but then shifting up to an F chord. To do this, you can use your little finger as a sort of anchor finger. This means you can use it to help guide you from one chord to the next. Sometimes anchor fingers will stay put between two chords, helping you to move the other fingers around it relatively. In this case, you’re moving your little finger up two frets, so it helps you find the correct hand placement on your guitar’s neck. Once you’ve got your little finger in place, you’ll know exactly where to place your other fingers. Bars 5 and 6 aren’t too bad. In the fifth bar, you’re using a C chord, and then bar 6 is exactly the same as bar 2 from the previous lesson. Easy! Bars 7 and 8 introduce an A minor chord and a different F chord, and then it goes right back to C. On your picking hand, pay close attention to which fingers and plucking which strings. They switch up a bit depending on which chord you’re playing and what the melody line is doing between the chords. As with anything, if it feels a little awkward at first, it just takes some practice. Also, you can take some liberties with the fingerings if you find something that feels more comfortable for you. TAB and Notes Download the TAB for Auld Lang Syne here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/b8GPXBQAiuA 427 2017-12-03T06:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/wham-last-christmas-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-116 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xM3-7rrv8aM/hqdefault.jpg Last Christmas by Wham Learn how to play "Last Christmas" by Wham on guitar! 🎄 Is This The Cheesiest Christmas Song Ever? 🤔 What better way to spread some holiday cheers than by learning the iconic Xmas songs yourself? Last Christmas By Wham is so much fun to play on guitar - and it's a classic your friends & family will love to sing along with you. :) The minute you get into November, this song is one of the first to be blasted in stores! Definitely at the top of the Christmas cheesy song list! But George Micheal is an incredible artist. He wrote this one on a whim in his childhood bedroom. In this lesson, you'll learn the simple version & I'll show you some variations to spice it up. Even if you're a Grade 1 beginner guitar player, you'll be able to play this tune! You only need four chords to play. So even if you've just started your guitar journey, you can get started now on the tune and have a solid holiday performance! Grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. How To Play Last Christmas On Guitar You'll only need four chords to play this tune. For the beginner version, follow this simple chord pattern: 2 bars of C 2 bars of Am 2 bars of Dm 2 bars of G Now all you have to do is repeat these chords & add some strumming! If you struggle with chords changes - add the One Minute Changes exercise to your weekly guitar routine. It'll help you get a smoother transition between your chords! For the beginner version, keep it simple with four strums to the bars. But, this holiday song works well with loads of different strumming patterns. Whichever you choose, make sure you keep that hand moving and a consistent rhythm. Last Christmas Guitar Variations If you feel like making things a bit more musically interesting, here are some ways you can spice up your guitar sound. For your C chord: add a finger down in the 3rd fret of the second string gives a great Cadd9 sound! This will add a nice touch to the guitar melody. For your A minor: you can rely on your Sus 2 and Sus 4. It adds a nice amount of dept. Experiment here - there'... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xM3-7rrv8aM 459 2018-01-15T10:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-californication-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-008 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OZQlUT5iCqo/hqdefault.jpg Californication [SOLO] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn to play "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo of Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar. It's a fantastic solo by John Frusciante, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist. Californication has a truly memorable solo. It's not just that John can shred, but he plays for the song, and that shows maturity and makes the solo so singable it sticks in your head. This makes it a great solo for learning by ear. Learning by Ear Learning to play songs by ear has a significant impact on your musicianship. While it can seem daunting at first, with practice and patience, you'll find yourself identifying notes and chords with ease. At the beginning of the video, you'll get a rough idea of how the solo is played from watching me play it. Give it a try, work it out yourself, and then watch the rest of the video to check what you've worked out. The Importance of Transcribing Transcribing music, that is, writing down the notes and rhythms of a piece of music you've heard, is an invaluable skill. It helps you understand the structure of the music and improves your ability to play by ear. If you need help with transcribing, various tools are available, such as slow-down machines, which can make the process easier. 💡 Want to learn more about transcribing? Check out my Transcribing Course! Unison Bends One technique you'll encounter in this solo is the unison bend, a common feature in Jimi Hendrix's music but a somewhat difficult technique. This technique involves bending one note's pitch to match another, creating an interesting sound effect. If you find this challenging, developing a good bending technique would be helpful. You can learn more about the mechanics of string bending in my Essential Blues Lead Guitar course. Final Thoughts I hope you'll take my advice and try to learn this solo on your own before using my lesson. Californication is an excellent solo for transcribing. Many of the Chili Peppers' songs have great solos that aren't o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OZQlUT5iCqo 635 2017-12-31T07:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jack-johnson-traffic-in-the-sky-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-601 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3e7aS7hrKxE/hqdefault.jpg Traffic in the Sky by Jack Johnson Learn how to play "Traffic in the Sky" by Jack Johnson on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Traffic in the Sky by Jack Johnson. This song is a fantastic choice if you're looking to work on your barre chords and fingerpicking skills. It's got a great vibe and is a lot of fun to play. So, grab your guitar, and let's get started! Chord Progression Traffic in the Sky has a really cool chord progression that repeats throughout the song. There are three main sections: the intro and verses, a linking bit before the chorus, and the chorus itself. For the intro and verses, we start with a D chord, move up to an F minor chord, then go down to a C chord, and finally to an E minor chord. This pattern repeats over and over again. It's a smooth progression that flows nicely and sets the tone for the song. When we get to the linking bit just before the chorus, things change up a bit. This part is straightforward and serves as a nice transition into the chorus. The chorus uses an E-shaped barre chord, moving from A to A♭, then to G, back to A, into a D barre chord, and finally to B minor. This section repeats and gives the chorus its distinctive sound. Playing Style: Fingerpicking and Strumming There are two main guitar parts in this song: one that does fingerstyle picking and another that does strumming. For this lesson, we'll use fingerpicking for the verses and strumming for the chorus. However, feel free to mix it up! You could do fingerpicking for the whole song or strumming for the whole song if you prefer. The key is to find what sounds best to you and have fun with it. For the verses, we use a fingerpicking pattern that goes like this: thumb, third finger, second finger, first finger, third finger, second finger, thumb. This pattern repeats and creates a lovely, flowing sound that complements the chord progression beautifully. When we get to the chorus, we switch to strumming. I like to use my thumb for this part to get a nice, round sound. If you prefer, you can use a pick, but the thumb gives it a s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3e7aS7hrKxE 521 2017-12-15T14:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-who-says-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-092 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kjq9XReheZs/hqdefault.jpg Who Says by John Mayer Who says you can’t be free? :) We’ll learn how to play Who Says by John Mayer on the acoustic guitar in this lesson. This Mayer’s song uses a sort of percussive thumb hit, very present on his songs. However, the chords to play Who Says on the guitar are easier than the usual on John Mayer’s songs! 🚨 Have you learned to play Stop This Train? Who Says has that same kind of vibe, but it is easier to play! Both songs are great for Intermediate Guitar Players! How to play "Who Says" by John Mayer The big deal on playing Who Says by John Mayer and sounding right is to get the percussive-hit strumming under your fingers - and make it sound good! You’ll notice that we’ll be using mostly our thumb and first finger - it seems that is exactly the way John Mayer plays it live too. You can try using other fingers, but I’d recommend you first explore the way we’re learning here! Who Says - Guitar Chords You’ll need to be hip with your barre chords to be able to play Who Says on the acoustic guitar. The grips aren’t that complicated, but there’s some movement going on! We’ll also play some Suspended Chords - they bring such an airy, awesome feeling to this song. We’ll walk through all the chords and fingerings in the video lesson. If you’d like to have the chords/lyrics + tabs to follow along with my tutorials, check out JustinGuitarTABS! I recommend you get to grips with a section of the song before moving any further. We’ll explore the rhythm for Who Says in detail during the video lesson, but you’ll need to be able to play the chords and do some pull-offs here and there! Who Says - Percussive Finger Picking It’s probably worth noting that it's very rare for John Mayer to play the same song the same way all the time. So I’d encourage you to learn the percussive fingerpicking as close to the original as you can, but don't be afraid to make your pattern! To sound good when playings songs like Who Says, you have to get the feeling of its rhythm. It’s much more about getting its feeling in your pocket, feeling the groove corre... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjq9XReheZs 1725 2021-10-30T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/abba-mamma-mia-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-233 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wPUsBaged-8/hqdefault.jpg Mamma Mia by ABBA Learn how to play "Mamma Mia" by ABBA on guitar. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mamma Mia. You may be surprised to listen to this ABBA classic on an acoustic guitar, but trust me—it works great and offers a fun challenge for those looking to expand their repertoire! The Intro and the Verse Our journey into this ABBA classic begins with a simple look at the chords. The song starts with a G chord. Next, we'll introduce a G augmented or, as some call it, a G with a sharpened fifth. Alternating between these two gives us the unique sound of the intro. The verse is where things start to heat up. We begin with a G chord and then transition to C. The progression here is pretty straightforward: two bars of G and two bars of C, then repeating this pattern twice. We then move on to one bar each of G and G augmented (the same chord we used in the intro), two bars of C, and finally, two bars of D. The verse is a great place to start getting comfortable with these chord transitions. The Chorus, Post-Chorus, and Outro The chorus is where things get more dynamic. We start with the G chord and then move on to the C with a G bass. This is done by holding the two outside notes for the G chord, then adding the first finger in the first fret of the second string and the second finger in the second fret of the fourth string. So the sequence for the chorus is G, followed by C with a G, back to G, and then back to C with a G. The post-chorus changes the rhythm, adding a unique dynamic to the song. It starts with a G, moving to a D with an F# bass, and then to an A. The progression then goes from C to F and then back to C. This is followed by two bars of A minor and two bars of D. This section is particularly catchy and will likely get everyone singing along! The outro is a repetition of the intro with some slight variations, but you'll have the hang of it by now. A Little Extra Spice Once you're comfortable with the chords, we can start adding some of the melodic elements throughout the song. This will help to bring your re... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wPUsBaged-8 1328 2024-04-21T03:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/harry-styles-watermelon-sugar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-194 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1IaleI3xXsI/hqdefault.jpg Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles How to Play "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles on the guitar - including the beginner-friendly acoustic part and the cool riff. This is an awesome 4-chord song with a repeating chord progression, which makes this a great Harry Styles song for beginners! Although Watermelon Sugar has a basic structure, there are many layers in the original recording, and we'll explore all of them. 💡 Watermelon Sugar has something for all levels. :) Beginners can play it using open chords and basic strumming, while Intermediate players can use barre chords and funk strumming. The cool riff is also a great thign to learn! Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles is a great song for layering guitars, especially if you're playing in a band. You can blend the acoustic and electric parts and add the distorted riff too. :) Let's start with a super easy tutorial to learn the chords and basic strumming! Check out JustinGuitarTabs for the verified tab for Watermelon Sugar and many other songs - including As It Was! Watermelon Sugar: Easy Chords & Strumming We can play an easy version of Watermelon Sugar using open chords and simple strumming. The chord progression is Dm, Am, C, then G, each for one bar. Remember that this repeats for the entire song. :) 😅 Still struggling with these simple, easy chords? Get started with my free Beginner Guitar Course - Grade 1. Beginners can keep the strumming pattern simple: stick with one strum per bar, and you can play with Harry Styles' original song. If you're a confident strummer, adding a fuller pattern like the Old Faithful will bring lots of life to Watermelon Sugar! Try your favorite strumming patterns and see what sounds good. :) Watermelon Sugar is great for experimenting with strumming since the chords don't change. 💡 Explore Strumming Dynamics! In my Strumming Dynamics course, we deeply explore how to vary your strumming patterns and a pro touch to your guitar playing. :) Using the same strumming pattern all... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1IaleI3xXsI 663 2023-04-09T04:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-hey-hey-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-348 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oC7yFGkELUw/hqdefault.jpg Hey Hey by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play "Hey Hey" by Eric Clapton On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Eric Clapton's version of Hey Hey. This is a cover from the original by Big Bill Broonzy - an all-time classic and worth giving a listen! It's a great song to learn for more advanced guitar players and an actual 'complete package' if you play it yourself! This is a fantastic acoustic blues from Clapton's infamous Unplugged album. It's not as hard as it might seem at first - the trick is to take it slow and nail each section one at a time, building the new bits onto what you already know. Grab your guitar, and get ready to play the Blues! Learning Approach To learn this song, you're learning approach should be to explore the bits one at a time. Once you correctly understand the individual parts, it'll be easier to put it all together. What might challenge you more is getting the tempo at the same speed as the original recording. It's a fast tempo, but feel free to slow things down when you're leaning it - it still sounds great! You'll notice Eric Clapton's playing style often uses the thumb to play the bass notes. He tends to use his second finger more for the upstrums, creating this mixture of fingering to play alternative strums. You'll need to try that on your own - a lot of the blues fingerpicking placement is really up to what works best for your anatomy and playing style. 💡 There's an excellent solo in there - it's got a great blues guitar style and is ideal for improvising. Totally worth check it out if you're up for a solo exploration. :) Practice Tips When you're learning complex songs such as this one, know them slowly to ensure you get it right! Transcribing it and writing out your Tab will be helpful. make sure you focus on nailing that rhythm! Once the rhythm goes a bit weird, your audience can tell something is just not right. In traditional Blues, like Robert Johnson, things happen more randomly with extra notes here or a few extra bars there. But with modern Blues, like with Clapton, things happen more... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oC7yFGkELUw 1342 2017-12-31T08:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-silver-and-gold-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-176 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7LD-gskyjbc/hqdefault.jpg Silver and Gold by Neil Young Time to retune your guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Silver And Gold by Neil Young. This is a beautiful song, and there's a lot of superb acoustic guitar playing! This song is in drop D tuning, so you'll need to tune string 6 down one tone. Use string 4 as a reference – it should be an octave higher than string 6. Silver and Gold – Intro The intro is based around the D chord shape 000775. Use fingers 1, 2, and 3 to add embellishments with your little finger. Though this is the basic shape, we start with finger 1 on fret 5 of string 2. Pluck string 6 and string 2 simultaneously, then hammer on with finger 1 on 2:7 (string 2, fret 7). Then your finger 1 moves to 1:5 (string 1, fret 5) – now you're holding the D chord above. Strum U D. Now pick strings 4 and 2 together, then hammer on finger 4 at 2:8. Leave your fingers down (000785) and strum U D D. 👂 Listen! I suggest you listen to Neil Young and pay close attention to his guitar playing. There are a lot of details behind his unique sound, like the volume and the groove. You can only absorb this by listening it a lot! Then repeat the first hammer-on and strum. Now lift off finger 1 (000770), pick string 4 and string 1 together and strum U D D. This isn't what Neil always plays, but it's a good starting point. Ensure you get the bass note and the hammer-ons in the right place and strum the right chords. Then you can start experimenting! Silver and Gold – Verse The verses use a neat strumming-hand pattern. The thumb plays a bass note on beats 1 and 3, alternating between two notes. On the D, it moves between string 4 and string 5. On beats 2 and 4, we strum the chord using finger 1. Play this for two bars. On the A, he alternates between string 5 and the note at 6:2, which is note E. This means we hold 202220, using the thumb or finger 2 for the bass note. Play the A for two bars. 🎸 Live Version – In live versions, he sometimes plays an A/D chord (XX0655) instead of A/E. Play around with them to find which one you like the most. :) Then we move to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7LD-gskyjbc 1041 2022-11-16T16:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-smith-moonlight-in-vermont-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-042 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TCBTiKSU4Tw/hqdefault.jpg Moonlight In Vermont by Johnny Smith Learn to play "Moonlight in Vermont" by Johnny Smith! Let’s check out Johnny Smith’s chord–melody guitar version of Moonlight In Vermont. Johnny is without doubt among the greatest jazz players to walk the earth. What a legend! And he must have had rubber fingers because this song is super difficult! You need a lot of dexterity and stretchiness. This tune has been a lesson in determination, and my tiny pinkie finger makes it extra tough. Having already given up twice before, I came back determined to nail it. My pinkie hated me for it, but I feel stoked now I've finally got there. :) 👉 Free Moonlight In Vermont Chords Chart: I made a lesson specifically on Johnny Smith Chord Grips with a free PDF chart for registered users. It might come in handy when trying to learn this song. ;) Moonlight in Vermont by Johnny Smith: Guitar Chord Sequence for A Section The underlying chord sequence is quite simple. It’s CMaj7, Am7, Dm7, and G7. But Johnny uses a ton of sublime substitute chords to recreate the harmony and melody – there’s a bunch of stretchy ones in there! 🎸 Jazz Basics: Learn all the essentials of Jazz guitar in my Jazz Introduction module. In nine lessons, we cover chords, rhythm, common terminology, and how to learn Jazz Standards. Next time round, the sequence changes to CMaj7, Am7, B♭7, B♭7, and again Johnny does some incredible substitution work. It’s super interesting to harmonically analyze his playing and uncover the treasure hidden in his chords and melodies. :) Then the sequence goes to Dm7, G7, CMaj, CMaj7, a standard 2-5-1 progression but spiced up with clever voicings. 💡 Chord Voicings: Many of Johnny's chords are called 'close voicing', where the notes are played 'in order', R 3 5 7. Others are super tasty grips in various inversions. Guitar Chord Sequence for B Section On to the B section now. The basic sequence is: F#m7, B7, E, C#m F#m7, B7, E, E Gm7, C7, FMaj7, Dm7 Johnny again uses some awesome substitute chords. Then we play some awesome triad riffs - see the video for all the details. :) ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TCBTiKSU4Tw 1093 2020-01-31T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stealers-wheel-stuck-in-the-middle-with-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-996 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0tUfWmzTfk4/hqdefault.jpg Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel Could there be a cooler song? Forever linked with that most intense torture scene in Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs, this song is always a party favourite. Nothing too tricky going on really, but the proper strumming can be a little sticky to sing over... Enjoy! :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tUfWmzTfk4 495 2018-02-05T19:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-californication-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-362 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yX0W0UCv7z0/hqdefault.jpg Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers On Guitar! Have a blast with this Red Hot Chili Peppers Mega Hit 🌶️ In this lesson, let's explore how to play Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers on guitar. I can't believe I haven't done a lesson for this song sooner - it's so much fun to play. It might even be one of the band's most famous hit songs! John Frusciante put in some tasty things there, which will be fantastic to work on your guitar skills. This lesson will explore the main verse, chorus, and bridge of the song. Together, we'll look at the original recorded version and mix in the bass line, which is a strong part of the riff. If you're following my Guitar Course, this song is best suited for intermediate guitar players who have reached Grade 4+ level. How to Play Californication on Guitar To play Californication on guitar, you'll mainly be playing all beginner open chords you should already be familiar with. Other than during the background of the solo, there are no barre chords in there! What a relief, right? :) The chords are simple on their own, and you can mix it up by adding the bass part. Master the simple chords before adding the guitar emulation of the bass part! Playing with the bass is incredible if you're playing this song on your own. But if you're playing with a band, it's best to stick with the simple version and let your bass player shine! Californication Guitar Rhythm To nail the strumming rhythm of this song, mute out your chords. This way, you won't be distracted and can focus on getting the timing right. The key here is to make sure your strumming movement is consistent and smooth. There are loads of downstrums in there, with the occasional upstrum in certain parts. To help guide you, check out this diagram for the pre-chorus verse: Strumming pattern for the Pre-Chorus D . . U D . D . . U D . D U D . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Now for the chorus, it's all down strums. Easy stuff here! Make sure to keep that little strumming pulse even when you're doing these downstrums. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yX0W0UCv7z0 1379 2017-12-21T07:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/europe-the-final-countdown-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VBj43uSyxog/hqdefault.jpg The Final Countdown by Europe What a tune, eh? And you can learn just in time for New Year Eve! :) The Final Countdown by Europe is great fun on the acoustic guitar - and I'm sure you'll have an amazing time playing it for your friends and loved ones! This guitar lesson will cover the chords and the strumming pattern to sound like the original recording. 💡 Following my Guitar Courses? The Final Countdown is perfect for Grade 3+ Students! :) Now let's get stuck in and check out what's on today's menu. How to play The Final Countdown First thing - get your guitar capo on the second fret. You'll need relatively easy chords to play The Final Countdown on the guitar! There is a B Minor Chord there, but we'll learn a chord cheat if you're not confident with your barre chords yet. :) We'll also check out how to incorporate the main melody into the chords - but if you're a beginner, don't worry about that yet! For example, you can play the chords and sing the melody out. It's super fun and way easier to do! ​​💡 Save your favorite song tutorials on your JustinGuitar.com dashboard! All you have to do is log in to your account and click on that little heart to favorite a lesson! As you advance through your guitar journey, you can always revisit songs you first learn as a beginner and embellish your version. ;) The chords to play The Final Countdown are Em, C, Am, D for the verses. You'll repeat this section as many times as you want - check out the video tutorial to learn more about that. The next section will be two beats on the Em, then you'll need a D Chord with an F# Bass. 🚨 Can't handle Slash Chords yet? Check out this beginner lesson! You'll also add any variation of the G Chord that you fancy doing and wrap up that section with a C chord. Then, we'll need to get into the B chord - more details on the different fingering options are available in the video lesson. We'll also learn a cool cheat to replace the Bm grip if you can't play barre chords. The Final Countdown - Strumming Pattern You'll notice that we were only strumming once per bar thro... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VBj43uSyxog 1087 2021-12-30T03:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/simon-garfunkel-bridge-over-troubled-water-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-419 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoTem1UN-bY/hqdefault.jpg Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel Learn to Play "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Bridge Over Troubled Water on the guitar. This beautiful tune, originally composed for the piano by Paul Simon and sung by Simon & Garfunkel, has been a favorite among music lovers for decades. We'll learn step by step to master a guitar arrangement of the piano part. Don't worry if you're new to this. This is a flexible arrangement, and there's plenty of room for you to add your own flair. Remember, it's not about mimicking the exact version I show you. In fact, I keep varying my style as I play. The charm of this song lies in its capacity for personal interpretation and experimentation. You'll need a capo on the first fret to play along with the original recording. However, when I play with a female vocalist, I prefer to place the capo at the third fret to better accommodate the female vocal range. But for the simplicity of this lesson, I have left the capo off. This will make it easier for you to pick up the complex chords used in this song. The Intro The intro is a beautiful arrangement of chords. The first one to learn is a D with an A base. Then, we transition to an A chord. You'll notice a subtle melody shift here on the original record, so we'll mimic this change with an A6 before moving to a regular A chord. The intro continues with a G chord, an A/G bass, and a G# diminished 7 chord. We'll then return to a D with an A base chord before moving to a B7sus4, a B7, and finally a G to G minor. As you can see, the intro is packed with diverse chords, giving the song its rich and distinctive sound. The Verse We encounter even more variety in the chord progression when we transition into the verse. We start with a bar of D, then a G with a D base, before returning to a D chord. We then move to a G to C, G, D sequence. The verse continues with a transition from a D chord to a D major 7 and then to an Em7. We then circle back to D, G, D, and finish with G, D. Towards the end of the vers... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YoTem1UN-bY 1375 2017-12-04T13:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-tears-in-heaven-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-317 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9yC8W_DGwcU/hqdefault.jpg Tears in Heaven [1/2] by Eric Clapton Learn "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton On Guitar! One of Clapton’s biggest hits, and most beautiful songs. This song was released in 1992 and has a very sad meaning behind it. It was a way for Clapton to work through grief. It’s an emotional song, with powerful lyrics, and is meaningful for many people. In this guitar lesson, we’ll learn how to play Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton. We’ll be taking a look at the unplugged version. First, we’ll explore the chords, close up of the grips, and we’ll go through and have a look at what Clapton does with his picking hand. 🎸This is a 2 part series, click here to learn Part 2 of this song. This song lesson suits best Grade 6 + guitar students. Let’s get started with the intro. Grab your guitar and let’s get stuck in. How To Play Tears In Heaven By Eric Clapton In the unplugged version, Clapton plays this song on a classical guitar - but we’ll be covering it on a steel-string acoustic guitar. You can even play it on electric - it’s up to you and what you have available. :) To start, you’ll be plucking the low E string. You're hammering your first finger in the second fret of the thickest string. Then, you’ll go on plucking the open A string. There are a couple of hammer-ons you’ll want to put throughout the song. At some point, you’ll encounter the E chord with the G sharp bass note. The way Clapton plays this is using his thumb over. Check out the video close-up for some alternatives that you might find easier! The verse is very similar to how this song starts off. We have the same riff, then we follow with a bit of a climb. For the chorus, we got some really interesting chords - some are tricky. Go and check out Part 2 of this guitar series to learn it. Happy Trails! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! What Is Tears In Heaven About? This song has to be one of the most touching songs ever written. When Eric Clapton's baby fell from a balcony and died, he wrote out the pain and this incredible song came into... https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yC8W_DGwcU 599 2017-11-17T03:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lucy-hale-you-sound-good-to-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-192 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VA-106xCQOo/hqdefault.jpg You Sound Good To Me by Lucy Hale Learn "Baby, You Sound So Good to Me" by Lucy Hale on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Baby, You Sound So Good to Me by Lucy Hale on the guitar. This song is an excellent choice for beginners as it uses only two chords, A and D, making it an excellent exercise for practicing your chord changes. Getting Started You'll need to place your capo on the fourth fret to play along with the original recording. However, it's perfectly fine to play it in the open position, and if you're a male vocalist, you might find it easier to sing this way. The main focus of this lesson is to practice your chord changes, making this song both a fun exercise and a simple enough piece to bring out at a party. The Chord Progression The chord progression in this song is straightforward. You will alternate between the A and D chords, with one bar for each chord. This progression continues throughout the entire song, making it a great exercise for practicing these two chords. 💡One useful tip for beginners is to use your first finger as an anchor. Keep your first finger down and simply slide it back slightly for the A chord and forward slightly for the D chord. The Rhythm The rhythm of the song is a crucial part of playing it accurately. You will begin with a simple down strum on each chord. Try to tap your foot along with the beat to help you keep time. The rhythm of this song may be simple, but it's also a vital aspect of playing the guitar. Keeping a solid rhythm and playing along with a backing track or the original recording can help you work on your timing, an essential skill for any guitarist. Experimentation Once you've mastered the song's basic chord progression and rhythm, you can experiment with different strumming patterns and chord variations. For example, you could incorporate Asus2, A, and Asus4 for the A chord and D, Dsus2, and Dsus4 for the D chord. This will add a new dimension to the song and provide a fresh challenge as you continue to improve your guitar skills. Wrapping Up Remember, learning to play ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/VA-106xCQOo 686 2017-12-02T08:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-i-want-to-hold-your-hand-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-410 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q4FtiA6MkS0/hqdefault.jpg I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles Learn How To Play "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. This is an excellent song for beginners and is easy to sing along to! You only need open strings and simple strumming to play this tune to play it. We’ll also explore ways to spice it up and make it sound like the original record. We’re not diving into that intro, but feel free to explore that on your own. :) 💡Play Along to this Beatles song with backing tracks using my app! It's a fun and effective way to accelerate your guitar learning. :) Chord Progressions & Easy Strumming Let’s keep it simple and start by playing four downstrums to the bar. For the first verse, you’ll be playing G, D, Em B7. You'll find this typical chord sequence in loads of other popular songs! When you’re going from the Em to the B7 chord, keep your second finger down like an anchor - I'll make that chord transition much easier! 🚨 If you struggle with the chord changes, check out the One Minute Changes exercise. Once you get to the chorus, you're playing two strums for each chord between C, D, and Em and finishing with a full G bar. If you're confident playing the whole song, it might be time to spice things up! This is when you’ll want to keep the listener in mind and use dynamics to keep things interesting. Let’s Make It Fancy! Using the old faithful to level up your strumming pattern will sound great for the verses. If you’re going to use it, change to all downstrums when you get to the chorus. Arpeggiating the chords will give a nice contrast between the verse and the chorus. This technique involves picking out the individual chords and is an intermediate guitar skill. If you're not there yet, it might be something you’ll want to revisit later on! To make it more Rock N Roll, use the 12-bar blues and barre chords . It'll mimic a closer sound to the original recording rhythm, but once again, that's a more advanced technique! Nothing wrong with keeping ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q4FtiA6MkS0 643 2018-01-25T07:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-thunderstruck-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-509 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RinFw8jcasY/hqdefault.jpg Thunderstruck by AC/DC Learn how to play "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Thunderstruck by AC/DC on the guitar. This iconic Rock anthem is instantly recognizable from its opening guitar sequence and powerful energy. We'll break down the six main riffs that form the backbone of this classic track, giving you all the tools needed to rock this song with confidence. Thunderstruck is one of AC/DC's biggest hits and features some of Rock history's most memorable guitar work. While the song might seem intimidating at first, it's actually quite approachable when broken down into its component parts. We won't be covering the solo in this lesson, but once you master these six essential riffs, you'll be able to play along with most of the song by listening to the original recording. One fascinating aspect of this track is how layered the guitar parts are. That iconic riff appears throughout the song, even underlying chord sections where you might not expect it to work - but it sounds absolutely incredible when pulled together. The Famous Intro Riff We start with Riff One, which serves as the intro. This part is excellent for developing the technique you'll need for the main riff. The pattern alternates between fretted notes and open strings, creating that distinctive rhythmic texture that defines the song. This technique requires precision and clean picking to sound right. The key to mastering this (and all the riffs in Thunderstruck) is to start slowly. Focus on accuracy before speed. When you try to rush, the notes become messy, and it simply won't sound good. Make sure every note rings out clearly, including the open strings. As you get comfortable, gradually increase your speed. Remember to keep your hands relaxed while practicing. Tension leads to fatigue, especially with the continuous picking pattern in this riff. This riff will expose any synchronization issues between your picking and fretting hands, so take your time building that coordination. The Main Signature Riff Riff Two is the signatur... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RinFw8jcasY 1008 2017-12-21T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-chocolate-jesus-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-222 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yIlg17yyu-A/hqdefault.jpg Chocolate Jesus by Tom Waits Learn How To Play "Chocolate Jesus" by Tom Waits On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Chocolate Jesus by Tom Waits on acoustic guitar. This fantastic song is excellent for beginners! It's particularly great if you want to practice your Am and Dm chord. Beginners can play it with a simple strumming, but we'll also explore how to pick out the bass with your thumb. This fingerstyle strumming will sound closer to the original recording (without the banjo and an upright bass!). 💡 Play along with Chocolate Jesus using my app! It's loads of fun and will help you nail that tricky rhythm. :) Simple Beginner Version If you want to play along with the original recording, put your capo on the 6th fret. But feel free to move it around your fretboard or remove it to fit your voice. You'll only need three easy open chords to play this song. The chord progressions for this song only need the A minor chord, D minor chord, and E chord. There's a slight difference between the verse and the chorus - you'll stay on the E chord for an extra bar on one of the verses. We got the same chords for the bridge but in a different arrangement with some quirky little bars. For the strumming, start simple using all downstrums in a 4x4 time signature. Keep that strumming hand moving and count out loud to guide your rhythm. You want to get the feel of it first! Then, you can add upstrums in there. :) Fingerstyle Strum Pattern The fingerstyle strumming requires your thumb to play the bass note. And we're strumming with our first finger, which is great if you're not keen on using a pick. Different chords have different base notes, and here are the different strings you'll pick out: For the Am chord: your thumb is playing the 5th string. For the Dm chord: your thumb is playing the 4th string. For the E chord: your thumb is playing the thickest string. Then, you simply strum the rest with your first finger! This isn't a beginner technique, so don't fret if you're not there yet. However, it is something to look forward to as you d... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIlg17yyu-A 803 2018-02-04T20:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/peter-gabriel-solsbury-hill-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-119 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oHgm9DkavUY/hqdefault.jpg Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel Play "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel on guitar! Let's learn how to play Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel. This song is definitely not easy, but it's also not as difficult as you think! :) The good news is that there are only six sequences you need to practice. Focus on each one individually, and you'll get there. 🎸 Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel is one of my most requested songs! If you'd like a lesson on your favorite tune, you can request it here. Before we get started, grab your guitar capo. To follow this lesson along with me and play along with the original recording, you'll need to put your capo on the second fret. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel on the acoustic guitar. Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel – Time Signature Solsbury Hill is in 7/4 time, which is definitely an odd time signature. It sounds really complicated, but we’ll look at the count step-by-step! Though we’ll look at all the details, it’s crucial you get used to the feel of the song. It makes it much easier to learn! Listen to the song and count along – but not in 7s. Count in 3s and 4s for the intro: 1 2 3, 1 2 3 4; 1 2 3, 1 2 3 4. In the verses, do the opposite: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3; 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3. This will help you feel the pulse when you play the fingerstyle part, which is the key to playing songs in odd times. Even though the time signature is strange, the rhythm isn’t jerky. It’s natural. That’s the mark of a beautifully written song. :) How To Learn This Song I recommend you learn the chord sequence first. Focus on the fretting hand, making sure you've got all the chords right and know which fingers to use. That’s the easy part. Most of your effort will go into the fingerstyle! You must practice the picking slowly. When I transcribed the tune, I had to work it all out, write it all down, and then practice it over and over again until it happened on its own! You need to automate this stuff – you can’t be thinking about the fingerstyle patterns as you play them. To help you get the guitar parts spo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oHgm9DkavUY 1847 2022-02-19T07:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tracy-chapman-fast-car-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-802 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SfYUhWtvQZM/hqdefault.jpg Fast Car by Tracy Chapman Learn Fast Car on Acoustic Guitar—Easy Fingerstyle! In this easy tutorial we'll learn how to play Fast Car by Tracy Chapman—an absolutely beautiful song and a really fun one on guitar. It's not as hard as you might think! First, I want to mention that I'm playing this lesson without a capo. The original recording uses a capo on the second fret, but I find it easier to explain without one. For male singers: Playing without a capo might be easier. For female singers: Try a capo on the second or fourth fret, depending on your vocal range. This song is played fingerstyle, so we'll use our thumb, first finger, and second finger. The chord patterns are relatively simple. Let's break it down! 😅 The first time I released this song was back in 2018! You can watch the original tutorial here. :) Chords & Fingerpicking Pattern We start with a C major chord but lift off the first finger to create a C major 7 (Cmaj7) sound. Fingerpicking Technique Thumb → Plays the 5th string (A string) Index finger → Plays the 3rd string (G string) Middle finger → Plays the 2nd string (B string) Steps Play the C chord with the first finger lifted off. Strum 5th, 3rd, and 2nd strings together. Hammer on the first finger onto the 2nd string (B) at the 1st fret (or pick the note instead). Chord Progression for the Verse Cmaj7 → C → G → E minor → D Play each chord with fingerpicking. Alternate G Chord Fingerings Tracy Chapman uses second finger on the low E (6th) string and third finger on the 2nd (B) string. I personally prefer using third and fourth fingers as it makes transitions smoother. Rhythm The most important part of this song is the rhythm. Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (Make sure the pulse stays steady). Practice slowly and ensure you don't leave pauses. A Variation in the Intro During the intro, there's a small sliding movement in the E minor and D chords: The little finger slides up two frets on the B string and back. From D, the little finger moves up one fret and back. This is called a crotchet triplet (quarter note... https://www.youtube.com/embed/SfYUhWtvQZM 908 2025-02-07T05:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/prince-purple-rain-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-271 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZeDeFB5iDgQ/hqdefault.jpg Purple Rain by Prince 3 different ways of playing Purple Rain on guitar! In this lesson, we'll explore three different ways to play Purple Rain on the guitar, because the original recording uses some fairly tricky, stretchy chord shapes that can be awkward for many players. So rather than just showing one version, this tutorial presents: A “just like the record” version with the more complex chords A simplified chord version that keeps the feel but is easier to play A capo version for beginners using very accessible shapes This means you can choose the version that fits our level—while still capturing the character of the song! :) 💡 Get official chords + lyrics with JustinGuitar Tabs! Start for free here. The Main Chords (Full Version) The full version uses: B♭ add9 over D G minor 11 F E♭ add9 The first chord is a B♭ add9 over D, leaving the thickest two strings out. That D in the bass gives it a lot of character and matches what’s happening on the recording. The G minor 11 keeps the top strings ringing and has a really lovely sound. The E♭ add9 is the stretch. The easiest way to build it is: First finger Second and third fingers Little finger last Trying to place everything at once makes it much harder. There’s also a regular B♭ just before the chorus. Verse Progression The verse progression is: B♭ over D → G minor 11 → F → E♭ It goes around again, but the second time it briefly stays on F before stopping on B♭. There are also a couple of short 2/4 bars. They don’t feel strange when listening, but you need to be aware of them. Rhythm and Feel The original recording is quite sparse. Often the chord is played once and left to ring. There isn’t one fixed strumming pattern. Instead: Keep the strumming hand moving Choose when to strum and when to leave space Stay consistent with the groove Even when not hitting the strings, keeping the hand moving helps maintain timing. To simplify it, start with: 4 downstrums per bar Then build to 8 per bar If the rhythm is steady, the song works. Intro Details The intro includes small embellishments:... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeDeFB5iDgQ 1518 2026-02-13T05:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sheryl-crow-all-i-wanna-do-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-072 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qa9mvncI4o0/hqdefault.jpg All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow All I Wanna E is to have some E, I got a C chord I'm not the D one… Haha, you up for singing chords with me? :) All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow is a classic tune that gets everyone singing. It's easy to play, and you'll learn a nice little cheat so you can play the whole song with open chords. If you're up for some fancy stuff, we'll also explore the original slide guitar and riffs. I remember playing this Sheryl Crow classic thousands of times in the days of The Tuesday Night Music Club. That used to be a huge thing in bars! Let's get that groove on. Grab your acoustic, and let's have some fun! How To Play "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow on Guitar Chord Progression The chords are simple for most of this Sheryl Crow classic. The most frequent progression in All I Wanna Do is E, E, C, and D - check out my Beginner's Course for detailed lessons on these chords. Things get interesting in the pre-chorus: the rhythm guitar plays A Major for one and a half bars, then B♭ Major for half a bar. This repeats three times, but we don't switch to B♭ in the final bar. B♭ is usually a barre chord, but there’s a cheat! :) If you slide the open A grip up one fret, you get a B♭. Easy! The only caveat is that you need to mute string 1 when you fret B♭ - it sounds horrible! The chorus goes E, E, C and D too, but instead of switching to D on the second rep, we switch to B7. 💡 Slash Swaps: In All I Wanna Do, I always play a C/G slash chord instead of a regular C chord - it's not necessary, but adding that slash chord sounds wicked. Give it a try! Rhythm Guitar You can play most of All I Wanna Do with the Old Faithful strumming pattern. But the pattern itself the main concern here. What's most awesome about Sheryl Crow's music is the groove. All I Wanna Do is no different - it’s super relaxed, and you need to mimic it. One of the best ways to absorb the groove is by playing along with the original record with muted strings. Strum along and pretend you’re in the band. 🤔 Relax When Singing? I try to sustain the relaxed groove when I sin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qa9mvncI4o0 1069 2021-05-07T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-shape-of-you-looper-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2OrsvseNXI/hqdefault.jpg Shape Of You [LOOPER] by Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran - With a Guitar Looper! Let’s learn how to play Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran with a guitar looper! Think of this lesson as a starting point - we look at several looper layers and some tips to make it sound awesome, but there's so much more to explore. 💡 Shape Of You is perfect for looping because the chord sequence and vibe remain the same throughout. It's a great one to try if you've never used a looper before. We'll cover the equipment you need, the various layers I demo in the video - including the rhythm guitar, bassline, riff, and melodies - and further elements to explore. This is so much fun! Let's get cracking. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran - Equipment For this lesson, I used my Boss RC-3 Loop Station, but you can use whatever looper you like, as long as you know how to start, stop, and create an overdub. It’s a big advantage if you know the different settings on your guitar, because this allows you to create different textures - a crucial part of awesome looper playing. Let’s start by creating a rhythm track. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran - Step 1: Rhythm Guitar with Muted Strings The chords for Shape Of You are Am, Dm, F, and G, and each lasts half a bar. 🚨 Know Your Beat 1: It’s crucial you start and stop the loop on beat 1 so you have a solid base. If the rhythm loop isn’t quite right, it messes up the rest of your layers. In reality, you want to play a bar or two of this pattern before starting the looper. Let’s mute the strings with our fretting hand and strum them to create a drum-like rhythm. This is the first layer. For a nice starting groove, hit the thicker strings on beats 1 and 3, using the thumb, and all the strings on 2 and 4, using several fingers. Hit the looper as you strum on beat 1, play two bars of this pattern, and stop on beat 1 again. :) Step 2: Guitar Bassline Now let’s add a baseline, picking the strings with our thumb to get a lovely, rounded sound. We play the notes A, D, F, and G, all on string 6 except the D. The rhythm uses 16th-notes, but it’s best t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/E2OrsvseNXI 1207 2019-08-06T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/brenda-lee-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-105 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O_xT6VRvla8/hqdefault.jpg Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee Some awsome artists have covered the Brenda Lee classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"! But for this guitar lesson, we'll stick with the original Brenda Lee version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree from 1964. This Christmas classic sounds great on the electric guitar if you're playing in a band, but we'll focus on how to play it on the acoustic. We're aiming for that sing-along vibe that we all love at Christmas! :) We'll learn the authentic strumming patterns and embellishments, along with some awesome advanced techniques to help you sound wickedl! If you'd like the chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this tutorial and hundreds of others, check out JustinGuitar Tabs. Let's get stuck in. HOW TO PLAY ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE BY BRENDA LEE ON GUITAR Intro and Verse Chords For the intro you’ll need A♭, Fm, D♭, then E♭. I play A♭ as an E-shape Major, Fm with the Em barre shape, and the other two as A Major shape chords. This is also the outro sequence, and A♭6 is a cool chord to end the song with - see the video lesson for that. ;) 🔥 Change The Vibe: If you want to get fancy, replace the A♭ and D♭ in the intro and verses with A♭6 and D♭6 - I reckon these are the original chords. Some cool electric riffs also come in here, and you might like to transcribe them if you’re in a band. ;) For the verses, you need two bars of A♭, five bars of E♭7, then one bar of A♭. Repeat this sequence twice for one verse. In the verse, I tend to play E♭7 using the open C7 shape moved up three frets, with string 1 muted. 🧐 Know Your Keys: These sequences look difficult and completely random, unless you know the diatonic chords in A♭ (A♭, D♭, E♭, B♭m, Cm, and Fm). For example, the intro is a 1-6-4-5 in A♭. Knowing this makes the progression loads easier to remember. Chorus Chords To play the chorus, you'll need this progression: D♭, D♭, Cm, Cm; Fm, Fm, B♭, E♭. I play D♭ as an A shape, Cm as an Am shape, Fm as an Am shape, and B♭ as an E shape. :) To get it sounding authentic, strum once on B♭ then mute the st... https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_xT6VRvla8 688 2021-12-10T05:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/vance-joy-riptide-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-151 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LsSACg4SNe8/hqdefault.jpg Riptide by Vance Joy Learn How to Play "Riptide" by Vance Joy on the Acoustic Guitar! Today we'll check out Riptide by Vance Joy on guitar! This tune was originally played on a baritone ukulele, which uses the same tuning as the thinnest four strings of your guitar. If you want to learn that version, check out my Riptide Ukulele tutorial. This guitar lesson will be super easy if you've learned that already - the chord shapes are almost identical. :) 💡 Play Riptide along with the tracks in my guitar app to boost your skills! You get a full band experience, so it’s perfect for practicing your chord changes and strumming patterns. It's also great fun! Riptide by Vance Joy is a relatively easy song to play. You use the same three open chords for the entire song, except the bridge. There’s also a riff section, which doesn't sound as good on guitar as the uke - but we’ll learn it anyways. :) Let’s check out the chords! Riptide by Vance Joy: Guitar Chords The chords are pretty standard: the verse and chorus progression is Am, Am, G, C. I recommend you play G with fingers 3 and 4 to make the changes simple. :) If you're struggling with these chord shapes, explore my Chord Library and get helpful tips on the best grips! Riptide by Vance Joy: Strumming Once you know the chords, it's time to work on your strumming pattern. The rhythm stays pretty consistent for the whole song, and I recommend you practice it by muting the strings so you can focus on getting it right. Check out the video tutorial to practice my recommended strumming pattern! 💡 Justin's Journey: I tend to play Riptide faster than I should; I must admit that! Playing along with the original recording is a great way to fix that. :) You need to automate this strumming pattern as much as possible, especially if you want to play and sing. The lyrics for Riptide are pretty wordy, and you might need to concentrate on your singing quite a bit. So automating the guitar part is key, and repetition is what will get you there. Here’s a key tip for strumming: don’t stop the rhythm if the c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LsSACg4SNe8 1064 2022-07-06T03:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bruce-springsteen-the-river-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-013 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_pltK2u_20U/hqdefault.jpg The River by Bruce Springsteen How to Play "The River" by Bruce Springsteen The River is one of Bruce Springsteen's most iconic songs, which is saying something! It's hard to teach just a few songs from his enormous songbook, but The River is perfect for guitar! It's also a good representation of the man and the band. :) 💙 Bruce’s Folk Tribute: The Boss himself said he wrote this song to pay tribute to old folk music. You can definitely hear the folk influence throughout! Among other things, Bruce Springsteen is well known for his unique writing style. He uses narrative writing for the lyrics in this song, so it's all about exploring and embracing different voices and experiences. Can you hear this? The original recording uses a 12-string guitar. While the sound is fuller than a six-string, the techniques are the same. So let’s check out how to play it. :) The River by Bruce Springsteen: Guitar Chord Progressions The chord progressions in this song are pretty easy and stay consistent, except for the verses. The intro chords are Em, G, D, C Am, G, C, C. Verse 1 is Em, G, D, C Em, G, C, G C, C, G, Em Am, Am, G, C. Here's where things change: the later verses finish with Am, G, C, C. For the harmonic solo, we use this altered progression and add an extra bar of C at the end. Finally, the chorus goes Em, C, D, G Em, C, D, C. Instead of using C, you can mimic Bruce Springsteen by playing Cadd9, which he occasionally plays instead of regular C. Explore this grip and see where it sounds good to you. :) 💡 Practice Tip: It can be tricky to remember all these sequences, so make sure you write them down to help sear them into in your mind. :) Picked Fingerstyle Guitar in the Verses The picked fingerstyle is the defining element of this song - and the reason I'm so excited to teach it! It's a strum-picking technique, and it gives a warm, gentle, and intricate sound. Strum-picking? Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? Basically, we play a picking pattern, but our wrist has a strumming motion. As you move up to full speed, the "strum" becomes more evident. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_pltK2u_20U 1201 2019-09-27T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-gallows-pole-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-415 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xhioibvo9c8/hqdefault.jpg Gallows Pole by Led Zeppelin Learn to play "Gallows Pole" by Led Zeppelin on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Gallows Pole on the guitar. This song was a winner from a request fest, and while it's usually played on a 12-string guitar, we're going to tackle it on a regular 6-string. Don't worry, it's the same chords and fingerings but with a slightly different feel. Most of you learning this tune are probably going to use a 6-string anyway. The arrangement is a little complex, so I'll give you the puzzle pieces, but you'll have to listen to the original recording to put them together. The Rhythmic Foundation The rhythm is the key to this song, so we'll break it down. A good starting point is to practice the rhythm with your fretting hand muting the strings so you can just focus on your hand movement. The rhythm pattern is a repeating cycle of 16th notes that we'll explore in detail in the video. It's important to get comfortable with this slowly and gradually speed it up. If your rhythm is solid, it doesn't matter if your chords are a little off, but it will be very noticeable if your rhythm is off. Combining Rhythm and Chords Now, let's bring in the chords. The first chord is an A7. You lift your finger off on the "up" after the first beat. Then the finger goes back down, and it changes to an Am7 on beat three. On beat four, we do a little pick slide. Remember that the first beat is just a bass note, not a big strum. There are some extra strums in the real recording, and that's okay; this is just the foundation. Even the first time it's played on the record, the little note isn't there. Don't stress about it too much–the important thing is that the rhythm is consistent. Moving on to Other Sections After the intro and verse, you'll be using the full Rock version of the G chord and then the D chord. The strumming pattern here is down, down, up, down, down, up, but the second down up is lighter. It is there for the rhythmic vibe more than anything. When playing along with the original, play quietly so you can hear what's be... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xhioibvo9c8 1176 2018-01-24T15:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-daughter-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-149 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/par3IOGUvtY/hqdefault.jpg Daughter by Pearl Jam How to Play "Daughter" by Pearl Jam on Guitar Let’s check out how to play Daughter by Pearl Jam on guitar, just like the original recording! This is such an interesting song, and it uses a cool variation of Open G tuning. More on that below. 💙 Why did it take me so long to do a tutorial for this song?! I absolutely love Pearl Jam, and it brings back so many wonderful memories of my teenage years and learning guitar. :) So let's get stuck in and learn how to play Daughter. Don't forget to grab JustinGuitarTABS so that you have the tab, chords, and lyrics right next to you. It'll save you loads of time! Daughter by Pearl Jam - Guitar Tuning Daughter by Pearl Jam uses Open G Tuning with a different bass note; the thickest string is tuned differently! To get to the right tuning to play Daughter, follow these steps: Tune the thinnest string down to a D. You can use the fourth string as a reference. Tune the fifth string down to a G. You can use the third string as a reference. Tune the thickest string up to a G! In Daughter, strings 6 and 5 are tuned to the same note, which is interesting. In standard Open G tuning, you tune the thickest string down to a D. But it doesn't get used a whole lot, which is why Keith Richards had his famous five-string Telecaster! :) So we can avoid this wasted string by tuning it up to G. What a clever trick! 💡 Altered tunings are nothing to be afraid of! If you're still unsure about retuning your guitar, check this out. Structure Your Guitar Practice Daughter by Pearl Jam has only two sections. You'll have to listen to the record to get the right order, but it shouldn't be too difficult if you're familiar with this tune. Learning a song like this is easier if you break it down, and that's exactly how we'll learn it today! We'll start with the riff and fingerings, then learn the chord changes and strumming pattern. Then we'll explore the fancy rhythm parts and embellishments you might want to try. 💡Whenever you find a trickier tune with harder chord changes and awkward rhythm, try brea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/par3IOGUvtY 902 2022-06-15T00:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-best-of-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pEyaVaKu0s0/hqdefault.jpg Best Of You by Foo Fighters Learn "Best Of You" By The Foo Fighters on guitar! This song is not as hard as it might appear. This mega-hit from the Foo Fighters is so fun to play on guitar! This lesson will teach us what you need to play Best Of You on the acoustic guitar. We'll be putting into practice some easy beginner chords in there. Some of these chords have fancy names, others are power chords, but they’re not that difficult! Even Grade 3+ beginner guitar players can get around playing them. :) It might take a bit of practice, so ease into it! We’ll explore Dave Grohl’s fantastic approach to this tune. You’ll want to focus on the rhythm of this song - which is the element that makes this song so great. So, grab your guitar, and let’s make it the best of you. How To Play Best Of You On Guitar The first chord you’ll play is a C sharp Minor 7. I know - big scary name! But it’s not that tricky. Check out the video close-up to see how you can easily do this grip. :) You’ll want to pmute the thickest string with the tip of your third finger! This will keep it out of the way from accidentally muting the fourth string. Your little finger might get sore practicing this tune - it’s normal! A bit of practice will help you get through it. It’s a good idea to play along precisely as I did with the original recording! Do one strum for each chord - and get familiar with the feeling of it! You want to do your finger lift-offs, but keep your chords ringing it out correctly. Getting That Dave Grohl Rhythm The rhythm of this song is essential! Of course, Dave Grohl, being the amazing multi-level musician, has a fantastic sense of rhythm. In many Foo Fighters songs, even when the chords are simple, the rhythm will make it intricate. Super important you get that rhythm right! You’ll need a mix of heavy accents and soft picks - take your time to get that sounding tight. Get used to the pattern by muting all your strings! Then, if you practiced the chords separately, it’ll be easy to bring it all together. Check out JustinGuitar Tabs for Chords, Tabs, an... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pEyaVaKu0s0 778 2017-12-03T12:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-romeo-and-juliet-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-923 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LAvCs8OO858/hqdefault.jpg Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits Learn how to play "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits on guitar! In my book, this has to be one of the most beautiful guitar riffs ever. And, of course, Romeo and Juliet is played by Mark Knopfler. What a genius. I wish I had a Dobro to teach you how to play this Dire Straits classic. But the good news is that this song also sounds lovely on the acoustic guitar! I don't think I emphasized it enough in the video, really, but to master this one - you'll need to take it really slow. The fingerpicking patterns are a little odd, so you'll need to work on them slowly and correctly. If not, it will never feel natural under your fingers. If you're following my Guitar Courses, this song is suitable for more advanced guitar players Grade 7+. Now - let's get stuck in. We've got loads of things to check out. Romeo & Juliet - Guitar Tuning You'll need to tune your guitar to Open G Tuning to play Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits. Then, you'll place your guitar capo on the 3rd fret. Let me give you a few tricks to get that right! First, I'd recommend you tune roughly to the Open G Tuning: D G D G B D. Then, put your capo on and re-tune your guitar. With the capo on, the tuning of Romeo and Juliet is F Bb F Bb D F. 🚨 Always tune your strings up to a note, never down, especially with a capo. Once you have the tuning roughly in, you'll probably need to tweak it a bit. This song will sound weird if you don't get the tuning correct! I simply play the open Bb chord and try to listen out for any notes that need tweaking. They shouldn't need much, so make small movements! Romeo & Juliet - Chords Shapes You'll only need three chord shapes to play Romeo and Juliet on the guitar. Start with an F Chord - that won't look like an F Chord because of the tuning. So, check out the video tutorial to learn more about the grip. If you want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with it, check out JustinGuitar Tabs. :) The intro will play around with that chord shape and even open strings. It sounds fantastic. I love playing around with... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LAvCs8OO858 868 2018-01-26T10:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stevie-wonder-master-blaster-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-345 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gGYo0NkBaAY/hqdefault.jpg Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder Learn to Play "Master Blaster" by Stevie Wonder on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder on the guitar. This remarkable song is a joy to play and has lots of cool elements to explore. We'll delve into the distinct rhythm patterns, the exciting unison lead guitar part, and the unique use of octaves. We'll also take a look at the chord progression and some of the techniques used in the song. The Introduction and Verses One of the first things we'll learn about Master Blaster is the use of octaves in the intro. This technique adds depth and richness to the song that sets it apart. The song starts off with a lively rhythm and a series of notes that play in the intro and throughout the verses. The rhythm pattern is crucial to get the groove of the song. It's all about getting those tight, pulsing notes. A big part of this is learning to 'pump' the chords - pressing and releasing the chord with the rhythm. This gives the song its distinctive funky feel. The Chord Progression Master Blaster uses an interesting progression of chords. Starting with a C minor chord, the song then moves through several chords, including B♭, A♭, G, and F. Remember, we also have a different version of the C minor chord that we'll use. This variation adds diversity to the sound and keeps the song lively and engaging. We'll move these chords up and down the fretboard throughout the song to add variation and depth to the sound. This progression is a key component of the song–learning it will give you a solid foundation for playing the entire song. The Chorus and Riffs Moving into the chorus, we start again on the C minor chord. We then introduce a G7 chord and an F7 chord, which add a new layer of complexity to the song. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also add in a little riff after the F7. The song also includes two really cool unison riffs. These are a bit more challenging but are really fun to play. They involve some quick shifts and slides on the fretboard and are an exciting part of th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gGYo0NkBaAY 1553 2017-12-08T13:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-love-me-tender-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-405 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Ew0mfTE3EI/hqdefault.jpg Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley Learn to play "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Love Me Tender on the guitar. This beautiful song by the legend, the king, Elvis Presley, has a straightforward strumming pattern that's simple yet effective. We are in two-four time, which means there are two beats in the bar, and the first beat is the bass note of each chord, followed by a strum on beat two. Understanding the Chords We start off with a regular D chord. Each time I mention a particular chord, remember it's just two beats, a bass note, and then a chord. We have two bars for the introduction, and then we start the verse. We move from D to D with an A bass for the verse. We keep the same chord but pick the A string, the second thickest string. Then we change to an E7. You can play like a regular E and add your little finger. Both versions sound nice for this song, so it's up to you which one you want to play. Following this progression, we have E7 with a B bass and then transition to A7. This pattern is repeated twice for the verse, making it easy to remember and practice. The Chorus We start the chorus with a D, then move to F#7 over C#. This might sound complicated, but if you've practiced some barre chords, you shouldn't struggle with this one. We then transition to a standard B minor chord, a D7 over A, and a G chord. The transition to G minor six will probably be the most challenging chord in this tune, but you'll get the hang of it with practice. The second half of the chorus moves from D to B7, to E7, to A7, and finally back to D with an A bass. Remember, when you go to the A bass, just move your first finger up a little to mute the D string. This makes it sound clearer with the bass note movement. Final Thoughts Love Me Tender is an absolutely beautiful song. I'm sure you'll agree. It's not without its challenges, but this one will definitely get you some extra tokens if you learn it and play it for your significant other. You know that this one will go down a proper treat, I can tell yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Ew0mfTE3EI 655 2017-12-04T13:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-cream-sunshine-of-your-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AL0NDmLbRJ4/hqdefault.jpg Sunshine Of Your Love by Eric Clapton (Cream) Learn How To Play "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream On Guitar ! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream. This is an all-time classic riff. Of course, this features the great Eric Clapton on guitar! There are many awesome riffs in this song that are perfect for intermediate players! We'll explore the riffs one by one, the techniques needed, and how the transition from one to the other on the fretboard. The basic structure is pretty straightforward, but it takes time and practice to get all those tasty variations! 🚨 If you're a beginner guitar players, check out the easy version of Sunshine Of Your Love's guitar riff. It's a bit different from the original, but it gets the job done if you're only starting your guitar journey! Main Riffs The main riff plays around the D barre chord - so this is where you'll start. At one point, you'll be transforming your grips into power chords. At another, you're jumping up your guitar neck and playing around the G chord for one of the riffs. You'll be playing all-down picks for some of the riffs, then alternate picking for others. Throughout the rest of the song, Clapton mixes up the different bits and adds slight variations. You'll want to explore this idea once you learn the main riffs! Keep in mind - you'll need loads of different techniques for this song - this includes slides, string bending, power chords, and vibratos. There's a lot going on, so take your time, and learn the riffs in sections before combining them. For the vibratos, feel free to keep them as heavy or light as you want. Make It Your Own! This is a fantastic tune to have under your belt and make sure you make it your own by adding your own special sauce to it. These kinds of songs are not necessarily about playing the same exact notes as the original recording. It's more about knowing where to start, the structure, and then you can really have some fun improvising it! The solo has fantastic material and loads of tasty licks to steal! Although we don't cover it in this lesson, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AL0NDmLbRJ4 583 2017-12-04T10:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/warren-zevon-werewolves-of-london-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ej-YxeDcS2A/hqdefault.jpg Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon Play "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon on guitar! This 3-Chord Song Brings Back So Many Memories. :) Since I was a teenager, I've loved Werewolves of London by Warrel Zevon! I have no idea when I first came across this song, but when I moved to London, one of the highlights was having dinner at Lee Ho Fuk, which is in Chinatown in London! :) This is the restaurant that Warrel Zevon name-checks in the song, and I think that's a really cool little thing. :) But anyway! :) Today, we're here to learn how to play Werewolves of London on the electric guitar. We'll learn a simple, beginner version, which also sounds great on the acoustic guitar! 💡 Beginners following Grade 1 of my Guitar Course can play Werewolves of London with easy chords and strumming patterns. Stick around if you're comfortable with the basic chord changes and strumming pattern – we'll also learn an authentic version! We'll explore the structure of the song, some Rock techniques you can add to sound great, and you'll even learn how to emulate that piano part on your guitar. It's loadsa fun! Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Werewolves of London by Warrel Zevon on the guitar. :) Werewolves of London – Chords + Structure We play the same chords throughout the entire song. You'll only need D, C, and G chords. The progression is two beats on D, two on C, then four on G. Easy peasy, eh? If you're a beginner or want a chilled sing-along version, keep the strumming pattern super simple by strumming two downstrums on D and C and four on G. If you want to get a little fancier, try this pattern: D C G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D D D D D D D D D D D D Make sure to use all downstrums. :) 💡 Warren Zevon is an incredible guitar player! He plays some beautiful slide guitar in this song. We won't learn it in this lesson, but you should definitely experiment with that if you're getting into slide guitar! The Piano Riff – Chords + Notes More advanced guitar players might want to explore playing the piano riff. It's great practice for your pic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ej-YxeDcS2A 776 2022-02-01T10:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/omc-how-bizarre-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fChmk5JFX2E/hqdefault.jpg How Bizarre by OMC Learn how to play "How Bizarre" by OMC on guitar! Who doesn't love an easy 3-Chord Song Lesson, eh? :) How Bizarre by OMC is super beginner-friendly. It sounds great on the acoustic guitar, and you can practice many skills you're learning as a new guitarist. Today's lesson will teach us how to play this song using only open chords. You'll need to use your capo on the third fret. Then, you'll play A, D, and E Chord for the entire song, with the exact chord progression. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'd be fit to play this tune right from Grade 1. ;) Now, let's get stuck in and learn how to play How Bizarre on the acoustic guitar. How Bizarre - Guitar Chords With your guitar capo on your third fret, you'll strum twice the A and twice the E chords. Then, you'll play the D chord for a whole, which means four strums. That's it for the entire song. :) 💡 Are you able to play the F Chord? If you are, remove your capo! Now, you'll be playing the C, G, and F Chords. It's the same pitch! If you need extra help with your barre chords, check out my Ultimate Guide to (Easy) Barre Chords. As a beginner guitar player, all you're aiming to strum consistently when changing between chords. My best trick to practice your rhythm and chord changes skillset is playing along with the original recording. When you play a song with a backing track, the music never stops - so you're forced to keep going! It might seem silly, but that simple practice helps you avoid the most common beginner mistake I see: stopping the rhythm when playing songs! How Bizarre - Strumming Pattern When you're comfortable with the chord changes and a simple strumming pattern, we can start fancying it up. A great strumming pattern would be the following: 1 2+ 3 4+ D Du D Du When you're playing that strumming pattern once per bar, you'll notice that the last up strum will naturally happen during the transition. That means that, most likely, open strings will end up ringing out, which is ok. That's how it works in real life. :) When a song uses ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fChmk5JFX2E 354 2018-02-04T21:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gary-moore-parisienne-walkways-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3272 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Nu5_mMkNmw/hqdefault.jpg Parisienne Walkways [2/2] by Gary Moore Follow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this lesson. I was very sad to hear that the blues rock guitar legend Gary Moore passed away a few days ago. I've been a fan of his since my early teens and he was a hugely influential guitar player on the whole rock thing, especially his work with Thin Lizzy. In this two part lesson I got through all the aspects of the tune - the first video covers the chords and picking and arrangement and the second video takes you through all the solos. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Nu5_mMkNmw 882 2018-02-08T15:01:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-bay-let-it-go-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-234 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YUmrbRw6pQ0/hqdefault.jpg Let It Go by James Bay Learn to Play "Let It Go" by James Bay on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Let It Go by James Bay on the guitar. This beautiful masterpiece is enjoyable to listen to, incredibly rewarding to learn, and truly lovely to play on the guitar. There's a whole world of interesting things to explore in how Bay plays it. The Tuning One important aspect is that our guitar needs to be tuned down one tone. This tuning is often used by favorites such as Neil Young and Elliot Smith, giving the songs a unique and beautiful resonance. It's standard tuning, just down a tone. So we end up having a D, G, C, F, A, D. The Song Structure Let It Go is structured into four main sections. Each section brings a unique melody and chord progression, making the song an interesting and diverse composition. The song starts with a captivating intro that also serves as the instrumental interlude throughout the song. The pre-chorus follows the main idea of the intro but introduces a smaller grip that brings down the dynamics a bit before hitting the chorus again. This is important for setting the mood and preparing the listener for the chorus. The chorus is mostly similar to the previous sections but introduces a lovely little sixth chord, which brings a beautiful progression and sound. Chord Progression The chord progression of Let It Go is intricate yet fluid, creating a beautiful melody that's at the heart of the song. The song starts in a unique chord up in the 11th fret, which sets the tone for the rest of the composition. The progression then moves through different chords, each bringing a unique sound and feel. The chorus, in particular, starts with the same chord up in the 11th fret and then transitions smoothly to the starting chord, creating a lovely melody. Conclusion Learning to play Let It Go by James Bay on the guitar can be a fun and rewarding journey. Bay is an incredible songwriter, and this song is a testament to his talent. The chord progression is beautiful, and the melody is captivating. So grab your guitar, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YUmrbRw6pQ0 1189 2024-04-28T06:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-nothing-else-matters-1-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-821 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mrQcTSzGoVM/hqdefault.jpg Nothing Else Matters [1/3] by Metallica Learn to play "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Nothing Else Matters on the guitar. This song is not just a classic; it's a rite of passage for any budding guitarist. This is a three-part lesson and here in part 1, we'll be looking at the song's intro. If you've already mastered the intro, check out part 2 and part 3 to continue your journey. So, grab your guitar, take a deep breath, and let's get started with the intro! The Intro First things first, let's get our fingers in order. In this intro, your thumb is going to be your best friend. It will be playing the bass note, which could be on the thickest string (the sixth string), the fifth string, or the fourth string. Your first finger will be in charge of all the notes on the G string (the third string). Your second finger will take care of all the notes on the B string (the second string), and your third finger will play all the notes on the thinnest strings. Remember this as a general rule, but don't worry; we'll learn any exceptions as we go along. Sounds simple enough, right? Let's kick off with the first few notes. You don't need any fretting fingers for this part. We're just playing the sixth string, third, second, thinnest, second, third. Counting rhythmically, it goes like this: One, two, three, four, five, six. Repeat this a couple of times to get comfortable. Now, it's time to introduce your second finger to the seventh fret on the thinnest string and play that note on beat six. Next, we're going to pluck it again simultaneously with the bass note and pluck the second and third strings. Then, pluck it once more, flick it off, and pluck the B and G strings. Moving on, we're going to be playing the bass, third string, G string, first string, and second string all at the same time. This requires a bit of coordination, but don't worry; you'll get the hang of it! With your second and third fingers, pluck those two together. Then, put your third finger down on the eighth fret and pluck the two thinn... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mrQcTSzGoVM 601 2018-01-24T07:09:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-902 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q3qlIdIB80w/hqdefault.jpg Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival Learn how to play "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival on guitar! An Awesome Song To Practice Accented Strumming! In today's lesson, you'll learn how to play Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This hit song was released as a single in 1971 in their album Pendulum. My singing is not exactly like John Fogerty - he's got a great voice! But - this is too much fun not to sing along - so please forgive me if you think I sound funny. :) This song is straightforward - the chords are relatively simple for advancing beginners! There are a few exciting variations you can do and an F chord in there. You'll also have an excellent strumming pattern to work accented strums into your strumming pattern. It'll be great practice for Grade 3+ guitar players. Have You Ever Seen The Rain Strumming Pattern Let's first take a look at the strumming pattern - it's consistent throughout the whole tune. We're going to want to start looking at the idea of adding an accent. With this type of song, you will play an accent on beat 2 and beat 4. To create this accent, you'll use the muted strum technique, which replicates a snare drum. 💡 You can also get this effect by strumming a bit harder! This will be a great exercise to get comfortable with adding accents to your strumming pattern. Make sure you get to the point that you're strumming is continuous with this embellishment. If you're struggling - try it is really slow to get it right! Then speed it up as your confidence grows. :) Have You Ever Seen The Rain Chords Let me walk you through the chords of this song - there's a few unusual ones in there - but you'll get the hang of it! You'll need an A minor, C, G, F, and C/B chord to play this song. You'll need to use a full F barre chord for this song - so make sure you have it under your belt. For the C/B chord, start with your C chord shape. Make sure that the tip of your third finger is muting the sixth string. To play the B base, we're talking of the second and third fingers. You'll then ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3qlIdIB80w 536 2018-02-05T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bruce-springsteen-devils-and-dust-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-148 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XqevM3sbvj8/hqdefault.jpg Devils And Dust by Bruce Springsteen Learn How to Play Bruce Springsteen's "Devils And Dust" on Guitar Devils And Dust by Bruce Springsteen sounds great on acoustic guitar and is quite easy to play. We'll learn how to play it in Drop D tuning in this lesson, which I believe is the original tuning from the record. But there's a debate about this - many guitarists say it's in Double Drop D tuning. Both tunings kind of work, and they open up several possibilites for the chords. We'll explore this in more detail later in this tutorial. :) 💡 Head to JustinGuitarTABs for verified tabs, chords and lyrics to play Devils And Dust along with this video tutorial! :) You might find a few live versions where Bruce Springsteen plays this song with a capo - the Storytellers' version is one of them! If you'd like to explore that, put your capo on the third fret and move everything you play up three frets. There's definitely no capo on the original recording though. To play it, you need to tune your thickest string down to a D. :) Check out this lesson on Drop D tuning if you’re unsure. Let's talk about the chords. :) Devils And Dust by Bruce Springsteen - Chords The chords need different fingerings than usual but sound lovely. Check out the video tutorial to learn more about how to play them, which strings you should strum or mute, and the little fill that happens at the end of almost every bar of D. Careful with the rhythm for that fill! I suggest you experiment a little. I hear Bruce doing it his way, but when I try to replicate it, it morphs into my own version. It doesn’t really matter - if it sounds good, it is good. :) Devils And Dust by Bruce Springsteen - Rhythm Guitar This song uses a lot of palm mute, downstrums and accents to give it a lot of energy and movement. Bruce really hits the strings when he plays it live! In the Storytellers' clip, he talks about the contrast between the aggressive rhythm and the thoughtful lyrics. Super interesting! It's very important to play Devils And Dust with a solid rhythm and make it feel good! In the video, we look ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XqevM3sbvj8 1016 2022-06-22T04:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/kiss-rock-and-roll-all-nite-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-309 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-GaIulg3Q8M/hqdefault.jpg Rock and Roll All Nite by KISS Learn to play "Rock 'n' Roll All Nite" by KISS on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rock 'n' Roll All Nite by KISS on the guitar. This iconic Rock anthem is a perfect song to get any party started and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Rock 'n' Roll All Nite is one of KISS's most famous songs, known for its catchy chorus and energetic rhythm. It's a great tune to add to your repertoire and not particularly difficult to play. There are several ways to approach this song, from simple chord progressions to more complex riffs, making it adaptable for various skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, this lesson will give you all the tools you need to Rock out like KISS! Chord Progression The song primarily uses four chords: A, E, D, and G. The verse follows a straightforward progression of A, E, A, E, D, E. We introduce an F chord transitioning to G for the pre-chorus, which leads us into the powerful chorus. One of the cool things about this song is that you can start with basic open chords and gradually add more complexity as you get comfortable. For beginners, focus on mastering the chord changes and getting a solid rhythm. As you progress, you can incorporate power chords and even explore some blues-rock licks to spice things up. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythm in Rock 'n' Roll All Nite is crucial to capturing the song's energy. Most of the chords are "pushed," meaning they change on the "and" after beat four, just before the next bar. This gives the song its driving, forward momentum. For strumming, you can start with a simple down-strum on each beat, but try incorporating some up-strums to create a fuller sound as you get more comfortable. Remember, in rock music, it's all about the attitude and feel, so don't be afraid to add some swagger to your playing! The Main Riff The main riff of Rock 'n' Roll All Nite is what really makes the song recognizable. It's played around the 7th fret and involves a combination of power chords and single notes. Don't worry if it seems tricky ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-GaIulg3Q8M 987 2017-12-04T10:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sam-smith-i-m-not-the-only-one-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-623 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MMXvKMQAMAo/hqdefault.jpg I'm Not The Only One by Sam Smith Learn how to play "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm Not the Only One by Sam Smith on the guitar. This massive hit is a beautiful song and a great one to practice your guitar skills. We'll explore different ways to play it, from simple chord progressions to more advanced techniques that will make your performance stand out. So, grab your guitar, and let's dive in! Chord Progression At its core, I'm Not the Only One revolves around a simple yet effective chord progression. We'll work with F, A, D minor, and B♭ chords. Don't worry if you're not comfortable with barre chords yet–we'll look at both open and barre chord versions so you can choose what works best for you. The main sequence is F, A, D minor, and B♭. We play this three times and then transition to F, C, F. In the chorus, we add another C at the end. It's a straightforward progression, but it's the foundation of this beautiful song. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, the song throws in a bridge! We'll introduce some new chords here, including a lovely B♭ major 7. This section contrasts the main progression and gives you a chance to show off some different skills. We'll explore some variations as you become more comfortable with the basic structure. We'll look at different ways to play certain chords, like the C11 (also known as B♭ over C) that appears in the chorus. These variations can add richness to your sound and give you options to suit different playing styles or situations. Adding Flavor: Emulating the Piano To really capture the song's essence, we'll try to emulate the Rhodes piano sound on our guitar. This involves adding some subtle nuances to our playing. We'll introduce a little hammer-on technique on the F chord, which mimics the melody you hear in the original track. These little details can elevate your playing from good to great! Picking Patterns Now, let's talk about your picking hand. We'll start with a simple pattern using your thumb and first two fingers. As you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMXvKMQAMAo 667 2018-02-04T23:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/wet-wet-wet-love-is-all-around-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-708 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yQbN_kTnWHk/hqdefault.jpg Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet Learn to play "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Love Is All Around on the guitar. This beautiful song was originally by The Troggs but most famously covered by Wet Wet Wet. The original has a capo 6, which means your voice needs to be way up there to sing it. We're going to do it in an open position because it'll be easier to sing and just as easy to learn. The Chords and Progression Let's dive right into the chords. The verses of Love Is All Around carry a very nice little chord progression. This progression includes two beats or strums on G, followed by A minor, C, and D, all for two beats each. This pattern repeats throughout all the verses. Now, there's a lot of freedom with this song because it's been covered so often and played in so many different ways. You can use different variations of the chords, such as a folky G or a big G. Feel free to make this song your own and experiment with the chords! The Instrumental After the verses, we move into the instrumental part of the song. The chord progression here again starts with G for two beats, followed by A minor, C, and then a D sus4 and D, before returning to G. This pattern repeats again. Additional Tips and Tricks There's another interesting part where there's an echoing effect between the G, A minor, G, and D sus4 chords. You'll be able to pick up this little bit once you listen to the record. You can use many different strumming patterns, and a lot of people like to play this fingerstyle. The important thing is to experiment and find a pattern that suits you best. You'll probably find that if you just play around with it, your fingers will fall into a nice little rhythm. 💡Try the simple fingerstyle pattern covered at the end of my Grade One Beginner Guitar Course. Final Thoughts Love Is All Around is a wonderful song to learn and apply your guitar skills to, and there's a lot of freedom to experiment with it. Once you've got the chords down and know the tune, you can really make this song your ow... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQbN_kTnWHk 471 2018-02-05T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-don-t-let-it-bring-you-down-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-918 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zq39ofipHp4/hqdefault.jpg Don't Let It Bring You Down by Neil Young Learn "Don't Let It Bring You Down" by Neil Young on Guitar! Don't Let It Bring You Down is a Neil Young classic and great fun to play on guitar! As is often the case with Neil’s music, while the basic structure is simple, the details are challenging. It’s also a tough one to sing, even with the lowered tuning, and my throat gets a bit sore. Don't Let It Bring You Down is one of his easier songs, though. :) Let's start by retuning our guitar. Don't Let It Bring You Down by Neil Young: Tuning The authentic tuning is a tone below Double Drop D tuning - from thickest to thinnest the open strings are C G C F A C. This is a common Neil Young tuning - when he plays live, he often has an extra guitar set up like this. 💡 Tuning Tip: To get to CGCFAC, I suggest you first tune all six strings down a whole step (DGCFAD), then tune the outside strings down an extra step. I was debating whether to teach this in double drop D or the authentic tuning. I feel that in drop D you lose some of the authenticity, like the rattling of the strings, so I stuck to the original one. :) Don't Let It Bring You Down: Chords The chords mostly look like standard open chords because only the two outer strings have changed relative to the others. The difference is that the open thin string adds a new flavour, and sometimes we need to fret the bass note a couple of frets higher than usual. :) 🧐 Understanding Drop D: If you know how chord manipulation works, you’ll find it much easier to get creative in double drop D and other altered tunings. Note that I’m referring to the chord shapes as if I were in standard tuning. In reality, the "F" chords are all Eb chords, the "C" chords are all Bb chords, and so on. But let’s stick to the standard names. :) There are some common drop-D tricks in the verse: Neil shifts the open D chord around the neck, leaving the open thin string as a drone note. He also plays Bb as the the drop-D version of the E Major shape. He does the same with Am7. :) This means Don't Let It Bring You Down is a wicked song for lea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zq39ofipHp4 1217 2018-07-20T10:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-hey-joe-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-005 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3o2lfpR3c_A/hqdefault.jpg Hey Joe [SOLO] by Jimi Hendrix Learn to Play "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo of Hey Joe on the guitar, an iconic song by the legendary Jimi Hendrix. This is not just any song. It's a masterclass in guitar solos and a treasure trove of unique techniques that were signature to Hendrix's playing style. A Quick Look at the Chord Progression Hey Joe is based on a simple yet effective chord progression. The song follows a standard, circular chord progression that moves through the circle of fifths. This circular progression gives the song its unique, hypnotic quality. The progression is primarily based on the E minor pentatonic scale, which adds to the song's melancholic and introspective feel. The song's chord progression moves through five chords, giving it a complex and rich sound. But that's not what we're here for. The Magic of the Solo This song's solo is considered one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. It's enjoyable and entertaining to play, but it does require some practice to truly nail it down and play it just like the record. The solo is packed with authentic Hendrix tricks and techniques, making this an insightful lesson into his unique approach to the guitar. For example, Hendrix had a unique way of bending notes, releasing them, and then quickly flicking them off to create a vibrato effect. This technique is crucial for capturing the feel of Hey Joe. The rhythm of this song is loose and flowing, adding to the song's laid-back vibe. The Importance of Practice The key to mastering this solo is practice. It may seem easy at first glance, but you'll need to put in the time and effort to get the nuances right and play it just like the record. The video will guide you through the process, breaking down the solo into manageable bits and explaining all the techniques you'll need to master. Wrapping Up Playing Hey Joe is not just about learning a new song—it's about immersing yourself in the world of Jimi Hendrix and learning from his unique approach to the guitar. When you wa... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3o2lfpR3c_A 841 2017-11-13T04:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-the-jack-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-336 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EslZavTsSVA/hqdefault.jpg The Jack by AC/DC Learn how to play "The Jack" by AC/DC on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Jack on the guitar. This is an awesome song for beginners and those looking to get into that rock-blues blend. Even though it's a Blues tune at its core, it's played by a Rock band, so it has a little more bounce and energy. Before we get into the chord progressions, let's talk about the sound. You might be tempted to load up on distortion, but this song actually sounds best with a cleaner tone. The guitars in this track are pretty clean; too much distortion will drown out the nuances. Also, pick lightly. You can get a distorted sound if you play hard, but it cleans up a lot if you play softly. The idea is to find a zone on your guitar where you can easily switch between a gritty and a clean sound. There will be more specific amp settings and details on the website, so make sure you check that out. Chord Progression Now, let's get to the fun part: the chords. The Jack employs a few basic chord progressions that are perfect for beginners. It's all about getting that shuffle rhythm down and making it groove. We start with a classic Blues shuffle in E. The main riff is built around a straightforward 12-bar Blues progression. The song kicks off with an E chord, moves to an A chord, and then resolves back to E. The chorus brings in a B chord and an A chord, returning to E to wrap it up. Verse and Chorus The verse riff is all about delicacy. You don't want it to get too heavy too soon. Begin with the E chord, and you'll notice a subtle shift when you move to the A chord. Here, you'll add a little triad to the mix, which gives it a nice touch of complexity without being too challenging. The chorus is just a straight-ahead 12-bar Blues. It's super simple but incredibly effective. You'll use your first and third fingers for a standard Blues shuffle. Start with the E chord, move to the A chord for two bars, and then back to E for two bars. Finish off with the B chord, A chord, and then back to E. It's a simple progression, bu... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EslZavTsSVA 620 2017-12-21T12:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/noah-cyrus-july-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-229 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4D6UqK6R018/hqdefault.jpg July by Noah Cyrus Learn How to Play "July" by Noah Cyrus on the Guitar In this easy, beginner-friendly lesson, we'll learn how to play July by Noah Cyrus on the guitar. This beautiful song can grow with you as you develop your guitar skills. You can start simple and incorporate more detailed playing techniques as you get more comfortable. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, you'll find this song both challenging and rewarding. 💡 Did You Know? Noah Cyrus comes from a family of talented musicians. She's the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, notorious for the classic hit "Achy Breaky Heart," and the sister of pop sensation Miley Cyrus. Chord Progression July primarily involves open chords, but there's one F chord that you can approach in different ways depending on your skill level. For beginners, I recommend using a smaller F major 7 chord or a mini F for an easier experience. More advanced players might prefer reaching over with the thumb to grab the bass note of the F. But don't worry too much about this now—we'll discuss this in more detail in the video. The song starts with an A Minor chord, a C chord, and then an F chord for two bars. This chord progression is repeated throughout the intro and the verses. It's a simple progression that's easy to follow, but it gives the song its unique charm. 💡 Struggling with the F Chord? Check out these F chord variations for advancing beginners and my ultimate guide to playing E Shape Barre Chords! The chorus introduces a slight variation. It starts with a C chord, switches to an A Minor, and then transitions into an F chord. It then moves from an A Minor to a C and back to an F. The progression ends with a G chord and then switches between A Minor and D Minor. There's an additional progression in the chorus that goes from C to A Minor and then to F., This progression leads into the whistling part of the song, which repeats the verse progression. Towards the end of the song, there's another change with a new progression from D Minor to A Minor and then to F. This variation giv... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4D6UqK6R018 1223 2024-02-04T04:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-kinks-you-really-got-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-706 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l5V4uO2H5Sc/hqdefault.jpg You Really Got Me by The Kinks Learn to play "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You Really Got Me on the guitar. This iconic Rock song by The Kinks is perfect for practicing power chords and developing your rhythm-playing skills. Released in 1964, You Really Got Me became The Kinks' breakthrough hit and influenced countless Rock bands. While Van Halen later covered it with their signature style, we'll focus on the original version's raw energy and straightforward power chord progression. This lesson focuses on mastering power chords and smooth chord transitions–essential skills for playing Rock music. The song's structure is relatively simple, making it an excellent choice for beginners who want to dive into Rock rhythm playing. Song Structure and Chord Progression The song revolves around a simple yet powerful chord progression. In the main riff, we start by alternating between F and G power chords, which creates that instantly recognizable hook. As we progress through the verse and chorus sections, the progression moves up to G and A and later switches to C and D, adding variety while maintaining the song's driving energy. 👉 If you're not familiar with power chords yet, check out this lesson! Playing Tips The key to nailing this song is developing a smooth transition between power chords. Think of it as a fluid motion rather than separate movements. When practicing, focus on maintaining a steady rhythm while changing chords. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the transitions. Many guitarists initially struggle with maintaining clean power chords while changing positions quickly. Don't worry if it takes some time to get it right - this is completely normal! The key is to practice the transitions slowly and deliberately before attempting to play at full speed. Making It Your Own While we're learning the classic version, feel free to experiment with different amounts of distortion to find your sound. You can play it with a cleaner tone like The Ki... https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5V4uO2H5Sc 435 2018-02-05T12:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/simon-garfunkel-the-sound-of-silence-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-094 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GAU3QqreFf4/hqdefault.jpg The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel is one of the most beautiful songs ever written! And in today's lesson, we'll learn how to play it on the acoustic guitar. We'll explore its chord progression and a fingerstyle pattern that will sound great if you want to play it on your own on the guitar. The original recording has quite different guitar layers, so we'll learn how to sound good when playing by ourselves, rather than learning a layer that won't sound great on its own. ;) 💡 Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this song tutorial? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel on the acoustic guitar. The Sound of Silence - Guitar Capo If you'd like to play along with the original recording, you'll need to use your guitar capo on the 6th fret. Sometimes, Simon & Garfunkel will play Sound of Silence live with their capo on the 7th fret. 💡 You can adjust the capo position on this song to best fit your voice! Sound of Silence is not particularly hard to sing, but you might want to explore the capo position - I did! Don't move the capo too far away unless you're intended to play it super low, but definelitly explore it. Check out this lesson to learn how to use a capo to best fit your voice! For this guitar lesson, we're playing Sound of Silence with our capo on the 6th fret. The Sound of Silence - Chords The chord progression is different for all the verses after the second verse! So, verses 1 & 2 are exactly the same. The other ones will add more chords and get a bit longer. It's a pretty interesting chord progression to have it, and when you're learning how to play it, you're better off feeling it than trying to make sense of it! The chord progression fits perfectly with the lyrics, and that should help you out. :) The video lesson will teach you where the changes on the bars are, so check it out if you'd like to understand it better. Sound of Silence starts with an Asus2 - it's where the sound of its famous intr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GAU3QqreFf4 1348 2021-11-13T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-snow-hey-oh-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-020 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lKlHOP7pG0o/hqdefault.jpg Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn How To Play "Snow" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers! The Frusciante way! This tune has an awesome riff by John Frusciante. Not only does it sound super cool, but it's also an incredible speed and endurance guitar exercise! This song is awesome practice for Grade 6+ guitar players that are looking for a challenge! 🚨 I've done a lot of research studying live videos of Frusciante. I wanted to make sure I got the positions and fingering right. I think I've got figured out exactly how he plays it! In this lesson, you'll learn how to play the whole song, but the main focus is on the riff because that's the tricky bit! I'll show you the most common Frusciante play this tune. :) Hope you dig playing this tune as much as I do! How To Play Snow On Guitar To play Snow By Red Hot Chillo Peper, start slowly and get the groove and timing right first. To do this, I recommend using the program called Transcribe. I'd lower the speed to 50% and play along with the record. Once you can get clean chord changes, you can increase your speed. With practice, you'll be able to catch up to the original reducing speed. To play this song, you'll also need to nail this one hammering technique. Here's how you'll do it: While the third finger is down in the sixth fret, your first finger will be hammering. Then, you'll want to flick very quickly. You'll follow that by a hammer another flick off again. Angle your fingers to help you do this. This technique will be worth practice by itself. Try and get it down first until it feels comfortable. It'll be great practice to build your finger strength. With practice, you'll be able to increase to speed and transition of this technique! Red Hot Chili Pepper Amp Setting I got loads of questions about my app setting for this tune. It's a clean sound from a valve amp. JF uses a Stratocaster, and I'm using a Telecaster in the middle position. It's a regular clean sound using my Fender Princeton II on a clean channel. I usually dial in all 7's with Bass on 10 and Reverb on 2.5. You'll most likely have to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lKlHOP7pG0o 743 2017-12-15T11:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-petty-i-won-t-back-down-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-408 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yHgs8RH0iyE/hqdefault.jpg I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty Learn to play "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty on the guitar. This incredible song has a really great groove and is perfect for those of you getting into power chords. While the chords are relatively simple to play, the real challenge (and fun!) lies in capturing that signature Tom Petty groove. Verse and Chorus The verse structure in I Won't Back Down follows a distinct pattern that gives the song its rhythm. It begins with the E chord, held for four beats, creating a solid foundation. Then, it smoothly transitions to the D chord for three beats, building tension. Just as you think you've settled into this pattern, there's a quick shift to the G chord on the final eighth note of the bar, adding an element of surprise. This G chord continues for the next bar, allowing the progression to breathe. This unique sequence repeats twice, creating a familiar yet engaging rhythm. After these repetitions, the song introduces a quick E-D-C progression, serving as a bridge before returning to the main sequence. While this structure might seem complex on paper, it flows naturally when played. As you practice and become more familiar with the progression, you'll find that it becomes second nature, allowing you to focus on capturing the song's energy and emotion. The chorus introduces a new pattern, bouncing between C and D chords with G as a pivot. This creates a nice contrast to the verse. Pay attention to how the energy builds here - it's a great example of using chord progressions to create an emotional impact in a song. Playing Technique We'll employ several specific techniques to truly capture the essence of I Won't Back Down. First, we'll use palm-muting to give the power chords that tight, punchy sound characteristic of the song. This technique involves resting the side of your picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge, creating a muted, percussive effect that's crucial to the song's rhythm. Next, we'll focus on two-note power ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yHgs8RH0iyE 972 2018-01-24T11:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-mamas-the-papas-california-dreamin-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-704 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPQSPCGEq_U/hqdefault.jpg California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas Up for some late 60s Folk Rock? Learn an all-time American classic by The Mamas and Papas. In today's lesson, we're checking out California Dreaming by The Mamas and Papas. It's a cool little tune - one you can play real simply if you're a beginner guitar player! This song is excellent for Grade 3+ students. It's suitable for advancing beginners but gets a little more complex with exciting chords and strumming patterns! The original strumming pattern in the original recording is tricky. Especially if you want to sing along - but it's worth the time and practice because it sounds awesome. Let's first start by checking out the chords - there are quite a few in there. :) How To Play "California Dreaming" On Guitar The intro sounds a little different from the recording cause the original recording has more than one guitar! To play California Dreaming, you'll need to put your guitar capo on the fourth fret of your guitar. You'll need the A minor, G, F, E7 to play this folk song. You'll also need an E7 sus chord in there - so let me walk you through how you can get this under your belt. It's essential you nail this one because it's used in the intro and throughout the song many times. To play an E7 Sus chord, start with the regular E7 chord with your Finger 1 and 2 to play this suspended chord. Then, you'll want to put Finger 3 on the third finger in the second fret. Use Finger 3 to do this - you'll easily be able to transition back to E7 by simply lifting off your finger. 🎶 This song is included in my Beginner Songbook 1- it's one of the harder tunes part of the book! If you've been looking for song inspiration - I highly recommend you check it out! I've got over 100 songs in there with full tabs, lyrics, and diagrams to walk you through the tunes. If not, I recommended writing out the chord sequence and the strumming patterns to make things a lot easier for you! Adding Rhythm Strumming And Push Chords This is an incredible grower song - it can be simplified or developed using different rhythm patterns and pushed c... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pPQSPCGEq_U 911 2018-02-05T14:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-mavericks-dance-the-night-away-play-along-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-038 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j1ryFSPLbzQ/hqdefault.jpg Dance The Night Away [Play Along] by The Mavericks How to Play "Dance the Night Away" by The Mavericks on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dance the Night Away by The Mavericks on the guitar. This song is a fantastic choice for beginners because it only uses two chords, making it an approachable yet fun challenge for those just starting their musical journey. The Basics Dance the Night Away is a simple yet catchy song that is perfect for those who are just getting to grips with their guitar. One of the key aspects of this song is its chord progression. The entire song revolves around alternating between the D and A chords. This pattern is consistent throughout the song, making it a great choice for beginners looking to practice their chord transitions. Before you can play songs smoothly, it's crucial to have your chord changes fast enough so you don't have to stop between strums. So, if you're not sure about how to play these chords, head over to the beginner's course on the website - it's all free! Strumming and Rhythm The rhythm of Dance the Night Away is largely based on the simple pattern of four down strums to the bar. This is an essential first step towards mastering the song. The goal is to keep the strumming consistent, not pausing between the chords. This pattern continues throughout the tune, making it a perfect practice ground for beginners to enhance their strumming and chord transitions. As you progress, you can begin to experiment with different strumming patterns to add more depth and variety to your playing. Remember, having a consistent rhythm is the most important thing to learn as a beginner guitar player. Even if the chords get a little bit sloppy, you want to push through it and be able to get there. People may not notice a few wonky chords, but a disrupted rhythm is instantly recognizable! Playing Along and Singing Once you've mastered the chord progression and strumming pattern, a great next step is playing with the original recording. This can be a lot of fun and can help you get a feel for the song's rhythm and tempo.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/j1ryFSPLbzQ 319 2018-12-22T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-109 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U5gkMUPPsb4/hqdefault.jpg All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey Learn how to play "All I Want For Christmas Is You" On Guitar! 🎁 Is this the most popular Christmas song of all time? The rock n' roll gods are not pleased with me for doing a Mariah Carey song. So - this one is for all you massive Christmas junkies out there! Naturally, I had to follow up with an AC/DC song lesson series. ;) To call this Christmas song a "crowd-pleaser" would be underselling this hit an incredible long shot. This song is sure to come in handy around your friends & family this holiday season! It may not be a rock song, but there's plenty to learn from this one! It definitely won't hurt to have this in your practice routine. Let the gods of rock n roll forgive me! 🤔 Did you know? As popular and widely known as this song is, this holiday only reached Number 1 on the Official UK chart 26 years after its release! When did you first hear this song? Login to your account and share in the discussion area. :) All I Want For Chrismas Guitar Lesson To play this Mariah Carey song, you'll start with G chords & mostly regular barre chords. However, there are a few different ways to play this tune. In the video lesson, I give you a few different ways to play the chords. Feel free to give a few chord combinations and fingerings a try to see what works best for you. 🔑 As I always say, half the battle is finding what feels comfortable for you and your hands! If you're not comfortable, it just won't sound right. Remember- if it sounds good - it is good! All I Want For Christmas Guitar Strumming For the guitar strumming, you'll want to focus on getting strumming accents on beats two and four. Start with making sure you have continuous strumming. Once you're ready - go for it and add the accents! It'll make the song move a lot more & give more of a shuffle kind of feel. It helps push the melody forward and keep it a bit more cheery. Cheery is what we're going for with this Christmas song! It'll help spread that Mariah Carey holiday magic! Getting that accent on beats two and four brings the tune-up ni... https://www.youtube.com/embed/U5gkMUPPsb4 632 2017-12-03T08:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sex-pistols-anarchy-in-the-uk-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-044 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LXE6B5WO6DM/hqdefault.jpg Anarchy In The UK by Sex Pistols How are your Power Chords doing? It's time to use them! Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols is a classic punk and super fun to play on the electric guitar. You'll need some Power Chords - but the good news is that most of the grips will have are Root 5 Power Chords. 💭 Thinking about when I was young and used to have this blue mohawk hair. I was a proper punk back in the days! Hey, ho - how life changes! If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, this song is great to practice the skills we're learning in Grade 2. Now - let's get stuck in and learn how to play Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols on the electric guitar. How to play "Anarchy in the UK" on the electric guitar! When you play a punk song like Anarchy in the UK, it's all about the vibe. Don't worry if you get some open strings sounding when changing between chords - just keep the punk strumming vibe. It's all about having fun - not playing it perfectly! 🚨 When you play Root 5 Power Chords, you should use the tip of your first finger to mute the 6th string. It sounds awful then you don't! That said - as part of your guitar journey when learning your Power Chords, I recommend you try to play it as accurately as possible. This song can be a great Power Chords exercise, but keep in mind all the beginner rock tricks we learned. Anarchy in the UK - Guitar Chords You'll start playing a G Power Chord in the 10th fret. Here's the shape: So, there's one bar of 8th Notes all down picks. On beat one, you'll hold that chord for a whole bar. Then, you'll move it down a tone to the note F. That means your first finger will now be in the 8th fret. Your third and fourth fingers are going to stay relatively the same position relative to the first finger because it's a Power Chord! You'll play that F Power Chord for a bar. Then, you'll keep moving that same Power Chord shape for the entire fretboard. That's basically what's going on on this song! Check out the video to learn how to play its verses, the chorus, and its two solos as well. If you want the chords, ta... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXE6B5WO6DM 986 2020-10-27T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bruce-springsteen-i-m-on-fire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-389 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T2g8pNujrBk/hqdefault.jpg I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen Learn how to play "I'm on Fire" by Bruce Springsteen on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm on Fire by Bruce Springsteen on the guitar. This classic tune is a cool, atmospheric track that's deceptively simple. It's got just four chords, but don't let that fool you – there's a lot of nuance in how we play it. Two of these are barre chords (C♯ minor and B), so if you're not comfortable with those yet, this song gives you a great opportunity to practice. The real challenge in this song isn't the chords – it's the picking pattern. We've got some cross-picking going on, which can feel a bit awkward at first, especially if you're trying to sing along. Don't worry, though! With some practice, you'll get it down. Remember, even if your picking isn't perfect while you're singing, that's okay. The overall feel is what matters most in a performance. Chord Progression Let's break down the chord progression. The intro and bridge both use the same simple pattern: four bars of E, followed by four bars of C♯ minor. This repeats, giving us a hypnotic, dreamy feel. When we get to the verse, things change up a bit. We've got a twelve-bar form that goes like this: four bars of E, two bars of A, two bars of C♯ minor, then A, B, and two bars of E. It's a good idea to write this down and practice transitioning between these chords smoothly. The Picking Pattern Now, let's talk about that picking pattern. We're using a technique called palm muting, which is crucial for getting that distinctive sound. The pattern itself isn't too complicated, but it does require some practice to make it smooth. Need some help with palm muting? Check out this lesson! We're only using four strings at a time – the thickest four or the middle four, depending on which chord we're playing. The basic pattern goes like this: lowest string, second lowest, third lowest, highest of the four, then back to the third lowest, second lowest, and third lowest again. It's a bit like we're bouncing back and forth across the strings. Take your time with thi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/T2g8pNujrBk 917 2017-12-15T14:43:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/arctic-monkeys-do-i-wanna-know-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-330 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQFo9TRajMY/hqdefault.jpg Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys Learn How to Play "Do I Wanna Know" by the Arctic Monkeys on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Do I Wanna Know by the Arctic Monkeys on the guitar. This song, destined to be a modern classic, is fantastic to listen to and incredibly fun to play. As soon as I heard it on the radio, I knew it was something special and couldn't wait to pick up my guitar and start learning it. The Awesome Riff The song is built around an amazing riff that immediately grabs your attention. Although it may seem tricky at first, especially if you're trying to sing along while playing, you'll soon find it pretty straightforward. The key is to practice until you're comfortable with the basic riff, then gradually add in the variations when you're ready. And remember, it's not just about the notes—it's also about the groove. The Chord Progression The chord progression in this song is what really sets it apart and makes it so memorable. It's unique and engaging, providing a fantastic foundation for the melody to weave in and out of. This is a perfect example of how a great chord progression can really elevate a song and make it stand out from the crowd. The Variations One of the things that I love about this song is the subtle variations in the riff. These might take some extra brain power to get right, but they're definitely worth the effort. They add an extra layer of complexity to the song and make it even more interesting to play. Just remember to take your time and don't rush—getting the rhythms in the right place is crucial. The Importance of Listening As with any song, listening to it is the best way to learn it. I can't stress enough how important this is. Music is all about listening—the more you listen to a song, the more familiar you'll become with its rhythms and nuances. If you're struggling with anything, the solution is usually to listen to it a lot. Trust me, it works. Enjoy the Process Finally, I just want to say—enjoy the process. Learning to play a new song should be fun, not a chore. So take your time,... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQFo9TRajMY 621 2017-12-21T12:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lenny-kravitz-fly-away-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-721 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yXi1kfjH2hc/hqdefault.jpg Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz Learn How To Play "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz On Guitar! This easy lesson will teach us how to play Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz on the electric guitar. A great song to work on your power chords! This is an excellent song for beginners because you only need basic rock power chords, which we cover in Grade 2 of my Beginner Guitar Course. We'll also look at an intermediate version using a full bar chord grip and some fun embellishments. And if you're part of a band and looking for song inspiration, this is a great option! When you put it all together with the other instruments, it has a solid groove your audience will love. 💬 Back in the day, this was one of my band's go-to songs to perform. If you're in a band, what are your current go-to songs? Log in and let me know in the discussion area! Easy Power Chord Version To understand the song's structure, start with the beginner version and make sure you can play it all the way through. This version will be a breeze if you're familiar with power chords! But watch out for the mutes that happen between the chord transitions. As you're strumming, your hand should be moving all the time. This is important because it keeps your rhythm solid. If you want to add some muted hits in there, go for it! Just make sure that your hand keeps moving. Level Up Your Sound! Making sure you get your power chords sounding good and the right strings muted is just the first step in playing this song. Once you're comfy with that, you can start leveling up your sound. If you're up for the challenge, you can add the full bar chord, some additional embellishments (like the sus4 chord), and that funky bass line. This is another difficulty level that suits intermediate guitar players, but it'll make the song stand out even more! And you don't need to add in all those embellishments! Listen to the original recording, see what you like and explore on your own. But, as always, there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple. You can add this song to your repertoire and revisit adding these tasty embell... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yXi1kfjH2hc 849 2018-01-26T12:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-stop-this-train-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-8142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f3vU7KKc_RE/hqdefault.jpg Stop This Train [2/2] by John Mayer This is Part 2 of a two-part lesson. Find Part 1 here. In the first part of this lesson where I went over the intro for “Stop This Train,” I mentioned that I was unable to play some of the fingerings the exact way that John Mayer is able to. That all comes into play here in the verses. I simply can’t get some of my fingers into position as he does, so I’ve found some work-arounds to help us average humans play the song! With some of the chord structures and fingerings, it’s a little unclear as to why John made the choices he did. Perhaps the song's tone is affected subtly, but overall, you won’t notice much difference with the fingerings and chord grips I’ve done here. As I mentioned in the first part, much of the song isn’t as difficult as you may think it to be at first, but it really, really helps to break everything down into small, workable components. And I mean small! Similarly to the first part of this lesson, there are some funky things happening with your strumming hand. If you can work on isolating one or two fingers at a time and perfecting the sound you’re looking for, it’ll make a massive difference to the end result once you put it all together. When you get to the point of putting it all together, really listen to make sure everything sounds the way it does on the recording and that the timings are synced up properly. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f3vU7KKc_RE 1400 2018-07-25T09:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/waylon-jennings-are-you-sure-hank-done-it-this-way-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-082 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PgUggj5lhdA/hqdefault.jpg Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way by Waylon Jennings Looking for your first song on guitar? Check this out! The Waylon Jennings classic Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way is perfect for beginner guitar players. It only uses two simple chords - and the rhythm is straightforward. You can use this song as a sort of strumming exercise. :) If you're following my Beginner's Course, you’ll have learned the open A and D chords in Grade 1. Now you have to practice them, and playing real songs is the best way to do that. Jamming Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way with other instruments is way more fun than playing alone! To experience it, head to the JustinGuitar App. Let's get into this Waylon Jennings hit! Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way by Waylon Jennings: Guitar Chords First things first, if you want to play along with the Waylon Jennings original, you’ll need to put your capo on the second fret. Place it as close as possible to the nut! You can also forget the capo, or if you’re at the level where you can sing, find the fret that suits your voice. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way only uses the open A and D chords. The best trick for switching between them is to use an anchor finger. It’ll make your changes way faster, giving you time to get ready for the next chord. ;) 🚨 Grade 1: in Grade 1 of my Beginner’s Course, you go from zero guitar knowledge to playing a song with A and D chords and simple strumming. Chord changes are the first step to playing Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way. If you nail them, you're well on your way to playing the song! Once you have them down, it’s time to start strumming. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way by Waylon Jennings: Strumming Start by strumming on beat 1 of the bar. Make sure that you’re ready for the next chord by beat 1 - no pauses! You can strum along with me in the Strumming Pattern 1 chapter. Your chord changes will probably be slow when you start out. No worries - this means you need to move your fingers earlier to be ready for beat 1. In fact, I suggest you strum on beat 1 then immediately start moving your fingers ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgUggj5lhdA 641 2021-07-31T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sheryl-crow-strong-enough-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Op3eUtW_Kuc/hqdefault.jpg Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow Learn to play "Strong Enough" by Sheryl Crow on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow on the guitar. One of the most fascinating aspects of This song is its unusual 6/4 time signature, which is quite rare for a hit pop song. While this might sound intimidating at first, don't worry–we'll break everything down into manageable pieces to help you master this beautiful song. Song Structure The song consists of two main parts: a distinctive fingerpicking pattern for the verses and a strumming pattern for the chorus. Both sections maintain the 6/4 time signature, which gives the song its unique feel. The verse features a lovely fingerpicking pattern that creates a gentle, flowing sound, while the chorus opens up with a fuller strumming pattern that really brings the song to life. Verse Section The verse section uses a progression of D, G, Bm7, and A chords. We'll use a fingerpicking pattern that really captures the song's gentle, introspective mood. The pattern might take some time to master, but it creates a beautiful foundation for the song once you get it down. Chorus Section For the chorus, we switch to a strumming pattern that I like to call "Old Faithful Plus"–it's our standard down, down, up, up, down pattern with an extra down strum at the end to accommodate the 6/4 time signature. The chord progression moves through Em, D/F#, G, A, Bm, C, and back to G and A. This creates a lovely, flowing feel that perfectly supports the emotional delivery of the lyrics. Playing Tips If you're finding it challenging to play and sing this song simultaneously (and many people do!), here's my advice: start by practicing the guitar part until it becomes second nature. Focus on getting the rhythm solid first–try practicing with just muted strums to really internalize the timing. Once you've got the guitar part flowing naturally, you can start adding in the vocals. Wrapping Up The key to mastering this song is patience and systematic practice. Start slowly with each section, making sure you ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Op3eUtW_Kuc 719 2017-11-29T15:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-sultans-of-swing-3-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3223 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sNwDGhkIlXk/hqdefault.jpg Sultans of Swing [3/4] by Dire Straits Learn Sultans Of Swing On Guitar: Part 3 This guitar lesson is broken down into 4 different parts. Part 1 covers the rhythm part of this Dire Straits classic. This part, as well as Part 2 and Part 4, covers the fingerstyle lead for this Dire Straits song. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/sNwDGhkIlXk 598 2018-02-08T12:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-mavericks-dance-the-night-away-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-120 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MXCSzwIHLo8/hqdefault.jpg Dance the Night Away by The Mavericks Learn How To Play "Dance the Night Away" by The Mavericks on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dance the Night Away by The Mavericks on the guitar. This is a super easy lesson; it might even be the first song you ever learn on guitar! This classic song only needs a two-chord song & it's one of the best songs to learn when you're starting. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be ready to play this classic song on guitar by Module 1. 🎸 Fun Facts! The Mavericks are a country band from Miami, Florida, founded in 1989 after two members met in a record label store. They successfuly charted fifteen times on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs! Ready to learn? Grab your guitar and let's get to it! Dance the Night Away - Chords & Strumming You only need the A & D chords, so if you don't know any other chords, this is a great place to start! You're playing one bar for each chord too - simple, huh? Next, we need to get the strumming down. Start with one strum per bar, then move up to a 4x4 strumming pattern. Count out loud as you strum to help guide your playing. And tap your foot to help guide your rhythm! 🚨 Play along guitareoke style with the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app and improve your rhythm! Dance the Night Away - Adding Accents Once you're comfortable with the chords and strumming, the next step will be to add in accents to your playing. This can really help bring life to your music, especially when a song has a simple structure! We call accents the backbeats, and to add them you'll need to strum harder on beats 2 and 4. Adding those little accents will make things sound groovier! But, you can't be tense to do this, make sure you're relaxed. The goal is to make it look and feel easy, and it'll sound loads better. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/MXCSzwIHLo8 785 2018-01-21T08:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stevie-ray-vaughan-mary-had-a-little-lamb-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-004 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EQSu5mQExO4/hqdefault.jpg Mary Had A Little Lamb [SOLO] by Stevie Ray Vaughan Learn How to Play the Solo of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" by Stevie Ray Vaughan In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the solo of Mary Had A Little Lamb by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the guitar. This Texas Blues solo is packed with Stevie's trademark licks and techniques, making it not only fun to play but also an excellent study in Blues guitar playing. What makes this solo special is how Stevie transforms a simple children's melody into a bluesy masterpiece filled with his signature playing style. Throughout this lesson, we'll see the entire solo, breaking it down lick by lick so you can master each section at your own pace. Key Techniques Featured This solo is a treasure trove of classic Stevie Ray Vaughan techniques that define the Texas Blues sound. You'll find plenty of tone bends that give the notes that crying, expressive quality. There are also numerous "flick-offs" where you play a note and quickly pull off to a lower note, creating that distinctive Blues sound. One standout technique you'll learn is what I call "pedaling the root note." In this technique, you return to a central note while playing other notes around it, creating a rhythmic foundation that anchors your solo while allowing for melodic exploration. Double stops (playing two strings simultaneously) also feature prominently in this solo, giving certain sections a fuller, more powerful sound. And don't miss those classic Blues curls–partial bends that add expression without going to a full tone. Rhythm and Phrasing What makes this solo particularly interesting is how Stevie varies the rhythm throughout. We start with standard eighth notes, then move into triplets, and later switch to sixteenth notes. These rhythm changes add complexity and interest to the solo, making it more than just a series of licks. Pay special attention to the phrasing–the way Stevie groups notes together and the spaces he leaves between phrases. This is what gives the solo its musical quality rather than sounding like a technical exercise. Approaching the Learning Proces... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQSu5mQExO4 1344 2018-01-05T15:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-lennon-working-class-hero-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-310 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gejfCb2j5TE/hqdefault.jpg Working Class Hero by John Lennon Learn to Play "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Working Class Hero on the guitar. It's a fantastic song and one of my all-time favorites. There are a couple of ways to approach this song, and we'll look at both an easy version for beginners and a more advanced version for those up for a challenge. The Rhythm One of the most interesting facets of this song is its rhythm. The song has a pulse of three, alternating between one bar of nine-eight and two bars of six-eight. If you're new to this, it might sound complicated, but we'll simplify it by thinking in groups of three. The rhythm you'll be playing throughout most of this song is one, two and three; one, two and three; down, down, up, down. The Chords The basic chord sequence for Working Class Hero is A minor, A minor, G, A minor, A minor, A minor. The song has a simple structure, but this simplicity adds to its charm and makes it a great piece for beginners to learn. Once you get comfortable with the rhythm and the basic chords, you can add more detail to make your version sound closer to the original recording. Strumming and Picking We'll also look at this song's strumming and picking techniques. You'll start with an A minor chord, with the first beat of each group of three being an individual bass note. This technique gives the song its distinctive sound and feel. We'll be looking at how to hit the pick into the guitar to create the right energy and vibe for this song. Let's Get Started! Now that we've gone over the basics, it's time to start playing. Remember, this lesson is about having fun and enjoying the process of learning a new song. So don't worry if you don't get it right straight away. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be playing Working Class Hero like a pro. I hope you've enjoyed this lesson. I'm sure you're going to love playing Working Class Hero. Don't forget to check out the video for all the details. Take care of yourself, and see you for another lesson sometime soon! 👉 Learn faster wi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gejfCb2j5TE 598 2018-02-04T22:05:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-bay-hold-back-the-river-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-024 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IPiF2p-vfU8/hqdefault.jpg Hold Back The River by James Bay Learn to play "Hold Back The River" by James Bay on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hold Back The River by James Bay on the guitar. This beautiful song features some really lovely guitar work that sounds great even when played solo. The original recording is tuned down one whole step, giving it that rich, deep sound. However, you can also play it in standard tuning, as we'll see in the video. Keep in mind that if you play in standard tuning, the vocal range will be slightly higher. Another option is to play everything two frets lower, though this requires some creative adjustments when we get to the parts with open strings. 👉 Want to learn different tuning options? These Altered Tunings lessons can help! Intro and Chorus Hold Back The River starts with a beautiful intro that uses a series of chord shapes to create a melodic pattern. We begin with a progression that moves up the neck in steps, followed by a jump to a higher position. This creates a flowing, dynamic sound that really captures the emotional quality of the song. The chorus introduces a C chord, followed by Am and a particularly interesting G5/D chord. This progression perfectly supports the memorable Hold Back The River vocal line. In later choruses, the strumming pattern switches to eighth notes, adding more energy and drive to the song. Bridge Section The bridge section brings a nice change of feel to the song. It uses variations of the chords we've already learned but in a different context, creating a build-up that works beautifully with the lyrics. The strumming pattern here alternates between single strums and eighth-note patterns, helping to create the song's emotional peaks and valleys. Final Thoughts The beauty of this song lies in its dynamic arrangement. Whether you're playing the delicate intro or the more driving chorus sections, focus on letting each part breathe and paying attention to your timing. This is a great song for developing your sense of rhythm and your ability to switch between different playing styles with... https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPiF2p-vfU8 706 2018-02-04T20:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/u2-all-i-want-is-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-722 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QzTy-PnIDYw/hqdefault.jpg All I Want Is You by U2 If you love U2's heartfelt ballads, All I Want Is You is a fantastic addition to your acoustic song list! The original version layers multiple guitars, but in this lesson, we'll explore how to make it shine on just one acoustic guitar and voice. You'll learn to switch smoothly between A and D chords (the song's backbone), tackle the F#m barre chord with helpful cheats if you're not quite there yet, and add strumming accents and riffs to keep things interesting. We'll also look at chord variations and substitutions to bring out that signature U2 sound without needing all the effects and extra guitars. This is a brilliant tune for developing your rhythm and dynamics. You'll discover how changing from thumb strumming to nail strumming transforms the song's feel and why mixing up chord grips keeps a repetitive progression sounding fresh. Even if you're still working on barre chords, this lesson gives you an accessible way to play along and sing — perfect for open mics, acoustic gigs, or just playing at home. And if you want to jam with a full band feel, don't forget to try the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App with its built-in backing tracks. 👉 So grab your guitar, dive in, and see how just a few chords can create one of U2's most moving and unforgettable songs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QzTy-PnIDYw 1079 2025-09-05T10:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-everly-brothers-all-i-have-to-do-is-dream-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-424 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tc-HtLD2Yn4/hqdefault.jpg All I Have To Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers Learn How to Play "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play All I Have to Do Is Dream on the guitar. This beautiful Everly Brothers classic features some wonderful guitar work, including contributions from the legendary Chet Atkins. We'll learn how to play it, starting with a simple approach and then adding some nice acoustic flourishes to sweeten up your performance. Chord Structure The song follows a straightforward chord progression that repeats throughout the verses. We'll work with E, C# minor, A, and B chords in a flowing sequence. The beauty of this progression lies in its simplicity, making it perfect for both beginners and more advanced players who want to add their own style. Verse, Chorus, and Bridge The main sequence repeats four times through each verse, creating that dreamy, floating feeling that makes this song so special. The progression moves smoothly from E to C# minor, then to A and B, creating a perfect backdrop for those memorable Everly Brothers harmonies. There's a slight variation at the end of the second verse, where we introduce a subtle change with E, A, and E to E7, which serves as a beautiful transition into the bridge section. The bridge brings a refreshing change to the harmony, incorporating G#m and F#m chords that add emotional depth to lyrics like "I can make you mine" and "taste of wine." This section provides a wonderful contrast to the verses before returning to the main progression. Strumming Pattern The song features a gentle, flowing strumming pattern that creates its dreamlike quality. We'll work with a down-down-up pattern that keeps the rhythm moving while maintaining the song's relaxed feel. Don't worry too much about perfection–sometimes, those little imperfections in chord changes actually add to the song's authentic sound. Adding Some Style and Advanced Techniques Once you're comfortable with the basic progression, we can explore some variations that add color to your playing. There are several ways to voi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tc-HtLD2Yn4 537 2017-12-03T11:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-sympathy-for-the-devil-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xD6HZ4tQMiU/hqdefault.jpg Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones An all time classic Rolling Stones song, the original has hardly any guitar, except for a killer solo by Keith Richards, so in this lesson we look at the parts played on the live "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" version, which is an awesome groove and very cool parts indeed! https://www.youtube.com/embed/xD6HZ4tQMiU 1653 2018-01-24T11:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-cowgirl-in-the-sand-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-917 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rOTi_yUlFHY/hqdefault.jpg Cowgirl In The Sand by Neil Young Learn how to play "Cowgirl in the Sand" by Neil Young on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cowgirl in the Sand on the guitar. I'm excited to delve into another Neil Young classic with you. This time, we're focusing on the acoustic version. This classic tune from Neil Young is a great song to add to your repertoire, whether you're a budding guitar player or an experienced musician. Cowgirl in the Sand is a powerful song with a unique touch that Neil Young brings to all his music. The electric version of the song is very similar, so if you play an electric guitar with a bit of crunch, you'll find this quite familiar. The song has two distinct guitar parts that link together with little embellishments. Neil Young has performed this song acoustically in many concerts, and I've combined some of those performances to form this arrangement. This arrangement is primarily based on the Massey Hall performance in Toronto. Understanding the Key Let's talk a bit about the keys. All of the Neil Young acoustic versions of this song are played on a guitar tuned down a tone. So, the chords you'll see are still the same, but if you want to play along with those versions, you need to tune all of the strings on your guitar down one tone. If you're going to do that, you'll need thicker strings as well—otherwise, they get a bit rattly. But that's something for you to discover. The Chord Progression The chord progression for Cowgirl in the Sand isn't particularly difficult, but the minute details can be challenging. The song starts with an A minor chord, followed by an F. Then, it moves to a G and returns to F before shifting to a C. The song continues to fluctuate between F and G before introducing a D minor seven and an E minor. The chord progression then returns to C and F, with a D minor seven that takes you back to A minor. Remember, it's the little nuances that make this song so distinctive. There's a particular rhythm and flow to it, and it's all about maintaining that consistent movement. It might take a bit... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rOTi_yUlFHY 1430 2018-07-13T06:42:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/hubert-sumlin-smokestack-lightning-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-521 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eZGDWaIRMh0/hqdefault.jpg Smokestack Lightning by Hubert Sumlin Learn to play "Smokestack Lightning" by Hubert Sumlin on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Smokestack Lightning on the guitar. This classic blues riff is a fantastic piece of music to add to your repertoire. Not only is it a lot of fun to play, but it's also a great way to develop your fingerstyle techniques. One of the key elements of this song is maintaining a steady thumb movement on the thicker string, which creates the characteristic sound of the blues. The Trick, the Beat, and the Bend The riff we'll be learning today is both cool and complex. It requires your thumb and fingers to do separate things, a skill that is essential for fingerstyle guitar playing. The trick to mastering this is to start slow and focus on the timing of the notes. Are they played together, or is there a note in between the thumb strokes? Deciphering this pattern will help you nail the rhythm. When playing Smokestack Lightning, your thumb plays a crucial role. It needs to maintain a constant rhythm, hitting the bass note on each beat. This steady thumb action forms the song's backbone, with other notes sometimes aligning with the beat and sometimes falling in between. Another distinctive aspect of Smokestack Lightning is the blues curl on the thinnest string. It sounds like two fingers are on the string, with the third finger bending slightly. This subtle bend, rather than a full one, gives the song its unique flavor. Learning the Simple Blues Style from the Masters In the blues style, simplicity often works best. For Smokestack Lightning, you'll use just your first finger and thumb to pick the strings. This simplicity is reminiscent of the older blues style, where the focus was more on the feel of the music than on complex finger placements. There are plenty of videos of Hubert Sumlin playing Smokestack Lightning that are worth checking out. You'll notice that he doesn't always maintain a steady thumb movement; instead, he adapts it to what he's playing. So, while it's essential to practice the steady thumb, don'... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZGDWaIRMh0 510 2017-12-02T05:55:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bobby-mcferrin-don-t-worry-be-happy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-135 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mx8oeR5M0nw/hqdefault.jpg Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin Learn how to play "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin on guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin on the acoustic guitar. It's such a great song for beginners! Since the original recording is acapella – we'll be replicating those vocals on the guitar. This 80s hit song spreads positivity with a simple message and a super catchy rhythm! Playing this feel-good tune will change your mood for the better. :) This is an excellent developer song to add to your repertoire. You can start with simple strumming, then develop it by picking out the bass notes and alternating between them. Loads of stuff to explore here! So grab your guitar and let's start with that simple version. :) Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin – Guitar Chords We’ll play this song in the key of C. The original recording is in B, but this is a strange key for guitar! 🤔 Chords In Keys – what does "key of C" mean? Sounds complicated, but it's actually pretty simple. :) Check out my Beginner lesson on chords in the key. The basic chord progression only needs C, Dm, and F chords: it’s C C Dm Dm; F F C C. This is great practice if you're learning the infamous F chord: you get plenty of practice with super-common chord changes like F to C and F to Dm. Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin – Strumming As for the strumming, start simple with one strum on each chord. Once you're hip with that, try out the Old Faithful strumming pattern! It's perfect for this tune and is not too difficult! If you want to take your rhythm to the next level, try picking the bass note on beats 1 and 3 and strumming the full chord on 2 and 4. This is the basic pattern. 1 2 3 4 B D B D Remember that the bass notes are on different strings for each chord. So, hit string 5 for C, string 4 for D, and string 6 for F. You can also add some upstrums. This pattern sounds great. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + B D U B U D U The next step is to alternate the bass note. On beat 3 of C, we move finger 3 over to 6:3 and hit string 6. On Dm, we hit s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mx8oeR5M0nw 554 2022-03-16T10:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/stevie-ray-vaughan-mary-had-a-little-lamb-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-343 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dGsN3dwUuXU/hqdefault.jpg Mary Had A Little Lamb by Stevie Ray Vaughan Learn to play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mary Had A Little Lamb by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the guitar. This song is a classic, and we're going to break it down and make it accessible for you to play. So grab your guitar, tune up, and let's get started! Understanding the Song Structure Mary Had A Little Lamb is a blues song, and like most blues songs, it has a standard structure. The song is primarily based around the E7, A7, and B7 chords, forming a traditional blues progression. This progression is the song's backbone, and we'll add various riffs and embellishments to this basic structure. The Intro and Verse The song's intro sets the tone with a catchy riff that leads into the E7 chord. The verse continues with this E7 chord and then transitions into an A7 chord. There's a cool variation on the E7 chord that adds a unique flavor to the song. This variation is known as an E7 sharp 9, and it gives the song its signature sound. The Bridge and the Solo The bridge of the song involves a climb to a B7 chord. This is a great place to practice your picking techniques, as the chord is arpeggiated in a unique pattern. This climb to the B7 chord provides a nice contrast to the E7 and A7 chords used in the verse. There is a fantastic solo in this song that we will cover in a separate video lesson. This solo is a great opportunity to practice your bends and slides and to really get a feel for Stevie Ray Vaughan's style of playing. Wrapping Up Remember, the key to mastering this song is practice. Take it slowly, work on each section individually, and then gradually put it all together. Don't rush - take your time to really understand the song and its structure. One of the key aspects of Mary Had A Little Lamb is its rhythm. It's important to get the feel of the song right. This involves a mix of strumming, picking, and well-placed mutes to nail that bluesy sound. Playing along with the original recording is a great way to improve your timing and feel ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dGsN3dwUuXU 1049 2017-12-21T12:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/u2-one-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-421 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wQZaTaexcbk/hqdefault.jpg One by U2 Learn How to Play "One" by U2 on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play One by U2 on the guitar. One is more than just a song; it's an anthem, a story, and a journey. It is a fantastic song with a powerful message that has touched millions of hearts worldwide. This song is considered a crucial piece in pop music, and it's also a pleasure to listen to and a joy to play. The Basics Let's dive into the world of One. We'll start off with a straightforward play-through, focusing on maintaining a steady rhythm. Doing four down strums to the bar is a good place to start. The song begins with an A minor for a whole bar. Feel the melancholy seep into the strings as you strike the A minor, setting the tone for the rest of the song. Next, we move to a D chord, an F major seven, and a G chord. There are various ways of playing G, so feel free to use the one you're most comfortable with. This sequence of chords forms the song's backbone, giving it its unforgettable melody. We repeat this sequence twice, creating a beautiful pattern that resonates with the song's theme. The Chorus The chorus is where the song's energy peaks. It starts with a C chord for a bar, followed by an A minor for a bar, then an F major seven for a bar, and then back to C for a bar. We repeat this sequence again. Once we've got the basics down, we can start adding some embellishments to the open-chord version. These subtle additions may seem insignificant, but they bring a deeper layer of richness to the song, giving it more of an authentic feel. Strumming and Singing Along The strumming pattern is crucial in this song. It's consistent most of the way through, with some subtle variations. It should be counted as 16th notes, which might seem tricky, but you'll find the rhythm flowing naturally from your hands with practice. Once you're comfortable with the chords and the strumming pattern, try humming along with the melody while you play the chords. This will help you stay in tune with the song and increase your connection with the music. I... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wQZaTaexcbk 1131 2018-02-04T20:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/slim-harpo-i-m-a-king-bee-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-245 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j4Kd8q74WMk/hqdefault.jpg I'm a King Bee by Slim Harpo Learn how to play "I'm a King Bee" by Slim Harpo on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm a King Bee on the guitar. This classic Blues tune, originally recorded by Slim Harpo, has been covered by numerous artists, including the Rolling Stones, and is a fascinating piece of music. What makes this song particularly interesting is its unique 13½-bar Blues structure. Now, you might be wondering, "How on earth did Slim Harpo come up with a 13½-bar Blues?" Well, it's all about the interplay between the riff and the melody. The song features a cool, repetitive riff that forms the backbone of the tune. Slim Harpo didn't set out to create a complex structure; he simply crafted a great riff and a catchy melody line. The interesting part is that the phrasing of the melody line slightly clashes with the riff, which leads to the unusual bar structure. Understanding the 13½-Bar Structure Here's how the 13½-bar structure works: Slim Harpo essentially adds two beats to the end of each four-bar section. This allows the vocal melody to come in after a distinctive slide in the riff, preventing the vocals from clashing with this prominent musical feature. When we add these extra beats (three half-bars of two beats each), we get one and a half bars added to our standard 12-bar Blues. And there you have it - a 13½-bar Blues! The Riff and Chord Progression The riff is relatively simple, centered around the E chord (the I chord in this key). It includes a distinctive slide that's crucial to the song's character. The chord progression follows a Blues pattern, moving to the A chord (the IV chord) and then to the B7 chord (the V chord) in a similar way to a standard 12-bar Blues, but with those extra beats added in. Don't worry if this sounds complicated - once you start playing it, you'll feel the groove, and it'll start to make sense. The key is to focus on getting that main riff down and then work on fitting the vocals around it. Variations by Other Artists Interestingly, other artists who've covered I'm a King Bee have ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/j4Kd8q74WMk 708 2024-10-06T06:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-harvest-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-902 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/53pfx-d1FJ0/hqdefault.jpg Harvest by Neil Young Learn how to play "Harvest" by Neil Young on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Harvest by Neil Young on the guitar. This beautiful song is straightforward and a fantastic tune to add to your repertoire. One of the fantastic things about this song is its consistent strumming pattern, which adds a lot to its charm. The strumming involves a bass note played with the thumb, alternating between the root of the chord and the fifth of the chord. This pattern keeps the song moving and gives it a unique rhythm that is delightful to play. Let's jump right in! Chord Progression The chord progression for Harvest is beautifully simple and consists of open chords. We mainly work with a D chord and occasionally throw in a B minor barre chord. During the verse, we repeat D to A and a G. We then move to a sequence of G, A, B minor, and E. This sequence is repeated throughout the song, making it easy to follow and get into its rhythm. The instrumental section is a simplified version of the verse, playing the first half of the sequence. This part of the song lets you focus on your strumming and feel the groove. Strumming and Bass Note Changes The strumming pattern in Harvest is not only consistent, as mentioned before, but also involves a cool technique of changing the bass note. This technique involves moving the bass note from the D to the A, adding a nice dynamic touch to the song. Adding a muted hit on beats two and four can also give your strumming a bit more of a groove. This is done by hitting the thick strings with the palm of your hand while your first finger is hitting down, creating a satisfying click. The Intro and Verse In the intro, we start with a D chord, with a little trick of moving the first finger up a bit to mute the D string when it goes to the A. This gives a nice, clear bass note. The verse follows the chord progression mentioned earlier, and it's repeated throughout the song. It's not a verse and chorus but rather a repeating verse that sets the song's mood. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoy ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/53pfx-d1FJ0 573 2017-10-26T09:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eagles-of-death-metal-i-only-want-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-015 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0082ohYAPR4/hqdefault.jpg I Only Want You by Eagles Of Death Metal Learn "I Only Want You" by Eagles of Death Metal on Electric Guitar! I Only Want You by the Eagles of Death Metal is an awesome guitar song! You can keep it super simple if you’re a beginner, and we also look at the intermediate and authentic versions. Contrary to the band’s name, the song itself is somewhere in the alternative-indie genre, but there certainly is a roughness to it. Not quite death metal rough, but rough enough! Let's start with the basic version. :) I Only Want You by Eagles of Death Metal: Basic Open Chords If you want to simplify this song, you can play one bar of A followed by one bar of C, strumming four beats per bar. If you can stay in time and switch chords okay, it's time to change it up! To build up the energy and heaviness, play all-down eighth notes. Sounds wicked, and way closer to the original! :) I Only Want You by Eagles of Death Metal: Bluesy Guitar Riff For more advanced players, you can make it sound much closer to the original by playing this riff. 💡 Blues Shuffle Riff: If you’ve gone through my beginner’s course, you'll have learned the blues chunka-chunka shuffle. This riff has a similar feel and uses the techniques we cover in that lesson. :) For the A, we hold an A mini barre and use finger 3 to create the bluesy rhythm feel. Over C, we hold a two-note power chord and add little finger two frets higher than finger 3. See the video for all the details. :) We look at several versions of it - if you need to, start with the easy one and slowly build up. If you've nailed that riff, it's time to look at the authentic version. Authentic Guitar Riff in Original Tuning The original riff isn't trickier than the one above, but the tuning might confuse you. The Eagles of Death Metal version is in Open G tuning with a capo on 2. This enables you to play the first bar of the riff using finger 1 only, and the second bar with a mini barre and finger 3 or 4. It's loads easier! Final Tip: Give It Some! Though we cover the riffs in detail, the energy and the vibe is way more important than... https://www.youtube.com/embed/0082ohYAPR4 699 2019-10-18T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-jingle-bells-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-120 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JKLcSC0flRg/hqdefault.jpg Jingle Bells by Xmas Classic Spread Some Joy & Learn How To Play "Jingle Bells" On Guitar!🎄🔔 Perfect for any guitar beginners looking for a fun Christmas song. In this easy guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play Jingle Bells on guitar! Even if you just started on your beginner guitar journey, this song is suitable for Grade 1 guitar players. You'll have everything you need to play this Christmas classic, and I'll also show you intermediate alternating bass if you want to jazz it up later on. How To Play Jingle Bells On Guitar To play Jingle bells on guitar, you're starting with a C chord. Then, you'll need mainly open chords - ain't that a relief? :) BUT - there is an F chord in there, which is a guitar chord we explore in grade 2. If you dig this song - you'll be able to manage! You can play the F chord however you want; there are loads of options here. Whether as an F major 7, regular F, F barre chord F, or F with the thumb over. The G7 chord works for this tune, but you can play a G if you want to keep it super simple. :) If you're a beginner guitar player - remember - your choice will depend on your abilities! It's important to be aware of different grip options, but choose which one feels best for your needs! 💡 Struggling with your chord changes? Add One Minute Changes in your practice routine. This simple exercise help make those tricky chords progression easier with time! Jingle Bells Guitar Variations You can play this song in loads of different ways. The chords are simple, the melody is simple & the sing-along is easy. So - have a bit of fun, explore and have a bit of a laugh with this Christmas song! Laughter is a fantastic thing, and it's the best way to bring festive cheers. :) If you're a fan of guitar and popular Christmas music, check out My Christmas Songbook. It features 21 seasonal classics, including Jingle Bells. This book is specially arranged for guitar, and I organized the songs in 4 groups to prepare you for your holiday performance! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Che... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKLcSC0flRg 904 2018-01-23T18:56:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/hunters-collectors-throw-your-arms-around-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-503 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UAwZ967igo4/hqdefault.jpg Throw Your Arms Around Me by Hunters & Collectors Learn to play "Throw Your Arms Around Me" by Hunters and Collectors on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Throw Your Arms Around Me by the fantastic Aussie band Hunters and Collectors on the guitar. This beautiful song features a cool chord trick that I'm excited to share with you. Throw Your Arms Around Me is a great addition to your repertoire and will help you expand your guitar skills. The Chord Trick Let's start with the heart of this song—a unique chord trick that gives Throw Your Arms Around Me its distinctive sound. This trick slightly modifies standard barre chords, creating a more open and resonant sound. We'll use this technique for two of the three main chords in the song. The trick is to let certain strings ring open while maintaining the basic chord shape. It creates a lovely, floaty texture that defines the song's sound. Don't worry if it feels a bit tricky at first—with practice, you'll get the hang of it, and it'll become second nature. The Main Chords and Progression We'll work with three main chords in this song: E, A, and B. But remember, our A and B chords will use that special trick we just talked about. These modified chords give us a richer, more complex sound without making the song any harder to play. In fact, once you get used to it, you might find yourself using this trick in other songs, too! For simplicity's sake, we'll just call these chords A and B, even though technically they're a bit more than that. Don't get too hung up on the theory—what matters is how great they sound in the song's context. Now, let's talk about how these chords fit together in the song. The progression is relatively simple, but the way these chords are played really makes the song shine. We start with the intro, which goes B, E, and then A for two bars. Then we move into the verse, where we see a pattern emerge: E, A, E, B. This pattern repeats throughout most of the verse, with a slight variation at the end. The chorus follows a similar pattern: E, A, E, B, and then E, A, B, B. As you play th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UAwZ967igo4 728 2017-12-15T12:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-ventures-wipeout-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-615 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jv7bboWyV6I/hqdefault.jpg Wipeout by The Ventures Learn to play "Wipeout" by The Ventures on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wipeout by The Ventures on the guitar. This classic '60s tune is both fun and slightly challenging to play. It's essentially a 12-bar Blues in C, but its distinctive riff makes it stand out. The song is known for its drum-heavy nature, but don't let that fool you - the guitar part is equally important and incredibly enjoyable to play. One of the great things about this song is that it's a perfect choice for playing with a full band. Your drummer friends will especially appreciate you learning this one, as it gives them a chance to showcase their skills throughout the entire song. Chord Progression The chord progression for Wipeout follows a classic 12-bar Blues structure in the key of C. It's a straightforward sequence that uses three main chords: C, F, and G. While open chords are an option, using barre chords will give you a sound that's more faithful to the original recording. We'll start with C for four bars, then move to F for two bars. After that, we'll return to C for another two bars. The next part of the progression is a quick change - G for one bar, followed by F for one bar. Finally, we'll finish with C for two bars. This entire sequence then repeats, creating a solid foundation for the iconic riff and any solos you might want to incorporate. This repeating chord structure gives Wipeout its distinctive sound and provides a steady backdrop for the song's energetic drum work and catchy guitar riff. As you play through the progression, you'll see how it creates a perfect canvas for the song's other elements, allowing both the rhythm section and lead instruments to shine. The Iconic Riff The heart of Wipeout lies in its memorable riff. It's a simple yet catchy sequence of notes that repeats throughout the song. The riff is played in different positions on the neck, corresponding to the chord changes in the progression. While we'll see the exact notes and finger positions in the video, the general idea is to play a ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jv7bboWyV6I 597 2017-12-15T12:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-nothingman-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-069 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kYk_CA4GWZ4/hqdefault.jpg Nothingman by Pearl Jam Let's learn a Pearl Jam classic In this lesson, we'll learn how to (really!) play Nothingman by Pearl Jam on guitar. This is an awesome song from the Vitalogy album with great chords. I've been playing this Pearl Jam classic for years, but always with the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Now I've finally got it! It's a tiny detail, but it makes all the difference… Nothingman sounds great on electric guitar, but you'll also have loads of fun playing it on acoustic. We'll learn how to strum it and explore how to create cool dynamics too! Let’s get stuck in. Nothingman By Pearl Jam - Guitar Capo & Tuning You'll need the capo on the 5th fret - but only covering strings 6 to 2! We leave string 1 open - make sure it rings out. That’s real important. :) This means your strings are now tuned to A D G C E E. Now, here’s the trick that took me years to discover: we tune strings 1 and 2 up one semitone! Now your guitar is in the right tuning: A, D, G, C, F, F. 💡 Justin's Journey: For ages I played Nothingman with my capo on fret 5 and standard open chords. At some point I figured out that the capo was only covering strings 6 to 2 and that string 1 was tuned to an F, but it took further detective work to realise that string 2 was also tuned a semitone higher than usual. This is a bit complicated, but this tuning gives a lovely, open, expansive sound to the guitar and it makes the chords real easy. Let’s check them out! Nothingman by Pearl Jam - Chord Progression The chord progression (relative to the capo) is based around C, Am, Gsus4, and Fadd9. But the grips are a little different. ;) The C and Am grips in Nothingman are the standard open-chord grips but with finger 1 missing. You want string 2 to ring out open! 🎸 Altered Tunings: the Nothingman tuning is an example of an altered tuning - and a weird one at that. Check out my series on altered tunings to deepen your knowledge. For the Gsus4, put finger 3 on fret 3 of string 6 and use it to mute string 5. Let the other strings ring out. For the Fadd9, we ho... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kYk_CA4GWZ4 1024 2021-02-19T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-photograph-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-691 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yCL-R72ZfuE/hqdefault.jpg Photograph by Ed Sheeran Learn How to Play "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Photograph by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. It's a really beautiful song, and we're going to simplify it so that it's perfect for beginners. We'll use a capo on the second fret, and you'll only need four chords to play along. Let's get started! The Four Chords You'll Need The four chords you'll need are C, A minor, F, and G. If you're new to playing the guitar, you might want to check out a beginner's course on my website to get comfortable with these chords. It's really important to have a solid foundation before diving into a song. There are many ways to play each chord, so find what is most comfortable for you. The goal is always to make music and have some fun. Chord Progressions: The Song's Structure The song has three main chord sequences: the intro and verses, the pre-chorus, and the chorus. These sequences are the basic structure of the song. Intro and Verses: For the intro and verses, you'll play two bars of each chord in the following order: C, A minor, G, and then F. This sequence repeats throughout the verses. Pre-Chorus: The pre-chorus is a little different. You will play one bar per chord in the following order: A minor, F, C, and then G. This means the chords change every bar in the pre-chorus. Chorus: We are back to playing two bars for each chord in the chorus. The sequence is C, G, A minor, and F. It's helpful to remember the order of the chords for each section. I recommend writing them down or visualizing them as little blocks. That way, you can really see and understand the song's structure. Just remember, the pre-chorus uses one bar per chord, while the intro, verses, and chorus use two bars per chord. Rhythm and Strumming: Adding the Groove Now, let's get into rhythm and strumming. For the verses, we're going to use something called palm muting. You do this by resting the outside of your palm on the strings, which gives the verses a muted, more subdued feel. For the strumming, use eight down pi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yCL-R72ZfuE 921 2017-11-04T00:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/george-ezra-budapest-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-425 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZrErCb3RH9w/hqdefault.jpg Budapest by George Ezra Learn to play "Budapest" by George Ezra on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Budapest on the guitar, a wonderful tune by the talented George Ezra. His unique, rich voice and skillful songwriting make this song a delight to learn. Tuning and Capo If you want to play Budapest exactly as it sounds in the original recording, you'll need to tune each string down one tone. If you're unfamiliar with this, don't worry! There are lessons on my website where I explain how to tune your guitar down a tone. George Ezra often uses a capo when he plays this song live. This is because he's playing a baritone guitar, which is tuned down a whole fourth. He places the capo on the second fret, creating a beautiful, warm tonality. Chord Progression Now, let's dive into the song itself. Budapest has a simple structure with only three chords: G, C, and D. These chords form the backbone of the song, and once you get the hang of transitioning between them, you're well on your way to mastering the song! Throughout the verses, you'll be playing the G chord for most parts, switching to the C chord for two bars, and then going back to G. This simple progression repeats throughout the song, creating a catchy rhythm that's characteristic of this tune. The chorus introduces the D chord. You'll play D for one bar, C for one bar, and G for two bars. This pattern repeats throughout the chorus, giving it a distinct, uplifting feel. Picking Style and the Feel of the Song George Ezra uses a very cool picking style in this song, adding a lot of texture and rhythm. This might be a bit challenging if you're used to strumming, but with a bit of practice, you'll get the hang of it. It's definitely worth it, as it adds a unique flair to the song. One of the key aspects of playing Budapest is getting the feel of the song right. This means not just playing the right chord at the right time but also understanding the rhythm and groove of the song. This might take a bit of practice, but it will make a huge difference in how the song sounds.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrErCb3RH9w 781 2018-02-04T23:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-verve-the-drugs-don-t-work-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-609 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jD-nfe18SWQ/hqdefault.jpg The Drugs Don't Work by The Verve Learn to play "The Drugs Don't Work" by The Verve on acoustic guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Drugs Don't Work on the acoustic guitar. This beautiful and emotionally powerful song by The Verve is perfect for acoustic guitar, featuring some interesting chord variations that add depth to its melancholic sound. Released in 1997 as part of The Verve's iconic album "Urban Hymns," The Drugs Don't Work showcases the band's masterful songwriting. The song's gentle progression and thoughtful arrangement make it an excellent choice for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their repertoire. Chord Progression The song follows a relatively straightforward chord progression that creates its haunting atmosphere. We start with a slightly modified C chord that adds a bright, crystalline quality to the sound. This variation gives the song its distinctive opening character while maintaining the warmth of the traditional C chord. From there, we move through A minor, which includes some creative possibilities with sus2 variations that you can incorporate as you become more comfortable with the basic progression. The song then flows into E minor, followed by a beautiful Fadd9 chord that adds sophistication to the harmony. We round out the main progression with a G chord before returning to our modified C. Song Structure The verse and chorus sections maintain the same chord progression, creating a seamless flow throughout the song. This consistency allows you to focus on developing your strumming technique and adding subtle variations to keep the song dynamic and engaging. The bridge section introduces a slight change, starting with an F chord and moving through A minor and G before resolving back to E minor. This variation provides a nice contrast to the main progression while maintaining the song's emotional intensity. Strumming Pattern While the basic chord progression is straightforward, the strumming pattern is what really brings this song to life. We'll work with a 16th-note pattern that creates the son... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jD-nfe18SWQ 662 2018-02-04T22:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/katy-perry-i-kissed-a-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-216 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_dOIWRNXDUE/hqdefault.jpg I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry Learn how to play "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry on the guitar. This song is a fantastic pop tune produced by the talented Dr. Luke, known for his fantastic guitar arrangements in pop songs. This song is no exception. The unique aspect of this song is that it features two electric guitar parts playing simultaneously, creating a beautiful harmony line. But don't worry if that sounds intimidating - we'll break it down into manageable parts and learn them one at a time. So, let's dive into it! The Basics First things first, this song involves playing triplets. For those unfamiliar with the term, triplets are when we divide a beat into three, creating a rhythm that goes one triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet. This rhythm is played throughout the song. It's a simple yet effective way to add a unique flavor to your guitar playing. The Chorus Moving onto the chorus, it transitions into power chords. The rhythm here is a bit different - all the chords are pushed, meaning they come in slightly before the beat. We have a C power chord, followed by a D power chord, and then a fun little climb from D to E to F and then back down to E. Again, it's all about getting the rhythm right. With practice, you'll get the hang of it in no time! Adding Flavor Now, here's a pro tip for you. If you want to make your playing sound fuller and richer, add an extra bass note to your chords. For example, move your first finger over to cover the thickest string as well when playing the C power chord. This changes the chord to C over G (because you're adding a G bass note), giving it a really big and full sound. Try it out, and see how it changes the sound! Taking it to the Next Level For those up for a challenge, try playing both guitar parts at the same time. This does require a bit of a stretch and some finger acrobatics, but it's a fun challenge if you're up for it. Remember, the goal here is to have fun and enjoy the process of learning. S... https://www.youtube.com/embed/_dOIWRNXDUE 694 2017-11-29T17:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-albatross-3-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-381 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nEGXaJtIby0/hqdefault.jpg Albatross [3/3] by Fleetwood Mac "ALBATROSS" BY FLEETWOOD MAC ON ELECTRIC GUITAR: PART 3 Hey, how you doing? We’ve made it to Part 3 of my three-part Albatross series! How did you feel about the first two parts? To quickly recap, there’s a recording of me playing both guitar parts in Part 1. Make sure to check that out first if you haven’t already. In Part 2, we cover the A section of the song with the iconic rhythm and lead parts. As I mentioned in Part 2, this song contains a ton of slide work. I’ve swapped these for bends for those who don’t have a slide or aren’t confident using it. You can exclude the bends if you’re not great with them, but they really add something special to the track. I have a lesson on string bending, so practice up a bit, then give the bends a go. :) 🚨 Bending Alert! Don’t kill your fingertips with your bending! Take it slow, take regular breaks, and don’t get frustrated if it takes time to get the sound you’re looking for. If you’ve watched and practiced the whole series, you can now combine both sections with two guitars. Play it as a duet with a guitar buddy, or use the help of some savvy recording tech. Whichever way you choose, practicing with a metronome helps to sync up both parts really nicely. Let’s check out that awesome guitar. :) Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: Solo Part We’re going to start with finger 3 at 2:10 (string 2, fret 10). Pick, play a tone bend, release it, then bend back up. Pick again, bend a tone, release it, then play 2:9. Go back to 2:10 and bend again. The second time around, it’s tone bend, release, then bend again. Pick and bend again, release, then play 2:9. Then it’s another bend from 2:10. We dip the bend a little, move it up and hold it on the note, then dip again. 🎸 Slide Guitar Substitutions: This is one of the parts played with slide guitar. If you want to have a go, replace the tone bends from 2:10 with slides from 2:10 to 2:12. After that, we play two tone ghost bends from 2:10, followed by a semitone ghost bend from 2:9. Then it’s 3:9, 2:10, 2:9. Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: Sec... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEGXaJtIby0 620 2017-10-29T12:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-key-to-the-highway-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-244 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fL8zTSPCGls/hqdefault.jpg Key to the Highway by Eric Clapton Learn how to play "Key to the Highway" by Eric Clapton on the guitar. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Key to the Highway on the guitar. Many great artists, including Eric Clapton, have covered this Blues Standard. Originally recorded by Big Bill Broonzy, this eight-bar blues version has become a staple in the blues repertoire. We'll learn a simple yet effective way to play it and take a peek at some of the more intricate elements that make this song so special. Key to the Highway is a classic blues song with a rich history and a timeless appeal. We'll look at it in the key of A, similar to how Eric Clapton played it. This version keeps things straightforward using a D and E open shuffle, making it accessible for beginners and allowing more advanced players to add their flair. Chord Progression The song follows a traditional eight-bar blues format. Start with A for one bar, then move to E for one bar. Play D for two bars, then return to A for one bar. Switch to E for one bar, return to A for one bar, and finish with E for one bar, often including a turnaround. It's a relatively simple structure, but what makes it shine is how you play it. We'll keep it nice and simple, focusing on getting the shuffle rhythm down. Playing the Melody One of the best ways to make this song your own is by playing the melody on the guitar. It's a great way to start a solo and understand how the melody notes fit with the chords. We'll start in the key of A and touch on some elements from Big Bill Broonzy's version in the key of E. This version has a more intricate guitar arrangement, which adds a unique flavor to the tune. Adding Embellishments and Turnarounds Once you're comfortable with the basic shuffle and chord progression, add some embellishments. For example, you can move your third finger to the fifth fret on the D chord. These little touches add character and make the song more interesting to play. Feel free to experiment and find what sounds best to you. Turnarounds are essential to blues music, and Key to the Highw... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fL8zTSPCGls 1289 2024-07-21T00:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sam-smith-stay-with-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-420 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uXW2_lr7O9Y/hqdefault.jpg Stay With Me by Sam Smith Learn how to play "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stay With Me on the guitar. This is a beautiful song by the amazing Sam Smith, perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. We'll go through some simple chords and a few more advanced techniques to make your playing sound more like the original recording. Chord Progression Let's start by looking at the chords for the verses. The basic versions of these chords are A minor, F major, and C major. Now, don't be intimidated by the F chord. If the full barre chord is too challenging, you can use an F major 7, which sounds just as good, if not better, for this song. The main chord sequence for the verses is A minor, F, C. This sequence repeats throughout the verses, and it's pretty straightforward. You can stick to simple down strums to keep it easy, especially if you're a beginner. Just remember to keep your rhythm steady. Rhythm and Timing One of the key elements of this song is the timing. The C chord comes in a bit earlier than you might expect, hitting on the 'and' after the fourth beat. If you're new to this, it might feel a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it adds a really nice flavor to the song. Here's a tip: try counting out loud as you play. It goes like this: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 1, 2, 3, 4. The C chord comes in right on that 'and' after four. Once you're comfortable with this timing, it will become second nature. Adding Some Flavor If you're feeling confident, you can add some more advanced techniques to make your playing sound more like the record. For instance, you can incorporate a few rhythmic variations or even some fingerpicking patterns. But don't worry if you're not there yet; the simple strumming pattern works beautifully, too. When you play the chorus, an additional chord comes in, the G chord. The sequence goes A minor, F, C, and then G. This adds a nice dynamic to the chorus and gives it a bit more depth. Putting It All Together So, to recap, we start with A minor, move... https://www.youtube.com/embed/uXW2_lr7O9Y 817 2018-02-04T18:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/maroon-5-moves-like-jagger-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-223 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7UUW7EcarOI/hqdefault.jpg Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 Learn to play "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Moves Like Jagger on the guitar. This catchy song by Maroon 5 is a fantastic tune that can be played at different levels of expertise, from beginners to more advanced guitarists. Moves Like Jagger is a cool song that is fun to listen to and enjoyable to play. I've classified this as a stage two beginner song, but don't let that discourage you if you're a more advanced player. The funky part is quite challenging, but it's a great opportunity to flex your guitar skills. The song offers a chance to learn a few minor seven chords if you feel a bit more adventurous. Playing along with the original recording using open chords is a fun way to get into the song's groove and start feeling like a rock star! So, whether you're just starting out or have been playing for a while, this lesson has something for you. Let's dive in! Chords and Progression The song has a straightforward chord progression. It's basically four bars on each chord, and this pattern repeats throughout the entire song. You start on the A minor and then move to D minor. Each chord is played for four bars, then you switch to the other. This pattern repeats throughout the entire song, making it easy to follow and play along. Strumming and Rhythm The strumming pattern for this song is simple and can be adapted to suit your playing style. If you're keeping it simple, you could just do four down strums for each bar. This straightforward strumming pattern is a great starting point for beginners. However, if you want to spice it up a bit and make it sound more like an acoustic version, there's a nice strumming pattern called "Old Faithful," which is down, down, up, up, down. This pattern makes the song sound more rhythmically interesting and less beginner-like. Playing Along with the Original Recording One of the best ways to improve your timing and get a feel for the song is to play along with the original recording. The record sounds so big and cool that you... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7UUW7EcarOI 812 2018-02-04T22:54:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/traditional-auld-lang-syne-3-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-1143 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/07NtXRyKo4U/hqdefault.jpg Auld Lang Syne [3/4] by Traditional Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of this lesson. Keeping on with our “Auld Lang Syne” tutorial, we’re going to be looking at the next eight bars in this lesson. Up to this point, we’ve been breaking things up into two-bar chunks, but we’re going to be looking at four bars at a time, now. I’ve got the next eight bars for you here. In these next eight bars, the chords are pretty much exactly the same as they were in the first half of the song that you’ve already learned. The fingerings on your picking hand are a bit different, though. Something I really recommend for this portion of this song is to go over and download the song TAB if you haven’t done so already. When the fingerings get a bit more detailed, having something to look at on paper makes a huge, huge difference! It’ll certainly make things much easier for you, so download it, take a look at it, and then come back to this lesson so I can walk you through it. For bars 9-12, the chords and fingerings are the exact same as they were in the first part of the song, so nothing new you need to learn there. For bars 13-16, there is a slight change in the F chord you’re playing. Mainly, you need to make sure not to barre that first finger! Something a little fun here – in the last bar, you’re going to slide into the 17th bar with your little finger. It just serves as that little anacrusis, or pickup note, that we had at the very beginning of the song. TAB and Notes Download the TAB for Auld Lang Syne here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/07NtXRyKo4U 458 2017-12-03T06:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-taylor-you-ve-got-a-friend-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-421 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hc18pGJBink/hqdefault.jpg You've Got A Friend by James Taylor Learn to Play "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play You've Got a Friend on the guitar. This classic tune, famously performed by James Taylor but written by the equally legendary Carol King, is a wonderful piece to add to your repertoire. In You've Got a Friend, you'll find a wealth of chord progressions that challenge and expand your skills. From the introductory chords to the complex transitions in the verses and chorus, this song provides a rich learning experience. Don't worry if you're not familiar with all the chords or techniques mentioned here; the video will guide you step by step. The Introduction We begin with the introduction, which sets the mood and tone of the song. The progression starts with G and then moves to C, C/D, Gsus4, and G. This is followed by a brief detour to F# minor and B7sus4 before returning to B7. The Verses The verse chords are where the song really begins to reveal its complexity. The verse starts with E minor (or E minor7 if you prefer), then transitions to A minor7, D7sus4, and finally G (with a brief flirtation with Gsus4). The second part of the verse introduces F# minor, B7sus4, and B7 before returning to E minor. We then see the return of A minor7, the introduction of B minor7, and the sequence finishes with D7sus4 transitioning to D7. The Chorus and the Bridge Next comes the chorus, which introduces more chords to challenge your skill set. Here we see G, G major7, A minor7, and D7sus4 before landing on G6. The sequence then repeats with G6 transitioning to G major7, followed by a lengthy period on D7sus4. The chorus ends with a return to G, G major7, E minor, and A minor7, ending with D7sus4. Finally, we have the bridge, which introduces F, C, Gsus4, G major7, F major7, A7, and D7sus4. Wrapping Up While the chord progression in You've Got a Friend is certainly complex, don't let it intimidate you. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the process of learning and making music. Take your time, practice regularly, and don't hes... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hc18pGJBink 1882 2017-12-02T11:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/david-bowie-space-oddity-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-357 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Vq4soImlvQ/hqdefault.jpg Space Oddity by David Bowie Learn "Space Oddity" by David Bowie On Guitar! 🚀 This is a song loads of people love singing along to! Especially that countdown part, you can't help but sing aloud! It's fair to say this is one of Bowie's many musical masterpieces. In this lesson, we'll learn everything you need to play Space Oddity by David Bowie on the guitar. This is a cool song with loads of exciting chords and rhythms to explore. It's just all kinds of awesome! And there are loads of barre chords in there, so it's an excellent suit for Grade 4+ guitar players. We'll explore a few of Bowie's musical quirks, including the way he plays and an easier version. We'll start with the intro then approach the song in different bits. :) How To Play Space Oddity On Guitar The first chord you'll play is an F major 7 with an E bass. This is an unusual one - so practice it alone a few times if you need it! You'll be playing it a few times in the songs, so make sure you're ace with it. You'll also encounter an F minor, which is one of the more challenging barre chords. But it's worth learning if you really dig this song and want to pay homage to Bowie. 🚨 Not quite hip with barre chords yet? Check out my guide on how to nail Easy Barre chords. Certain chord progressions will be quite tense, but that's part of the song's character! There are parts of the song that fade and settle in interesting ways, and you can apply different variations to achieve them! There's a great rhythm pattern that is not too difficult, so first let’s explore that. Space Oddity Guitar Rhythm If you're a David Bowie fan and want to nail the rhythm down like the record - make sure you're familiar with original recording loads. You can add in and take out some strums and accent different parts to get it accurate. But you can also approach with a basic pattern, then allow it to morph it however you feel like. This will be in a 16th note strumming time, and you'll want to make sure your hand is constantly moving up and down. Don't let it stop! It's essential to plat a more challenging... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Vq4soImlvQ 1281 2017-12-31T10:32:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-sweet-child-o-mine-chorus-riff-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-378 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gp0MNyA7WC8/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Child 'O Mine [CHORUS RIFF] by Guns N' Roses Loads of people get this wrong! So here's how you properly play the chorus to "Sweet Child O Mine" on guitar. :) This lesson will walk you through the chorus, focusing on that little riff - that many guitar players seem to get it wrong (or not play it at all!) 💡 This tutorial is Part 4 of my Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Lessons Series. To learn the introduction and work your way to this tutorial, start here, learning to play Sweet's Child O Mine intro! Ok - so the chorus riff in this Guns N' Roses classic is great fun to play. However, it's not a beginner thing! I spent a lot of time listening to the original recording and studying how Slash approaches it. It's an essential bit if you want to play the lead for the whole song! 💡 This lesson is awesome to practice skills you learn in our Intermediate Guitar Lessons - Grade 5+. Now grab your guitar and get stuck in. Sweet Child O Mine Chorus Riff You'll first start playing a riff on the A chord to play the chorus riff. Then, you'll follow straight to the C. You'll finish with a riff on the D chord, the same that we saw in the intro lesson. Fingering makes a huge difference here. I'd recommend spending some time sorting out what works best for you. 😅 It might surprise you how tricky this feel! Practice is the cure here - so keep at it! Check out the close-up in the video lesson to see the progression! Main Riff Fingerpicking For the fingerpicking, find whatever feels best for you! It might take you a bit of exploration to see what feels easiest. To help guide you, here's a recommended fingerpicking pattern: D U U D U D U D D U U U U D U D The fingerpicking pattern is not easy to play! The intricate fingering can make it a bit messy. Take your time, slow things down if you have to, and ease into it. :) JustinGuitar - Sweet Child O Mine Guitar Series My Sweet Child Series has seven guitar lessons. We'll dive into each part in detail and examine all the bits of this iconic rock n roll tune. This way, you're sure to play it as accurately as possible on your guitar! Learn... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gp0MNyA7WC8 505 2017-12-08T10:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-i-can-t-help-falling-in-love-with-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-605 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UL96VuZZnvw/hqdefault.jpg I Can't Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis Presley Learn to play "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley on the guitar. This beautiful ballad is a timeless classic that's perfect for both beginners and intermediate players looking to expand their repertoire. Let's dive in and explore this iconic song together! Before we start, let's talk a bit about the song. Can't Help Falling in Love was originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1961 for his album "Blue Hawaii." While Elvis made it famous, it's worth noting that the song was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. Over the years, it's been covered by many artists, including UB40, who had a hit with their reggae-style version in 1993. In this lesson, we'll focus on the classic Elvis-style arrangement. One of the first things to understand about Can't Help Falling in Love is its time signature. We're playing in 6/8 time, which means there are six beats in each bar. This gives the song its gentle, swaying feel, perfect for a romantic ballad. The song has a simple verse-chorus structure, making it relatively easy to learn and remember. Chord Progression and Capo The chord progression for Can't Help Falling in Love is surprisingly simple, making it such a great song for beginners. We'll be using basic open chords that most guitarists learn early on. The chords you'll need to know are C, G, Am, F, and Em. There's also a B7 chord that comes in during the bridge, but don't worry if you're not familiar with it yet - we'll cover that when we get there. The verse starts with C, then moves to Em and Am. We then go to F, C, and G. This progression repeats throughout most of the song, with a few variations. In the chorus, we introduce the Em and B7 chords in the chorus before returning to Em. It's a beautiful, flowing progression that captures the song's romantic essence. In our lesson, we're using a capo on the second fret. Using a capo allows us to play the song in a higher key while using familiar ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UL96VuZZnvw 450 2018-02-04T20:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rocky-horror-show-time-warp-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-091 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XXgbyxOcd_M/hqdefault.jpg Time Warp by The Rocky Horror Show The most iconic Halloween Song on the guitar? 👻 Learn how to play "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Here’s a Halloween special for you! :) Time Warp is probably my favorite classic - and the most iconic song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you haven’t seen that movie before - I recommend you check it out! This cult classic was released in 1975 and has cool musical bits. Time Warp is a super fun song to play on guitar - there are loads of exciting guitar elements going on! In this easy lesson, you’ll learn the main bits of the song and variations you can add to spice it up. If you’re following my guitar courses, this tune is perfect for Grade 3+ guitar players. There are some power chords in there, palm muting, and awesome variations to put into practice. Adventurous beginner players should definitely try it out! If you're a more advanced guitar player, you’ll be able to improvise using the 12 Bar Blues. So grab your guitar & let’s get rocky! How To Play Time Warp On Guitar In the main bits, Time Warp follows an eight-bar chord progression using downstrokes. You’ll play G, D, and A and a B Power Chord throughout most of the song. Most of you might have already met the 12 Blues Bar Shuffle. It’s played in the key of A and is essential for many Rock and Roll shuffles - fun and recognizable! If you can't play that yet, I recommend you check out my lessons on Introduction to Blues Guitar. Here’s how to get started with the rock and roll shuffle to play Time Wrap: Put Finger 1 on the second fret of the fourth string. Downpick the two strings of the open A. Follow with a heavy palm mute. On Beats 2 and 4, hammer Finger 3 on the fourth fret of the fourth string. Finish with a B Power chord and a flick-off on the ‘and.’ 💡 Have a go at playing along with the original recording! It’ll help you get that high-energy groove. Start slow if you need to, and ease into the fast tempo. :) Time Warp Guitar Variations There are loads of variations you can do with this Rocky Horror Picture Show song! You ca... https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXgbyxOcd_M 779 2021-10-15T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-seger-night-moves-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-163 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cOr2scm9i_U/hqdefault.jpg Night Moves by Bob Seger Play "Night Moves" by Bob Seger on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Night Moves by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band on the acoustic guitar! It is a fun song – it has a relaxed vibe and is great for using the smaller F chord. Let's explore it! Night Moves by Bob Seger – Rhythm The rhythm is my favorite part of this song. We play 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, with percussive hits on beats 2 and 4. I just use finger 1 to strum, and I play the hits a little louder than the original. The listener needs to hear the hits when you're playing alone. It's up to you how you strum this. Bob Seger uses all his fingers, or you could try a pick! Whatever you do, the trick to the percussive hits on beats 2 and 4 is to rest your strumming hand on the strings as you strum. That way, you strum muted strings and get a drum sound. In this song, it's essential that your strumming has a relaxed, laid-back feel. Night Moves by Bob Seger – Verse Chords This song has a capo on fret 1 and starts with a G chord. I play "Rock G" (3X0033) in this song using fingers 2, 3, and 4. I think Bob is using finger 1 too (320033) – it's your choice! We start with one bar of G and stay there for another half bar. We then switch to F/C (X33211) for + 4, then to C/G (332010) for the "and" after 4. For the F/C, finger 1 barres fret 1 of strings 1 and 2, finger 2 plays fret 2 of string 3, finger 3 plays fret 3 of string 5, and finger 4 plays fret 3 of string 4. Make sure you mute string 6 with finger 3. This is the mini F Barre Chord! 💡 Percussive Hits - do you need more practice with this strumming technique? Learn here! To move to the C/G, finger 1 moves onto the tip, playing fret 1 of string 2 and leaving string 1 open. The other fingers all move up a string. We stay on C/G for one and a half bars, switch to F/C for + 4, moving to G on the "and" after 4. It's the same movement and rhythm as the first two bars, except we start on C/G and move back to G. Realize that on the three up strums of the second bar, we play a different chord e... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cOr2scm9i_U 994 2022-09-28T02:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-i-m-tore-down-rhythm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-808 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oEFRfpZnBfE/hqdefault.jpg I'm Tore Down [RHYTHM] by Eric Clapton Learn How To Play "I'm Tore Down" by Eric Clapton On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm Tore Down by Eric Clapton on the electric guitar. We'll learn Andy Fairweather Low rhythm guitar parts! If your interest is in Clapton's lead guitar part - check out the full lesson here. :) We'll look at the individual riffs with the 12-bar blues in the key of C. You'll have to some listening of your own to put the different bits in the correct order! 🤔 Did you know? This song is originally by the legendary Freddie King and written by his keyboard player Sonny Thompson. This is a bona fide blues standard! Get into that shuffle! One key thing here is to pick up the right amount of shuffle. It's not just about the notes! The notes are the easy parts. You'll want to build on getting the right feel and groove of this song. There are two main riffs in this tune, and we'll go through a bit of the accents, picking, and some of the subtle things that are important in making the tune what it is! Sometimes you might hit an extra note, that's fine! Even in the original song, Andy plays additional notes here and there. You'll encounter some stops that'll sound excellent if you're playing this in a band. You'll follow that with a rundown and a tasty slide! A lot to explore here. :) Picking movement You'll use alternate picking to play the riffs, and the movement of your wrist is important here. Instead of doing a standard down and up motion, you're doing more of an in and out approach. The string ends up resting on the string underneath, and with each downstroke, you'll be touching the string beneath. There's more wrist movement going on than with a standard alternate picking. Almost like your hand is dropping into the string. It's very relaxed, and this slightly changes the sound of the shuffle. Work on it a bit on its own, and make sure you have the accent right! Play along with the original recording The best way to get the right feel of this song is by playing along with the original recording! You can transcribe t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEFRfpZnBfE 1061 2018-06-27T07:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-tired-of-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-413 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/44YOhKkVH2s/hqdefault.jpg Tired Of You by Foo Fighters Learn How To Play "Tired Of You" By Foo Fighter On Guitar! An easy guitar lesson for this rock classic. For this Foo Fighter hit, you’ll get to put into practice awesome rock techniques. This song is excellent practice for Grade 3+ beginner guitar players. Together, we’ll take a look at the rhythm guitar parts by Dave Grohl, which will be in Drop D tuning. You’ll need to tune your thickest string down one tone for that. We’ll also explore the lead guitar parts by Chris - there’s really tasty stuff in there! 🚨 We won’t be doing the harmonize part - it’s too difficult to teach, and using your ears will be much easier for you! Grab your guitar & let's get stuck in. How To Play Tired Of You To play this Foo Fighters song, you'll need to tune your guitar to Drop D tuning. To do this, tune your thickest string down on tone. The cool thing about that is that you've got a little bar now to play a power chord. You'll encounter loads of power chords in there, including a G power chord. Check out the video for a close-up on how to get the right fingering. Ready to put your palm muting skills to work? It's an essential technique for this tune. To palm mute, rest your hand an inch into the strings. It'll help give you that 'dead' sound. You'll also play a heavy accent on beats 2 and 4. This will give you the main groove for the beginner part of the song! Follow Dave Grohl's Rhythm You'll need to focus on your rhythm to get the harmony sounding right. Dave is an incredible drummer, so naturally he has an amazing sense of time! Play along with that original recording and aim to absorb that. You shouldn't hear his guitar part if you play along with the recording. Not because you're too loud, but because you're playing simultaneously. This takes a bit of fiddling with the volume. 👂 Once you're at the right place, Dave's guitar part will just disappear. You should only hear your own. This is an excellent ear training exercise.:) Power chords in combination with arpeggiated picking style is awesome practice! If you're fortun... https://www.youtube.com/embed/44YOhKkVH2s 977 2018-01-24T16:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/guns-n-roses-i-used-to-love-her-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-064 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yZXAwsLaPoU/hqdefault.jpg I Used to Love Her by Guns N' Roses When I was a teenager, I thought I was Axl Rose. Long hair, leather pants, crazy memories... I Used To Love Her by Guns N' Roses was one of my go-to campfire songs in my teenage years in Tasmania! This classic is a great one for jamming on your acoustic guitar, and we'll learn how to play it in detail today! You'll only need to play three easy open chords, and if you're comfortable playing the Blues, this is an excellent tune for practicing your 12-Bar Shuffle Riff. We're not covering Slash's incredible guitar solo in this particular lesson. You can try transcribing it from the Guns N' Roses original. Learning solos by ear is one of the best exercises for developing your musicianship. ;) Or you can check out my lesson on it... 🎵 Need help to play the solo? Check out my lesson on how to play Slash's classic country solo in I Used To Love Her. This solo suits Grade 5+ Intermediate guitar players! Remember that later in the journey you can revisit the songs you learned as a beginner and apply your new skills and knowledge. It's best to start simple and keep it fun. ;) Now grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. I Used To Love Her by Guns N' Roses - Guitar Chords I Used To Love Her by Guns N' Roses is in the key of D. Its chord sequence only contains A, D, and G, which you can play as easy open chords. :) Any G chord grip will sound great here, so choose the one that feels best! Explore the grips, and later we'll see how to add some fancy stuff to your chords. ;) 🔑 When covering a song on guitar, always look for the sounds that best suit you. If it sounds good, it is good! I use a mini barre for the A chord - but you don't have to! The three-fingered A works well too. As for the D chord, we'll play it as standard. If you want to get into something fancier, explore switching to Dsus4 when playing the D chord. It sounds excellent, and it's fun practice! Let's check out how to strum it. I Used To Love Her by Guns N' Roses - Rhythm The Old Faithful strumming pattern sounds wicked with this one. :) But don't be too r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/yZXAwsLaPoU 961 2021-02-20T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-wet-sand-2-2-rest-of-rhythm-parts-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3642 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BjmTpIEQHMU/hqdefault.jpg Wet Sand [2/2] Rest Of Rhythm Parts by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn to play "Wet Sand" by RHCP on the guitar Welcome to part 2 of the lesson on how to play the song Wet Sand by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar. (Click here if you haven't seen Part 1.) This song, crafted by the legendary guitarist John Frusciante, is famed for its unique chord progressions, rhythmic patterns, and melodic solos. As we delve into the intricacies of this song, you'll be able to appreciate the genius of Frusciante's guitar work and his exceptional ability to create multi-layered guitar parts that complement each other beautifully. The Bridge Let's start off with the bridge. In its simplest form, the chord progression is E minor, G, D, and E minor. This sequence is repeated throughout, with each chord strummed twice. However, on the final run-through, you'll land and stay on the D chord for two bars before transitioning to either the verse or the chorus, depending on where you are in the song. John Frusciante's approach to this sequence is beautifully unique. He steers clear of the traditional open chords and instead opts for a more refined technique, often called the Chili Peppers trick. This involves playing a simplified version of the E minor chord, which is less dense and has fewer notes. The same trick is applied when playing the G and D chords, where certain strings are muted while others are focused on. This technique adds a distinctive flavor to the sound, making it more resonant and harmonious. Bridge Rhythm D . . . D . . U . U D . D . . U . U D . D . . U . U D . D . . . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a The Chorus Next, we move on to the chorus, which introduces a new rhythm and a lifting technique that John uses when playing the E and C chords. The strumming here is more continuous, requiring a gentle grip on the pick to facilitate smooth, flowing movements. The rhythmic pattern is fascinating, involving a combination of down and up strokes incorporating the chord lifts. This might seem a tad complex at first, but with practice, you'll get the ha... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BjmTpIEQHMU 1144 2017-11-29T03:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-johnson-song-for-george-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-051 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s_LAzeLbdLs/hqdefault.jpg Song for George by Eric Johnson Learn to Play "Song for George" by Eric Johnson on Guitar Welcome to our exclusive video lesson, where we'll dive deep into the enchanting world of Song for George by the legendary Eric Johnson. You've come to the right place if you're ready to embark on a musical journey filled with intricate chords, mesmerizing melodies, and soulful expressions. Let's unlock the secrets of this beautiful song together! Introduction and Tuning: Setting the Stage for Brilliance Before we get started, let's talk about the unique tuning required for Song for George. This song is in double drop D tuning, which means you'll need to tune your two E strings down one whole step to D. The tuning will be D A D G B D, creating a rich and resonant sound that perfectly complements the mood of this masterpiece. The effort you put into tuning your guitar will reward you with the magical tones you'll produce. Let's take a look at the five sections of Song for George. Section A: Laying the Foundation Let's begin our journey with section A, the foundation of Song for George. This section consists of two bars that introduce the song's main theme. We'll start by playing the bass notes with our thumb, alternating between the thickest and fourth strings. Then, we'll use our fingers to delicately pluck the melodies on the second and third strings. Take your time to familiarize yourself with each note's fingerings and timing. Remember, precision and control are key to capturing the essence of this section. Section B: Unleashing the Beauty Within Moving on to section B, we enter a realm of pure beauty and emotion. Although the chords remain the same throughout this section, the fingerpicking pattern changes, creating a mesmerizing sound that will transport you to another dimension. As we dive deeper into this section, we'll use our thumb for the bass notes and our fingers to pluck the strings with grace and finesse. Pay close attention to the movement of your thumb, as it sets the foundation for the intricate melodies to shine. Let the music flow thr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/s_LAzeLbdLs 2590 2020-12-19T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-the-wind-cries-mary-2-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3232 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8meKeV1hTLk/hqdefault.jpg The Wind Cries Mary [2/2] by Jimi Hendrix Folow this link to go to Part 1 of this lesson. This is a great song to start learning some Hendrix, not too hard but plenty challenging. Solo is really nice, fun and repeats a lot so not got too much to learn, many of the licks are quite similar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8meKeV1hTLk 456 2018-02-08T14:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-good-to-see-you-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-159 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OHk57tTd4VQ/hqdefault.jpg Good to See You by Neil Young Learn How to Play "Good To See You" on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we'll explore how to play Good To See You by Neil Young. The chords are easy, but there is tricky picking and tons of quick hammer-ons and flick-offs. I'll do my best to explain, but I strongly suggest you listen to the original loads and experiment. And it doesn't need to be 100% perfect – if you miss a note, no big deal. The feel and rhythm of this tune are what's important, and you already know: if it sounds good, it's good. :) Good To See You by Neil Young – Chords First, we'll look at the basic chords and some little tricks. The intro begins with a G chord (3X0003). Play this with fingers 3 and 4 so you can add the other notes, muting the A string with finger 3. The first cool embellishment in the song is to add fingers 1 and 2 to the G chord on beat 3 of the first bar of the intro, forming a G6sus4 (3X2013). Don't worry about the name! Listen to the song for the rhythm. :) For the chorus, all we need are G, D, C, Am, and Em. Notice the first two bars of each chorus sequence are ALWAYS G and D, and the last bar is always C. This makes it loads easier to remember! The verse sequences are similar to the chorus, except we play the chords for a whole bar. Again, look for the repetitions. The first two bars of all the verse sequences are G and D. You can play this tune with basic strumming if you want – listen to the song to get the groove. I recommend you use downstrums on the "and" beats. Accenting 2 and 4 also sounds wicked! Sometimes Neil uses Old Faithful (1 2+ +4) in the verses. 💡 More Neil Young! If you're a Neil Young fan, I have tons more Neil Young song lessons with chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along! Good To See You by Neil Young – Super-Authentic Chorus In the video, we look at exactly what Neil is playing for the chorus, but I don't think slow, precise practice is the answer here. Make sure you get the feel right, then start adding the hammer-ons. The rhythm is 1 2+ 3 4+, with bass notes on beats 1 and 3 and hit/strum... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHk57tTd4VQ 1298 2022-08-31T05:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-cranberries-zombie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-141 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gGblyC00CZM/hqdefault.jpg Zombie by The Cranberries Learn "Zombie" by The Cranberries on Guitar! Let's check out Zombie by The Cranberries on guitar. The chords are nice and simple, making it great for beginners, but you must vary the volume and strumming to keep it interesting. :) This song has been on my to-do list for quite some time. But this song feels especially sad right now. :( I was just having lunch and watching TV, and the war in Ukraine is just awful. I feel so bad that those people are suffering so much, and I feel really angry that Putin has brought war to our generation. 😪 I think music has a place as a platform for politics. Still, I'm not sure what possible political stance one could have except being opposed to this catastrophic event in human history. :( But I have to calm myself down so we can learn how to play this 90s classic. Let's do it! Zombie by The Cranberries: Guitar Chords & Progressions Zombie has the same chord progression for the whole song except the solo section. Play Em for one bar, then C Major 7 (just like a regular C chord, but with finger 1 lifted off: X32000), G6 (3X0000), using finger 3 to fret 6:3 and mute string 5. Then slide finger 3 back one fret to get G6/F# (2X0000). The progression is Em, CMaj7, G6, G6/F#. The only other progression comes in the solo sections, which is Em Em C C. 💡 Get full tab to follow along with my Zombie tutorial. Much easier with the (right) stuff right in front of you! :) Because Zombie uses one chord progression for almost the entire song, your challenge becomes not actually playing it but making it sound good when you play it on your own. I've heard many people play this song. The chords are easy, making it an appealing choice for a cover. But when people stick with one strumming pattern for the entire song… well, it can get boring. Unless you've got incredible vocal chops, you must explore the chords and melody and vary the sections! Let's look at a ton of ways to vary the strumming and feel. Zombie by The Cranberries: Strumming Patterns and Rhythm Options One of the keys to creating ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gGblyC00CZM 745 2022-04-20T02:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/poison-every-rose-has-its-thorn-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-317 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GNBYVSYLIIY/hqdefault.jpg Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison Learn How to Play "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Every Rose Has Its Thorn on the guitar. This is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, and I'm excited to take you through it step by step. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, you'll get the skills and confidence to play this classic Poison track with this lesson. Understanding the Rhythm One of the key aspects of this song is its unique rhythm pattern. It's a bit complex, but don't worry! We'll look at all the details. The rhythm pattern involves a series of down and up strums, and the trick to getting it right is to keep your hand moving consistently. If you're not familiar with this type of counting, don't fret! It's a great skill to have as it really helps understand rhythm patterns. Once your hand starts moving smoothly, you can feel the rhythm and get the pattern right. Remember, you don't have to maintain the exact pattern throughout the song, especially when the vocals come in. As long as you're staying in time and your hand's moving evenly, it's going to sound great. The key thing here is to keep the hand moving. It's really the trick for getting your rhythm guitar to work for you. Chord Progression The chord progression in Every Rose Has Its Thorn is relatively simple, alternating between different chords for a bar or two at a time. It starts off with the G and C chords and then moves on to other chords like D and E minor. It's a classic progression that you'll find in many songs from this genre. One interesting feature of this song is the use of the sus4 on the D chord in the verses. You might want to try this out, as it adds a little something extra to the sound. Electric Guitar and Transcribing the Solo If you have an electric guitar, you can double up on the chord progression, picking out notes one at a time. This technique was popular in the 80s and 90s and can add a nice touch to your rendition of the song. Lastly, if you're into transcribing, this is a great solo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNBYVSYLIIY 1079 2017-12-04T07:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-ruby-tuesday-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-223 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qiqEOwB3v28/hqdefault.jpg Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones Learn "Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones on Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Ruby Tuesday on the acoustic guitar. This song is great for advancing beginners practicing the transition between open chords and barre chords. Ruby Tuesday is a unique song with an exceptional chord progression and rhythmic variety. This tune is full of musical richness and melodic embellishments that will keep you on your toes. It's in the key of C, which might help you remember the chord progression, especially the first time around when the progression ends with a C chord. So, let's get up close and personal with Ruby Tuesday! 💡 Get verified chords, lyrics, and tabs for Ruby Tuesday and loads of other song lessons! Try it out for free. :) Explore the Chords The song doesn't waste any time with an intro and jumps straight into the A minor chord. It's held for two beats, followed by a G for two beats and an F for two beats. We then return to G for two beats and two full bars of C. We switch the chords rapidly, and the sequence finishes with a satisfying stop. The song then takes us through another similar sequence. We pass through A minor, G, and F again, but this time, we transition to a C chord, followed by two bars of G. There's a certain symmetry to the melody that's both pleasing to the ear and fun to play. The journey continues into another section with some interesting chord progressions. We start with an A minor, transitioning to a D7, and then to G for a full bar. This is followed by two bars each of C and G. This progression brings a dynamic edge to the song and keeps it lively and engaging. As we transition into the chorus, we begin with a C chord for two beats, switching to a G for two beats, and then returning to a full bar of C. We repeat this pattern before introducing a B flat and an F chord. Rhythm & Strumming Pattern In the verses of Ruby Tuesday, a piano primarily drives the rhythm of the original recording. But we'll adapt this for the guitar. The rhythm in the verses involves a combinat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/qiqEOwB3v28 1113 2023-11-25T10:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-jam-that-s-entertainment-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-621 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vDrPYSYgwNk/hqdefault.jpg That's Entertainment by The Jam Learn to play "That's Entertainment" by The Jam on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play That's Entertainment by The Jam on the guitar. This classic British pop song offers a rich learning experience, especially for those keen on mastering their strumming technique and exploring new chords. This song is a fantastic showcase of Paul Weller's guitar prowess and a great tune to add to your repertoire. This song introduces you to a technique I call 'framing,' which involves a fast double-time strum that really gets the rhythm going. It's a cool technique to master and will certainly add a new flavor to your playing. Understanding the Chords The first thing we need to understand is the chords used in this song. You might not be familiar with a few, but don't worry; we'll go through them together. The song starts off with a G chord. This is followed by E minor 7, a chord that's quite common in British pop music. Bands like Oasis often use this chord progression. Next, we have an A Minor 7 chord. This chord is similar to a regular A minor chord but with a slight variation. Lastly, we have an F major 7th chord. This chord has a C base, making it sound quite unique and interesting. Nailing the Strumming Pattern Now, let's talk about the strumming pattern. This song has a fairly intense strumming pattern, which you'll want to practice slowly and carefully. The rhythm involves a mixture of down and up strums that create a rhythmic, flowing feel. It might seem a bit complicated at first, but with enough practice, it will start to feel natural and instinctive. Applying the Chords and Strumming Pattern to the Song Once you're comfortable with the strumming pattern, it's time to apply it to the chords in the song. The song starts with the G chord, using the strumming pattern we've just seen. Then, we move on to the E minor 7 chord and repeat the pattern. This continues through the song, alternating between the chords and the strumming pattern. As you practice, try to follow along with the original track. This will h... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vDrPYSYgwNk 996 2018-02-04T22:51:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-the-pretender-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-815 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FuujXU_4JjE/hqdefault.jpg The Pretender by Foo Fighters Learn How To Play "The Pretender" On Guitar In this lesson, we learn how to play The Pretender by Foo Fighters on guitar. This is a real storming son - a lot to learn from a musical masterpiece like this one! The layering of this song is super interesting: the combinations of dirty sounds shouldn't work together, but they somehow sound fantastic. This dissonance is part of what makes this tune so great! This Foo Fighter song is a great choice if you want to practice your technical guitar techniques. There's a lot of layering - intricate little details that weave together nicely, and we'll look at how we can incorporate them into our playing. 🎸 This tune has some tasty, but tricky techniques that will suit Grade 6+ guitar players. Grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. : ) The Pretender - Rhythm To explore each layer separately, check out the video chapters. You'll be able to target one element at a time. Take your time - this stuff isn't simple! The video chapters include the fingerpicking and different techniques for each guitar verse, as well as the riff, chorus, and bridge. If you want to take it further, you must commit to some heavy original recording listening. The hardest part of The Pretender is the rhythm. And the first step to nailing the rhythm - is to understand it. Put your ear training to work, and transcribe it if you want to analyze each part. This will help you fully grasp each layer. 🚨 The build-up of everything is what makes it feel so exciting. Transcribing is a great way to get all those bits to get the most accurate sound. At some point, you're not starting on the beat in the third and fourth bars - that might feel a bit unusual. Take some time to practice it slowly, and you'll be rocking it in no time! The Pretender - Second Guitar Riff The second riff gets repeated a lot in this tune. It's not the central part of the song, but it's a nice layer that adds depth to the tune. Dave Grohl sloppily plays the second riff. It's got a nice looseness, with some pushback to those notes. Listen ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/FuujXU_4JjE 1906 2019-01-20T16:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/paul-mccartney-mull-of-kintyre-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-101 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eMdV4KPSaV4/hqdefault.jpg Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney Is "Mull of Kintyre" Paul McCartney's biggest hit? 🤔 I'm not sure if it is - but it's a beautiful tune and a great song for beginners learning the acoustic guitar! Paul McCartney and Denny Laine wrote Mull of Kintyre, recorded by Wings, back in 1977. The song became the year Christmas number one hit in Britain. The song is a tribute to the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, where McCartney owns a High Park Farm. In today's guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Mull of Kintyre on the guitar. It's a relatively easy song to play, as it doesn't use many chords. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll be able to play this song right in our Grade 2 - even before, if you're feeling adventurous. :) 💡 In the original recording of Mull of Kintyre, there's a quirky key change happening. The song starts in one key, then it modulates to another key, which is the same chord progression in a different key for the bagpipes! This is nice if you can get a jam buddy: one guitar will play with a guitar capo on the 7th fret and the other one will play it in the original key, in open position. :) In this video tutorial, we'll learn all of that! We'll explore how to play Mull of Kintyre as a chord melody as well so that you can emulate the stuff going on in the original recording if you play on your own. :) Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney on the acoustic guitar. What's the Time Signature of Mull of Kintyre? Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyre has a 3/4 time signature. It means the song has just three beats per bar, which gives that familiar waltz feel. If we divide 3:4 time with 'ands' between the beats, we also end up with 6 pulses in a bar, but the accents' placement differs from 6:8. If you'd like to know more about time signatures, check out this free beginner lesson! I'd recommend you start by getting used to the feeling of this rhythm. Mull of Kintyre - Guitar Chords Mull of Kintyre starts with an A chord, and then you'll add on a D chord and a G chord. That's it! The song... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eMdV4KPSaV4 978 2021-11-26T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elliott-smith-waltz-2-xo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-121 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LcXpc1wzDZ8/hqdefault.jpg Waltz #2 (XO) by Elliott Smith Learn how to play "WALTZ #2 (XO)" by Elliott Smith on the acoustic guitar. Let's check out Waltz #2 (XO) by Elliott Smith on guitar. What an incredible song! It truly resonates with me in a way that's not immediately obvious from the lyrics, and I suspect I'm not alone. Waltz #2 is one of Elliott Smith's most popular songs, but it's not one of his easiest! There's plenty going on in Waltz #2 (XO), though it’s not as hard as Angeles or Between The Bars. 💡 The original recording has a strong strummy part with an electric guitar picking out the melody notes. But when Eliott Smith played it live, he seemed to bring it down and play the melody within the strumming. This guitar lesson will show you how to do exactly that, but without going too crazy with the details, so it doesn't get confusing for you. :) We'll look at the chords and bass notes, a general strumming pattern, and how to pull out some of those individual melody parts. If you've done my lessons before on picking individual notes while strumming, you know that your rhythm hand keeps moving, and you should try to target strings while you're strumming. It's not super easy, but it's a great skill to develop! Before we get started, let me mention a couple of things. Waltz #2 (XO) by Elliott Smith - Tuning Waltz #2 (XO) is in D Tuning, so every string of your guitar is one tone lower than standard tuning (DGCFAD). That's an Eliott Smith thing, and if you're a fan, I'm sure you've encountered this tuning before. He plays it in Concert Tuning in some live versions, but I can't sing it like that, so I went for the D tuning for this guitar lesson! 💡Don't be afraid of altered tunings! You'll find that you can tune down most acoustic guitars without hassle. :) If you're permanently leaving your guitar in D tuning, you probably need thicker strings - that's what I've done on the guitar I used for this demo! I'm using strings one gauge up from normal. Waltz #2 (XO) by Elliott Smith - Time Signature This Elliott Smith song is called Waltz #2 (XO), but for me, it's mo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LcXpc1wzDZ8 1373 2022-07-13T02:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-happy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QFwVS-punsc/hqdefault.jpg Happy by The Rolling Stones Learn to play the Rolling Stones classic "Happy" on the guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Happy by The Rolling Stones on the electric guitar. It's one of my favorite Stones songs; it has many layers, so I've distilled them into two main guitar parts, including the slide guitar. 💙 Shoutout to my Workshop Students! I'm recording this song in preparation for my next workshop. :) To play Happy by The Rolling Stones, we'll get our guitars in Open G Tuning and have a capo on Fret 4. The "non-slide" guitar is mostly rhythmical, while the slide plays a lot of lead lines. I think there are three overdubs on the original record, but we'll condense them into one part. 💡 There's plenty to explore when learning how to play Happy. This song is brilliant for experimenting with Open G tuning, coming up with your own riffs and solos, and stealing some of the original lines. If you can team up with a jam buddy, even better. In the original Rolling Stones version, these two guitar parts aren't so separate and well-defined - they mix, weave, and mimic one another. Learning them gives you a basic framework and helps you understand the song. From there, you can explore and tinker as you please. :) Before we get into playing, let's retune our guitars! Happy by The Rolling Stones: Tuning Your Guitar Happy by The Rolling Stones is in Open G Tuning with Capo on Fret 4. Many players fret when tuning to Open G, especially when there's a capo involved, but there's no need to worry! Follow these steps: With no capo, tune string 1 and string 6 down to a D using the open D string as a reference. Then, use the open G string to tune string 5 to a G. The notes should be D, G, G, B, and D from the thickest to the thinnest. Put your capo on Fret 4. The capo tends to put the strings out of tune a little, so ensure you're still in tune - you can use your ear or a tuner. The notes should be F#, B, F#, B, D#, and F# from the thickest to the thinnest. You're now in Open G with a capo on 4, and the open strings form a B chord. Ready? Let'... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QFwVS-punsc 1905 2023-05-14T06:33:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-for-those-about-to-rock-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-420 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LRnTDJXiAwc/hqdefault.jpg For Those About To Rock by AC/DC Learn to Play "For Those About to Rock" by AC/DC on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play For Those About to Rock on the guitar. This powerful AC/DC track features some of Malcolm Young's finest rhythm work, and we'll learn how to capture that signature sound. This song stands out in AC/DC's catalog with its menacing, slow-tempo groove built around precise 16th notes. While it might sound heavy and complex, we'll break it down into manageable parts that you can master with practice. One of the secrets to nailing this song is getting the right tone. Unlike many might think, AC/DC's guitar sound is actually quite clean–it's more about volume than distortion. Malcolm Young's rhythm parts particularly shine through with a cleaner tone, allowing the nuances of his playing to come through. The Intro We start with a fingerstyle section that sets the mood for the entire song. This part requires precision and control, using a combination of thumb and fingers instead of a pick. The key is mastering the "grab" technique, where you're playing and immediately muting the strings to create that signature staccato effect. The intro progression moves between major and minor chords, creating tension that builds throughout the section. What makes this part special is the accent pattern - without the right accents, it loses that iconic AC/DC feel. The Main Riff Once we hit the main section, the real heaviness kicks in. Malcolm's genius shows in how he layers the rhythm parts underneath the main riff. The interaction between the guitars creates a massive wall of sound that defines the track. The chord progression is straightforward but powerful, typical of AC/DC's style. We move through a series of power chords with some clever rhythm variations that give the song its distinctive groove. The key is maintaining absolute precision with your timing–this is what makes AC/DC's rhythm work so powerful. Rhythm Techniques and the Solo Section For Those About to Rock has some really cool rhythm guitar tricks that come together to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/LRnTDJXiAwc 1576 2018-02-09T10:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-petty-learning-to-fly-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-100 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4_DBZKfuUlc/hqdefault.jpg Learning To Fly by Tom Petty "Learning to Fly" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is a favorite to play on my acoustic guitar. It might look like a very easy song to play on the surface - but when you dig into it, you'll find many interesting bits going on. And that's why I've chosen this song as today's lesson. :) 💡 Following my Beginner Guitar Courses? Learning to Fly by Tom Petty is a great one for Grade 3+ Students. Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play Learning to Fly by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on the acoustic guitar. How to play Learning To Fly on guitar You'll only need four easy chords to play Learning to Fly on the guitar. But the first thing I'd mention is that two guitars are playing through the entire song, and they are playing different chords. The first plays F, C, Am, and G, while the second has a capo on its 5th fret and plays C, G, Em, and D. A few variations are going on with the grips - I'm pretty sure they've played an old-school F Chord (without barre!) in the original recording - so check out the video lesson for more details on the grips. We'll also learn how to make those chord changes as easily as possible! :) 🎸 Check out JustinGuitar Tabs to get chords, lyrics, and tabs to follow along with my song tutorials! Rhythmically, it's very interesting that this song doesn't have many obvious accent passages. Many players have a natural tendency to accent beats 2 and 4 or find a part of the groove to accentuate, but this doesn't happen in Learning to Fly. So, when you're playing both guitar parts, it gets pretty tricky to make it sound consistent - trickier than you'd expect it. The most important thing to get your strumming pattern right is getting into the song’s groove. Learning to Fly has particularly smooth chord changes, and you'll have to relax into the strumming pattern to be able to reproduce that! Playing along with the original recording, and even practicing with a metronome, are excellent ways of developing your inner sense of rhythm. Extra Tip: Get the Right Guitar Pick! When playing an ac... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_DBZKfuUlc 622 2021-12-05T04:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-little-red-rooster-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-247 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nssLjl7usB0/hqdefault.jpg Little Red Rooster by The Rolling Stones How to play "Little Red Rooster" by The Rolling Stones on slide guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Little Red Rooster on the slide guitar. This Blues classic, popularized by The Rolling Stones, is a perfect playground for slide guitar enthusiasts. It's based on a 12-bar Blues structure but with some interesting twists that make it unique. We'll focus on the Rolling Stones version, but we'll also touch on the Howlin' Wolf original, which inspired the Stones' cover. One of the coolest things about this song is its flexibility. Both the Howlin' Wolf and Rolling Stones versions play fast and loose with the number of bars they stay on each chord. This gives the song a really organic, free-flowing feel. It's all about feeling the music and going with the flow! Open G Tuning First things first, we need to get our guitar into open G tuning. From the thickest string to the thinnest, that's D-G-D-G-B-D. This tuning is what gives Little Red Rooster its distinctive sound. It's also a favorite of Keith Richards, who famously removed the lowest string on his Telecaster when playing in this tuning. Don't worry if you're new to open G - we've got plenty of resources to help you get comfortable with it. The Chord Progression Now, let's talk about the chord progression. Little Red Rooster follows a 12-bar Blues structure but with a twist. Instead of the standard I-IV-V progression, we're going to be playing: IV (for 2 bars) - I (for 2 bars) - IV (for 2 bars) - I (for 2 bars) - V - IV - I - I This unique progression gives Little Red Rooster its distinctive sound and feel. Remember, in open G tuning, these chords are all easily accessible with the slide, making it a joy to play! Slide Guitar Techniques Playing Little Red Rooster on slide guitar is all about capturing that bluesy, expressive sound. We'll be using a variety of slide techniques throughout the song. Here are a few key points to keep in mind: Always place your slide directly above the fret, not behind it like you would with regular fretting. Use your picki... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nssLjl7usB0 1405 2024-11-17T11:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/free-all-right-now-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-316 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cVcrFRUwHhE/hqdefault.jpg All Right Now by Free For this lesson, we’re going to be going over the riff for “All Right Now” by Free. I won’t be going over the solo here, but be on the lookout for that in a separate lesson! This is a really fantastic old-time riff that I really think you all will enjoy once you get it down. Now, go easy on me here because there’s actually a lot of debate over how this riff is properly played! I’ve put in some time and research for you all, though, and I think I’ve come up with something that works. The actual riff is played with two guitars panned left to right, the two of them synced up perfectly with their parts being ever so slightly different! Seeing as I’ve only got one guitar here, I’ve done my best to make it sound as close to the original recording as I could. Of course, I’m sure there will still be plenty of debate around it! There are a few wonky chords in here that some of you may not yet be familiar with. No worries – just takes some practice and getting used to. Some of the chords include an A5 open chord, a D/A chord, and a Dadd11 chord. The strumming pattern here gets a little crazy at a few points, too. Again, it just takes some getting used to! Take it as slowly as you need to at first and then work on speeding it up. Something that will really help here is keeping your strumming hand moving consistently throughout the riff. You’ll be better able to keep the rhythm and your hand will already be well-positioned to take on the strumming pattern. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVcrFRUwHhE 650 2017-12-03T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-castle-on-the-hill-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-396 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/suXcnv4RmwY/hqdefault.jpg Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran Learn How to Play "Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Castle on the Hill on the guitar. This amazing Ed Sheeran song has become a modern classic, and it's really fun to play! This lesson covers multiple approaches to playing the song, from a simple acoustic version to a more complex arrangement using a looper pedal. While the studio version has lots of layered elements, we'll focus on versions that work great for solo performance. Verse & Bridge The main chord progression follows a beautiful sequence of D to G, then Bm7 to A. These changes create that signature emotional feel that makes the song so powerful. The verse uses a progression of D to F♯ bass to G, followed by Bm7 to A. You don't need to make a full chord change when playing the F♯ bass note since it happens quickly—just focus on changing the bass note. The bridge section brings a nice change with its progression of Bm, G, D, and A. This part gives you a chance to add some variety to your playing while maintaining the song's energy. Pre-chorus & Chorus The pre-chorus uses a slightly different pattern with G, A, and D, building tension before releasing into the chorus. The chords in the chorus are similar to the verse pattern but played with more energy and fuller strumming. It uses the same basic progression, but you can add a Dsus4 to A transition. Rhythm and Strumming What really makes this song special is its distinctive rhythm pattern. We're using even eighth notes throughout, but the accent pattern gives the song its unique character. The verse has a specific accent pattern that creates that driving feel, while the chorus opens up with fuller strumming to boost the energy. The pre-chorus builds tension beautifully, leading to what we call a "pop stop" on the A chord right before the chorus hits. This creates that classic moment of anticipation before the song explodes into the chorus. When you reach the chorus, focus on opening up your strumming pattern and letting the energy flow. Advance... https://www.youtube.com/embed/suXcnv4RmwY 874 2018-01-23T23:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/velvet-underground-sweet-jane-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-131 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TcqddTNKA48/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground Learn how to play "Sweet Jane" by Velvet Underground on the guitar! This classic song, Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground, is a great one song for working on your barre chords and changing between them! In fact, we'll use barre chords for the entire song. :) 💡 Following my guitar lessons? My Intermediate Grades are all about developing your barre chords and so much more! Your first task is to learn the chord progressions and get comfortable with the chord changes. JustinGuitarTABS helps you learn faster, as you get matching tab, lyrics, and chords to follow along with this tutorial! 🚨 This lesson doesn't teach you the intro because it's mostly guitar effects. They're very hard to emulate, particularly on one guitar! We'll crack straight into the main guitar part, where the singing starts. Once you're hip with the chords, I'd recommend that you play along with a backing track or even the original record! Sweet Jane has a very distinctive rhythm pattern. Just suck up that laid-back, easy feeling and incorporate it into your playing. Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground: Verse Chords We just need four chords for the verse. We’ll play them all as barre chords. :) The first chord is a D using an A-shape barre chord: X5777X. Finger 1 goes down at 5:5 (string 5, fret 5) and finger 3 barres strings 4 to 2 at fret 7. 🎸 Find the A-shape grip tricky? This is a tough barre chord that takes practice! Here's my guide to A-shape Major barre chords. :) Then we switch to an A chord played with an E-shape barre chord: 577655. Then we slide this down two frets to a G chord, 355433, before grabbing a Bm with an E shape (799777). The progression finishes with A then D. :) Here’s the rhythm! D A G Bm A D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D U U U D U U U We miss a lot of downstrums here. On the silent beats, strum the strings, but relax your fretting hand so you get a clicking sound. That’s the sound of muted strings. Sweet Jane by Velvet Underground: How To Nail The Rhythm The strumming is the key to making this sound good. It’s crucial yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TcqddTNKA48 426 2022-03-06T22:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/elvis-presley-always-on-my-mind-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-921 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7kwvdAPUsd0/hqdefault.jpg Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley Play "Always On My Mind" by Elvis Presley On Acoustic Guitar! Hey, how you doing? Today we’ll check out Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley on acoustic guitar. A great ballad, this one. Definitely one of my favorite Elvis songs. You could take loads of approaches, but I think strumming all downstrums with the fleshy part of the thumb is the best way to go. Strumming with the pick sounds a bit harsh and brittle to my ear – not ideal for a ballad! We’ll also cover some fingerstyle guitar options. Always On My Mind: Verse Chords Before we look at the chord sequences, let’s check out the chords and look at the different options for each one. The first chord is G. You can play this as 320003, 3X0003, or 3X0033. Your call! Then we move to a D/F# (2X0232). This is a standard open D chord (XX0232) with the bass note F# at 6:2 (string 6, fret 2). I often play the open D chord and add 6:2 with my thumb, but this is kinda tricky for beginners. A simpler version of D/F# is 2X023X. Finger 1 plays 6:2, finger 2 plays 3:2 (string 3, fret 2), and finger 3 goes on 2:3. Try to mute strings 5 and 1 with finger 1. 💡 Fretting With The Thumb – It took me 10 years (yes, 10 years) of guitar practice to get confident with using the thumb to play bass notes. Don’t worry if it takes you some time too. It will come. :) The advantage of this grip is that you can quickly get to it from "four-fingered G” (320033). If all else fails, you can just play an open D chord and forget the note at 6:2. It’s no big deal! Then we switch to a standard Em (022000). We also have an Em7, and there are several ways to play it. The first is 020000. Just lift off finger 3 from the Em grip. You can also add little finger to 2:3 to get 022030. Try both and see which one you like. :) Always On My Mind: Chords In Pre-Chorus and Chorus In the pre-chorus, we have C/B (X20010). That’s a regular C open chord but with a B note in the bass instead of a C. Starting from the regular C chord, lift off finger 3 and move finger 2 to 5:2, muting string 4 with the underside o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kwvdAPUsd0 1038 2017-12-03T11:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/louis-armstrong-what-a-wonderful-world-uke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-108 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/deSJIrSKi9Y/hqdefault.jpg What A Wonderful World (UKE) by Louis Armstrong Learn to play What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong on the ukulele In this lesson, we'll learn how to play What a Wonderful World on the ukulele. This beautiful song is a timeless classic showcasing the beauty of simple, heartfelt lyrics combined with a lovely melody. While Louis Armstrong made it famous, he wasn't actually the songwriter. However, his rendition has become the definitive version most people know and love. This song is perfect for ukulele players of all levels, as it has a straightforward rhythm but introduces us to a variety of chords that will help expand our playing skills. Let's dive in and explore how to bring this classic tune to life on our ukuleles! Song Structure and Rhythm Before we jump into the chords, let's talk about the song's structure and rhythm. What a Wonderful World is in 6/8 time, which might sound complicated, but don't worry! It simply means six beats in each bar are typically felt as two main pulses, each divided into three. This gives the song its gentle, swaying feel. For beginners, I recommend starting with just two strums per bar–one on beat 1 and one on beat 4. You can add more strums to fill out the rhythm as you get more comfortable. The key is to maintain that 1-2-3, 4-5-6 feel throughout the song. Chord Progression The chord progression for What a Wonderful World on the ukulele incorporates a blend of major, minor, and seventh chords that create the song's rich, emotional texture. We begin with F, our home chord, which sets the warm, optimistic tone. As we move through the song, we encounter G minor 7, adding a touch of wistfulness, and A minor, often played with slight variations to emphasize the melody. The B♭ chord introduces our first barre chord, adding a bit of challenge for beginners but contributing to the song's flowing quality. As the song progresses, we use A7 to create tension moments before returning to our main chords. D minor brings a more somber tone to certain phrases, contrasting beautifully with the overall hopeful message. One of the stan... https://www.youtube.com/embed/deSJIrSKi9Y 763 2017-11-07T12:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blondie-the-tide-is-high-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-128 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JH2-jAI3L9k/hqdefault.jpg The Tide Is High by Blondie Learn How To Play "The Tide Is High" by Blondie On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play The Tide Is High by Blondie on acoustic guitar. A super fun song for beginners! You only need 3 easy open chords, and you can keep a basic strumming pattern throughout the whole song. We'll also explore how you can give a reggae feel to this song, which will be by practicing palm muting. And it makes this song even catchier. :) Chord Sequence To play this song, you'll start with a full bar on the A chord. Then, we're doing two strums on the D chord and two on the E chord. This is the main chord progression and repeats throughout the song. You'll only slithly switch it up at the end of chorus two. You'll be adding a bar of D chord and finish with the E chord for two full bars. You can start slow and use a metronome to ease into it. Counting out loud is also practice for beginner guitar players! This version is simplified from the original recording to avoid having to play the B minor chord. That's a barre chord and something you'll encounter later in your guitar journey! Give It A Reggae Feel! To make things more interesting, you can vary the rhythm and strumming pattern and create this relaxed reggae vibe. It's fun to switch it up and exercise a slightly different strumming and style! To make it reggae, you'll need to add some palm mutes. Use the outer part of your hand to touch all of the strings on beats 1 and 3. You'll be playing downstrum in between. It's a good idea to practice this counting aloud and increase your speed as you gain confidence. Put it all together with the lyrics, and you'll see how fun it sounds! Make sure you're aware of when Beat 1 comes. To help guide your timing, follow the diagram below: Counting Double Time D . D . D . D . - Easy Slow 4 downs 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 - Double time feel m D m D m D m D - Easy Reggae feel Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this song lesson and hundreds more? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/JH2-jAI3L9k 385 2018-02-04T21:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/adele-hello-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-358 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sBSGpnglu14/hqdefault.jpg Hello by Adele Learn How to Play "Hello" by Adele on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Adele's beautiful song Hello on the guitar. Originally a piano-driven piece, we'll explore how to adapt it wonderfully for guitar while maintaining its emotional essence. This song offers great flexibility in how you can approach it on guitar. While the original recording features piano and synth, we'll create our own guitar arrangement that captures the song's feel. I recommend using a capo on the first fret to make the chord shapes more manageable while maintaining the original key. Basic Chord Progression The song structure is beautifully simple, making it accessible for players of all levels. We have three main sections: verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. The chord progressions are straightforward and repeat throughout the song, with just a slight variation in the bridge section. The verse uses a four-chord progression (Em to G to D to C) that creates the perfect foundation for Adele's powerful vocals. The rhythm is important here as the second chord comes on the half beat. We can play these chords with any fingering since we're not copying the exact piano part. The pre-chorus adds a nice transitional feel, leading smoothly into the chorus, where the song really opens up. It starts with Em and then goes to D. In the actual recording, it uses Bm with an F# bass followed by C with a G bass. However, a simpler alternative is to use a Gmaj7/B instead of the Bm, which works well in this song. The progression then goes on to Em, D, and C, with the C chord coming in earlier than expected in the timing. For the chorus, the chord progression is Em, C to G to D, with Em to C to D in between⁠⁠. There's a slight variation in the bridge section after the second chorus where it changes to Em, C, D, and then G. One of the things that makes this arrangement special is how we can adapt these simple chord progressions to create different textures and dynamics. Playing Techniques You can approach Hello in several ways. For beginners, simple stru... https://www.youtube.com/embed/sBSGpnglu14 916 2017-11-28T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/doobie-brothers-long-train-running-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-368 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xtLW8PhgP2s/hqdefault.jpg Long Train Running by Doobie Brothers Learn to Play "Long Train Running" by The Doobie Brothers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Long Train Running on the guitar. This classic tune by The Doobie Brothers is one of the greatest guitar funk songs of all time, and it's incredibly fun to play! Long Train Running encompasses a variety of guitar layers, blending electric and acoustic elements. As we dive into this lesson, remember to use your ears and listen to the original recording. It's the best companion to this lesson, providing an authentic feel for the song. The key to mastering Long Train Running is understanding its foundations. The song's main riff is based around a Gm7 chord. From here, we explore a series of chord progressions and variations, each contributing to the unique flair of this guitar funk gem. Building the Riff Let's start with the main riff, the heart of Long Train Running. This riff is all about the rhythm. It involves a hammer-on technique, followed by a series of strums and muted strums. But wait, there's more! As we progress through the song, we'll encounter variations to the main riff. These changes add depth and diversity to the song, keeping the listener engaged. Some of these variations include stops, shifts in chord placement, and even a touch of Hendrix-style flair. Exploring the Chord Progressions The song starts by playing the main riff on the Gm7, which then transitions to a Cm7. The rhythm pattern here is a bit unusual, but don't worry! With practice, it will become second nature. As we navigate through the verses, we'll move to an E♭ barre chord, followed by a Dsus. The interplay between these chords creates a captivating sound that defines Long Train Running. The Verses The verse structure of Long Train Running is as exciting as its riffs. It involves a combination of chord progressions, stops, and rhythm variations. The verses are repeated twice, with each repetition introducing a new variation. These variations are crucial in maintaining the song's dynamism and keeping the audience engaged. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xtLW8PhgP2s 770 2017-12-31T08:04:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/peter-allen-i-still-call-australia-home-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-421 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HFLq6GrsxK0/hqdefault.jpg I Still Call Australia Home by Peter Allen Learn to play "I Still Call Australia Home" by Peter Allen on the guitar G'day, mate! Let's dive into an Australian classic today. In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Still Call Australia Home on the guitar. This iconic Australian tune is a great song for guitarists of all levels to learn, especially for those who want to enhance their chord progression knowledge. It's been over 20 years since I lived in Australia, and I thought, what better way to celebrate Australia Day than by teaching you this song. When I lived in Australia, I didn't appreciate it as much, but it's become more meaningful now that I've been away for so long. And let's not forget, it's a really, really nice tune. Changing the Key I've had to change the key of this song to make it more guitar-friendly. The original key is a piano key. After some mucking around, I found a way that works nicely for the guitar. You can use a capo on the second fret and these chord forms. But remember, you can just move the capo up and down the fretboard to find a key that suits your voice. Chord Progressions In this song, we will look at the main chord changes and a couple of different approaches to playing it. If you want to try and start picking out the chord melody, that's great. However, just to be clear, we'll mainly focus on chords in this lesson. This song has some interesting chords, probably because Peter Allen, the original artist, is a piano player. They can do more interesting stuff than us guitarists. However, don't worry. I've simplified some of them so that you can choose to add in that sort of stuff or not, depending on how you like it. Let's start with a super simple version with really easy chords and no fancy stuff. So, if you're a beginner, you'll be able to play the tune through without too much difficulty. It's pretty much all open chords. We have the C chord, E7, which is a regular E, A minor, and then to C. Then F, to C, to D or D7, to G or G7. Either one will do. There's also an F#m7♭5 in there, which might sound complicated, but ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/HFLq6GrsxK0 1094 2018-02-09T10:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-eleanor-rigby-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vCxrkyFLHvg/hqdefault.jpg Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles Ready for another Beatles classic? Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles is great for beginner guitarists. And as you advance on your journey, you can add extra elements to make it sound authentic. In this lesson, we'll learn a beginner-friendly version along with some cool tricks that bring it to life. :) Have you ever wondered how the Beatles’ legacy has endured for several decades? Sixty years on, they're still iconic. Their trick was to take simple musical concepts and tweak them to create a unique, timeless sound. Eleanor Rigby is a perfect example of that - it’s the minor technical details that make this song clever! I didn’t sing in the demo because this song just isn't in my vocal range - sorry! :( How to Play "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles on Guitar: Overview To play Eleanor Rigby, you’ll only need the C and Em open chords, which we cover in the early stages of my Beginner Guitar Course. But we'll also check out the quirks that give Eleanor Rigby its character and look at how to mimic them on guitar. As you learn new techniques and grow as a guitarist, you can revisit it and add your own ideas. We'll also look at how to shift the dynamics using different strumming patterns, a crucial skill for any guitar player. Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles on Guitar: Basic Two-Chord Beginner Version The structure of Eleanor Rigby is bridge, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Let’s start with the real basic beginner version with simple strumming. It’s tricky to strum only on beat 1 of the bar in this song, so we’ll strum on beats 1 and 3. Eleanor Rigby starts with the bridge! Weird, eh? It’s easy to play, though: it's two reps of C, C, Em, Em. The verse is two reps of Em, Em, Em, C, |C Em |. Yep, it’s a five-bar sequence! It’s tricky to count this, so I suggest you use the lyrics as a guide: the chords fit perfectly with them. In the video, I do a vocal demo with the chords so you can get used to the changes. :) 👂 Listen: Chord sequences usually last four bars or multiples of four, so the five-bar sequence in Eleano... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vCxrkyFLHvg 1119 2019-10-25T14:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/maroon-5-sugar-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-424 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c_-7a5pJlNw/hqdefault.jpg Sugar by Maroon 5 Learn How to Play "Sugar" by Maroon 5 on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Sugar by Maroon 5 on the guitar. This song is super fun and accessible. It's perfect for both beginners and more advanced players looking to expand their repertoire. What makes Sugar such a great song to learn is its versatility. The entire song uses just four chords throughout, making it an excellent choice for practicing different strumming patterns and chord transitions. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, there are multiple ways to approach this song to match your skill level. Basic Chord Progression Sugar follows a simple four-chord progression using F major 7, A minor, D minor, and C. What's really cool about this progression is that you can play it using beginner-friendly open chords, which is perfect if you're just starting out. Don't worry if you've had trouble with F chords before—we're using an easier version that's much more approachable for beginners. 💡Want more help with the F chord? Check out this lesson! Different Playing Styles One of the exciting aspects of this song is that you can play it in different ways. We'll start with simple open chords and basic strumming patterns for beginners. As you progress, you can explore more advanced techniques using barre chords to match the original recording more closely. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythm is what really brings this song to life. We'll explore various strumming patterns that you can use, from basic patterns perfect for beginners to more complex rhythms that match the recording. One of the cool things about this song is how you can vary the rhythm between verses and choruses to create more dynamic performances. Final Thoughts What I love about this song is how adaptable it is. You can start with simple strumming patterns and gradually add more complexity as you get comfortable. When playing at a party or jam session, you can switch between different rhythms and chord voicings to keep things interesting. The key is to find what works best fo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/c_-7a5pJlNw 836 2017-12-21T07:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/rage-against-the-machine-killing-in-the-name-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-314 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x9VN57t2IXs/hqdefault.jpg Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine Learn How To Play "Killing In The Name" by Rage Against The Machine on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine on guitar. What a great guitar song for rocking out! This is a MEGA popular song, and you'll need to put your guitar in Drop D tuning to play it. Ready to put your power chords to work? Let's get stuck in & learn this song riff by riff. 💬 Man, I LOVE this song ... had far too much fun filming this lesson! I was rocking out with the track over and over for a good half an hour before I remembered I was supposed to do a lesson on it :) Killing In The Name - Tuning First things first, put that guitar into Drop D tuning. Tune your thickest string down one tone to the note D. Use the fourth string as a reference. Once that's done, your thickest three strings will give you a D power chord - the first chord you'll need to play this song! As you already know, there are loads of power chords to put to work here! But, it's really important not to let them sound sloopy! 💡 Use your palm mute techniques to keep your notes nice and tight. You want to get that crunchy sound without letting them ring out. Killing In The Name - Playing Tips Learn this song in chunks by learning the riffs one by one. Once you're ace with them, weave them all together. This Rage Against The Machine song has an effects-based solo; you need a whammy pedal to play it. Definitely something worth exploring if you got one and you really dig this tune! Now, if you're a big fan of this band and want to sound just like them, you'll need to listen to the original recording. There might be some embellishments & variations worth exploring on your own! Better yet, transcribing this song will get you playing close to the original recording. Try out the JustinGuitar Tabs website feature for FREE. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9VN57t2IXs 1173 2017-12-04T09:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-faces-ooh-la-la-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-034 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3qwNMLb6GzA/hqdefault.jpg Ooh La La by The Faces Learn to Play "Ooh La La" by The Faces on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Ooh La La by The Faces. It's an easy beginner song that's a lot of fun to play. Whether you're just starting or have some experience, you'll enjoy strumming along to this catchy tune. Chord Progression The main chords you'll need for this song are Em, D, and G. These chords create a classic sound that perfectly captures the song's vibe. Don't worry if you're not familiar with these chords yet. We'll break them down, and you'll learn their finger placement. With a little practice, you'll be strumming them like a pro. Strumming Pattern To get started, let's keep the strumming pattern simple. We'll strum on the beat, counting one, two, three, four. For example, you can strum down once on each beat. Once you're comfortable with that, you can add a little variation to the strumming pattern. We'll learn the exact pattern Ronnie played in the original recording. It's a fun one! Adding the Melody After we go through the play-along, We'll see how to add a bit of the melody to the song. It's a cool trick that can take your playing to the next level. You'll see how to incorporate it into the strumming pattern, adding some extra flair to your performance. We'll go step by step, making it easy for you to follow and master this technique. Practice Makes Permanent Remember, practice is key! The more you practice, the better you'll become. Take your time to work on the rhythm and get comfortable with the chord changes. As you become more confident, you can add little fills that will really enhance your playing and make the song sound even more impressive. Learn More Songs with JustinGuitar Please check out our Beginner Song Course app if you enjoy this lesson. It's packed with hundreds of songs you can learn at your own pace. From classic rock to pop hits, there's something for everyone. The app offers features like tempo adjustments, capo settings, strumming practice, and much more! It's a fantastic complement to the beginner's course on... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3qwNMLb6GzA 587 2020-01-01T19:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-dirty-deeds-done-dirt-cheap-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-419 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RbcT-zBjtfg/hqdefault.jpg Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC Learn How to Play "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC on the guitar. This is an all-time classic rock song that isn't too difficult to grasp, especially if you're already familiar with open chords. However, we'll also be exploring a few more advanced elements like B chords and root five-major type bar chords. So, get ready to strum along to one of the greatest rock anthems of all time! The Basics: Chord Progression The first chord we'll be playing is an E, followed by a G chord. As a signature trick in most AC/DC songs, try to relax your first finger slightly when playing the E chord. This small adjustment adds a bit more weight to the tune, giving it a fuller sound. The next chord transition will be from G to A, and then finally to D. These are relatively simple chords, but they offer an excellent workout for beginners working on their open chords. You'll need to change those chords quickly and play them fairly tight. Verse: D to E When we move into the verse, we shift from D to E. Here, Malcolm Young, AC/DC's rhythm guitarist, typically played these as power chords or bar chords. The rhythm is quite specific, so you'll want to pay attention to the transition between the chords. This song is a fantastic lesson in timing and rhythm - "simple ain't easy," as they say! Chorus: A, G, and B Next up is the chorus, where we'll be shifting between A, G, and B chords. There's a beautiful interplay between the two guitar parts in the original song, which adds weight to the recording. If you're playing with somebody else, it can be worth dividing up the parts. If you're playing on your own, pick the one that you like the sound of. The Solo: B to A As we back the solo, we'll be starting off on a B chord, then moving down to an A. The rhythm here is very specific and repetition is key. You'll want to ensure you can nail the transition between these chords before moving on. Final Breakdown: Dynamics Finally, we'll explore the brea... https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbcT-zBjtfg 864 2018-02-09T10:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/incubus-drive-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-416 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EruOeFDonw0/hqdefault.jpg Drive by Incubus Learn How To Play "Drive" by Incubus On Guitar! In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Drive by Incubus on acoustic guitar. Together, we'll explore the chords, strumming, and grooves behind this mega-popular 90s acoustic hit. This song has two main sections - the riff and the bass. The riff is pretty simple to play, but there's a slight push rhythmic thing that might require some work. This lesson is great practice for intermediate Grade 5+ guitar players. 🎵 This Incubus song is another winner of my Facebook request fest. If you want to request songs, you can now do it on the song request board. Chord Progressions Now, these chords might be tricky at first - maybe it's the first time you encounter some of them! We've got loads of chords going on here, including the E minor 9 and C major 7, and these aren't beginner chords for sure! On top of that, the chord changes are tricky. So, if this is your first time encountering these chords, take your time and learn them in chunks. Once you're comfortable with each one, then put it all together. Don't worry if you're struggling - it can be hard to learn something new! The good news is that the more chords you know, the more songs you'll be able to add to your repertoire. 🚨 If you feel like the chord progression is too tricky, take a breath and slow it down. Ease into it and take your time learning each part separately before adding all of the other pieces. Extra Tips Focus on getting that nice continuous motion with your strumming hand. You'll find that even if you're not playing each chord perfectly, getting that feeling of consistent movement helps you lock into the groove, which with practice will make this easier to play. Keep your hand moving, and mute your strings to practice the strumming pattern. Remember: learning the guitar isn't easy, and this song is more complex than it sounds. If it takes you longer than you expected to learn it, don't give up! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play Drive and loads of other songs? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/EruOeFDonw0 692 2018-01-24T15:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-t-n-t-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-235 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qu3j5AIZZ1E/hqdefault.jpg T.N.T. by AC/DC Learn How to Play "T.N.T." by AC/DC on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play T.N.T. on the guitar, a classic beginner rock song that's tons of fun to play. We'll explore mostly the Malcolm Young guitar parts, and not get into the lead parts of Angus Young, although a future tutorial may cover that if there's enough request for it. Song Structure and Chord Progression Our journey begins with the E power chord, G5 power chord, and A power chord, forming the backbone of this song. It's interesting to note that the song is built around these relatively simple chords. You'll also notice that a bit of palm muting and restraint can go a long way in capturing the song's essence. Moving on, you'll encounter a little power chord section right at the very end, the outro. You can play the entire song and leave out the outro if you're not yet confident with your power chord part, but we will go through it in detail. The Chorus As we transition to the chorus, you'll find that there isn't much you haven't seen before. The chorus starts with an A power chord, then a G note down to E. The lyrics "Dynamite, I win my fights, I'm a power load, watch me explode" are played over these chords. The chorus ends with a quick transition from G to A, then back to the verses. As always, listening to the original recording is the best way to get a feel for the rhythm and timing of these transitions. Playing Along and Improving Over Time I recommend working on this song section by section, especially if you're new to the guitar. It's quite a lot of detail to take in at once, so don't expect too much too soon. It's a good one for getting used to playing with the original recording, which can be fun and make you feel like you're part of the band. As you continue to practice, you'll notice the more subtle things you can work on to improve your timing, the clarity of your chords, and how in time you are. As they say, simple ain't always easy, and that's certainly true with this song. But with patience and practice, you'll improve a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qu3j5AIZZ1E 914 2024-05-05T01:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-diamond-sweet-caroline-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-404 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oPABg9AZbEg/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond What You'll Learn In This Guitar Lesson How to Play Sweet Caroline on the Acoustic Guitar What Key Is Sweet Caroline? Sweet Caroline Using 3 Easy Open Chords Sweet Caroline Using Barre Chords How to Play "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond on the Acoustic Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn an easy way of playing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond using only easy open chords. But if you're feeling inspired to sound more like the original recording, stick around to explore more advanced options - great for advancing beginners! 💡 Fun Fact: The unofficial English Euro 2020 Song - This Neil Diamond classic has become an anthem for the 2020 England football matches! It's amazing to see an entire arena filled with people belting out to this iconic tune. Now grab your guitar and get ready for some fun! :) What Key Is Sweet Caroline? In the original recording, Neil Diamond uses a capo on the second fret. If you want to play along with the record, you'll have to move everything I show you up to two frets. It's a lot easier for me to teach you this song open positions. But your playing style is up to you! Play it in the way that feels best for you and what suits your singing voice. Sweet Caroline Using 3 Easy Open Chords Sweet Caroline is a great song for guitar beginners! For this 3 chord option, you can play it using A, D, and E chords through the main part. These are super easy chords to learn and a fab option if you quickly want to learn this song for a party ;). People will still be able to sing along, and that's what this song is all about! If you can, you'll add C#minor and B minor chords at the end of this chord sequence. This will add a bit of variation to the sound and follow the original chord sequence. Sweet Caroline Using Barre Chords Now, if you're more advanced, I do recommend playing this song with barre chords. The barre chords for this song are relatively simple. You'll mostly play an E barre chord for most of the main part. Remember to make sure you have the correct grip position and keep your wrist flat to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPABg9AZbEg 1193 2021-07-09T16:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/extreme-get-the-funk-out-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-373 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WeKjNjXt6j0/hqdefault.jpg Get The Funk Out by Extreme This is an incredible song and loads of fun to play and uses a wide range of rock techniques. I'm working on the solo but I'm not playing it well enough to feel good teaching it - but it is getting there and I'm enjoying the journey ;) and I'll do the lesson when (if?) I'm ready... Tuning The guitar on the original is tuned down a semitone (Eb Tuning), so if you want to play along with the recording you need to tune down a semitone, or tune the recording up a semitone using something like Transcribe! (which is what I use). https://www.youtube.com/embed/WeKjNjXt6j0 1603 2017-12-31T08:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-waits-downtown-train-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-321 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3vjvjhz-P7g/hqdefault.jpg Downtown Train by Tom Waits Learn to Play "Downtown Train" by Tom Waits on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Downtown Train. This song, by the legendary artist Tom Waits, has a catchy groove and a timeless quality that guitarists of all levels can appreciate. Before we begin, it's important to note that Downtown Train is a song that is both fun and rewarding to learn. Its chord progression is simple yet impactful, making it an excellent choice for guitarists of all skill levels. Whether you're just starting out or have been playing for years, this song offers something for everyone. Chord Progression – The Heart of the Song At the heart of Downtown Train is a simple but effective chord progression. During the intro and the first part of the verses, we start with a full bar of D, followed by half a bar each of G and A. As we progress deeper into the verse, there's a subtle shift in the pattern. Now, we transition into a full bar of G followed by a full bar of A, repeating this progression three times. This shift adds a layer of complexity and keeps the song engaging. When we hit the chorus, we see a similar pattern, alternating between a full bar of D and a full bar of G, repeated three times. Finally, we have a tag at the end, where we switch from an E minor to an A before circling back to the next verse. The Rhythm – Adding the Groove The rhythm in Downtown Train gives the song its unique groove, and it's a significant part of why this song is so much fun to play. Even if you're just starting out, you can still capture the feel of the song with a simple strumming pattern. As you gain confidence and your skills improve, you can begin incorporating the more intricate rhythmic elements that make this song stand out. Remember, playing guitar is all about enjoying the music and expressing yourself, so don't worry too much about getting everything perfect. 💡Throughout this lesson, you'll get various tips and tricks to help you master Downtown Train. From the best way to transition between chords to advice on capturing the son... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3vjvjhz-P7g 1064 2018-02-04T21:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/gabrielle-rise-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-213 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nl2Q3XPcsLQ/hqdefault.jpg Rise by Gabrielle Stealing a bit of guitar from Bob, Gabrielle had a mega hit with this one, and it's only 3 chords through the whole thing!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/nl2Q3XPcsLQ 552 2017-11-29T17:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/rose-tattoo-scarred-for-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-506 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wXs-Dx8G0kY/hqdefault.jpg Scarred For Life by Rose Tattoo Learn How to Play "Scarred for Life" by Rose Tattoo on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Scarred for Life on the guitar. This powerful track by the legendary Australian Rock band Rose Tattoo combines gritty rhythm guitar work with some incredible slide guitar elements. The original recording features two distinct guitar parts - the main rhythm section with its powerful chords and riffs, and Pete Wells' exceptional slide guitar work. While we'll focus primarily on the rhythm parts in this lesson, we'll learn about some great resources for learning slide guitar if you want to explore that aspect later. Main Riff Structure The song's main riff is built on a foundation of power chords and major chords that create that classic Rock sound. It starts with an E power chord, moves to a B barre chord, then hits a D chord twice. From there, it moves to an A chord followed by an A6sus4, before returning to E to complete the sequence. What makes this particularly interesting is the way the chord progression flows, creating a driving rhythm that's quintessentially Rose Tattoo. Verse Technique In the verses, we'll explore a cool technique that combines regular strumming with picked notes from the chords. This creates a more dynamic and interesting rhythm pattern that really brings the song to life. The progression moves through G, D, and A chords, but it's the way we play them that gives the verse its character. Pre-Chorus and Bridge The pre-chorus builds tension with a simple but effective progression of G to A. On the other hand, the bridge section maintains the song's raw energy while incorporating slight variations in the melody. It starts with G for two bars, then goes to D and A. After that, it transitions from G to E, back to G, and finally to A before building into the chorus. These sections really showcase Rose Tattoo's straightforward yet powerful songwriting approach. Playing Tips: Variations and Dynamic Control Throughout the lesson, we'll see various ways to approach each section, including some coo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wXs-Dx8G0kY 941 2017-12-15T12:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-331 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2GlvsdC9Czk/hqdefault.jpg Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Learn How to Play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana on the guitar. This all-time classic is a fantastic song that encapsulates the vibe and spirit of the grunge era. No matter your skill level, this tutorial offers something for everyone, from beginners to more advanced players. But remember, it's all about the energy and attitude you bring to the music. So, let's dive in and get started! Embracing the Nirvana Vibe One of the first things we'll discuss is the way Kurt Cobain plays his power chords. It's a unique approach that lends an authentic Nirvana feel to your playing. Cobain's method involves using your third finger to cover two strings rather than the usual third and fourth fingers. Don't worry too much about precision here; what matters most is capturing that grunge attitude. Chord Progression and Rhythm Patterns Smells Like Teen Spirit begins with an F power chord. Using Cobain's method means you might accidentally hit an extra note sometimes, but that's all part of the Nirvana sound. The progression then moves to B flat, A flat, and finally D flat. The song features two key rhythm patterns that you'll hear throughout. The first one is in the intro. Start with a very specific pattern and practice it until you get it right. Then, allow yourself to loosen up and concentrate on the vibe. The technical stuff is less important than the attitude you put into it, especially in a punk-attitude song like this one. The rhythm is what really makes this tune work, and it's something we'll dive into in the video. Light and Shade and The Solo One of the cool things that everyone loves about Nirvana is the light and shade in their music. After a heavy intro, the song moves into really mellow verses, and then it kicks off again with the same chord progression but with a heavier sound. For those of you who are up to the challenge, you'll also find some pointers on the solo. It's not too technical and mostly follows the melody o... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2GlvsdC9Czk 945 2017-12-04T13:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-helpless-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-911 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cu4Yo509OTk/hqdefault.jpg Helpless by Neil Young Learn to play "Helpless" by Neil Young on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Helpless by Neil Young on the guitar. This classic Folk-Rock ballad showcasing Neil Young's signature style is relatively easy to play, with just three chords and a simple rhythm. It's a perfect example of how a simple chord progression can create a powerful and emotional song. Whether you're just starting out or looking to add some Neil Young to your repertoire, this lesson will give you the tools to play this iconic tune, which offers plenty of room for creativity and exploration. Chord Progression The chord progression for Helpless is wonderfully simple, making it accessible for guitarists of all levels. We'll be using just three chords throughout the entire song: D, A, and G. The pattern is straightforward: two beats on D, two beats on A, and then a full bar of G. This repeats throughout the song, creating a hypnotic, rolling rhythm that perfectly complements the nostalgic lyrics. This simple progression is an excellent opportunity for beginners to practice smooth chord transitions. As you become more comfortable with the changes, you can start to explore different strumming patterns and embellishments to add your own flavor to the song. Rhythm and Strumming One of the key elements of Neil Young's guitar style is his approach to rhythm. In Helpless, the strumming pattern is relatively simple, but it's all about the feel. The most important thing is to keep your strumming hand moving consistently. This continuous motion is a hallmark of Neil Young's playing and contributes significantly to the song's groove. Start with a basic down-strum on each beat. You can introduce some up-strums to create a fuller sound as you get more comfortable. Remember, the goal is to maintain a steady rhythm that supports the melancholic mood of the song. Using a Capo One of the great things about Helpless is that it lends itself well to experimentation with a capo. Using a capo allows you to play the same chord shapes in different keys, whic... https://www.youtube.com/embed/cu4Yo509OTk 1395 2017-11-28T11:31:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-brown-get-up-i-feel-like-being-a-sex-machine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-367 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sxVjztZ1aW0/hqdefault.jpg Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine) by James Brown James Brown had the best guys in his bands and this song has the legend Catfish Collins (brother of bass legend Bootsy Collins) on guitar playing a super cool part! If you're not sure about playing your 9th chord then check out this 9th Chord lesson from The Funk Course. Additional Info Main Groove D . . . D . . . D . . U . . . . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Bridge Groove D U . . D U . U . U . U . . . . 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxVjztZ1aW0 682 2017-11-19T10:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-enchanted-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1iuzVkY1fCU/hqdefault.jpg Enchanted by Taylor Swift Learn the awesome Taylor Swift hit "Enchanted" on guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Enchanted by Taylor Swift on acoustic guitar. This is an incredible pop song with great lyrics and an awesome melody; the arrangement is killer! The chorus is enormous too. 💡 Enchanted is a great song for beginners learning the Bm Chord! It's also great for practicing Power Chords. Enchanted by Taylor Swift is also the perfect song for any guitarist who wants to work on their strumming dynamics. You can listen to the original, look out for the highs and lows, and mimic them in your playing. This is an important skill to develop, especially for live solo performances. We'll use the original guitar parts as inspiration to mimic the dynamics on the acoustic guitar! 👉 Get full verified tabs, chords and lyrics for Enchanted and hundreds more songs with JustinGuitarTabs. Free trial is available. :) I don't use a capo in this lesson, but if you want to jam with the original Taylor Swift recording, you'll need your guitar capo on the first fret. Let's start with the intro. How to Play the Intro The intro progression is G, Bm, C, G. We'll play G as an open chord, and you can use the fingering you like best. Bm is a bit trickier because it's a barre chord, but it's A Shaped Minor Barre Chord, an easy grip compared to others. If you've never tried barre chords, have a go at Bm. It only lasts one bar, and the chord change is quite slow, making this a great progression to start developing your finger strength for future barre chords. 🎸 Don't let barre chords stop you from learning a great song! I created this free Beginners Guide to Barre Chords to help you learn the easiest and most useful barre chords, like Bm. The key to nailing Enchanted's intro is to strum it with palm mute. This is when we strum while the edge of the strumming hand rests on the strings near the bridge. 💡 Experiment With Palm Mute! It's important to find the right point for your hand - too close to the bridge and you won't hear any palm mute, too far... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1iuzVkY1fCU 1062 2023-05-07T02:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-i-guess-i-just-feel-like-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-195 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mtKIsvYbdDs/hqdefault.jpg I Guess I Just Feel Like by John Mayer Learn to Play "I Guess I Just Feel Like" by John Mayer on Acoustic Guitar In this tutorial, we'll learn how to play I Guess I Just Feel Like by John Mayer on the acoustic guitar. This song is perfect if you're an early Intermediate guitarist, as you'll need your F#m Barre Chord and 16th-Note Strumming to cover it like John Mayer's original. We'll focus on the acoustic parts and cover all the chords, strumming, and embellishments. We won't look at the electric guitar parts or solos in this lesson, but they're superb, so let me know in the comments if you want to learn them. :) Pop your guitar capo on the second fret, and let's start with the main riff. Main Riff: Chords & Strumming Pattern For the main progression in the intro and choruses, we alternate between two chords: A and D/A. Playing A as a mini barre chord makes changing to D/A really simple. 🧐 Where does this grip come from? This version of D/A has a funny fingering. It’s really a D played as a C Shape Barre Chord but with finger 4 missing! :) This is an awesome chord that you'll hear in blues music. The rhythm pattern is interesting too. :) It's a 16th-Note Strumming Pattern. I suggest you first practice it with muted strums so you can focus on your time. When you add the chords, your ears will tune in to the notes instead of the rhythm. So mute your strings and practice the pattern until it feels natural before thinking about the chords. The pattern in the video is just a starting point – it changes a little bit in the song. Get hip with it, then listen to the song and try to mimic the variations. When you add the chords, you have to be precise with your strumming hand: start the down strum from string 5 and the up strum from string 2. You can relax the accuracy for the final DUDU on each chord. Have you learned the chords and rhythm for the main progression? Let's add some spice. ;) Chord Embellishments John Mayer often switches from A to D/A by hammering fingers 2 and 3 rather than strumming on the change. It sounds wicked. There's also a love... https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtKIsvYbdDs 836 2023-03-19T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/colbie-caillat-realize-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-217 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jJakDzYxFpE/hqdefault.jpg Realize by Colbie Caillat Teen pop hit for Colbie, fun to play and great exercise in strumming development, build really well in this song. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jJakDzYxFpE 983 2017-11-29T17:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-trouble-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-606 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rIbP52zQhHQ/hqdefault.jpg Trouble by Coldplay Nice classic tunes to get you mixing up your open chords and your barre chords... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIbP52zQhHQ 325 2017-12-15T14:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/red-hot-chili-peppers-can-t-stop-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-306 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lehYdIRLBic/hqdefault.jpg Can't Stop [1/2] by Red Hot Chili Peppers Learn How to Play "Can't Stop" by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Can't Stop, one of the biggest hits by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, on the guitar. This song is a great opportunity to practice and improve your picking direction, an essential technique for any guitarist. Can't Stop is a track that truly shows off the Chili Peppers' unique funk-rock style. This song is packed with interesting techniques that we will unpack and learn together. The most important of these techniques is the direction of your picking. It's all about ensuring your hand moves continuously and picking the right notes at the right time. The song begins with a mellow intro, building up slowly, with the drums gradually getting louder. This crescendo effect is something we'll explore in the video. We'll then move into the main riff, a catchy and rhythmic pattern that forms the backbone of the song. In the second part of this lesson, we'll look at the chorus and the bridge, both presenting their own challenges and opportunities to learn. The chorus has a unique part that adds a new layer to the song, and the bridge offers an interesting twist on the typical reggae vibe. We'll also delve into the solo, which lets the guitar shine. The Importance of Picking Direction One of the key things to remember in this song is the concept of picking direction. This is where your right hand moves continuously, but you're selectively choosing which notes to pick. This technique is used throughout the song, and it's a fantastic skill to learn for any aspiring guitarist. Exploring the Song's Chord Progression As we move through the song, we encounter some interesting chord progressions. The main riff, for example, utilizes a unique pattern that adds depth and sophistication to the song. Then there's the C major seventh with the thumb over, a challenging chord that adds a touch of complexity to the piece. It's a beautiful chord to incorporate into your repertoire, and we'll go over how to tackle it in the lesson. Wr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lehYdIRLBic 571 2017-12-15T11:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blue-oyster-cult-don-t-fear-the-reaper-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-330 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eDoZDAuWy-Q/hqdefault.jpg Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult Learn to play "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Don't Fear The Reaper on the guitar. Released by Blue Öyster Cult, Don't Fear The Reaper has become a staple of classic Rock radio and features that unforgettable opening riff that instantly draws listeners in. And yes, there's that famous cowbell too! This song is perfect for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their classic Rock repertoire. The Main Riff The signature riff that opens the song is built around a hypnotic pattern that creates an instantly recognizable melody. We'll be using alternate picking throughout to achieve that crisp, clean sound that makes the riff so distinctive. While it might seem challenging at first, you'll find it becomes quite natural and fluid with practice. Chord Progression The song's foundation is built on a relatively simple but effective chord progression. The main sequence revolves around Am, G, and F, which creates the haunting, mysterious atmosphere it's famous for. We stick mainly to this progression during the verses, but during other sections, we introduce some variation with Em and A chords to add dynamic contrast. Song Structure Don't Fear The Reaper follows a classic Rock structure but with some interesting variations. We start with the iconic riff, move through verses and choruses, and then explore some more experimental sections. The radio edit is more concise, but the full version includes extended instrumental sections and some fantastic guitar solos that you'll want to explore once you've mastered the basics. In live performances, you'll often hear the song played with a bit more intensity, especially during the chord progression sections. The band often switches to a double-time feel with power chords during live shows, which adds extra energy to the performance. Feel free to experiment with both the album version and these live variations once you've got the basics down. Final Thoughts When practicing this song, focus first on getting the main ri... https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDoZDAuWy-Q 313 2017-11-11T09:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/wild-cherry-play-that-funky-music-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-366 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/75ZYxQ0tp20/hqdefault.jpg Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry Learn how to play "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Play That Funky Music on the guitar. This all-time classic funk tune is packed with killer guitar parts that'll have you grooving in no time! It's a real treat for guitar players, with its infectious rhythm and memorable riffs. Whether playing in a band or jamming solo, this tune will surely get everyone moving. Breaking Down the Riffs We'll tackle this song riff by riff, starting with that iconic intro. The song kicks off with a palm-muted riff that sets the tone for the whole track. It's all about getting that tight, punchy sound that's so crucial to funk guitar. 👉 Having trouble getting the palm muting right? This lesson can help! Next, we've got what many consider the "proper" funky part of the song. This riff revolves around an E9 chord, a staple in funk guitar. We'll explore how to play this chord and the rhythmic pattern that goes with it. Remember, in funk, it's all about the rhythm! Chord Progression and Rhythm The chord progression in this song is relatively simple, but it's the rhythm that really makes it shine. We'll work with E9, E7, and E♭7 chords, moving between them with a funky, syncopated rhythm. Don't worry if you're not familiar with these chords - we'll break them down step by step. A key thing to focus on is the strumming pattern. In funk, it's not only about playing the right notes but also about playing them with the right feel. We'll practice the down-up-mute-up pattern that's crucial to nailing this song's groove. The Pre-Chorus and Chorus Moving into the pre-chorus, we'll stick mainly with the E9 chord. This section is all about building tension before we hit that explosive chorus. Pay attention to how the rhythm changes here - these little details make the song so engaging. When we get to the chorus, we'll introduce some new chords, including G9, A9, and A♭9. This is where the energy of the song really picks up, and you'll feel why this tune became such a dance-floor hit! Advan... https://www.youtube.com/embed/75ZYxQ0tp20 1181 2017-12-31T09:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bruce-springsteen-born-in-the-usa-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-191 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IpmAAmxqBX0/hqdefault.jpg Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen Learn how to play "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Born in the USA on the guitar. This classic Bruce Springsteen track is fantastic for beginners since it only involves two chords. We're going to start by using a capo to simplify the chords. The original chords used in the recording are more advanced, but with the help of a capo, we can make it more accessible for beginners. Strumming Patterns The song's simplicity offers us a lot of room to experiment with different strumming patterns. We'll begin with a simple down strum on beat one. This pattern will allow you to play along with the original recording, which is a fun exercise for beginner guitar players. Overcoming the Chord Change The chord change might be a bit tricky if you're a beginner. But don't worry–struggling with chord changes is a normal part of the learning process. My website has plenty of exercises to help speed up your chord changes. Exploring Strumming Options Once you're confident with the single strum, we can explore some other strumming options. We can start with four down strums to the bar. Another technique you can apply is continuous strumming, putting an accent on beats two and four. This accent emulates the backbeat, which is when the drummer hits the snare drum. Experimenting and Jamming Another fun part of learning this song is that you can experiment with different chords. We can try using different sets of chords for the same song. This gives you the opportunity to explore different sounds and qualities while playing the same tune. The versatility of this song allows for plenty of creativity and personal touches on your part. If you've got a friend to jam with, a great way to explore this song is by each one of you doing different versions of the same chords. This can create a really awesome sound and makes for a fun and collaborative learning experience. Wrapping Up I hope this lesson gives you a bunch of ideas to check out. Remember to play with the original recording ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/IpmAAmxqBX0 539 2018-01-21T03:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-sultans-of-swing-1-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-322 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HBNwBoOe8aY/hqdefault.jpg Sultans of Swing [1/4] by Dire Straits Learn "Sultans Of Swing"by Dire Straights On Guitar: Part 1 For many guitarists, this is one of those tracks you wish you had written. You'll learn the first part of Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits in this lesson. Part 1 covers the bones of the song – the rhythm part. Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4, you'll learn the fingerstyle lead for the track broken down into three videos. The lead part is fun, so why not have a go once you have mastered the rhythm part. And if you can sing on top of that, fair play to you! So grab your guitar - and let's get stuck in. How To Get Mark Knopfler's Guitar Sound Getting even close to Mark Knopfler's sound is tricky. He gets a fantastic tone, but I'm sure most of that comes from his fingers! :) Not sure what he plays on the recording, of course, but it's a strat sound, and I am aware that he has a red early 60's strat - so maybe it was that. After a bit of research, it seems the amp he used was a Fender Vibrolux. So I used a 1989 Fender Strat Plus Deluxe into a 1979 Fender Twin Reverb. I bought the strat new - it was my first one! The neck and middle pickups are the original lace sensor gold pickups, and the bridge is a Seymour Duncan "Cool Stack" humbucker. I have a toggle switch that flicks it to a single coil. It has the LSR roller nut, locking pegs, and a standard bridge. Sultans Of Swing Guitar Amp Setting The amp is original, as far as I can tell. But I have some excellent Telefunken Diamond Bottom NOS 12AX7 valves in it that are good fat (I swap them into whatever amp I'm using; they sound so good!). So I used the vib channel. The amp settings I use are pretty funny, here's what they are: Vol - 7, Treble - 6, Mid - 5, Bass - 4, Reverb - 3, Speed - 2, Intensity - 1, Master Volume 5. I dial in sounds by listening, not looking. And to have a numerical descending setting is hilariously strange! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/HBNwBoOe8aY 521 2017-11-17T04:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-vultures-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-037 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aZujynPDq9E/hqdefault.jpg Vultures by John Mayer Man, this song is FUN. Vultures by John Mayer is finally here! You've given me tons of requests, and I've heeded the call. John Mayer's songs can be a little intimidating for some players, but this one isn’t too difficult. The tricky part is nailing the groove so it doesn’t feel clunky or awkward. In this lesson, we’ll go over the main riff, the second overdubbed guitar part, and the two solos, which are both full of cool tricks. Let's get to it. How To Play "Vultures" by John Mayer on Electric Guitar The Main Riff Let's look at the riff that repeats in the verses, choruses, and solos. I did extensive research into this guitar part and have come to what I think he’s playing. This is my best guess. :) Moving all the way up the neck, you’re going to start the main riff on the 14th fret. It’s based around three diad shapes, so it’s not too tricky. We don’t use a pick here, so we need to pay attention to which fingers we use to pluck the strings. Don’t worry, we look at all the details in the video. 🧐 The Small Details: In typical John Mayer fashion, there are a few percussive hits that contribute to the overall groove. I’ve written out the counts for you, but it certainly helps if you’re already familiar with the song. There’s also a subtle variation to look out for at the end of the chorus. ;) Listen to the song a few times to learn when it comes. Vultures by John Mayer: Second Guitar Part This is a super subtle overdub, so you wouldn’t play this as the main riff. But it adds a nice lift to certain parts of the song. It's easy too - you only need two notes (E and F#) and a nice funk rhythm. 🧐 More to Explore: There are a bunch of high guitar overdubs in there - if you’re a big John Mayer fan, you might like to figure them out. Time for the solos! First Guitar Solo I played this with my fingers, but you could probably use a pick if you prefer. There are a few hammer-ons and flick-offs in the solo, but getting the right notes down isn’t the problem here. The trick here is to get the right inflections and tones thr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZujynPDq9E 872 2019-11-23T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-diamond-girl-you-ll-be-a-woman-soon-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-423 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-r0JmzWDWr0/hqdefault.jpg Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon by Neil Diamond Learn to Play "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" by Neil Diamond on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon on the guitar. This beautiful song by Neil Diamond has a fantastic arrangement and an impressive groove. It offers a rich learning experience, from beginner-friendly techniques to more advanced concepts. Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon is an excellent song for guitarists of all levels. It's a beautiful song with a slightly sketchy subject matter that adds to its intrigue. Regardless of your guitar playing level, this song is guaranteed to enhance your skills. You'll learn different approaches to playing it, from simple strumming techniques to more complex rhythm patterns. Breaking Down the Rhythm The first thing to do is to keep the rhythm simple. This song is tricky to sing, with lots of words to fit in, so you want to make sure your rhythm skills are automated. Practice just singing it, practice just playing it, and then put the two together. It can be even trickier to sing and play at the same time, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it. We'll start simple, with a capo on the third fret. The chord progression begins with an E minor chord, followed by an A chord and finally a D chord. You can add more complexity as you become more comfortable with the basic rhythm and chords. The song offers many different approaches to playing it, from beginner techniques to more advanced ideas. For more advanced guitarists, there are exciting rhythm patterns and percussive hits to explore. The Chorus The chorus of Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon simplifies the rhythm even more, allowing the lyrics to shine. It's a great opportunity to practice your singing while playing the guitar. Remember to keep the strumming simple and let your voice carry the song. The chorus' chord progression is E minor, A, D, E minor, E minor, A, D, D. This sequence is then repeated. The Verse and Bridge The verses and the bridge sections offer a nice change in chord progression. This gives the song its un... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-r0JmzWDWr0 1208 2018-02-04T23:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/keane-somewhere-only-we-know-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nEBpE-pR4Yc/hqdefault.jpg Somewhere Only We Know by Keane Learn "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane on Guitar In this song lesson, we'll learn how to play Somewhere Only We Know by Keane on the acoustic guitar. This is an arrangement based on the original piano parts. :) The best way to mimic the piano riffs and melodies is to use a capo on Fret 2 with chords in G. 🎹 Copying the piano is tricky sometimes! We'll get creative to make it authentic, and focus on the song-defining riffs and melodies. Stick around to find out how! Let's start with the intro, which contains a lovely melody on the Keane original. Somewhere Only We Know by Keane – Intro & Verses on Guitar The chord progression for the intro and verses is: G, G/F#, Am, D I suggest you choose Rock G - technically a G5 chord - the grip sounds best in this context. There are a couple of ways to play G/F#. Keep fingers 3 and 4 down and move the bass note back one fret. But if you want to mimic the original melody, you need to change the fingering. My grip lets you play the D-C-B melody line on string 2. If you go for this one, make sure you mute string 1 so it doesn't blur the melody. 🔥 Embellishments: The Am and D open chords are perfect for adding embellishments to bring new flavours into your playing. See my Sus Chords and D Chord Explorer lessons for inspiration, or add the original Dsus4 embellishments. Somewhere Only We Know by Keane – Intro & Verse Strumming As for the strumming, use all down strums with accents on all four beats and an upstroke after the "and" of 4. If you want to pick up the position of the melody notes, listen to Keane or check out my slow demo in the Slow Intro Demo chapter. I suggest you add a stop during the first G in the verse. Strum on beat one and let it ring for the rest of the bar. When you reach G/F#, start playing the eighth-note intro pattern. This pause signals the start of the lyrics and helps you mimic the drop in dynamics in the Keane original. :) How to Play the Pre-Chorus on Guitar The progression in the pre-chorus is simple too: Em, Bm(b6), C, |C D | x2 These are... https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEBpE-pR4Yc 1053 2023-07-23T03:53:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-4-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3214 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w51hJqG0k7o/hqdefault.jpg Comfortably Numb [4/4] by Pink Floyd Folow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this lesson. Now we're going to check out the first solo in this all time classic! https://www.youtube.com/embed/w51hJqG0k7o 563 2018-01-08T16:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-cream-crossroads-solo-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-cs-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEEtgV5CZMU/hqdefault.jpg Crossroads [SOLO] by Eric Clapton (Cream) Learn How To Play "Crossroads" Guitar Solo In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the first Eric Clapton solo in Crossroads, as recorded with Cream. Crossroads is full of exciting mixes of Major and Minor Pentatonic and has loads of great licks to steal! 💬I love this solo! This is one of the first solos I learned that mixed up the major and minor pentatonic! It's part of what makes this sound so intriguing. What are some other solos that combines them both? Let me know in the discussion area. :) You might want to write out the solo to easily break it down into licks, analyze each one and then work your favorite licks into your own improvisations. Yes - this is an advanced lesson for Grade 7+ guitar students - if you're not there yet, this might be only part of your dreamer songs for now. :) Why You Should Transcribe the Solo You'll want to look out for how the licks work and connect in their unique way. There are quite a few leaps, so get ready to move around your guitar neck. Your goal should be to play along with the original recording at 50-70%. This will tell you if you're getting the right feel of things! If you want to sound exactly like the original solo, you'll need to have a go at transcribing it on your own. This lesson only gives you a general idea of the basics and techniques that make up this solo, but there's a lot more going on! For a deeper dive into Clapton's blues guitar solo style, check out my course on Transcribing Blues Solo. Practice Tips Learn the solo in separate licks; it's great to break things down and use them improvising - yes, it's encouraged to steal licks to create your style at this stage of your guitar journey. When you're learning from guitar legends like Clapton - let their greatness inspire you! If you hear something you like, take note of it and use it in other songs. Explore and do some harmonic analysis on your own. You want to know where the notes are from and from which scale to understand the structure of it. A valuable skill is to write rhythms - which we cover in ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/PEEtgV5CZMU 1164 2017-12-21T12:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/benson-boone-beautiful-things-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-252 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tbkH5f5AYrk/hqdefault.jpg Beautiful Things by Benson Boone Learn to Play Beautiful Things by Benson Boone This track hits you right in the feels—and now, you can learn to play it beautifully on your acoustic guitar. In this lesson, we explore a stripped-down acoustic version of Beautiful Things that stays true to the emotion of the original while making it accessible for beginner and intermediate players. We walk through an open chord arrangement with a capo on the 3rd fret, so we don't need barre chords (unless we want to level up and tackle the version closer to the studio recording!). We'll learn how to capture the song's dramatic rise and fall by mastering our dynamics, rhythm, and strumming feel—no fancy fingerpicking or complicated riffs required. 🎸 What We'll Learn Open chord progression using C, G, D, and E minor A steady 12/8 strumming pattern with light and heavy accents How to control volume to match the song's emotional arc The difference between verse, pre-chorus, and chorus chord movements Tips for muting and clean transitions so our playing sounds polished An optional breakdown of the barre chord version for advanced learners We also discuss arrangement choices—whether we're jamming solo, playing with friends, or performing for an audience—and how to make the experience feel intimate and powerful. 💡 Start with a simple strumming pattern and consistent rhythm before adding any flair. Fancy tricks don't matter if our groove falls apart! Don't be that campfire player who throws in a cool riff and loses the beat—focus on feel first! 🔥 Why this song is great for beginners and intermediate learners: It's emotionally resonant, so it's motivating to practice The repetitive chord structure makes memorization easy Playing with dynamics builds real musicality, not just muscle memory We can grow with it: start simple, then explore fingerstyle, or barre chords We'll even get a quick demo of how the original version is played with electric guitar and layered parts so that we can experiment with it in a full-band or solo setting. 👉 Struggling with rhythm? Download the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbkH5f5AYrk 1235 2025-05-09T03:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-stop-this-train-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-814 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s-XS84Ivlxc/hqdefault.jpg Stop This Train [1/2] by John Mayer Learn to play "Stop This Train" by John Mayer on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stop This Train on the guitar. This isn't a super easy tune, so don't worry if it takes you some time to get it down. I spent many hours researching and practicing to figure it out, and I'm excited to share what I've learned with you. This song is all about the rhythm, so we will focus on that in this first part of the lesson! 👉 Here's the second part of this lesson. The Chords Let's start by looking at the chords we'll use. The first chord is a Dsus2. Then we've got a chord that could have many names, but it's like an A chord with a D bass. It could be a major 13th if you think of it as a D chord, but don't worry too much about the name for now. The main thing is to get the sound and feel right. The third chord is a little change from the second one, and then we've got a D6 chord to finish it off. The fretting hand isn't doing anything too complicated, so don't sweat it! The Strumming Hand is Key The secret to this tune is in the strumming hand! That's where all the magic happens. So much of the sound comes from what that strumming hand is doing. The chords themselves are not super complex. It's really the strumming that makes this song sound so great. The Thumb The thumb is a super important part of the rhythm in this song. You will be using the thumb on beats one and two. On beat two, the thumb will do a little muted hit on the fifth string, but it also needs to mute the fourth string. So it's a play and a mute at the same time. It will take some practice, but once you get it down, you'll see how much it adds to the groove. It's a percussive hit that gives the song its distinct sound. It took me at least an hour just to figure out that part. When you watch the videos, you can clearly see how the thumb goes down and mutes the string, so focus on getting that thud with the thumb. The Strumming Pattern Now, let's break down the strumming pattern. We're going to start by playing the open B string with the first f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/s-XS84Ivlxc 1076 2018-07-25T09:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-nowhere-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-225 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-IFmtOHecOg/hqdefault.jpg Nowhere Man by The Beatles Learn "Nowhere Man" by The Beatles on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the all-time classic Nowhere Man by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar. This song is a great choice if you're working on transitioning between open chords and barre chords. We'll start with the basics and gradually delve into the strumming and the possible embellishments you can add to make the song your own. Chord Progression Let's kick off the lesson with what we could call the chorus, although it only appears at the beginning and the end of the song. The song starts on an E chord and transitions to a B chord, followed by an A chord, then back to an E chord. Then, we switch to an F# minor and transition into an A minor. You'll notice that we repeat this chord progression for two bars. For the verse, we use the same chord progression. So, it starts on an E chord, transitions to a B chord, then an A chord, goes back to an E chord, then to an F#m, and ends with an A minor. Next, we look into the bridge. This section starts with a G# minor, transitioning to an A chord. After that, we switch from a G# minor to an F#m, then to an F minor, and finally, end on a B note. Picking Up the Melody This song has a really nice instrumental section that picks out notes for the melody. It starts with an E chord, transitions to a B chord, then an A chord, and back to an E chord. The chord progression then switches to an F minor, an A minor, and ends on an E chord. One of the interesting features of this song is a riff that you might have heard quite often. It's a bit of a challenge as it involves 16th notes and a slight variation in the regular strumming pattern. But with a bit of practice, you can master this too! 💡 To wrap up the song, the refrain follows the same chord progression as the intro. So, we start with an E chord, transition to a B chord, then an A chord, and back to an E chord. We then switch to an F# minor, transition into an A minor, and end on an E chord. We repeat this chord progression a few more times to close the song. Pra... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IFmtOHecOg 998 2023-12-03T12:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-cortez-the-killer-drop-d-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-914 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R-Ebt9RsMvM/hqdefault.jpg Cortez The Killer [Drop D] by Neil Young Learn how to play "Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cortez the Killer by Neil Young on the guitar. This beautiful and haunting song is a great opportunity to explore some interesting guitar techniques and double drop D tuning. If you're a beginner, this version might be a bit too complicated. So, I made an easy version for you in standard tuning and easy chords: Cortez the Killer for beginners (just Em, D, and Am!) Introduction to Double Drop D Tuning We're going to use a special tuning for this song called Double Drop D. Don't worry if you've never used this tuning before—I'll walk you through it step by step. Essentially, we're going to tune both the low and high E strings down to D. This creates a really rich, open sound that's perfect for Neil Young's style. To get into double drop D tuning, start with your guitar in standard tuning. Then, tune your low E string (the thickest one) down a whole step to D. Next, do the same with your high E string (the thinnest one). The rest of the strings stay the same. You can use your D string (the 4th string) as a reference to make sure you've got it right. 👉 If you need a bit more help, check out this lesson on Double Drop D Tuning! This tuning might feel a bit strange at first, but it opens up some cool possibilities. It allows us to create some beautiful, resonant chords that would be impossible in standard tuning. Plus, it's a great way to challenge yourself and expand your guitar skills! The Chord Progression Now that we're in double drop D tuning, let's talk about the chord progression. Cortez the Killer has a beautifully simple structure that repeats throughout the song. We're going to use just three chords: E minor, D, and A minor. The basic progression goes like this: one bar of E minor, one bar of D, and two bars of A minor. That's it! This simplicity is part of what makes the song so powerful—it gives you a lot of room to explore and add your own flavor to the playing. In double drop D tuning, these chords wil... https://www.youtube.com/embed/R-Ebt9RsMvM 1584 2018-01-13T09:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-seek-and-destroy-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3022 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BkgT7H-31io/hqdefault.jpg Seek and Destroy [2/3] by Metallica Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 3 of this lesson. Seek And Destroy is a fantastic song off the early Metallica album, Kill 'em All, still my fav of their albums, really raw and worth checking out if you have not got it. Lots of cool riffs, learn them one by one and then string them together by listening. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BkgT7H-31io 485 2018-02-08T21:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/twisted-sister-we-re-not-gonna-take-it-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-827 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JsnNrx4x9Lw/hqdefault.jpg We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister Learn to play "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play We're Not Gonna Take It on the guitar. This is Twisted Sister's We're Not Gonna Take It, a classic from the hair metal years. I still remember playing this when it came out, and we thought they looked tough. Looking back at the video clip, I realize it looks so much like pantomime to me now. But back in the day, it was like, "Yeah, rock and roll." Introduction to Power Chords This song is predominantly composed of power chords, which are a staple in rock and roll. Understanding power chords and their usage is essential for anyone interested in rock guitar. So, you'll need to be familiar with your power chords for this song. There's also a bit of palm muting going on. Need a little help with power chords? Check out this lesson! Rhythm and Chord Progression The rhythm of this song is as catchy as the melody itself. The song starts with what I call riff number one, a progression from an E power chord, dropping down to a D#, then a C#, and finally to a B. The verses consist of palm-muted power chords, starting with an open E power chord, moving to a B5 power chord, back to E, and then to A. The rhythm changes slightly towards the end of the verses, giving the song its unique groove. The Chorus and Bridge The chorus of the song continues with the E and B power chords. There's also a rhythmic element known as "pushing," where the B and A chords come in on the "and" after beat four instead of beat one. The song's bridge brings in a new progression with D, C#, and B chords. After this progression repeats, there's a climb starting from E, followed by a build with a heavy palm mute. Wrapping Up So, there you have it! All the pieces you need to put together this song. It's a fun tune to play, especially if you're getting into heavy metal or rock guitar. This song has all the basic pieces, so it's a good one to start with before you move on to more complex songs. Remember, learning guitar is all about having fun... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsnNrx4x9Lw 507 2018-02-05T18:35:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/deep-blue-something-breakfast-at-tiffany-s-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-DAFWciMeHE/hqdefault.jpg Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something Easy 3-Chord Song on Guitar? Learn "Breakfast At Tiffany's" Breakfast At Tiffany's is the perfect tune for beginner guitarists! In today's lesson, you'll learn how to play Breakfast At Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something. I used to play this in my covers band back in Tasmania, and I've waited way too long to make a lesson for it! It's an old hit and loads of fun to play – get ready to have a blast. This Deep Blue Something tune is an awesome grower or developer song if you're a beginner guitarist. You can play a simple version to start, then bring in the strumming pattern and embellishments found on the original. We'll look at exactly how to do all this, so grab your guitar, and let's get stuck in. :) How To Play Breakfast At Tiffany's On Guitar You only need three chords for the whole song: D, A, and G! And the intro, verse, and riff progressions are identical. The chorus is nearly the same, too, but the order of the chords is different. :) 🎸 Need some extra help with these chords? Check out my Beginner's Grade 1 Course for more details on how to nail these grips. :) The intro and verse progression is as so: one bar of D (XX0232), half a bar of G (3X0033), then half a bar of A (X02220). Repeat this twice for the intro and eight times for each verse. What about the chorus? Just switch the G and A chords around! Repeat the progression four times for one chorus. There's a cool little riff in this song too. Figuring out the riff yourself is great ear-training practice, and it's not too tricky! I also encourage you to make up your own riff. If you've never improvised a solo before, this song is a fantastic place to start. Check out my quick demo on the video lesson if you need some inspiration. :) Breakfast At Tiffany's Guitar Strumming The real strumming pattern on this song is pretty intense! You can start by strumming once per chord if you're a beginner. Once you're comfortable with that, go for the Old Faithful strumming pattern. During the bars with G and A, I switch on the "+" after 2 (swap G and A for the chor... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-DAFWciMeHE 1100 2022-01-02T03:40:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-the-a-team-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-907 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rglo0qMdmxs/hqdefault.jpg The A Team by Ed Sheeran The A Team by Ed Sheeran is a powerful song. Have you checked out the music video too? I'm pretty sure I bowled over when I first heard this song! Ed Sheeran has impressive guitar skills. His songs are great to practice interesting finger strumming techniques and varied rhythms. In this lesson, you'll have everything you need to learn how to play the powerful song on the guitar. How to Play A Team on Guitar: Starting Point First, put your capo on the 2nd fret of your guitar. Starting with the G chord, we're doing 3 bars. Ed Sheeran plays the G chord like a regular 4 finger. So that's the third and fourth fingers on the thinnest two strings. But he takes off the first finger - this stops the chord from getting wonky! I recommend you try this technique. It'll be easier to transition into the chord changes. Then, we're following up with a D with an F-sharp bass. We go from G, D to F-sharp to the Em chord, which is a common movement. How To Play The A Team: Strumming And FingerStyle The strumming pattern of this song is quite interesting. There's a slight emphasis on the bass strings on beats 1 and 3. It's not only the bass that's heavy; it's the strums that catch a few of those other strings as well! You can play this song with a pick, but it sounds cooler with fingerpicking. I recommend that you practice this song's fingerpicking patterns many times. When you do all the chord changes, you can't be thinking of your strumming patterns. You'll want your strumming to be on autopilot. Make sure you go and check out some of the live versions of this Ed Sheeran song. They all have different strumming patterns, dynamics, and fingerpicking styles. It's an excellent way to inspire some of your guitar improvisations! https://www.youtube.com/embed/rglo0qMdmxs 798 2018-02-05T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/johnny-diesel-the-injectors-cry-in-shame-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-510 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fNWRo62gOEY/hqdefault.jpg Cry In Shame by Johnny Diesel & The Injectors Learn to play "Cry in Shame" by Johnny Diesel and the Injectors on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cry in Shame on the guitar. This track has a significant influence on many budding guitarists, thanks to its raw, crunchy sound that's a pure example of mean rock and roll. The song starts off with a gripping riff that sets the tone for the rest of the song. This riff is a defining characteristic of the song and adds a unique flavor. It's a cyclic pattern that is easy to follow once you get the hang of it. You'll notice a few variations in the riff as we go through the original recording. This is the best starting point for you, and once you've mastered it, you can tweak it to suit your style. The Verse and the Chorus The verse is characterized by a repeating two-bar pattern, which forms the song's main riff. This pattern is repeated throughout the verse, with variations heard in the original recording. Picking is one of the vital elements in this song. Using all down picks for the riff and the E chord gives the song its distinct character. In fact, instead of just strumming the E, try to dig in a little bit harder and get the notes to ring out individually. This adds an aggressive tone to the song, enhancing its rock and roll vibe. The transition from the verse to the chorus is smooth, with a little lead-in that maintains the song's momentum. The chorus introduces a new element to the song, a power chord that gives it a fuller and richer sound. The Bridge: A Change of Pace The bridge of the song introduces a change of pace. It's a simple sequence of notes that provides a bit of a breather from the intense riffs and power chords. It's a great way to add some variety to the song and keep the audience engaged. The Tone: It's All in the Fingers Remember, a lot of the tone is in your fingers. So, trying to get the best sound out of your gear is also an important part of the journey. Experiment with the sound and see what works best for you. A nice reverb and a clean sound Stratocaster can get you m... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fNWRo62gOEY 787 2017-12-15T11:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-6-6-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3146 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l66YMoekF5A/hqdefault.jpg Stairway To Heaven [6/6] by Led Zeppelin Learn Stairway To Heaven On Guitar - Part 6 The last and final part you need to play this Pink Floyd classic! In this lesson, we explore the fifth part of the Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin guitar series. This lesson will cover that awesome solo. You'll be putting into practice loads of string bends, slides, some groovy licks. We'll be playing all the way up to the 15th fret. You'll have a blast playing this on your guitar! This is part 6 of my 6 part guitar lessons for mega rock hit. :) 🎸 This particular lesson suits Grade 6+ guitar players. Follow these links to go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 of this guitar series. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to play along with Stairway To Heaven? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/l66YMoekF5A 584 2018-02-08T15:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-cure-friday-i-m-in-love-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-142 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iWI3JxGkuZA/hqdefault.jpg Friday I’m In Love by The Cure Learn to play "Friday I'm in Love" by The Cure on Guitar! Let’s look at Friday I'm In Love by The Cure on the guitar – you’ll learn the chord progression, strumming pattern, the lead lines, and the awesome main riff. This is a great song that uses mostly beginner chords - but you'll also need a Bm barre chord! ​💡 Boss the Bm: Use Friday I'm In Love to practice the Bm chord! It’s one of the easiest barre chords you'll encounter, so stick with it. You'll be playing it in no time. :) You can also play this song with a jam buddy - they can play the single-note melodic lines, and you can play the chords! You'll also learn how to incorporate some of the melodic lines into the chords. It sounds wicked, and it repeats throughout the original recording. So now let's get stuck in and learn how to play the chord progression for Friday I'm In Love. And don't forget: you can get verified tabs, chords and lyrics for this tutorial with JustinGuitarTABS! Friday I'm In Love by The Cure - Guitar Chords You'll play the same chord progression for the intro and verses. It goes D, G, D, A; Bm, G, D, A. You'll notice that I play the A Mini Barre instead of the usual A fingering. It doesn't really matter, though - choose the one you feel most comfortable playing! Check out the video tutorial to count the bars along with me. :) There are two other chord progressions. For the chorus, which functions as a bridge, you'll play G, A, Bm, G, D, and A. This is a 6-bar sequence, which is a little bit unusual. Depending on where you are in the song, you'll go straight back into the verse or the interlude. The last progression you'll need is for the bridge; it's got that super-cool Cure vibe that we love! It’s four repetitions of Bm, C, D, and A. Notice that C isn't in the original key, which is D Major. What a great trick! Use the video lesson to play along with me. :) Friday I'm In Love by The Cure - Strumming There are lots of strumming patterns that work well for Friday I'm In Love on the acoustic guitar. In this lesson, we'll learn a speci... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iWI3JxGkuZA 1036 2022-06-08T03:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-champagne-supernova-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-086 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YXD_-VOTo20/hqdefault.jpg Champagne Supernova by Oasis How to Play "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis Champagne Supernova by Oasis is a relatively easy song to play, and it sounds excellent on the acoustic guitar! We’ll explore its rhythm, chords, and embellishments you can add to sound more like the original recording. 🎤 I find this song super tricky to sing along on its original tuning! It’s either too high or too low. If you find that too, consider using a guitar capo! In my case, it’d be around the 4th or 5th fret - try it out and see what works best for you! Champagne Supernova - Chords That is a great song to practice the Essential Beginner Slash Chords. You’ll need to use your pinky to play Champagne Supernova, but overall the grips aren’t complicated! You only need ONE chord progression through the entire song, which makes this song an excellent Campfire option to add to your practice song! Check out this Effective Practice lesson if you’d like to learn more about what songs you should be practicing to improve your guitar skills. Champagne Supernova - Strumming Pattern Just as Wonderwall, the big deal here is to get that strumming pattern right! Many Oasis songs use 16th Note Strumming Patterns, and Champagne Supernova isn’t different. To sound just like the original recording, you’ll need to play the following strumming pattern: 1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a D D U UD DUD The best way to learn a new strumming pattern is to practicing with muted strings! Take the time to get familiar with the rhythm - that’s key to sounding relaxed. You might add some variations through the song, but you won’t need to overthink them! Just make sure you keep your hand moving consistently. Are you struggling with strumming? Try this guitar lesson! Champagne Supernova - How to play the bridge The bridge has a different chord progression! It’s pretty easy: G, Asus, D, E, and Am. For the strumming pattern, you’ll probably need some more strumming, so the song feels more energetic! Extra Trick: Explore the Dynamics! Champagne Supernova doesn’t have many strumming and chord variations, so explorin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/YXD_-VOTo20 677 2021-08-07T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bryan-adams-mel-c-when-you-re-gone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-206 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DiyrY0--XC8/hqdefault.jpg When You're Gone by Bryan Adams & Mel C Great pop song from the old master Bryan with the young blood Mel C and I think it works great, another superb example of pop songwriting and the harmony lines are super cool. It's fun to play on both acoustic and electric and I'm sure you'll dig it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/DiyrY0--XC8 865 2017-11-29T17:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/roberta-flack-killing-me-softly-with-his-song-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-401 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Md_k9CMRlA4/hqdefault.jpg Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack Learn to play "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Killing Me Softly with His Song on the guitar. This beautiful song was a massive hit for Roberta Flack in the early '70s and later gained new life with The Fugees' famous cover version. This timeless classic offers great opportunities for both strumming and fingerstyle playing. While we'll start with a basic strumming approach, you can eventually develop your own interpretation of the song. One interesting aspect is that it begins with the chorus rather than a verse, which adds to its unique character. If you're playing along with Roberta Flack's original version, you'll want to place your capo on the first fret. However, if you're more interested in The Fugees' version, you can play without a capo. This flexibility allows you to match either rendition while using the same chord shapes. Chorus Progression The chorus features a rich progression that creates the song's emotional foundation. We move through Em, Am, D, G, Em, A, D, C, G, C, Fmaj7 (for two bars), and finally E (for two bars). These changes create beautiful movements that perfectly complement the melody. The Fmaj7 chord adds a particularly lovely Jazz flavor to the progression. Verse Structure The verse progression brings its own character to the song. It starts with Am and moves through D, G, and C before returning to Am, D, and Em (which we hold for two bars). It then continues through Am, D, G, and ends on B7, which leads us smoothly back into the chorus. This progression creates the perfect foundation for telling the song's story. Strumming Patterns and Fingerstyle Options We'll begin with simple four down-strums per bar to establish the chord changes. Once you're comfortable with the progression, we can introduce the "Old Faithful" pattern - down, down, up, up, down. This pattern immediately brings the song to life and creates that gentle, flowing feel that suits the melody perfectly. As you become more comfortable with the basic v... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Md_k9CMRlA4 701 2018-02-04T23:08:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/zz-top-sharp-dressed-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-158 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lrjS9KApqto/hqdefault.jpg Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top Learn How to Play "Sharp Dressed MaN" BY ZZ TOP on the Guitar! In this lesson, we'll check out Sharp-Dressed Man by ZZ Top on electric guitar! What an awesome tune. We'll learn an amalgamation of the different parts you hear on the record. That way, you'll know how to play Sharp Dressed Man on the electric guitar and sound cool even if you're not in a band! ;) We'll start by learning both parts of that iconic riff and the different levels of complexity within it. Then we'll learn all other sections, including the solo section and how to blend the verses and riff. 💡Get JustinGuitarTabs for chords, lyrics, verified tabs for Sharp Dressed Man and hundreds of other song tutorials! Start your free trial today. When learning to play a song like Sharp-Dressed Man, you should spend some time playing along with the record. Absorb the groove, and pay attention to how ZZ Top play the riff at different parts of the song. You don't have to play all the layers on all the sections - that can be tricky, and I don't recommend it for beginners. Adapt the lesson to your guitar level and incorporate new things as your technique grows. Sharp-Dressed Man by ZZ Top - Classic Riff In the video, we look at the fretting and picking for the classic riff. This is actually a distinct guitar part on the original, but we’ll blend it together with the accompanying riff. 💡 The Chronicles of Justin: I used to play this riff back in my teens - but very wrongly! It’s just so much fun to play, and I’m glad this one came up on the Request Board. :) The rhythm is a little tricky, and you’ll need to make sure it’s in time to make it sound authentic. Get this part right before you add in the other bits. :) Accompanying Riff The riff that appears before the classic riff is pretty simple. You just need a couple of double stops and a single note. If you want it to sound super pro, pay attention to the duration of the notes. At the start of the song, they're muted and don’t ring out; later on, the guitarist adds vibrato and lets them ring out. And if you... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrjS9KApqto 912 2022-08-24T11:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/leonard-cohen-bird-on-the-wire-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-115 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4J6lzQiJZ8M/hqdefault.jpg Bird On The Wire by Leonard Cohen Learn How To Play "Bird On The Wire" by Leonard Cohen on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Bird On The Wire by Leonard Cohen on acoustic guitar. This is a beautiful ballad and fun to play on guitar! It's a simple song, but there is a barre chord to watch out for, which makes this ideal for intermediate guitar players. We'll explore the chords and strumming you need to play it and the fingerstyle basics to get you playing this beautiful acoustic song. 🚨 Get professional Tabs, and chords and lyrics for this song using the JustinGuitarTabs. :) Bird On The Wire - Chords & Strumming This song starts simply with open chords you should be familiar with! A, E, D, and eventually a couple of sus chords in there too. The Bm is what might give you a hard time, especially if you're new to barre chords. 💡 A to Bm is quite the chord jump on your guitar fretboard! It's a good idea to practice this chord change individually with the One Minute Changes exercise. You can use your thumb or pick to play this song - the thumb will give you a rounder sound, but the choice comes down to personal preference. For the strumming - you can keep it real simple and play it in 6:8 time signature. Bird On The Wire - Fingerstyle Tips For the fingerstyle, it's better not to bed too strict with the fingerpicking pattern! This ballad sounds better if it's more weaving and less pattern-oriented. You can use your thumb to play the bass chord, which generally happens on beat 1 - but feel free to experiment and make it your own. As for the timing, it'll be at 6:8 time. But there are many ways to play this song, and it's worth looking up some of the many covers online! Maybe it'll inspire you to create your version. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to Bird On The Wire and other song tutorials? The JustinGuitar Tabs website feature is for you! https://www.youtube.com/embed/4J6lzQiJZ8M 462 2017-11-29T13:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-lady-writer-2-4-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3632 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1wjGTYkj3cA/hqdefault.jpg Lady Writer [2/4] by Dire Straits Learn to play "Lady Writer" by Dire Straits on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lady Writer by Dire Straits on the guitar. This iconic track from their 1979 album "Communiqué" is a perfect example of Mark Knopfler's unique guitar style and showcases some fantastic rhythm and lead techniques. Lady Writer is a massive song, so we'll cover each part separately. In this part of the lesson, we'll cover the first verse and the first chorus. You should also check out the lessons on the intro solo, second chorus and bridge, and main solo. This song is a great opportunity to work on your rhythm guitar skills while incorporating some tasty lead licks. Don't worry if it seems challenging at first – we'll break it down step by step, and before you know it, you'll be grooving along with this Dire Straits classic! The Verse The verse follows a pattern of A, B, and C♯ minor, repeated four times, with the last repetition ending on a G♯ minor instead of C♯ minor. This subtle change adds a nice bit of tension before we move into the chorus. The rhythm pattern is distinctive, with Mark Knopfler combining strumming and individual note-picking. We'll talk more about it later on. An important aspect of the verse is the muting technique. Knopfler lifts the chords slightly to create muted sounds, which adds to the overall rhythm and feel of the song. The Chorus The chorus starts with an A chord, played with a specific fingering on the guitar neck. It then transitions into a series of licks and melodic lines that showcase Mark Knopfler's distinctive playing style. One of the key elements of the chorus is a complex lick that begins on the 12th fret of the thinnest string. This lick involves a series of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and finger rolls across multiple strings, creating a fluid and melodic sound. The timing of this lick is crucial, with certain notes being played on the off-beats, adding to the rhythmic complexity of the piece. After the initial A chord and lick, the chorus includes a C♯ minor chord. While this chord... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wjGTYkj3cA 1244 2018-02-08T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-you-and-me-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-153 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UIA_R1Nj1n8/hqdefault.jpg You and Me by Neil Young Learn How to Play "You and Me" by Neil Young on the Acoustic Guitar Let’s check out how to play You And Me by Neil Young. This is one of my all-time favorite Neil Young songs, and it sounds lovely on the guitar. The parts are beautiful and packed with trademark Neil Young tricks. :) We’ll check out all the chords, embellishments and the lovely chorus riff. Let’s go! Drop D Guitar Tuning You And Me by Neil Young is in Drop D tuning. Just tune your thickest string down one tone, and you'll be in Drop D. Remember, you can use the fourth string as a reference. 🚨 Still afraid of altered tunings? No need to be! Check my Open Tuning Basics lesson. ;) Hold a standard open D chord and strum all six strings - they're all chord tones. You should hear a lovely D chord with rich bass notes. :) Ready? Let's explore the main points of You And Me. You And Me by Neil Young - Guitar Chords The intro is full of lovely triads, legato playing and embellishments. You’ll need three Major triad shapes and a few open chords. :) Triads are like mini barre chord grips, and it really helps to see them as part of their parent barre chord. The verse progression has an unusual chord. At least it looks unusual because we’re playing it in Drop D form. It’s a Bb, and it’s pretty much the only “Drop D” chord in the song! 💡 Triad Shapes - Learn the three essential Major triad shapes on the thinnest strings and how to move them around the neck. These are crucial for You And Me! What’s even stranger is that we keep the high e string open over the Bb. This isn’t a chord tone, but it creates some nice harmonic tension. Just don’t accent it. :) You’ll also need a standard Gm grip without the bass note on string 6. Another strange grip! The chorus is classic Neil - simple ideas with a twist! You’ll find a nice little riff in there too. The rhythm for it is a little tricky, so make sure you listen to the song loads. That way, you’ll know what it sounds like in your musical imagination, and you can then try to find those sounds on the instrument. The ch... https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIA_R1Nj1n8 1033 2022-08-03T00:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-no-woman-no-cry-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-193 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pCS6ZfLdalc/hqdefault.jpg No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley Learn "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley and The Wailers on the guitar. This is an all-time classic Reggae – and a great grower song for guitarists. ;) You can keep it really simple if you're a beginner or explore extra bits if you're more of an advanced player. There's a push on the F Chord, the famous bass riff, and you can add in melody too. Before looking at embellishments, let's start with the basic chords and strumming. No Woman, No Cry: Chords & Strumming The progression for the intro and chorus is C, G/B, Am, F, then C, F, C, G; each chord lasts half a bar. Then, you need the first four chords of the intro and chorus progression for the verses. :) Yes, playing No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley is that simple! 💡 There are a couple of options for G/B. You can choose to play only the middle four or the bottom five strings – it's up to you. The first option is trickier because you need to mute the thinnest string. This is also a great song for practicing your F Barre Chord if you're learning it as part of my Beginner's Course. :) I like wrapping my thumb around the neck to play the bass note with my thumb, but this is definitely not suitable for beginners! Check out these F Chord Variations if you're not hip playing your full F Barre Chord. No matter your level, it's best to keep the strumming simple before trying to sing. Go for four down strums to the bar until you're used to the phrasing of the vocal. Then you can change it up! Now let's cover all those unique parts that define the character of this song. :) The F 'Push' In the original Bob Marley and The Wailers version, the F in the intro and chorus comes an eighth note earlier than usual: we switch to it on the "+" of 2, not beat 3. This is called a push, a subtle shift immediately making a huge difference. 🤔 I'm not sure if the F is pushed in the original verses. What sounds best to you? Let me know in the Discussion! It's good to vary things, so I suggest you switc... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pCS6ZfLdalc 952 2023-03-22T12:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-about-a-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-078 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vc8PkSiA9Ds/hqdefault.jpg About a Girl by Nirvana Learn the Nirvana Classic "About a Girl" on Acoustic Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play About a Girl by Nirvana on acoustic guitar. As well as the chords, rhythm, and technical stuff, we'll also learn how to play About A Girl just like Kurt - and guess what? It's not that hard to mimic him! Warning - you probably got this song wrong if you tried to learn it from a random guitar website! What Makes It Sound Authentic? We won't copy the exact chords or the proper strumming patterns. If you try that, you won't sound like Nirvana - you won't get the vibe. The key is the feel - you must make it sound sloppy and relaxed. Kurt Cobain was very sloppy but in such an incredible way. It made all his songs very unique. You won’t sound like Nirvana if you don't bring that sloppiness into your playing - so that's the big deal here! Let's see how to play like Kurt. :) How to Play About a Girl on Acoustic Guitar Intro and Verse Chords & Rhythm Something special happens with the chords in the intro, and it makes a huge difference. Most of the sheets and guitar tabs out there say that Kurt plays either E to G or Em to G, but that's not right! He's actually playing an E5! The third string is muted, so the chord is neither Major nor minor. You can see that very clearly on Nirvana's live videos. :) This means the sequence is E5 to G, and we do this eight times for the intro. To play the E5, we do a mini-barre with finger 1 to fret strings 5 and 4 at fret 2 while muting string 3. This is Kurt's signature fingering, and this unusual grip leads to his unique sound. For the G chord, the two-finger grip is your best friend. 🔥 Authentic Version: You'll find that finger 1 often presses down on string 3 and the note A (at fret 2 of string 3) rings out. This happens in live versions and the original recording. It's the "wrong" note, but it's one of the little elements that makes it sound authentic! Don't deliberately hold it down, but let it ring out whenever it does. It adds to the character. About A Girl by Nirvana: Chor... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vc8PkSiA9Ds 696 2021-06-19T11:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/black-sabbath-paranoid-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-162 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4164vFNg4FE/hqdefault.jpg Paranoid by Black Sabbath Learn How to Play "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath In this lesson, we'll explore one of the greatest metal tunes ever, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, on electric guitar. I've been playing this wrong my entire life, but the correct way is pretty easy! Let's check it out. Paranoid by Black Sabbath – Riff First, let's see how to play that iconic riff! We put finger 1 on fret 12, barring strings 4, 5, and 6. For the first bar, we play strings 5 and 6 on beat 1, the "and" after 2, and beat 4, each time hammering down on fret 14 of string 5 with finger 3. In the next bar, we play fret 12 of string 5 on beat 1, then hammer down on fret 14 of string 5 on the "and" after 1. Then we move up to string 4 and do the same, starting on beat 2. Go back to string 5 and repeat these two hammer-ons. This entire riff is played twice at the beginning of the song; then, we're into the verse. 💡Hammer-Ons – Learn how to play wicked hammer-ons with my Legato Primer! Paranoid by Black Sabbath – Verse The verse starts with an E power chord – finger 1 goes on fret 12 of string 6 and finger 3 on fret 14 of string 5 (12 14 X X X X). We start by pumping eighth notes – playing 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + with down picks with some palm mute. Explore the palm mute until it sounds like the original song! And keep the strums nice and even – we don't want to accent beats two and four. It lasts two bars. On the next bar, we move down a tone to the D power chord, shifting both fingers back two frets (10 12 X X X X). And on the final bar of the repetition, we shift both fingers down one string to a G power chord (X 10 12 X X X). You can hear on the record that finger 3 sometimes lays down here, playing notes on fret 12 of strings 3 and 4. Practice changing from D5 (10 12 X X X X) to G Major chord (X 10 12 12 12 X). Finger 3 rolls onto the top as you move from G to D. 💡 Perfect your Palm Mute! This is a super-important Metal technique. We only play the G for one strum, moving back to the D on the "and" after 1. We then move back to the E power chord on beat 3 and on beat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4164vFNg4FE 493 2022-09-21T02:34:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/black-sabbath-sweet-leaf-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-056 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4PsePmP7Kgs/hqdefault.jpg Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath Let's learn the classic Black Sabbath song "Sweet Leaf"! Get your electric guitar ready - today we’ll learn how to play the fantastic Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath. This is a complex song - it's experimental and has many guitar layers, just as we expect from a band like Black Sabbath! There are some tricky guitar parts in the original, I kept things as simple as possible for this lesson. We’ll explore some of the verses, and any beginner getting started with power chords will be able to play these riffs! All of the chords are rooted on string 6. :) We won’t look at the solo, but I’ll give you a few tips so you sound just like Black Sabbath! If you're up for it, we'll explore the doubling melody as well, which is a bit more advanced. What Guitar Tuning is Sweet Leaf in? The original Sweet Leaf is in C# tuning (C#, F#, B, E, G#, C#), which means you’d have to tune each string down by three semitones. For this lesson, I’m using regular tuning - it’s what I recommend most beginners to start with! It sounds great and is much easier to play. How to Sound More Like Black Sabbath If you’re wondering how you can get near to the Sweet Leaf sound… well, you’ll need a fuzz effect. For the lesson, I’m using the effect in my Kemper - but you can use a guitar pedal as well. It sounds aggressive, more so than a regular amp with distortion, and gives you a lot of sustain. I’m using a little bit of crunch too. :) Now that we're all set up, let's check out those riffs. Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath: Verse Guitar Riff For this riff, you’ll need A5, D5, C#5, and C5, but the rhythm is a little complex and the chords change quickly, so check out the video for all the details. 💡 Need a Power-Chords Refresher? Check out my Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Power Chords. We cover how to slide between the chords, but you can strum on each change if you like. :) Here are a couple of extra details: lightly brush the strings with your strumming hand when changing chords to add some extra noise. And try adding vibrato on the final C5 to mimic the vi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4PsePmP7Kgs 707 2021-01-22T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-dylan-like-a-rolling-stone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-175 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pCzB5h5qH5w/hqdefault.jpg Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan Learn how to play "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan! Bob Dylan wrote this famous song about The Rolling Stones member Brian Jones. 🔙 Fun fact: I played in a Rolling Stones tribute band for around 7 years as Brian Jones – seriously, see the video for a surprising photo! Let's learn how to play Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar. :) Like a Rolling Stone – Intro The intro is based on C for half a bar and F for half a bar. You can play the basic chords, but we'll learn what Dylan does in the original. Let's play a regular C chord for two beats, then move to FMaj7/C (X33210). Using the thumb, you could also play the bass note at 6:1 (string 6, fret 1). Play 3 + 4 + and lift off finger 2 for the "ands" to get the sus2 chord (X33010). That is how Dylan does in the original! On the C, I usually add a hammer-on with finger 2. Lift it off for beat 1, then hammer it on 4:2 on the "e" after 1. Then strum D U D D U. The rhythm is 1 e + a 2 e + a. Once you have the chords down, experimenting to find your strumming patterns and embellishments is a crucial step on the guitar journey. 🎵 Make Your Own Cover! Bob Dylan's songs have a lot of cover versions because his songs are like skeletons that you can dress up as you wish. Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan – Verse Each chord in verse lasts half a bar. We go C, Dm, C/E, F, and G for two bars. C/E It's a regular open C chord without finger 3 (XX2010). Use the tip of finger 2 to mute string 5. Play F as a mini barre chord (XX3211), using finger 1 to play the two notes on fret 1. You can play a regular open G (3X0003) for the G or slide the mini F shape two frets up the fretboard (XX5433). We play these chords this way so that we have a walking bassline. Play each chord, and identify the bass note of each. It goes 5:3, to 4:0, to 4:2, to 4:3, then to 3:0 or 6:3 or 5:5. If you know your notes in the open position, you'll realize that those notes are C, D, E, F, and G, the first five notes of the C Major Scale. You can also play C/E (032010), F (133211), and... https://www.youtube.com/embed/pCzB5h5qH5w 1032 2022-11-30T12:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-day-tripper-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-225 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ubhvoGhyu_U/hqdefault.jpg Day Tripper by The Beatles Learn How to Play "Day Tripper" by The Beatles on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Day Tripper on the guitar. This iconic Beatles track features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in Rock history, and I'm excited to help you master it! This classic tune is surprisingly approachable for intermediate players. We'll cover the main riff, rhythm parts, and some cool variations to help you nail the authentic Beatles sound. The song showcases a perfect blend of single-note lines, power chords, and dominant seventh chords, creating its distinctive sound. The Main Riff and Verse Structure The song's signature riff is built around an E7 chord progression. While it might seem challenging at first, we'll break it down into manageable sections. We'll learn how to use downstrokes for that authentic Beatles feel, though you're welcome to use alternate picking if that feels more comfortable. The verse follows a straightforward pattern, starting with our main riff over an E chord. It then moves to an A7, creating that classic Rock and roll progression that The Beatles were so good at crafting. The rhythm here is crucial—we'll work on getting that signature groove that makes the song so infectious. Chorus and Bridge When we hit the chorus, we'll explore a series of seventh chords that give the song its distinctive character. The progression moves through F#7, A7, G#7, C#7, and B7, creating that unforgettable "She was a day tripper" section. The bridge section offers two different playing approaches—we'll see both versions so you can choose the one that suits your style best. Solo Section The solo incorporates elements of the main riff but takes them in new directions. We'll go through both the simpler rhythm part (perfect if you're just starting) and the full solo for those ready to take on the challenge. The beauty of this song is that you can start with the basics and gradually add more complex elements as your skills develop. Final Thoughts Day Tripper is such a rewarding song to learn—it's got that perf... https://www.youtube.com/embed/ubhvoGhyu_U 818 2018-01-25T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bb-king-the-thrill-is-gone-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-352 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K5w8DqF0vT0/hqdefault.jpg The Thrill Is Gone by BB King Learn to Play "The Thrill is Gone" by BB King on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Thrill is Gone on the guitar. This classic tune by the great BB King is a wonderful introduction to the world of blues. It's a song that's both enjoyable to play and an excellent practice piece for mastering the art of rhythm guitar. BB King is often regarded as one of the greatest blues musicians, and his song The Thrill is Gone is a testament to his incredible talent. Interestingly, BB King was not known for playing much rhythm guitar. However, the rhythm guitar parts in his songs were just as essential in creating his iconic sound. In this lesson, we'll explore how to deliver a rhythm guitar version of The Thrill is Gone that any fan of BB King would love to play. The Magic of Minor Blues What sets The Thrill is Gone apart from many blues songs is its minor blues progression. While most blues songs have a major feel, this one has a slightly sadder, more melancholic quality due to its minor progression. This gives the song an emotional depth that resonates with listeners. Understanding the Chord Progression The song follows a traditional 12-bar blues structure but with a twist. It begins with a B minor 7 chord, which we'll play for four bars. The lyrics "The thrill is gone, the thrill is gone away, the thrill is gone" fall within these four bars. Next, we shift to an E minor 7 chord for two bars before returning to B minor 7 for another two bars. We then move on to a G major 7 chord followed by an F sharp 7 chord, and finally, we return to B minor 7 for the remaining two bars. 👉 You can learn the Thrill Is Gone's intro solo too :) Making it Groovy, Not Fancy One of the key aspects of playing The Thrill is Gone is to keep it groovy. It's more important to maintain a steady rhythm and feel the song's groove than to attempt fancy chord variations. Remember, simplicity often works best when creating a captivating musical performance. So, focus on making the song feel good when you play it. Let the Thrill Begin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5w8DqF0vT0 903 2017-10-24T12:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dusty-springfield-spooky-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-033 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ufPMHWAb_YY/hqdefault.jpg Spooky by Dusty Springfield For today’s play-along, we’re looking at “Spooky” by Dusty Springfield! It’s an older tune, but it’s super-duper hipster and loads of fun to play with. Pretty simple to start off with – you’ve got an A minor chord, D major, and E minor. If you’re really just starting out with the guitar, practice switching between those chords for a bit before playing along. Be sure you’ve got those changes really nice and clean. There’s no specific rhythm pattern I’m doing here, but I do play around with the strumming quite a bit. I get more into some patterns you can try towards the end of the video, but on your first play-through, see what feels good to you and go with that. There are a couple of stops in the middle of the tune, but if you’re familiar with the original recording, those shouldn’t trip you up too badly. Remember – the Beginner Song Course App is available right here for both iOS and Android, so don’t forget to download it if you haven’t already! I really did my best to turn out a good and handy app for you all, so it’s got loads of features that should be a huge help in your practice. Plenty more beginner-level songs for you to play along with, as well! https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufPMHWAb_YY 430 2019-12-31T19:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-long-way-to-the-top-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-922 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kQHQ-SZC4vo/hqdefault.jpg Long Way To the Top by AC/DC Learn "It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll" by AC/DC In this lesson, we'll learn how to play It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll by AC/DC on the guitar. This fantastic song offers a great opportunity for beginners to hone their skills but also contains interesting parts for more advanced players. There's a real interplay between the guitar parts played by Malcolm and Angus Young, which we'll take a look at during this lesson. The Main Riff This song's main riff is a staple you'll want to master. It occurs frequently throughout the song and is based around an open A power chord. This riff is a great example of the powerful driving force we often associate with AC/DC's music. Exploring the Verses and Chorus As we get into the verses, you'll find that they use the same riff we learned in the introduction. This repetition provides a solid backbone for the song, allowing the vocals to shine. Angus Young adds a nice touch here, reminiscent of Chuck Berry's style. Moving into the chorus, we'll see a progression from an A chord to a G, to a D with an F sharp bass, and then back to A. This progression adds variety to the song and gives it a sense of forward momentum. Delving into the Interplay One of the most fascinating aspects of this song is the interplay between the guitar parts. Malcolm Young and Angus Young each play different parts that weave together to create a rich, full sound. It's a testament to their genius as musicians that they can take simple parts and combine them in a way that creates such a compelling soundscape. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoy learning to play It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll. This song is an all-time classic and is a lot of fun to play. There are plenty of parts to explore, making it a song you can return to again and again as you continue to develop your skills. Whether you're in a band or playing solo, there's a lot here to keep you engaged and challenged. So, have a lot of fun with this one! Remember, learning to play a... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQHQ-SZC4vo 999 2018-02-05T20:44:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sheryl-crow-steve-mcqueen-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-046 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Jml2eNbdIlQ/hqdefault.jpg Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow Learn how to play "Steve McQueen" by Sheryl Crow on acoustic guitar! Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin here, and today we’ll check out Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow on acoustic guitar. This one has an awesome riff and is in open G tuning. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about this tuning in a real context. First of all, let’s get the guitar in tune. To change from standard to open G tuning, we tune the two outside strings down to a D. Use the open D string or the harmonic at 4:12 (string 4, fret 12) as a reference. Then we tune the A string down to a G. You can use the open G string or the harmonic at 3:12 as a reference. 🧐 Open G Tuning: trying to figure out how to tune to open G? Check out my open G tuning tutorial. 🙂 Now that we’re in tune, let's check out that awesome riff. Sheryl Crow – Steve McQueen: Riff Sheryl managed to find an awesome riff using standard blues notes in open position. Kudos! We start by strumming a mini G chord (X000XX), muting string 6 with your thumb. Then finger 2 goes down in 5:3 (string 4, fret 3), then finger 3 on 5:4. Strum the mini G chord again. Use all downstrums for this part, except when you pick 5:4. Then we strum DUD on the mini G chord, followed by finger 2 on 4:3 twice. Then finger 1 goes down on 4:2. Now strum the mini G chord and play 5:3, then 5:4. 🎸 Expand: While this is a cool melody in its own right, you can expand on Sheryl’s idea. Use the notes in her riff for blues solos or rhythm parts. Sounds awesome! In the next bar, we strum the mini G chord, then pick 6:3 and 6:4, mini G chord twice, 5:3, mini G chord. Mute the strings on beat 3. The key to nailing this riff is to keep your arm moving consistently throughout. The rhythm for the riff is: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a ; 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Sheryl Crow – Steve McQueen: Chorus Chords The chord shapes in open G tuning are different from standard tuning. Some are easy, some are tricky, but the G chord (X00000) couldn’t be easier! You can play any combination of the open strings. 💡 String 6 In O... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jml2eNbdIlQ 974 2020-11-12T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dean-martin-winter-wonderland-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-118 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9vbVW6836zU/hqdefault.jpg Winter Wonderland by Dean Martin A Perfect Christmas Song To Play Around The Fire! ⛄ Learn how to Play "Winter Wonderland" On Guitar! This is a perfect Christmas song to play for your friends & family during the Holiday season. A Dean Martin classic for many of us. :) In this easy lesson, you'll learn a simple version of this song. This version is ideal if you're learning this last minute! If you're following my Beginner Guitar Courses, this song will be perfect for Grade 2 students. And - I'll also show you how to add some groove to it. You'll learn how different approaches can change up the style of this holiday classic. So - grab your guitar & get ready to spread some holiday joy! :) 🎄 Fan of Christmas music? Check out the JustinGuitar Christmas Songbook. It features 21 massive Christmas hits & you'll have everything you need for your holiday performance. And - all the songs come with a recommended timeline to help you learn them on time. How To Play Winter Wonderland On Guitar There are many ways you can approach this Christmas song. I'll walk you through how to play it to sound like the original Dean Martin version. First, let's check out how you can play verse 1 of Winter Wonderland. To keep it simple, play four downstrums per bar. Follow the chord sequence below: C Chord for 2 Bars G7 Chord for 4 Bars D7 for 2 beats G7 for 2 beats C Chord for 1 Bar This harmony for Winter Wonderland is simple. And there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple - especially for a Christmas sing-along. :) Winter Wonderland: Different Guitar Versions Suppose you want to sound more like the Michael Bublé version. Switch your G7 chord for a D minor. Give it a try - it gives it a jazzier sound. Want to add a country feel to this classic? Add a base note with your thumb. You'll quickly follow with a down and upstrum on two & 'and.' If you dig this song, explore and listen to a bunch of different versions of Winter Wonderland. Transcribe the parts you like and add them to your playing. Go for it & have fun. :) Play along with my Lessons &... https://www.youtube.com/embed/9vbVW6836zU 606 2018-01-22T18:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-lego-house-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C-lng3HTh9s/hqdefault.jpg Lego House by Ed Sheeran Learn to play "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Lego House on the guitar. This beautiful Ed Sheeran song works wonderfully as an acoustic piece, showing just how great a pop song it is when stripped down to its basics. We'll be learning the acoustic version that Ed often performs live, rather than the album version, which features more electric guitar elements. If you're not familiar with this arrangement, check out some of Ed's live performances first. Chord Progression The song includes verses, choruses, and a unique bridge section that only appears once. The bridge brings a nice change of pace to the song before transitioning back to the pre-chorus. The verse uses a B power chord as the main foundation, with variations moving to F#. The pattern includes moving to G and incorporating an open E string. The chorus progression moves through B, C#, G#, F#, and E with specific timing. The bridge section appears once and moves through G, F#, Eadd9 (for two bars), back to F# (for two bars), and then a sequence of E to F# to G#, before ending on C. Song Structure and Style Lego House features three main riffs that create its distinctive character through a fingerpicking pattern. While Ed sometimes includes strumming in live versions, we'll focus on the fingerstyle approach first. The basic fingerpicking pattern follows an "eight-note" feel: "one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and." Your thumb plays on the main beats (the numbers), while your first and second fingers play together on the "and" counts. This creates a gentle, rocking motion that carries the song forward. The pattern remains consistent even as you change chords. Starting with the B power chord, your thumb alternates with your fingers in this steady rhythm. When you transition to different chords like F# or G, the basic picking pattern stays the same—only the actual notes change. Later in the song, you can switch to strumming, particularly during the chorus sections, but the fingerpicking pattern forms the song's co... https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-lng3HTh9s 490 2017-11-29T13:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/paul-weller-wild-wood-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fDmLWY2Ly_Y/hqdefault.jpg Wild Wood by Paul Weller Learn how to play "Wild Wood" by Paul Weller on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wild Wood by the mighty Paul Weller on the guitar. This fantastic song is known for its fascinating chords and great rhythm and showcases exactly what we expect from Paul Weller. The Chords For Wild Wood, we start off with a capo on the second fret. The song begins with an A minor chord, and then we transition to an E minor with an A bass. This allows us to maintain the rich, minor tone throughout the song. Next, we transition to a D minor 7 chord, adding a touch of complexity to the mix. But don't worry; this chord is not particularly difficult once you've got the hang of it. To finish off, we play an E7 sharp 5 flat 9 over D, a chord with a name as interesting as its sound! And then we're back to the A minor chord. The Rhythm Rhythm is one of the most important aspects of this song. Once you've mastered the chords, you'll find that getting the rhythm right is the next crucial step, especially if you're singing along while playing. The strumming pattern in this song is something you'll want to practice. It starts with a soft down strum on the bass note on beat one, followed by a full down strum on beat two. Then we have a little up, down, up on the 'and' after three. The rhythm is unique and a bit challenging, but with a little practice and persistence, you'll be playing it like a pro in no time. The Groove Getting the groove right is also kind of an art with many of Paul Weller's tunes. The groove is about more than just getting the notes and the strums right, although that's very important. It's also about capturing the vibe of the song, and that's something that comes with time and practice. Listening to the original recording is a great way to get the feel of the song. Music is about listening and absorbing, and the more you listen to Wild Wood by Paul Weller, the easier it will be to capture its rhythm and groove. . Transcribing the Extra Parts Once you've finished learning the tune, a great next step would... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fDmLWY2Ly_Y 527 2017-11-29T15:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-yesterday-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-200 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WG9Xoy0SF2g/hqdefault.jpg Yesterday by The Beatles Learn "Yesterday" by The Beatles on acoustic guitar! Yesterday is the most covered song in history! Now it's YOUR TURN to cover it – and this lesson will help you get there. :) This is a relatively easy chord–melody version of Yesterday by The Beatles – one of Paul McCartney's greatest songs. We'll learn a fairly simple arrangement, but you'll find F# minor and B7 barre chords. While you only hold them for a few seconds, your task is made trickier by playing the melody. We'll look at some simplifications in case you find it too much. :) 💡 Following my Guitar Courses? This lesson is perfect for Grade 3+ students, which means advancing beginners. When learning songs, I'd recommend you learn a section at a time! Counting along with the rhythm might help, as will having the tab in front of you. You'll find the chords, fingering, and rhythm in the video. :) Yesterday by The Beatles – Fingering Options If you're wondering about the best fingering for this song, or any other song, my answer might surprise you. 15 years ago, I'd have said that you should be strict about which fingers you use when playing fingerstyle. But the longer I play, the longer I know that you should use whatever works best for you! 🚨 Don't get me wrong! Sometimes, especially when learning more complicated songs, you'll need to give the fingering a lot more thought. You'll usually have fewer fingering options available to you! But Yesterday is a slow song, and there's nothing too complicated here, so just go with the fingering that makes things easier for you. :) That said, you should use your thumb to pick bass notes. Your thumb gives a fatter sound, and you want that. Otherwise, I suggest you experiment and see what works best for you! The Beatles: Yesterday – Chord Simplifications If you struggle with the barre chords, don't fear! There are ways to simplify them. :) Instead of playing the full F# minor chord, you can play a mini version: XX4222, using finger 1 as a barre on fret 2 and finger 3 on 4:4 (string 4, fret 4), which replaces 6:2 as ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WG9Xoy0SF2g 1264 2022-01-11T07:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/joe-satriani-satch-boogie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-136 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rrGJtWYrQh4/hqdefault.jpg Satch Boogie by Joe Satriani Learn to Play "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani on Guitar Get ready to embark on an exciting journey as we dive into the world of Satch Boogie by the one and only Joe Satriani. This iconic instrumental track is a true masterpiece that will test your skills and ignite your passion for guitar playing. So grab your guitar, crank up the amp, and let's take our playing to the next level! Introduction and Background Satch Boogie is a mind-blowing song that I fell in love with during my teenage years. However, I always found it challenging to play. But guess what? Last year, during the lockdown, fate brought this song back into my life. Listening to it on Spotify, I wondered why I had never learned it. So, I made it my mission to transcribe and master it. And now, I'm thrilled to share my journey and insights with you! Chord Progression and Rhythm The heart and soul of Satch Boogie lie in its captivating chord progression. The song primarily revolves around an energetic E7 chord that slides down chromatically, creating an irresistible groove. You'll also encounter an F# minor chord and some bluesy variations that add spice to the mix. Understanding the chord progressions will help you navigate through the song with confidence and finesse. Technique Tips and Tricks Playing Satch Boogie requires a combination of precision and finesse. Joe Satriani's playing style is known for its intricate palm muting, pinch harmonics, and subtle nuances. To master this song, start by focusing on nailing the notes at a slow tempo. Use slow-down software to play along with the original recording and ensure you're hitting all the right notes. As you become comfortable, gradually increase the tempo, but always remember to maintain the groove and feel of the song. Breaking Down the Intro Let's break down the exhilarating intro of Satch Boogie. We'll take it one chunk at a time, allowing you to grasp the essence of each section. We'll start with a subtle pick on the open A string, followed by a combination of fretted notes on the fifth and six... https://www.youtube.com/embed/rrGJtWYrQh4 1418 2022-03-19T08:26:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nile-rodgers-le-freak-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yDcFJpZazuk/hqdefault.jpg Le Freak by Nile Rodgers Learn How To Play "Le Freak" by Nile Rodgers On Guitar! In this funk guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play 'Le Freak' by Nile Rodgers. An all-time classic funk guitar! We'll learn all about string muting and the techniques to get you playing this tune. This funky song is real good fun to play for Intermediate Grade 5+ guitar players. It's a big deal to learn, and once you lock in the structure, you can explore and find your groove. Grab your guitar and let's get funky! String Muting Technique This tune has a lot of energy! You got that muted strumming going on - and it's all happening at a high tempo. Make sure you're continuously moving your strumming hand. To mute those thickest strings, your thumb crawls over the top of your fretboard. With your pick, you're mainly hitting the thinnest four strings. It's normal if you don't get this right away, it'll take some practice to sound just like the original recording! Now, let's dive into that tasty clicky strumming pattern. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern is not clicky every time. But, if you're new to this technique, it's an excellent exercise to start that way. When I first started playing funk guitar - I was putting that kind of clicky stuff in all the time. When you get comfortable with the technique, you want to be able to control it to place it to elevate the funk strategically. Practice by strumming all four of the thinnest strings, everything you play a note, and in between. This will also force you to get those mutes in there. Make sure you're also putting an accent on Beat 1. Relax your wrist when you're doing it - you won't get to the fast tempo with a stiff hand. This is essential to getting that tempo and pattern! Think of it like flicking water off your hand. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with Le Freak? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/yDcFJpZazuk 482 2017-12-31T10:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/kt-tunstall-black-horse-and-cherry-tree-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-122 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fOf26zgoJfM/hqdefault.jpg Black Horse And Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall Learn to Play "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall on the guitar. This lesson will cover all the chords and strumming methods you need to master this track. This song is a great opportunity to delve into some interesting chord progressions and rhythm patterns. If you're interested in the looping aspect of this song, which KT Tunstall spectacularly showcased on Jules Holland, check out a lesson she provides on the subject. Just type in "KT Tunstall guitar lesson" on the internet, and you'll find it. It's a fascinating study of her approach to music. Verse and Chorus The chord progression for the verse is fairly simple, with an E minor chord and a B7 chord. The strumming in this song is the part that most people find challenging. But don't worry! You'll get the hang of it with a little patience and practice. The chords in the chorus start with the E minor to a D. Then you just lift off your third finger from your D chord and end up with a D6. Then you go to a C major seven. Strumming The key to mastering the strumming in this track is to familiarize yourself with 16th-note strumming. You'll want to write out your downs and ups where the strums occur. It's the easiest way to get a handle on this type of strumming pattern. It's important to note that there are a few variations in the strumming during the tune, so we'll learn a general pattern. Start with this, and then let yourself loosen up a bit. If you want to copy exactly what's on the record, you'll need to listen closely and figure out exactly what she's doing. But the pattern you'll see is most often the right one. Rhythm and Mute Once you've got that strumming pattern sorted out, you'll add some muted parts while the vocals go on. It's not too tricky. The mutes are as important as the actual strums because they help define the rhythm. The count is one and two and three and four. Counting along or playing it slowly with a muted chord is a really ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/fOf26zgoJfM 1125 2017-11-29T15:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/billy-ray-cyrus-achy-breaky-heart-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-040 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l3trwOKyW0Q/hqdefault.jpg Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus on Guitar Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus is… well, not my favorite tune, if you couldn’t already tell! I should have titled this lesson Creeping Death by Metallica just for the Rick Roll effect! My 17-year-old self sent in some awful hate mail over me doing this song and I found it gave me some mild PTSD. Also, I just saw some of the film clip by accident – what an amazing mullet Billy Ray Cyrus has! And The lyrics are super sketchy. That said, I have to acknowledge that this was a massive country-pop hit in its day. And even now, if you're at a barbecue and there's a guitar around, this one will probably perk up your friends (for one reason or another!). Let's dive in. :) Guitar Chords and Sequence You only need two chords for Achy Breaky Heart - A and E - and the chord sequence for the entire song is A A A A; E E E A. This is the perfect chance to practice your A-E chord change. 💡 Learn A and E chords: If you’re starting out on guitar, I have detailed lessons on A chord and E chord in Grade 1. And that’s pretty much it! If you want to bring in some cool Grade 2 stuff, the chunka-chunka blues riff sounds awesome here. :) Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus: Strumming As for the strumming, you can keep it as simple as you like. The simplest pattern is one strum per bar. If you’re still working on your A–E change, play it slowly at first to make sure you’re strumming exactly on beat 1 of each bar. You can even jam along with me in the video. :) Once that gets a bit old, try doubling up with two strums per bar, on beats 1 and 3, making sure that you’re still getting those chord changes in time. The next step is to do a country pattern: hit the bass note on beats 1 and 3 then strum on 2 and 4. This isn’t on the original, but it works well. The original strumming pattern in Achy Breaky Heart is Old Faithful, except on beat 1 we hit the bass note rather than strumming all six strings. 🎶 Get Creative: Once you’re comfortable with Old Faithful, you can try a whole heap of... https://www.youtube.com/embed/l3trwOKyW0Q 365 2021-07-04T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-molly-s-lips-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-012 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JsjO82G2XKQ/hqdefault.jpg Molly's Lips by Nirvana Learn "Molly's Lips" by Nirvana on Electric Guitar! Let's check out how to play Molly’s Lips by Nirvana on guitar. This is actually a cover of The Vaselines' original track, which is totally different! To play the cover version, you simply need to cycle between two power chords for the whole song. It's perfect if you've just learned your root-5 and root-6 power chords and want extra practice. 🔥 Nirvana are one of the defining bands of the 90s grunge-rock era. What an amazing contribution they made to music - they completely changed how people listen to it. Let's check out the chords. Molly's Lips by Nirvana: Guitar Chords You just need two chords to play this tune: half a bar of G5, followed by half a bar of C5. These two chords cycle for the entire tune! To practice string jumping and both power-chord shapes, play G5 as a root-6 power chord and C5 as a root 5. For all the details on how to play those, check out the video for this lesson or head to my Ultimate Power Chords Guide for Beginners. :) Molly's Lips by Nirvana: Rhythm Guitar Keep the strumming simple to start. Play two downstrums on each chord, making sure you get the clean, power-chord sound. :) Once that's solid, add an upstrum after the second downstrum on each chord. If and only if you're cool with those patterns, check out the authentic pattern in the video lesson. It's tricky for beginners because it involves strumming at double speed. On the G, we play two downstrums along with an extra down-up before we switch to C. On C, strum down-up-down-up. 🚨 Strumming SOS: With the help of decades of guitar teaching, I've distilled strumming into a series of essential techniques to help you nail it once and for all. :) Check out my Strumming SOS Series, your pathway to becoming a confident strummer and a rockstar rhythm guitarist! Open Strings Between Chords? You’ll notice the chord changes are pretty loose, meaning you often hear open strings ring out during them. Once you’ve nailed your chord changes, you can loosen up and copy Nirvana's vibe. And in t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsjO82G2XKQ 391 2019-12-13T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-tunnel-of-love-rhythm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-001 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NqNS18D-ieQ/hqdefault.jpg Tunnel Of Love [RHYTHM] by Dire Straits "Tunnel of Love" by Dire Straits: Rhythm Guitar Let’s check out how to play the rhythm guitar for Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits. This is the first lesson in my Tunnel Of Love mini-series! Here, we check out the chords, strumming, and arrangement. Below you'll find links to the solo stuff. :) Man, this song is AWESOME! The rhythm parts are real nice, and it's an elaborate arrangement loaded with details. You can keep it simple or go deep and make it complex! Unsurprisingly, there are tons of chord sequences in this song, so we’ll also cover how to create a chord chart from scratch. :) 🎸 Full Demo: If you fancy a jam or want to see all these chords in action, you’ll find a full playalong at 27:00. :) Tunnel of Love by Dire Straits: Pick or Fingers? Let’s get this clear - I’m pretty sure this rhythm part was played with a pick. I know that Mark Knopfler is a finger player, but I tried all kinds of sounds and couldn’t get it right until I started strumming with a pick. Either Mark Knopfler used a pick, someone else recorded the rhythm, or he has a crazy callous on his thumb! The Key The chords are all from F Major - F, Gm, Am, Bb, C, Dm - and we finish each time on Dm. This chord feels like home, so this song is in D Minor (technically D Aeolian). 💡 Know Your Theory: Unsure about F Major and the D Aeolian Mode? Master music theory and use it to transform your playing with my Practical Music Theory course. We'll need loads of barre chords for this song - the E Major shape, the E minor shape, the A Major shape, the A minor shape, and even the C Major shape! Follow the links for detailed lessons on these grips. Tunnel of Love by Dire Straits: The Rhythm The patterns change a lot throughout the song. Though I find it tricky to remember all of them by heart, I seem to lock into the groove nicely when jamming along with the original track. So my advice is to listen to the Dire Straits original loads, absorb the rhythms, then play it from your musical imagination. You can also check out the full demo and jam along with ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/NqNS18D-ieQ 2064 2019-05-31T12:48:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ray-parker-jr-ghostbusters-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-190 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nv7xw7_Zcms/hqdefault.jpg Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. Learn How to Play "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play the iconic song Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. If you're a fan of this fantastic track and have gigs lined up around Halloween, this is the perfect song to add to your repertoire. We will learn how to play it, break down the different guitar parts, and discuss some tips and tricks to capture that authentic sound. Introduction and Structure Ghostbusters opens with a catchy lead line that sets the spooky mood right from the start. We'll start by learning this intro section, which features a little chromatic run followed by chord progressions. Don't worry; we'll guide you through every step of the way! After the intro, we'll dive into the main guitar part, which forms the song's backbone. The rhythm guitar parts are relatively straightforward and have chord progressions that drive the song forward. We'll break down the chord progressions and discuss the timing and feel that make this song groove. Chorus and Bridge We'll explore variations and techniques in the chorus to add excitement and flavor to your playing. We'll show you how to create that signature sound and capture the essence of the original recording. Next, we'll tackle the bridge section, which adds a different dynamic to the song. We'll break down the specific chords and progressions used in this section to ensure you can seamlessly transition between parts. Lead Guitar Parts Now, let's talk about the lead guitar parts. We'll start with a cool hammer-on riff that adds a melodic touch to the song. We'll guide you through the fingerings and techniques to nail this section. After that, we'll explore the lead melody during the verses and chorus. We'll cover the horn-inspired licks and show you how to add your touch to make it sound even more special. Finally, we'll break down the iconic guitar lick that Ray Parker Jr. plays throughout the song. This lick is a real crowd-pleaser and a lot of fun to play. We'll guide you through every note and help you maste... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nv7xw7_Zcms 881 2023-10-17T04:19:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-black-crowes-she-talks-to-angels-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-3202 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vkQXTQoWZSU/hqdefault.jpg She Talks to Angels [2/3] by The Black Crowes Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 3 of this lesson. I have loved this song for years. I was really diggin the Stones when I was first introduced to The Black Crows. The timing can be a little tricky but not too hard if you take it slow. Love this tune. The Black Crowes capture real rock 'n' Roll, and this is a rock ballad at it's best. Open E Tuning Open E Tuning: E B E G# B E to you tune the A and D strings up a tone, and the G string up a semitone. An alternative if you are worried about tuning your strings up like that is to drop it to Open D and then use a capo at the second fret. Open D Tuning: D A D F# A D (then add capo on fret 2 and you get your Open E). https://www.youtube.com/embed/vkQXTQoWZSU 433 2018-02-08T17:49:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/men-at-work-overkill-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-132 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1huNOLJWRK8/hqdefault.jpg Overkill by Men At Work Learn How to Play "Overkill" by Men at Work on the Acoustic Guitar! This tutorial will focus on how to play Colin Hay's live acoustic version of Overkill, rather than the original Men At Work version. If you want to play along with the original recording, just pop your guitar capo on the second fret. :) Overkill by Men at Work is full of beautiful chords! Don't worry too much about their names – most of them are variations that you can even simplify if you feel like it. First things first, let's get your guitar in tune. Double Drop D Tuning This song is in double drop D tuning. This is a much simpler tuning than you might think! Just use the fourth string as a reference to tune the two outside strings down one tone. Play string 4, then tune the low E string down until it sounds the same as string 4 but an octave lower. Do the same with your high E string. 💡 Don't be afraid of altered guitar tunings! They are a lot of fun and can even simplify a few things for beginners. For example, we can play a standard D chord with just two fingers. Learn more in my double drop D tutorial. One thing – make sure you tune the string down beyond the desired note then tune it up to the note. That way the string won’t fall out of tune again. To check you're in tune, strum a D5 chord (000230). It should sound rich and lush. In tune? Great, let's get to the chords. Overkill by Men At Work: Verse Chords Let's get straight into the verse. Colin Hay does very nice things with bass notes in Overkill. And be aware that you don't really need to play full chords, particularly in the verses. We start with a Dadd4 chord: X57070. Finger 1 goes down on 5:5 (string 5, fret 5) and mutes string 6, finger 3 frets 4:7, and finger 4 plays 2:7. What a lovely chord! 🎸 Theory: This grip is basically a D chord. The notes on strings 5, 4, 2, and 1 (D, A, F#, D) are all part of the D chord. But we also have the open G string, which is the 4th of the D Major Scale. So the exact name is Dadd4. :) The next chord is A/C# (X47070). Just move finger 1 back on... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1huNOLJWRK8 934 2022-03-09T01:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/fleetwood-mac-albatross-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-380 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u8BGh_xGa2U/hqdefault.jpg Albatross [2/3] by Fleetwood Mac "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac on Electric Guitar: Part 2 Hey, how you doing? It's Justin here, and in this video we'll check out Albatross by Fleetwood Mac. Peter Green happens to be one of my absolute favorite guitar players ever, so I’m particularly excited to be doing this lesson. :) Before we get started, do check out the first of this three-part series if you haven’t yet. Part 1 is a layered demo of all the guitar parts we’ll cover in Parts 2 and 3. I’ll teach the entire song fretted – that is, without a slide. On the original recording, there are a ton of slide lines both in the background overdubs and the main part. If you’re keen on trying them out, I’ve mentioned where they appear on the original so you can incorporate them on your own. I’ll use other techniques like string bends to mimic the original sound. 💡 Transcribe The Slide – The slide is pretty easy to figure out, especially if you’re already a slide pro! So I suggest you figure it out yourself. Hint: the fretted notes and the slide notes are in the same positions. Beyond that, there are some fun rhythmic things here and there, like triplets. You don't hear those too often! Let’s get to it. :) Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: A Section Rhythm Guitar Let’s start with the wicked rhythm guitar part in the A section. We start on beat 4 with finger 1 playing 5:2 (string 5, fret 2). Then we go up to an A chord (XX7655), followed by XX6444. This looks like a G#m, but the bass note is E. This means this shape functions as an E Maj 7. The A chord also has an E bass note, so it’s technically called E6sus4! Strum the A on beat 1 and the E Maj 7 on the “and” of 1. Then do the same on 4 +. Now repeat the whole sequence again, including 5:2. You can also pick the open E string in the gaps between chords to get the bass sound. 🧐 Chord Theory – Do you remember the notes in a G#m chord? They are G#, B, and D#. How about E Maj 7? Those are E, G#, B, and D#. Do you see the connection? These are the same notes as G#m, but with the note E added! Albatross by Fleetwood M... https://www.youtube.com/embed/u8BGh_xGa2U 572 2017-10-29T10:29:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/extreme-more-than-words-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-126 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PWLn8YUDmIs/hqdefault.jpg More Than Words by Extreme This is an all time guitar classic and it's great fun to play, sounds great even without the vocal... In this monster 30 minute lesson I go through all the chords, picking patterns and techniques you'll need to play this great song! However it's important to realise that it's not essential that you play it just like the record, I've seen Nuno play it a few times and it's not exactly like the record every time! https://www.youtube.com/embed/PWLn8YUDmIs 1859 2017-11-29T13:58:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/metallica-nothing-else-matters-2-3-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-8212 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d4ajO43l2sw/hqdefault.jpg Nothing Else Matters [2/3] by Metallica Folow these links to go to Part 1 and Part 3 of this lesson. This song was one of my favourites as a teenager. Really connected, and maybe you feel that too. You can play this real simple, as a beginner's open-chord strummy thing, or you can learn all the fingerstyle and solo parts and do it for real. There's a vid for each bit, one for the intro, one for the chords, verses and chorus and another for the solo. I didn't do the harmony part solo bit, cos it was going to be hard to teach, and it's not hard to play if you get a tab. There's something for everyone in this lesson! See related lessons for the Natural Harmonics lesson I mention in the video. https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4ajO43l2sw 579 2018-01-24T08:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-dm-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-422 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w7p8o770nIc/hqdefault.jpg While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Dm] by The Beatles Play "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles On Acoustic Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles. George Harrison really outdid himself with this one! It’s one of my favorite songs and, in my opinion, one of the greatest ever written. We look at an acoustic demo version in the key of Dm (by chords) or Gm (harmonically). This is different from The Beatles version. To play this one, you need to tune to standard tuning and put your capo on the fifth fret. We'll explore a few different versions and fingerings to make things a bit easier. If you like, you can check out the lesson on The Beatles While Album version, which is a good option for jamming. :) 🤔Did you know? Eric Clapton plays lead in the original White Album recording! While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles: Chord Progressions The chord progressions don’t change too much throughout While My Guitar Gently Weeps, but there are a few unavoidable barre chords. While some fingerings may feel a bit awkward at first, it's easier in this context to use the alternative fingerings than the traditional ones. You start with a Dm variation. To play it, make sure your finger 3 is on string 2 and get your little finger involved! This fingering makes the chord changes easier. The second chord is still a Dm, but you play it over a C bass. You'll come across a Bb barre chord played with the A Major shape. There's no way of getting around it, so practice it alone if necessary. The main chord sequence isn't particularly difficult - it's the other techniques and embellishments that make the tune so special! Once you get the chords and fingerings all down, start incorporating strumming patterns. Strumming Pattern The easiest strumming pattern that works is the Old Faithful strumming pattern with accents on beats 1 and 4. Once you're comfortable with that, you can pick out individual notes during your up strums. At some point, you might have to break your strumming pattern to incorporate some fingerpicking. When yo... https://www.youtube.com/embed/w7p8o770nIc 884 2018-02-09T06:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-blank-space-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-143 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gSh1WdZAm8c/hqdefault.jpg Blank Space by Taylor Swift Learn How to Play "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift on the Guitar Blank Space by Taylor Swift is a really beautiful song that you can play in many ways on guitar. We’ll focus on an open-chord version with the capo on fret 5. You can play along with the original record without a capo, but you’ll need barre chords! Blank Space wasn't originally a guitar song, but it sounds great on the acoustic. You'll only need four chords, and if you use the tips from this lesson, you can skip all the barre chords and use easy open chords only! We'll look at two open-chord versions, and both sound wicked. :) 💡 Taylor Swift is an incredible pop songwriter, a seriously talented young lady! Which other songs of hers should I teach? Drop your requests here. So let's get stuck in and learn how to play Blank Space on the acoustic guitar. Blank Space by Taylor Swift - Versions Barre Chords, Original Key You'll only need two chord progressions to play Blank Space on the guitar. If you want to play in the original key without a capo, you'll need barre chords. The verse progression is F, Dm, B♭, C, each for two bars! For the chorus, it’s F, Dm, Gm, B♭, each for two bars. Loads of barre chords, eh? Even though I'm comfortable with my barre chords, I wouldn’t play it like that! Let's look at the open-chord versions. :) Different Key, No Capo, No Barre Chords (App Version) Luckily, there's no guitar on the original recording, so we're not trying to copy anything. We can switch those barre chords for easy open chords and change the key no problem. How? By shifting all of the chords up one tone. That’s what we do on the JustinGuitar App. :) This easy capo-free version is G, Em, C, D for the verses, and G, Em, Am, C for the chorus. You don’t need a capo or barre chords for this version. Just realise that you're in a different key so can't play along with the original. Original Key, Capo on Fifth Fret Blank Space also works well if you use your capo on the fifth fret. This my favorite way of playing it and is the version we focus on in this lesson... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gSh1WdZAm8c 828 2022-06-01T02:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/oasis-songbird-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-320 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/03e0ksKpcus/hqdefault.jpg Songbird by Oasis Learn to play "Songbird" by Oasis on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Songbird by Oasis on the guitar. This beautiful song is a fantastic piece with a feel-good vibe that's perfect for both beginners and seasoned players. It's simple yet engaging and only requires knowledge of three chords. But more than that, it's a song that will make you and your listeners feel great. The Essential Chords The three chords you'll need for Songbird are G, E minor seven, and a special linking chord: G with an F sharp bass. The beauty of these chords is that they're straightforward to play, but they come together to create a rich, layered sound. The Chord Progression The progression of the chords is an integral part of "Songbird." It starts off with a G chord, setting the tone and rhythm for the rest of the song. As the song progresses, the E minor seven chord and the G with the F sharp bass linking chord join the mix. It's this combination of chords and the way they're played that gives Songbird its unique sound. The linking chord, G with an F sharp bass, is particularly interesting. It's like a bridge that connects the G and E minor seven chords, adding depth and complexity to the song. The Rhythm The rhythm of Songbird is also a key element of its charm. It's a pattern of bass down up down up, played repeatedly throughout the song. This rhythm is more about feel than precision, so it's important to keep the hand moving and let the rhythm flow naturally. Playing Along One of the best ways to learn Songbird is to play along with the original recording. This helps you get a feel for the rhythm and timing of the song. And with its simple chord progression, Songbird is the perfect song to practice playing along to. Enjoy the Journey Remember, learning to play a song like Songbird is about enjoying the journey as much as the destination. So take your time, practice regularly, and most importantly, have fun! And don't forget, whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, the key to mastering Songbird is to r... https://www.youtube.com/embed/03e0ksKpcus 490 2018-02-04T21:06:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nancy-sinatra-these-boots-are-made-for-walking-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-121 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NHARI73pVoc/hqdefault.jpg These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra Learn How to Play "These Boots Are Made for Walking" on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play These Boots Are Made for Walking on the guitar. When Nancy Sinatra (daughter of the legendary Frank Sinatra) released These Boots Are Made for Walking in 1966, it immediately became her signature hit. Lee Hazlewood, who wrote the song, was a masterful pop songwriter who collaborated with Sinatra on several successful records. If you enjoy this style of music, I highly recommend exploring more of their collaborations. This is an excellent song for beginners, featuring a straightforward structure and accessible chords. However, don't let its simplicity fool you – there are some cool musical elements that make it stand out and sound more sophisticated than your typical beginner song. It's a fantastic addition to any guitarist's repertoire. Verse Section The verses center around two main chords: E and A. What makes this part interesting is a distinctive riff played on the E chord that creates a rhythmic pulse throughout the verses. The strumming pattern is straightforward, following a consistent down, down, up rhythm that repeats throughout. The verse section runs for eight bars on E before transitioning to the A chord. While the A chord section maintains the same basic rhythm, it creates a nice contrast to the E chord section. This back-and-forth between E and A forms the backbone of the verses. Strumming Patterns and Variations While we maintain a consistent basic pattern, it's important to note that slight variations in your strumming can add life to your playing. These variations typically occur before chord changes, usually in the last bar before switching chords. This natural variation helps maintain the song's groove and makes your playing sound more authentic. 👉 Struggling with your rhythm playing and strumming patterns? Check out my Strumming SOS course! Chorus Section The chorus brings an interesting change to both the chord progression and feel. It moves through A, G, and Em chords, creating a distinct... https://www.youtube.com/embed/NHARI73pVoc 488 2017-11-28T10:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-when-i-come-around-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-060 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5ndUSn5-EI/hqdefault.jpg When I Come Around by Green Day Learn the all-time Green Day classic "When I Come Around"! In this lesson, we’ll learn how to play When I Come Around by Green Day. Punk is not dead, my friends. It’ll never be! This song was a hit in the 90s - and I’m pretty sure it still is! It’s such a classic punk song. Simple, full of energy, and with a memorable solo - as it has to be! And I’ve got some good news for you: When I Come Around is actually pretty easy to play. For this lesson, I’m using an electric guitar - but no drama! You can have loads of fun playing When I Come Around on acoustic guitar as well. 🚨 Before you start, make sure you’re hip with your power chords! Check out my Ultimate Power Chords Guide for Beginners to refresh your knowledge. The Original Green Day Guitar Tuning Green Day's record of When I Come Around is in E♭. This means you have to tune all strings down by one semitone. I kept my guitar in regular tuning for this lesson. I recommend you do the same unless you’re a big Green Day fan and want to play along with the original record. :) 🎸 Keen to Retune? Check out my lesson on E♭ tuning. When I Come Around: Intro & Verse Progression The progression for the intro and verses is G5, C5, E5, D5. We play C, E, and D as root-5 power chords, so make sure the tip of finger 1 mutes string 6 when you play these. If you’re hip with barre chords, switch this E5 for Em as an A-shape. This is almost the same grip as a root-5 E5, but we need to use finger 2 as well. And though we usually fret string 1 in this minor grip, it should be muted here. When I Come Around by Green Day: Chorus The second progression we need is A5 C5 A5 C5. We play A5 as an open chord: make sure you mute string 6 with the thumb. The song structure is pretty simple! It goes intro, verse, chorus, intro riff, verse, solo, chorus, then chorus. :) Perfect Your Guitar Cover With These Extra Details If you want When I Come Around to sound real authentic, you’ll need these rhythm tricks. The first is to use palm mute for some of the strums. In the G and D chords in the... https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5ndUSn5-EI 929 2021-01-30T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/james-taylor-fire-and-rain-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-624 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JqGagNzr2Kc/hqdefault.jpg Fire and Rain [1/2] by James Taylor Learn How to Play "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fire and Rain by the wonderful James Taylor on the guitar. This amazing tune has a beautiful melody that is not too difficult to grasp. The verses and the chorus are fairly straightforward, making it a great option for beginner to intermediate-level guitarists. The intro, however, holds a few tricky bits, so we'll start by focusing on mastering this part of the song. The Chord Progression The song starts off with a slide while playing the open A string, creating a melodic line that transitions seamlessly into a D chord. This chord is played with a hammer-on, which gives the song its distinctive sound. Following the D chord, we move into an A chord. It's important to give your finger a good flick on this chord to get a nice open B string sound. The song then transitions into an E chord, followed by a G chord, creating a beautiful harmony and a smooth transition between different parts of the song. This chord progression repeats throughout the song, creating a consistent and melodic tune. James Taylor's Unique Style While learning this song, you might notice that James Taylor has a unique way of playing chords, which makes his music distinct. For instance, he plays the D and A chords in slightly unconventional ways, which add to the richness of the song. However, you can definitely stick to the traditional chord shapes if you're comfortable with them. The Importance of Rhythm One of the key aspects of this song is the rhythm. It's subtle, but it's there, helping keep the song in time. A keen ear will pick it up when listening to the record, and it's something you'll want to pay attention to when playing the song. Final Thoughts Remember, the goal is not to play it perfectly like James Taylor does but to play it in a way that feels comfortable and enjoyable to you. So give it a try, take it slow, and most importantly, have fun with it! Don't forget to watch the video lesson to get a closer look at how I play it... https://www.youtube.com/embed/JqGagNzr2Kc 565 2017-12-08T10:21:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/blink-182-all-the-small-things-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-809 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1-5CdAmGH4o/hqdefault.jpg All The Small Things by Blink-182 Learn How To Play "All The Small Things" by Blink 182 On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to All The Small Things by Blink 182 on guitar. Get ready to put your power chords to work - this song uses loads of them! Power chords give a heavy sound - which is great for a high-energy song like this one. And, it's perfect for when you need to get a crowd going. This is a fun song to learn, and even beginners can get around to playing it! First, we'll explore the basic chords, strumming, and palm muting to get you playing the full song. We'll also dive into what embellishments you can add to make things a bit more interesting! 🤔 Did you know? Blink-182 made their debut back in the late-90s. By the time "All The Small Things" hit the scene in 1999, they were already a hit! The video for this song is great, too - especially if you love a good boy band parody! :) All The Small Things - Chords If you're a little rusty on your power chords, now is an excellent time to brush up! This song uses the C, G, and F power chords. If you're a beginner, you'll likely keep it simple and stick with these. A quick note on chord transitions - don't worry if you can't make the perfect chord changes. Many beginners struggle with this, but between your chords, it's okay if you hear either a mute or the open strings. Try not to worry about that, and focus on adding accents on beat 1, and getting the rhythm to flow. For more advanced players, you can work a few variations into your arrangement. You'll hear different guitar layers in the original recording, which you might want to incorporate into your playing. This includes a harmony line that uses the same power chords up an octave. Since you can't play two parts simultaneously, you can get a similar effect using your little finger more! All The Small Things - Strumming & Distortion This song is pretty heavy, which means a lot of down strums. It also makes good use of the palm mute. To do this, you've got to see what feels comfortable for your hand and your guitar. To strum, it'... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1-5CdAmGH4o 977 2017-12-03T07:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-let-it-be-uke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-102 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wb2ajiZGXmo/hqdefault.jpg Let It Be (UKE) by The Beatles Learn How To Play "Let It Be" by The Beatles On Ukulele! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Let It Be by The Beatles on the Ukulele. It's a great campfire song for the uke, you only need four chords to play and it's loads of fun! The chord progressions are super easy if you're familiar with your beginner open chords. :) We'll explore a super easy version, and then we'll look at what you can do to make it more energetic. We got ticks that'll bring out the melody and make things sound more interesting! So grab your Uke, and let's get to work! 🚨 New to playing the Uke? Check out my Ukulele Beginner course, and get playing in no time. :) Chords & Strumming You'll only need a C, G, A minor, and F chord to play this song. Feel free to swap out the full F barre chord for the F major 7, which id an easier grip for beginners. You're playing two strums on each chord for the first chord sequences. The verses use almost the same chord sequences as the intro, but you'll switch things up in the chorus by starting with an Am chord. When you're learning the chord structure, slow with a slow temi and the most basic strumming. Then, you can try playing an 8th all downstrum strumming pattern. Once you're comfortable with that and feel consistent with the rhythm, you can vary it up with some upstrums here and there. 💡 As long as you can keep your hand moving, you can add whatever you want! Find patterns that you think are cool, and go for it! :) Adding Melodic Elements Few nice things you can do to level up this classic Beatles song. Here are some different melodic variations you can try out if you're familiar with these techniques: For the C chord, try adding a little step-down. For that G chord: replace it with a Sus 4, with your little finger going down on the third fret of the first string. Am chord: put your little finger on the third fret of string two For the F chord: add hammer-on if you're feeling clever! Remember - you can use these elements in other parts of the song. Using those extra notes will make thi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/wb2ajiZGXmo 463 2017-11-07T13:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-all-apologies-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-047 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DqoClf6Ilw8/hqdefault.jpg All Apologies by Nirvana Learn to Play "All Apologies" by Nirvana on Guitar In this lesson, we're going to dive into one of Nirvana's timeless classics - All Apologies. Whether you're a fan of Nirvana or simply looking to expand your guitar repertoire, this song is a must-learn. So grab your guitar, and let's get started! Introduction To play All Apologies, we'll use standard tuning with a slight twist. If you want to play along with the original recording, tune your guitar to Drop D, down a semitone. However, we'll stick to regular Drop D tuning for this lesson. If you're playing acoustic, great! The unplugged version of the song is quite similar to the original recording, with a little less distortion in the choruses. If you're playing electric, just add some distortion during the chorus to capture that signature sound. Drop D Tuning The iconic riff is the key feature of All Apologies. Before diving into the details, let's make sure we're in Drop D tuning. To achieve this tuning, simply tune your thickest string down one tone. You can use the fourth string as a reference if needed. Once you're in Drop D, you'll have a nice, fat D chord when you strum the thickest three strings. Feel free to play a regular open D chord for a lush sound. Kurt Cobain used some doubling techniques and variations throughout the song. In this lesson, we'll focus on the main riff and variations. Breaking Down the Riff Let's break down the riff into a four-bar sequence. We'll start with the open thickest string, then play the 9th fret, 10th fret, and 9th fret with the first and second fingers, respectively. While it may seem easier to use the little finger, Kurt Cobain used his third finger for this part, which adds a slight slide effect for authenticity. Next, we play the 12th fret twice with the third finger, followed by the 10th and 9th frets. Take your time to get comfortable with these finger positions and the rhythm. Don't worry if you accidentally hit the thicker string a few more times; it won't affect the overall sound. In the second bar, we repeat... https://www.youtube.com/embed/DqoClf6Ilw8 766 2020-11-19T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-who-pinball-wizard-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-420 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4PSPsmqFhE4/hqdefault.jpg Pinball Wizard by The Who Learn How to Play "Pinball Wizard" by The Who on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Pinball Wizard on the guitar. It's a fantastic song with a really cool acoustic guitar part by Pete Townsend. This is a great one to add to your repertoire, so let's dive right in! Intro The intro of Pinball Wizard is based around the second fret and starts with a B minor chord. The picking hand strums the chord on beat one, using downstrokes. It's helpful to anchor your little finger on the guitar body. The intro then moves through a series of chord changes: B minor, B minor at 11, F#7sus4, F#7, F#m 7, E minor over F# base, and G6. The F#m 7 can be tricky, and you may need to stretch your fingers or use your first finger to play two strings. The last chord, G6, has two notes ringing out. After the G6, the intro transitions to some frantic strumming on an F#7, which requires using the thumb over the top of the neck. Make sure the fifth string is muted. There are two bars of strumming, building up to the next section of the song. The strumming pattern is less important than the overall build. Verse Before we really get into the verse, there are a couple of bars of Bsus4 to Badd11. This is your chance to get that strumming pattern spot on, as this pattern will be key to playing the verse. You have that thumb over the neck for the Bsus4 and need to mute the fifth string. Make sure you are in position with the other fingers, and then just lift the little finger to transition from the sus chord to the Badd11. For the verse, the strumming is key: a 16th-note pattern with accents. The best way to get that right is to practice with a muted chord so you can really feel those accents. It may sound a bit strange, but once you get used to it, you can bring that feeling into your playing. You want your hand to feel nice and loose like you're flicking water off your hand. It's a really good technique to get a hang of. We then move those chords down the neck using that same strumming pattern. The progression is Bsus4 to Badd11... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4PSPsmqFhE4 1712 2017-12-04T13:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-rolling-stones-honky-tonk-women-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-356 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u-wF_Vb2GLc/hqdefault.jpg Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones Learn How to Play "Honky Tonk Woman" by The Rolling Stones on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Honky Tonk Woman by The Rolling Stones on the guitar. This song is a classic known for its catchy guitar riffs and iconic sound. It's a great piece to add to your repertoire and practice your skills. Not only is it fun to play, but it also offers a good challenge. Honky Tonk Woman is played in open G tuning, which gives the song its distinctive sound. The open G tuning is a key element in many of The Rolling Stones' songs, and Honky Tonk Woman is no exception. Before you start, it's important to make sure your guitar is tuned correctly. 💡If you don't know how to get your guitar into open G tuning, check out this lesson! Rhythm and Timing One of the unique features of this song is the rhythmic pattern. The song starts with a strong beat that sets the pace for the rest of the song. Timing is crucial in "Honky Tonk Woman," as there's a lot of offbeat playing. This gives the song its groovy, syncopated feel. Remember, practicing your timing and rhythm will help you play this song better and improve your overall guitar skills. The Iconic Riff The opening riff of Honky Tonk Woman is one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock music. The riff, played on the E and G strings, is a classic example of The Rolling Stones' style. It's simple yet powerful and instantly catchy. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it hard to stop playing! Chord Progression The song uses a common chord progression that's easy to follow. It starts off with open strings and then moves to a bar chord at the fifth fret. This progression repeats throughout the song, giving it a consistent rhythm and melody. The song also includes a slight variation in the chorus, adding an extra layer of depth to the music. Ending Thoughts Honky Tonk Woman is a great song to learn on the guitar. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your skills or an experienced player wanting to learn a new song, this lesson has something for everyone.... https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-wF_Vb2GLc 1459 2017-12-08T13:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-when-i-m-64-uke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-us-107 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RL4b68ELXZk/hqdefault.jpg When I'm 64 (UKE) by The Beatles Learn How To Play "When I'm 64"by The Beatles On Ukulele! We'll learn how to play When I'm 64 by The Beatles in this easy Uke tutorial. This Beatles classic sounds lovely on the Ukulele. It has super easy chords - great for beginners! If you're new to the playing this instrument, you'll want to check out my Ukulele Beginner Course. It covers the basics and what you need to get playing the Uke quickly. :) 💬 Did you know? 'When I'm Sixty-Four' was written by Paul McCartney when he was only 14 years old! Amazing songwriting talent at such a young age. Chord & Basic Strumming You'll start by playing th three bars of the C chord before moving to the G7 chord. You'll encounter many Dominant 7th chords in this song and a full F chord. The chords sequences will repeat throughout the song. When you first learn the song, start with simple strumming. Play downstrum son beats 1,2,3 and 4. When you can make the chord changes nice and smooth, you can start playing around with the strumming pattern and add some upstrums. If you plan on doing the melody riff, you'll replace the chords that happen at the start of the bridge. You'll be playing that little melody on string 4, then transitioning into a G chord. Adding Accents You can experiment with the strumming pattern in this type of song. As long as you keep a consistent strumming, you can make it your own with your choice embellishments. Emphasize the melody note with a stronger strum if you decide to play the melody riff. It'll help make that joyful little melody riff stand out! When playing the Uke, it's fun to switch things up and experiment with different embellishing options. That's what's so fun about these little instruments. :) Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this Beatles song? Check out the JustinGuitar Tabs website feature! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RL4b68ELXZk 605 2017-11-07T13:02:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-long-may-you-run-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-908 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OqBoUYcvfSo/hqdefault.jpg Long May You Run by Neil Young Learn How to Play "Long May You Run" by Neil Young on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Long May You Run on the guitar. This classic Neil Young tune features a beautiful chord progression that captures the essence of his distinctive style. It's one of his most beloved songs, featuring a memorable 16-bar chord progression that repeats throughout both verses and choruses. The song has a gentle, flowing feel that makes it perfect for both beginners and intermediate players looking to expand their repertoire. The song follows a straightforward structure, with verses and choruses sharing the same chord progression. There's also a distinctive breakdown section that appears after the chorus, adding an interesting musical twist to the arrangement. The progression maintains a consistent rhythm throughout, making it easier to focus on your timing and transitions. Chord Progression and Special Sections We start with a D chord that moves smoothly into a D major 7, giving Long May You Run its characteristic gentle opening. This flows into a G chord, creating a classic Neil Young Folk-Rock progression. The sequence continues through B minor and A chords, all working together to create that signature sound that made this song a classic. After the chorus, there's an interesting breakdown section that adds variety to the song. It features a unique chord progression, including a surprising B♭sharp11 chord–something a bit unusual for Neil Young but adds a beautiful color to the piece. This section helps create a natural bridge back into the main progression. Playing Style and Strumming Pattern The rhythm is relaxed and flowing, typical of Neil Young's style. We're aiming for a loose, natural feel rather than rigid precision. This relaxed approach is part of what makes the song so enjoyable to play and listen to. The strumming follows a steady pattern with subtle accents that help drive the song forward. It's all about maintaining a continuous motion with your hand. Whether you're using a pick or your fingers, the ke... https://www.youtube.com/embed/OqBoUYcvfSo 656 2017-12-15T14:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/black-sabbath-iron-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-014 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uWxHzAWD4W0/hqdefault.jpg Iron Man by Black Sabbath Learn How To Play "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath on Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Iron Man by Black Sabbath on the guitar. It has to be one of the all-time great rock-metal riffs of all time! You'll learn some hints to learn the rest of the song, but we're mainly going to check out the iconic main riff. 🎸 Fun facts! The first Black Sabbath album was released in 1970, with their name inspired from a 1963 horror film. Iron Man was featured in the bands second album, Paranoid. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are the orginal members, and some consider them the pioneers of heavy metal music! Iron Man - The Main Riff Lots of chords going on in the main riff of this song! If you need, break it up into sections and learn them separately before putting all the chords together. For Iron Man's main riff, you'll be following the chord progression below: Iron Man Riff Chords B,D,D,E,E G,F#,G,F#,G D,D,E,E Feel free to write the chords down to help you memorize them! You're playing single lines instead of power chords when the vocals start. You're adding techniques like flick-offs and vibrato at the very end. Then, you're switching back to the power chords. Check out the video close-up for the fingering, but as long as you're playing the right notes and chords - you can use whatever finger placement feels best for you! Iron Man - Playing Tips Iron man is simple, but if you want to replicate the original sound, you must listen closely to the recording! When there's more than one guitar part, it's hard to hear what's going on! Slowing it down by transcribing the song will help you get the sound as close as possible. A great exercise is to write out your tab too! Studying what's going on in a masterpiece like this will help grow your musicianship. Want professional Tabs for Iron Man? Check out the JustinGuitarTabs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uWxHzAWD4W0 387 2017-12-31T08:17:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/kacey-musgraves-blowin-smoke-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-124 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hYCWbK1BSUQ/hqdefault.jpg Blowin' Smoke by Kacey Musgraves Learn to Play "Blowin' Smoke" by Kacey Musgraves on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Blowin' Smoke by Kacey Musgraves on the guitar. This is a fantastic song for beginners, with a relaxed tempo and simple structure that makes it a joy to play and sing along with. The Chords The beauty of Blowin' Smoke lies in its simplicity. The song primarily revolves around two chords: A and D. This straightforward chord progression runs throughout most of the song, alternating between one bar of A and one bar of D. This pattern repeats, providing a steady rhythm and a great foundation for those just starting their guitar journey. The Rhythm Blowin' Smoke is a great learning tool for beginners because of its focus on rhythm. The beat is slow and steady, allowing you to concentrate on getting your strumming hand working in time with the music. As a beginner, developing a good sense of rhythm is essential, and this song is perfect for that practice. The Strumming Pattern Once you are comfortable with the chord changes and have the rhythm down, you can add a simple strumming pattern to your repertoire. A basic pattern to start with is down, down, down, up, down, which fits perfectly with the song's relaxed tempo and rhythm. As you grow more comfortable, you can begin to experiment with different strumming patterns and techniques. Playing Along with the Original One of the best ways to improve your guitar skills is to play along with the original recording. When you play along, you'll be able to hear the drum beat clearly, which will help keep your strumming hand in sync. It's a great practice to ensure your rhythm stays consistent while you change chords, which is a key skill for any guitarist. Further Learning While Blowin' Smoke is a great beginner song, it also offers room for growth. More advanced guitarists can experiment with adding accents to the strumming pattern, playing all down strum eighth notes, and even trying out a funky D9 chord. It's a song that you can revisit time and time again as your skil... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hYCWbK1BSUQ 826 2018-01-21T08:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-offspring-pretty-fly-for-a-white-guy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-810 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vfi6Ano4iNE/hqdefault.jpg Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) by The Offspring Ready for the Offspring guitar classic "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)"? A great song deserves a great guitar lesson - so I remade my video on Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) by The Offspring! The first time I did a lesson on this song was back in 2006. Time flies - and gear gets better. I did much more research for this remake than I did back then! So, you ready to learn how to play Pretty Fly just like the original recording? :) This text gives you the bones of it - check out the video for all the details or head to JustinGuitarTABS for full verified tab. This Is An Awesome Power-chords Workout! Let's get ready to rumble! Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) by The Offspring is not a difficult song to play - but it's a test of your proficiency with power chords. While it has have loads of power chords. it's a well-structured song. The trickier parts will be more manageable if you're familiar with it, so make sure you give the original recording a good listen. Writing the chords and sections down is also a good idea! 🎸 Ultimate Guide to Power Chords: Need some help with your power chords before you learn Pretty Fly? Check out my Ultimate Power-Chords Guide For Beginners. We'll cover the grips, notes on the neck, string muting, and more. :) Pretty Fly by The Offspring: Intro Guitar Riff The intro riff is packed full of quick power-chord changes and string jumps! It’s based around B5, F#5, A5, E5, and D5. Some of these power chords use three notes and some use two - check out the video for the details. It’s crucial you play B5 as a root-5 power chord to make it easy to switch to F#5 and then slide up to E5. The slide really makes it sound authentic - this is how The Offspring played it! There is one exception: the final B5 before the verse. You can hear a tail afterwards, so play B5 as a root-6 chord then slide your hand down the neck. 💡 Multiple Guitar Parts: If you have another guitarist, they can play octaves over E and D to highlight the chord change. :) Pretty Fly by The Offspring: Verse Riff To play the verses, we jus... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vfi6Ano4iNE 683 2021-02-13T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/joe-satriani-tears-in-the-rain-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-201 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2xAoG4TcMnQ/hqdefault.jpg Tears in the Rain by Joe Satriani Learn to Play "Tears in the Rain" by Joe Satriani on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Tears in the Rain on the guitar. This beautiful piece by Joe Satriani is perfect for practicing big chord stretches, and it's a great way to improve your technique and finger flexibility. The song starts off with a challenging stretch, but don't be discouraged if you struggle at first. Even with my compact little finger, I managed to master it, and so can you. The beauty of this piece lies in the subtlety of its transitions and the fluidity of its chords. Chord Progression The first chord in the song is a grand stretch that requires a bit of finger gymnastics, but it's well worth the effort. It transitions into a chord that resembles a D chord but on a different set of strings. This is quickly followed by the same shape sliding up three frets and then reverting back to the starting position. Next, we encounter a chord that requires careful finger placement. The trick here is to keep your second finger stationary and then place the other three fingers over the other strings. As we proceed, we encounter what appears to be a C-shaped chord and then an F major seven. However, the transition between these chords is critical to maintaining the song's flow. Instead of playing the big chord that we start off with during the next round, Satriani replaces a note with the open A string. This subtle change adds depth to the melody and gives us a hint of the versatility of this piece. The song then transitions into a beautiful D minor 9 chord, which is played twice. Expressing Yourself Through Music Now that we've got a good understanding of the chord progression, it's important to remember that when you're playing someone else's music, it's your interpretation that brings the piece to life. Experiment with the speed and volume of the song to put your own unique spin on it. Playing the first part of the song with a dynamic approach, for example, can breathe life into the piece. This technique can also be a lifesaver when... https://www.youtube.com/embed/2xAoG4TcMnQ 601 2017-12-15T12:37:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/lorde-royals-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-694 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xpS3bjWPsik/hqdefault.jpg Royals by Lorde Learn to play "Royals" by Lorde on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Royals on the guitar. While the original song doesn't feature a guitar, we'll create a guitar-friendly arrangement that works great for both solo performances and group settings. This is a fantastic beginner-friendly song that primarily revolves around simple chord progressions. What makes it particularly accessible is that the majority of the verses use just one chord: D. This makes it perfect for practicing different strumming patterns and developing your rhythm skills. Basic Rhythm and Strumming We'll start with a straightforward approach that's perfect for beginners. The basic strumming pattern follows a simple "down, down, up, up, down" rhythm–our trusty old faithful pattern that works wonderfully with this song. You can keep the verses super simple with just the D chord, giving you plenty of room to experiment with different rhythmic variations. Song Structure and Chord Progression The song follows a clear structure that's easy to grasp. The verses stay on D, creating a hypnotic groove that builds tension. When we hit the pre-chorus, we introduce a smooth progression of D to C to G. This chord change adds a beautiful lift to the song, especially as we transition into the chorus. Adding Variation and Advanced Techniques As you get more comfortable with the basic progression, you can start adding variations to make your playing more interesting. For the intro and verses, try experimenting with different strumming patterns. When playing with others or at a party, you might want to keep the verses simple and build up the energy during the chorus with more dynamic strumming. For those looking to push their skills further, we'll explore some intermediate techniques like adding backbeats on beats two and four. This creates a more driving rhythm that really makes the song groove. While these patterns might be challenging at first, don't be afraid to try them–just take it slow and gradually build up your speed. Final Thoughts One of... https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpS3bjWPsik 640 2018-01-22T18:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-something-in-the-way-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-181 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7p6b0i7d65E/hqdefault.jpg Something In The Way by Nirvana Play "Something In The Way" by Nirvana on the Guitar Learn how to play Something In The Way by Nirvana on the acoustic guitar! This song is an all-time guitar classic, and you'll find a great version of it on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged album. :) This song can be easy to play: Kurt's version on the original album is easier than what I do in the demo. :) My version accentuates the bassline, which sounds wicked when you're playing alone, but you don't have to do that if you're a beginner and want to keep it simple. The tuning is the trickiest part for most people. It's like Drop-D Tuning, but one tone down! Let's take a look. CGCFAD Guitar Tuning From thickest to thinnest, the strings are tuned to CGCFAD, meaning they are all one tone below the notes in drop D (DADGBE). Notice that string 6 and string 4 are both tuned to a C. :) 💡 Elliott Smith and Nirvana songs often use this tuning. Don’t worry about tuning the notes down this far. The worst thing that can happen is that the neck moves back slightly, bringing the strings closer to the frets. If you have a low action, you might find that the strings get rattly. You can also play this one in Drop-D Tuning. The fingering stays the same, but the key will be one tone higher. Kurt sings this one pretty low so that the higher key might suit your voice better. :) Now you've got your guitar in tune, let's check out the chords. Something In The Way by Nirvana – Verses The first chord is an E power chord (444XXX). Kurt uses finger 3 to fret the three thickest strings at fret 4 and mute the other three. In the MTV video, you can see that Kurt uses finger 2 on top of finger 3 to help press the strings down. 🔥 Nail the 'Mini' Barre: Part of the trick is to bend finger 2 at the first knuckle so that it pushes down on the three thickest strings and lightly touches the rest. Grip the strings with the other fingers to help mute the rest of the strings. Then we switch to a C5 chord (00023X). This grip looks like an open D chord in standard tuning, but we avoid playing the thinnest s... https://www.youtube.com/embed/7p6b0i7d65E 794 2023-01-18T09:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-better-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kpRVRaOiUDU/hqdefault.jpg Better Man by Pearl Jam Learn how to play "Better Man"by Pearl Jam on guitar! Isn't it great when Pearl Jam decide to write a pop hit? Let’s check out how to play Better Man by Pearl Jam on electric guitar. :) What a tune this is! I think I played it every single day back in 1995. Better Man is from the album Vitalogy and was written by the fabulous Eddie Vedder. It’s a beautiful ballad about a woman stuck in an awful relationship. During an interview, Vedder said he wrote the entire tune when he was in high school and that the chord progression was inspired by a song called Save It for Later by the British band The Beat. This one is a sus-chord fest! ;) Let’s start with the intro. Better Man by Pearl Jam: Intro Section on Guitar You need just four single notes for the very first section: C, B, A, and G#. There are a ton of effects on the original, and you’ll need to create a similar vibe if you want to make it sound good on guitar. In the verse, we alternate between two chords: D/F# and E/G#. There’s a specific picking pattern with embellishments and bass notes. Check out the video for all the details. :) 🚨 Practice On One Chord: Stick on the D/F# and get the picking pattern spot on before switching chords. The first two bars of this riff are repeated and built on throughout Better Man, so make sure you get it right. :) The pattern gets a little more complex over the E/G#, but the finger movements are similar. We play two reps of D/F# to E/G# for the intro. Better Man by Pearl Jam: Verse This picking pattern repeats in the first verse, but we need some more chords! The progression is two reps of D/F#, D/F#, E/G#, E/G#, then F/A, G/B, F/A, G/B. The pattern changes throughout the song, so in the video we look at a version that works for all the verses. You can then listen to Better Man and pick up the nuances yourself. :) After verse 2, we strum these chords with a crunchier sound - Old Faithful works great! Better Man by Pearl Jam: Chorus Chords & Guitar Embellishments On the original, you can hear both electric and acoustic guit... https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpRVRaOiUDU 1097 2017-12-31T09:36:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/george-ezra-shotgun-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-188 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GQe_78nuRmY/hqdefault.jpg Shotgun by George Ezra Let's Learn "Shotgun" by George Ezra on Guitar In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Shotgun by George Ezra on the acoustic guitar! This four-chord song has only one progression, making it great for beginners. :) Beginners need a capo on fret 5 and the chords C, FMaj7, Am, and G. Easy peasy. :) We'll also go through several strumming patterns and look at how to vary the dynamics to keep your audience engaged. But first, let's quickly look at the capo-free Intermediate version of Shotgun. Shotgun by George Ezra – Intermediate Guitar Version You'll need barre chords if you want to play this one without a capo. Shotgun is in the key of F, and the chords are F (133211, E shape), B♭ (X1333X, A shape), Dm (X57765, Am shape), and C (X3555X, A shape). 🎸 Keen to learn these barre chords? Head to my Intermediate grades for detailed lessons on all of them. Do you know why these chords are right? I'll let you ponder that. ;) Time to look at the open-chord version. Shotgun by George Ezra – Guitar Chords Remember – this song has one repeating four-chord sequence: C, FMaj7, Am, and G. The first chord in the sequence is C (X32010). Remember to mute string 6 with the tip of finger 3. :) It's common for beginners to hit open string 6 when they play C, which muddies the chord's sound. 💡 Open Chords: need some help with these open chords? Head to my Beginner’s Course for in-depth explanations of each one. Next, we switch to FMaj7. The easiest grip is XX3210, which is easy to get from C. All you need to do is move fingers 2 and 3 down one string and keep finger 1 in place. The only complication is that you have to mute string 5 with the tip of finger 3 and avoid hitting string 6. Those strings sound horrible over FMaj7! Another possibility for FMaj7 is X32010, technically called FMaj7/C. Finger 3 plays 5:3 (string 5, fret 3) and mutes string 6, finger 4 plays 4:3, finger 2 goes down on 3:2, and finger 1 is on 2:1. 💣 F Chord With Thumb: If you’re real clever, try wrapping the thumb around the top of the guitar neck to fret 6... https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQe_78nuRmY 582 2023-03-03T10:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/shawn-mendes-stitches-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f-juLO5_9S0/hqdefault.jpg Stitches by Shawn Mendes How to Play "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes on the Acoustic Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Stitches by Shawn Mendes on the acoustic guitar! You can play this pop hit with simple open chords, but there is more to explore. We'll learn several chord voicings - including the barre chords from Shawn Mendes' live versions - and also cover how to play Stitches using fingerstyle and with a pick, since both appear on the original. At the end, we'll dive into dynamics. 👨‍👧 Stitches is one of my daughter's favorite songs, and we love performing it as a duet. ;) She's super cute but a bit young for social media! Stick around to see us making music sometime soon. Before starting this tutorial, watch his Live Lounge performance to see these barre chords and listen to his singing. Shawn Mendes delivers an amazing vocal, moving up and down his vocal range to reach all the notes. Now grab your guitar, and let's start by learning the Stitches chord progressions. :) Stitches: Chord Progressions & Variations The chord sequences are simple, but we'll spice them up with different chord voicings and rhythm patterns. Play around and see what you like. :) And head to the video tutorial for a full guitar and vocal demo! Guitar Chords & Sequences The intro and verse chords are the same - the sequence is Am, G, C, F. We play this once for the intro and four times for the verse. :) Then we go into the pre-chorus, which is: F, G, Am, Am F, G, Am, G. And the chorus is two reps of: Am, G, C, F Am, G, F, |C C/B |. 💡 Need extra help with these chords? Find detailed lessons and tips in my free Beginner Guitar Course - Grade 1. Finally, a short bridge section leads into the final pre-chorus - the lyrics are "Needle in the thread, gotta get you out of my head…". We play Power Chord versions of the verse chords - A5, G5, C5, and F5 - using the cool rhythm in the Shift The Dynamics video chapter. :) Let's change up the voicings now. Chord Options for G & F We look at three options for the G, including two beginner-friendly gr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-juLO5_9S0 1069 2023-06-04T06:22:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/pearl-jam-last-kiss-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-059 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a5nx9ZOMrIM/hqdefault.jpg Last Kiss by Pearl Jam Learn to play "Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam! Last Kiss was recorded in 1964 by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers and became a hit when Pearl Jam played it live in 1998. Pearl Jam’s remake of Last Kiss has a cool backstory! They only released it as a single because radio stations had access to an exclusive record, and it had already become extremely popular before release! The band had a condition, though: all the profits from The Last Kiss single should go to Kosovo’s refugees. :) I love when bands use their music to help people out! This one’s great for beginners because it has a repeating four-chord progression and Old Faithful will do the job. But there are a couple of unusual bits - we’ll need to play some stops on G, and the song starts with a chorus. :) Last Kiss by Pearl Jam on Guitar: Chord Progression As mentioned, there’s only one chord sequence in Last Kiss. It’s G, Em, C, and D. I prefer Rock G in this context, but otherwise the chord grips are standard. :) Easy peasy! At the end of each verse and chorus, we play one bar of G then strum on the first beat of the next bar and let it ring out. Last Kiss by Pearl Jam: Basic Strumming Pattern Let’s start nice and simple with the Old Faithful pattern. Make sure you feel nice and relaxed while you strum - that’s so important. And don’t worry if you add extra strums or forget a couple - just keep your hand moving consistently. :) You’ll probably get fed up of this pattern quite soon; it’s tricky to make it work for a whole song. And there are loads of delicious things to steal from Pearl Jam's version of Last Kiss, like picked fingerstyle and chord ornaments. So let’s check ‘em out! Last Kiss by Pearl Jam on Guitar: Picked Fingerstyle The picked fingerstyle part works great if you have another guitarist playing chords. There’s no set pattern - just try strumming the full chord on beat 1 then picking out individual notes for the rest of the bar. Keep your hand moving consistently too. 🎸 Picked Fingerstyle: explore this technique in more detail with my Intermed... https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5nx9ZOMrIM 650 2021-01-23T17:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-times-like-these-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-990 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Lcv43juPhrE/hqdefault.jpg Times Like These by Foo Fighters Learn "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters On Guitar! A fantastic song from the legend Dave Grohl. Loads of tasty stuff going on - perfect for Grade 3+ guitar players. Dave Grohl’s got a fantastic sense of time. Being a great drummer, singer, songwriter, and guitar player, it’s almost unfair how good he is! But, there’s a lot to learn from him as a musician. :) In this lesson, you’ll learn the acoustic guitar version of this song. We’ll also explore some electric bits just because they sound amazingly cool! Grab your guitar, and let’s get stuck in. How To Play Times Like These On Guitar Let’s start with the intro. You’ll first play a regular D chord. You’ll mainly need the chords D, Am7, C, Em throughout the song. The riff is made up by lifting your finger off and on. But first, you need to know tackle the strumming pattern - it’ll make things a bit easier! Here’s the strumming pattern to follow for the intro: D U D U D D U U D D U D 1 + 2 + 3 4 + + 2 3 + 4 Once you’re hip with that, you can start lifting your first finger off this pattern. Here’s when to flick off with the strumming pattern: D off U on D on U off D on D off U on U off D on D off U on D on 🔑 Writing this down is super helpful! And be patient. Practice is the cure here. :) Times Like These Strumming Variations Besides the intro, the strumming pattern is pretty common throughout the song. There are a few variations in there. If you watch the version of Dave playing acoustically, this would be the basic pattern. There’s other stuff going on with slight variations here and there. 👂 Start with the basic versions, then use your ear training to guide your rhythm changes. To do this, it’s worth giving a good listen to the original recordings and the acoustic versions. This way, you can feel the timing and listen in on how David locks in the groove so well. As for the electric bits - there’s a really fun riff in there! It’s great to play along with the record because it’s in 7:8 timing. Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with Times Like These ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lcv43juPhrE 601 2018-01-27T15:27:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-i-shot-the-sheriff-1-2-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-613 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W7kdWkBRhvo/hqdefault.jpg I Shot the Sheriff [1/2] by Bob Marley Learn to play "I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I Shot the Sheriff on the guitar. This classic reggae tune is a great song to add to your repertoire and an excellent vehicle for practicing your triad chords, which we'll see in the second part of this lesson. I Shot the Sheriff is a famous reggae song originally performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It's been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton, who had a hit with his version. In our lesson, we're going to focus on a version that's perfect for practicing your triad chords. This song is an excellent choice for intermediate guitarists looking to improve their reggae rhythm skills and expand their chord vocabulary. It's got a catchy melody, a great groove, and some interesting chord progressions that will challenge and improve your playing. So, let's dive in and explore this iconic track! Chord Progression The chorus features a simple yet captivating progression. It starts with a bar of G minor, followed by a bar of C minor, and then returns to G minor for two bars. This pattern repeats throughout the chorus, creating that hypnotic reggae feel that's quintessentially Bob Marley. The repetitive nature of this progression allows you to really sink into the groove and feel the rhythm of the music. In contrast, the verse progression adds a bit of variety to the song's structure. It begins with E♭ for two beats, transitions to D minor for another two beats, and then settles into G minor for a full bar. This progression gives the verse a distinct character, differentiating it from the chorus and adding depth to the song. The shift from the E♭ to D minor creates a sense of movement that propels the verse forward, while the resolution to G minor ties it back to the song's tonal center. Rhythm and Strumming Now, let's talk about the rhythm - the heart and soul of reggae music. In reggae, we focus on playing the "and" beats, which gives the music its distinctive bouncy feel. If you're counting "1, 2, 3, 4," y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/W7kdWkBRhvo 354 2017-12-08T11:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/outkast-hey-ya-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RzoxriapSsM/hqdefault.jpg Hey Ya! by OutKast Learn How To Play "Hey Ya" by Outkast On Guitar! In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Hey Ya by Outkast on acoustic guitar. This is a fun song for beginners, but it has a sneaky 2:4 bar in the middle of the chord progression that needs some attention! 💡 This upbeat song was released back in 2003, and was #1 on the charts for weeks! If you haven't already, I recommend you check out the music video - it's fun and will probably make you want to dance. :) It's a huge hit song, and you only need four chords to play it! That is the power of an ultra-catchy tune with a quirky bar. This is a lot of fun to play at parties. Someone is sure to sing along with you! Chord Progression First, keep it simple with four downstrums per bar. Start with a full bar of G. Then, you'll do 2 bars of your C chord. Then we're switching to D for only two strums and finishing with 2 bars of E. This chord sequence plays throughout the whole song, even the chorus! Check out the 8 essential beginner chords lesson if you're not familiar with these open chords yet. Ease into the chord sequences, and speed it up as you gain confidence. Counting out loud will help you keep your strums consistent. Strumming Pattern The old faithful strumming pattern - probably the most common pattern of all time - works great for this tune! The only variation for this strumming pattern is adding two downstrums on the D chords. If you're new to this strumming pattern, mute your strings and start slow. Practice the strumming pattern on its own before adding the chord sequence. Keeping your hand moving is essential here! Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzoxriapSsM 393 2018-02-04T21:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/coldplay-the-scientist-in-4ths-tuning-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-607 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R7p3h-ojv0s/hqdefault.jpg The Scientist [in 4ths tuning] by Coldplay "The Scientist" by Coldplay on Acoustic Guitar – Altered Tuning Version Hey, how you doing? Let’s check out how to play The Scientist by Coldplay. Wow, 12 years since I first did a lesson on this one! How time flies… it’s still a great tune and always goes down real well at parties. :) I have a lesson on a beginner version of The Scientist that uses standard tuning, a capo, and open chords. But if you’re feeling adventurous, stick with me. Let’s re-tune the guitar and get playing! The Scientist by Coldplay – 4ths Tuning Don’t let the name of this tuning scare you. 4ths tuning is real easy! All you have to do is put your guitar in standard tuning (EADGBE), then tune string 2 to a C and string 1 to an F. You can do this with a chromatic tuner. But you can also match string 2 to the note at 3:5 (string 3, fret 5). Once you’ve re-tuned string 2, match string 1 to the note at 2:5. Now your guitar is tuned EADGCF, which is what we call 4ths tuning. :) 💡 More on 4ths Tuning: I teamed up with Ant Law to uncover the hidden secrets of 4ths tuning. It’s a really cool lesson, and knowing this stuff can open up your fretboard in loadsa ways. :) Your usual open chords will probably sound terrible now! But don’t worry – with the right chords, you’ll get a wicked sound. So let’s turn our attention to the chord shapes we’ll need. The Scientist by Coldplay – Chords The chord shapes we need are basically barre chords without the full barre. We only need to worry about the bottom four strings; we leave strings 1 and 2 to ring out as open strings. These chords are a nice intro to barre chords – perfect if you’ve done a beginners' course and want to move to the next level. :) The first chord is X57700. This is a Dm7. Finger 1 plays 5:5, finger 3 goes on 4:7, and finger 4 plays 3:7. Make sure finger 1 mutes string 6 and lifts up enough to let strings 2 and 1 ring out. This is a power chord shape with open strings added. Then we switch to a Bb add9 (688700). Don’t be scared by the name – it’s no more tricky than the Dm7! Just shift t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/R7p3h-ojv0s 1068 2020-04-09T14:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-come-together-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-123 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/paYRL2caa_4/hqdefault.jpg Come Together by The Beatles Learn The Beatles: "Come Together" On Guitar Get your guitar in Drop D tuning because that's how we'll play the bass riff for Come Together by The Beatles on the acoustic guitar! Drop D tuning is not almost certainly what was done on the original recording, which is mostly bass and electric piano. Still, it works great to reproduce those Rock and Roll patterns on the acoustic guitar. How to Tune to Drop D On Guitar Turning your guitar to Drop D is as simple as tuning the thickest string down one tone! All you want is to match the open thickest string to the open fourth string, the D string. They should sound the same! If you want a little extra fine-tuning, you can play a harmonic at fret 12 on the thickest string. You'll hear that the string stops wobbling when it's in tune! Ready? Now let's learn how to play the classic Come Together riff on the acoustic guitar. Get JustinGuitarTABS to follow along with this and over 600 other song tutorials. Come Together: Play the Bass Guitar Riff! To play the riff for Come Together, follow these steps: Play the thickest string twice, On beat 2, put finger 1 on 6:5 (string 6, fret 5), then play consecutive hammer-ons at frets 6 and 7 with fingers 2 and 3, Place your little finger down on 5:8, then play 5:5 with finger 1. This comes on the "+" of 2. Playing this riff might be tricky because of the little hammer-on section, which is 16th-note triplets. You're better off not counting the rhythm for those. Just make sure you stay on the beat, relax, and play. Even if you get the notes right for this riff, a wonky rhythm and feel will make it sound strange. It's a simple riff, but you have to nail the time feel. Come Together by The Beatles: Verses & Chorus Playing Come Together verses and chorus in Drop D is also very fun! We start with a D chord, and if we play the thickest three strings open, we can play a Rock and Roll pattern by putting the second finger down on the second fret of the fifth string. :) Not sure how? Check out the video lesson for more details, but it's ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/paYRL2caa_4 441 2022-05-18T03:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/zz-top-la-grange-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-303 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JqT0YvnK2Ug/hqdefault.jpg La Grange by ZZ Top "La Grange" by ZZ Top is one of the most classic rock songs of all time! It was released in 1973, even before I was even born! It still gets loads of radio plays. I remember playing this as a kid and having loads of fun - it's just super cool. This incredible guitar tune has blues riff in the key. It uses unusual fingerpicking, which we'll check out in a bit. In this lesson, you'll learn how to play La Grange, some of the variations, and explore a breakdown of the riff. How to Play La Grange Riff First, we've got an A chord using our first finger covering the fourth and third strings. Don't press down on the second string - we are not playing that note. Instead, focus your finger pressure on the 3rd and 4th strings. We're also playing with a combination of pick and fingers. Think of it as a hybrid picking technique! So we're holding the pick regularly but using fingers 2 and 3 to pick the middle two strings. This is also how the song starts. Make sure you release the pressure of the first finger between the notes! La Grange: Chords I recommend you practice getting the riff down. Then, once you are comfortable, you can start playing around. Change up the rhythm, and make it your own! But remember, don't overcomplicate things! The fingerpicking is already quite unusual in this song. If you're not used to doing fingerpicking, this might be tricky for you. This song has a combination of different chords. Among them includes D, C, Em, F, E flat, and C flat. It mainly uses the C minor pentatonic scale. You need to be familiar with this standard blues scale if you want to play this song. With the C minor pentatonic scale, you'll be able to improvise and really make it your own. I hope you enjoy playing this ZZ Top song. Take care and see you very soon :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/JqT0YvnK2Ug 660 2017-12-04T08:15:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/eric-clapton-tulsa-time-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-032 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zitS2SNZ63c/hqdefault.jpg Tulsa Time by Eric Clapton Learn to play "Tulsa Time" by Eric Clapton on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Tulsa Time on the guitar. It's a classic country tune often covered by various artists, and we'll focus on the Eric Clapton version. This song is harmonically similar across most versions, making it a great choice for beginners. Chord Progression The chord progression for Tulsa Time can be boiled down to just two chords: G and D. The song starts with three bars of G, followed by four bars of D, and ends with another bar of G. So, it's like four bars of G, four bars of D, with a little offset at the end, which is a classic country trick in terms of chord progression. Strumming Patterns and Creative Freedom Tulsa Time offers much room for experimentation and adding your style. You can try various strumming patterns and ideas with this song. A basic strumming pattern could involve playing a bass note followed by a strum on the chord. However, explore different strumming techniques and find your unique sound. This simple and popular song makes it a great choice for beginners. The lyrics are not difficult to sing, so you can have fun and even mumble through it. Don't be afraid to experiment and make the song your own. Tips for a Country Sound Try a different approach to the G chord to add a bit of country flair to the song. Instead of playing the entire G chord, use your second finger to play the note G on the third fret of the thickest string. Mute the fifth string and only strum down on strings four and three. You can also put your third finger down on the third fret of the second string, mute the thinnest string, and use your first finger to press down on the second fret of the fourth string on beats two and four. This little trick creates a nice country sound. Remember, you can modify and personalize the song to suit your style. Add your strumming patterns, change the feel, and experiment with the amount of swing. The goal is to make the song your own and have fun with it. Playing Along with the Original Recording P... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zitS2SNZ63c 526 2019-12-20T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-here-there-and-everywhere-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-127 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/35n6nIeT2N4/hqdefault.jpg Here, There And Everywhere by The Beatles How To Play "Here There And Everywhere" by The Beatles On Guitar! Here there and everywhere by the Beatles is a beautiful acoustic tune - a beautiful guitar ballad to play. It has relatively easy chords and simples down strums. There are a few different ways of playing it, so it's a great tune to learn if you like adding your own twist to songs! To play this song, you'll need to be confident with barre chords - there are a few you can't escape with certain open chords! In this lesson, you'll learn how to play this iconic Beatles tune. We'll also check out a fingerpicking pattern which will be a great technique to learn for other songs. You can play this song in many different ways. There are loads of barre chords and open chords to play around with. In the video, I show you a couple of chord substitutions you might like to try. They might be easier than the original recording, so it's worth checking it out! Here There And Everywhere Fingerstyle Patterns Don't be afraid to explore with different fingerstyle patterns to you find what works best for you! You'll also be able to add some base notes here and there. We use kind of the thumb first finger and little strums with the other fingers. This little technique works great in loads of other songs. Here There And Everywhere Strumming Patterns You can add dynamics to the strumming patterns by playing it a bit faster or slower. Explore and see what sounds best for you! Another thing that's exciting to experiment with, especially if your two guitar players or you're jamming with someone else. You can have one person played the open chords and the other person using the barred chords! In this case, the barre chords are played fingerstyle, giving a lovely texture combined with the other players strumming. I really hope you enjoy playing this song. It's a lovely one to experiment with. And remember, this song is excellent to test different personal variations! If you're a Beatles fan, scroll down this page to see all the other Beatles song lessons available. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/35n6nIeT2N4 719 2018-01-25T08:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/dire-straits-tunnel-of-love-solo-1-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-002 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AAeiWui-Dxo/hqdefault.jpg Tunnel Of Love [SOLO 1] by Dire Straits "Tunnel Of Love" by Dire Straits: First Guitar Solo Let’s check out the first guitar solo from Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits. We’ll look at how to play it, and dive into the genius of Mark Knopfler’s playing. When you learn other people’s solos, it’s crucial you digest them. Mark Knopfler uses chord tones amazingly well, and if you understand these details, you’ll be better placed to use his licks and ideas in your own guitar playing. If you want a quick playthrough of the entire solo, head to 1:06 in the video lesson. You’ll find the exact fingerings and counts in the video. :) Let's go. Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits: Phrase 1 This phrase lands on an F chord. There’s some Hendrix ideas in there, and Mark outlines an F6 to F9 change. He also plays in multiple shapes of the CAGED position - you can see it in the lines and double stops. 🎸 Explore: You can explore this one loads - put on an F chord loop and experiment with it. :) Phrase 2 This one lands on a Dm chord. To play this right, you’ll need to roll finger 1 on to string 2. He finishes the last riff with vibrato on the note D on string 3, landing on it exactly when the chords change! This is typical of Mark’s playing - you can almost hear the chords in his solo. 🔥 Chord Tones: This phrase is all from the D Minor Pentatonic scale, and you can see the E-shape Dm chord underneath it. Awesome stuff. Don’t just learn it and move on - nick it! Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits: Phrase 3 This is a classic Mark Knopfler lick! To mimic him, be specific with the fingers you use to pick the strings. In this one, he’s outlining the B♭ chord, which lasts for two beats. He even starts the lick on the note B♭ when the chords change, and you can see the C barre shape underneath his phrase. When he finishes with vibrato on G, he does it exactly when the chords change to C. Note that the C Major chord is made up of C E G. Incredible playing! :) Guitar Solo Phrase 4 You start this phrase by playing two strings at once, bending one. Interestingly, he plays the note B♭ over th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/AAeiWui-Dxo 1459 2019-06-05T14:47:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ac-dc-whole-lotta-rosie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-335 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8wuaAvlBKEk/hqdefault.jpg Whole Lotta Rosie by AC/DC Learn to play "Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Whole Lotta Rosie by AC/DC on the guitar. This song is a fantastic jamming tune and a great introduction to the rock and roll style of AC/DC. It's a fun song to play, and it really rocks hard! The Opening Riff The song kicks off with a powerful rock and roll riff. This riff is based on an A open power chord and is a staple of the AC/DC sound. It's a simple yet effective riff that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The key to this riff is to get that rock and roll groove on. It's all about the rhythm and the feel of the song. The Verse Once you've got the opening riff down, it's time to move on to the verse. The verse continues the rock and roll vibe of the opening riff but adds a few more chords to the mix. It's a great opportunity to practice switching between chords while maintaining the rhythm. The verse also introduces some more advanced techniques, like accenting certain beats and using palm muting to create a more dynamic sound. It's these little details that really make the song come alive. The Chorus and the Bridge The chorus is where Whole Lotta Rosie really takes off. It introduces a new chord progression that adds a lot of energy. It's a great chance to practice strumming chords in time with the beat and really get into the groove of the song. The bridge is a key part of the song that transitions between the verse and the chorus. It introduces a new chord progression that adds a bit of variety to the song. This part of the song is a great chance to practice switching between chords quickly and smoothly. The song ends with a return to the opening riff. It's a great way to round off the song and leave the listener wanting more. Wrapping it Up Throughout this lesson, we'll go through each part of the song step-by-step, seeing tips and tricks to help you nail the AC/DC sound. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy playing the song. Don't worry if you don't get it perfect right away;... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wuaAvlBKEk 656 2017-12-21T12:28:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/otis-redding-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-402 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BG8FXzs1rRE/hqdefault.jpg (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding Learn "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay on the guitar. This song is a classic tune by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper, and it's a great piece to add to your repertoire. If you haven't heard of Steve Cropper before, be sure to check him out. He's a fantastic guitar player who has made some really great records. The Chords The chords you'll need for this song are B7, G, C, A, E minor, E major, D7, F, and regular D. If you're new to guitar, don't worry! All of these chords are beginner-friendly, and you can find tutorials for each of them on my website. The Verse, the Chorus, and the Bridge The verse of the song starts with a G chord. From there, it moves to B7, C, and finally A. The verse repeats this progression a few times. Next, let's move on to the chorus. The chord progression for the chorus is G, E minor, A, and then back to G. The chorus ends with an interesting twist, finishing on an E major chord. It's a bit unusual, but it gives the song its unique sound. The bridge is slightly more complicated, but don't let that discourage you! It starts with a G chord, moves to D7, and finishes with a C. After repeating this progression a few times, it transitions to an F chord and wraps up with a D. Strumming Pattern The strumming pattern for this song is down, down, up, up, down. This pattern is consistent throughout the song, making it easy to remember. If you're a beginner, take some time to practice this strumming pattern before you start playing the song. Wrapping Up That's it! Now you're ready to play (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay on your guitar. As always, practice makes permanent, so take your time and go at your own pace. And remember, guitar playing is supposed to be fun, so enjoy yourself! Check out the video for a more detailed walk-through. And don't forget to check back regularly for more guitar tutorials and tips. Until next time, happy playing! 💡 Get verified chords, lyrics, and tabs for (Sittin... https://www.youtube.com/embed/BG8FXzs1rRE 954 2018-02-04T23:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-unknown-legend-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-913 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P95GwVtkgTI/hqdefault.jpg Unknown Legend by Neil Young Learn to play "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Unknown Legend on the guitar, a beautiful Neil Young song that resonates with so many of us. From its intriguing chord progression to its unique rhythmic patterns, this song offers a rich learning experience for guitarists. So, let's dive in and start exploring this masterpiece together! Understanding the Song Unknown Legend is one of Neil Young's all-time favorite songs, with loads of interesting things going on in the guitar part. It's played fingerstyle, but it's kind of strummed, so you're strumming with your fingers and picking out individual notes. The song uses a very common Neil Young technique: the continuous movement of the strumming hand. All of the melody lines and the little bits have to kind of fit into the hand still moving, even when it's playing single lines. This is the most challenging aspect of this tune. The Chord Progression The song primarily revolves around two chords, G and C. However, the unusual structuring of the song, with chords held for an unusual number of bars, makes it quite interesting. Usually, chords are held for one, two, four, or eight bars, sometimes six, but this song has some chords held for five bars and then a two-four bar before transitioning to a new chord, which is slightly odd. Working on the Strumming Technique One of the key elements to focus on while learning this song is the continuous movement of the strumming hand. The hand moves continuously, and notes on the beat are played with the thumb doing a down pick and down strum. If they're on the offbeat, that is an "and"; you use your first finger to do an up pick. It's really got to feel like it's still strumming. The Verse and the Chorus The song's verse and chorus bring a new twist to the chord progression. The chords' rhythm feels a little weird, like where the chords are changing. But once you get the hang of it, it just flows beautifully. Learning a new song is not just about getting the chords and the strum... https://www.youtube.com/embed/P95GwVtkgTI 1402 2017-11-28T10:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-cortez-the-killer-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-291 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h-riy-mHKIs/hqdefault.jpg Cortez The Killer [Easy] by Neil Young Learn to Play "Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Cortez the Killer on the guitar. This classic song by Neil Young is a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire, especially for beginners. The Basics Cortez the Killer is a straightforward song that even beginners can pick up quickly. The song's simplicity lies in its chord progression, which consists of E minor, D, and A minor. This progression repeats throughout the song, making it easy to follow along with the original recording. Exploring Variations One of the greatest aspects of this song is its ability to be varied. It's a wonderful canvas for you to experiment with simple chords, strumming patterns, and even some soloing. If you're feeling adventurous and want to experiment, you can play around with different strumming patterns. This can add extra flavor to your performance and make the song your own. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to play it. The most important thing is to make it feel nice and that you enjoy playing it. Rhythm and Strumming The rhythm for the tune is based on 16th note strumming. This might be a little tricky for beginners, but don't let that discourage you. In fact, this song is an excellent opportunity to try out different things and see what feels comfortable for you. The important thing is to keep the rhythm consistent, so even if you're just doing simple down and up strums, that's perfectly fine. Jamming and Improvisation Cortez the Killer is also a fun song to jam with. If you're learning the G major scale or the E minor pentatonic scale, this song provides a fantastic backdrop to practice improvisation. This song is particularly good for beginners because you can explore it a lot more later as you progress in your guitar journey. Wrapping Up Remember, as a beginner, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey of learning to play the guitar. Don't be in a hurry to do fancy tunings or complicated strumming patterns. Keep the chords and rhythm simple, and focus on making... https://www.youtube.com/embed/h-riy-mHKIs 636 2018-01-13T09:23:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/harry-styles-as-it-was-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-165 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TXjDzDYuJ6o/hqdefault.jpg As It Was by Harry Styles Learn how to play "As It Was" by Harry Styles on the acoustic guitar! This song is a fantastic pop tune and a great one for beginner guitarists. You will only need easy chords and a simple strumming pattern to play along with the original recording. :) 😅 Struggling with basic techniques? Grade 1 is for you. :) Now let's get stuck in and learn how to play As It Was by Harry Styles on the acoustic guitar. You should be able to cover this song on your own by the end of this tutorial. :) As It Was by Harry Styles – Basic Chords and Rhythm This song uses a capo on fret 2. The only chords you'll need are C, Am, D, and G, and we stay on each chord for two bars. It's crucial to realize that when transitioning from C (X32010) to Am (X02210), the only finger that moves is finger 3, from string 5 to string 3. Fingers 1 and 2 don't move. That makes the change easier! :) There are many ways to play G as an open chord. You can play 3X0003 using fingers 2 and 3 or 3X0033 with fingers 2, 3, and 4. In both cases, you can add finger 1 to fret 2 of string 5 or mute string 5 with finger 3. Use the variation you like most! 💡Effortless Chord Changes – Make your chord changes smooth and slick with my One Minute Changes exercise! Try playing one strum per chord to start if you struggle with chord changes. Notice that for the first two bars of the intro, we only hear the riff – no chords, no lyrics. So miss the first C chord and start on the Am. The lyric begins on the next C. As It Was – Dynamics And Developing The Rhythm You must vary your rhythm when playing a song with a repeating chord sequence. Otherwise, the listener will get bored – fast! You want to ensure the verses are quiet and the choruses are loud. Let's see some ways to do that for As It Was. :) One option is to play one strum per chord on beat 1 of the verses. Once you hit the chorus, you can add strumming. This way, you vary the dynamics and keep it interesting. A great pattern for this one is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, accenting beats 2 and 4. You could play the bass note for ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/TXjDzDYuJ6o 646 2022-10-12T15:12:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/amy-winehouse-mark-ronson-valerie-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-823 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EHLwCyYOBpQ/hqdefault.jpg Valerie by Amy Winehouse / Mark Ronson Learn How to Play "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Valerie by Amy Winehouse on the guitar. This popular track, originally by The Zutons but made famous through the Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson version, is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire. It's perfect for jams, gatherings, or just playing by yourself at home. The Amy Winehouse version of Valerie has a soulful, upbeat feel that's a bit more accessible for guitarists than the original Zutons version. The Zutons' original has multiple guitar layers and is in E♭ (simply tuning every string down one semitone), making it more complex. Our lesson focuses on the Winehouse/Ronson arrangement but with a simplified approach that works great for solo playing. We'll use a capo on the 3rd fret, making the chord shapes much more manageable. This song is ideal for intermediate beginners who want to expand their chord vocabulary and develop their rhythm playing. We'll explore a couple of new chord voicings and some fun strumming patterns that will help bring this song to life. The Chord Progression The verse structure follows a simple pattern: four bars of Cmaj7, followed by four bars of Dm7, then repeat. When we hit the chorus, we move to F for two bars, Em for two bars, back to F for two, Em for two more, F again, Em, then G for two bars, and optionally G7 for another two bars before returning to the verse pattern. This chord progression creates that signature soulful feel that makes the song so recognizable. The major 7th and minor 7th chords add a jazzy, sophisticated touch to what would otherwise be a straightforward pop progression. Strumming Approaches One of the great things about Valerie is how versatile it is for different skill levels. If you're just starting out with strumming, you can keep it super simple with four down strums per bar (one on each beat). This works but can get monotonous. A more engaging but still accessible approach is to strum just on beats one and three. This creates a more relaxed, half-time f... https://www.youtube.com/embed/EHLwCyYOBpQ 709 2018-02-05T15:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/sting-fields-of-gold-easy-version-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-693 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Chu_xHM_4gw/hqdefault.jpg Fields Of Gold (Easy Version) by Sting Learn How to Play "Fields of Gold" by Sting on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Fields of Gold on the guitar. I'm thrilled to take you through this beginner-friendly version of Fields of Gold. Originally, Dominic Miller, Sting's guitar player, played it fingerstyle. In this simplified version for beginners, the key has changed, and we'll be strumming instead of playing it fingerstyle. This arrangement is perfect for those just getting started, though it has a unique rhythm twist that might be a little challenging at first. But don't worry, it's not too tricky! Chord Progression Let's kick off by getting familiar with the chords. We're starting simple here, with just four down strums to the bar. The intro consists of four bars of an A minor chord. The verse starts with A minor, followed by F, then back to A minor. After that, we have an F chord for a bar, another bar of F, then a C chord, then A minor again, followed by F for half a bar, and then C for half a bar. We then return to half a bar of F, then half a bar of G leading to A minor for a whole bar, two beats on A minor, then two beats on F leading to C for two bars. This chord sequence might seem a little unusual, but that's the beauty of Sting's music. It's a good idea to jot down these chord progressions to help you remember. Verse Structure For the second time through, the A minor and the A minor to F bar are omitted, making the second verse a bit different. The second verse is an A minor for a bar, F for a bar, another bar of F, then a C chord, then to A minor, then F to C to F to G to C. This shortens it a little, but the result is a beautiful, slightly unusual chord structure that makes this song stand out. The Bridge The only other section we need to talk about for the chords is the bridge, which is a bar of F, a bar of C, a bar of F, a bar of C, a bar of F, a bar of C, then half a bar of F, half a bar of G, a bar of C, half a bar of F, half a bar of G, and a bar of C. Perfecting Your Timing A key aspect of this song is that many ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/Chu_xHM_4gw 925 2018-01-22T16:46:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-old-man-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-905 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1yROwLg-2tI/hqdefault.jpg Old Man by Neil Young I was amazed at how many requests I got for this song! I mean, I love Old Man by Neil Young too, but I hadn't realized what a huge song it is for so many of you! So, I guess many of us feel the sentiment for our dads. Interestingly Neil wrote this song about the old caretaker on his ranch when he first bought it, not his father! If you're following my Guitar Courses, Old Man is a great song for Grade 5+ Students. Many things are going on on this tune, so it's definitely a trickier one to play. To help you out, I've got this monster song lesson - it's 28 minutes of detail about playing this one, just like the record. :) Hope you dig it! Now let's get stuck in. How to play Old Man by Neil Young We'll learn this song in three sections: the intro, the verses, and the course. Some improvising things are happening in the verses, so you'll be able to move your fingers around and have some fun. We'll go into a full close-up in the video tutorial and understand exactly what's going on. This tune uses some suspended chords that sound lovely! The pick patterns will demand some practice, and it'll help you a big deal to be really familiar with this song. Playing guitar is all about listening, so make sure you take the time to develop your ears. That will help you with all your musicianship. There are really loads of stuff going on here, so I want to mention a few things to help you nail Old Man on the acoustic guitar! 5 Tips on Playing Old Man by Neil Young Old Man has a 16th Note Strumming feeling, but I'll explain it as an 8th Note Strumming. It'll be a lot easier for both of us. Like many Neil Young songs, you really have to keep your strumming hand consistent. That's a big deal here - strum down on the beat and up on the downbeat. Be aware of the palm muting. It's essential to get it right to have the same vibe as the original recording. The easiest way of doing it is by resting the side of your strumming hand slightly on the strings, close to your guitar's bridge. This won't happen all the time, though, so you must b... https://www.youtube.com/embed/1yROwLg-2tI 1735 2017-11-17T02:11:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-calling-wherever-you-will-go-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-903 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8wOuxwTL5mU/hqdefault.jpg Wherever You Will Go by The Calling Learn to play "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Wherever You Will Go on the guitar. This beautiful song by The Calling is a fantastic addition to your repertoire, combining simple open chords and straightforward progressions with engaging picking patterns. It's perfect for intermediate players looking to expand their skills. While it's not overly difficult, it offers some interesting challenges that will help develop your playing technique. The song follows a classic pop-rock structure with verses, choruses, and a bridge. What makes it interesting is how we approach each section differently - using fingerpicking for the verses and switching to strumming for the choruses, creating a nice dynamic contrast. We'll use a capo on the second fret to match the original recording, though you can practice without one if you're just learning at home. Chord Progression The chord progression is built around C major, making it accessible for most players. In the verses, we work with variations of C, G, Am, and F chords, creating a smooth, flowing progression that supports the melody beautifully. The chorus maintains these basic chords but with slight variations to give it more energy and drive. For the bridge section, we move to a different progression using Am, F, G, and E chords, which creates a nice contrast with the rest of the song and helps build tension before returning to the main progression. Playing Techniques What makes this song particularly interesting is the contrast between the finger-picking verses and strummed choruses. The verse sections feature a repeating picking pattern that, while it might take some practice to master, creates a beautiful flowing sound that's characteristic of the song. When we hit the chorus, we switch to a more energetic strumming pattern that helps drive the song forward. Final Thoughts The best way to learn Wherever You Will Go is by breaking it down into smaller sections. Start with the verse progression and picking pattern, th... https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wOuxwTL5mU 594 2018-02-05T18:38:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/marvin-gaye-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-412 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lnx5FItMMhk/hqdefault.jpg Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye Learn How to Play "Heard It Through the Grapevine" By Marvin Gaye On The Guitar Today, we'll dive into the soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye's classic hit, Heard It Through the Grapevine. This iconic tune is a fantastic addition to your guitar repertoire, and we'll walk through it step by step, chord by chord, and riff by riff. And the best part? We're going to have a ton of fun doing it! The Beauty of Marvin Gaye's Classic Tune Marvin Gaye's Heard It Through the Grapevine is more than just a song; it's a musical journey. From the iconic organ parts to the soulful lyrics, it's a tune that resonates with listeners even decades after its release. Playing this song on the guitar allows us to explore its rich melodies and rhythms, precisely what we'll do in this lesson. Tackling The Intro Riff We're going to kick things off with the intro riff. This part of the song is quite distinctive and sets the tone for the rest of the tune. And while it's an approximation of the organ part, it's a key component of the guitar arrangement. We'll focus on this section's overall feel and movement, which will give you a solid foundation to build on as we progress through the song. The Journey From D Minor To G and Back One of the great things about Heard It Through the Grapevine is the chord progression. This song takes us on a musical journey from a D minor chord to a G and then back to D minor. This progression isn't particularly difficult, but it adds depth and complexity to the song, making it especially engaging to play. We'll dive deeply into this progression and help you master it in no time! The Intricacies of Rhythm The rhythm in Heard It Through the Grapevine is an integral part of what makes this song so memorable. It's a little tricky at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it with patience and practice. We'll walk through the rhythm step by step, focusing on when the chords change and how to maintain a steady beat. Remember, rhythm is all about feeling the music, so let loose and let the music guide you! Bridging the G... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lnx5FItMMhk 752 2017-12-04T13:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/jimi-hendrix-hey-joe-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-301 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i_x7dbbskeU/hqdefault.jpg Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix Learn to Play "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix on the guitar. It's a fantastic song for beginners, using all five open major chord grips. Even if Jimi plays the original version differently, this easy version is a lot of fun to play. You can play it along with the record or at a party. It's a crowd-pleaser; everyone enjoys singing along to this one. Chord Progression The chord progression for the entire song remains the same, making it easy for beginners to follow along. It consists of two beats on C, two on G, two on D, two on A, and then two bars of E. That's it! You can play the entire song with this chord sequence. Now that you've got the basics down, let's talk about adding a bit more flair to the rhythm. Spicing Up the Rhythm Try a few techniques to make the rhythm more interesting. One approach is to add an up-strum after the count of three, introducing a different dynamic to the rhythm. This is definitely a step up from just doing all of the down strums. Another technique is using all down-strums. This lends the rhythm more energy and can make your performance more engaging. Adding Extras Once you're comfortable with the rhythm, add some upstrokes as you feel it. It's about making sure that your hand keeps moving the same way because when that rhythm falters, things start to sound slightly off. So, keep that arm moving the same all the time. Once you've got all of the downstrokes down, you can start adding in some of those upstrokes if you so desire. For those looking for an extra challenge, there's a cool riff at the end of this song that many people enjoy learning. It's a great finger exercise for beginners and adds an extra level of complexity to the song. Closing Thoughts Jimi Hendrix is known for his complex guitar work, but Hey Joe is a song that even beginner guitar players can tackle. It's a great introduction to his music and a fun way to improve your guitar skills. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a new addition to y... https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_x7dbbskeU 725 2017-11-13T04:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/taylor-swift-willow-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-074 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tW9_adqALso/hqdefault.jpg Willow by Taylor Swift LET'S LEARN THIS HUGE TAYLOR SWIFT HIT ON GUITAR In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Willow by Taylor Swift on guitar. Taylor is an incredible songwriter and artist, and her last couple of albums have cool folk undertones while still maintaining a pop feel. We'll explore an easy beginner version of Willow, which includes a nice cheat to avoid the Bm barre chord! :) There are other fantastic guitar parts to explore here, so we'll look at the trickier stuff, like the verse riff. If you're a more advanced player or are feeling adventurous, you'll dig it. Let's start with the chords. HOW TO PLAY "WILLOW" BY TAYLOR SWIFT ON ACOUSTIC GUITAR Willow by Taylor Swift: Verse To see how the chords sit with the lyrics, check out the video lesson. :) To play the verse progression, you only need Em, D, and C - the progression is: Em, D, Em, D Em, D, C, C We repeat this twice for one verse. The verse rhythm is interesting because it's lively and feels more like 2:2 time than 4:4. To master it, play along with the original record. :) If you're a beginner, start by strumming on beat 1 or beats 1 and 3 until you're comfortable with the chord changes. Willow by Taylor Swift: Chorus and Bridge For the chorus, we play G, D, Am, and Em four times round. And at the very end of the chorus, we stick on Em for an extra bar. As for the bridge, we repeat Bm, Em, Am, and G four times. Watch out: the lyric starts on Am, so it kinda feels like the first chord even though it's not! 🤔 Struggling with barre chords? Bm is usually a barre chord, but in the video we look at a barre-less cheat chord. ;) Willow by Taylor Swift: Strumming Let’s focus on the strumming now. Your first stop is to strum on beat 1 of each bar. You can figure out where the lyrics fall over the chords by watching the video lesson or strumming to Taylor Swift's original recording. :) Once you’ve nailed that pattern, try strumming on beats 1 and 3. You can also try one of the original strumming patterns - I explain one in detail in the video. It's syncopated and a little ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/tW9_adqALso 1036 2021-05-21T15:00:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bobby-hebb-sunny-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-169 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MOqcydE0H9Q/hqdefault.jpg Sunny by Bobby Hebb Learn "Sunny" by Bobby Hebb on the Acoustic Guitar This easy lesson will teach you how to play Sunny by Bobby Hebb on the acoustic guitar. This song is great for beginners looking to challenge themselves: you can play it using easier chords! However, we'll also look at a real barre-chord workout version for intermediate players. 💬 Which version will you play? Join the Discussion and let me know in the comments! :) Sunny by Bobby Hebb – Verse Chords First, let's look at the chords and structure. The basic chords in verse are Em (022000), G (320033), C (X32010), F#m11 (2X2200), and B7 (X21202). Each lasts for one bar except the last two, which each last half a bar. The above F#m11 grip is a lovely substitute for F#m. Use your ears – if it sounds good, it is good! You can also leave off your little finger on the B7 to get X21200, which is technically a B11 chord. But don't worry about the names too much. It sounds cool! If you're hip with barre chords or want to practice them, play F#m (244222) instead of F#m11 and B7 (X24242). These are both barre chords at the second fret. Sunny by Bobby Hebb – Post-Verse Section + Riff We play Em, G, C, and F on the second repeat, each for one bar. Then we play a bar of F#m and B7, followed by Em for two bars. 🎸 F Chord Variations – F as a barre chord? As a mini shape? With the thumb? Learn three super-useful F chord variations and when to use them. Time for the James Bond sequence! On the final two bars of Em, we do embellishments with finger 1 and finger 4. First, on beat 3, add finger 1 to fret 1 of string 2 to get Em#5 (022010). On beat 1 of the next bar, add your little finger to fret 2 to get Em6 (022020) before switching back to Em#5 on beat 3. As for the rhythm, Old Faithful (1 2 + + 4) works great here. I suggest you switch to one strum per beat for F#m to B7. You can also try playing 8th notes (1+2+3+4+) with accents on 2 and 4. Sunny by Bobby Hebb – Original Guitar Parts In the original, you can hear the electric guitar playing chips on 2 and 4, along with a bass gu... https://www.youtube.com/embed/MOqcydE0H9Q 762 2022-11-23T11:50:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-commitments-wilson-picket-mustang-sally-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-523 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l7bW3JvHheY/hqdefault.jpg Mustang Sally by The Commitments / Wilson Picket Learn to Play "Mustang Sally" by The Commitments on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mustang Sally by The Commitments on the guitar. This classic hit is a fantastic song to add to your repertoire, whether you're a beginner just starting out or a more experienced guitarist looking to expand your song list. Mustang Sally is originally a rhythm and blues (R&B) song written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965. However, it became a worldwide hit when it was covered by Wilson Pickett in the following year. The version we will focus on in this lesson is from The Commitments, a musical comedy-drama film from 1991. This version of the song has gained immense popularity and is a crowd favorite. Chord Progression One of the most appealing aspects of Mustang Sally is its chord progression. It's a variation of the 12-bar blues chord sequence, played twice as long on each chord, sometimes described as a "double 12-bar blues". The song primarily uses three open chord grips—A7, D7, and E7. While it's more commonly played using barre chords, beginners can comfortably play it with open chords. The song's original recording is played in the key of C. You would put a capo on at the third fret to achieve this. However, we will play it without a capo in this lesson for simplicity's sake. This is a perfect song for beginners to practice their strumming and get comfortable with changing chords at the right time. Strumming and Rhythm We'll simplify the strumming to just four down strums to the bar. The song begins with the A7 chord for four bars, setting the groove. The song then follows a pattern where each chord is played for several bars, creating a smooth and easy flow for beginners to follow. As you progress, you can experiment with different strumming patterns to get a feeling similar to the original recording. Remember, practice makes permanent! With enough time and repetition, you'll become comfortable with the rhythm and be able to play it without thinking. Final Thoughts Mustang Sally is a fantastic son... https://www.youtube.com/embed/l7bW3JvHheY 510 2018-02-04T23:25:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-heart-of-gold-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-909 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3O85nC49Pqg/hqdefault.jpg Heart Of Gold by Neil Young Learn to play Heart of Gold by Neil Young on the acoustic guitar In this guitar lesson, we learn how to play Heart of Gold by Neil Young—one of the most iconic acoustic guitar songs ever. Originally released in 1972 on the album Harvest, Heart of Gold has become a go-to tune for beginner and intermediate guitarists, thanks to its simple chords, unforgettable riff, and deeply emotional feel. This tutorial breaks the song down step-by-step, starting with the basic open chords and strumming patterns that make it accessible to beginners. If you're starting your guitar journey, you'll find this song a perfect match—you'll be playing a recognizable tune quickly while building confidence and rhythm skills. But there's more to Heart of Gold than just the chords. In the second half of the lesson, we go under the hood and explore the more nuanced elements of Neil Young's playing style. You'll learn the subtle strumming dynamics, how to use muted strums for that signature "pump" feel, and how to approach the song's famous riff—even if you're still developing your finger dexterity. We also look at different ways to finger the chords, explore some alternate voicings, and discuss the small changes Neil makes when performing live. There's even a bonus section on harmonica, where Justin shares tips on how to get started playing Heart of Gold with harmonica, just like Neil. Even if you've never played harmonica, this segment gives you a fun place to start. Whether you're a beginner learning your first Neil Young song or an intermediate player looking to bring more emotion and feel to your acoustic playing, this is a great lesson to deepen your skills and musicality. What You'll Learn: How to play Heart of Gold on acoustic guitar All the chords used in the song (E minor, C, D, G) The iconic riff that defines the intro and chorus Neil Young's strumming technique and muted "pump" feel Tips for learning the harmonica parts How to listen for feel and dynamics in your playing Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them 👉 Want to ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/3O85nC49Pqg 1633 2025-05-23T01:13:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas-easy-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-119 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vr-jEPPhCTI/hqdefault.jpg We Wish You A Merry Christmas [EASY] by Xmas Classic Learn How To Play "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" On Guitar 🎄 Learn The Easy Strumming Version Of This Holiday classic! After releasing a fingerstyle version of this song, I got a few requests for a simple strumming version. So here is that song lesson. :) If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, this will be perfect to practice techniques for Grade 3 guitar students. I'll also show you how to rock it out with power chords. :) Grab your guitar & let's get merry! 🎅Looking for that perfect Christmas Songbook? Check out the JustinGuitar Christmas Songbook - It features 21 Xmas classics perfect for any holiday gatherings to come. With lyrics and chords, you'll be able to sing along and have so much fun with your friends & family! We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Easy Guitar Version You can play this song however you like. Keep it simple or make it fancy - it's up to you! If you're a beginner guitarist, I recommend you start the most basic version. For that, you'll play this Christmas classic strumming in 3/4 time. You'll need a C, Dm, and G chord for the first chord progression. You also encounter an F chord at some point, but don't panic! I have a few options for that F chord if you're a beginner. You can also check out my lesson on F chord cheats for details. This song has a couple of tricky transitions, mainly from the C chord to the F barre chord. Move fingers 2 and 3 down a string from the C chord, avoiding that thickest string. For an F major 7 - try flattening your first finger down so it's covering the three strings. I call this one the mini F chord. 💡 F to D minor it's also a tough transition for most beginners. It might be something you want to work on with your One Minute Changes and add to your practice assistant. We Wish You A Merry Christmas Rock Version If you're an advancing beginner or enjoy experimenting, you can have a go at playing this in a rock style. Play it all with power chords in 4/4 time. This is how I would play it in my rock band for years - it's a crowd pleaser! You can an... https://www.youtube.com/embed/vr-jEPPhCTI 599 2018-01-22T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/neil-young-the-needle-and-the-damage-done-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-901 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lA3K5BXLjKo/hqdefault.jpg The Needle And The Damage Done by Neil Young Learn to play "The Needle and the Damage Done" by Neil Young on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Needle and the Damage Done on the guitar. This beautiful and poignant song by Neil Young is a favorite among many guitarists, and for good reason. It's not only a powerful piece lyrically, but it also showcases some interesting guitar techniques that we'll explore together. Before we dive into the guitar work, let's take a moment to appreciate the song's background. The Needle and the Damage Done was written by Neil Young about a friend who sadly passed away from a heroin overdose. It's a deeply personal and moving piece that resonates with many listeners. Now, don't let the song's reputation intimidate you! While it does have some intricacies, it's not overly difficult to play. With some practice and patience, you can master this tune and add it to your repertoire. Remember, every great guitarist started as a beginner, so let's approach this with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn! Just a heads up, this is the first part of the lesson. You can find the second part here. The Unique Picking Technique One of the most interesting aspects of this song is its picking pattern. It's a technique that falls somewhere between picking and strumming, creating a distinctive sound that's crucial to the song's character. We'll be using a guitar pick and alternating between playing a bass note and a melody note on the upstroke. This continuous alternation gives the song its flowing, almost hypnotic quality. Chord Progression The chord progression in The Needle and the Damage Done is relatively straightforward, which allows us to focus on the picking technique. We'll work with common chords like D, C, and F. There's also an interesting use of a Cadd9 chord, which adds a lovely texture to the sound. Don't worry if you're not familiar with this chord yet—we'll break it down in the video. As we move through the song, we'll encounter some subtle variations in the chord shapes. These small changes contribute signifi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/lA3K5BXLjKo 437 2017-12-31T10:59:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/radiohead-creep-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-324 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hGDjGLdywSk/hqdefault.jpg Creep by Radiohead Learn how to play "Creep" by Radiohead on guitar! I'm A Creep, I'm A Weirdo... 🎵 In this guitar lesson - we're checking out how to play Creep by Radiohead on the guitar - a super cool song for Grade 4+ players. You'll learn the basic chords, the verses, and the octave riff in the chorus. I'll walk you through the guitar effects and how to that iconic sound. We'll learn how to play it on electric guitar because of the great distortions you can add. But - loads of people play this song on straight acoustic, strumming the same chords and using barre chords! It's a great exercise on acoustic if you've started learning barre chords and putting your A-shaped bar grips into practice. Then, have a go at a couple of tasty guitar elements in there like sus chords and hammer-ons. You can go even further with the embellishments by adding octaves to outline the harmony! 🎵 On the hunt for a songbook? Creep by Radiohead is featured in my JustinGuitar RockSong book. In this book, you'll find full lyrics, TABS, chords, and 50 more rock tunes! How to play Creep on guitar To play this tune, you'll need C, G, B, and Cm as a base throughout the song other than the intro. For the intro's strumming, you'll pick out the notes one at a time. In the riff, you don't have to be too careful. But make sure you don't play the fourth string with the little finger - it'll sound more complicated than it is. I recommend using all down strums for the whole song, but you can use whatever picking you like. You'll need to play a little hammer on and flick off there with the little finger in the chorus. Move your little finger over onto the third string and do a little hammer and flick off. There's another layer to the guitar in this song that makes it intricate. You can use octaves as the harmony underneath the tune. It's beautifully done in this tune and contributes to giving that intense melancholic melody. 💡Layers are super cool - especially if you want to nail the original sound! Not sure how to play octaves? Learn how in the music theory lesso... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGDjGLdywSk 944 2017-12-04T10:39:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-mayer-born-and-raised-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-007 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WYCy1DsnLpo/hqdefault.jpg Born And Raised by John Mayer Learn how to play "Born And Raised" by John Mayer on acoustic guitar! Hey, how you doing? It’s Justin here, and today we’ll check out Born And Raised by John Mayer. Awesome acoustic tune this one – get ready for some barre chords and fancy stuff! We’ll stick to how John plays this tune in the original recording. But the rhythm moves around a bit, so learn the basic pattern, then experiment and find your own take on it. :) Let’s get stuck in. Born and Raised by John Mayer: Chords The first chord in the intro is a G chord. I’m pretty sure John plays 3X543X, using the thumb for the bass note at 6:3 (string 6, fret 3). Using this grip means little finger is free to add embellishments; John adds it at 3:5 to get a sus4. You could definitely move finger 3 from 4:5 to 3:5 to get the same effect. Go for the option you find most comfortable. Then we switch to a Bm7 (X24232). Use finger 1 to barre fret 2 and fingers 2 and 3 to fret the other notes. The next chord is F (1X321X), which is the same as the G but moved down two frets. Later in the song, John adds sus2 embellishments to this F chord by lifting off finger 2 to reveal the open G string. Finally, we have a standard open C chord. He also plays the sus2 on this chord by lifting off finger 2 to reveal the open D string. Born And Raised by John Mayer: Embellishments and Rhythm Let’s look at those sus riffs in more detail. We’re using 16th-note strumming, meaning there are four hand motions for each beat: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U The pattern over the G is: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a D U D*U D D U B D U D The * means add the sus embellishment, and the B means hit the bass note 6:3. The pattern over Bm is: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a D U D*U D D U D D U D This is the same as for the G, except we play a downstrum on the “and” after 3. For the embellishment, add little finger to 2:4. Now we switch to F. This one goes: 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a D U D*U D D* D*U*D*U D Little finger goes down on 2:3 for the embellishment... https://www.youtube.com/embed/WYCy1DsnLpo 1589 2019-08-16T09:57:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/miles-davis-so-what-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-rf-017 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gheXMk1AvPI/hqdefault.jpg So What by Miles Davis Learn to play "So What" by Miles Davis on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play So What on the guitar. This iconic Jazz composition from Miles Davis's legendary album "Kind of Blue" has become a cornerstone of modern Jazz and a favorite among guitarists worldwide. Originally performed by Miles Davis's legendary ensemble without guitar, So What has been adapted and covered by numerous guitar players over the years. Notable versions include Larry Carlton's interpretation on his album "Last Night" and Ronnie Jordan's contemporary take on the classic. Musical Structure At its core, So What is built around a distinctive modal framework. The main theme features a characteristic riff that creates a hypnotic, swinging groove. The harmony centers around an Em11 chord, showcasing the innovative "fourth" voicings pioneered by pianist Bill Evans. This unique harmonic approach gives the song its distinctive, modern sound that has influenced generations of musicians. Understanding the Progression The song follows a modal structure that might seem simple at first but offers incredible depth for improvisation. The main progression alternates between two key centers: 16 bars in D minor (using D Dorian mode), followed by 8 bars in E♭ minor (using E♭ Dorian mode), before returning to D minor for another 8 bars. This creates a 32-bar form that's perfect for exploring modal improvisation. Improvisation Tips When it comes to soloing over So What, the key is to think modally. Over the D minor sections, you'll use the D Dorian mode (which contains the same notes as the C major scale). When the progression moves to E♭ minor, you'll shift to E♭ Dorian mode (sharing notes with the D♭ major scale). The beauty of modal playing is that it allows you to focus on melodic development rather than complex chord changes. Advanced Concepts I highly recommend studying some of the legendary solos recorded on the original album to deepen your understanding of the piece. Miles Davis's trumpet solo is particularly accessible on guitar and off... https://www.youtube.com/embed/gheXMk1AvPI 538 2017-12-08T08:45:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/foo-fighters-all-my-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-302 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iTbTTsrwBso/hqdefault.jpg All My Life by Foo Fighters Learn "All My Life" by Foo Fighters On Guitar! A fun song to get into with loads of rock techniques! In this lesson, you'll learn everything you need to play All My Life By Foo Fighter on guitar. This song is a classic Foo Fighters from the legend himself, Dave Grohl. There’s quite a bit going in this tune! Lots to practice and play around, with power chords and lift-offs. I tell you, Dave is pretty incredible. From playing drums with Nirvana to killing it on the guitar and vocals with the Foo Fighters. Not to mention his songwriting skills – it’s not fair for one person to have so much talent! Any way you can share some of that with the rest of us, Dave? ;) 🎸 Loads of tasty, but tricky techniques in there! This guitar lesson suits grade 5+ intermediate guitar players. Grab your guitar and get ready to rock! How To Play All My Life By Foo Fighters To play this song, you'll be tuning your guitar in standard tuning. You'll start with a G power chord. Bit of a trick here for the lift-off- you’re not strumming every beat, so on the off beats, you’re going to relax your fretting fingers. Don’t completely pull your fingers off of the strings. Relax your fingers on the strings. Make sure your first finger is lying down and cover all the strings. 🚨 Check out the video close up to see for details on how to lift your finger on that G5 power chord. This approach helps prevent any strings from ringing out when you don’t want them to. This is important when you start adding in effects like distortion and such. It’s best to first learn the elements of this song, like building blocks. Then, it’s up to you to piece them together by listening to the original recording. All My Life - Guitar Tips A lot of your focus for this song will be on your picking hand. From a quick listen, I’m sure you can tell this song has some precise picking work. You’ll want to take your time with this technique to get it sounding clean. With anything that sounds more difficult than it is, approach it slowly. No need to rush! Once you're confident wi... https://www.youtube.com/embed/iTbTTsrwBso 711 2017-12-03T11:20:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/iggy-pop-the-passenger-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-205 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/APmVzd71Sgs/hqdefault.jpg The Passenger by Iggy Pop Learn to play "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play The Passenger on the guitar. This classic tune is perfect for both beginner and intermediate guitar players, depending on how you prefer to play it. Chord Sequence Our first focus will be on the chord sequence. For beginners, we'll go through a version that doesn't involve barre chords. The sequence involves the chords A minor, F, C, and G. It's a four-bar sequence that goes as follows: A minor, F, C, G, and then A minor, F, C, and finally E. This is the general sequence, but it's important to note that it doesn't always go to the E chord. Sometimes, it just cycles around A minor, F, C, and G. Getting the sequence down is our first objective. It is recommended to learn this sequence initially, and if you're a huge Iggy Pop fan and want to get it exactly right, then listen and figure out exactly where it goes. You can keep it even simpler by sticking to the A minor, F, C, and G sequence throughout, and that will still sound great. After mastering the open chord version and getting the rhythm down, you can shift to barre chords instead of open chords. This is a great tune for practicing barre chords, and I believe the record is played using barre chords. Rhythm The rhythm is a significant aspect of this tune, giving it its unmistakable sound. The rhythm involves a muted strum or a stop on beats one and three. This technique involves putting your hand down onto the strings using the outside part of your hand to hit into the string. It's a good idea to practice this on your own first. You definitely want to practice any of these strumming patterns separately before mixing them with chord changes. Wrapping Up The Passenger by Iggy Pop is a lot of fun to play, and it's a great party favorite. Remember, learning a new song takes time. Start slow and gradually build up to proper speed. It's all about getting comfortable with the chord sequence and strumming pattern. And guess what? You can practice these techniques on eithe... https://www.youtube.com/embed/APmVzd71Sgs 435 2017-11-29T17:14:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/ed-sheeran-galway-girl-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-394 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HZMh1hg5v-Q/hqdefault.jpg Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran Learn how to play "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Galway Girl on the guitar. This catchy tune by Ed Sheeran is full of exciting rhythmic elements, making it a truly enjoyable experience to play. Whether you're a fan of Ed's work and want to play along with his version or you're preparing to perform at a party, this song offers a great musical journey. Understanding the Chord Progression and Rhythm The first thing you need to know about Galway Girl is its chord progression. The song involves a pattern that alternates between E minor, G, D, and C add9. This is a common technique used by Ed Sheeran in many of his songs, and it's one of the reasons why his music has that unique sound that fans around the world love. But the chord progression is only one part of what makes this song special. Another key element is its rhythm. Galway Girl has a 16th note feel, which gives it an energetic vibe. When you're playing this song, you'll likely move your hand most of the time, creating that lively atmosphere that gets people on their feet. The rhythm pattern for this song is quite specific and might take a bit of practice, but don't worry. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it incredibly fun and fulfilling. Diving into the Verses and Pre-Chorus Now, let's talk about the verses in Galway Girl. These parts of the song offer a bit more freedom and fun. They follow a progression from E minor to G, but the added percussion makes them really stand out. This element gives the song that extra punch and makes it even more enjoyable to play. On the other hand, the pre-chorus follows a progression from C to G, and then to D. There's a unique sequence in the pre-chorus that adds a nice twist to the song, keeping it interesting and engaging for both the player and the listener. Playing the Chorus and Bridge Moving on to the chorus, this part of the song uses the same strumming pattern as the pre-chorus. The progression goes from C to G to D and finally to E minor. It's a common gr... https://www.youtube.com/embed/HZMh1hg5v-Q 962 2018-01-23T22:24:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/adele-rolling-in-the-deep-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-209 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-O49BRUvWXw/hqdefault.jpg Rolling In The Deep by Adele How to play "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele on guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Rolling in the Deep by Adele on the guitar. This powerful song is a fantastic addition to your repertoire, whether playing solo or accompanying a singer. Adele's Rolling in the Deep is a soulful, bluesy track that's become a modern classic. It's got a driving rhythm and a chord progression that's simple yet effective. What makes this song particularly interesting is its slightly unconventional timing, which we'll explore in detail. Let's dive in and explore the unique elements that make this song so captivating! The Chord Progression The chord progression for Rolling in the Deep is relatively straightforward, but the rhythm gives it its unique flavor. We'll work with C, G, and B♭ chords for the verses, and then we'll introduce A♭, B♭, and G minor for the pre-chorus. The chorus also brings in C minor. What's interesting about this song is that most of the chord changes happen slightly late - about half a beat after you might expect. This creates a cool, offbeat feel that really drives the song forward. Don't worry if it feels a bit strange at first - we'll work through it together! The Verse Rhythm The verse is where that quirky timing really shines. We start with a C chord, then move to G, B♭, back to G, then B♭, and finally return to C. But here's the catch - except for the C chord, all these changes happen half a beat late. It might sound tricky, but it's really fun to play once you get the hang of it! To master this rhythm, I highly recommend counting out loud as you play. Go "One and two and three and four and" as you strum. This will help you internalize the rhythm and nail those late chord changes. It might feel a bit challenging at first, but stick with it - it's what gives the song its distinctive groove! Building Dynamics One of the things that makes Rolling in the Deep so powerful is its use of dynamics. In the verses, we start with a relatively muted sound, using power chords with a bit of palm muting. As we... https://www.youtube.com/embed/-O49BRUvWXw 595 2017-11-29T17:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bruce-springsteen-dancing-in-the-dark-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-891 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jTfvIAOUO34/hqdefault.jpg Dancing In The Dark by Bruce Springsteen Learn to Play "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen on Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Dancing in the Dark on the guitar. This classic Springsteen hit is perfect for beginners who want to expand their chord vocabulary and work on their strumming patterns. We'll use a capo on the 4th fret for this song, which helps us capture those distinctive keyboard harmonies while keeping the chord shapes manageable. The song features some interesting chord progressions that sound complex but are actually quite approachable for beginners. Song Structure and Chord Progressions The song follows a classic pop structure with an 8-bar intro, verses, choruses, and a middle section (bridge). The intro sets up the song's signature sound with a simple but effective chord progression alternating between G and G6 chords. The pattern goes: G, G6, G, G6, and it repeats throughout the verses. What makes this progression special is the way it creates movement by alternating between two similar chords. The verse starts like the intro, with eight bars alternating between G and G6⁠. Then it moves to C and Am7, back to C and Am7 again, and finally G to Em, then G to Em one more time to finish the verse. The chorus introduces new chords that create a nice lift in the energy, perfect for that "can't start a fire" hook. It uses Dsus alternating with D, then moves to C and Am7, then back to C and Am7 before returning to the verse. The bridge section of the song provides a refreshing change using its own unique progression: Em, G, C, Em, and G. What makes this section interesting is that every second chord is "pushed" - meaning it's played on the upstroke of the rhythm. Strumming and Rhythm The strumming pattern is built around eighth notes, but don't worry if that seems challenging at first. You can start with simple down strums and gradually add complexity as you get comfortable. One of the key elements that makes this song groove is the emphasis on beats 2 and 4—this matches the backbeat of the drums and really helps drive t... https://www.youtube.com/embed/jTfvIAOUO34 721 2017-11-04T01:30:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/green-day-wake-me-up-when-september-ends-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sg-182 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QCURq_1pLts/hqdefault.jpg Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day Learn to play "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day on Guitar Learn how to play Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day on the acoustic and electric guitar! This song is great for Intermediate guitar players. To play this Green Day classic, you'll need some barre chords, picking patterns, and strumming dynamics. First, we'll learn how to play the acoustic guitar parts. Then, we'll play the electric guitar part, which includes Power Chords and that awesome solo. :) 💣 The Ultimate Barre Chords Guide: Are you still struggling to get great-sounding barre chords? I got you! Check out this lesson, where I reveal the best practices and tricks for easy barre chords on guitar. Yep – all my secrets. :) Let's start with the classic picking part in the intro. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day – Intro and Verse We start with a G chord (XX503X). Finger 3 goes down on 4:5 (string 4, fret 5), and finger 1 plays 2:3 (string 2, fret 3). We pick the following strings one by one: 4 3 2 4 3 2. Here's the rhythm for this pattern: Beat: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + String: 4 3 2 4 3 2 Let's call this Pattern 1. The intro is simply four bars of this picking on the G chord. :) We also play Pattern 1 for the first four bars of the verse, which starts with one bar of G (XX503X). For the next bar, we lift off finger 3 and add finger 2 to 4:4, dropping the bass note by one semitone to get D/F# (XX403X). Then we switch to an Em7 (XX203X) and change the fingering. Finger 1 plays 4:2, and finger 3 goes down on 2:3. Now, we switch to G/D (XX003X). Just lift off finger 1 to reveal the open D string. 🧐 Spot the patterns: Though we change fingering and shift the bass note from G (4:5) to F# (4:4) to E (4:2) to D (4:0), we stick with the same picking (Pattern 1) and hit 3:0 and 2:3 in each bar. :) After the first four bars, we switched to C played as an A-shape barre chord (X3555X), making sure to mute string 6 with finger 1. The picking pattern changes too. We'll call this Pattern 2 because it often comes up in the song. :) Here's Patte... https://www.youtube.com/embed/QCURq_1pLts 1088 2023-01-25T07:41:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/xmas-classic-silent-night-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-111 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hM_7fCkJnfM/hqdefault.jpg Silent Night by Xmas Classic Learn How To Play Silent Night On Guitar 🕯️🎅 A fingerstyle version of this Christmas classic! In today's lesson, you'll learn a chord melody arrangement of Silent Night on guitar. This version of this Christmas classic is a perfect choice for your next holiday performance. This song is excellent practice for advancing beginners! If you're following my beginner guitar course, that'll be Grade 3+ guitar students. There are no tricky chords or big stretches in there, but it requires some fingerpicking and playing up your guitar neck. So even if you're a beginner, give it a try! :) Grab your guitar, and let's spread some holiday spirit! How To Play Silent Night On Guitar To play silent night, start by understanding the chord arrangement with your fretting hand. You'll start Silent Night with an unusual G chord. To play that, put your second finger down the third fret of the thickest string. Avoid playing the 5th string! Once you're comfortable with the chords, it's time to tackle the fingerstyle pattern. The fingerstyle follows a simple block playing & it's easier than you think! You're picking the strings with your thumb and three fingers at the same time. This motion is what gives that lullaby effect to the song! To play this song right, learn it slowly. If you're struggling, you can slow it all the way down to 60 bpm using a metronome. Don't be in a hurry! Make sure you're confident with the fingerstyle and chords, then you can speed it up! Silent Night Tab & Downloads Need extra help? Check out the TAB download to see which string you should be picking. Tab download Silent Night pdf file The GuitarPro version is fantastic for playing along. Slow it down and gradually increase the speed once you're comfortable! It's loads of fun and super effective. :) Login to your account and check the dashboard to get a discount for the GuitarPro7. GuitarPro download file. Wishing you a great holiday season and absolute best wishes for next year! Hope you get to take some time & practice the guitar over the holid... https://www.youtube.com/embed/hM_7fCkJnfM 908 2018-02-08T18:18:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/tom-petty-mary-jane-s-last-dance-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-st-409 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A5MOvRUHZ1g/hqdefault.jpg Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty Learn How To Play "Mary Jane's Last Dance" On Guitar! In this easy guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on the electric guitar. If you're looking for a fun song to play on guitar, look no further! This Tom Petty 90s hit is a great pick for Grade 4+ guitar players, or if you're an eager beginner. :) We're learning basic guitar arrangements that combine both guitar parts of the original recording. This way, you'll sound great when you play this on your own! Let's start by looking at the chords and getting to know the basics before digging a little deeper. Easy Version And Beyond You'll need only chords Am, F, D, and Em to play the basic version of this song. Get comfortable with the chord progression's structure by working on them in bits. The strumming should be effortless, and if you're singing along, that's even better! There's a relationship between the lyrics and where the strumming happens, which helps make sense of the rhythm. Beyond the basics, the next step is to listen or transcribe the original recording and pick up where there is more bass or more treble in the song. You can hear these embellishments, especially in the intro - use your ear training and listen in for the bits you like. Explore and have fun making it your own. :) Rhythm Tips The rhythm is likely to be the hardest for most of us, but the key is to start simple. Get a solid foundation, then begin to build in some of those mutes and ornaments there. Follow the guide to help you with the basic pattern: Rhythm Starting Point: D . D . D . D U D U D . D . D U 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a Get professional Tabs for this song with JustinGuitar Tabs website feature! https://www.youtube.com/embed/A5MOvRUHZ1g 1470 2018-01-24T10:10:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/john-butler-trio-zebra-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-504 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4CML3ZPPWtg/hqdefault.jpg Zebra by John Butler Trio Learn to play "Zebra" by John Butler on the guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Zebra by John Butler on the guitar. This is an exciting opportunity for you to learn a piece from a great artist who's got it all - an incredible guitar player, a great singer, a fantastic songwriter, and an amazing performer. This is a perfect starting point if you haven't yet explored his work. One of his most beautiful compositions is "Ocean," an instrumental piece that is truly sublime. While it's a bit beyond what we can cover in this lesson, it's definitely worth checking out. A Unique Tuning John Butler uses a unique tuning for Zebra, which makes his performance stand out. However, in this lesson, we'll be doing it in regular tuning. The song might look different if you watch a video of John Butler playing it, but don't worry! The method you'll see works just as well with regular tuning. It's a fantastic piece to play along with the original recording or jam out with your buddies. So, let's dive in and start learning this very cool riff! A Straightforward Chord Progression The chord progression for Zebra is pretty straightforward, making it a great song for those looking to expand their repertoire. We start with a B5 power chord, which can be played either at the seventh fret or down at the base, depending on what sounds best to you. The song then moves to F sharp, then transitions to a D chord before returning to B. The rhythm is a key aspect of this song. It's crucial to get a good whack on beats two and four. It's also important to make sure the underneath of your first finger is muting the thinnest string, creating a nice, muddy sound when you hit through. A Little Bonus Riff While we won't be covering John's fantastic slide guitar solo in this lesson, there is a little riff at the end that you'll learn. This cool little piece adds some fun variation to the song, and it's a great way to practice controlling note length and working on your picking technique. Wrapping Up I hope you enjoy learning to play Zebra. ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/4CML3ZPPWtg 660 2017-12-02T11:03:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/the-beatles-in-my-life-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-406 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YVSRQwItv08/hqdefault.jpg In My Life by The Beatles Learn How To Play "In My Life" by The Beatles On Guitar! In this lesson, we'll learn how to play In My Life by The Beatles on acoustic guitar. Another amazing song from the Lennon and McCartney duo. In my honest opinion, this might be one of the greatest Beatles songs. :) We'll explore the chord progressions and what you need to get the strumming pattern. The strumming might be the trickiest part of this song - but it's also what makes it so beautiful! We'll also explore the intro riff, which requires a pick and your finger to play. 💬 For some reason, singing and playing this song feels amazing! It reminds me of happy memories with different friends over the years and makes me nostalgic! What song has that effect on you? Share in the discussion area. :) Chords & Strumming For the first verse, you'll start with the A chord for a half a bar, then the E for a half a bar. You follow with an F sharp minor to this A7 over G chord. If you're not familiar with playing the A7 over G, start with a regular A chord with just your first finger, nothing on the thinnest and thickest string. Then, reach over with your second and put it on the third fret of the thickest string. Count out loud to help guide you through the pattern! You can explore it on your own, but make sure you stay on time, tap your foot, and ensure your rhythm is solid. In My Life Intro Riff You can get away with just playing the melody if you want to keep the riff super simple. However, adding the bass note will make things way more interesting. :) You'll need to play an A bass note to add the bass note. This requires using both your pick and fingers. Use your pick on the bass note with a bit of palm mute, and use your second finger to play the melody notes. When you go from the A to the E chord, bring one of your fingers to mute your A. This will prevent it from ringing out, which will make the sound cleaner. Get chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with In My Life and 600+ song tutorials with the JustinGuitarTabs website feature. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YVSRQwItv08 694 2018-01-25T09:16:00Z https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/emma-bunton-what-took-you-so-long-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-210 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dWh-GcoCUSc/hqdefault.jpg What Took You So Long by Emma Bunton Learn to Play "What Took You So Long" by Emma Bunton on the Guitar In this lesson, we'll learn how to play What Took You So Long by Emma Bunton, also known as 'the cutest Spice Girl,' on the guitar. This song is a great example of pop songwriting, so if you're interested in composing pop songs, this lesson is definitely for you. This song has a solid pop structure. One interesting thing you'll notice is that the chorus comes in at almost exactly one minute, and there's a little gap just before the chorus starts, known as a pop stop. These are common features in pop music that make the song catchy and memorable. Chord Progression The main chord sequence of the song includes an F major seven for one bar, A minor for one bar, and G for two bars. We'll use this sequence for the intro and the first verse. While most of the song revolves around the main chord progression, some interesting chords pop up in places like the pre-chorus and the chorus. The pre-chorus chord progression is D minor seven, F major seven, A minor, and G. This sequence is played twice. The chord progression for the chorus is D minor seven, A minor, and G. The bridge uses the same chords as the pre-chorus, but there's an interesting part going on with the electric guitar. This part sounds great if you're playing the acoustic rhythm guitar part, adding a unique dimension to the song. Strumming Pattern Understanding the strumming pattern is crucial to capturing the feel of the song. We'll use a pattern that includes a percussive hit, which adds a nice groove to the song. The pattern goes down, hit, up, down, up, down, down, hit, up, down, up, down. This main sequence is used most of the time in the song. Additional Bits There's also a nice little lead guitar line that happens at the start of the tune and a few times in between. It's very simple, single-note stuff. If you're interested in transcribing or exploring different layers of guitar parts, this is something you should check out. Wrapping it up This lesson offers a comprehensive guide to pl... https://www.youtube.com/embed/dWh-GcoCUSc 669 2017-11-29T16:32:00Z