Introduction

Introduction:

The Philosopher song was originally written by Monty Python and composed by Eric Idle. The Florida-based death metal band Death covered the song in their fifth studio album, Individual Thought Patterns, which was released in 1993. 

The Philosopher has been described as one of the more accessible cuts from Death’s later music catalog, and for some fans, it is their biggest hit to this day. 

In this video lesson Bobby Koelble teaches how to play the song The Philosopher as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Tapping Piece, Verse, Prechorus, and Chorus, Solo Rhythm and Post Solo Rhythm Sections, Main Solo, Ending Solo Improv and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Song Structure:

Introduction: This is going to be the introduction to the song, the band, and the tune that you will be learning in this guitar lesson. Bobby describes this guitar song as pretty straightforward and not that technical to begin with. 

Intro Tapping Piece: The intro of the song starts with a two-hand tapping part, along with other undertone notes, all of which you will learn in this part.

Verse, Pre-chorus, and Chorus: Here, you will learn how to play the famous guitar riff that makes the song memorable. 

Solo Rhythm and Post Solo Rhythm Sections: This section explains how to play the riffs below Chuck’s solo. 

Main Solo: Here is the main solo of the song, which is in the key of A minor. Bobby will also help you get accustomed to that one lick, which moves pretty fast. 

Ending Solo Improv: This part of the guitar lesson builds your confidence in how you should improvise at the end of Chuck's solo and adds bits of your tunes as well. 

Song Demo: This is the final part. Here, your guitar instructor will play the entire guitar section of the song alongside the backing track. 

Introduction:

I See Fire is a song written and composed for the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The song is played over the closing credits of the movie. After its release, the song was able to climb to the 13th spot in the UK Singles Chart and in New Zealand it was able to reach number 1 in just six weeks of time. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: You will be following basic arpeggios picking for this song, and this is what you need to follow in order to create a simple yet attractive progression: 

e|------0---------0------|  

B|------0---------0------|  

G|----0---0-----0---0----|  

D|-----------2-----------|  

A|--2--------------------|  

E|-----------------------| 

Strumming Pattern:

This one is primarily a fingerpicking song, but in case you wish to play the strumming pattern you can follow this: D D U U D U. 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure:

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike Luciano, your guitar instructor is going to share why everyone needs to learn this song, and where, and why you should be putting the capo on 

guitar like Ed does. 

Intro Lick and Song Arrangement: In this section, Mike shows you how to play the intro licks for the song and how to use hammer-on and pull-off techniques with your first and third fingers. Along with this, you will learn the entire song arrangement as well. 

Song Demo: This section shows you how to play the song with the backing track played alongside. 

Beginners Version: If you are not able to play with new techniques which you have learned in this guitar lesson you can also try the beginner friendly version of I See Fire by Ed Sheeran which is mentioned in this part. 

Why Learn I See Fire By Ed Sheeran?

I See Fire take the full advantage of acoustic fingerpicking which is something perfect for beginner guitar players to start with. This song will also help you in building dexterity, accuracy, and finger independence as you play. Furthermore, it’s a great introduction to the thumb-bass technique, along with melodic picking. 

FAQs I see fire Guitar Lesson

Q1. What was the reason behind Ed Sheeran's writing I See Fire? 

Ans. It was Peter Jackon, the director of The Hobbit, who asked Ed Sheeran to come up with a song for a kid’s movie. Sheeran saw the movie and started working on the song.

Q2. What other songs are out there which sound similar to I See Fire? 

Ans. There is a huge library of Ed’s songs, which sounds pretty familiar, starting with Eyes Closed, Give Me Love, Happier, Shivers, and Beautiful People. 

Q3. Which song is Ed Sheeran’s biggest hit? 

Ans. Without a doubt it has to be “Perfect,” this particular song topped charts in more than 18 different countries, making him one of the most loved artist all around the globe. 

Fun Fact: The song I See Fire was written, composed, and recorded on the same day. After Ed Sheeran watched the entire film The Hobbit for which the song was officially released on 5th November 2013. He sat down to write the lyrics and his flow made him finish composition and recording of the song in just 24 hours. 

Perfect - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that needs no introduction. Perfect by Ed Sheeran topped all the charts in 2017 and became a super duper hit worldwide. This song has now become part of mainstream pop youth culture. All lovers, depending on their heartbroken status, either love or hate this song. It has collected more than 4.9 billion views (almost half of humanity) on YouTube since its release and has been in all the romance playlists on every streaming service platform.

The song is a ballad celebrating the traditional marriage relationship between two lovers, written about Sheeran’s wife-to-be, Cherry Seaborn, whom he had known since he was in school and then reconnected with her when she was working in New York. Sheeran has said the song captures the feeling of finding "the one" - that magical moment when you realise you've met your soulmate.

Perfect Guitar Lesson

The guitar lesson on Perfect is an easy one. Nevertheless, the lesson has many sections that talk about the chords and rhythm of the song, and a section on improvisation where the instructor is demonstrating how to solo over the track.

The song only has four chords, namely – G - Em7 - Cadd9 - D, which the tutor explains is meant to be played with the capo on the 1st fret, as does Sheeran himself in live performances. The strumming of the song goes in triplets of 4, covering four bars of music.

The thing about minor 7th chords and augmented chords used in the song is that in the open position, they share some of the notes, and when chords share notes, the phenomenon of voice leading occurs. Voice leading is when the notes of one chord lead to another, creating an interesting movement between anticipation and resolution in the music.

Although the studio recording version of the song uses a capo on the first fret, the lesson here demonstrates both ways, with and without a capo, of playing the song in its entirety. The song follows a 12/8 time signature, and the rhythm sounds like that of a waltz, which makes it an easy song to dance to, especially with one’s lover.

The lesson makes available Perfect lyrics and chords along with the video lesson, which the advanced players can refer to when learning the song.

FAQs

Q. What is the story behind Ed Sheeran's song Perfect?

Perfect was written by Ed Sheeran as a love song for his then-girlfriend (now wife) Cherry Seaborn. The lyrics describe their real-life romance, from meeting as teenagers to falling in love as adults.

Q. What key is Perfect?

Perfect is written in the key of Ab major (G major for live performances), though most guitarists use a capo on the 1st fret to make the chords easier to play. This transposition means you'll be playing standard shapes like G, Em, C and D but hearing them in Ab major.

Unforgiven left a mark in the history of the rock and metal genre. This song was released by Metallica in 1991, and it is part of their self-titled album; the other name of the album is Black Album. This particular track marks a significant moment in revolutionising the sound of the band, and apart from this, it also changed the entire landscape of metal music. 

The reason Unforgiven became so iconic and one of the best songs ever written in the metal genre is that, with this song, Metallica showcased that they have moved from their thrash roots and are now moving towards creating more melodic and introspective style music while still maintaining their signature heavy sound. 

Furthermore, the verse sections are built on haunting, clean guitar arpeggios, which are then layered with James Hetfield’s raw and reflective vocals. Kirk Hammett’s guitar solo present in this song deserves all the praise in the world; it's dripping with emotions and elevates the sombre tone of the song without derailing the intimacy. 

Why Learn Unforgiven By Metallica Song On Guitar?

The haunting intro requires you to use clean, arpeggiated chords, which also helps you develop precision, timing and smooth chord transitions, which is something essential for both acoustic and electric guitar playing. 

It’s a song that flips the classic metal structure; in the beginning, it is soft and melodic and then the chorus kick-in and the entire sound gets distorted and heavy. As you practice playing this song on guitar, you will understand how to transition from gentle playing to powerful riffing in no time, and that too with confidence. 

The chorus introduces you to beginner-friendly power chords in addition to palm muting, which is considered to be the main building block for anyone who wishes to master rock and metal rhythm on their guitar. 

In this guitar lesson, you are going to learn melodic solos and emotive phrasing; these two complex techniques make you move beyond mechanical playing. It helps you inject feelings and storytelling in your guitar solos, which is a mark of a mature guitarist. 

FAQs-Unforgiven By Metallica Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which tuning should I be using for learning the song Unforgiven by Metallica on guitar?

Ans. You should practice playing Unforgiven by Metallica in standard tuning (E A D G B e); this will help you get clean, arpeggiated and even distorted parts perfectly. 

Q2. What key is the song Unforgiven by Metallica present in? 

Ans. You can practice this song in the key of A minor; this particular key choice will give the song its dark and brooding voice, which also compliments its introspective mood, making it a perfect song to exercise mastering dynamics and tone control.

Introduction

Bombtrack is one of the explosive songs from Rage Against the Machine’s debut album. In addition to this, it comes with powerful riffs, and groove-driven rhythms and it also includes aggressive energy.  

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: There are no traditional arpeggios in the verse, instead you have to follow heavy power chords with a combination of muted rhythms. 

e|---------------------------------|  

B|---------------------------------|  

G|---------------------------------|  

D|---------4-4-2-2-4--------------|  

A|---2-2--------------------------|  

E|---------------------------------|

Strumming Pattern 

This song follows a more tight-riff playing than your traditional strumming. As a result, you have to follow the rhythm guitar approach to be more precise and smooth. Here is how you should be strumming with a palm-muted downstroke approach for punchy rhythm: D D D D D U D U. 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction section Mike Walker your guitar instructor teaches you how to tune up the guitar for this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here Mike shows you how to play the intro, midsection and the outro of the song. He shares his knowledge of guitar playing and how the intro is a 4 bar phase. 

Overdub: Here, you will learn how to play the overdubs which come at the start of the song. 

Song Demo: This is where you will learn how to play the entire song with the backing track to keep up guitar chords with the original time signature of the song.

Solo 1: Over here you will be learning how to play the first solo which is present right after the first bridge. 

Outro Solo: This is the final part of this guitar lesson, here Mike is going to show you how to play outro solo. 

Why Learn Bombtrack By Rage Against The Machine Song?

This is a pretty intricate song to learn that starts with simple yet heavy riffs, as a result, it is perfect for learning palm muting, power chord slides and even for practicing tight picking. This is one of the few songs from Rage Against the Machine which is beginner friendly, the guitar lesson that we have here is perfect for individuals who want to improve their riff-based playing. 

FAQs – Bombtrack Guitar Lesson

Q1. Why is Range Against the Machine Controversial? 

Ans. One of the biggest reasons why Rage Against the Machine is controversial is because of their fiercely political music that comes with sloganeering left-wing rants against the corporate culture of America. 

Q2. How many BPM is Bombtrack? 

Ans. This song is at 152 BPM; the song runs for 4 minutes and 3 seconds in the key of E and with a major mode.

Q3. Is Rage Against the Machine anti-capitalist?

Ans. Yes, that can be said for Rage Against the Machine because they have voiced their disagreement on various political, domestic and foreign policies that were introduced by the US government. 

Q4. What is the heaviest Rage Against the Machine song?

Ans. Bullet in the Head is the heaviest song from Rage Against the Machine according to their fans. The song is a reference to how the government is trying to use the media to influence their control over the population. 

Holy Diver - Introduction

Holy Diver is one of the most iconic heavy metal songs ever recorded, serving as the title track of Dio’s debut album in 1983. Written by the legendary Ronnie James Dio after his stints with Rainbow and Black Sabbath, the song showcases his signature lyrical style—filled with medieval imagery, heroic themes, and battles between good and evil. The lyrics tell the story of a mysterious, divine warrior, often interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual struggle and redemption. Dio’s powerful, operatic vocals and Vivian Campbell’s crushing guitar riffs made the track an instant classic.

The music video, though dated by today’s standards, became legendary for its fantasy aesthetic, featuring Dio as a sword-wielding hero battling demons. The song’s mid-tempo groove, anthemic chorus, and unforgettable riff solidified its place in metal history. Over the years, "Holy Diver" has been covered by bands like Killswitch Engage and referenced in pop culture, proving its lasting influence. Ronnie James Dio’s performance on this track remains one of the greatest in metal, blending raw power with theatrical flair.

Holy Diver Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson dives deep into playing "Holy Diver" in dropped C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D), which gives the song its thick, heavy sound. The main riff, played by Vivian Campbell, is built around power chords (C5, G5, A♭5) and uses palm muting to create a tight, aggressive groove. The tuning allows for easy sliding between chords while maintaining a massive low-end presence.

The verse follows a C5 - G5 - A♭5 progression, with the riff emphasizing the open C string for a chugging effect. The chorus shifts to a C5 - G5 - F5 pattern, adding a melodic lift before returning to the main riff. The solo section is where Campbell’s playing shines—using the C minor pentatonic scale (C-E♭-F-G-B♭) with fast alternate picking and wide bends for dramatic flair. The harmonic minor scale (C-D-E♭-F-G-A♭-B) also appears in the solo, giving it a darker, classical edge.

For the rhythm parts, focus on tight palm muting and consistent downstrokes to match the song’s driving feel. The pre-chorus introduces a syncopated riff that requires precise timing—practice it slowly with a metronome before speeding up. The bridge features harmonized leads, where two guitars play complementary melodies, a technique Dio borrowed from his Rainbow days.

Beginners should start by mastering the main riff and power chords in dropped C tuning. Intermediate players can work on the syncopated rhythms and solo licks, paying attention to vibrato and bends. Advanced players should study the harmonic minor passages and experiment with adding their own fills.

FAQs

Q. How do I tune my guitar to dropped C for this song?

Lower your sixth string from E to C, fifth from A to G, and leave the rest in standard tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D).

Q. What scales does Vivian Campbell use in the solo sections?

Primarily C minor pentatonic (C-E♭-F-G-B♭) with touches of C harmonic minor (C-D-E♭-F-G-A♭-B) for a classical metal feel.

Introduction: 1000 Eyes by Death is the song from their sixth studio album called Symbolic which was released on March 21st, 1995 under the label of Roadrunner records. 

Fun Fact: The song talks about the unstoppable surveillance of the government on society. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: You will be using single-note arpeggios instead of full chords, and the arpeggios in the verse are as follows: 

e|---------------------|  

B|---------------------|  

G|----7----5----4-----|  

D|---5----4----3------|  

A|--3----2----1-------|  

E|---------------------| 

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern you have to follow for this song is a bit more of a fast alternate picking, tremolo picking, and palm-muted chugging. As a result, here’s how you will be strumming: 

For palm muted chugging: D - D - DUD - D - D - DUD

Palm muted galloping: D - DUD - D - D - D - DUD  

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure:

• Introduction: In the introduction your guitar instructor Bobby Koelble shares his insights about the song, what it means and the tuning required for it. 
• Intro Riff: Here you will learn about the intro of the song which is 8 bars in length. Also, you will learn how to play all the measures that are present in the intro. 
• Intro Solo: This section shows you how to play Chuck's solo part in the intro of the song. 
• Song Arrangement Part 1: From this section the main part of the song begins as Chuck 

starts to sing from here. The guitar instructor breaks the arrangement down in several parts to make things easier here. 

• Song Arrangement Part 2: This part of the guitar lesson deals with the guitar playing you will be doing alongside the main chorus of the song. It is pretty faced paced strumming and chord progression so you need to have your full focus. 
• Song Demo: This is the part where Bobby is going to play the entirety of the song while the backing track is played. It is to show you how to strum and play chords in different parts. 
• Solo Lesson: Finally you will be learning Chuck's solo in this section, it is present in the Key of A minor. The riff which plays under the solo has already been taught in the above section of the song lesson. 

Why should you learn 1000 Eyes By Death Song?

1000 Eyes has some of the most excruciating fast-paced riffs, which makes it challenging to play both for alternate picking and fret-hand coordination. As a result, it is a perfect song to build your speed and precision. It also gives you a challenge, so if you feel like all the songs that you have been playing on the guitar are too easy for you, this song will surely turn things around. 

FAQs for 1000 Eyes by death Guitar Lesson

Q1. What happened to the Death band? 

Ans. The band before breaking up in 2001 went through a lot of changes, all of this happened after the death of Schuldiner. The final line up of the band before the break up was Schuldiner on guitars and vocals, Shannon Hamm on guitars, Richard Christy on drums. 

Q2. Was Chuck Schuldiner a good person in real life? 

Ans. The death metal legend was friendly and loved his family members. Throughout his life, he had a bunch of his friends, and they all stuck together. His parents were still in contact with other band members and told them how Chuck helped them when they needed it the most. 

Introduction:

Fade to Black was the first power ballad recorded by the metal band Metallica in 1984. This was the first promotional single from the band’s second album which was Ride the Lightning (1984). The final solo of the song uses melody as a means to provide transition to heavy chords. 

Fun Fact: The song and its lyrics address the suicidal feelings because, during the time of its recording, some members of the band were having a really hard time in their personal lives. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios: The solo has heavy chord progression and for the final solo section there are no arpeggios for you to learn. 

Strumming Pattern 

This particular solo is for the lead guitarist, so it doesn’t really follow a strumming pattern like a rhythm part. 

Solo Structure 

Final Solo Part 1: In this part of the guitar solo lesson your instructor is going to be Mike Walker. Mike has divided the final solo from the song Fade to Black in 3 parts, this is the first section from the three parts. 

Final Solo Part 2: This is the second part of the solo, here Mike shows you how to perform overlapping and using the licks that were present in the first part. 

Final Solo Part 3: The third and final section starts with a little pull 

Why Learn to Fade to Black-Final Solo By Metallica?

Learning the guitar solo of Fade to Black isn't an easy task, it is one of the things only lead guitarist in the band wants to try as it requires lots of technical knowledge of the guitar. Speaking of the solo it is the most emotional solo to be ever written and performed in metal history, for this solo you will have to learn how to use bends and vibrato efficiently.

FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which one is the saddest song recorded by Metallica? 

Ans. Fade to Black is considered to be the saddest song from the metal group Metallica. 

Q2. What is the meaning of the song Fade to Black? 

Ans. The story behind the creation of Fade to Black is that Hetfield, one of the band members, was kicked out of the band's manager's home after he drank all his booze and broke things. He then went to his friend’s house, and there, on the couch, he wrote the lyrics of Fade to Black. 

Q3. Has Metallica ever performed in India?

Ans. Yes, Metallica did come to India, they performed in Bangalore on October 18 in 2011. There was one more date in Gurugram but the band was not able to perform at that venue. 

Introduction

Disturbed is known as a heavy metal band. When the band was starting out, the sound they followed was more of “nu metal”. Guarded was a promotional single from the band’s third album, Ten Thousand Fists. The lyrics show how the lifestyle forces David Draiman to guard himself on a certain level.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song does not use traditional arpeggios. It is primarily a riff-driven song that includes heavy power chords in addition to the chugging rhythms. 

Strumming Pattern 

If you notice, the song's main riff has a more galloping tone. As a result, the strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is: D - DUD - D - DUD

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Brief pause (muted)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike Walker, who will be your guitar instructor for this song lesson, explains how to tune your electric guitar. 

Song Arrangement: This is the part where you will learn all the chord progressions you will use in this song. 

Song Demo: This is the last part of the guitar lesson. Mike will play the entire guitar section of the song alongside the backing track.