Introduction

Arms Wide Open - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that has the best rock song Grammy to its name –With Arms Wide Open by Creed. Scott Stapp’s wife was pregnant with his first child, he wrote the lyrics when he found out, with great surprise, that he was going to be a father. According to Stapp, the song was written in just fifteen minutes during a soundcheck. The song has received almost 200 million views on YouTube.

Stapp says, “It continues to have relevant meaning in my life because as I sing it now, I think of my daughter who's now on this planet and alive. And then I think of my newest son, my three-year-old, Daniel”. The song is about a man expressing his feelings about thinking about becoming a father.

Arms Wide Open Guitar Lesson

This is a guitar lesson that is an acoustic cover version of the song performed by James Boyce, taught by our expert Steve Luciano, in a section-by-section manner. They start with the introduction

The song is in the key of C major and features a number of suspended chords. There is a C major 9 chord with a B note in the bass, which sounds like a suspended chord because of the 9th scale degree. There is also a very unique A minor 11th chord, which also sounds like a suspended chord because of the 11th scale degree, which is actually the 4th scale degree on the octave higher. The instructor explains all the chord shapes in great detail. You can also refer to the Arms Wide Open tabs along with the lesson on the sidebar.

The strumming of the chords is very simple, compared to the chord voicings, that is – D - U U D - U U D - D U for the most part (D is a downward strum and U is an upward strum).

There is also an easy verison of the song that the instructor demonstrates, which is a beginner-friendly version of the song focused more on the singing part of the track.

FAQs

Q. What skill level is Arms Wide Open for?

This lesson is ideal for beginner to intermediate players. If you know basic open chords, you can easily learn the song.

Q. Is this version different from the original Creed version?

Yes. This is a soft acoustic cover by James Boyce. It keeps the emotional depth of the original but focuses more on the singing part.

Q. What is the tuning of Arms Wide Open by Creed?

Nope! This version is played in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), making it very accessible. Drop D is not required here.

Q. What chords are used in this version?

The song uses common suspended and power chords, with some being 9 and 11th chords. The tutor goes over each one slowly and clearly.

Introduction:

Smooth By Santana is a mix of rock, blues, and it combines some melodies of Latin rhythms as well. So if you are someone who is interested in learning the ways of Santana this should be a great starting point for your musical journey. 

Fun Fact: In the beginning the song was called Room 17 and the idea of the song came to the mind of Itaal Shur, but then lyrics were all take out from the song and it was given to Rob Thomas, who completely re-wrote the song and changed its original melody, that’s how Smooth came into existence by Santana. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The arpeggios for this song are as follows: 

e|------1-------------|

B|----3---3----------|

G|--2-------2--------| 

D|--------------------| 

A|--------------------| 

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

Strumming Pattern 

There are two strumming patterns for this song, the first one is pretty basic and you can play it like this: DD UU DU. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum

Or you can play this version which adds more groove to the song: DD X UDU. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum
• X = Muted Strum 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike is going to show you how to tune up your guitar for this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn about the different guitar rhythms that you will be following as you play the song. Mike starts explaining every rhythm starting with the intro section. 

Song Demo: Over here, Mike is going to show you how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Solo 1: From this part, you will start learning how to play different solos which come in the song. This is the first solo performed by Santana in the first part of the song. 

Overdub Licks: This particular section shows how to play a particular lick which is being played at the 32 second of the track. 

Solo 2: This is the second solo from the song. 

Solo 3: Solo which comes after the verses. 

Outro Solo: This one is the last solo which Santana played and it was used as an outro for the song. 

Why Learn Smooth By Santana?

Carlos Santana is known throughout the world for his amazing phrasing and his ability to sustain heavy tones on the guitar. As you learn this song, you will get to know about techniques like Vibrato, sustain, melodic soloing and smooth transition between the lead and the rhythm of the song. 

FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who originally sang “Smooth?”

Ans. Smooth was performed by Santana & Rob Thomas who were part of a band called Matchbox Twenty. This song was released as a lead single from the 1999s studio album, Supernatural. 

Q2. What made Santana so famous in the music industry? 

Ans. Santana became much more popular after their incredible set which they performed live at Woodstock in 1969. In that same year, the band also released their self-entitled LP as well. 

Q3. Is Santana considered to be a good guitarist of his time? 

Ans. Santana is known to be the man who invented the Latin rock guitar genre, making it stand as one of the best of his generation. 

Black Magic Woman - Introduction

"Black Magic Woman" is one of Santana’s most famous songs, though it was originally written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Santana’s 1970 version, featured on the album Abraxas, transformed the track into a Latin rock masterpiece. The song blends bluesy guitar riffs with Afro-Latin percussion, creating a hypnotic and rhythmic groove. Carlos Santana’s smooth yet fiery guitar playing gives the track its signature sound, making it instantly recognizable.

The lyrics tell the story of a man enchanted by a mysterious woman, a common theme in blues music. Santana’s version extends the original with an instrumental section that transitions into "Gypsy Queen," a piece by jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó. This fusion of styles helped define Latin rock and cemented Santana’s place in music history. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, and remains a classic rock staple today.

Black Magic Woman Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down how to play "Black Magic Woman" in the original key. The song revolves around three main chords: Dm7, Am7, and Gm7, giving it a moody, bluesy feel. The rhythm follows a Latin-inspired groove, with a steady pulse that makes it perfect for practicing timing and feel.

The intro features Santana’s iconic minor pentatonic lick, played with smooth bends and vibrato. The verse uses a repeating chord progression (Dm7 - Am7 - Gm7 - Dm7), with a laid-back strumming pattern that locks in with the percussion. The chorus shifts to a more open sound, letting the chords ring out before returning to the verse groove.

For the solo sections, Santana uses the D minor pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C) with added bluesy bends and expressive phrasing. The key is to play with emotion—let notes sustain, add vibrato, and slide between positions for that signature Santana sound. The transition into "Gypsy Queen" introduces faster, more intricate picking patterns, so start slow and focus on clarity.

Beginners should first master the chord changes and basic rhythm. Intermediate players can work on the intro riff and solo licks, paying attention to bends and vibrato. Advanced players should experiment with improvisation over the Dm7 vamp, using Santana’s phrasing as inspiration.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used for this song?

Standard tuning (EADGBE)—no drop tuning or capo needed.

Q. How do I get Santana’s tone?

Use a smooth overdrive (not too distorted), with slight delay and reverb. Roll off some treble for warmth.

Q. What’s the strumming pattern?

A relaxed down-down-up with emphasis on beats 2 and 4 to match the Latin groove.

Q. Can I play this without a band?

Yes, but focus on keeping the rhythm tight—the groove is essential.

Q. How do I practice the bends in the solo?

Start slow, ensuring each bend reaches the correct pitch (e.g., bend G to A in the D minor scale).

Introduction:

Dildara is a song that was based on Ben E. King’s legendary track Stand By Me but with the inclusion of a Bollywood twist, making it the best of both worlds. Sony Music officially acquired the rights for the song Stand By Me to use in this song’s composition. 

Fun Fact: Dildara is one of the rare Bollywood songs that legally samples an international hit. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: With the use of arpeggios, you can make the song more emotional and soft for the ears. 

Let’s use string numbers for clarity:

6 (low E) → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 (high E)

For most of these chords, focus on strings 5 to 1 since root notes for C, Am, and F are on the 5th string.

Strumming Pattern:

You need to understand that the groove of the song is pretty mellow making the chords produce sound beautifully. Also, the strumming pattern it follows is quite a standard one which you can use in most of the Bollywood songs. D - DU - UDU. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 

Song Structure:

Chords, Rhythm, and Rhythm: For this guitar lesson, your guitar instructor is going to be Will MacMorran; first, he will showcase how to tune your guitar for the song; on the other hand, he will show you why you should be using a capo on 2nd fret. 

Why Learn Dildara From The Movie RA One?

Learning a Dildara song on guitar is pretty simple; it follows classic chords, making it a perfect choice for beginners who are just about to embark on a guitar learning journey. In addition to this, as you play this song, you will learn how to smoothly transition between various chords and develop rhythm along with strumming skills. 

FAQs-Yaaron Dosti Guitar Lesson

Q1. Was Ra One Hit?

Ans. The budget of the film was around 150 crore rupees, and it was able to make 207 crore worldwide, making it a commercial success. 

Q2. Who was the main villain of the movie Ra One? 

Ans. Ra One was the name of the main villain; the character was portrayed by Arjum Rampal, and the villain was a modern avatar of the mythological figure Raavan. 

Q3. What was the name of the kid in the movie Ra One? 

Ans. In the movie, the name of the kid is Prateek Subramanium, and the role is played by Armaan Verma. 

Q4. Will there ever be Ra One 2? 

Ans. Anubhav Singh, in an interview, said that there will be a Ra One sequel coming in years to come.

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.

Zinda is more than just a song, and it's a surge of energy, passion and perseverance. It’s a motivational rock song that truly captures the fire that burns inside legendary sprinter Milkha Singh as he takes the journey to become the best not just in his own country but all over the world. 

Fun Fact: The vocals for Zinda have been performed by Siddharth Mahadevan, who is the son of renowned composer Shankar Mahadevan. This was the first song in which Siddharth actually gave his voice as a playback singer. 

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

The above-mentioned strumming pattern is just the base pattern. If you really want to capture the true feeling of rock music in this song, then here’s a more dynamic version: D – x U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 
• X = mute 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction is from Mike Walker, who is going to be your guitar instructor for this lesson. He talks about how Zinda has a low tempo, and still it falls under the category of rock with the elements of funk guitar. 

Intro Motif and Chorus: Here, you will learn how to play the intro motif of the song, and after that, Mike shows you the chords you need to learn for the first chorus of the song. 

Song Arrangement - Part 1: This part of the lesson shows you the chords that occur from 32 seconds to 44 seconds, then again, the same chords appear later in the song, too, around 247 seconds. 

Song Arrangement - Part 2: This section of the song lesson shows you how to play the 2nd bridge, which comes in the song. It is basically a 2-bar phrase that is played four times. 

Solo Lesson: This section is about the only guitar solo that comes in the song at the 136-second mark and goes till 145 seconds. Mike first plays the solo to show you what it sounds like and then teaches you how to play it. 

Song Demo: In this part of the song lesson, you will see how you need to play the guitar parts in sync with the vocals. 

Improvisation: The final section is about improvisation and tips that you can use to make your guitar sound similar to the official recording of the song. 

Why Learn Zinda From Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?

When you learn this song on guitar, you will be able to build powerful rhythm skills in addition to the aggressive strumming technique. The song is a combination of high-octane rock ballad and emotional playing. As you play this song, it gives you a sense of drive and intensity, which is something rarely found in Bollywood songs. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Tum Hi Ho as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Song Arrangement, Rhythm, Song Demo, Song Arrangement with Capo (Simple Version) and Song Demo with Capo (Simple Version). Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that carries both emotional weight and spiritual depth Bulleya by Papon from the 2016 Bollywood film Sultan. Composed by the iconic duo Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Irshad Kamil, the song has a deep Sufi influence that speaks about longing, surrender, and redemption. Sung soulfully by Papon, the track marks a moment of emotional transformation in the film. It plays when the main character, Sultan, is trying to make peace with his past and win back the love of his life.

The song borrows its name and spirit from the famous Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. One of the standout lines in the song, “Tu bole toh ban jau main Bulleh Shah saudayi” (If you say so, I shall become Bulleh Shah’s devotee), ties the narrative to the idea of surrendering one’s ego in the face of love and higher truth. Over the years, this track has remained close to the hearts of listeners not just for its melody, but for the way it captures what it feels like to yearn, for love, for peace, and for redemption.

Bulleya Guitar Lesson

The lesson on Bulleya is taught by our expert Steve Luciano, who walks through all parts of the song with great detail and clarity. The song is in the key of A major and moves between some very expressive chords that bring out the emotional flavor of the track. You’ll encounter chords like A/E, C# minor, B major, Emaj7, Emaj9#4, and C#m7 and while they might sound complicated, Steve breaks them down in a way that even early intermediate players can grasp. One chord that stands out is Emaj9#4, which adds a haunting character to the progression. It's a variation of the regular major chord but with extra notes that add color the #4 gives it a dreamlike sound.

The track also uses what’s called a slash chord like E/G# - which simply means you're playing an E major chord but starting the bass note from G#. This kind of movement helps the progression feel more connected and smooth, especially when moving between sections of the song. Steve explains how to position your fingers for these chords and offers alternate voicings if you find the originals too challenging. 

One of the unique aspects of this lesson is how Steve connects the emotional flow of the song to the playing technique. It’s not just about hitting the right chords it’s about how you play them. The strumming is soft and steady, with emphasis on dynamics to match the emotional rise and fall of the lyrics. The lesson ends with a complete demonstration of the song, making it easy for you to follow along, section by section, until you can play it smoothly from start to finish.   

FAQs

Q. What level of guitarist is Bulleya suited for?

1. Bulleya is best suited for early intermediate players. If you’re familiar with barre chords and can handle a few extended voicings, you’ll enjoy learning this track.

Q. What tuning is used in this version of Bulleya?

1. The song is played in standard tuning — E A D G B E. No capo is needed.