Preview

Bohemian Rhapsody – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on what is referred to as the greatest rock song of all time, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It is a 6-minute ‘suite’ –a musical performance that typically includes four or five dances, according to Western classical music. But Bohemian Rhapsody is nothing like a classical piece. It is, in fact, the opposite of a classical piece. It is an alternative rock song parodying orchestral music.

Freddie Mercury was born to Parsi-Indian parents in Zanzibar, which is an island town on the east coast of Africa. After the Zanzibar revolution began, they had to flee to Middlesex, England, to save their lives. Since that is the environment Freddie grew up around, it makes sense for him to choose alt-rock and prog-rock as his genres.

Bohemian Rhapsody Guitar Lesson

The lesson on this song is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, who explains all the different sections of the song –and there are many –in the simplest of ways. The lesson is divided into multiple sections, explaining all the parts of the song section by section –from the intro that talks about the chords and different voicings of those chords, to the rhythms and solos of the song.

The song contains an iconic intro, a ballad segment, an orchestral passage, a rock progression, an iconic solo, and an outro. It is almost as if the song is a contraption of multiple songs. Consequently, it has a number of chords and key changes. The instructor, though, gives time to explain all the changes meticulously.

The song follows the following keys: B♭ Major, E♭ Major, A Major and F Major. With most of the chords being non-standard shapes, for instance, the intro features flat-6 and 7th chords, and minor 7th chords. There is a motif in the verse that makes the section iconic –a set of repeating two notes –G to F while on a Bb chord, A to G on the Gmin, and D to C on the Cmin. The instructor shows how to play it in great detail and along with the original track.

Another iconic part of the song is Brian May’s guitar solo, which has been deemed one of the greatest solos of all time. Featuring a guitar that Brian built in his garage, sloppy vibratos, dynamics, and pure emotional playing make it one of the greatest.

The lesson also has a breakdown of the main solo and the outro solo, including the rhythm distortion guitar parts as well, shown in full by the tutor.

Q. Is Bohemian Rhapsody playable on an acoustic guitar?

Yes, once you master the chord shapes, you can easily play the fingerstyle version of the song and sing along.

Q. What effects does Brian May use?

Brian used a Phaser pedal into a treble booster that then went into a Vox AC30.

Q. How do I sing and play this at the same time?

Practice playing the chords first. The ballad actually follows the vocal melody and so mastering the chords can easily get you there.

Introduction

In this video lesson your instructor, Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Stairway to Heaven as part of our guitar series on English songs. It is one of the most iconic piece of rock music. Playing it on your guitar instantly earns you street cred as a guitarist. 

Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Strumming Pattern 

The intro and the verse section of the song are all about fingerpicking, but as the song moves towards the more guitar-centric section strumming does come into play, and the strumming pattern is as follows: D - D U - U D U

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause or hold

Song Structure 

• Introduction: Mike Walker will introduce this song lesson. He will be your guitar instructor for this lesson. He will teach you how to tune your guitar and share his advice on why every rock fan should learn this song. 
• Intro Piece: This is the part when you play instantly makes everyone acknowledge that you are playing Stairway to Heaven. 
• Section A and B: Section A is pretty similar to the intro piece, Mike tells you which chords to play to make it sound different and how to play Section B.
• Section C and D: This part of the guitar lesson continues with the acoustic guitar chord. 
• Section E and F: Here, you will learn the most repeated guitar part of the song, section E. The F section is about the last acoustic part of the song. 
• Song Demo: In this part, Mike will show you how to play the entire acoustic guitar section alongside the backing track. 
• Solo Lesson: This is the most anticipated part of the song; Mike breaks Jimmy Page’s iconic solo with multiple licks and plays them with the backing track. 
• Overdubs: This is the last section of the guitar lesson, and here, you will learn about overdubs, which are basically the additional layer of guitar tracks used in the song. 

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

Wake Me Up When September Ends is one of the most iconic songs from the American punk rock band Green Day. It is the fourth single from their seventh studio album, American Idiot, which was released in 2004. The lead vocalist Armstrong, wrote the lyrics of this song after his father's death in September 1982.

Chords Used in Wake Me Up When September Ends

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Open chords. The song is played in the key of G, and there is no need for a capo. 

Chorus Variation: The chorus of the song is pretty short, and the guitar chords used in it are similar to those of the verse. 

Strumming Pattern 

The entirety of the song follows the same strumming pattern: Down-Up, Down-Up, Down-Up. (DUDUDU)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this section, J.J. Pattishall will explain the key you need to play the song in.

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn how and why the guitar instructor has broken down this song into several different parts. This particular section will show you how to play the guitar parts of the intro, verse, chorus, and bridge. 

Rhythm: Here, you will learn the open chords used to provide backing rhythm to the verse and chorus of the song. 

Song Demo: Right here, after showing you how to play all the different chords for this song, J.J. Pattishall will show you how to play the guitar alongside the song. 

Solo Lesson: This is the last part, where you learn how to play the epic solo from the song. 

Sing is the lead single from Ed Sheeran's sophomore album “X” (Multiply). This was the first time Ed moved past his acoustic singer persona. The song was produced by Pharell Williams, and after it got released it really did shock some of his fans, at the same time it delighted critics. 

Sing is a funky, falsetto-driven song, and even after a decade, this song holds true to be one of the most intriguing and enduring tracks that came out from Ed’s album. It’s a song that shows his willingness to evolve and take those creative risks that many artists fear to take when they reach the height of their career. 

Fun Fact: Ed Sheeran, in one of his videos, said he took the inspiration from Justin Timberlake’s Justified album. The composer Pharrell Williams also worked on the same album and leaned towards the idea of creating something similar for Ed. 

Half of Sing’s credit needs to be devoted to Pharrell, Ed was reluctant on using Falsetto heavy style, feeling it will be too far from his original sound, but Pharell insisted that he should try it out and the result was such a massive breakout that Ed was able to reach UK #1 spot for the first time in his career. 

Why Learn to Sing By Ed Sheeran On Guitar?

''Sing'' is the exception in Ed Sheeran’s discography, most of his fans think of Ed as a tender acoustic musician. It was Sing that flipped the narrative. From this song, Ed offered a danceable energy to his fans, in addition to confidence and versatility. 

Sing is there to help you level up your guitar playing techniques, allowing you to practice strumming precision and the musical groove of a song. At first glance, you will find that the chord progression present in this song is quite simple, but if you look closely, the challenge lies in the rhythm and feel. 

The song requires you to master percussive and palm-muting techniques, which creates a funk-guitar style sound. With this song, you will develop tight timing and rhythmic accuracy. 

Furthermore, it also teaches you to properly use muting, ghost notes, and silence that are crucial means for groove. 

FAQs – Sing By Ed Sheeran Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which chords do I need to use to play Sing by Ed Sheeran on guitar? 

Ans. Am, F, C, and G are the few chords that you need to keep on repeating throughout this song, because it is a loop-style progression. 

Q2. In which key does the song Sing by Ed Sheeran present in? 

Ans. The song is present in A minor, which is considered the relative minor of C major. Keep in mind that there are no sharps or flats present in it. As a result, it is much easier for beginners to navigate through the guitar using it. 

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!

The introduction and song arrangement are none other than Salman Ahmad, who himself is a member of the band Junoon. In this part of the guitar lesson, he gives you a little background on the song. In addition to this, as he begins showing you the song arrangement, he tells you to keep the guitar chords in a flowing rhythm to have a more accurate guitar sound. Furthermore, the song is present in the key of C-sharp minor, so do tune your guitar accordingly. 

Song Structure:

Intro Lead: In here, you will learn the chords for the intro lead, which Salman Ahmad created to bring more depth and rock feel to the song. 

Solo 1: In this part of the guitar lesson, you will see how to play the first solo that comes in the song. Keep in mind, as you play this song, you have to make sure that the sound you are creating is more on a bluesy side. 

Solo 2: The second solo present in the song is more of a precursive. 

Song Demo: In this section of the song lesson, Salman Ahmad will play the guitar chords for the entire song as it is being played in the background. 

Easy Version: For people who are new to guitar tutorials and are at the beginner level of the instrument, Salman Ahmad has come up with the easy version, which he teaches in this part. 

Easy Version Song Demo: The easier version, which you have just learned in the above section, is now in here, you will see how to play it in sync with the song. 

Why Learn Zamaney Ke Andaz By Junoon Song?

As you learn this song on guitar, you will be able to blend in Eastern melodies with Western rock power chords. Using this, you are going to strengthen your timing and rhythmic palm muting, which is considered to be a staple for modern rock. 

The song is present in the key of C-sharp minor, which makes the song a great workout for left-hand strength, right-hand accuracy, and clean fretboard shifts. As you learn this song, you will be able to control dynamics such as soft-finger-picking passages with high-energy strumming, resulting in more engaging and impactful performances. 

Sau Aasmaan is a bright, romantic song from the 2016 Bollywood film Baar Baar Dekho, featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif. Composed by Amaal Mallik with lyrics by Kumaar, the track captures the excitement of new love through its upbeat melody and joyful lyrics. Armaan Malik and Neeti Mohan's vocals blend perfectly, giving the song a fresh, youthful energy that matches the film's themes of romance and destiny.

The music video shows the lead actors in beautiful international locations, adding to the song's dreamy feel. The composition mixes contemporary pop elements with light electronic beats, creating a sound that's both modern and timeless. Released as part of the film's soundtrack, Sau Aasmaan quickly became popular for its catchy tune and feel-good vibe, making it a favorite at weddings and romantic playlists.

Sau Aasmaan Guitar Lesson

Taught by Steve Luciano, this lesson covers how to play "Sau Aasmaan" on guitar. The song is in the key of F#/Gb major, which gives it a bright, uplifting sound. The main chords follow a I-V-vi-IV progression, a common pattern in pop music that makes the song easy to learn but effective.

The strumming pattern uses a steady down-down-up-up-down-up rhythm in 4/4 time. This pattern keeps the energy high while allowing the chords to ring clearly. The verse and chorus use the same chord progression, but the chorus adds more emphasis with fuller strums. The pre-chorus introduces a slight variation with a B-C#-F# movement that builds tension before releasing back to the main progression.

For the lead parts, the song uses the F# major scale (F#-G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E#). The melody moves mostly step-by-step through these notes, with occasional jumps that give it a playful quality. When playing the vocal lines on guitar, focus on smooth transitions between notes and add light vibrato to longer notes for expression.

Beginners should start by mastering the chord shapes and basic strumming pattern. The F# major chord can be challenging at first - try the 2-4-4-3-2-2 barre shape or simplify it to xx4322. Intermediate players can work on matching the vocal melody on guitar. Advanced players should focus on adding embellishments like hammer-ons and slides to make their playing more

expressive.     

FAQs

Q. How do I make the F# chord easier to play?

1. Try the simplified version (xx4322) or use a capo on 2nd fret playing E shapes.

Q. What's the strumming pattern?

1. Down-down-up-up-down-up, with emphasis on beats 1 and 3.

Q. Can I play this on acoustic guitar?

1. Yes, it works well on both acoustic and electric.

Q. How to practice the chord changes?

1. Isolate difficult transitions (like F# to D#m) and practice them slowly first.