Chords, Rhythm, & Backing Track

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.

In this video lesson Mike Dugan teaches how to play the song Can't Help Falling in Love as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Verse (Chords, Rhythm, and Singing) and Bridge and Song Arrangement. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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. 

Game of Throne Rock Version Cover by Kfir Ochaion - Introduction

The "Game of Thrones" theme is one of the most recognizable TV scores ever written, and Kfir Ochaion’s rock cover gives it a powerful new energy. Kfir is an Israeli guitarist known for turning vocal melodies into expressive guitar lines. His version takes the original orchestral arrangement and transforms it into a full rock instrumental, complete with soaring leads and heavy rhythms. The cover stays true to the epic feel of the original while adding guitar-driven intensity.

Kfir Ochaion started playing guitar at age 10, inspired by classic rock legends. His YouTube channel, launched in 2014, has grown to over 2.2 million subscribers thanks to his unique style. He doesn’t just play the notes—he makes the guitar "sing" like a human voice. This "Game of Thrones" cover is a great example of his approach, where every bend and vibrato mimics the drama of the original melody. His version keeps the song’s grand scale but makes it fit perfectly for electric guitar.

Game of Throne Rock Version Cover by Kfir Ochaion Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down Kfir Ochaion’s rock arrangement of the "Game of Thrones" theme. The song is in E minor, and the main melody follows the original tune closely but with added rock techniques. The opening riff uses sustained notes with wide vibrato to copy the horn section from the TV version. The left hand must control each note’s pitch carefully to keep the melody sounding smooth and powerful.

The rhythm parts use palm-muted power chords to build tension in the verses. The pre-chorus switches to open chords with ringing arpeggios, creating contrast before the heavy riff returns. Kfir’s version includes a guitar solo section that wasn’t in the original. This solo uses the E harmonic minor scale for a dramatic, cinematic sound. Fast alternate picking runs and controlled bends make this part challenging but rewarding to learn.

For the main theme, Kfir uses slides and legato to connect notes fluidly. The phrasing is key, with pauses in the right places. The chorus brings big power chords and double stops to thicken the sound. Dynamic control is crucial here, as the part shifts between loud, aggressive strums and softer, cleaner passages.

Beginners should start by learning the melody slowly, focusing on note accuracy before adding vibrato. Intermediate players can work on the solo’s faster licks and the precise muting needed for the rhythm parts. Advanced guitarists should study how Kfir blends techniques—hybrid picking, bends, and harmonics—to make the guitar sound almost orchestral.

FAQs

Q. What effects does Kfir use in this cover?

A medium-gain overdrive, delay for atmosphere, and reverb to create space.

Q. Is this song good for beginners?

The melody is playable at slower speeds, but the solo and dynamic control require intermediate skills.

Q. How do I practice the fast alternate picking parts?

Use a metronome starting at half speed. Increase tempo only when you can play cleanly.

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.