Introduction

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Fire

by Mike Dugan

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Hotel California as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Chords and Progression and Rhythm and Backing Track. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Hotel California

by Steve Luciano

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Its My Life

by Mike Walker

Introduction:

It’s My Life is known to be one of the rock anthems, it was released in May, 2000 as the lead single of the seventh album called Crush by the rock band Bon Jovi. This was the song which made it possible for the band to introduce themselves to the younger fanbase.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song uses power chords most of the time along with some strong strumming, but it is up to you to add arpeggios to add another dynamic layer in the verses

Instead of strumming, you can also play the following arpeggios in the verse section:

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

B|------0--------|

G|----0---0------|

D|--2-------2----|

A|--------------|

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

Strumming Pattern

This song uses palm muting and strong downstrokes in order to create the classic rock sound. The main strumming pattern for It’s My Life by Bon Jovi is: D D X U D X U D

D (Downstroke) → Hit the full chord with power.
X (Palm Mute) → Lightly rest your palm on the strings for a muted "chug" effect.
U (Upstroke) → Play lightly, focusing on the higher strings for dynamics.

Song Structure

Introduction: In the introduction of the song you will be getting to know the tuning required to play this song.

Song Arrangement: Here you guitar instructor Mike Walker will be combining the guitar and piano parts of the song together which allows you to play the iconic guitar melody of this song.

Song Demo: After understanding what chords you need to play and where, in this part Mike is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.

Solo: This is the final part of the guitar lesson, and here you will be learning all the licks which are part of the guitar solo.

Soft rock, Folk-pop, Folk

Pop

Taught by

Mike Walker

American Idiot

by Pranay Verma

hard

Punk Rock

Taught by

Pranay Verma

Wish You Were Here

by Mike Dugan

Introduction

Tune into a classic Pink Floyd guitar lesson on Wish You Were Here at Torrins.com, led by our experienced tutor, Mike Dugan. He breaks down the lesson into various sections: Introduction, Intro Chords & Rhythm, Intro Lead, Verse & Chorus Lesson, Solo Improvisation, Arrangement & Playing with Backing Track.

Interesting Fact: In the song's intro, you can hear David Gilmour coughing and breathing heavily before the guitar kicks in. Rumour had it that Gilmour’s smoking habit caused the cough, and that he quit smoking afterwards out of frustration with the recording. But Gilmour later clarified he never smoked!

Mike plays the song using various open chords, including Em, Em7, G, A, and Am. Tune into the complete lesson to learn the rest of the chords that make up this song. This song is a great choice for both beginners and intermediate players.

Chords Used in "Wish You Were Here" Guitar Lesson

This song is played using simple open chords, making it accessible for both beginners and intermediate players. For intermediate players, Mike introduces some alternate chord voicings to stay true to the song’s original sound while adding a unique touch.

Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern is beginner-friendly with consistent downstrums. For those wanting to level up, Mike shares an advanced rhythm that incorporates upstrums for a more dynamic feel.

Song Structure

"Wish You Were Here" follows a clear and structured arrangement:

Intro: Lead + rhythm section (Mike provides a simpler alternative for beginners)
Lead Riffs: Based on the E minor pentatonic scale and its extensions, featuring double stops and hammer-ons.
Verse 1: Smooth chord transitions; beginners can use downstrums, while advanced players can follow the more complex rhythm.
Solo: You can either repeat the intro solo or follow Mike’s improvisation using the E minor pentatonic scale.
Verse 2: Similar to Verse 1, with consistent strumming and clean transitions.
Final Solo: A concluding solo based on the intro lead and E minor pentatonic improvisation.

Improvisation Techniques

Mike teaches how to improvise using the E minor pentatonic scale. He also adds his own flair by playing it on the 12th fret in true David Gilmour style.

Singing Along

Mike also walks you through the singing component, helping you match the chord changes with the lyrics.

Pro Tip: Make use of tabs and lyrics for smoother learning.

Why Learn "Wish You Were Here"?

This lesson helps you improve your chord transitions and develop a smooth, expressive playing style. It's a great piece to master for solo and sing-along sessions. Plus, learning David Gilmour’s style will sharpen your improvisation skills.

Tips to Improve:

Focus on clean chord transitions.
Keep your strumming hand relaxed to maintain a steady rhythm.

FAQs – "Wish You Were Here" Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

Yes! The chords are straightforward, and Mike provides a simplified version of the intro for beginners.

Q2. Can I just strum the song instead of fingerpicking?

Yes! You can simplify the song with consistent downstrums or follow the more advanced strumming pattern Mike shares.

moderate

Rock

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Fire and Rain

by Steve Luciano

hard

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Praise

by Ashish Noel John

Praise – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on the Christian rock gospel track by Everlasting Worship called Praise. The song was released in mid-2023 and has since been streamed over 150 million times on YouTube. Praise is a collaborative effort by Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore in the name of Jesus.

The message in the song is a declaration of devotion to Jesus Christ, lord and Saviour, who is all worthy of praise. There is deep devotional meaning in the lyrics of the song that talks about praising the lord in every situation and stage of life, for he is sovereign and true. The artists say, “Praise is also a weapon… Praise is how you fight for your perspective. Praise is how you take your imagination back from the enemy. Praise is how you inspire your faith and remember God’s faithfulness”.

Praise Guitar Lesson

The lesson here covers all parts of the song section by section, including the introduction, chords and rhythms, and the different techniques required to play this song perfectly. The tutor has demonstrated how to play the song using a capo as well as without a capo in the latter part of the lesson.

Praise chords are derived from the A major scale, which are A, Dadd9, F#m, E, and Bm. But since the open chord shapes sound louder and brighter, they make it tricky to produce the muted tones. Hence, the instructor suggests the use of a capo, which, instead of the nut pressing the strings from the bottom, does it from the top, and the muting effect becomes easy to achieve. Consequently, there arises a need to then transpose the song two frets ahead, which makes the chord shapes easier to play.

The song features augmented chords and minor 7th chords. They give a dreamy and expanding feel to the song. The strumming resembles a shuffle pattern with some muted strums for a percussive effect. This pattern, which is a little complex to master but sounds most fun to play, is carefully shown by the instructor, which the learners will find helpful.

FAQs

Q. What chords are used in ‘Praise’ by Elevation Worship?

The song uses standard chords like G, Cadd9, Em7, and D, using a capo on the 2nd fret. This is a common modern worship progression that is quite easy to play.

Q. Is Praise suitable for acoustic guitar beginners?

Yes, Praise is suitable for beginners. Although it has a higher tempo, that is only because of the strumming pattern, which is easy to play with a capo on. The chords are also easy to play with a capo on.

Q. How can I improve playing Praise live?

The greatest obstacle in live playing is the nerves, the adrenaline that makes your hands shake in front of an audience. A good way to deal with that is to not face the audience directly and stand at an angle, partly facing the audience and partly the band members.

hard

Christian

Taught by

Ashish Noel John

Stay by The Kid LAROI feat. Justin Bieber

by Ashish Noel John

In this video lesson Ashish Noel John teaches how to play the song Stay as part of our Guitar series on English song lessons. The song lesson is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythms, Improvisation, Song Arrangement, and Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Pop

Taught by

Ashish Noel John

November Rain

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

Similar Rock Songs

I will wait

by J.J. Pattishall

Introduction

I Will Wait is a song by Mumford & Sons. It was released in the United States in 2012 as a lead single for their second studio album, Babel (2012). Rolling Stones Magazine named this song as the 13th-best song that came out that year.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: In the key of D flat, you have to put on a capo on the first fret of your guitar to play this song.

Strumming Pattern

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

D = Down strum
U = Up strum

This strumming pattern results in a rolling, percussive feel, which resonates with the song’s energetic drive.

Song Structure

Introduction: In this part of the guitar lesson, your guitar instructor talks about the song and the band Mumford & Sons. He will also teach you how to tune the guitar in order to play this song.
Chords and Rhythm: In this section, you will learn how to play both the rhythm and the vocal sections of the song. Furthermore, J.J. Pattishall will show you how to keep up with the underlying rhythm of the song.
Song Arrangement: This part of the guitar lesson is divided into five different sections: intro, verse, pre-chorus, bridge, and chorus to make it easier for you to learn chord progressions that you need to play at a certain point in the song.
Sing and Play: Here, you will learn how to sing along as you play chords on the guitar. Your guitar instructor will show you how you can mark certain downbeats to steer your vocal in the right direction as you sing along.
Song Demo: At this point, J.J is going to give a demo of the song where he plays the song on guitar and sings along with the backing track.
Non-Capo Version: This is the alternative version of the song, which does not require capo at all.

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Wonderful Tonight (Sing and Play)

by Mike Dugan

Introduction:

Looking to learn one of the most heartfelt love ballads ever written? Then this song tutorial of Eric Clapton’s hit song is a must-watch for you. This "Wonderful Tonight" guitar lesson, taught by Mike Dugan, breaks down the song into an easy-to-follow tutorial that’s perfect for both beginners and advanced players. Mike teaches you how to sing as well as play the song.

Fun Fact: Eric Clapton wrote "Wonderful Tonight" while waiting for his then-girlfriend, Pattie Boyd, to get ready for an event. Despite its simplicity, the song became his most downloaded track on Spotify, with over 480 million streams!

Chords Used in "Wonderful Tonight"

This lesson is taught in the key of G major, and it primarily uses open chords, making it accessible to beginners. Some of the main chords include:

G
Em
D/F#

The lesson also covers additional chords and variations—tune in to discover them all!

Strumming Pattern & Rhythm Techniques

Beginner-Friendly Strumming: Basic downstrums to ensure smooth transitions between chords.
Advanced Strumming: The tutorial also covers a more complex strumming pattern used in the original recording. This involves subdivisions, where each beat is split into four 16th notes, creating a rhythmic groove with an alternate strumming pattern (DUDUDU) with accents.
Special Techniques: The instructor introduces a unique method for adding accents, perfect for players looking to elevate their rhythm skills. Tune in to the lesson to learn how to do it.

Song Structure Breakdown

This tutorial follows the song’s original structure, making it easier to follow:

Intro (played twice)
Verse 1
Intro section again
Verse 2
Bridge
Intro played twice
Verse 3 with a tag ending
Intro played twice to fade out

Tip: The intro shares a similar progression to the first part of the verse, making it easier to grasp.

Walk-Down Technique & Chord Transitions

One of the standout features of this lesson is the walk-down technique, where the bass notes descend smoothly between chords. Mike provides a step-by-step breakdown of positioning complex chord shapes and making smooth transitions.

Sing & Play Lesson

Want to sing while playing? This lesson dedicates a section to teaching how to play and sing simultaneously, helping learners match their strumming with the song’s vocal phrasing.

Final Play-Along & Bonus Lesson

The lesson ends with a play-along section featuring a backing track, allowing learners to practice the entire song with professional accompaniment.
For a more in-depth approach to playing "Wonderful Tonight" in an authentic style, check out Steve Luciano’s version, which focuses on the intricacies of the guitar work of the song.

FAQs – "Wonderful Tonight" Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

Yes! With just a few open chords and a straightforward rhythm, it’s perfect for beginners.

Q2. How can I improve my strumming for this song?

Start with basic downstrums, then work on the subdivided 16th-note pattern with accents for a more authentic feel.

easy

Rock

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Another Brick in the Wall

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

Tighten Up

by Mike Walker

Introduction

Tighten is a song by American rock band the Black Keys. It is the third track of their 2010 album called Brothers, which was released as the first single from the album. In 2011, Rolling Stones magazine put Tighten Up on its list of 15 Best Whistling Songs of All Time.

Also, Tighten Up became the most successful single from The Black Keys. It was the band's first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 in America and reached number one on the list of alternative songs.

Chords Used in Tighten Up Song

The most common chords you will be using in this song are F#m, AM7, Bm, and C#.

Song Structure

Introduction: In this part, your guitar instructor, Mike Walker, teaches you the basic music knowledge to play this song on guitar.

Verse Chords and Rhythm: Here, Mike will show you where to take the necessary pause and hit the guitar chords when counting to 4.

Solos: Here, you will learn the first solo, which breaks up the verse section into two parts of the song.

Bridge and Outro Solo: Mike will teach you how to play the barre chords required to play the bridge and outro solo for this song.

Song Demo: In this section, Mike will play the entirety of the song on guitar to demonstrate it.

Easy Version: If you are a beginner in terms of guitar playing, Mike has got you covered with the easy version of the song, which you can play with ease.

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Upside Down as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythm, Song Arrangement, Intro Lick and Solo and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Walker

Upside Down

by J.J. Pattishall

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Man Who Sold The World as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro, Verse, & Chorus, Solo and Overdubs. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Man Who Sold The World

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

Run to You

by Mike Walker

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Settle Down as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythm, Song Arrangement, Singing and Playing and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Walker

Goodbye Blue Sky

by Steve Luciano

Introduction

Tune into a simple fingerpicking guitar song lesson on "Goodbye Blue Sky" on Torrins. This lesson is led by our instructor, Steve Luciano, who breaks down the various sections of the song for easy understanding. This Goodbye Blue Sky guitar tutorial covers the strumming pattern, fretting, and rhythm techniques that make this song sound so great.

Interesting Fact: The song’s soft, almost lullaby-like melody is a stark contrast to its dark theme of war and destruction. Roger Waters wrote it as a reflection of his childhood memories of the London Blitz during World War II. The track opens with a child's voice saying, "Look, mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky!"—a chilling moment that symbolizes the innocence of youth being shattered by the horrors of war.

Chords & Tuning

"Goodbye Blue Sky" is a simple fingerpicking song. Before getting started, tune your 6th string to Drop D—this gives the song its deep, resonant tone.

Fingerpicking Pattern

The fingerpicking technique adds an intricate and melodic touch to this song while keeping the rhythm steady, making this song perfect for practising control and precision.

Song Structure & Techniques

The song kicks off with a repeating section that features pull-offs, adding a smooth, connected feel to the melody. This section repeats four times and helps build fluidity in your playing. If you’re still getting comfortable with pull-offs, be sure to explore our in-depth lesson on this essential technique.

As the arrangement develops, you’ll come across hammer-ons, which lend a punchier articulation to the notes. Steve also incorporates power chords, specifically B and F#, along with an open G, contributing to a fuller, more dynamic sound. Later in the progression, he introduces barre chords across the 2nd and 3rd strings, creating a seamless, flowing texture. These techniques come together to give the song its distinct blues-rock character while helping you improve precision and control.

Learning Made Easier

The 3-angle camera view makes learning such songs so much easier. With dedicated angles on strumming, fretting, and an overall view, you get a detailed, close-up look at all the intricate finger movements, helping you learn efficiently and effectively.

Pro Tip for Mastering the Song

Steve recommends breaking the song into sections and practising each part individually before putting everything together. This will ensure you develop muscle memory for clean and precise playing.

FAQs – "Goodbye Blue Sky" Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

A: While the song follows a simple fingerpicking style, it requires coordination and control. It's great for beginners looking to build finger independence and practice melodic fingerpicking.

Q2. Do I need to use a pick for this song?

A: No, this song is best played with fingerpicking, which gives it its signature soft and flowing sound.

Q3. What’s the best way to improve my fingerpicking accuracy?

A: Slow down and focus on precision before building up speed. Keep your right hand relaxed, and ensure each note rings out clearly.

moderate

Rock

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Settle Down

by J.J. Pattishall

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Pirates of The Caribbean Theme

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

If You Like Nirvana, You'll Love These

Lithium

by J.J. Pattishall

If needed add some text content with lesson to show on viewer's screen.

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

All Apologies

by J.J. Pattishall

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Come As You Are as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Chords, Rhythm and Backing Track. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Come As You Are (Complete)

by J.J. Pattishall

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Come As You Are (Beginners)

by Steve Luciano

Introduction:

If you know about Nirvana, the band, you know them for this one song Come As You Are. It is their most iconic song of all time, and it’s a must-learn for beginners who want to make it big in the guitar and rock scene.

Strumming Pattern:

This particular song follows a plucking/ riff-based rhythm rather than using traditional strumming. The iconic riff can still be played using this pattern: D D U D D U.

D = Down Strum
U = Up Strum

Song Structure

Introduction: The introduction starts with explaining to you how to tune your guitar and how to turn your guitar down to a whole step to get the exact sound which you hear on record.

Chords and Rhythm: Over here you will be learning how to play the basic power chords that are part of this song along with the rhythm which you will be following. Keep in mind, if you are using standard tuning, you have to use a whole step lower chords.

Song Arrangement: Here you will be given a walkthrough of each section of the tune, most of the tunes for this song are somewhat related to the intro riff. So you have mastered the starting riff and the rest will be much easier.

Intro Riff and Solo: Here again you will be learning how to play the center riff which results in the different tunes that you get in the song.

Song Demo: In this part J.J Pattishall is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.

Sing and Play: This section is all about J.J giving you tips and tricks on how to play the song as well as sing it. He will show you the coordination tricks you can use to keep up with the song.

Why Learn Come As You Are (Complete) By Nirvana?

The opening riff of the song is simple and easy to learn making it great for impressive others. Also, it takes the benefit of minor scales with the addition of a slight bluesy feel, and in order to play it you will have to learn alternate picking technique and smooth transitions.

FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What is the meaning of the song Come As You Are by Nirvana?

Ans. The song is about how people are expected to act when struggle arrives in their life. Still, the song is filled with contradictory meanings and it is full of confusion, similar to how most people are in their lives.

Q2. What genre does Come As You Are fall in?

Ans. This particular song falls in the category of grunge alternative rock, the song writer is none-other than Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer of the band Nirvana.

Q3. Which one is the saddest song from Curt Cobain?

Ans. The most haunting and saddest song ever written and recorded by Curt Cobain was Something In The Way. The tragic tune of the song is entirely written by the lead singer himself.

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Smells Like Teen Spirit

by J.J. Pattishall