Solo 3

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.

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. 

Introduction

Hello is a song by Lionel Richie, an American singer and songwriter. It was the third single from his second studio album, Can’t Slow Down, which was released in 1983. This song had a total of three guitarists: Darrell Jones, Tim Ray, and Louis Shelton, who played electric and acoustic guitar, respectively. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Hello as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Advanced Voicing and Solo Lesson. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming patterns are: D D U U D U. 

Song Structure 

Here is the song structure which you need to follow to learn Hello by Lionel Richie:

Introduction: This is the start of the lesson, during which Steve Luciano, your instructor, will explain all the technicalities you will encounter during the learning stage of this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn all the chords necessary to play this song. 

Song Demo: In this section, Steve will play the guitar part of the song alongside the track to help you understand how to sync chords with the vocals. 

Advanced Voicing: For individuals who can play advanced chords, this particular section is for them. It is the bonus of the lesson to make your guitar play more intricately.

Solo Lesson: In this section, you'll learn how to play the slow part of the song — a beautiful example of an instrumental pop solo, the kind that's rarely highlighted in mainstream pop music.

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. 

To become a well-rounded guitarist or to witness the magic of James Taylor’s fingerpicking at its best, you need to learn the intermediate guitar version of the song Snowtime. This is the one-song lesson that serves as a perfect blend of technical as well as musical growth; in addition to this, the entire guitar lesson is pure playing satisfaction. 

With this intermediate version of the song Snowtime, you will be introduced to Travis playing, in addition to the subtle-note alternations, a skill that develops precision and independence between thumb and fingers. 

Musically speaking, the song slowly builds on soft and flowing acoustic guitar with unmistakable smooth vocals layered on top of them. From this lesson, you are going to capture the serene and contemplative mood present in the song, which is quite often associated with winter. It’s a song that teaches you that sometimes simplicity when executed with proper finesse, can create a powerful musical experience. 

Strumming Pattern 

The song is known for its gentle fingerpicking, but when it comes to learning the intermediate version, then you have to follow the given strumming pattern to capture a laid-back and flowing feel of the song: D – D U – U D U.

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

If you wish to add more feel to the song, you can use this optional strumming variation: D – D – x – U – D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum.
• X = muted percussive strumming, which helps you add texture without overpowering the song. 

Strumming works well in this song, but if you wish to capture the sound of the original recording truly, we would advise you to blend light fingerpicking with strumming transitions.  

Why Learn Snowtime Song Intermediate Version On Guitar?

Snowtime by James Taylor is considered to be the perfect first step towards learning fingerstyling with light strumming; this lesson simplifies the intricate part just enough that the song lesson becomes a bit challenging and, at the same time, rewarding. 

It’s a song that requires you to play your guitar gently and cleanly and follow the required rhythm. The kind of control you will learn in this song lesson will take you one level above beginners and make your sound stage-ready. 

Here, you will be playing open chords, which come with tasteful embellishments; this helps you in mastering transitions while still showing you how to add musical sophistication to your guitar playing. 

Snowtime is being played at a steady, reflective pace; playing it on guitar trains your mind and hands-on timing; as a result, with this slow tempo, you will learn to avoid rushing and lock your chord progression with vocals. 

Introduction:

Wonderful Tonight is one of the most iconic rock ballads by Eric Clapton, if you are someone who wants to play and sing side-by-side then this is the best semi-rock song to begin with. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Instead of strumming different chords, you can use a soft arpeggio pattern, which is as follows: 

e|-----------3------------|  

B|------3------3---------|  

G|----0---0------0------|  

D|----------------------|  

A|----------------------|  

E|--3------------------| 

Strumming Pattern 

"Wonderful Tonight" is a slow and relaxed-feel song, which makes it great for beginners. Even the strumming pattern that you have to follow for this song is pretty gentle and amazing for singing. The song is played 4/4 time, and its strumming pattern is: D D U U D U.

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure 

Wonderful Tonight (Sing and Play): This guitar lesson consists of one complete video in which you will learn the entire song, starting from the intro. Your guitar instructor for this lesson is Mike Dugan, who is a fan of Eric Clapton himself. He will take things slowly and teach you every single chord necessary to play this song on your guitar.

Why Learn Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton Song?

This is one of the big hits of Eric Clapton, and it does have some simple yet emotional chords present in it. It takes the full advantage of open chords which is great for beginners, and the slow tempo of the song makes it easier for beginners to transition between the various chords that are part of the song. 

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is Wonderful Tonight a wedding song? 

Ans. This song can be termed as a wedding song and lots of couples have used it previously for their first dance, it is the song which keeps on showing in the bill year after year.  

Q2. Why do people love Eric Clapton?

Ans. Eric is known all over the world for his highly influential phrasing, rapid runs and plaintive vibrato, which lots of other guitarists tried but failed to replicate miserably. 

Q3. Which one is Cream’s biggest hit of all time? 

Ans. Wrapping Paper, I Feel Free, Sweet Wine and some of the most famous songs by the band in which Eric used to play electric guitar and gave his voice to some of the songs as well. 

Fun Fact: There is a book titled Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me, written by Pattie Boyd in collaboration with Penny Junor.

Introduction

It’s Time is the debut single by the American rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released as the leading single from the band’s first major label EP which was Continued Silence. In the same year the band included this song in their first feature album. 

It’s Time is the staple of Imagine Dragons’s live concert; they usually play this song in the beginning of their performance as it is the first song which gave the band its much needed recognition in the American music scene. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song It's Time as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song It’s Time is present in the key of D 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern that you have to follow for this song is D-DU-UD-DU, which means: 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause or slight break

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this part of the guitar lesson Mike Walker your music instructor is going to show you the tuning requirements for the song. 

Song Arrangement: Here, you are going to learn how to play specific chords in the open chord style. In addition to this, you will also learn the lick, which you will be playing over and over again in the verses. 

Song Demo: This is the last part of this guitar song lesson where Mike is going to teach you how to play the guitar section alongside the backing track. 

Aasai Oru Pulveli was a standout song from the movie Attakathi, a Tamil film that was released back in 2012. Santhosh Narayanan did the composition of the song; with this track, Santhosh tried to capture the essence of innocence, which is present in youthful love. 

As the movie was released, this song became a cult favorite among modern Tamil music fans. The title of the song translates to My Desire Is Like A Blade Of Grass, which is there to depict the fragility of falling in love with someone for the very first time. 

Furthermore, this song marked a turning point in the life of composer Santhosh Narayanan, he used analog recording techniques in order to recreate nostalgic and retro vibes of the 80s. He even chose vintage synth sounds and layered vocals to give this song its dreamy texture, which makes it stand out in the sea of digital-heavy soundtracks. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction for this guitar lesson starts with J.J. Pattishall played the key chords for the song. In addition to this, J.J. will be your guitar instructor as well, so before proceeding any further, he will tell you how to tune up the guitar for this song. You will be playing the guitar parts as close to the original tune which was part of the recording. 

Song Arrangement - Part 1 (Intro Piece): J.J. talks about how the tuning changes up the tonality of the strings and gives you a sound that you can experiment with according to your requirements. Also, you have to use a capo on the 2nd fret for this song, 

Song Arrangement - Part 2: This part of the song lesson shows you how to play the chords for the extended chorus part of the song. 

Rhythm: Here, you will learn about the rhythm that you need to follow in this song; your guitar instructor divides the rhythm section into two parts: the first one is the chorus rhythm, and the second is the verse rhythm. 

Song Demo: This is the final part, where J.J. shows you how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Why Learn Aasai Oru Pulveli Song From Attakathi?

It is a beautifully composed song that is a blend of modern melodies and does hold a nostalgic retro feel to it as well. The song features simple and flowing chord changes that are pretty easy to grasp, making them great for practice. It helps in improving your timing, transitions and rhythm. 

Furthermore, you can experiment with gentle fingerpicking or mellow strumming, as the song lets you do both things, giving you space to showcase your versatility. It has a laid-back tempo, and the melody urges you to sing along, thus making it a fun song to perform solo with vocals and guitar in a live performance setup.  

Introduction:

Te Amo is a song which is full of emotion making it a perfect song to play acoustic guitar. As a result, when you play this song it helps you connect with the mood of love, longing and vulnerability. 

Fun Fact: Te Amo was the first love song which has the blend of Spanish and Hindi language in lyrics. 

Strumming Pattern 

The song is pretty laid back, so the strumming pattern for the reprised version is as follows: D - D U - U D U. 

• D = Down Strum.
• U = Up Strum.  

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction is from Steve Luciano, and in this part of the guitar lesson, you will get to know how to play the song exactly like the reprise version and what it takes to keep the tone perfectly matching that of the original reprise version. 

Intro Piece: In this part you will learn how to play the intro part of the song which is pretty guitar heavy. 

Verse 1, Chorus 1, & Intro 2: On this chapter of guitar lesson you will be finding out how to play the harmony of the song. The verse in the song comes three times in total and when a verse comes chords usually change. 

Verse 2 and Chorus 2: Here Steve will show you the chords you need to play for the 2nd verse and 2nd chorus of the song. 

Interlude, Verse 3, and Chorus 3: In this section, you will learn the small piece of music that plays in between the 2nd verse and 3rd verse. Also, you will learn the chords for the 3rd chorus of the song. 

Conclusion and Backing Track: This is the last section of the guitar lesson and here, Steve is going to play the entire guitar part of the song with the backing track. 

Why Te Amo Reprise From Dum Maro Dum On Guitar?

This song uses beginner-friendly chords, which allows musicians to feel the song rather than focus on speed or complexity. The song is a bit slower and is considered to be an emotional track that teaches you timing, dynamics, and soft playing. 

FAQs-Te Amo Reprise song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What does Te Amo mean in the song? 

Ans. Te Amo translated to I Love You in Spanish, the song was sung by Pritam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Ash King. 

Q2. What is the theme of the movie Dum Maro Dum?

Ans. The movie revolves around drug trafficking, corruption which could be found in law enforcement and finally the movie was about lost innocence and redemption. 

Q3. What is the difference between the original and the reprise version of the song? 

Ans. The original song had Ash King and Sunidhi Chauhan as the lead singers, also, the song had a much better upbeat to it along with a romantic-pop feel. On the other hand, the reprise version of the song is often slower, softer and more emotional, the reprise version was used in more intimate scenes that were present in the movie. 

In this video lesson Bobby Koelble teaches how to play the song Main Kya Karoon as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Piece, Verse 1 and Chorus, Solo Lesson, Violin Chords, Verse 2, Outro Section , Song Demo and Easy Version. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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. 

Titli is a beautifully composed romantic song from the hit Bollywood movie Chennai Express starring Deepika Padukone and Shahrukh Khan. This song has intricate classical elements with a touch of modern melodies, offering you as a guitarist a rare chance to explore melodic expression and subtle dynamics. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The verse section can be played with a fingerpicking pattern, which is like this: 

P – I – M – A – M – I  

(Thumb – Index – Middle – Ring – Middle – Index)

Where: 

• P = 5th or 6th string (bass note)
• I = 3rd string
• M = 2nd string
• A = 1st string

Strumming Pattern 

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

This particular pattern can be used throughout the chorus and the bridge section of the song. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, J.J. Pattishall tells you the song is in the key of E minor and shows you the position of the capo on the 3rd fret of the guitar. Finally, he also shows you how to tune up the guitar specifically for the song.  

Song Arrangement - Part 1: This section provides you with information about the chords you need to play with the first verse. 

Song Arrangement - Part 2: In this part of the guitar lesson, you are going to learn about the chords that are present in the second verse of the song. 

Song Demo: Here is the demo of how you should be playing the guitar chords with the backing track playing alongside. 

Overdubs: Now that you learned chords for the main guitar, it’s time to check out the chords for the second guitar, which adds a couple of tunes to the song which makes it more special and harmonious. 

Easy Version: Here is the easy version of the same song for beginners. It’s a good song to practice on guitar for newcomers. As a result, J.J. shows you how you can play the entire song with much easier chords using a capo. 

Backing Track Simple Version: This is the part where J.J. shows you how to keep up your simple version guitar chords with the vocals and other instruments that are part of the song. 

Why Learn the Titli Song From Chennai Express?

Titli is a song for which you have to be gentle with your guitar; it uses flowing melodies that are the base for developing expressive and emotive guitar playing. Both the intro and the verse sections of the song fit perfectly with arpeggios or light fingerpicking, thus helping you strengthen your accuracy and feel. 

Furthermore, the song keeps on transitioning from soft verses to soaring choruses, which makes it possible for you to practice volume control and bring emotional contrast in your guitar play with the implementation of different strumming and picking techniques.