Introduction

It’s time to grab your guitar and start strumming along with this detailed Let It Be guitar lesson on Torrins.com! This beginner-to-intermediate lesson is taught by our experienced tutor, Steve Luciano, who breaks down various components of the song—chords, rhythm, strumming pattern, and arrangement—into easy, digestible segments, helping you progress smoothly from one section to the next.

Interesting Fact: This classic Beatles song has a heartfelt story behind it. Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be after dreaming of his late mother, Mary, during a stressful time for The Beatles in 1968. In the dream, she comforted him, saying, “It will be all right, just let it be.” That message stayed with him and became the heart of the song. While many assume "Mother Mary" refers to the Virgin Mary, McCartney says it's open to interpretation.

The Let It Be guitar lesson is played in the key of C and consists of just four chords, two of which are C and F. Tune into the full lesson to learn the rest!

Chords Used in Let It Be Guitar Lesson

This popular Beatles song is an easy song to play and a great choice for beginners.

Many guitar learners struggle with the F chord, but don’t worry—Steve shares some solid tips on how to transition smoothly and play it comfortably. He also breaks down proper finger positioning to help you master F major with ease.

Strumming Pattern

You can keep it simple by playing this song entirely with downstrokes. However, if you want to add a little more rhythm, you can go with this pattern: DDDUDDDU.

A key thing to remember here is to keep your strumming hand moving at all times, even if you're not hitting the strings with every motion. This technique, often seen in older rock songs, helps create the right rhythmic feel.

Song Structure

The song follows a classic verse-chorus structure, but with subtle shifts that make it more dynamic.

• Intro: You’ll start with two chords per measure, but pay attention to the rhythm as it sets the tone for the whole track.
• Verse: The same two-chords-per-measure pattern continues here, but consistency in your strumming is key. If your rhythm slips even a little, it throws off the groove.
• Chorus & Bridge: These sections reuse the verse’s chord progression, but the transitions feel tighter and more energetic. 

Steve walks you through how to manage these shifts without losing momentum, especially the jump between sections, which trips up a lot of learners.

Rhythm & Right-Hand Technique

Even though the chords in this song are simple, the rhythm requires practice. Once the lyrics kick in, the right hand needs to move at 16th note speed (which are four evenly spaced notes for every beat) to create the desired groove. The trick here is that you don’t have to hit the strings every time—just keep your hand moving consistently to stay in time.

Mastering this technique will not only make your playing sound great but will also help build your overall strumming coordination.

Why Learn Let It Be?

• It's an easy song with simple chords, making it great for beginners.
• Helps improve chord transitions, especially switching to and from F major.
• Teaches right-hand rhythm control, a skill that translates to many other songs.
• Works as a great sing-along song, making it fun to play with others!

FAQs – Let It Be Guitar Lesson

Q1. Do I need a capo?

No, Let It Be is played in the key of C and doesn’t require a capo.

Q2. Can I use a different strumming pattern?

Absolutely! You can stick with simple downstrokes or try the DDDUDDDU pattern for more variation. Just remember to keep a steady rhythm.

Interesting Fact: This classic Beatles song has a heartfelt story behind it. Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be after dreaming of his late mother, Mary, during a stressful time for The Beatles in 1968. In the dream, she comforted him, saying, “It will be all right, just let it be.” That message stayed with him and became the heart of the song. While many assume "Mother Mary" refers to the Virgin Mary, McCartney says it's open to interpretation.

Torrins brings you one of the most legendary rock riffs ever recorded-Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple, taught by Mike Walker. This guitar lesson is designed to break down the song step by step, covering everything from the iconic riff to solo improvisation. Whether you’re picking up the electric guitar for the first time or looking to level up your playing, this one’s a must-learn.

Fun Fact: Although the song appeared on Machine Head in 1972, it wasn’t released as a single until 1973. Surprisingly, the band didn’t expect it to be a hit. But it climbed to number 4 on the Billboard pop charts and became one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history.

Chords and Song Key

This lesson is taught in the key of B♭, but the song carries a G minor feel throughout. You’ll be using a few essential power chords like G5, A♭5, and others as you move through the sections.

The song’s time signature is 4/4, with a tempo of 112 BPM. Two main scales are used across the lesson: the G minor scale and the G blues pentatonic, both of which are central to the solo and improvisation parts.

Iconic Intro Riff

It’s the riff that every guitarist wants to play and for good reason. Mike breaks it down clearly, explaining which strings to let ring and how to get that gritty rock tone. He demonstrates both fingerpicking and pick-style playing, so you can choose the approach that suits you best.

Verse and Chorus Sections

In the verse, you’ll be working with a group of three chords, using arpeggios and palm muting to add texture. The phrasing follows a clean 4-bar structure, making it easy to follow.

The chorus section also relies on arpeggios. Mike walks through each measure in detail, grouping chords and explaining the rhythm so you can play with ease and confidence.

Rhythm Underneath the Solo

For the rhythm guitar players, Mike breaks down the part that supports the solo section. This part mostly uses just two chords, but involves some precise fingerpicking techniques to maintain the groove and drive.

Solo Lesson

Mike takes you through the solo lick by lick, staying in the G minor scale. He explores techniques like vibrato to add feel and energy. It’s a great way to learn how to play expressively.

Solo Demo and Improvisation

Once the solo is broken down, Mike ties everything together with a full solo demo played along with a backing track. Then comes the fun part, improvisation. He shares how to use:

• G minor and G pentatonic scales
• G pentatonic with a flat 5
• Phrasing on the 15th fret

You’ll also pick up a few stylistic ideas inspired by Jon Lord’s playing style, which adds a cool, classic-rock flavor to your soloing.

Why Learn - Smoke on the Water?

• One of the most famous riffs in rock history
• Teaches you both rhythm and lead techniques
• A solid introduction to rock improvisation
• Perfect for building confidence on the electric guitar

FAQs – Smoke on the Water Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

Yes, and Mike simplifies each section so it’s approachable even if you’re just getting started.

Q2. Do I need an electric guitar?

It’s recommended, as this song is designed with electric tone and expression in mind.

Q3. Can I play the riff with a pick?

Absolutely. Mike shows both finger and pick methods—you can choose what feels right.

Get ready to learn You Send Me by Sam Cooke with instructor Mike Dugan on Torrins. This lesson covers everything from basic chords and strumming patterns to advanced solo techniques, making it suitable for both beginners and more experienced players. Mike breaks down the song step-by-step, helping you match your vocals with the chords and refine your rhythm for a polished performance.

Fun Fact: This was Sam Cooke’s debut single and it was a glorious debut– it peaked at number 1 position on both Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart and the Billboard Hot 100. It was also named as one of the 500 most important rock and roll recordings by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

Chords and Techniques Used in You Send Me

• Key: The original song is in the key of F for vocals, but Mike moves it to the key of G since it’s easier to follow on the guitar.

• Chords Used:
  • G, D or D7, Am, and others
  • He explains easy chord transitions and provides alternatives for beginners struggling with barre chords.

• Strumming Pattern:
  • For Beginners:
    • Use downstrokes, with two strums per chord for the verse.
    • The verse uses open chords, with downstrokes on the numbers and upstrokes on the "and" counts.
    • Tip: Don’t force the upstrokes—keep them light and natural.
  • For Advanced Players:
    • Mike demonstrates an advanced rhythm pattern using downstrokes with a triplet feel.
    • He explains how to create a smoother, more dynamic strumming effect.

Song Structure

• Verse 1 and Verse 2: The two verses follow the same chord pattern and strumming technique. He also teaches how to match your vocals with the chords for a cohesive sound.
• Bridge: The bridge includes barre chords, but Mike teaches open chord alternatives for beginners. He explains the correct positioning for barre chords in detail to help you improve your grip and clarity.
• Solo Section: The solo is in the key of G major. The lead follows the relative minor of G (E minor), using the E minor pentatonic scale. For advanced players, he demonstrates a creative technique that makes the solo sound very close to the original recording.

Why Learn You Send Me?

This lesson not only teaches you how to play the song but also helps you develop better rhythm, improve chord transitions, and explore creative soloing techniques. The mix of beginner-friendly guidance and advanced options makes it a well-rounded learning experience.

Tips to Improve Your Playing

1. Start slow with the strumming pattern to build muscle memory.
2. Focus on smooth transitions between chords.
3. For the solo, practice the E minor pentatonic scale separately before combining it with the backing track.
4. Follow along with the tabs provided for a comprehensive learning experience. 

FAQs – You Send Me Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Ans: Yes! The lesson includes beginner-friendly chords and strumming patterns, along with alternatives for challenging barre chords.

Q2. What’s the best way to improve my chord transitions?

Ans: Start slowly and focus on switching between two chords at a time before increasing your speed.

Q3. Do I need a capo for this song?

Ans: No capo is required, but you can experiment with different chord voicings to match your vocal range.

Torrins brings you an exciting guitar lesson on Insomnia by Rob Marcello, taught by the artist himself. This means you are learning the song's intricacies directly from the creator, giving you a unique insight into the techniques and creative choices behind this guitar masterpiece.

Fun Fact: Rob Marcello was quite young when he composed this song and admitted that he wasn’t fully familiar with advanced music theory at the time. While Insomnia may not have achieved mainstream chart success, it remains a respected piece within the guitar community.

Chords Used in Insomnia Guitar Lesson

• Intro: Intro is played in the key of G harmonic minor and uses a C minor arpeggio and triad. It also includes an F# chord along with other chords.

• Verse: Chords used: Gm, F/G. It’s a simple verse structure with basic licks. Practising this verse is a good exercise for picking accuracy.

• Chorus: In chorus, the key changes to C minor. This section involves arpeggios, sliding, and tapping

• Break Section: The key of G harmonic minor returns. It has a metal-style lick. One of the chords is a D chord.

• Classical Section: Has a key of G major. Ensure you have a clean note separation in this section. Tip: Lift each finger as you play.

• Pre-Solo Section: Some of the chords used are D major and E♭ major. This section involves sliding up the neck and is still in the key of G harmonic minor.

• First Solo: Base stays on G and includes F major arpeggio.

• Main Solo: It uses harmonic picking, a guitar technique where you pick a note while lightly touching the string to create a bright, bell-like overtone. The solo starts with blues licks played through a wah-wah pedal and follows a pentatonic blues box shape.

There are other segments in this song that cover Dominant 7 tapping lick, string skipping & pentatonic licks, and lastly, he ends the lesson by playing along with a backing track.

Why Learn Insomnia?

Insomnia is an excellent song for players looking to improve their left-hand legato, harmonic picking, and tapping techniques. It blends metal, blues, and classical influences, making it a well-rounded piece for guitarists aiming to develop technical precision and creative expression. It is better suited for advanced players. 

Tips for Playing Insomnia:

1. Pay attention to the rhythmic phrasing in the break section.
2. Master the sliding and tapping techniques in the solos for a polished sound.

FAQs – Insomnia Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

No, this lesson is suited for advanced players due to the complex techniques involved.

Q2. How can I master the classical section?

Ensure clean note separation by lifting each finger immediately after playing the note.