Afreen Afreen - Introduction

Afreen Afreen is a legendary Sufi-inspired love song originally composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the 1990s. The song’s poetic lyrics, written by Javed Akhtar, celebrate divine beauty and love through rich metaphors. The 2016 Coke Studio Pakistan version, performed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Momina Mustehsan, brought the song back into the spotlight. Their rendition blends classical Sufi elements with modern production, creating a mesmerising duet that captivated millions worldwide.

The Coke Studio version stands out for its emotional depth and stunning vocal performances. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s powerful qawwali-style singing contrasts with Momina Mustehsan’s softer tone. The arrangement mixes traditional instruments like the tabla and harmonium with electric guitars and synths, giving the song a fresh feel. With over 500 million YouTube views, this version remains one of the most beloved Pakistani songs ever recorded.

Afreen Afreen Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson covers how to play "Afreen Afreen" in Eb standard tuning (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb). The song is in A major, but since the guitars are tuned down a half-step, the shapes you play will sound in Bb major. The main chord progression follows A - F#m - D - E, creating a rich, emotional foundation for the vocals.

The strumming pattern is slow and flowing, matching the song’s romantic mood. Use downstrokes on the main beats with light upstrokes in between to keep the rhythm gentle. The verses feature arpeggiated chords, where you pluck individual strings to highlight the melody. The chorus switches to fuller strums for a bigger sound.

For the lead parts, the song uses the A major scale (A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#) with occasional slides and bends for expression. The instrumental breaks include melodic phrases inspired by classical Indian music, so focus on smooth transitions between notes. The tuning (Eb standard) gives the guitar a deeper, warmer tone that fits the song’s soulful vibe.

Beginners should start by learning the chord shapes and slow strumming. Intermediate players can work on the arpeggios and lead fills. Advanced players should focus on the nuances, like vibrato and dynamics, to capture the song’s emotional depth.

FAQs

Q. Why is the tuning Eb standard?

The lower tuning matches the original recording’s key and gives the guitar a richer, deeper sound.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Pluck each string one by one in order (root, third, fifth) and let the notes ring together.

Q. What scale is used for the lead parts?

The A major scale, with occasional bends and slides for a vocal-like feel.

Q. Can I play this in standard tuning?

Yes, but you’ll need to transpose the chords up a half-step (Bb major shapes).

Q. How to make it sound more authentic?

Add light reverb and play with expressive phrasing, mimicking the vocal melodies.

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. 

To Kia Hua is a song that has deep, meaningful lyrics, that is why it stands out amongst the other songs from Bilal Khan. It’s a song that is filled with raw emotions, and as you learn to play it on guitar, you will get to develop multiple guitar playing techniques which help you become more expressive with the guitar. 

Song Structure:

Introduction: The introduction is from the original singer and composer of this song, Bilal 

Khan, who is also going to be your guitar instructor for this lesson. Here, Bilal talks about the song in Season 4 of Coke Studio Pakistan. In addition to this, he also shares that the song is in standard tuning, and to play this song, he used a capo on the 3rd fret. 

Intro and Verse: In this part of the song lesson, Bilal first plays the different sections of the 

song and then tells you which chords you need to learn for that specific section. 

Chorus: Right here in this part, you will learn the chords for the chorus, and then you will see how it should be played. The chorus part is much easier in comparison to the intro and the verse because in this part, you are not going to pick chords. Instead, you will be using the basic strumming pattern here. 

Bridge and Ending: This part is divided into two sections, the first is the bridge, and the second is the ending of the song. Bilal once again plays the section and then explains the chords used in it. 

Song Demo: Finally, in the song demo, you get to see how Bilal plays the entire guitar part of the song with the backing track. 

Why Learn To Kia Hua By Bilal Khan Song?

To Kia Hua is a song that has an intimate acoustic nature, which makes it a perfect choice for small live events, open mic performances, and unplugged versions that you can share on your social media platforms. In addition to this, it’s a song where you can experiment with different fingerpicking techniques in the verse section and then go with the soft strumming in the chorus part. 

FAQs – To Kia Hua By Bilal Khan Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What level of guitar playing is necessary to play the song “To Kia Hua” right? 

Ans. You can be a beginner or you can be immediate. There are no hard rules to play this song because it uses simple open chords, and the strumming pattern, which you need to follow, is steady and slow, making it great for learners who are at the start of their musical journey. 

Q2. What is the strumming pattern for the song To Kia Hua by Bilal Khan?  

Ans. The strumming pattern you should be using is D – D U – U D U

(Down – Down Up – Up Down Up).

Bilal Khan is a Pakistani musician who started his journey in the music industry from a very early age. He even taught himself how to play guitar on his own by going through various articles and blogs that were present on the internet. He released his first song when he was in college. All this information about the origin story of Bilal Khan is important because he is going to be your guitar instructor for this song, which he produced, wrote, and composed.

Coming to the song, Main Aoon Gaa strikes you immediately because it does not include layering as such, which is pretty common in other songs. In addition to this, there is no unnecessary instrumentation that can hide the emotional gaps. The composer trusted the true potential of the song. As a result, the song holds the unprecedented mastery of Bilal Khan’s composition, which is stripped down, emotionally grounded, and built around the relationship between vocals and guitar chords.

Main Aoon Gaa is a song written to be played on an acoustic guitar, so during this guitar lesson, you will be learning how to unleash the full force of the composition using your own acoustic guitar. Once you master this song, you will find that the relationship between the guitar player and the song is deeply connected, giving you a satisfying learning experience.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Here is the list of chords that you are going to practice in this lesson:

• B flat minor (B♭m): This one is going to be a home chord for the entire song.
• G flat minor (G♭): It is a relative major that gives you a moment of warmth and openness.
• A flat major (A♭): The dominant-area chord, which creates the forward movement.
• D flat major (D♭): This is the stable chord of the entire progression. When you play it, the whole of the harmony feels complete.
• F minor (Fm): The second minor to reach the emotional depth that the song requires.
• E flat major (E♭): This one works as a transitional chord, smoothing out the notes when you are moving from one chord to the other.

All six of these chords are present in barre formation when played in standard tuning. As a result, we would like you to use a capo on the 1st fret if you are facing difficulty in playing them.  

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which is the main chord progression that needs to be practiced for this song?

Ans. You have to follow Am → F → C → G, with Em and Dm appearing in the bridge and verse extensions.

Q2. Can I use a simpler F chord instead of a full barre?

Ans. Yes, playing open Fmaj7 or partial F both will work perfectly fine in this context.

Q3. Should I learn the rhythm or lead melody first?

Ans. Always learn rhythm. Once you master the chord progression, you will feel more comfortable in learning and playing the lead melody.

​

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Nakkaddwaley Disco Udhaarwaley Khisko as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chord, and Rhythm. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai as part of our guitar series on Indian 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!

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Mujhko Pehchaan Lo (Don 2) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Licks, Verse and Jazz Bridge, Don Theme , Pedal Lick Section, Chorus and Tritone Section, Wah Wah Section, Improvisation and Song with Backing Track. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Aashayein as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, and Progressions, Rhythm and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Zaroorat is a song that has a simplified structure but does include complex chords for you to master. 

The strumming you need to learn is a bit slow and controlled, so it comes down to you to adjust dynamics, like playing it softer during verse sections and playing it more open during the chorus to provide the song's emotional progression. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, you will be meeting your guitar instructor, Mike Walker, who is going to show you how to tune up the guitar for this song; here, you need to understand that the tuning is half-step down before you proceed forward. 

Song Arrangement Part 1: This particular section starts at around 20 seconds, and it holds some complex strumming and guitar chords, which are not as beginner-friendly as the other part of this song. You can start with the measure of Em, and from there, you can move to C/E. Keep on playing these two chords back and forth to reach a couple of barre chords like Am, G, and B5.  

Song Arrangement Part 2: Here, you will be playing chords like Em, C, and D. You will be circling around these chords, and at the end, when you are playing these chords at 2/10, then you have to go from D to Em only once.  

Song Demo: This is the demonstration of the entire song with the backing track; this is there to help you bridge the gap between the isolated learning of different sections of the song. 

Overdubs: In this part of the song lesson, Mike will be showing you the chords that are played on the second guitar. 

Solo: With this section, you will be learning how to play the epic solo, which comes in between this song and makes it more memorable and a bit more complex to play. 

Improvisation: As the song is in the key of Em, Mike has used the same key to provide you a glimpse of improvisation, which you can do in this song to make it sound fuller. 

Why Learn Zaroorat Song On Guitar?

As you learn this song, you will be adding emotional depth to your song catalog. It’s a perfect mix of richness and Bollywood flair. Zaroorat has a heartfelt guitar part, which makes it possible for you to express your emotions with guitar strings. It’s a song that requires both techniques and a little bit of feel as well. 

Furthermore, the song uses open chords, barre chords, and melodic riffs in solo sections, which results in Zaroorat being a song well accustomed to both acoustic and electric guitar. 

The pure hypnotic, mind-bending blues that the intro riff of Garaj Baras has is something that no other mainstream or even indie composer was able to replicate. One of the reasons why Junoon became such a huge band was the ability of the guitarist to come up with such great riffs that have the potential to redefine the music industry.

​This intro came at just the right time when rock bands were struggling to leave their mark in the country, and its impact was such that it became the anthem of youthful rebellion. The intro riff is a 12-bar melodic passage that is rhythmically locked but at the same time artistically free. Before we head into this guitar lesson by Salman Ahmad, you need to understand that the intro riff is not a chord progression; it is a single-note melodic line that gets played over an implied harmonic movement.

​What makes this riff so unique is how well the blue note blends in with the whole-step bends on the string. Fret the A string at 5, bend up one full step (to the pitch of fret 7), then go back to fret 5. To complete this entire thing, you roughly need one beat; the bend has to sound smooth and continuous. The return has to come back to the same pitch where you left.

​Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Here is the complete list of chords that you are going to use for this lesson

​Implied harmonic chords (underneath the riff):

• Dm (D minor) — implied throughout the opening phrase.
• Am (A minor) — the relative major's minor, creating tension
• Gm (G minor) — appears in transitional moments.

FAQs – Garaj Baras Intro Riff Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What are some of the common mistakes to avoid when learning the Garaj Baras intro riff?

Ans. Thinking about playing the guitar riff too fast and too soon, stay at 50% for the first two weeks, and then increase your speed.

Using the wrong finger position, use the index finger for the 3rd fret and the middle finger for the 5th fret.

Make sure you are bending with full conviction.

​Q2. Is there a need to use a wah-wah pedal like the one used in the original recording of the riff?

Ans. It would be best not to use the wah-wah pedal during practice sessions. Once you are able to play a clean riff, that’s when you can start experimenting with it.

​Q3. What tuning do I have to use to play this riff on guitar?

Ans. You need to follow standard tuning, and the tempo sits around 110-120 BPM.

The Intro Riff of Dosti by Pakistani band Junoon is often hailed as the pioneering Sufi-rock band from the country. The riff present, in the beginning, is a masterclass in simplicity and melody, which is used for establishing a mood that is both reflective and hopeful, thus perfectly capturing the spirit of friendship and unity that the song is trying to symbolise. 

Speaking in musical terms, the intro riff you are about to learn in this guitar lesson is built around clean, chiming guitar tones with a distinctive South Asian melodic influence, which is blended seamlessly with rock phrasing inspired by the West. 

The lead guitarist of the band, Salman Ahmad, who composed the riff, is known for fusing Easter musical motifs with certain rock elements; he used spacious and ringing notes, which allowed every chord to breathe on its own. 

With this riff, you get to know about emotional accessibility; it doesn’t really rely on technical fireworks. Instead, there’s more emphasis on melody and tone, which invokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth. 

The Dosti intro riff isn’t about playing fast or complex chord progression; it is about playing each chord with as much precision as possible. As a result, beginners and intermediate guitar players will learn about phrasing, which requires both expression and balance. 

Song Structure 

Intro Riff: This intro riff guitar lesson is provided by Salman Ahmad himself, the composer of the riff. Salman first shows you the chords that one has to learn to play this riff, and once it is done, he is going to play it with the backing track. 

Why Learn Dosti Intro Riff Song On Guitar?

As we said earlier, the intro guitar riff from the song Dosti requires you to play clean and ringing notes with perfect timing in each stroke. As you practice this riff, you get to understand how to control your picking and avoid any form of unwanted string noise. This will result in developing a sweet, clear tone, which is something you can apply to any genre once you master it. 

This is an instantly recognizable riff; as a result, if you play it for your friends and family or even play it in a gig, it will surely make everyone jump on their feet. With the spacious phrasing, this intro riff is going to help you slow down and feel every single chord, thus improving your internal timing and teaching you the value of musical restraint.