Introduction

Hotel California - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on the acoustic version of one of the greatest songs of all time, Hotel California by The Eagles. This specific arrangement replaces the original electric instruments with nylon-string guitars, creating a different interpretation of the song. The track keeps the same chord progression and structure as the studio version but uses fingerpicking patterns and multiple guitar harmonies.

Hotel California, as writer Henley put it, is more of a symbolic piece about America in general, and added, “Lyrically, the song deals with traditional or classical themes of conflict: darkness and light, good and evil, youth and age, the spiritual versus the secular. I guess you could say it's a song about the loss of innocence”.

The song follows a narrative about a traveller staying at a mysterious hotel, with lyrics that some interpret as commentary on American culture, for instance, the most iconic line of the song being “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave”.

Hotel California Guitar Lesson

Hotel California guitar lesson is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, who explains all the different sections of the song in a section-by-section manner, starting from the intro that talks about the chords and different voicings of those chords, through the acoustic overdubs and the guitar solo section.

The song features a number of minor 7ths, dominants, suspended and augmented chords. The intro alone covers all these variations of these chords. The tutor, nevertheless, goes into detail explaining how to play them using a fingerpicking pattern.

The song is written in B minor; the live acoustic version uses a capo on the 7th fret, making it an E minor. The intro follows a repeating progression of Em-B7-Dsus-A7-C-G-Am7-B7, which establishes the harmonic foundation.

Since this is an acoustic version of the song, played by multiple guitarists. There are a number of artistic motifs and embellishments using techniques like double stops, arpeggios, and most importantly, the individual guitarists harmonising with each other throughout the song.

The tutor explains all the solos of the song in great detail, the last of which features some of the notes from the harmonic minor scale, which carry a signature sound of the desert, or the Middle East. This lends itself literally to the theme of the narrative of the song.

FAQs

Q. Do I need a nylon-string guitar to play this version?

While the original recording uses nylon strings, you can play it on a steel-string acoustic. The tone will sound brighter, but the chords and techniques remain the same.

Q. Why is the capo on the 7th fret? Can I play it without one?

The capo transposes the chords to match the original key (B minor) and allows easier open-position shapes. Without a capo, you’ll need to play full barre chords in B minor.

Introduction

In My City is the debut song from Indian actress Priyanka Chopra featuring Will.i.am. The song was co-written by Ester Dean, who also provides his voice for additional vocals. 

Priyanka gives homage to her nomadic childhood and shows her journey from a small-town girl to a big Bollywood star. This isn’t a guitar song in the first place, but J.J. Pattishall is going to teach you how to turn it into a guitar song. 

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song In My City 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 and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this part, J.J. Pattishall talks about how this song is a unique dance number and the influence of singer/ DJ Will.i.am makes the song upbeat, similar to the songs from Black Eyed Peas. In this section, you will also learn the tuning of the guitar for this song. 

Chords and Rhythm: Here, you will learn the outline of the chords and the rhythm that you are going to use in the song. Furthermore, you will get to know how to improvise guitar playing in this song to make it more interesting.

Song Arrangement: In this section, you will be learning how to play the chords of Will.i.am, part of the song. 

Song Demo: This is the last section where your guitar instructor is going to show you how to play the guitar section alongside the song. 

Snowtime is an understated song by James Taylor, and this song exemplifies Taylor’s enduring ability to create intimacy and warmth by using simple musical elements. Taylor is known for composing masterful fingerpicking and mellow vocal tones, and even with the inclusion of these two signature styles of his, Taylor has made this song feel like a quiet 

conversation with his listeners rather than a performance. 

Snowtime keeps up with the folk-pop sensibilities, which is again Taylor’s signature sound; he uses clean guitar lines, gentle melodies and even simple lyrics, which somehow feel like a personal reflection and universal relatability. The guitar work you have to learn for this song is deceptively simple, yet it has technical finesse to it. 

In order to play this song similar to Taylor’s version, you have to learn precise fingerpicking, which is something generations of acoustic guitarists have to learn if they wish to learn guitar as more than just a hobby.

Snowtime is a song masterclass of a song that was held by restraints; it’s a gentle and introspective song that combines simplicity and sincerity. Whenever you are going to play this song on guitar, you and your audience will feel like they have been transported to their old friend’s home for a cup of evening tea or a cold beer. 

Why Learn Snowtime Song By James Taylor Song On Guitar?

The signature fingerpicking of Taylor is present in Snowtime, and as you learn it, you will get to know about precision, control and independence between your thumb and fingers. This song could be one of the best practical exercises you can do to develop smooth, melodic fingerpicking, doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an intermediate guitar player. 

Snowtime is a song that describes the life of a performer, and ironically, as you learn this song on guitar, you will have a perfect song to play in an acoustic setting. Just Imagine yourself playing this song live, with confidence and full control over chord progression!!

FAQs – Snowtime Song By James Taylor Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which guitar tuning does James Taylor use for the song Snowtime?

Ans. James usually tunes his guitar in standard tuning of EADGBE when he has to play Snowtime, but to play this song; he also applies signature string gauge adjustments and tweaks the guitar’s tuning to enhance the tonality; if you are just learning how to play this song on guitar, it would be best to go with the standard tuning. 

Q2. Which of the fingerpicking techniques do I need to learn for the song Snowtime?  

Ans. Travi-style fingerpicking is our best pick to learn if you do not wish to follow a strumming pattern for this song. 

Introduction

Black Bird is one of the greatest songs by none other than The Beatles. It’s a song where Sir Paul McCartney performed a solo piece. It is a song that many artists from all around the world cover. The song is also used as an introduction to another hit song by The Beatles called “Yesterday.”

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: For this song, you will be using your thumb for bass notes and playing the melody with the first two fingers. 

Strumming Pattern 

Due to fingerpicking, it does not use the traditional strumming pattern, so you have to learn Travis's picking style, which your guitar instructor is going to teach you in this lesson. Here’s how you will be using it: Thumb (T) → Index (I) → Thumb (T) → Middle (M)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction, you will learn how to tune up your guitar to play this song. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part, Mike Walker, your guitar instructor for this song lesson, will show you the required fingerpicking technique, chords and rhythms that you need to follow. 

Song Arrangement: Right in this part, you will learn how to play the different parts of the 

song, starting from the intro and then verses, chorus, and outro. 

Song Demo: Finally, in this section, Mike will show you how to play the song on guitar with a backing track. 

Introduction:

Jo Bhi Main is a song that represents the feelings of many teenagers and young individuals who feel that their words are mostly misunderstood. Their words are trapped in their thoughts, and they are finding it hard to express themselves to the world, including their loved ones.  

The song appears early in the movie Rockstar, showcasing Jordan’s transformation from Janardhan Jakhar. 

Fun Fact: For the song, A.R. Rahman brought a group of people on board to give their voices for the background chorus, which was the “Aa... Aa... Aa...” instead of creating the voice of the crowd digitally. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song is present in the G major, but if you have a capo, you can put it on the 3rd fret and play the song E major shape to match the original recording of the song. 

The arpeggio section of the song is as follows: 

P I M A M I

| | | | | |

6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for Em, G)

5 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for C)

4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for D)

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern is pretty mellow, smooth, and expressive; in order to play this song on the guitar, you have to learn the following pattern: D - DU - UD - U 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure:

Intro Piece, Chords, & Rhythm: In this section of the guitar lesson, Steve Luciano, your guitar instructor, is going to show you how to play the intro piece of the song with basic guitar chords, the rhythm of the song which you need to follow and other important things which makes it easier for you to play this song. 

Jo Bhi Main (Solo Lesson): The second part of the guitar lesson is taught by Mike Walker where he shows you how to play the iconic guitar solo from the song. The solo starts with the E-minor and Mike has divided it into multiple sections for easier compression. 

Why Learn this Song on Guitar?

Jo Bhi Main is a Bollywood song that is soulful and yet packs amazing rock punches, which made it so popular among teenagers and adults alike. The song uses basic guitar chords depending on the key you choose, thus making it great for individuals who are new to guitar playing. 

In addition to this, the mellow strumming pattern matches up with the depth of the lyrics; this song has a great dynamic of being played softly and with higher intensity. 

FAQs-Jo Bhi Main (Rockstar) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who was the lead singer for the song Jo Bhi Main from Rockstar? 

Ans. The lead singer for this song was none other than Mohit Chauhan. The composition of the song was done by A.R. Rahman, and the lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil. 

Q2. What is the theme of the song Jo Bhi Main? 

Ans. With this song, the lyricist is trying to express the inner turmoil, self-doubt, and Jordan’s inability to express his true feelings while he is on his journey of becoming a musical maestro. 

Q3. In what genre does Jo Bhi Main fall in? 

Ans. This song is a blend of Indian melodies with that of a rock ballad; the fusion is typical of A.R. Rahman's signature, which he is known for. 

Humnava is a soulful and emotional song; the song is known for having a heart-touching melody and simple yet expressive chord progression. It’s an ideal song for every guitarist who wishes to combine technical skills with that of musical feeling. 

This version of the song uses open chords, making it quite easier for beginners to learn in jiffy. The song's tempo is pretty soothing and steady, which makes it a perfect option for individuals who wish to sing and play their guitar at the same time. 

Song Structure 

Song Arrangement: This right here is the easier guitar version of the song Humnava provided by Steve Luciano. In this song arrangement, Steve shows how it is different from the full version. In addition to this, the strumming pattern is quite straightforward as well, and you will first learn how to play the intro part, then the verse, and finally the outro. 

Song Demo: Right here, Steve is going to give a proper guitar demo of this song from start to finish as the backing track gets played alongside. 

Why Learn Humnava Song On Guitar?

As you play this song, you will learn how to switch between open chords to create a clean transition quickly; this will improve your control over fretting hands along with the overall fluency of the instrument. 

The gentle strumming pattern that you will learn here is going to help you maintain consistent timing and dynamics. 

FAQs – Humnava Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. In which key do I have to play the song Humnava on guitar?

Ans. You should play this song in a key of A minor; the A minor is responsible for providing it with a melancholic, soulful sound. Likewise, if you wish to play it like an original track, you might require a capo on the first fret or 2nd fret, depending on the version you wish to play. 

Q2. Which particular scales can I use in the song Humnava for pushing melodic fills or solos in the song? 

Ans. The A minor scale and A minor pentatonic scale work perfectly for creating an emotional intro for this song. 

Q3. What time signature does the song Humnava is present in? 

Ans. This song lesson follows a 4/4 time signature, which is quite easy to keep up and suitable for practicing timing and dynamics.

Q4. Shall I use fingerpicking with this song? 

Ans. If you wish, you can go with fingerpicking in parts of the song Humnava; for starters, you can replace standard strumming with a back Travis picking or a simple plucking pattern. With these replacements, you will be giving this song a more delicate and intimate feel. 

Dil Kya Kare is from the 1975 film Julie is a hit song that, over the years, has fallen into the category of classic love songs. The song was composed by Rajesh Roshan, and the legendary Kishore Kumar gave the vocals. 

Fun Fact: The song Dil Kya Kare was recorded in one take by Kishore Kumar, the infusions of so much emotion in his voice during the first take of the recording that the entire team decided not to for another session, which is a rare occurrence in the film music industry 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the guitar lesson Dil Kya Kare by J.J. Pattishall describes the technicalities of the song. In addition to this, your guitar instructor gives you an overview of the things you are about to learn in the coming sections. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part, you will be learning how to play the different chords that are part of this song, and after that, J.J. will share his insights on the rhythm technique that you have to follow. 

Verse, Prechorus and Chorus: In this section, J.J. has divided the song into three primary sections, starting with the verse, then comes pre chorus and finally chorus. Your guitar instructor will show you where and how to play the chords on the guitar, which you have just learned in the above section. 

Licks, Interlude, and Bridge: Right here, you will learn the chords required to play the instrumental section present in the song. 

Song Demo: This is the final part of the guitar lesson where J.J. Pattishall will play the guitar chords with the backing track to show you how to sync up your guitar play with that of the vocals present in the song. 

Why Learn Dil Kya Kare Song?

Learning this song on guitar is not only musically enriching, but it is emotionally rewarding as well. With this song, you will be able to comprehend the masterclass in melody that used to be part of old Bollywood songs. In addition to this, it will help you get the essence of Indian compositions, which can give you an advantage in terms of adding variety to your guitar playing style. 

FAQS – Dil Kya Kare Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What should be the mood and the playing style for the song Dil Kya Kare from the movie Julie? 

Ans. This is a romantic song combined with a love ballad, so it is required that you keep the tempo slow to create a melancholic and yet soothing tone. 

Q2. Is the song Dil Kya Kare suitable for beginners? 

Ans. Yes, in order to play this, you need to learn basic open chords, and when you are playing it on guitar, the pace of the song is slow, making it easier for newcomers to practice and learn. 

Q3. Can I sing this song as I play it on my guitar? 

Ans. Yes, you can, both the rhythm and the chord progression are singer-friendly, especially when you are playing solo. 

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

In this video lesson Will MacMorran teaches how to play the song Why This Kolaveri Di as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, Rhythm, & Solo and Kolaveri Di Improvisation. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that has stood the test of time and continues to echo through generations, Chhookar Mere Mann Ko from the 1981 film Yaarana. Sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar, this track is a gentle, heartfelt expression of love and emotional intimacy. Composed by Rajesh Roshan with lyrics by Anjaan, the song was brought to life on screen by Amitabh Bachchan and Neetu Singh.

At the heart of this song is a deep sense of devotion. Lines like "Tu hi mera jeevan, tu hi jeene ka sahara" (You are my life, you are the support of my living) hold an emotional honesty that connects with listeners even today. The melody is soft, yet powerful in its sincerity. The reason it has lasted for so long is simple: it makes people feel seen and understood.

Chhookar Mere Mann Ko – Guitar Lesson

This lesson, taught by Steve Luciano, breaks down the capo version of Chhookar Mere Mann Ko into an easy-to-follow acoustic arrangement. In this version, the capo is placed on the 7th fret. This does two things: first, it matches the original key of the song to Kishore Kumar’s vocal range, and second, it makes it possible to play the song using simple open chord shapes. This is a big help if you're still getting used to barre chords or complex voicings.

The chords used in this version are A major, E major, D major, and C# minor all of which are very beginner-friendly. C# minor is the only barre chord, but with practice, it becomes easier to handle, especially since the other chords allow your fingers to rest. Steve walks you through each chord and explains where your fingers need to go in a relaxed, clear way. Even if you’ve never used a capo before, this lesson is a great place to start.

The rhythm of the song is very steady and flowing ideal for slow strumming. The strumming pattern in this version is kept simple to let the chords and the melody breathe. It’s the kind of song that relies on feel rather than speed. Steve emphasises dynamics and the importance of playing gently to match the emotion of the track. He also walks through the full song section by section, intro, verse, and chorus, and offers a demonstration at the end so you can play along with confidence.

FAQs

Q. What level of guitar playing is this lesson suitable for?

This version is perfect for beginners to early intermediate players. Most of the chords are open shapes and easy to play, especially with the capo.

Q. Do I need to use a capo to play this version?

Yes, for this particular lesson, a capo on the 7th fret is essential to stay in key and use open chord shapes. Without the capo, you’d need to play more complex barre chords.

Introduction:

Even from the name, you can see that the song is going to be uplifting, and it’s a perfect song to feel good about. It is the only single from the soundtrack album of the animated movie Despicable Me 2, which was released in 2013. 

Happy is the song written and performed by Pharell Williams, and the music video of the song was nominated for Best Male Video and Video of the Year by the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song follows a simple four-chord progression throughout; the arpeggios picking pattern is going to be like this: 

e|-----------1------------|  

B|------1------1---------|  

G|----2---2------2------|  

D|----------------------|  

A|----------------------|  

E|--1------------------| 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming has to be tight, quick and rhythmic for this song, it follows 4/4 time and there is a funk-style muted strumming feel: D x D U x U D U.

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• X = percussive muted strum 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction section, Mike shows you how to tune up your guitar to play this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here your guitar instructor Mike has divided the song arrangement in different sections and he starts showing you how to play different chords for different sections starting with the intro. 

Song Demo: Finally comes the time when Mike plays the guitar chords with the backing track playing alongside. 

Why Learn Happy By Pharrell Williams Song?

It uses simple major chords that are easy to learn for beginners and even for intermediate players as it will help them be more consistent in their rhythmic strumming. In addition to this, the guitar sound is much funk-inspired, making it a perfect choice for improving your timing and groove. 

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Was the song Happy made specifically for the movie Despicable Me? 

Ans. Yes, the song was written only for the animated movie Despicable Me 2, which was released in 2013. The song received an Academy Award nomination for best original song, and the singer also performed it live at the Oscars ceremony.  

Q2. Who originally sang the Happy? 

Ans. Pharrell Williams has revealed that it was Cee Lo Green who recorded the song for the first time. But the producer didn’t feel like that the song belonged to Green so he gave Pharrell Williams a try and rest is history. 

Q3. What was the reason Pharrell wrote Happy? 

Ans. According to Pharrell the lyrics of the song came out of sarcasm, he wrote the song when he was 40 years old.

Fun Fact: The song got nominated by Academy Awards but it failed to win Best Original Song because it lost to Let It Go from Frozen. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the classic youth anthems of the early 90s, Pakistan – Purani Jeans by Ali Haider. This song rose to fame in the era of cassette tapes and vinyl records, and evokes emotions of nostalgia among the fans of Haider Ali, who are now in their 50s, by the way. The song was part of the Sandesa album released in 1993, and on YouTube has achieved almost 5 million views.

The song Purani Jeans, which translates to ‘Old Jeans’, is about celebrating the spirit of youth, especially the arriving adulthood phase –exploring themes of college life, self-discovery, rebellion, romance and more. The lyrics paint a picture of the singer looking back at his youth and reminiscing about the events and stories that he had lived, metaphorising the phase using the jeans as a symbol. 

Purani Jeans Guitar Lesson

Purani Jeans guitar lesson is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, who explains all the different sections of the song in a section-by-section manner –from the intro that talks about the chords and different voicings of those chords, to the rhythms and solos of the song. The song is in Eb standard tuning and in the key of D major, which is a common tuning for the classic rock sound.

The intro of the song features a rhythmic riff that is based on the mixolydian scale, a major scale with the flattened seventh degree, which gives the riff a jazzy sound. The strumming and legato notes of the riff resemble those from songs like ‘Summer of '69’ and ‘Hey Joe’.

The song mostly features power chords, i.e. chords without the third, that are played on a distorted electric guitar and consist of standard shapes. The majority of the strumming is palm muted, which gives the song that rock-metal vibe. There are also a number of small overdubbed motifs that play over the rhythm guitar that embellish the progression. 

Purani jeans also features a guitar solo that is based on the mixolydian scale, featuring jazz and bluesy licks and lines with minor 7th and half diminished chord arpeggios. This solo is a great example of how to mix different theory concepts in your soloing. The tutor here explains all the parts of the solo note for note.

FAQs

Q. What is the song Purani Jeans about?

1. Purani Jeans is a nostalgic Pakistani pop-rock song by Ali Haider that reminisces about youthful memories, friendships, and carefree days.

Q. Can I play this song on an acoustic guitar?

1. Yes! The original version of the song is a pop song with mellower but upbeat rhythm, which can be played easily on an acoustic guitar, which lends more to the emotional and nostalgic appeal of the song’s narrative.