B.Y.O.B. – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the greatest anti-establishment rebellion songs that brings together metal, punk, and Middle Eastern melodies into a politically charged anthem. – B.Y.O.B. by System of a Down. The song has been received with love across the world and has won a Grammy for the best hard rock performance in 2006. The song has amassed more than 500 million views on YouTube since its release in 2005.

The song name is an acronym for Bring Your Own Bombs, and was made as a form of protest against the american coalition led Iraq War (2003–2011), with lyrics calling out, “Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?”. It is a song written in strong political commentary on the situation of wars and oppression around the world. The band has a reputation for speaking out for social justice and matters like drug abuse, politics, and suicide in the heavy metal genre.

B.Y.O.B. Guitar Lesson

The lesson on B.Y.O.B. is brought to you by our beloved instructor, Mike Walker, who demonstrates the song in its entirety and explains all parts of the song in great detail. Since this is a heavy metal song, there are a number of unconventional rhythmic patterns and fast melodic lines for the electric guitar, which is a signature sound for this genre of music.

The song is in the key of F major, but the tuning is half a step down; all the strings are tuned down a semitone. This, firstly, widens or brightens the tone, which makes it feel ‘heavy’ and secondly, loosens the strings, which makes it easier to play at a high tempo.

The lesson is easier to master as it only requires rhythmic proficiency to play in its entirety. The song is very drums and lyrics forward, as is with most heavy metal songs. The song is fun to play because of the distorted tone of the guitar. It’s a saturated machine-like sound that has low-frequency notes, which give it a slightly percussive vibe, usually called ‘djent’.

This is also a short lesson, taught easily by Mike, comfortably suited for beginners and advanced players alike.

FAQs

Q. Can I play BYOB in standard tuning?

Yes, you can play BYOB in standard tuning, but then you’ll have to play the song in E major instead of F major, and you’ll also lose the ‘crunch’ in the strumming.

Q. How to sound like Daron Malakian?

If you want to sound like Malakian, you need an Ibanez Iceman DMM1 guitar, going into a Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal distortion pedal, into a Marshall MF350 amp.

Q. Can I play this on an acoustic guitar?

Yes, you can, but it will not have the rage that is needed to lead a rebellion against the war profiteering world leaders.

There are a few folk-rock songs which were able to capture the emotions and simplicity like Stubborn Love from The Lumineers. For guitar lovers, this is more than just a song lesson; it’s a way to showcase how simplicity should carry feeling. 

At first glance, you might think the song relies heavily on straightforward progression, where you have to use open chords and uncomplicated structures. Yet hidden in the simplicity lies the brilliance; it teaches beginners that even simple chords, when played with accuracy, can result in profound musical moments. 

The Heart Of The Song Lesson

It’s the rhythmic drive which is steady and almost feels hypnotic, and as you play this song, it will slowly evolve, you will learn how to keep the time while controlling dynamics, strumming softer in verses and then putting all your energy when the chorus comes in. It might be subtle, but it's an invaluable skill which separates you from being a mechanical guitar player to a soulful, expressive performer. 

Why Learn Stubborn Love By The Lumineers Song On Guitar?

To play this song on guitar, you just need to learn open guitar chords such as C, Am, G, and F/Fmaj7. Apart from this, if you wish, you can also attach a capo on the 5th fret to change the pitch of familiar open chords. 

As chords are quite simple to play, you can easily sing them while strumming your guitar; thus, it’s a great song for performing live. 

FAQs – Stubborn Love Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which guitar type should work perfectly to play the song “Stubborn Love” by The Lumineers?

Ans. The best guitar to play this song is a steel-string acoustic guitar; these types of guitars are specifically designed for enhancing the folk-rock feel. If you go with a dreadnought or jumbo body, you will be getting more projection, but with the use of a smaller body guitar, you can increase the acoustic intimacy. 

Q2. Should I be using a pick or my fingers for strumming “Stubborn Love?”

Ans. In the original recording of the song, guitarist Wesley Schultz uses a pick to bring out the crip attack on strings. As a result, if you wish to create a similar tone, you should try picking. On the other hand, for a softer and organic feel, use your fingers only. Make sure to try both to see which one sounds better when you play it. 

Q3. Does the song “Stubborn Love” help me in rhythm training?  

Ans. The repetitive strumming pattern of the song makes it one of the best songs to practice volume control and locking into a groove of a song. 

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. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on The Sound of Silence, one of the most haunting and powerful songs ever written. Released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1964, the song didn’t make waves at first. It quietly existed on their debut album until producer Tom Wilson decided to give it a second life by adding electric instruments to the original acoustic track. Without even telling Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel, he released this new version in 1965, and it became an instant hit. It shot to No.1 on the Billboard charts and launched Simon & Garfunkel into the spotlight.

The song's opening line — “Hello darkness, my old friend” — has become a symbol for loneliness, reflection, and the strange comfort we sometimes find in silence. The lyrics talk about people living in a world full of noise but no real connection, “talking without speaking, hearing without listening.” There’s a spiritual emptiness to the world the song describes, and that’s what makes it timeless. 

The Sound of Silence – Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, Steve Luciano teaches you how to play a gentle and stripped-down acoustic version of The Sound of Silence that captures the soul of the original. The song is originally in the key of E-flat minor, but we simplify that by placing a capo on the 5th fret and playing in the key of A minor. This makes it accessible and comfortable to play without losing the depth of the song. 

The chords in this version include Am, Asus2, G, Gsus2, C, F, and Fsus2 — a mix of minor and suspended chords. If you're not sure what suspended chords are, just think of them as a version of a normal chord that adds a little tension or openness. For example, Asus2 is just A minor with the second note of the scale instead of the third. It creates a soft, unresolved feeling.

The rhythm of the song is slow, and you’re encouraged to let the notes ring out. The strumming pattern is subtle, with light down and up strokes that follow the vocal phrasing. Steve also covers some of the picking that gives this song its texture. You’ll learn how to add small variations using simple fingerpicking techniques to give your version some character. The lesson is very much about feeling the song, not just playing the right chords. 

FAQs

Q1. What level of guitar player is this lesson for?

Ans. This version is great for beginner to intermediate players. If you can play basic open chords and use a capo, you’re ready to start learning this.

Q2. What tuning should I use for this version of the song?

Ans. Standard tuning (E A D G B e), with a capo on the 5th fret to match the original key.

Q3. What’s the deal with suspended chords like Asus2 and Fsus2?

Ans. Suspended chords replace the third with the second scale degree note that gives the chord an airy or unresolved sound. 

Introduction:

The Final Countdown is the iconic song of Swedish rock band Europe which was released in 1986. The song was written by lead singer Joey Tempest. 

Strumming Pattern 

This song has a mix of palm-muting rhythm, open strumming, and melodic lead parts. The common strumming pattern which you can follow for this song is D D D D D D D D . 

Make sure to keep your strokes short and control them using palm muting. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this section your guitar instructor Mike Walker is going to teach you how to tune your guitar in order to use it for the song. 

Intro Parts: In this part of the guitar lesson your guitar instructor is going to show you how to play the synth part which comes in the intro of the song. 

Song Arrangement Part 1: This section shows how you should be playing the verse section of the song and you will be playing these particular chords twice in the song. 

Song Arrangement Part 2: Here, Mike shows you how to play the interlude, which is present in the song and is played alongside crash symbols. 

Song Demo: This is the part where Mike Walke shows you how to play the guitar parts with the backing track. 

Main Motif: This is the section where you will learn how to play the iconic motif, which 

makes the song so memorable and classic. 

Solo Lesson: Mike shares his knowledge of how you should be playing the harmonic solo of 

this song in addition to the guitar chords. 

Harmony Solo: This particular guitar part is played above the arpeggios section of the song. 

Why Learn Final Countdown Song On Guitar By Europe Song?

Final Countdown is more than just a rock song, it's a rock anthem which has an instantly recognizable melody which is played at the beginning of the song. 

The main keyboard riff can be easily played on guitar and learning it will help you practice lead techniques. The intro and the verse are great for learning melodic playing which is used a lot of time in rock music. 

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Why is the Final Countdown so Famous? 

Ans. The song reached number spot in 25 different countries, it is Europe’s only top 10 hit to this day. In addition to this, it is the band's most popular song of all time, the song which made the band famous all over the world. 

Q2. What is the original BPM of the Final Countdown?

Ans. Final Countdown has a somber tune to it, as a result, the tempo of the song lies in 118 BPM. You can also use a half-time tempo at 59 BPM, or double-time it at 236 BPM. 

Q3. Who is Europe's lead singer?

Ans. Joey Tempest is the lead singer of the rock band Europe. 

Q4. How many hits did Europe have?

Ans. Europe has 20 albums in the Billboard 200 charts, including The Final Countdown and Out Of This World. In addition to this, they have three songs in the top 30 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. 

Fun Fact: The lyrics of the song were written after getting inspired by David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” The song was only intended to be a concert opener, but it became the band’s best song of all time.

Introduction

In this video lesson your instructor, Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Stairway to Heaven as part of our guitar series on English songs. It is one of the most iconic piece of rock music. Playing it on your guitar instantly earns you street cred as a guitarist. 

Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Strumming Pattern 

The intro and the verse section of the song are all about fingerpicking, but as the song moves towards the more guitar-centric section strumming does come into play, and the strumming pattern is as follows: D - D U - U D U

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause or hold

Song Structure 

• Introduction: Mike Walker will introduce this song lesson. He will be your guitar instructor for this lesson. He will teach you how to tune your guitar and share his advice on why every rock fan should learn this song. 
• Intro Piece: This is the part when you play instantly makes everyone acknowledge that you are playing Stairway to Heaven. 
• Section A and B: Section A is pretty similar to the intro piece, Mike tells you which chords to play to make it sound different and how to play Section B.
• Section C and D: This part of the guitar lesson continues with the acoustic guitar chord. 
• Section E and F: Here, you will learn the most repeated guitar part of the song, section E. The F section is about the last acoustic part of the song. 
• Song Demo: In this part, Mike will show you how to play the entire acoustic guitar section alongside the backing track. 
• Solo Lesson: This is the most anticipated part of the song; Mike breaks Jimmy Page’s iconic solo with multiple licks and plays them with the backing track. 
• Overdubs: This is the last section of the guitar lesson, and here, you will learn about overdubs, which are basically the additional layer of guitar tracks used in the song. 

Introduction

AC/DC is a hard rock band from Australia. The band recorded the song "You Shook Me All Night Long," which appeared in their album Back In Black. Ozzest 100 considers it one of the most Australian songs of all time. 

According to rock critic Robert Christgau, this song was the only great work of art from the band. If you ever get to witness AC/DC live, you will surely hear this song, which has become a staple of the band's live performances. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song You Shook Me All Night Long 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 and Solo Lesson. 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 is in the key of G major and uses lots of open chords. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction, Mike Walker teaches you how to tune up your guitar for this song. He also discusses the open chords you will use in this song and the G pentatonic bass chords in the solo section.  

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn how to play the iconic guitar introduction of the song. Mike also shares tips on where to play specific chords so you can quickly transition to open chords. 

Song Demo: Here, Mike plays the guitar chords with the backing track to explain how to keep up with the song and maintain the rhythm.

Solo Lesson: This is the most interesting part of the song and of this guitar lesson. In this part, you learn how to play Angus Young's electric guitar solo and tips to make it sound exactly like him. 

The absolute horror-filled opening riff of “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana is the reason why it is still captivating guitarists to this day, even though the song was released in 1993. 

“Heart Shaped Box” was written by Kurt Cobain, in which he transferred his emotion, simplicity, and sonic tension into words. From this guitar lesson by Mike Walker, you will learn far more about how to actually grasp the feel and mood of the song, in addition to learning scales or speed, which is a set requirement for this song.

Mike Walker, your guitar instructor for this song lesson, shares the reason why the song lives in the gray space between masterclass and dissonance. The tempo of the song is pretty sluggish at 84 BPM, which results in a hypnotic and unsettling tone to the entire song. 

There’s no denying the fact that the main riff of the song is still pretty catchy; it is minimalist and catchy. Cobain made sure that he didn’t fill in the gap between silence, which helped the song to build a certain atmosphere, as notes are able to breathe slowly and distort naturally. 

Why Learn Heart Shaped Box By Nirvana On Guitar?

“Heart Shaped Box” is the epitome of the grunge era of the 90s; the song is packed with emotions while being deceptively simple. Apart from this, here are a few reasons that show why it’s a staple song for every budding guitarist: 

It is a perfect introduction to Drop D tuning. In this guitar lesson, Mike Walker will show you different techniques that make you comfortable with one-finger power chords, palm muting, and a droning sound that separates the grunge from alternative rock. 

Soft verses with loud choruses are a repeating theme of Nirvana songs, which is what you are going to learn from this song. To master it, you will be changing volume, tone, and picking intensity, which transforms how a specific part of the song feels to the audience. 

This guitar lesson covers skills like palm muting, which results in rhythmic tension, string slides for eerie transitions, and controlled feedback

FAQs – Heart Shaped Box By Nirvana Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Are there any chromatic elements that I need to know about when practicing “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana on guitar?

Ans. Yes, there are some chromatic passing notes, which you mainly get in the intro section of the song; this will give the riff a slightly dissonant feeling. 

Q2. What is the role of note spacing in the song “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana? 

Ans. With proper spacing in notes, composers create suspense; using it will improve your musical phrasing and timing awareness. 

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.