Intro Piece Easy Version

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.

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).

Fish Rock – Introduction

Fish Rock is a standout track by the Indian band Thaikkudam Bridge, known for blending intense death metal with local Kerala culture. Released in 2014 during a live session on Kappa TV’s Music Mojo, the song quickly caught fire online, gaining millions of views and establishing the band as a powerful force in the Indian indie rock scene. What makes Fish Rock so unique is its playful inspiration—a love for fish fry, a popular dish in coastal Kerala—which the band turns into an energetic metal anthem full of fast riffs and powerful vocals.

The song features lyrics in Malayalam, peppered with local slang and phrases that add authenticity and regional flavor, making it feel both raw and personal. Led by Govind Menon’s songwriting and Anish Krishnan’s fierce vocals, Fish Rock combines aggressive metal instrumentation with catchy melodies and rhythms. The track became a key highlight of Thaikkudam Bridge’s debut album Navarasam in 2015, showcasing their ability to mix heavy music with cultural storytelling, which helped redefine Indian rock in a fresh and exciting way.

Fish Rock – Guitar Lesson

Mike Walker’s lesson on Fish Rock dives into how to nail the song’s heavy, gritty sound using drop D tuning, where the lowest string is tuned down a whole step from E to D. This tuning gives the guitar a deeper, punchier tone that’s perfect for the chunky riffs and aggressive rhythm playing the song demands. Mike takes you through the main riff, focusing on the powerful use of open strings and palm muting to create that tight, percussive feel common in metal.

The soloing section in Fish Rock is built around the minor pentatonic scale, which is a go-to scale for rock and metal soloing. Mike breaks down the solo ideas simply by showing how the minor pentatonic scale works—basically a five-note scale that sounds dark and bluesy. He explains how to use bends, slides, and hammer-ons to add expression without overcomplicating the solo, making it approachable for players looking to get into metal lead playing.

Throughout the lesson, Mike emphasizes keeping the rhythm tight and clean, which is key in heavy music to avoid a muddy sound. He also talks about dynamics—how to build tension by mixing softer muted riffs with bursts of aggressive picking. For players wanting to get the full feel of Fish Rock, Mike’s guidance on using the drop D tuning effectively, combined with minor pentatonic lead ideas, helps capture the song’s raw energy while making it accessible for learners.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in Fish Rock?

The song uses drop D tuning, which means the low E string is tuned down one whole step to D.

Q. What scale is used for the solo in Fish Rock?

The solo is based mainly on the minor pentatonic scale, which is a simple and common scale for rock and metal solos.

If you are searching for a song that has stood the test of time, then O Mere Dil Ke Chain is surely one of the songs that popped in your head. It’s a timeless romantic classic from the golden age of Bollywood. The song was originally sung by none other than Kishore Kumar, and the composer was a legend of his field, Mr R.D. Burman.

As you learn this song on guitar, you will be exploring the influence of vintage melodies, and this song will teach you how to master smooth chord transitions. Simply said, it’s a song for everyone, from teenagers to millennials and even grandads; everyone loves this song and knows its lyrics through and through.

Strumming Pattern

This slow classic ballad follows 4/4 time. In addition to this, the strumming pattern of this song is pretty subtle, soft, and rhythmic, which matches the overall mellow tone of the song. The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for this one is: D – D U – U D U.

D = Down Strum.

U = Up Strum.

Song Structure

Introduction: The introduction is from J.J. Pattishall, who is going to be your guitar instructor for this guitar lesson. He first tells you that the song is in the B-flat minor, and then he shows you how to tune up the guitar in order to play this song.

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the lesson, your guitar instructor will show you all the different chords that you will be using in this song, and after that, he will show you the rhythm that you have to follow.

Verse, Pre-chorus, and Chorus: J.J. has divided the song into three parts, which are chorus, verse, and then there is an extended part, which is a pre-chorus.

Licks, Interlude, and Bridge: Here you will learn all the extra little details like chords for the bridge, interlude, and licks. All of these will help you create a cohesive tune for the overall song.

Song Demo: Finally, in this section, J.J. will play the guitar with the backing track to show you how to sync up your guitar chords with those of the vocals and other instruments that are part of the song.

Why Learn O Mere Dil Ke Chain Song?

This is one of those classic old songs from Bollywood that are still relevant to this day, making it possible for you to dive into the golden era of Bollywood music while enhancing your expressive and technical guitar playing skills. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Jo Bhi Main (Rockstar) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro Piece, Chords, & Rhythm and Jo Bhi Main (Solo Lesson). Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Lakh Duniya Kahe as part of our guitar series on Indian 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!