Introduction:

This song was originally written and composed during the time of Schultz and Fraites in New York. It was meant to be a kiss-off to disinterested concertgoers. It was the first single from a folk rock band to get certified in the US. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song is present in the key of C major. 

Strumming Pattern:

The most common strumming pattern used for playing this song is D - D - U - D - D:

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause (mute or let the chord ring)

The alternative strumming pattern is D - D - U - U - D - U, this adds more guitar movement in the song and makes the guitar play a bit more smooth. 

Song Structure:

Introduction: The introduction of the song is by J.J. Pattishall, in here he teaches you the tuning required to play this song on guitar. 

Song Arrangement: Here, your guitar instructor talks about the feel of the song and how it helps you play it. In addition, he shares with you all the chords you have to play and how they should be played.

Sing and Play: In this section, you will learn how to time your chords while you are singing. 

Song Demo: Finally this is the part where your guitar instructor will show you how to play the entirety of the song with the song running in the background. 

Stay with Me is a soulful ballad by Sam Smith from their 2014 debut album In the Lonely Hour. The song became one of Smith’s biggest hits, earning them multiple awards, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. "Stay with Me" resonates with listeners for its raw emotional intensity, combining heartfelt lyrics with a powerful vocal performance.

For guitar players who are looking for a song that perfectly syncs both simplicity and emotional depth, their search has finally come to an end. With this guitar song lesson by Sam Smith, you will be learning how to play a gentle, soulful chord progression, in addition to showcasing how minimalism can be a powerful thing in music composition.

The song lesson uses “A” minor chords along basic open chords, making it a great song for beginners to practice their expanding guitar skills. There is a strong emphasis on learning expression instead of technique here; the strumming pattern also helps in this pursuit by being steady and slow. As a result, you get to work on your timing, chord transitions, and sense of groove. 

Strumming Pattern For Stay With Me By Sam Smith 

For the most part, you will be playing the following chords: Am (A minor), F (F major — use the easy version: Fmaj7 if barre is hard), C (C major). The song also follows a progression through most of the verse and choruses, Am – F – C. 

So the easiest strumming pattern that goes well with these chords is: D – D – U – U – D – U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum.

The original recording of the song is in C major, but to make things easier, you can put a capo on the 5th fret and play Am–F–C shapes to match the original pitch.

Why Learn Stay With Me By Sam Smith Song On Guitar?

Learning “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith on guitar is a great experience for every guitarist, no matter what their level is. You will be creating an emotional connection by using simple guitar chords that are easy to master. The structure of the entire song composition is simple, as it is built on open chords. 

Likewise, the song is slow-paced and has repetitive progression, thus allowing you to easily gain confidence in playing a new song on guitar. Practicing this song on guitar will give you the required focus and precision while still sounding great, and that too when you are just starting your journey. 

FAQs – Stay With Me By Sam Smith Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Can I play “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith using fingerpicking instead of strumming?

Ans. Yes, the song uses a simple chord progression. Make sure you practice the bass notes first, then slowly move towards the higher strings to create a more intimate and emotional sound. 

Q2. Which tuning should I use for the song “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith when playing it on guitar? 

Ans. It is preferred that you use standard tuning ( E A D G B E); there is no alternate tuning required.

To become a well-rounded guitarist or to witness the magic of James Taylor’s fingerpicking at its best, you need to learn the intermediate guitar version of the song Snowtime. This is the one-song lesson that serves as a perfect blend of technical as well as musical growth; in addition to this, the entire guitar lesson is pure playing satisfaction. 

With this intermediate version of the song Snowtime, you will be introduced to Travis playing, in addition to the subtle-note alternations, a skill that develops precision and independence between thumb and fingers. 

Musically speaking, the song slowly builds on soft and flowing acoustic guitar with unmistakable smooth vocals layered on top of them. From this lesson, you are going to capture the serene and contemplative mood present in the song, which is quite often associated with winter. It’s a song that teaches you that sometimes simplicity when executed with proper finesse, can create a powerful musical experience. 

Strumming Pattern 

The song is known for its gentle fingerpicking, but when it comes to learning the intermediate version, then you have to follow the given strumming pattern to capture a laid-back and flowing feel of the song: D – D U – U D U.

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

If you wish to add more feel to the song, you can use this optional strumming variation: D – D – x – U – D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum.
• X = muted percussive strumming, which helps you add texture without overpowering the song. 

Strumming works well in this song, but if you wish to capture the sound of the original recording truly, we would advise you to blend light fingerpicking with strumming transitions.  

Why Learn Snowtime Song Intermediate Version On Guitar?

Snowtime by James Taylor is considered to be the perfect first step towards learning fingerstyling with light strumming; this lesson simplifies the intricate part just enough that the song lesson becomes a bit challenging and, at the same time, rewarding. 

It’s a song that requires you to play your guitar gently and cleanly and follow the required rhythm. The kind of control you will learn in this song lesson will take you one level above beginners and make your sound stage-ready. 

Here, you will be playing open chords, which come with tasteful embellishments; this helps you in mastering transitions while still showing you how to add musical sophistication to your guitar playing. 

Snowtime is being played at a steady, reflective pace; playing it on guitar trains your mind and hands-on timing; as a result, with this slow tempo, you will learn to avoid rushing and lock your chord progression with vocals. 

Introduction

Disturbed is known as a heavy metal band. When the band was starting out, the sound they followed was more of “nu metal”. Guarded was a promotional single from the band’s third album, Ten Thousand Fists. The lyrics show how the lifestyle forces David Draiman to guard himself on a certain level.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song does not use traditional arpeggios. It is primarily a riff-driven song that includes heavy power chords in addition to the chugging rhythms. 

Strumming Pattern 

If you notice, the song's main riff has a more galloping tone. As a result, the strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is: D - DUD - D - DUD

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Brief pause (muted)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike Walker, who will be your guitar instructor for this song lesson, explains how to tune your electric guitar. 

Song Arrangement: This is the part where you will learn all the chord progressions you will use in this song. 

Song Demo: This is the last part of the guitar lesson. Mike will play the entire guitar section of the song alongside the backing track. 

Livin on a Prayer is the song that made Bon Jovi immortal in rock history. It's a rock anthem that every intermediate and advanced guitarist needs to learn. In this guitar song lesson by Torrins, our instructor Mike Walker will be focusing on helping you build stage-ready rhythmic skills, chord dynamics, and rock tone shaping, all of which are inspired by Richie Sambora’s iconic playing style. 

The song was released in 1986 as part of the album Slippery When Wet. The song became iconic due to its talkbox intro and a stadium-sized chorus. Richie Sambora’s guitar work in this song is what makes the listener stick till the very end. 

Keep in mind that the talkbox riff present in the song is just a gimmick; it is there to set the song’s mood and hook the audience to the song. The main highlight lies in the chunky syncopated chord work in the verses, which drives the track with a surprisingly tight and sing-along rock piece groove. 

The solo you will be learning here in this guitar song lesson is quite tasteful, the melodic lead feels quite like it’s part of the song’s narrative rather than a separate guitar moment. 

Strumming Pattern Of Livin' on a Prayer By Bon Jovi 

The most common strumming pattern that you need to follow to play the song “Livin on a Prayer” is: DDUUDU. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

This particular strumming pattern that we have shown above matches well with the syncopated, energetic feel, which is the driving force for the entire song. In addition to this, you can also add minor variations on the upstrokes to get that extra bounce that makes you match up with the iconic Bon Jovi’s rhythm. 

FAQs – Livin' on a Prayer By Bon Jovi Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. How do I replicate the talkbox effect, which is present at the start of the song “Livin on the Prayer” by Bon Jovi? 

Ans. You can create a similar-sounding riff using a talkbox pedal, which routes the guitar signal through a tube into your mouth to create a vocal-like sound. If the talkbox pedal is not present, you can also use a “wah” pedal for a similar effect. 

Q2. Is palm muting necessary to learn for the guitar song lesson “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi? 

Ans. Yes, in this guitar lesson by Mike Walker, you will learn how to use palm muting selectively during the verse riffs that lead to a chugging rhythmic effect. 

Q3. How difficult is it to play the guitar solo from the song “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi? 

Ans. The solo present in the song is a bit challenging for new guitar players because it has melodic bends, slides, and even vibrato. For intermediate guitar players, it will be much easier to learn. 

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. 

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.