Advanced Rhythm

Pop

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Obsession Confession

by Mike Walker

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Time as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Section, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Overdub Section and Solo Lesson. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Walker

Time

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

If It's Love

by Steve Luciano

Introduction

This is one of the upbeat acoustic songs that is pretty easy to learn, as it uses simple chords that anyone new to guitar playing can understand with ease. In addition to this, the chord changes are pretty smooth, thus, giving you a lot of relaxation when it comes to playing the guitar and singing your heart out.

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song If It's Love as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Progressions, Rhythm and Progression and Song Demo and Conclusion. 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: This song has repeated chord progression and is pretty simple as well. The common arpeggio to use for this song is:

e|-----------0------------|

B|------1------1---------|

G|----0---0------0------|

D|-------------2--------|

A|--3------------------|

E|----------------------|

Strumming Pattern

This song follows the most basic 4/4 time; the main strumming pattern that you have to use in this song goes something like this: D D U U D U.

D = Down strum
U = Up strum

Song Structure

Introduction: To play this song on guitar along with the backing track you have to tune down your guitar to half step and that’s what you will be learning in the introduction from Steve Luciano, your guitar instructor for this lesson.

Chords and Progressions: Here you will be learning how to play the intro of the song by using just 2 to 3 different notes that Steve is going to show you.

Rhythm and Progression: In this part, Steve discusses the importance of filling up the drum sections with a dead sound, meaning you have to keep your hand moving. It will help you with your rhythm.

Song Demo and Conclusion: This is the final part of the lesson, where Steve will show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.

Why Learn If It's Love By Train Song?

The strumming pattern and chords used in this song are pretty easy to learn, they are great for improving timing and groove of the music. If you are someone who wants to have an acoustic jam session or wants to enjoy solo performances then it is the song for you.

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is the Train band still performing and recording new music?

Ans. Yes, the band is still active and they are performing worldwide in more than 10 countries in 2025 where they have lined-up 25 upcoming shows.

Q2. Is there any member from the band who split up?

Ans. Pat Monahan is one of the founding members of the band who broke up and went on his way. Apart from him, drummers, guitarists, and even a few other members were also replaced in 2021.

Q3. In which genre of music does the music of Train fall?

Ans. The music of the train falls under the category of pop rock, rock roots and rock.

Fun Fact: The song was written on the same day when the hit “Hey, Soul Sister” was written, the song was intended as a way to showcase gratitude to long-time fans.

In this video lesson Amy May teaches how to play the song Set Fire to the Rain as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Song Arrangement, & Sing and Play. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Pop

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Set Fire to the Rain

by Amy May

Pop

Taught by

Amy May

Mr Bojangles

by Muriel Anderson

Introduction:

Chet is a fingerpicking legend and in this song he used Travis picking technique which helped him in building amazing melody and harmonisation with other instruments.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song follows the typical chord progression in the key of C major, which incorporates the dominant 7th in addition to the passing chords to add richness.

The arpeggios patterns are as follows:

Bass: C - G - C - G

(A) (D) (A) (D)

Melody: pluck pluck

(B) (G)

Strumming Pattern:

Mr Bojangles doesn’t follow your traditional strumming pattern because it uses fingerstyle arrangement. In here the thumb is playing alternative bass notes while fingers are used for plucking chords for harmony and melody.

The most common fingerstyle arrangement that you can follow for this is T - F - T - F

T (Thumb) plays the bass notes on the low strings (E, A, or D)
F (Fingers - Index/Middle) pluck the melody notes on the higher strings (G, B, or E)

Song Structure:

Introduction: In this introduction by Muriel Anderson your guitar instructor for this song lesson you will get to know about the finger arrangement used and fingerstyle that you have to follow.

Section A - Part 1: Muriel has divided the song in different parts and this is the part 1 of the song arrangement. Here you will learn the chords you will be playing at the intro of the song.

Section A - Part 2: In this part you will learn the remaining chords for the intro section of the song.

Section B: From here, you will be moving to the second half of the song.

Turnaround Variation: Right here in the guitar lesson, you will learn how to smoothly transition from one guitar section to the other in the song. It will follow a shorter chord progression.

Variation: Your guitar instructor is going to show you how to make a slight change or embellishment in the melody while keeping the core structure of the song intact.

Tag: In here you will learn about the tag which is the small section repeated after you complete with the verse guitar tunes.

Conclusion: This is the last part of this guitar lesson, here Muriel talks about the song and how one can make little improvisation in it to make it sound fuller.

This song has fast paced, driving strumming which allows you to develop strumming rhythm and endurance. It is pretty great for practicing dynamic strumming and percussive accents. Due to quick chord shifting you will be able to build finger strength and speed.

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What happened to the Mumford & Sons lead singer?

Ans. The lead singer of the group said that he will be leaving the band in October 2022 due to some controversial issues with the members. But he made sure that none of the band members and their families had to suffer any consequences.

Q2. Will Mumford & Sons be touring in 2025?

Ans. The band is embarking on a global club tour, which will start in March 2025.

Q3. What kind of band is Mumford & Sons?

Ans. They are a British folk-rock band who are known for their raucous, fast-paced, and sonically dense instrumentation. The lyrics are highly concentrated on christianity.

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Sitting On The Dock of the Bay as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Fingerstyle

Taught by

Muriel Anderson

Sitting On The Dock of the Bay

by Steve Luciano

Blues

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Tighten Up

by Mike Walker

Introduction

Tighten is a song by American rock band the Black Keys. It is the third track of their 2010 album called Brothers, which was released as the first single from the album. In 2011, Rolling Stones magazine put Tighten Up on its list of 15 Best Whistling Songs of All Time.

Also, Tighten Up became the most successful single from The Black Keys. It was the band's first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 in America and reached number one on the list of alternative songs.

Chords Used in Tighten Up Song

The most common chords you will be using in this song are F#m, AM7, Bm, and C#.

Song Structure

Introduction: In this part, your guitar instructor, Mike Walker, teaches you the basic music knowledge to play this song on guitar.

Verse Chords and Rhythm: Here, Mike will show you where to take the necessary pause and hit the guitar chords when counting to 4.

Solos: Here, you will learn the first solo, which breaks up the verse section into two parts of the song.

Bridge and Outro Solo: Mike will teach you how to play the barre chords required to play the bridge and outro solo for this song.

Song Demo: In this section, Mike will play the entirety of the song on guitar to demonstrate it.

Easy Version: If you are a beginner in terms of guitar playing, Mike has got you covered with the easy version of the song, which you can play with ease.

Taught by

Mike Walker

Die with a Smile

by Pranay Verma

Retro-pop ballad

Taught by

Pranay Verma

Mama, I'm Coming Home

by Bill Peck

Taught by

Bill Peck

Similar Rock Songs

Estranged

by Bill Peck

In this video lesson Mike Dugan teaches how to play the song Hey Joe as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Basic Strumming, Advanced Strumming, Intro Riff, Sing and Play, Bass Line during Solo, Solo Lesson and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Bill Peck

Let It Be

by Steve Luciano

Introduction

It’s time to grab your guitar and start strumming along with this detailed Let It Be guitar lesson on Torrins.com! This beginner-to-intermediate lesson is taught by our experienced tutor, Steve Luciano, who breaks down various components of the song—chords, rhythm, strumming pattern, and arrangement—into easy, digestible segments, helping you progress smoothly from one section to the next.

Interesting Fact: This classic Beatles song has a heartfelt story behind it. Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be after dreaming of his late mother, Mary, during a stressful time for The Beatles in 1968. In the dream, she comforted him, saying, “It will be all right, just let it be.” That message stayed with him and became the heart of the song. While many assume "Mother Mary" refers to the Virgin Mary, McCartney says it's open to interpretation.

The Let It Be guitar lesson is played in the key of C and consists of just four chords, two of which are C and F. Tune into the full lesson to learn the rest!

**Chords Used in Let It Be Guitar Lesson**

This popular Beatles song is an easy song to play and a great choice for beginners.

Many guitar learners struggle with the F chord, but don’t worry—Steve shares some solid tips on how to transition smoothly and play it comfortably. He also breaks down proper finger positioning to help you master F major with ease.

Strumming Pattern

You can keep it simple by playing this song entirely with downstrokes. However, if you want to add a little more rhythm, you can go with this pattern: DDDUDDDU.

A key thing to remember here is to keep your strumming hand moving at all times, even if you're not hitting the strings with every motion. This technique, often seen in older rock songs, helps create the right rhythmic feel.

Song Structure

The song follows a classic verse-chorus structure, but with subtle shifts that make it more dynamic.

Intro: You’ll start with two chords per measure, but pay attention to the rhythm as it sets the tone for the whole track.
Verse: The same two-chords-per-measure pattern continues here, but consistency in your strumming is key. If your rhythm slips even a little, it throws off the groove.
Chorus & Bridge: These sections reuse the verse’s chord progression, but the transitions feel tighter and more energetic.

Steve walks you through how to manage these shifts without losing momentum, especially the jump between sections, which trips up a lot of learners.

Rhythm & Right-Hand Technique

Even though the chords in this song are simple, the rhythm requires practice. Once the lyrics kick in, the right hand needs to move at 16th note speed (which are four evenly spaced notes for every beat) to create the desired groove. The trick here is that you don’t have to hit the strings every time—just keep your hand moving consistently to stay in time.

Mastering this technique will not only make your playing sound great but will also help build your overall strumming coordination.

**Why Learn Let It Be?**

It's an easy song with simple chords, making it great for beginners.
Helps improve chord transitions, especially switching to and from F major.
Teaches right-hand rhythm control, a skill that translates to many other songs.
Works as a great sing-along song, making it fun to play with others!

FAQs – Let It Be Guitar Lesson

Q1. Do I need a capo?

No, Let It Be is played in the key of C and doesn’t require a capo.

Q2. Can I use a different strumming pattern?

Absolutely! You can stick with simple downstrokes or try the DDDUDDDU pattern for more variation. Just remember to keep a steady rhythm.

easy

Rock

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Hey Joe

by Mike Dugan

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Come As You Are as part of our guitar series on English 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!

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Come As You Are (Complete)

by J.J. Pattishall

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Handy Man (Easy Version)

by Steve Luciano

Introduction:

Handy Man is a classic song written by Otis Blackwell in collaboration with Jimmy Jones. But the song became much more popular after James Taylor covered it in his own style of soft rock.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song requires you to use soft fingerpicking along with smooth chord transitions. The instructions below show how you can play the arpeggios for this song. Don’t forget to use the thumb-heavy fingerpicking technique.

e|-----------0------------|

B|------1------1---------|

G|----0---0------0------|

D|-------------2--------|

A|--3------------------|

E|----------------------|

Strumming Pattern

You can use a simple flowing rhythm with a 4/4 time signature: D D U U D U.

D = Down strum
U = Up strum

The strumming pattern for the softer version should be played like this: D x D U x U D U.

D = Down strum
U = Up strum
X = Muted strum; here, you have to lightly touch the string as you strum.

Song Structure

Song Arrangement And Demo: For this song, your guitar instructor is going to be Steve Luciano; he shares the difference between this easy version of the song and how it can be played even by beginners. In addition to this, you will be using capo and simple strumming for this guitar lesson. The capo is going to be on the 2nd fret.

Why Learn Handy Man Song?

This song uses easy to understand chords, thus, making it a great song to learn for beginners and for other guitarists no matter what their level is. In addition to this, it is a perfect song to play on acoustic guitar as well because it has that laid back feel to it.

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who sang the original version of the song Handyman?

Ans. James Jones, the American singer, was the singer and songwriter of the song.

Q2. What is the meaning of the Handyman?

Ans. A handyman is someone who is skilled at repairing and making things inside or outside the house.

Q3. Is there a hidden meaning to the song Handyman?

Ans. There is no such hidden meaning attached to the song, in this song a man is offering his services as someone who is able to fix broken hearts and make people happy again.

Fun Fact: The Taylor version of this song made him win his second Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

In this video lesson Mike Dugan teaches how to play the song Sultans of Swing as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Progression, Intro Rhythm/Bounce Feel, Verse and Chorus (Singing), Intro Lead and Riffs, Solo Improvisation and Main Riff. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Sultans of Swing

by Mike Dugan

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Taylor

by J.J. Pattishall

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

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Flake

by Steve Luciano

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Every Breath You Take as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Main Riff, Verses and Bridge, Interlude and Arrangement. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Steve Luciano

Wish You Were Here

by Mike Dugan

Introduction

Tune into a classic Pink Floyd guitar lesson on Wish You Were Here at Torrins.com, led by our experienced tutor, Mike Dugan. He breaks down the lesson into various sections: Introduction, Intro Chords & Rhythm, Intro Lead, Verse & Chorus Lesson, Solo Improvisation, Arrangement & Playing with Backing Track.

Interesting Fact: In the song's intro, you can hear David Gilmour coughing and breathing heavily before the guitar kicks in. Rumour had it that Gilmour’s smoking habit caused the cough, and that he quit smoking afterwards out of frustration with the recording. But Gilmour later clarified he never smoked!

Mike plays the song using various open chords, including Em, Em7, G, A, and Am. Tune into the complete lesson to learn the rest of the chords that make up this song. This song is a great choice for both beginners and intermediate players.

Chords Used in "Wish You Were Here" Guitar Lesson

This song is played using simple open chords, making it accessible for both beginners and intermediate players. For intermediate players, Mike introduces some alternate chord voicings to stay true to the song’s original sound while adding a unique touch.

Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern is beginner-friendly with consistent downstrums. For those wanting to level up, Mike shares an advanced rhythm that incorporates upstrums for a more dynamic feel.

Song Structure

"Wish You Were Here" follows a clear and structured arrangement:

Intro: Lead + rhythm section (Mike provides a simpler alternative for beginners)
Lead Riffs: Based on the E minor pentatonic scale and its extensions, featuring double stops and hammer-ons.
Verse 1: Smooth chord transitions; beginners can use downstrums, while advanced players can follow the more complex rhythm.
Solo: You can either repeat the intro solo or follow Mike’s improvisation using the E minor pentatonic scale.
Verse 2: Similar to Verse 1, with consistent strumming and clean transitions.
Final Solo: A concluding solo based on the intro lead and E minor pentatonic improvisation.

Improvisation Techniques

Mike teaches how to improvise using the E minor pentatonic scale. He also adds his own flair by playing it on the 12th fret in true David Gilmour style.

Singing Along

Mike also walks you through the singing component, helping you match the chord changes with the lyrics.

Pro Tip: Make use of tabs and lyrics for smoother learning.

Why Learn "Wish You Were Here"?

This lesson helps you improve your chord transitions and develop a smooth, expressive playing style. It's a great piece to master for solo and sing-along sessions. Plus, learning David Gilmour’s style will sharpen your improvisation skills.

Tips to Improve:

Focus on clean chord transitions.
Keep your strumming hand relaxed to maintain a steady rhythm.

FAQs – "Wish You Were Here" Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

Yes! The chords are straightforward, and Mike provides a simplified version of the intro for beginners.

Q2. Can I just strum the song instead of fingerpicking?

Yes! You can simplify the song with consistent downstrums or follow the more advanced strumming pattern Mike shares.

moderate

Rock

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Every Breath You Take

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

If You Like Stevie Ray Vaughan, You'll Love These

Texas Flood

by Mike Dugan

In this video lesson Mike Dugan teaches how to play the song The Sky is Crying as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Chords, Rhythm, and Sing and Play. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Dugan

The Sky is Crying

by Mike Dugan