Channa Mereya – Introduction

Channa Mereya is a soulful ballad from the 2016 Bollywood film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, composed by Pritam and sung by Arijit Singh. The song, written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, explores themes of unrequited love and heartbreak, perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil of Ranbir Kapoor’s character in the film. Its melancholic yet poetic lyrics, combined with Arijit Singh’s emotive vocals, made it an instant classic.

The song became one of the most popular tracks from the album, peaking at #1 on Radio Mirchi’s Top 20 chart and staying there for five months. It was also nominated for several awards, including Best Lyricist at the Filmfare Awards. The acoustic and Sufi-inspired arrangement, that beings together Indian classical elements with contemporary.

Channa Mereya Guitar Lesson

Steve Luciano trachea you how to play the Channa Mereya melody while breaking down the song’s delicate guitar work. The track is in the key of A minor. The verse melody begins with a gentle descent from F to D, establishing the melancholic mood. The pre-chorus builds tension by emphasizing the higher notes (C and D), while the chorus releases this tension with its wider intervallic leaps. The melody's beauty lies in its subtle variations, the singer in the song slightly alters certain phrases when they repeat.

To play this on guitar, use the middle position of the neck (5th to 8th frets). The main phrases can be played on the B and high E strings, with some notes extending to the G string. Focus on clean hammer-ons and pull-offs between adjacent notes, and use vibrato on sustained notes to match Arijit's vocal style.

For the more expressive sections, incorporate slides between notes and careful bending (especially the microtonal bends characteristic of Indian music). The bridge section features the melody's highest notes - practice shifting positions smoothly to reach these. Remember to breathe between phrases like a singer would.

The melody stands out for its beautiful simplicity and emotional power. The tune stays with listeners long after the song ends, making it one of Arijit Singh's most memorable performances. This lesson focuses specifically on playing the vocal melody on guitar.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in this song?

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) with no capo needed.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Practice slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before speeding up.

Q. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Yes, the chords are basic, but the emotional delivery requires practice.

Q. What effects are used on the guitar?

A clean tone with light reverb matches the original recording.

Welcome to the guitar lesson on Samjhawan, a heartfelt romantic ballad from the 2014 Bollywood film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. The film stars Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, and this song quickly became one of its most memorable tracks. Samjhawan is actually a reimagined version of Main Tenu Samjhawan Ki, a soulful Punjabi song originally composed by Jawad Ahmad and sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in 2010. The Bollywood version was recreated by Sharib–Toshi, with lyrics by Ahmad Anees and Kumaar, and sung by two of India’s finest voices, Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. Their emotional delivery gives the song a deep sense of longing and love that really connects with listeners.

This song’s popularity is reflected in the awards it won, including the GiMA Award for Best Duet in 2015. There was also a more stripped-down unplugged version sung by Alia Bhatt herself, which offered a softer, more intimate take. The song talks about understanding and comforting a loved one, with lyrics that express vulnerability and devotion. Its gentle melody and heartfelt words have helped Samjhawan become a beloved classic in modern Indian music.

Samjhawan Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, instructor J J Patishall guides you through the chords and rhythm of Samjhawan in a way that’s easy to follow, even if you’re not a seasoned player. The song is played mostly using open chords like Asus2, Dsus2, F#m, Bm, and E, which gives it that smooth and mellow sound. These suspended chords, especially the Asus2 and Dsus2, add a gentle tension that feels emotional but not complicated. J J explains how to finger these chords carefully to keep the song’s soft vibe intact.

One of the key points J J focuses on is how to move between these chords smoothly. He breaks down the transitions slowly so you don’t get stuck on tricky shapes like F#m, which can feel tough at first because it’s usually a barre chord. But with his tips, you’ll find a comfortable way to play it without straining your hand. The lesson includes how to hold Asus2 and Dsus2 so that the ringing open strings create a warm, full sound that fills the space nicely.

The strumming pattern is simple yet expressive, with a mix of down and up strokes that flow naturally with the song’s rhythm. J J also shows a subtle picking pattern for those who want to bring out the melody within the chords more clearly. This fingerpicking option works well if you want to capture the intimate feeling of the unplugged version. Throughout the lesson, J J highlights how small changes in timing and emphasis can really shape the mood, helping you play Samjhawan with the same tenderness that makes the original so special.

FAQs

Q. Is Samjhawan suitable for beginner guitar players?

Yes, especially since many chords are open or suspended chords. J J breaks down the harder chords to make them accessible.

Q. Can I play the unplugged version on guitar?

Absolutely. The unplugged version is simpler and focuses more on fingerpicking, which J J covers in the lesson.

Welcome to the guitar lesson on Soch Na Sake, a deeply emotional romantic ballad from the 2016 Bollywood film Airlift. The movie stars Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, and the song beautifully captures the pain and hope in their characters’ story during the Gulf War crisis of 1990. This song is actually a Hindi adaptation of the popular 2013 Punjabi hit Soch by Harrdy Sandhu, but it was reworked for the film by composer Amaal Mallik with new lyrics by Kumaar. Featuring vocals by Arijit Singh, Tulsi Kumar, and Amaal Mallik, it became an instant favorite for its melody and words.

The music video shows the deep love and separation between the lead characters Ranjit and Amrita, which connects with many listeners. The song received huge praise and won several awards, like the 2017 Mirchi Music Award for Listeners’ Choice Song of the Year. Despite some controversy around the adaptation, with the original artist Harrdy Sandhu expressing disappointment at not being involved, Soch Na Sake remains widely loved for its soulful feel and emotional power.

Soch Na Sake – Guitar Lesson

This lesson is taught by our skilled instructor, Mike Walker, who takes you through the song step by step with clear explanations. The song is played with a capo on the 2nd fret, which means that even though the original key is A major, you’re actually playing chords relative to the capo in G major. This makes the chords easier to handle and perfect for acoustic guitar players at an intermediate level. The main chords you’ll use are G, Em, C, B7, and D, all common chords that sound smooth together and carry the romantic vibe of the song.

Mike shows you how to play these chords in a simple progression that fits the flow of the melody. The strumming pattern is gentle and steady, supporting the emotional tone without overpowering the vocals. One interesting chord here is B7, which adds a little extra colour and tension before resolving back to the main chords. Mike makes sure to explain how to shift between these chords without losing the rhythm.

Another important part of the lesson is the rhythm and timing. Mike breaks down the strumming pattern into easy sections so that even if you’re new to playing with a capo, you’ll feel confident. He also plays through the entire song at a comfortable speed, so you can follow along and practice each part until it feels natural.

FAQs

Q. Is Soch Na Sake suitable for beginners?

Yes, the song is great for beginner to intermediate players because it uses common chords and a simple strumming pattern, especially with the capo on the 2nd fret.

Q. Why is a capo used in this song?

The capo allows you to play easier chord shapes in G major while sounding in the key of A major, making the song more accessible on the guitar.

Titli is a beautifully composed romantic song from the hit Bollywood movie Chennai Express starring Deepika Padukone and Shahrukh Khan. This song has intricate classical elements with a touch of modern melodies, offering you as a guitarist a rare chance to explore melodic expression and subtle dynamics. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The verse section can be played with a fingerpicking pattern, which is like this: 

P – I – M – A – M – I  

(Thumb – Index – Middle – Ring – Middle – Index)

Where: 

• P = 5th or 6th string (bass note)
• I = 3rd string
• M = 2nd string
• A = 1st string

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern you need to follow for this song is D-D-U-U-D-U. 

This particular pattern can be used throughout the chorus and the bridge section of the song. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, J.J. Pattishall tells you the song is in the key of E minor and shows you the position of the capo on the 3rd fret of the guitar. Finally, he also shows you how to tune up the guitar specifically for the song.  

Song Arrangement - Part 1: This section provides you with information about the chords you need to play with the first verse. 

Song Arrangement - Part 2: In this part of the guitar lesson, you are going to learn about the chords that are present in the second verse of the song. 

Song Demo: Here is the demo of how you should be playing the guitar chords with the backing track playing alongside. 

Overdubs: Now that you learned chords for the main guitar, it’s time to check out the chords for the second guitar, which adds a couple of tunes to the song which makes it more special and harmonious. 

Easy Version: Here is the easy version of the same song for beginners. It’s a good song to practice on guitar for newcomers. As a result, J.J. shows you how you can play the entire song with much easier chords using a capo. 

Backing Track Simple Version: This is the part where J.J. shows you how to keep up your simple version guitar chords with the vocals and other instruments that are part of the song. 

Why Learn the Titli Song From Chennai Express?

Titli is a song for which you have to be gentle with your guitar; it uses flowing melodies that are the base for developing expressive and emotive guitar playing. Both the intro and the verse sections of the song fit perfectly with arpeggios or light fingerpicking, thus helping you strengthen your accuracy and feel. 

Furthermore, the song keeps on transitioning from soft verses to soaring choruses, which makes it possible for you to practice volume control and bring emotional contrast in your guitar play with the implementation of different strumming and picking techniques. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Sham as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Easy Version, Solo 1, Solo 2 and Solo 3. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Bolna is a beautiful romantic song from the 2016 Bollywood movie Kapoor & Sons, known for its soft melody and emotional depth. Sung by Arijit Singh and Asees Kaur, the track quickly became a favorite for its heartfelt lyrics and the way it captures the delicate feelings of love and longing. The song’s title, which means "Speak, my beloved," hints at the gentle plea for connection and openness between two people, which fits perfectly with the film’s story about complicated relationships and emotional honesty.

What makes Bolna special is how it combines traditional Indian music elements with modern sounds, giving it a timeless vibe that appeals to listeners across generations. The music arrangement uses simple yet rich chords and soft instrumentation that support the vocals without overpowering them. The song’s popularity was boosted not only by its emotional impact but also by its music video featuring the film’s stars, adding a visual layer to the story of love and vulnerability that the lyrics express.

Bolna – Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, Steve Luciano takes you through the gentle guitar parts that shape Bolna’s soothing atmosphere. The song is played in the key of F major, which is bright and warm, setting the perfect mood for a romantic ballad. It starts with a delicate arpeggio pattern on the F major and G major chords, where the notes of each chord are played one by one rather than strummed all at once. This picking style gives the song its soft, flowing feel right from the beginning.

The chord progression is straightforward but rich, moving through chords like F, Bb, Dm7, Am7, and Gm7. These chords include some minor sevenths and major sevenths, which add a smooth, jazzy flavor to the harmony without making it complicated. Steve breaks down how to play each chord cleanly and how to move between them smoothly, which is key to keeping the song’s gentle and emotional tone intact.

Steve also explains some subtle techniques like fingerpicking and how to emphasize certain notes in the arpeggio to bring out the melody within the chords. This approach helps players understand how to make a simple chord progression sound expressive and full of feeling. By following Steve’s step-by-step guide, guitarists can learn to capture the song’s soft dynamics and emotional nuances, making Bolna a great practice piece for anyone looking to improve fingerstyle playing and chord transitions.

FAQs

Q. What key is Bolna played in?

Bolna is in the key of F major, which gives the song its warm, romantic feel.

Q. What guitar technique is used in the intro of Bolna?

The intro uses arpeggios, where the notes of the chords are picked one at a time, creating a flowing melody.

The song lesson of Teri MerI Kahaani easy version is for those who wish to master romantic, melodic, and Bollywood ballads; it’s a perfect song to learn on acoustic guitar. The song is from the movie Gabbar, which was released in 2015; the lead singers were Arijit Singh and Palak Muchhal. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of this song lesson is there to help you get accompanied by your guitar instructor, J.J. Pattishall. Here, J.J. is going to show you the tuning required for this song, and at the same time, he also explains why this easier version is much faster to learn for both intermediate and beginner-level guitar players.  

Chords and Rhythm: This part of the guitar lesson starts with Em, Am, D, C, G, and the only tricky chord, which is the Bm bar chord. If you wish not to play the bar version of Bm, you can choose to play the four-finger version. 

Song Arrangement: With this section, you will learn how the song flows and which chord you need to play in different parts of the song, like intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and even outro. This also makes it easy for you to memorize and prevent confusion. 

Song Demo: Finally, J.J. is going to show you how to play the entire guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

FAQs – Teri Meri Kahaani Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is the song Tere Meri Kahaani beginner-friendly? 

Ans. The original version of the song Tere Meri Kahaani isn’t something easy to learn. That’s why we came up with the thought of creating a much easier version of the guitar song lesson, which is pretty straightforward and, at the same time, uses open chords. 

Q2. What should be the strumming pattern I need to learn for the song Tere Mere Kahaani? 

Ans. To play this song, you can follow a simple strumming pattern, which is: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

By using this strumming pattern, you will be able to conjure a flowing rhythm that perfectly matches the song’s romantic feel. In case you want to simplify this, you can even minimize it to steady downstrokes. 

Q3. Do I need a capo to play the song Tere Mere Kahaani on guitar? 

Ans. See, the original version of the song does require a capo, depending on the vocal range of the singer. But if you are asking if you need to use it during practice, then the answer is no; you can play this song in standard tuning without using a capo. 

Q4. Which of the following guitar techniques will I be learning as I practice Tere Mere Kahaani? 

Ans. Here’s a list of guitar techniques you learn along the way as you learn to play this song guitar: 

• Smooth chord switching
• Controlled strumming dynamics
• Basic arpeggio or fingerpicking (optional for verses)
• Emotional playing with dynamics

Muskurane Ki Wajah - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the most famous romantic ballads from the previous decade, Muskurane by Arijit Singh. The song is from the movie ‘Citylights’, which is highly acclaimed for showing the cruelty of a modern city commonly referred to as the city of dreams. The song received the Song of the Year Award at the Mirchi Music Awards and has amassed more than 60 million views on YouTube since its release in 2014.

Muskurane Ki Wajah translates to ‘reason for a smile’, which is a romantic expression towards a beloved. The plot of the film revolves around a couple who migrate to a Tier 1 city in search of a livelihood, but have to face deceit from the city. Through the song, the character is conveying to his beloved that “you are the reason for my smile, in the times when life is tough”.

Muskurane Ki Wajah Guitar Lesson

Muskurane guitar lesson is taught by our expert, J.J. , 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.        

To play the song in the original key and with standard chord shapes, a capo is needed on the 2nd fret. Advanced players can move to barred versions of the chords, should they not feel comfortable with the capo. The strumming of the song is unique in the sense that although the song can be played using the standard eight-note strumming, the strumming used here is that of the fifth-note pattern. This gives the song a breathing-like movement, where the empty three strums of a bar rest. 

The song features a unique cadence that goes from an E major to an A minor, which creates a beautiful tension and release in the song, and even more unique is the fact that on the chord that brings the tension, the song lyrics also talk about discomfort, both of which later resolves to a minor chord and a comfortable meaning.

Muskurane lyrics, along with the tabs, are also available beside the video lesson that you can refer to while learning the song. 

FAQs

Q. Is Muskurane beginner-friendly?

This lesson is best suited for beginners to early intermediates. You’ll need basic knowledge of open chords and simple strumming patterns.

Q. What chords are used in this song?

The song revolves around Am, G, and F with the occasional E, with the capo on the 2nd fret. The song is originally in the key of B minor, and therefore, without the capo, you’ll need to play the barre chords. 

Q. Do I need a capo for this song?

Yes, we recommend using a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original pitch and make chord shapes easier to play.

Sar Aankhon Pe Mere From Sitaare Zameen Par

We have been teaching students thousands of songs. If there is one thing we as teachers have learned in this journey is that the best guitar lessons are not the ones that teach you how to play different chords, it will teach you how to listen and differentiate between chords, and this lesson is one that fulfills the latter.

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Released as part of the movie Sitaare Zameen Par, which is a spiritual successor of Taare Zameen Pa. The song was composed by the legendary trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The movie has a melancholic tone to it, but this track stays far out from it. The Song is pretty gentle and holds praise for love, which can somewhat be said to be devotional.

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From this guitar lesson, you will be solving problems that you might not know you even had in the first place. The song lesson uses only three chords, but in order to play all three of them, you need to have patience and demonstrate constant practice.

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Here, in this lesson, you will be learning about Em7, D major, and G major, along with the context of how they make musical sense and what takes place when you include them.

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Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern for the song Sar Aankhon Pe Mere follows a flowing and circular motion, so it would be best for you to practice each chord in isolation before you think about connecting them and playing them together. The goal here is fluidity, and not just speed. For this song, we believe that fingerpicking feels a bit overwhelming, so instead of making things complicated, you can use this gentle strumming pattern:D D U U D U.

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• D = Down Strum.
• U = Up Strum.

In this strumming pattern, you can see space built in to help chords ring and prevent the strumming from sounding too busy. When strumming, use a light touch.

FAQs – Sar Aankhon Pe Mere From Sitaare Zameen Par Guitar Lesson

Q1. I keep on missing the strumming pattern when practicing Sar Aankhon Pe Mere on guitar. How can I improve my rhythm ?

Ans. The best way to stay in rhythm would be to count steadily (1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &), keep your strumming hand moving continuously, even if you are skipping one or two strings, your rhythm will improve when your hand is in motion.

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Q2. Shall I learn the given chords in open chord format or learn barre chords instead?

Ans. If you are someone who has recently started learning songs on guitar, then first learn open chords. For intermediate learners, you can choose from open and barre chords depending on your liking.

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Q3. How can I make the sound feel smoother overall when played on a guitar?

Ans. You need to focus on cleaner transitions, make sure the tempo is even, let the chords ring, and have controlled strumming as well.

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Welcome to the guitar lesson on a beautiful, melancholic ballad that is Choo Lo by The Local Train, which features an iconic intro and a powerful chorus that gives goosebumps every time you listen to it. The band’s debut album, ‘Aalas ka Ped’, was received with joy and celebrated across the country. The song Choo Lo has over 80 million views on YT.

Choo Lo is a story about romantic longing. The lover exclaims that he is still standing and waiting where she had left him and that she should touch him, or else he’ll be lost. Invoking the feelings of deep melancholy and longing for a loved one, this song resonated with everyone who had ever been in love. 

Choo Lo Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, the tutor goes over all the parts of the song, starting from the basics –key and tuning of the song to the solo section, along with improvisation tips. The first few sections focus on the intro part, followed by sections on rhythm, chords, strumming, and time signatures, followed by the power chord section that covers the chorus part of the song. Finally, the tutor demonstrates a full playthrough of the song.

The interesting thing about Choo Lo guitar chords is that two of them are suspended chords –Asus2 and Bsus2. These chords do not have the major or the minor third in them, which means that the chords don’t have a concrete identity and give a feeling of incompleteness. The incompleteness relates well to the overall narrative of the song, which is about the desire to be acknowledged. 

The tempo of the song is 146 bpm in 4/4 timing, and the strumming pattern is D - - D - U D U D - D - (D is a downward strum, and U is an Upward strum). The tutor meticulously explores all the melody motifs in the song and teaches the solo note by note in the final sections of the lesson.

The lesson also offers Choo Lo lyrics and guitar tabs along with the video lesson.

The real beauty of this song is in the power chords that are played over the chorus that, when played with a band, in artist speak, sounds ‘big’. Go ahead and pick up your acoustic guitar and treat yourself to one of the sweetest intro melodies.

FAQs

Q. How can I quickly learn the Choo Lo guitar solo?

1. Break the solo into shorter sections and practice them individually until you master them, and then, once mastered, practice transitioning between the sections until the solo sounds as one.

Q. How to play suspended chords?

1. Playing suspended chords at first can be challenging, especially if you’re a beginner, but as instructed by the tutor in this lesson, you can play fewer notes of the chords to get the essential sound and eventually get to the full barre chords.