Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm

Perfect - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that needs no introduction. Perfect by Ed Sheeran topped all the charts in 2017 and became a super duper hit worldwide. This song has now become part of mainstream pop youth culture. All lovers, depending on their heartbroken status, either love or hate this song. It has collected more than 4.9 billion views (almost half of humanity) on YouTube since its release and has been in all the romance playlists on every streaming service platform.

The song is a ballad celebrating the traditional marriage relationship between two lovers, written about Sheeran’s wife-to-be, Cherry Seaborn, whom he had known since he was in school and then reconnected with her when she was working in New York. Sheeran has said the song captures the feeling of finding "the one" - that magical moment when you realise you've met your soulmate.

Perfect Guitar Lesson

The guitar lesson on Perfect is an easy one. Nevertheless, the lesson has many sections that talk about the chords and rhythm of the song, and a section on improvisation where the instructor is demonstrating how to solo over the track.

The song only has four chords, namely – G - Em7 - Cadd9 - D, which the tutor explains is meant to be played with the capo on the 1st fret, as does Sheeran himself in live performances. The strumming of the song goes in triplets of 4, covering four bars of music.

The thing about minor 7th chords and augmented chords used in the song is that in the open position, they share some of the notes, and when chords share notes, the phenomenon of voice leading occurs. Voice leading is when the notes of one chord lead to another, creating an interesting movement between anticipation and resolution in the music.

Although the studio recording version of the song uses a capo on the first fret, the lesson here demonstrates both ways, with and without a capo, of playing the song in its entirety. The song follows a 12/8 time signature, and the rhythm sounds like that of a waltz, which makes it an easy song to dance to, especially with one’s lover.

The lesson makes available Perfect lyrics and chords along with the video lesson, which the advanced players can refer to when learning the song.

FAQs

Q. What is the story behind Ed Sheeran's song Perfect?

Perfect was written by Ed Sheeran as a love song for his then-girlfriend (now wife) Cherry Seaborn. The lyrics describe their real-life romance, from meeting as teenagers to falling in love as adults.

Q. What key is Perfect?

Perfect is written in the key of Ab major (G major for live performances), though most guitarists use a capo on the 1st fret to make the chords easier to play. This transposition means you'll be playing standard shapes like G, Em, C and D but hearing them in Ab major.

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. 

In this video lesson, Ashish Noel John teaches how to play the Panchayat Theme as part of our guitar series on Hindi songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythm, Melody, Melody Demo, and Song Demo.

Introduction

Ironic is the song by Canadian singer and songwriter Alanis Morissette. It was the third single from her 1995 studio album, Jagged Little Pill. 

In this video lesson Amy May teaches how to play the song Ironic as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Chords, Rhythm, and Song Demo. 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: You will use open chords for this song. 

Chorus Variation: D G D E-minor are the chords you will use when playing chorus variation. 

Strumming Pattern 

This song has lots of repetition, making it easier for new guitar players to learn and play. The strumming pattern varies throughout the song, but for the most part, you will be playing:

Down-Down Up-Down Up-Down

Song Structure 

Chords, Rhythm, and Song Demo: This guitar lesson has only one section. Your instructor is Amy May, who will show you how to play specific chords for this song using a capo on the 4th fret. The tuning note for this song is Low-E. 

Why Learn This Song?

For six straight weeks, this song remained on top of the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, making it the second most successful song of the year in Canada. In addition to this, Ironic reached the top five spots in Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. This is a pretty catchy song, and once you start listening to it, you will be humming it day in and day out. 

Tips To Improve Guitar Playing: 

• When playing any chord, use one finger for one chord. 
• Always keep your thumb behind the middle finger and halfway down the neck. 
• You must understand that to become a better guitarist, you first need to be a better musician. 

Introduction: The introduction is from Pawan Jalan who is going to be your guitar instructor for this song lesson. J.J. Here talks about how this is a simple guitar that anyone can learn, but it does include some special melody that every guitarist must learn and practice. Here, you will learn that the song is in the key of C, and based on that, J.J. will give you the tuning requirements for this song. 

Chords and Rhythm: Here, you will get an outline of chords starting with C, F, G, C/G in the base, F/C in the base, and a few other chords. After learning these, you will be shown the rhythm that you need to follow. 

Song Arrangement: In this part of the song lesson, J.J. will provide you with a structure and layout of how the song should be played on the guitar. You can use this song arrangement to practice it solo, or you can even use it for a group performance. 

Song Demo: Right here, J.J. will play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Solo: The solo present in this song is best suited to be played on electric guitar, and be sure to add a distortion tone to your guitar as well.

Improvisation: The last part of this song lesson is the improvisation techniques, which you can use in this song to make it sound better or exactly like how it is played in the original recording; you can choose the improvisation technique based on your liking. 

FAQs – Give Me Some Sunshine (Complete) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is the song Give Me Some Sunshine from 3 Idiots suitable for beginners to learn on guitar? 

Ans. The song can be easily played by using open chords; in addition to this, it follows a pretty simple structure, which anyone can get used to; the rhythm is slow to mid-tempo, which is again easy to follow. 

Q2. What is the strumming pattern for the song Give Me Some Sunshine?

Ans. A commonly used strumming pattern for this song is D – D U – U D U, and for the chorus, you are required to shift to a more open pattern like this one: D D U U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Q3. Do I require Capo to play the song Give Me Some Sunshine on guitar? 

Ans. Capo is optional; you can play this song in standard tuning without using capo, but if you do that, you need to learn the barre chords present in this song. 

Q4. Is there any specific solo or riff that guitarists need to learn in this song?

Ans. The song does have an iconic intro riff, which isn’t hard to learn, and it sounds amazing when you play it on acoustic guitar. The riff needs to be played on B and high E strings using simple melodic picking. 

Introduction:

Jo Bhi Main is a song that represents the feelings of many teenagers and young individuals who feel that their words are mostly misunderstood. Their words are trapped in their thoughts, and they are finding it hard to express themselves to the world, including their loved ones.  

The song appears early in the movie Rockstar, showcasing Jordan’s transformation from Janardhan Jakhar. 

Fun Fact: For the song, A.R. Rahman brought a group of people on board to give their voices for the background chorus, which was the “Aa... Aa... Aa...” instead of creating the voice of the crowd digitally. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song is present in the G major, but if you have a capo, you can put it on the 3rd fret and play the song E major shape to match the original recording of the song. 

The arpeggio section of the song is as follows: 

P I M A M I

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6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for Em, G)

5 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for C)

4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for D)

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern is pretty mellow, smooth, and expressive; in order to play this song on the guitar, you have to learn the following pattern: D - DU - UD - U 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure:

Intro Piece, Chords, & Rhythm: In this section of the guitar lesson, Steve Luciano, your guitar instructor, is going to show you how to play the intro piece of the song with basic guitar chords, the rhythm of the song which you need to follow and other important things which makes it easier for you to play this song. 

Jo Bhi Main (Solo Lesson): The second part of the guitar lesson is taught by Mike Walker where he shows you how to play the iconic guitar solo from the song. The solo starts with the E-minor and Mike has divided it into multiple sections for easier compression. 

Why Learn this Song on Guitar?

Jo Bhi Main is a Bollywood song that is soulful and yet packs amazing rock punches, which made it so popular among teenagers and adults alike. The song uses basic guitar chords depending on the key you choose, thus making it great for individuals who are new to guitar playing. 

In addition to this, the mellow strumming pattern matches up with the depth of the lyrics; this song has a great dynamic of being played softly and with higher intensity. 

FAQs-Jo Bhi Main (Rockstar) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who was the lead singer for the song Jo Bhi Main from Rockstar? 

Ans. The lead singer for this song was none other than Mohit Chauhan. The composition of the song was done by A.R. Rahman, and the lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil. 

Q2. What is the theme of the song Jo Bhi Main? 

Ans. With this song, the lyricist is trying to express the inner turmoil, self-doubt, and Jordan’s inability to express his true feelings while he is on his journey of becoming a musical maestro. 

Q3. In what genre does Jo Bhi Main fall in? 

Ans. This song is a blend of Indian melodies with that of a rock ballad; the fusion is typical of A.R. Rahman's signature, which he is known for. 

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. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Tum Ho Toh as part of our guitar series on Indian 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!

Mann Mera is a perfect song that combines melody, emotions, and simplicity to give us an ideal track to be played on guitar. It has a soothing tune to it, and the lyrics are quite heartfelt, giving you a chance to express your emotions through music. 

Fun Fact: This particular track helps Gajendra Verma make his name in Bollywood and in the mainstream music scene. The original version of the song went quite viral on the internet, and it became the youth’s favourite song to play even to this day.  

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The basic arpeggio fingerpicking pattern for this song is Thumb (P) – Index (I) – Middle (M) – Ring (A) – Middle (M) – Index (I).

Now, in terms of each individual string: 

6 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (for G and D chords)

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (for Em and C chords)

Strumming Pattern 

The following pattern you have to repeat smoothly throughout the song, and it also works well with the chord progression: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the lesson is from J.J. Pattishall, who is going to show you how to tune up your guitar for the song and tells you that the song is present in the key of C-sharp minor. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the guitar lesson, J.J. shows you where you have to play the specific chords and what rhythm you need to follow for this song. 

Song Arrangement: After showcasing all the chords that you will be playing, J.J. provides information on the song arrangement, in which he gives you details of chords that make up the chorus and verse sections of the song. 

Intro Riff: In this part, you will learn how to play the iconic opening riff of the song, which made the song so easy to remember just from its tune. 

Song Demo: In the final part of this guitar lesson, J.J. is going to show you how to play the guitar chords with the backing track. 

Why Learn Mann Mera Song?

Mann Mera is a beginner-friendly song; it uses open chords that guitarists learn at the beginning of their musical journey. In addition to this, the song also includes a simple fingerpicking technique that allows you to improve finger coordination and control as you play. 

FAQS – Mann Mera Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who is the composer of the song Mann Mera from the movie Table 21? 

Ans. The song was composed by Gajendra Verma, who also sang it. 

Q2. Do I need to use Arpeggios for the song Mann Mera? 

Ans. Yes, for the intro and for the verse part, you have to use the fingerpicking pattern in order to play the song softly. 

Q3. Do I need to have a capo for this song? 

Ans. To play this song, you don’t require a capo, but if you have one, you can use it to match up with the original pitch used by the composer. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the classic youth anthems of the early 90s, Pakistan – Purani Jeans by Ali Haider. This song rose to fame in the era of cassette tapes and vinyl records, and evokes emotions of nostalgia among the fans of Haider Ali, who are now in their 50s, by the way. The song was part of the Sandesa album released in 1993, and on YouTube has achieved almost 5 million views.

The song Purani Jeans, which translates to ‘Old Jeans’, is about celebrating the spirit of youth, especially the arriving adulthood phase –exploring themes of college life, self-discovery, rebellion, romance and more. The lyrics paint a picture of the singer looking back at his youth and reminiscing about the events and stories that he had lived, metaphorising the phase using the jeans as a symbol. 

Purani Jeans Guitar Lesson

Purani Jeans guitar lesson is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, 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.

The intro of the song features a rhythmic riff that is based on the mixolydian scale, a major scale with the flattened seventh degree, which gives the riff a jazzy sound. The strumming and legato notes of the riff resemble those from songs like ‘Summer of '69’ and ‘Hey Joe’.

The song mostly features power chords, i.e. chords without the third, that are played on a distorted electric guitar and consist of standard shapes. The majority of the strumming is palm muted, which gives the song that rock-metal vibe. There are also a number of small overdubbed motifs that play over the rhythm guitar that embellish the progression. 

Purani jeans also features a guitar solo that is based on the mixolydian scale, featuring jazz and bluesy licks and lines with minor 7th and half diminished chord arpeggios. This solo is a great example of how to mix different theory concepts in your soloing. The tutor here explains all the parts of the solo note for note.

FAQs

Q. What is the song Purani Jeans about?

1. Purani Jeans is a nostalgic Pakistani pop-rock song by Ali Haider that reminisces about youthful memories, friendships, and carefree days.

Q. Can I play this song on an acoustic guitar?

1. Yes! The original version of the song is a pop song with mellower but upbeat rhythm, which can be played easily on an acoustic guitar, which lends more to the emotional and nostalgic appeal of the song’s narrative.

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