Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm

Introduction:

It’s My Life is known to be one of the rock anthems, it was released in May, 2000 as the lead single of the seventh album called Crush by the rock band Bon Jovi. This was the song which made it possible for the band to introduce themselves to the younger fanbase. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song uses power chords most of the time along with some strong strumming, but it is up to you to add arpeggios to add another dynamic layer in the verses 

Instead of strumming, you can also play the following arpeggios in the verse section:

E|----------------|  

B|------0--------|  

G|----0---0------|  

D|--2-------2----|  

A|--------------|  

E|--------------| 

Strumming Pattern 

This song uses palm muting and strong downstrokes in order to create the classic rock sound. The main strumming pattern for It’s My Life by Bon Jovi is: D D X U D X U D  

• D (Downstroke) → Hit the full chord with power.
• X (Palm Mute) → Lightly rest your palm on the strings for a muted "chug" effect.
• U (Upstroke) → Play lightly, focusing on the higher strings for dynamics.

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction of the song you will be getting to know the tuning required to play this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here you guitar instructor Mike Walker will be combining the guitar and piano parts of the song together which allows you to play the iconic guitar melody of this song. 

Song Demo: After understanding what chords you need to play and where, in this part Mike is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track. 

Solo: This is the final part of the guitar lesson, and here you will be learning all the licks which are part of the guitar solo. 

Arms Wide Open - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that has the best rock song Grammy to its name –With Arms Wide Open by Creed. Scott Stapp’s wife was pregnant with his first child, he wrote the lyrics when he found out, with great surprise, that he was going to be a father. According to Stapp, the song was written in just fifteen minutes during a soundcheck. The song has received almost 200 million views on YouTube.

Stapp says, “It continues to have relevant meaning in my life because as I sing it now, I think of my daughter who's now on this planet and alive. And then I think of my newest son, my three-year-old, Daniel”. The song is about a man expressing his feelings about thinking about becoming a father.

Arms Wide Open Guitar Lesson

This is a guitar lesson that is an acoustic cover version of the song performed by James Boyce, taught by our expert Steve Luciano, in a section-by-section manner. They start with the introduction

The song is in the key of C major and features a number of suspended chords. There is a C major 9 chord with a B note in the bass, which sounds like a suspended chord because of the 9th scale degree. There is also a very unique A minor 11th chord, which also sounds like a suspended chord because of the 11th scale degree, which is actually the 4th scale degree on the octave higher. The instructor explains all the chord shapes in great detail. You can also refer to the Arms Wide Open tabs along with the lesson on the sidebar.

The strumming of the chords is very simple, compared to the chord voicings, that is – D - U U D - U U D - D U for the most part (D is a downward strum and U is an upward strum).

There is also an easy verison of the song that the instructor demonstrates, which is a beginner-friendly version of the song focused more on the singing part of the track.

FAQs

Q. What skill level is Arms Wide Open for?

This lesson is ideal for beginner to intermediate players. If you know basic open chords, you can easily learn the song.

Q. Is this version different from the original Creed version?

Yes. This is a soft acoustic cover by James Boyce. It keeps the emotional depth of the original but focuses more on the singing part.

Q. What is the tuning of Arms Wide Open by Creed?

Nope! This version is played in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), making it very accessible. Drop D is not required here.

Q. What chords are used in this version?

The song uses common suspended and power chords, with some being 9 and 11th chords. The tutor goes over each one slowly and clearly.

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. 

Fear of the Dark - Introduction

Fear of the Dark is one of Iron Maiden’s most famous songs, released in 1992 on the album of the same name. Written by bassist Steve Harris, it explores the fear of darkness and the unknown. The song starts slow and eerie, then explodes into fast, heavy riffs. It became a fan favorite, especially in live shows where the crowd sings along.

The lyrics describe the creeping fear of being alone in the dark, where every shadow feels threatening. Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals and the twin-guitar harmonies make it unforgettable. The song’s structure is dynamic; starting quiet, building tension, then bursting into full energy. It remains one of their most-streamed tracks today.

Fear of the Dark Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down the song’s F major to D minor shifts. The intro uses clean arpeggios (F - C - Dm - Bb) before the heavy riff kicks in. The main riff is in D minor, played with palm muting for a tight sound. The tempo starts at 80 BPM but speeds up later.

The verse has a chugging rhythm (D5 - C5 - Bb5), while the chorus opens up with power chords (F5 - C5 - D5 - Bb5). The solos use the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#), giving them a dark, dramatic feel. The twin-guitar harmonies are a key feature—two guitars play different but matching melodies.

For the solos, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith use the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#). This scale gives the leads their dramatic, almost classical sound. The twin-guitar harmonies are a key feature—one guitar plays a melody while the other plays a matching part at a different pitch. These harmonies use intervals of thirds and sixths to create that classic Iron Maiden sound.

The bridge section before the final chorus has a rhythm part with quick chord changes. Here, you switch between D5 - F5 - C5 - Bb5 in rapid succession. The key is to keep your palm muting consistent while moving between chords. The song ends with a repeat of the intro arpeggios.

Beginners should start by learning the power chord shapes and the galloping rhythm pattern. Practice the palm muting to get that tight, punchy sound. Intermediate players can work on the twin-guitar harmonies—try recording one part and playing the other over it. Advanced players should focus on the vibrato and bends in the solos, which need to be precise to match the original recording.

FAQs

Q. What tuning does Iron Maiden use for this song?

Standard tuning (EADGBE), though they sometimes play it half-step down live.

Q. How do I play the rhythm correctly?

Use downstrokes on the main beats and upstrokes in between (down-down-up). Start slow with a metronome.

Q. Why does the solo sound so dramatic?

It uses the D harmonic minor scale, which has a raised 7th note (C# instead of C natural).

Q. Can I play this song on a single guitar?

Yes, but you’ll miss the harmonies. Try recording one guitar part and playing the other over.

Introduction

Hello is a song by Lionel Richie, an American singer and songwriter. It was the third single from his second studio album, Can’t Slow Down, which was released in 1983. This song had a total of three guitarists: Darrell Jones, Tim Ray, and Louis Shelton, who played electric and acoustic guitar, respectively. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Hello 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, Advanced Voicing and Solo Lesson. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming patterns are: D D U U D U. 

Song Structure 

Here is the song structure which you need to follow to learn Hello by Lionel Richie:

Introduction: This is the start of the lesson, during which Steve Luciano, your instructor, will explain all the technicalities you will encounter during the learning stage of this song. 

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn all the chords necessary to play this song. 

Song Demo: In this section, Steve will play the guitar part of the song alongside the track to help you understand how to sync chords with the vocals. 

Advanced Voicing: For individuals who can play advanced chords, this particular section is for them. It is the bonus of the lesson to make your guitar play more intricately.

Solo Lesson: In this section, you'll learn how to play the slow part of the song — a beautiful example of an instrumental pop solo, the kind that's rarely highlighted in mainstream pop music.

Introduction:

Top Gun Anthem is one of the iconic instrumental rock compositions in Hollywood which was composed for the movie in 1986 by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens. This song has some strong, melodic guitar-driven tracks which every guitarist no matter if they are beginner, intermediate or expert must learn to play. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song revolves around the lead guitar instrumental. But if you do want to learn about the arpeggios, then here’s how you should be playing them:

e|-----------0------------|  

B|------1------1---------|  

G|----0---0------0------|  

D|-------------2--------|  

A|--3------------------|  

E|----------------------| 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern of the song is as follows: D D U U D U. 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction your guitar instructor Mike Walker is going to teach you how to tune up a guitar for this song. 

Song Arrangement Part 1: This particular section will show you how to play the melody part of the song and how you should be counting the bells which are present in the song to keep up with tune.

Song Arrangement Part 2: Here, you will be learning the next part of the song. 

Song Demo: Here, Mike will show you how to play the entire song on guitar while keeping up with the backing track. 

Solo Part 1: In this part Mike will show you how to play the guitar solo which comes at 2:45 minutes on the track. He breaks down this guitar solo in 9 licks. 

Solo Part 2: This is the second part of the guitar solo, and it starts with lick number 6. 

Solo with Backing Track: Again, Mike plays the demo but this time specifically the solo part alongside the backtrack. 

Why Learn Top Gun Anthem Song?

The song has a beautiful, soaring lead guitar part which is easily recognisable when you play it. If you don’t know how to play the viberto, bends, and sustain control on your chord play then this song will teach you how to do it. 

Furthermore, it will help in improving your picking accuracy, sustain and phrasing and introduces you to dynamic control which is necessary if you want to master emotional guitar playing. 

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who played the Top Gun Anthem?

Ans. Steve Stevens is the man who composed Top Gun Anthem, the song was written by Harold Faltermeyer. Steve played guitar and Faltermeyer played the keyboard during the recording of the song. 

Q2. Which song did Tom Cruise play when he was in the bar?

Ans. In 1986, Top Gun Tom Cruise played “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” Tom played this song, and other members of the Navy pilots joined in the movie scene. 

Fun Fact: Top Gun Anthem won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Mai Woh Chaand Easy Version – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson for Mai Woh Chaand, a beautiful and soulful Hindi song from the 2016 movie Teraa Surroor. Sung by Darshan Raval, this track instantly connected with listeners through its emotional lyrics and heartfelt melody. The song was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, with lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan, who is known for his ability to express deep feelings in simple words. Released just before the film hit theaters, Mai Woh Chaand quickly became popular as a romantic ballad that perfectly captured the mood of love and longing.

The music video features Himesh Reshammiya himself alongside actress Farah Karimaee, telling a story of love with all its ups and downs. The song’s slow and melancholic vibe matches the narrative well, making it a standout track in the film’s soundtrack. Darshan Raval’s soft, emotional voice helps bring out the tender feelings in the lyrics, making the song memorable for many fans of Bollywood music.

Mai Woh Chaand Easy Version – Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, Steve Luciano guides you through an easy acoustic version of Mai Woh Chaand that’s perfect for beginners. The chords used are straightforward and mostly open chords, including Bm, B7, D, G, Am, Em, C, and A7. Steve takes time to show you how to form each chord clearly, especially the Bm and B7, which can be tricky for new players but are essential to keeping the song’s gentle mood. He explains Bm as a simplified version, so you don’t have to worry about complicated finger positions.

The lesson focuses on playing with smooth transitions between chords and capturing the slow, reflective rhythm of the song. Steve introduces a simple strumming pattern that fits the mood perfectly—nothing too fast or complicated, just enough to support the vocals. The strumming mostly alternates between downward and upward strokes, keeping a soft flow that matches Darshan Raval’s singing style.

Steve also talks about how to emphasize certain beats to give the song a relaxed but emotional feel, helping you learn how to play with feeling instead of just hitting the right chords. For those interested, he shows small variations in the strumming to add a little more texture without making it too complex. This version of Mai Woh Chaand is a great way to practice basic chord changes and rhythm while playing a beautiful song that sounds impressive even when kept simple.

FAQs

Q. Is this version good for absolute beginners?

Yes, Steve simplifies tricky chords like Bm and B7 so beginners can learn comfortably.

Q. Do I need to know fingerpicking to play this song?

No, this lesson focuses on easy strumming that works well with the song’s slow tempo.

Introduction:

Dildara is a song that was based on Ben E. King’s legendary track Stand By Me but with the inclusion of a Bollywood twist, making it the best of both worlds. Sony Music officially acquired the rights for the song Stand By Me to use in this song’s composition. 

Fun Fact: Dildara is one of the rare Bollywood songs that legally samples an international hit. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: With the use of arpeggios, you can make the song more emotional and soft for the ears. 

Let’s use string numbers for clarity:

6 (low E) → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 (high E)

For most of these chords, focus on strings 5 to 1 since root notes for C, Am, and F are on the 5th string.

Strumming Pattern 

You need to understand that the groove of the song is pretty mellow making the chords produce sound beautifully. Also, the strumming pattern it follows is quite a standard one which you can use in most of the Bollywood songs. D - DU - UDU. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 

Song Structure:

Chords, Rhythm, and Rhythm: For this guitar lesson, your guitar instructor is going to be Will MacMorran; first, he will showcase how to tune your guitar for the song; on the other hand, he will show you why you should be using a capo on 2nd fret. 

Why Learn this Song?

Learning a Dildara song on guitar is pretty simple; it follows classic chords, making it a perfect choice for beginners who are just about to embark on a guitar learning journey. In addition to this, as you play this song, you will learn how to smoothly transition between various chords and develop rhythm along with strumming skills. 

FAQs-Dildara Song Guitar Lesson:

Q1. Was Ra One Hit?

Ans. The budget of the film was around 150 crore rupees, and it was able to make 207 crore worldwide, making it a commercial success. 

Q2. Who was the main villain of the movie Ra One? 

Ans. Ra One was the name of the main villain; the character was portrayed by Arjum Rampal, and the villain was a modern avatar of the mythological figure Raavan. 

Q3. What was the name of the kid in the movie Ra One? 

Ans. In the movie, the name of the kid is Prateek Subramanium, and the role is played by Armaan Verma. 

Q4. Will there ever be Ra One 2? 

Ans. Anubhav Singh, in an interview, said that there will be a Ra One sequel coming in years to come.

Tere Bina is a Sufi-inspired melody with a pinch of soft rock melody sprinkled here and there to elevate the song. It’s a great song to learn on guitar for both beginners and intermediate guitar players.

The perfectly tuned voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan adds a lot of weight to the overall song. Likewise, Tere Bina was composed by Sajid-Wajid, and the musical duo did everything to snug deep emotions in the song as they went with a semi-classical vocal style with this song. 

In this song, you are going to find gentle instruments like guitar, soft percussion, and orchestral elements, which help the composer duo create an emotionally intense atmosphere while still making the overall song soothing and pleasing to the ears. 

Tere Bina became one of the most popular songs from the movie Tezz, which is an action-packed thriller; the presence of such a romantic song in an action flick did raise some concern among directors, but in the end, composers managed to convince the director to keep it in the movie, and the result was truly outstanding. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recorded his vocals for this song in just one take, making it possible for Sajid-Wajid to capture the raw emotions and pain which was represented in the lyrics. 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern for this song has to be slow because it requires the guitarist to match their strumming with that of light fingerpicking. For the acoustic version of the song, here’s the common pattern you need to follow on 4/4 time signature: D – D U – U D U

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Why Learn Tere Bina Song On Guitar?

It’s a song that includes a flowing chord progression, which makes it sound both emotional and rich when you play it on guitar. If you are someone who is trying to play guitar and vocals together, then this is the one song that you should definitely learn. It’s going to boost your confidence in mellow acoustic sets and even when you play it in open mics. 

To match the soothing mood of the song, you can use fingerpicking, but be sure to be gentle with strings as you play them. In addition to this, you have to be easy on strumming to create a more rhythmic sound; both of these techniques, which you will learn here in this song lesson, will allow you to develop control and tone. 

Apart from this, learning Tera Bina from the movie Tezz is a great way to explore Bollywood ballads and intricate Sufi elements. This song shows you how harmony can complement powerful lyrics and melody at the same time. 

This particular song, Main Kya Karoon, comes in the movie when the character of Ranbir Kapoor first got to understand the feeling of falling in love with someone. This is the song that helped the director capture the light-hearted, dreamy, and whimsical tone of young love. 

Fun Fact: For the song Pritam, the composer went to Nikhil Paul George, who wasn’t a mainstream singer of Bollywood. He did this because he wanted someone with an unpolished, pure, and boyish voice. This will help the singer to match up with the character of Ranbir Kapoor in the movie. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: If you want to use the fingerpicking pattern or arpeggios instead of simple strumming, you can follow these techniques for each chord: 

For chords with root on the 5th string (like C, Am, F):

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (Repeat)

For chords with root on the 6th string (like G):

6 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (Repeat)

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern which you need to follow is: D D U U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Chords, Rhythm, and Arrangement: The guitar instructor for this song lesson is Bobby Koelble; he shares with you the chords, rhythm, and arrangement that you have matched for the easier version. In addition to this, he also talks about the major difference between the original version of the song and this stripped-out version, which is much easier to play.

Why Learn Main Kya Karoon (Easy Version) Song?

Main Kya Karoon is a simple song with easy-to-play open chords which is perfect for beginners to practice chord switching without frustration. It’s a light, romantic, and uplifting tune that is super enjoyable to play and sing along with. 

FAQs – Main Kya Karoon (Easy Version) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What key is the song Main Kya Karoon From Barfi in?

Ans. The song is present in the D major, but for this particular version, we have transposed it to C major, which allows you to use a simpler set of chords. 

Q2. Is the song Main Kya Karoon suitable for beginners to learn on guitar? 

Ans. Yes, using the basic chords and light rhythm, any beginner can learn how to play this song on guitar. 

Q3. Is there a need to use Capo for the song Main Kya Karoon? 

Ans. You can put a capo on the 2nd fret; it will help you play easier chords while still matching the original pitch of the song. 

Elay Keechan is a song composed by A.R. Rahman for the Tamil film Kadal, which was released in 2013. This particular track from the movie's album stands out as the most listened-to song because of its energetic folk-rock fusion and catchy rhythm. 

A.R. Rahman made sure to infuse folk elements with contemporary rock, making this song a truly refreshing listening experience. In this song you will witness acoustic guitar strums in addition to the bluesy bass lines and even the use of harmonica. 

Strumming Pattern 

Elay Keechan has a laid-back sound to it; it holds a nostalgic feel as well, which comes from gentle strumming or light fingerpicking. The recommended strumming pattern for this song is D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 
• “–” = Pause or hold

• When you play this song, try to use light dynamics; what this means is that you have to let the strums breathe in order to maintain the song's emotional depth. 
• Furthermore, it would be great if you could use a capo on the 1st or 2nd fret to match up with the original pitch of the song. 
• You can also use fingerpicking in the intro to add more layers of retro vibe to the song. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the song lesson is by Mike Walker, who is also going to be your guitar instructor for this song. Mike talks about how this song is unique with its repetitive rhythmic parts and how it has a country-like solo. In this part of the lesson, you will be learning how to tune up the guitar for this song. 

Riff: Here Mike will first play the closed version of the song, and he explains to you the chords used for it, then he moves to the open version and shares with you the chords for the same. 

Song Demo: After showing you the repetitive rhythm that you need to follow, Mike will demonstrate how to play the song on guitar with the backing track. 

Improvisation: In this section of the guitar lesson, Mike will show you how to implement improvisation techniques for this song. These techniques will make it easier for you to play the song. 

Solo: The last part of this lesson is a guitar solo, which is played at the 10th fret of your guitar. Mike has divided the solo into multiple licks and shows you how to play the entire solo, one lick after the other.