Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm

Introduction:

The Middle was released by the band Jimmy Eat World in October 2001 as the second single of their fourth album called, Bleed American (2001). The song became an instant hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2002 and it also reached top 50 in various other countries like Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The Middle is a power chord driven song which includes fast strumming as well. But if you want you can add arpeggios for adding a bit of variation. 

The optional arpeggio-picking pattern is as follows: 

E|----------------|  

B|------3--------|  

G|----2---2------|  

D|--0-------0----|  

A|--------------|  

E|--------------|  

Strumming Pattern 

This song has open power chords in the chorus section and palm muting in the verses, giving it a classic high-energy-punk rock feel. 

The strumming pattern goes like this: D - D - D - U - D - U  

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

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction Mike Walker your guitar instructor will teach you how to tune up your guitar in order to play this song. 

Song Demo: This is the final part where Mike will play the guitar part of the song while it plays at the back to show you how to sync up with other instruments and vocals. 

Song Arrangement: Here you will learn how to play the intro, and the middle section of the song along with required intervals which provides the riff of the song that iconic sound. 

Overdubs: In this part of the guitar lesson, you will be learning about the overdubs that you will be playing besides verses 1, 2 and 3. 

Solo Lesson: In this section Mike is going to teach you piece-by-piece how to play the solo of The Middle and give you tips on how to make it sound melodic. 

Why Learn The Middle By Jimmy Eat The World Song?

For someone who is into punk-rock, Jimmy Eat The World’s The Middle is the holy grail of punk music to start with. The main riff of the song is pretty catchy and it can be played using easy power chords. Also, this song can be used as a great introduction to palm muting which allows you to build tight rhythm playing. 

FAQs-The Middle By Jimmy Eat The World Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What is the meaning behind the song “The Middle?”

Ans. It reflects the hard time that the band had to go through when there was no funding, and they had kept things simple in their recording rather than doing experimentation as they were doing in their previous records. 

Q2. When did Jimmy Eat The World start?

Ans. The band was formed in 1993 and they released their debut EP, entitled One, Two, Three and Four in 1994 under Wooden Blue Records. 

Q3. What is the music genre of Jimmy Eat The World?

Ans. The sound the band created falls in the category of punk rock; the first demo tape of the band was released in 1993, followed by their debut EP.

Introduction

I Will Wait is a song by Mumford & Sons. It was released in the United States in 2012 as a lead single for their second studio album, Babel (2012). Rolling Stones Magazine named this song as the 13th-best song that came out that year. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: In the key of D flat, you have to put on a capo on the first fret of your guitar to play this song. 

Strumming Pattern 

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

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

This strumming pattern results in a rolling, percussive feel, which resonates with the song’s energetic drive. 

Song Structure 

• Introduction: In this part of the guitar lesson, your guitar instructor talks about the song and the band Mumford & Sons. He will also teach you how to tune the guitar in order to play this song. 
• Chords and Rhythm: In this section, you will learn how to play both the rhythm and the vocal sections of the song. Furthermore, J.J. Pattishall will show you how to keep up with the underlying rhythm of the song. 
• Song Arrangement: This part of the guitar lesson is divided into five different sections: intro, verse, pre-chorus, bridge, and chorus to make it easier for you to learn chord progressions that you need to play at a certain point in the song. 
• Sing and Play: Here, you will learn how to sing along as you play chords on the guitar. Your guitar instructor will show you how you can mark certain downbeats to steer your vocal in the right direction as you sing along. 
• Song Demo: At this point, J.J is going to give a demo of the song where he plays the song on guitar and sings along with the backing track. 
• Non-Capo Version: This is the alternative version of the song, which does not require capo at all. 

Introduction

Black Bird is one of the greatest songs by none other than The Beatles. It’s a song where Sir Paul McCartney performed a solo piece. It is a song that many artists from all around the world cover. The song is also used as an introduction to another hit song by The Beatles called “Yesterday.”

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: For this song, you will be using your thumb for bass notes and playing the melody with the first two fingers. 

Strumming Pattern 

Due to fingerpicking, it does not use the traditional strumming pattern, so you have to learn Travis's picking style, which your guitar instructor is going to teach you in this lesson. Here’s how you will be using it: Thumb (T) → Index (I) → Thumb (T) → Middle (M)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction, you will learn how to tune up your guitar to play this song. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part, Mike Walker, your guitar instructor for this song lesson, will show you the required fingerpicking technique, chords and rhythms that you need to follow. 

Song Arrangement: Right in this part, you will learn how to play the different parts of the 

song, starting from the intro and then verses, chorus, and outro. 

Song Demo: Finally, in this section, Mike will show you how to play the song on guitar with a backing track. 

Introduction:

I See Fire is a song written and composed for the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The song is played over the closing credits of the movie. After its release, the song was able to climb to the 13th spot in the UK Singles Chart and in New Zealand it was able to reach number 1 in just six weeks of time. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: You will be following basic arpeggios picking for this song, and this is what you need to follow in order to create a simple yet attractive progression: 

e|------0---------0------|  

B|------0---------0------|  

G|----0---0-----0---0----|  

D|-----------2-----------|  

A|--2--------------------|  

E|-----------------------| 

Strumming Pattern:

This one is primarily a fingerpicking song, but in case you wish to play the strumming pattern you can follow this: D D U U D U. 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

Song Structure:

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike Luciano, your guitar instructor is going to share why everyone needs to learn this song, and where, and why you should be putting the capo on 

guitar like Ed does. 

Intro Lick and Song Arrangement: In this section, Mike shows you how to play the intro licks for the song and how to use hammer-on and pull-off techniques with your first and third fingers. Along with this, you will learn the entire song arrangement as well. 

Song Demo: This section shows you how to play the song with the backing track played alongside. 

Beginners Version: If you are not able to play with new techniques which you have learned in this guitar lesson you can also try the beginner friendly version of I See Fire by Ed Sheeran which is mentioned in this part. 

Why Learn I See Fire By Ed Sheeran?

I See Fire take the full advantage of acoustic fingerpicking which is something perfect for beginner guitar players to start with. This song will also help you in building dexterity, accuracy, and finger independence as you play. Furthermore, it’s a great introduction to the thumb-bass technique, along with melodic picking. 

FAQs I see fire Guitar Lesson

Q1. What was the reason behind Ed Sheeran's writing I See Fire? 

Ans. It was Peter Jackon, the director of The Hobbit, who asked Ed Sheeran to come up with a song for a kid’s movie. Sheeran saw the movie and started working on the song.

Q2. What other songs are out there which sound similar to I See Fire? 

Ans. There is a huge library of Ed’s songs, which sounds pretty familiar, starting with Eyes Closed, Give Me Love, Happier, Shivers, and Beautiful People. 

Q3. Which song is Ed Sheeran’s biggest hit? 

Ans. Without a doubt it has to be “Perfect,” this particular song topped charts in more than 18 different countries, making him one of the most loved artist all around the globe. 

Fun Fact: The song I See Fire was written, composed, and recorded on the same day. After Ed Sheeran watched the entire film The Hobbit for which the song was officially released on 5th November 2013. He sat down to write the lyrics and his flow made him finish composition and recording of the song in just 24 hours. 

Black Magic Woman - Introduction

"Black Magic Woman" is one of Santana’s most famous songs, though it was originally written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Santana’s 1970 version, featured on the album Abraxas, transformed the track into a Latin rock masterpiece. The song blends bluesy guitar riffs with Afro-Latin percussion, creating a hypnotic and rhythmic groove. Carlos Santana’s smooth yet fiery guitar playing gives the track its signature sound, making it instantly recognizable.

The lyrics tell the story of a man enchanted by a mysterious woman, a common theme in blues music. Santana’s version extends the original with an instrumental section that transitions into "Gypsy Queen," a piece by jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó. This fusion of styles helped define Latin rock and cemented Santana’s place in music history. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, and remains a classic rock staple today.

Black Magic Woman Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down how to play "Black Magic Woman" in the original key. The song revolves around three main chords: Dm7, Am7, and Gm7, giving it a moody, bluesy feel. The rhythm follows a Latin-inspired groove, with a steady pulse that makes it perfect for practicing timing and feel.

The intro features Santana’s iconic minor pentatonic lick, played with smooth bends and vibrato. The verse uses a repeating chord progression (Dm7 - Am7 - Gm7 - Dm7), with a laid-back strumming pattern that locks in with the percussion. The chorus shifts to a more open sound, letting the chords ring out before returning to the verse groove.

For the solo sections, Santana uses the D minor pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C) with added bluesy bends and expressive phrasing. The key is to play with emotion—let notes sustain, add vibrato, and slide between positions for that signature Santana sound. The transition into "Gypsy Queen" introduces faster, more intricate picking patterns, so start slow and focus on clarity.

Beginners should first master the chord changes and basic rhythm. Intermediate players can work on the intro riff and solo licks, paying attention to bends and vibrato. Advanced players should experiment with improvisation over the Dm7 vamp, using Santana’s phrasing as inspiration.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used for this song?

Standard tuning (EADGBE)—no drop tuning or capo needed.

Q. How do I get Santana’s tone?

Use a smooth overdrive (not too distorted), with slight delay and reverb. Roll off some treble for warmth.

Q. What’s the strumming pattern?

A relaxed down-down-up with emphasis on beats 2 and 4 to match the Latin groove.

Q. Can I play this without a band?

Yes, but focus on keeping the rhythm tight—the groove is essential.

Q. How do I practice the bends in the solo?

Start slow, ensuring each bend reaches the correct pitch (e.g., bend G to A in the D minor scale).

Tore Down - Introduction

Tore Down is a blues classic originally recorded by Freddie King in 1961 under the title "I'm Tore Down." Written by pianist Sonny Thompson, the song became one of King's biggest hits, reaching #5 on Billboard's R&B chart. The track showcases King's powerful voice and sharp guitar work, blending Texas blues with a raw, energetic delivery. Decades later, Eric Clapton covered the song for his 1994 blues album From the Cradle, staying true to King's original arrangement while adding his signature touch.

Clapton's version keeps the song's essential elements—the falsetto vocal phrases, punchy guitar fills, and that unmistakable blues shuffle. His recording was so well-received that it also reached #5, this time on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Over the years, Clapton has performed "Tore Down" live many times, including at his Live in Hyde Park concert and John Mayall’s 70th Birthday show. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its raw emotion and tight groove, making it a favourite among blues guitarists.

Tore Down Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Dugan, this lesson breaks down Eric Clapton’s version of ‘Tore Down’, focusing on the blues shuffle rhythm, stop-time sections, and lead fills. The song is in the key of A major and follows a classic 12-bar blues structure, but with some clever variations. The most distinctive feature is the stop-time verses, where the band cuts out on the 1st beat, leaving space for Clapton’s vocals to drive the song forward. There are two types of stops—short stops (just a quick pause) and long stops (a full beat of silence).

The rhythm guitar part uses a Texas blues shuffle, played with a light swing feel. The basic pattern is A5-D5-A5-E5-D5-A5, but the magic is in the muting and dynamics. Use palm muting on the lower strings to keep it tight, and let the chords ring out slightly on the turnaround. Clapton’s version has a crisp, clean tone, so roll back your guitar’s tone knob a bit and use a tube amp with mild breakup.

For the lead fills, Clapton sticks mostly to the A minor pentatonic scale (A-C-D-E-G) but adds bluesy bends and quick hammer-ons for extra flavour. The opening riff is simple but effective—just a few well-placed notes with vibrato. The solo builds on Freddie King’s original licks but with Clapton’s smoother phrasing. Pay attention to his bending accuracy—he often bends up a whole step (from C to D) with perfect pitch control.

The stop-time sections require tight coordination with the band. When the band stops on the 1st beat, keep your strumming hand moving in time so you can jump back in smoothly. Beginners should practice the stops slowly, counting out loud (1-2-3-4-STOP) to internalise the rhythm. Advanced players can work on Clapton’s subtle variations, like adding a quick chromatic slide into a chord or throwing in a double-stop lick before a stop.

FAQs

Q. How do I play the Texas shuffle rhythm?

Use a down-up strum pattern with swing feel, muting the strings lightly between chords.

Q. What scale does Clapton use for solos?

Mostly A minor pentatonic, with some blues scale (added flat 5th) notes for extra grit.

Introduction:

If you know about Nirvana, the band, you know them for this one song Come As You Are. It is their most iconic song of all time, and it’s a must-learn for beginners who want to make it big in the guitar and rock scene. 

Strumming Pattern:

This particular song follows a plucking/ riff-based rhythm rather than using traditional strumming. The iconic riff can still be played using this pattern: D D U D D U. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction starts with explaining to you how to tune your guitar and how to turn your guitar down to a whole step to get the exact sound which you hear on record. 

Chords and Rhythm: Over here you will be learning how to play the basic power chords that are part of this song along with the rhythm which you will be following. Keep in mind, if you are using standard tuning, you have to use a whole step lower chords. 

Song Arrangement: Here you will be given a walkthrough of each section of the tune, most of the tunes for this song are somewhat related to the intro riff. So you have mastered the starting riff and the rest will be much easier. 

Intro Riff and Solo: Here again you will be learning how to play the center riff which results in the different tunes that you get in the song. 

Song Demo: In this part J.J Pattishall is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track. 

Sing and Play: This section is all about J.J giving you tips and tricks on how to play the song as well as sing it. He will show you the coordination tricks you can use to keep up with the song.

Why Learn Come As You Are (Complete) By Nirvana? 

The opening riff of the song is simple and easy to learn making it great for impressive others. Also, it takes the benefit of minor scales with the addition of a slight bluesy feel, and in order to play it you will have to learn alternate picking technique and smooth transitions. 

FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What is the meaning of the song Come As You Are by Nirvana? 

Ans. The song is about how people are expected to act when struggle arrives in their life. Still, the song is filled with contradictory meanings and it is full of confusion, similar to how most people are in their lives.  

Q2. What genre does Come As You Are fall in? 

Ans. This particular song falls in the category of grunge alternative rock, the song writer is none-other than Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer of the band Nirvana. 

Q3. Which one is the saddest song from Curt Cobain?

Ans. The most haunting and saddest song ever written and recorded by Curt Cobain was Something In The Way. The tragic tune of the song is entirely written by the lead singer himself. 

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Tu Jaane Na as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, and Rhythm. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Jo Bhi Main (Rockstar) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro Piece, Chords, & Rhythm and Jo Bhi Main (Solo Lesson). Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Ilahi as part of our guitar series on Indian 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!

Tum Ho is a song that A.R. Rahman was made specifically for Mohit Chauhan’s voice. He asked Mohit to sing this song like a whisper that came from the heart, and the result of his instruction led to one of the most mesmerizing songs of the new Bollywood era. 

Fun Fact: According to many insiders, A.R. Rahman composed the song Tum Ho in complete silence, late at night, in his studio in order to make sure he is able to feel the spiritual and emotional loneliness of the character Jordan. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The arpeggio pattern you need to follow for this song is (P - I - M - A - M - I). In addition to this, the standard fingerpicking pattern is: 

• Thumb (P) for the bass note (6th, 5th, or 4th string depending on the chord)
• Index (I) for the 3rd (G) string
• Middle (M) for the 2nd (B) string
• Ring (A) for the 1st (high E) string

Strumming Pattern 

The main strumming pattern that you need to follow is D - DU - UDU

• U = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 

Song Structure 

Tum Ho Lesson with Capo: In this part of the guitar lesson, the guitar instructor, Will MacMorran, shows you how to play the guitar parts of the song Tum Ho by using capo on the 2nd fret. 

Song with Backing Track: After he teaches you how to play the chords, Will is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track. 

Lesson without Capo: In case you don’t have a cap, you can watch this part of the guitar lesson to learn how to play the song without using a capo. 

Why Learn Tum Ho From Rockstar?

Tum Ho is a song filled with emotions, longing, and finding spiritual love. If you are someone who wants to express emotion through melody, this is the right song to begin with. It uses basic guitar chords that are easy to play but they do sound rich when you strum or pick them. 

FAQs – Tum Ho From Rockstar Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who was the vocalist for the song Tum Ho from the movie Rockstar? 

Ans. Mohit Chauhan was the man behind the soulful vocals of the song Tum Ho. Along with him the female portion of the song was sung by Suzanne D’Mello. 

Q2. What particular theme does the song Tum Ho touch? 

Ans. Tum Ho is a song about deep love, longing for someone, and trying to find a spiritual connection between the two souls. 

Q3. In which genre does Tum Ho fit in? 

Ans. Tum Ho is a soft rock. Along with this, it is also a romantic ballad with the addition of ambient textures that come to life with the help of acoustic guitar, piano, and even orchestral backing. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a heart-melting indie song called Alag Aasmaan. Written and performed by Anuv Jain, a master storyteller of the romantic variety who has a reputation for being celebrated all over the country by everyone who has or wants a broken heart. 

Alag Aasman is about the suffering of lovers in a long-distance relationship. The artist says, “It is a rarity to meet each other in a long-distance relationship, and when you finally do, the goodbyes can get pretty difficult. There's so much uncertainty, and you do not know when you'll meet again”. Alag Aasmaan translates to ‘different sky’, signalling to the narrative that the lovers in different cities live under different skies.

The original version of the song was performed on a ukulele, recorded and uploaded on YouTube during the pandemic, the looming emotions of which complemented the sentiment of the song, that is about missing a loved one. 

Alag Aasmaan Guitar Lesson

The instructor delivers the lesson in a section-by-section manner; the first section gives the introduction to the song, the second talks about chords and rhythm patterns, the third is about the arrangement, which is finally followed by a solo section.

Alag Aasmaan guitar chords are in the key of F# Major, but the open position sounds too bright for the subtle lightness of the song; hence, a capo at fret 6 is advised by the instructor to emphasise the soft twinkly quality of the sound on the higher frets. The capo here also transposes the chord shapes to the standard and more familiar ones – C, F, G, Am, and Em. 

The rhythm of the song resembles that of a jazz classic, as made clear by the strumming pattern that goes like D - U - D D - U in a loop. (D is a downward strum, and U is an upward strum.)

The tutor explains how the song has four verses, a pre-bridge, a bridge, and an outro solo that constitute the arrangement of the track. At two moments in the song, the second and fourth verse, this arrangement offers a chord change to the major 6th interval of the scale –from G to Em (C# to A#m without capo) that lends itself to the tender and affectionate feel of the story that the song is telling. The outro solo is picked slowly in the style of bluegrass music and is played in the context of this major 6th tone on top of the same chords as verses two and four. The instructor shows the solo note by note, and since the original solo is only 30 seconds long, in the final section of the lesson, there is a demonstration on how to improvise over it for when you are jamming by yourself. 

FAQs

Q. How do I learn the Alag Aasman chords on a guitar?

1. To learn the Alag Aasmaan chords on the guitar, start by placing a capo on the 6th fret and then consistently practising the chord transitions shown in the lessons.

Q. What is the Alag Aasmaan strumming pattern?

1. The strumming pattern goes like D - U - D D - U in a loop for almost the entirety of the song. However, there are some pauses and chord changes instructed in the lesson by the tutor as well.

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Kyon (Barfi) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords, Rhythm and Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Conclusion, Kyon (Advanced Version) and Improvisation. 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.