Introduction

Metal

Taught by

Bobby Koelble

Smooth

by Mike Walker

Introduction:

Smooth By Santana is a mix of rock, blues, and it combines some melodies of Latin rhythms as well. So if you are someone who is interested in learning the ways of Santana this should be a great starting point for your musical journey.

Fun Fact: In the beginning the song was called Room 17 and the idea of the song came to the mind of Itaal Shur, but then lyrics were all take out from the song and it was given to Rob Thomas, who completely re-wrote the song and changed its original melody, that’s how Smooth came into existence by Santana.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The arpeggios for this song are as follows:

e|------1-------------|

B|----3---3----------|

G|--2-------2--------|

D|--------------------|

A|--------------------|

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

Strumming Pattern

There are two strumming patterns for this song, the first one is pretty basic and you can play it like this: DD UU DU.

D = Down Strum
U = Up Strum

Or you can play this version which adds more groove to the song: DD X UDU.

D = Down Strum
U = Up Strum
X = Muted Strum

Song Structure

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike is going to show you how to tune up your guitar for this song.

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn about the different guitar rhythms that you will be following as you play the song. Mike starts explaining every rhythm starting with the intro section.

Song Demo: Over here, Mike is going to show you how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track.

Solo 1: From this part, you will start learning how to play different solos which come in the song. This is the first solo performed by Santana in the first part of the song.

Overdub Licks: This particular section shows how to play a particular lick which is being played at the 32 second of the track.

Solo 2: This is the second solo from the song.

Solo 3: Solo which comes after the verses.

Outro Solo: This one is the last solo which Santana played and it was used as an outro for the song.

Why Learn Smooth By Santana?

Carlos Santana is known throughout the world for his amazing phrasing and his ability to sustain heavy tones on the guitar. As you learn this song, you will get to know about techniques like Vibrato, sustain, melodic soloing and smooth transition between the lead and the rhythm of the song.

FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who originally sang “Smooth?”

Ans. Smooth was performed by Santana & Rob Thomas who were part of a band called Matchbox Twenty. This song was released as a lead single from the 1999s studio album, Supernatural.

Q2. What made Santana so famous in the music industry?

Ans. Santana became much more popular after their incredible set which they performed live at Woodstock in 1969. In that same year, the band also released their self-entitled LP as well.

Q3. Is Santana considered to be a good guitarist of his time?

Ans. Santana is known to be the man who invented the Latin rock guitar genre, making it stand as one of the best of his generation.

Taught by

Mike Walker

Postcards From Paraguay

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

You Shook Me All Night Long

by Mike Walker

Introduction

AC/DC is a hard rock band from Australia. The band recorded the song "You Shook Me All Night Long," which appeared in their album Back In Black. Ozzest 100 considers it one of the most Australian songs of all time.

According to rock critic Robert Christgau, this song was the only great work of art from the band. If you ever get to witness AC/DC live, you will surely hear this song, which has become a staple of the band's live performances.

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song You Shook Me All Night Long 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 and Solo Lesson. 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: The song is in the key of G major and uses lots of open chords.

Song Structure

Introduction: In the introduction, Mike Walker teaches you how to tune up your guitar for this song. He also discusses the open chords you will use in this song and the G pentatonic bass chords in the solo section.

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn how to play the iconic guitar introduction of the song. Mike also shares tips on where to play specific chords so you can quickly transition to open chords.

Song Demo: Here, Mike plays the guitar chords with the backing track to explain how to keep up with the song and maintain the rhythm.

Solo Lesson: This is the most interesting part of the song and of this guitar lesson. In this part, you learn how to play Angus Young's electric guitar solo and tips to make it sound exactly like him.

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

Taught by

Mike Walker

Norwegian Wood

by Mike Dugan

In this video lesson, Mike Walker teaches how to play the song 18 and Life as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Piece, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Overdubs, Solo Lesson and Outro. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

Mike Dugan

18 and Life

by Mike Walker

Metal

Taught by

Mike Walker

Eruption

by Mario Ticlea

Pop

Taught by

Mario Ticlea

Top Gun Anthem

by Mike Walker

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

Pop

Taught by

Mike Walker

Lithium

by J.J. Pattishall

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Happy

by Mike Walker

Introduction:

Even from the name, you can see that the song is going to be uplifting, and it’s a perfect song to feel good about. It is the only single from the soundtrack album of the animated movie Despicable Me 2, which was released in 2013.

Happy is the song written and performed by Pharell Williams, and the music video of the song was nominated for Best Male Video and Video of the Year by the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song follows a simple four-chord progression throughout; the arpeggios picking pattern is going to be like this:

e|-----------1------------|

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

G|----2---2------2------|

D|----------------------|

A|----------------------|

E|--1------------------|

Strumming Pattern

The strumming has to be tight, quick and rhythmic for this song, it follows 4/4 time and there is a funk-style muted strumming feel: D x D U x U D U.

D = Down strum
U = Up strum
X = percussive muted strum

Song Structure

Introduction: In the introduction section, Mike shows you how to tune up your guitar to play this song.

Song Arrangement: Here your guitar instructor Mike has divided the song arrangement in different sections and he starts showing you how to play different chords for different sections starting with the intro.

Song Demo: Finally comes the time when Mike plays the guitar chords with the backing track playing alongside.

Why Learn Happy By Pharrell Williams Song?

It uses simple major chords that are easy to learn for beginners and even for intermediate players as it will help them be more consistent in their rhythmic strumming. In addition to this, the guitar sound is much funk-inspired, making it a perfect choice for improving your timing and groove.

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Was the song Happy made specifically for the movie Despicable Me?

Ans. Yes, the song was written only for the animated movie Despicable Me 2, which was released in 2013. The song received an Academy Award nomination for best original song, and the singer also performed it live at the Oscars ceremony.

Q2. Who originally sang the Happy?

Ans. Pharrell Williams has revealed that it was Cee Lo Green who recorded the song for the first time. But the producer didn’t feel like that the song belonged to Green so he gave Pharrell Williams a try and rest is history.

Q3. What was the reason Pharrell wrote Happy?

Ans. According to Pharrell the lyrics of the song came out of sarcasm, he wrote the song when he was 40 years old.

Fun Fact: The song got nominated by Academy Awards but it failed to win Best Original Song because it lost to Let It Go from Frozen.

Pop

Taught by

Mike Walker

Similar Rock Songs

Smells Like Teen Spirit

by J.J. Pattishall

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

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Crash Into Me

by J.J. Pattishall

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Holes to Heaven

by J.J. Pattishall

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Man Who Sold The World as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro, Verse, & Chorus, Solo and Overdubs. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Taught by

J.J. Pattishall

Man Who Sold The World

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

by Mike Dugan

Introduction

Tune into another guitar lesson on a popular Beatles song on Torrins.com, While My Guitar Gently Weeps written by George Harrison, taught by Mike Dugan. He makes learning this song fun, easy, and rewarding! He breaks this guitar song lesson into various sections like Introduction, Chords & Rhythm, Verse & Chorus (singing), Advanced Rhythm, and Solo Improvisation.

Fun Fact: George Harrison wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps as an exercise in randomness after his return from India, where the Beatles studied Transcendental Meditation. Inspired by the idea that nothing is coincidental, he opened a book at random, saw the words "gently weeps," and turned them into one of his most iconic songs.

Chords Used in While My Guitar Gently Weeps Guitar Lesson

The guitar lesson on While My Guitar Gently Weeps is taught using chords like Am, Am/G, D7/F#, to name a few. It also involves some barre chords. Tune in to the complete guitar song lesson to know the rest of the chords that make up this song.

This version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is played in the key of A minor. The song includes a mix of open and barre chords, adding depth and complexity to the arrangement.

The bridge introduces barre chords like C#m and F#m. Mike shares some great tips on transitioning between these barre chords smoothly, essential for mastering the flow of the song.

Strumming Pattern

For beginners, Mike keeps it simple with an easy 4-down-strum pattern that’s great for building confidence.

For intermediate and advanced players, he introduces a more intricate alternating rhythm:

DUDUDU – accenting beats two and four (like most rock songs) for a more dynamic feel.

Song Structure

The song follows a clear and repeatable structure that gives it a steady flow and allows for expressive variation. It begins with an intro, setting the tone before moving into Verse 1 and Verse 2, which establish the core melody and lyrical theme. The bridge introduces a vocal shift, featuring a touch of falsetto to accommodate the slightly higher notes, adding emotional lift and dynamic contrast. Following this, the guitar solo steps in, showcasing expressive phrasing built on the A minor pentatonic scale. The playing style, marked by smooth vibrato and a warm overdrive tone, is clearly inspired by Eric Clapton’s bluesy sensibilities. The structure then returns to the bridge and another verse, before easing into a jam section. This relaxed closing passage offers space for personal interpretation and creative improvisation, making it a satisfying conclusion to the track..

Mike teaches how to sync your singing with chord changes by accenting the words that align with the next chord. This makes it easier to play and sing simultaneously.

Improvisation Techniques

In the solo section, Mike offers a detailed breakdown of how to use the A minor pentatonic scale to craft expressive, personality-filled solos in the style of Eric Clapton.

He walks you through essential techniques like achieving smooth vibrato, bending notes accurately to stay in pitch, and adjusting your speed and tone to create a polished, professional sound. If vibrato has been a sticking point for you, Mike dedicates extra time to break down the technique in a way that's easy to grasp. And if you’re looking for more practice, our dedicated vibrato lessons are just a click away.

Why Learn While My Guitar Gently Weeps?

Great choice of song for working on barre chord transitions.
The solo section introduces you to classic rock licks, helping you develop a more expressive playing style.

Tips for Better Playing

Keep your strumming hand moving consistently to maintain rhythm.
Focus on clean chord transitions, especially in the bridge.
Practice the solo slowly first, then build up speed gradually.

FAQs – While My Guitar Gently Weeps Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

There is a beginner version of this song which focuses on a simple strumming pattern.

Q2. Do I need to use falsetto when singing the bridge?

It’s optional—but using falsetto adds a smoother tone. Mike shows how to adjust based on your vocal range.

easy

Rock

Taught by

Mike Dugan

Sweet Child O' Mine

by Mike Walker

Introduction

Tune into Torrins’ guitar song lesson on the iconic single by American rock band Guns N' Roses, Sweet Child O’ Mine. This chart-topping hard rock song is taught by our instructor, Mike Walker. He has broken down the lesson into 10 parts for a detailed understanding of each section and to make learning easier. Find dedicated lessons on the intro, verses, choruses, interlude solos, main solo, and outro.

Fun Fact: "Sweet Child O' Mine" was born out of a playful jam session at the band’s house. Slash was fooling around with a "circus" melody to make drummer Steven Adler laugh when Izzy Stradlin suggested turning it into a song. Within an hour, the band had crafted the core structure, and Axl Rose, inspired by his girlfriend Erin Everly, wrote the heartfelt lyrics by the following afternoon.

Chords Used in Sweet Child O' Mine Guitar Lesson

This song is played in half-step down tuning and features a mix of open chords and power chords. Some of the key chords used in the song include:

C, D, Cadd9
A power chord, Dsus4

Tune into the full lesson to learn all the chords and how to transition between them seamlessly.

Strumming Pattern

Intermediate/advanced rhythm: Alternating strumming pattern with pull-off techniques for added depth
A lick is layered over the chorus, and Mike walks you through how to blend it into the song smoothly

Song Structure

This song follows a well-defined verse-chorus format:

Intro Riff – The iconic opening lick is based on a repetitive motion with just the first note changing. It’s repeated twice.
Verse 1 & 2 – Follows an 8-bar phrase played twice using three chords. Incorporates a pull-off pattern. Mike breaks down the intricacies of the verses in great detail.
Chorus – Mix of power chords and open chords like A power chord, C5, and Dsus4. A lick is played over the chorus for added texture.
Solo 1 – The rhythm underneath the solo is half the length of the verse.
Verse 2 – Similar to Verse 1.
Chorus 2 – Same as Chorus 1.
Solo 2 – A longer solo covering an entire verse.
Chorus 3 – Double the length of the previous choruses.
Outro Solo – Includes wah-wah pedal, hammer-ons, pull-offs, sliding, and some resting measures for dynamic effect.

Why Learn Sweet Child O' Mine?

This lesson covers not just the guitar parts but also the feel and dynamics that make the song iconic.

Learn the nuances of Slash’s soloing style
Improve your pull-offs and hammer-ons
Master playing with a wah-wah pedal for expressive control

FAQs – Sweet Child O' Mine Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?

Ans: This lesson is ideal for intermediate and advanced players.

Q2. What’s the trick to mastering the intro riff?

Ans: Focus on the repetitive pattern and ensure the other strings are muted for a clean sound.

moderate

Rock

Taught by

Mike Walker

Estranged

by Bill Peck

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

Taught by

Bill Peck

Smoke on the Water

by Mike Walker

Taught by

Mike Walker

Absinthe Party

by Mike Walker

Introduction

Absinthe Party is the most well-known song from Minus the Bear. It involves intricate guitar play along with unique rhythm and tapping techniques. Minus the Bear is an Indie rock band from America; in their entire run, the band released a total of 6 studio albums.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Instead of the traditional way, Minus the Bear uses the tapping technique to create arpeggios for this song, here’s an example of how you can also play arpeggios for this track:

e|------7h10p7-----7h10p7------|

B|-----------------------------|

G|----7---------7-------------|

D|--9---------9---------------|

A|-----------------------------|

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

Strumming Pattern

This song requires you to learn finger tapping, syncopated rhythms, along with layered guitar parts. The band was less resilient to the traditional strumming pattern; still if you are looking for a rhythm guitar approach you can follow this pattern: D D U U D U.

D = Down strum
U = Up strum

Song Structure

Introduction: The introduction of this guitar lesson starts with prepping your guitar with the necessary tuning.

Tapping Section: In this section, you will be learning about how to play the first part of the song using the two-handed tapping technique.

Distortion Section: For this section you have to turn on the distortion on your amplifier, you will be playing a repetitive riff which will be replayed 4 times in the song.

Song Demo: Here your music instructor Mike Walker is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.

Overdubs: There are two overdub sections in this song and in this part of the guitar lesson Mike is going to teach you both of them.

Why Learn Absinthe Party By Minus The Bear?

For this song, you have to learn an intricate technique of two-hand tapping, which makes it both fun and challenging even for an expert guitarist. As you learn this song, you will be able to work on your dexterity, coordination and fluid playing.

FAQs – This Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Did Minus the Bear stop performing?

Ans. In 2018, Minus the Bear came out with sad news of their retirement. They accompanied their retirement with a farewell tour as well. In 2025, the band reunited once again and announced an anniversary tour to commemorate their 20th anniversary of Menos el Oso.

Q2. Who is the lead singer of the Absinthe Party by Minus the Bear?

Ans. Jake Snider is the lead singer of the band, and he was the main vocalist of the song Absinthe Party.

Q3. What Type of music does Minus The Bear produce?

Ans. All the songs from Minus the Bear can be categorised as experimental rock, there had been a number of twists and turns in their music throughout their 17 year long run. The band was able to build a strong fan base after they were formed in 2001.

Fun Fact: A friend of the band went on a date and when Jake Snider who was singer and guitarist for the band asked him how his date was he said You know that TV show from the '70s, B. J. and the Bear? It was like that ... minus the Bear.' And from there all the members agreed on naming that reference as their official band name.