Introduction

Bulleya - Introduction

Bulleya is a groundbreaking Sufi rock song by the legendary Pakistani band Junoon, released in 1999 as part of their album Parvaaz. The track is an adaptation of the poetry of Bulleh Shah, a revered Punjabi Sufi saint, questioning identity and divine love. Composed by Salman Ahmad, the song blends Western rock energy with Eastern spiritual depth, featuring electric guitar riffs, bluesy vocals by Ali Azmat, and traditional tabla rhythms.

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Bulleya became Junoon’s signature track, celebrated for its fusion of rock and Sufi philosophy. The lyrics—"Bullah ki jaana main kaun" ("I know not who I am")—reflect the Sufi quest for self-discovery beyond religious labels. Over the years, the song has been reimagined multiple times, including an English version in 2010, and remains a staple in Junoon’s live performances, inspiring countless covers across South Asia.

Bulleya Guitar Lesson

Taught by Salman Ahmad himself, this lesson breaks down the song’s unique chord progressions and Sufi-rock fusion. The track uses D9, Am, Dm7♭9, G6, E7sus4, and Esus4, creating a hypnotic, spiritually charged sound. The D9 (xx0230) and Dm7♭9 (xx0111) chords add tension, while G6 (320000) and E7sus4 (020200) provide resolution, mirroring the song’s themes of seeking and surrender.

The rhythm alternates between a rock-driven 4/4 strum and qawwali-inspired grooves. The main riff, played on electric guitar, uses the D minor pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C) with bluesy bends. The verse follows D9 - Am - G6, while the chorus shifts to E7sus4 - Esus4, creating a call-and-response effect. The bridge introduces a Dm7♭9 - G6 vamp, emphasising the Sufi trance-like quality.

For the lead parts, Salman’s playing combines Eastern phrasing (sliding between notes like in a raga) with Western rock techniques (sustained bends, wah pedal). The solo builds on the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-B♭-C#), adding a mystical edge.

Beginners should focus on the D9 and Am transitions first. Intermediate players can work on the sus4 chords and bluesy licks. Advanced players should explore the modal interchange between D minor and D Mixolydian (D-E-F#-G-A-B-C), a key element in Junoon’s sound.

FAQs

Q. How to play the Dm7b9 chord?

Fret the 1st fret on high E (F), 1st on B (C), and leave G open (xx0111).

Q. What’s the strumming pattern for the song Bulleya by Junoon?

Verses: Down-down-up-up-down | Chorus: Aggressive downstrokes on E7sus4.

Q. Why does the E7sus4 go to the Esus4?

The suspended notes (A in E7sus4 resolving to G# in Esus4) mimic qawwali vocal ornamentation.

Q. What is the best way to practice bends?

Target the F to G (1st to 3rd fret, B string)—a key bluesy motif in the solo.

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Aahatein as part of our Guitar series on song lessons. The song lesson is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Easy Chords and Rhythms, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Non-Capo Arrangement, Non-Capo Demo, Solo, and Improvisation. 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 Har Saans Mein as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement , Easy Version, Song Demo, Solo 1, Solo 2, Solo 3, Solo 4 and Overdub Licks and Improvisation. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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

Purani Jeans - Introduction

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?

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?

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.