Introduction

Channa Mereya – Introduction

Channa Mereya is a soulful ballad from the 2016 Bollywood film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, composed by Pritam and sung by Arijit Singh. The song, written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, explores themes of unrequited love and heartbreak, perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil of Ranbir Kapoor’s character in the film. Its melancholic yet poetic lyrics, combined with Arijit Singh’s emotive vocals, made it an instant classic.

The song became one of the most popular tracks from the album, peaking at #1 on Radio Mirchi’s Top 20 chart and staying there for five months. It was also nominated for several awards, including Best Lyricist at the Filmfare Awards. The acoustic and Sufi-inspired arrangement, that beings together Indian classical elements with contemporary.

Channa Mereya Guitar Lesson

Steve Luciano trachea you how to play the Channa Mereya melody while breaking down the song’s delicate guitar work. The track is in the key of A minor. The verse melody begins with a gentle descent from F to D, establishing the melancholic mood. The pre-chorus builds tension by emphasizing the higher notes (C and D), while the chorus releases this tension with its wider intervallic leaps. The melody's beauty lies in its subtle variations, the singer in the song slightly alters certain phrases when they repeat.

To play this on guitar, use the middle position of the neck (5th to 8th frets). The main phrases can be played on the B and high E strings, with some notes extending to the G string. Focus on clean hammer-ons and pull-offs between adjacent notes, and use vibrato on sustained notes to match Arijit's vocal style.

For the more expressive sections, incorporate slides between notes and careful bending (especially the microtonal bends characteristic of Indian music). The bridge section features the melody's highest notes - practice shifting positions smoothly to reach these. Remember to breathe between phrases like a singer would.

The melody stands out for its beautiful simplicity and emotional power. The tune stays with listeners long after the song ends, making it one of Arijit Singh's most memorable performances. This lesson focuses specifically on playing the vocal melody on guitar.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in this song?

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) with no capo needed.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Practice slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before speeding up.

Q. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Yes, the chords are basic, but the emotional delivery requires practice.

Q. What effects are used on the guitar?

A clean tone with light reverb matches the original recording.

Daaru Desi is a high-energy and lively song from the movie Cocktail, which was released in 2012. It’s a crowd favorite because of its catchy and easygoing beats. Pritam is the man behind composing songs for the movie Cocktail, and with this song, he tried to give a modern, pop-style beat with a traditional Bollywood touch. 

Fun Fact: When Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade were recording this song, Pritam asked them to improvise and be casual with it. He wanted them to think of the recording session as a live performance where they are singing it in front of friends. 

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for the song is D D U U D U. 

To play this chord, it would be great if you keep the hand loose and relaxed to maintain the groovy nature of the song. 

• D = Down strum.
• U = Up Strum.

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the song is by Steve Luciano; he shares that to play this song, you must be able to use an iconic hook. After learning the iconic hook, the rest of the song is not that difficult to learn. 

Intro Riff: Here, you will find out how to play the intro lick which is of two measures; you will be playing only the first chord; the second chord is more of a bass note, and the same goes for the third and the fourth chord. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the guitar lesson, you will be learning how to play the specific chords and rhythms that are required for the song. 

Song Demo: In this section, Steve is going to show you how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Daaru Desi (Easy Version): Here, Steve shows you how to play the Daaru Desi on guitar with easier chord progression. 

Why Learn Daaru Desi Song?

Daaru Desi is a song that uses simple open chords, which makes it easier for beginners to play it while still sounding impressive. This is a fun song which has a feel-good tune to it and it is instantly recognizable. As a result, when you play it for the audience you are surely going to set a positive vibe in the crowd. 

FAQs – Daaru Desi Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who composed the song Daru Desi for the movie Cocktail? 

Ans. The composer of the song was Pritam Chakraborty, and the two singers were Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade. 

Q2. What are some of the chords that you need to learn to play Daru Desi from Cocktail?

Ans. The basic chords are G, D, Em, and C. 

Q3. Is there a need to use Capo for the song Daru Desi from Cocktail? 

Ans. No capo is required to play this song for the standard tuning, and you will still be able to match up with the original feel of the song. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that is an anthem for the spirit of youth and also for road trips. Phir Se Ud Chala is a track from the Rockstar album, composed by A. R. Rahman, voiced by Mohit Chauhan, a singer whose songs most indians have grown up listening to. The song has received over 150 million views on YouTube and has been playing in every youngster's earphones ever since.

It is a song about dreams and the freedom to take flight in pursuit of those dreams. The lyrics ‘phir se ud chala’ means, I fly again. The song follows on from the core story of the film, which is about a rebel artist hustling to make it big, while exploring themes of existentialism, love, discovery and the perils of life.

Phir Se Ud Chala Guitar Lesson

The lesson on Phir Se Ud Chala is done by one of our beloved experts, Mike Walker. The lesson is quite straightforward and a short one. It is divided into sections and contains all the information needed to play the song on an acoustic guitar. The initial sections talk about the chords and rhythm of the song, along with the strumming pattern. The latter sections talk about some of the articulate motifs in the song, along with a section on how to improvise on the track.

A special thing about this song is that it features some slash chords –chords that have a different bass note than the root note. For instance, there’s a Dsus2/G chord that is played after the 2nd verse that sounds dreamy and uplifting and fits the overall story of the song. 

The bit that makes this song easy to play is that there is a lack of frequent chord changes. The majority of the song can be played on a G major chord using a simple strumming pattern that goes like D - D U D U D - (D is a downward strum and U is an upward strum.)

The best part about the lesson is the section that talks about improvising on the track. The instructor demonstrates how to use the B major scale and the G# minor pentatonic scale for improv ideas. This improv section teaches one to unlock the fretboard horizontally.

FAQs

Q. Do I need a capo to play Phir Se Ud Chala

1. Yes, you need a capo on the 4th fret, as the song is in the key of B major, playing a G major shape will give you a B major chord.

Q. Can this song be played solo on an acoustic guitar?

1.  Absolutely! The capo makes it easier to fret the major chord shapes, and the strumming style makes it perfect for intimate solo performances.

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Haal E Dil 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!

Fish Rock – Introduction

Fish Rock is a standout track by the Indian band Thaikkudam Bridge, known for blending intense death metal with local Kerala culture. Released in 2014 during a live session on Kappa TV’s Music Mojo, the song quickly caught fire online, gaining millions of views and establishing the band as a powerful force in the Indian indie rock scene. What makes Fish Rock so unique is its playful inspiration—a love for fish fry, a popular dish in coastal Kerala—which the band turns into an energetic metal anthem full of fast riffs and powerful vocals.

The song features lyrics in Malayalam, peppered with local slang and phrases that add authenticity and regional flavor, making it feel both raw and personal. Led by Govind Menon’s songwriting and Anish Krishnan’s fierce vocals, Fish Rock combines aggressive metal instrumentation with catchy melodies and rhythms. The track became a key highlight of Thaikkudam Bridge’s debut album Navarasam in 2015, showcasing their ability to mix heavy music with cultural storytelling, which helped redefine Indian rock in a fresh and exciting way.

Fish Rock – Guitar Lesson

Mike Walker’s lesson on Fish Rock dives into how to nail the song’s heavy, gritty sound using drop D tuning, where the lowest string is tuned down a whole step from E to D. This tuning gives the guitar a deeper, punchier tone that’s perfect for the chunky riffs and aggressive rhythm playing the song demands. Mike takes you through the main riff, focusing on the powerful use of open strings and palm muting to create that tight, percussive feel common in metal.

The soloing section in Fish Rock is built around the minor pentatonic scale, which is a go-to scale for rock and metal soloing. Mike breaks down the solo ideas simply by showing how the minor pentatonic scale works—basically a five-note scale that sounds dark and bluesy. He explains how to use bends, slides, and hammer-ons to add expression without overcomplicating the solo, making it approachable for players looking to get into metal lead playing.

Throughout the lesson, Mike emphasizes keeping the rhythm tight and clean, which is key in heavy music to avoid a muddy sound. He also talks about dynamics—how to build tension by mixing softer muted riffs with bursts of aggressive picking. For players wanting to get the full feel of Fish Rock, Mike’s guidance on using the drop D tuning effectively, combined with minor pentatonic lead ideas, helps capture the song’s raw energy while making it accessible for learners.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in Fish Rock?

The song uses drop D tuning, which means the low E string is tuned down one whole step to D.

Q. What scale is used for the solo in Fish Rock?

The solo is based mainly on the minor pentatonic scale, which is a simple and common scale for rock and metal solos.

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 Bhaag DK Bose as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Overdub Electric Guitar, Acoustic Solo and Electric Solo. 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 Pehla Nasha as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Overdub Section and Tapping Intro. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!