Introduction

Introduction

Wake Me Up When September Ends is one of the most iconic songs from the American punk rock band Green Day. It is the fourth single from their seventh studio album, American Idiot, which was released in 2004. The lead vocalist Armstrong, wrote the lyrics of this song after his father's death in September 1982.

Chords Used in Wake Me Up When September Ends

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Open chords. The song is played in the key of G, and there is no need for a capo. 

Chorus Variation: The chorus of the song is pretty short, and the guitar chords used in it are similar to those of the verse. 

Strumming Pattern 

The entirety of the song follows the same strumming pattern: Down-Up, Down-Up, Down-Up. (DUDUDU)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this section, J.J. Pattishall will explain the key you need to play the song in.

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn how and why the guitar instructor has broken down this song into several different parts. This particular section will show you how to play the guitar parts of the intro, verse, chorus, and bridge. 

Rhythm: Here, you will learn the open chords used to provide backing rhythm to the verse and chorus of the song. 

Song Demo: Right here, after showing you how to play all the different chords for this song, J.J. Pattishall will show you how to play the guitar alongside the song. 

Solo Lesson: This is the last part, where you learn how to play the epic solo from the song. 

Introduction:

The Philosopher song was originally written by Monty Python and composed by Eric Idle. The Florida-based death metal band Death covered the song in their fifth studio album, Individual Thought Patterns, which was released in 1993. 

The Philosopher has been described as one of the more accessible cuts from Death’s later music catalog, and for some fans, it is their biggest hit to this day. 

In this video lesson Bobby Koelble teaches how to play the song The Philosopher as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Tapping Piece, Verse, Prechorus, and Chorus, Solo Rhythm and Post Solo Rhythm Sections, Main Solo, Ending Solo Improv and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Song Structure:

Introduction: This is going to be the introduction to the song, the band, and the tune that you will be learning in this guitar lesson. Bobby describes this guitar song as pretty straightforward and not that technical to begin with. 

Intro Tapping Piece: The intro of the song starts with a two-hand tapping part, along with other undertone notes, all of which you will learn in this part.

Verse, Pre-chorus, and Chorus: Here, you will learn how to play the famous guitar riff that makes the song memorable. 

Solo Rhythm and Post Solo Rhythm Sections: This section explains how to play the riffs below Chuck’s solo. 

Main Solo: Here is the main solo of the song, which is in the key of A minor. Bobby will also help you get accustomed to that one lick, which moves pretty fast. 

Ending Solo Improv: This part of the guitar lesson builds your confidence in how you should improvise at the end of Chuck's solo and adds bits of your tunes as well. 

Song Demo: This is the final part. Here, your guitar instructor will play the entire guitar section of the song alongside the backing track. 

Game of Thrones Acoustic Version - Introduction

The acoustic version of the Game of Thrones theme song transforms the epic orchestral original into an intimate guitar arrangement. This version keeps the powerful melody while making it accessible for solo guitar players. The song comes from HBO's massively popular fantasy series that aired from 2011 to 2019.

Composer Ramin Djawadi created the iconic theme that became instantly recognizable worldwide. When the series premiered in 2011, the opening theme immediately captured viewers' attention with its distinctive rising string motif. The minor key tonality and driving rhythm perfectly evoke the show's atmosphere of political intrigue and medieval warfare. Many guitarists find this arrangement rewarding to learn as it combines technical challenge with immediate musical satisfaction.

Game of Thrones Acoustic Version Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down the acoustic arrangement of the Game of Thrones theme. The song uses a capo on the 3rd fret and is played in the key of D minor. The main theme follows a repeating pattern of Dm, F, C, and Bb chords. These chords create the dark, medieval atmosphere of the original composition.

The right hand technique is crucial for this piece. Use a steady alternating bass pattern with your thumb while playing the melody notes with your fingers. The bass notes should land on beats 1 and 3, with the melody filling in the spaces between. This creates the driving rhythm that makes the theme so powerful.

For the melody sections, focus on clean fingerpicking with good articulation. The theme uses mostly notes from the D natural minor scale. Pay special attention to the syncopated rhythms that give the melody its distinctive character. The B section introduces some chromatic movement that adds tension before resolving back to the main theme.

Beginners should start by mastering the chord shapes and bass pattern slowly. The chord changes need to be smooth and precise. Intermediate players can work on bringing out the melody clearly while maintaining the bass rhythm. The piece sounds best when played with strong dynamics - louder in the dramatic sections and softer in the transitional passages.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is the Game of Thrones Acoustic Version tune in?

The tune is in standard tuning with the capo on 3rd fret.

Q. Can I play this without a capo?

Yes, but you'll need to transpose the chords which will make the tune sound more warm than bright.

Q. Is this suitable for beginners?

The basic version is accessible, but playing melody and bass together requires practice.

Q. What tempo should I play at?

Start slow (around 80 bpm) and gradually work up to the original tempo of 110 bpm.

Introduction

Disturbed is known as a heavy metal band. When the band was starting out, the sound they followed was more of “nu metal”. Guarded was a promotional single from the band’s third album, Ten Thousand Fists. The lyrics show how the lifestyle forces David Draiman to guard himself on a certain level.

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: This song does not use traditional arpeggios. It is primarily a riff-driven song that includes heavy power chords in addition to the chugging rhythms. 

Strumming Pattern 

If you notice, the song's main riff has a more galloping tone. As a result, the strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is: D - DUD - D - DUD

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Brief pause (muted)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this introduction, Mike Walker, who will be your guitar instructor for this song lesson, explains how to tune your electric guitar. 

Song Arrangement: This is the part where you will learn all the chord progressions you will use in this song. 

Song Demo: This is the last part of the guitar lesson. Mike will play the entire guitar section of the song alongside the backing track. 

In this video lesson Ashish Noel John teaches how to play the song Stay as part of our Guitar series on English song lessons. The song lesson is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythms, Improvisation, Song Arrangement, and Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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

Flowers – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a sweet pop single –Flowers by Miley Cyrus from the Endless Summer Vacation album that rose to the top numbers as soon as it hit the charts. The song has more than a billion views on YouTube and has become the best-selling global single of 2023. It was her second song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart after ‘Wrecking Ball’ in 2013.

Flowers is about the realisation that you do not need to rely on someone else to feel complete and that you can take care of yourself, give yourself flowers and become the reason for your own happiness and need not look for it elsewhere. She says in an interview, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”.

The initial version of the song was a slow ballad, with Cyrus singing and Michael Pollack playing the piano. Later, during the production phase, it became an uptempo song.

Flowers Guitar lesson

In this lesson, the instructor goes over all parts of the song, covering each section of the song arrangement. Starting from the basic tuning and key of the song to the structure and layout of the chords that are played, followed by a demonstration of how to improvise on the song with an acoustic guitar.

Flower guitar chords are in the key of A minor, which consists of standard chord shapes of C, Am, Dm, G, F and E. The rhythm of the song is in the standard 4/4 time signature, and the strumming pattern, as meticulously shown by the instructor, is D - D - U D U D U D - D (D is a downward strum, and U is an Upward strum).

The special thing about this song is that, since it is a pop-up tempo song, there is an opportunity for players to learn it and play a slow, acoustic version of it using the same chords in their arpeggiated form (picking the individual strings instead of strumming all at once). The tutor shows how to achieve this sound accurately on every chord that is played on the track. There is also an opportunity to solo or improvise on the track using the A minor pentatonic scale.

FAQs

Q. Is ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus easy to learn on the guitar?

Yes, ‘Flowers is a beginner-friendly song as it uses standard chord shapes that are easier to play in the open position on the guitar. A steady 4/4 rhythm and a standard pop strumming pattern also help in quick learning.

Q. Do I need a capo to play ‘Flowers’ on the guitar?

You do not need a capo because the song is in the key of A minor, the chords of which can be easily played in the open position. 

Tu Chahiye - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the most loved romantic songs of modern indian pop music, Tu Chahiye by Atif Aslam. Performed for the Bollywood movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the song has received almost 75 million views on YouTube.

The movie is about a man who helps a little girl lost in a foreign land reach her home across the borders of nation and religion.

The song, though, is a subplot. The lyrics express deep emotion and longing for the love interest, fitting the film's emotional themes. Musically, the track goes from slow romantic mush to upbeat disco feel, which can be thought of as a parallel to the storyline shown in the song as well as in the movie overall. The hero and the heroine grow into a romance towards each other as the song progresses.

Tu Chahiye Guitar Lesson

Tu Chahiye guitar lesson is taught by our expert, Steve Luciano, who teaches parts of the song in a section-by-section manner, starting from the intro that talks about the chords and the percussive rhythm pattern, later demonstrating the full song in its entirety.

The song’s intro is built on palm-muted, straightforward power chords –G, C, and D that give it a rhythmic pulse. As the track progresses, it introduces major 7th arpeggios, slash chords like D/F, suspended chords such as Csus2, and augmented chords. These chord variations add an uplifting quality that suits the song’s upbeat, emotional energy.

There are a number of complex chords that require knowledge of theory and some intermediate level of practice to master. So, the tutor, along with the full demo, explains the simpler, more beginner-friendly ways of playing the chords.

The strumming in the song is also a little special; it lasts for two measures, or the whole duration of the chorus, meaning the pattern doesn’t repeat until after the second bar, particularly in the chorus sections. The tutor has explained this in great detail.

Tu Chahiye lyrics and tabs are also available for this lesson, along the right side of the page. The tab sheet can also be downloaded for future reference and practice.

FAQs

Q. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Yes. Although it has some complex chords, like the major 7th, slash chords, suspended and augmented chords, they are not substantially harder than standard chord shapes, and with consistent practice, they can be easily mastered.

Q. Can I play this on an acoustic guitar?

Absolutely! The song does not have many lead lines, so you don’t need an electric guitar, although you can easily play the song on one, and the song is very vocals-forward, as is the case with most Bollywood music; hence, an acoustic guitar is also ideal for it.

Q. Do I need a capo to play Tu Chahiye?

The original key is G major, but if you’re singing along and find it too low, you can use a capo on the 2nd or 3rd fret to raise the pitch. 

Muskurane Ki Wajah - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the most famous romantic ballads from the previous decade, Muskurane by Arijit Singh. The song is from the movie ‘Citylights’, which is highly acclaimed for showing the cruelty of a modern city commonly referred to as the city of dreams. The song received the Song of the Year Award at the Mirchi Music Awards and has amassed more than 60 million views on YouTube since its release in 2014.

Muskurane Ki Wajah translates to ‘reason for a smile’, which is a romantic expression towards a beloved. The plot of the film revolves around a couple who migrate to a Tier 1 city in search of a livelihood, but have to face deceit from the city. Through the song, the character is conveying to his beloved that “you are the reason for my smile, in the times when life is tough”.

Muskurane Ki Wajah Guitar Lesson

Muskurane guitar lesson is taught by our expert, J.J. , 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.        

To play the song in the original key and with standard chord shapes, a capo is needed on the 2nd fret. Advanced players can move to barred versions of the chords, should they not feel comfortable with the capo. The strumming of the song is unique in the sense that although the song can be played using the standard eight-note strumming, the strumming used here is that of the fifth-note pattern. This gives the song a breathing-like movement, where the empty three strums of a bar rest. 

The song features a unique cadence that goes from an E major to an A minor, which creates a beautiful tension and release in the song, and even more unique is the fact that on the chord that brings the tension, the song lyrics also talk about discomfort, both of which later resolves to a minor chord and a comfortable meaning.

Muskurane lyrics, along with the tabs, are also available beside the video lesson that you can refer to while learning the song. 

FAQs

Q. Is Muskurane beginner-friendly?

This lesson is best suited for beginners to early intermediates. You’ll need basic knowledge of open chords and simple strumming patterns.

Q. What chords are used in this song?

The song revolves around Am, G, and F with the occasional E, with the capo on the 2nd fret. The song is originally in the key of B minor, and therefore, without the capo, you’ll need to play the barre chords. 

Q. Do I need a capo for this song?

Yes, we recommend using a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original pitch and make chord shapes easier to play.

Sau Aasmaan is a bright, romantic song from the 2016 Bollywood film Baar Baar Dekho, featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif. Composed by Amaal Mallik with lyrics by Kumaar, the track captures the excitement of new love through its upbeat melody and joyful lyrics. Armaan Malik and Neeti Mohan's vocals blend perfectly, giving the song a fresh, youthful energy that matches the film's themes of romance and destiny.

The music video shows the lead actors in beautiful international locations, adding to the song's dreamy feel. The composition mixes contemporary pop elements with light electronic beats, creating a sound that's both modern and timeless. Released as part of the film's soundtrack, Sau Aasmaan quickly became popular for its catchy tune and feel-good vibe, making it a favorite at weddings and romantic playlists.

Sau Aasmaan Guitar Lesson

Taught by Steve Luciano, this lesson covers how to play "Sau Aasmaan" on guitar. The song is in the key of F#/Gb major, which gives it a bright, uplifting sound. The main chords follow a I-V-vi-IV progression, a common pattern in pop music that makes the song easy to learn but effective.

The strumming pattern uses a steady down-down-up-up-down-up rhythm in 4/4 time. This pattern keeps the energy high while allowing the chords to ring clearly. The verse and chorus use the same chord progression, but the chorus adds more emphasis with fuller strums. The pre-chorus introduces a slight variation with a B-C#-F# movement that builds tension before releasing back to the main progression.

For the lead parts, the song uses the F# major scale (F#-G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E#). The melody moves mostly step-by-step through these notes, with occasional jumps that give it a playful quality. When playing the vocal lines on guitar, focus on smooth transitions between notes and add light vibrato to longer notes for expression.

Beginners should start by mastering the chord shapes and basic strumming pattern. The F# major chord can be challenging at first - try the 2-4-4-3-2-2 barre shape or simplify it to xx4322. Intermediate players can work on matching the vocal melody on guitar. Advanced players should focus on adding embellishments like hammer-ons and slides to make their playing more

expressive.     

FAQs

Q. How do I make the F# chord easier to play?

1. Try the simplified version (xx4322) or use a capo on 2nd fret playing E shapes.

Q. What's the strumming pattern?

1. Down-down-up-up-down-up, with emphasis on beats 1 and 3.

Q. Can I play this on acoustic guitar?

1. Yes, it works well on both acoustic and electric.

Q. How to practice the chord changes?

1. Isolate difficult transitions (like F# to D#m) and practice them slowly first.