Intro, Chords, and Rhythm

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.

Afreen Afreen - Introduction

Afreen Afreen is a legendary Sufi-inspired love song originally composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the 1990s. The song’s poetic lyrics, written by Javed Akhtar, celebrate divine beauty and love through rich metaphors. The 2016 Coke Studio Pakistan version, performed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Momina Mustehsan, brought the song back into the spotlight. Their rendition blends classical Sufi elements with modern production, creating a mesmerising duet that captivated millions worldwide.

The Coke Studio version stands out for its emotional depth and stunning vocal performances. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s powerful qawwali-style singing contrasts with Momina Mustehsan’s softer tone. The arrangement mixes traditional instruments like the tabla and harmonium with electric guitars and synths, giving the song a fresh feel. With over 500 million YouTube views, this version remains one of the most beloved Pakistani songs ever recorded.

Afreen Afreen Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson covers how to play "Afreen Afreen" in Eb standard tuning (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb). The song is in A major, but since the guitars are tuned down a half-step, the shapes you play will sound in Bb major. The main chord progression follows A - F#m - D - E, creating a rich, emotional foundation for the vocals.

The strumming pattern is slow and flowing, matching the song’s romantic mood. Use downstrokes on the main beats with light upstrokes in between to keep the rhythm gentle. The verses feature arpeggiated chords, where you pluck individual strings to highlight the melody. The chorus switches to fuller strums for a bigger sound.

For the lead parts, the song uses the A major scale (A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#) with occasional slides and bends for expression. The instrumental breaks include melodic phrases inspired by classical Indian music, so focus on smooth transitions between notes. The tuning (Eb standard) gives the guitar a deeper, warmer tone that fits the song’s soulful vibe.

Beginners should start by learning the chord shapes and slow strumming. Intermediate players can work on the arpeggios and lead fills. Advanced players should focus on the nuances, like vibrato and dynamics, to capture the song’s emotional depth.

FAQs

Q. Why is the tuning Eb standard?

The lower tuning matches the original recording’s key and gives the guitar a richer, deeper sound.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Pluck each string one by one in order (root, third, fifth) and let the notes ring together.

Q. What scale is used for the lead parts?

The A major scale, with occasional bends and slides for a vocal-like feel.

Q. Can I play this in standard tuning?

Yes, but you’ll need to transpose the chords up a half-step (Bb major shapes).

Q. How to make it sound more authentic?

Add light reverb and play with expressive phrasing, mimicking the vocal melodies.

Sau Aasoon, as hard-hitting as it sounds, isn’t actually a sad song. It does have a melodic feel to it, but that adds up to the reasons why you should be playing it on guitar. Sau Aasoon is from the movie Katti Batti, and musical maestro Shankar Mahadevan and Rasika Shekhar have given their vocals. It’s a song that beautifully holds an emotional ballad and soothing melody. In addition to this, the lyrics are just top-notch poetry, and there is a subtle instrumental arrangement, which is like a cherry on top. 

When you learn Sau Aasoon on guitar, you get to combine guitar techniques with an emotional feel. Here in this guitar lesson by Mike Walker, you are not just hitting the right notes, but you will also learn how to make your guitar playing sound more polished and heartfelt, which makes it possible for you to connect closely with the song’s original mood. 

Why Learn Sau Aasoon Song On Guitar?

You can play Sau Aasoon entirely from open chords; this makes the song accessible for people who are still looking to build confidence in their chord transitions and don’t feel like playing bar and other intricate chords. 

It’s a song that helps you convey emotions via guitar play, all thanks to its slow tempo and gentle dynamics. Furthermore, with a steady and relaxed rhythm, you are surely going to improve your timing as you practice this song. Apart from this, you also get control and the ability to feel rather than just mechanically play the chords. 

Due to its emotional appeal, this is the one song you should definitely keep on your setlist when playing for a live audience. 

FAQs – Sau Aasoon Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Can I transpose the song Sau Aasoon to a different key for my vocal comfort? 

Ans. Yes, if you wish, you can transpose Sau Aasoon to D major or even G major using a capo or by simply shifting chord shapes depending on your vocal range. With the transposing, you can adapt for both male and female vocalists while still maintaining their emotional depth. 

Q2. What are some of the modal characteristics of the song Sau Aasoon? 

Ans. Sau Aasoon predominately follows the Ionian model, which is nothing but a major scale, the use of natural major scale structure to create a soft, uplifting, yet melancholic mood. Thus, it’s a good example for newcomers to have an experience of modal sound. 

Q3. Is it possible for me to use hybrid picking or fingerstyle techniques for the song Sau Aasoon? 

Ans. You can try hybrid picking, where you can combine a pick or a bass note and fingers for higher strings; combining these two, you can easily arpeggiate the chords. With hybrid picking, you will also be able to enhance dynamic control, especially when you are playing an acoustic version of the song, which is quite stripped down in terms of chord progression. 

Introduction:

Aahatien made the Agnee band become mainstream in the Indian music industry. The track has melancholic lyrics along with mellow arpeggios that are fun to play and allow you to have yourself in an immersive musical space where every single note and word touches the soul and heart. 

Fun Fact: The band Agnee didn’t release the song after they finished composing and recording it because they didn’t feel that the song fit in with other tracks that were part of their album. But then MTV Splitsvilla approached the band for a song, and Aahatien became the title track for the live television series. 

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern of the song resonates with its mellow and emotional connection along with the flowing rhythm: D – D U – U D U

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 

Song Structure:

Intro Arpeggios, Chords, and Rhythm: In this introduction of a guitar lesson, you will be learning how to play arpeggios for this song, which you can easily play through the entirety of it, or you can simply play it in the beginning. 

Solo Part-1: The solo present in this song comes from the combination of two guitars, but you can also pick one guitar and play its part. In this section of the guitar lesson Steve Luciano is going to teach you the first part of the solo lesson. 

Solo Part-2: This part of the lesson will help you understand how to play the solo parts of the second guitar. 

Solo Part-3: Here, you will be playing the solo from the 12th position of your guitar 

Solo Part-4: In this part, you will learn how to play the ending notes of the solo. 

Easy Capo Version: This is the last part of the guitar lesson, where your guitar instructor is going to show you how to play the entire song in a much easier way using capo. 

Why Learn Aahatein By Agnee?

Aahatien is a song that provides you means to connect with your deeper emotions; the intro and the verse present in the song use clean and flowing arpeggios that are perfect for practicing fingerpicking techniques and learning how to have smooth chord transitions. 

FAQs – Aahatein Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who composed and performed Aahatien? 

Ans. Aahatien was composed and performed by the Indian rock band Agnee, who is well known for blending contemporary rock with Indian classical elements to produce a unique sound that has never been heard before. 

Q2. How many members are part of the Agnee band? 

Ans. Over a period of 20 years, there have been a number of people who joined the Agnee band and left it as well, but the two main pillars of the band were Kock, who is the lead guitarist of the band, and Mohan, who is the lead singer. Together, they create a unique sound. 

Q3. What is the hidden meaning behind the song Aahatien? 

Ans. Aahatien is a song that describes how one feels when they are distant from their loved ones; the song tells the feeling of fading love and the echoes of a relationship that is coming to an end. 

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!