Introduction

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Gustakh Dil as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythm, Song Arrangement, Overdub Section and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

This guitar lesson of Dil Dhadakne Do is to help you learn the energetic and groovy tone of the song, which makes it iconic and memorable. It’s a song that follows a funk-pop rhythm in addition to rock undertones. 

In addition to the song, you will also learn tight strumming, upbeat timing, and performance-ready skills, which are essential for both solo and band-style setups. Both Farhan Akhtar and Priyanka Chopra have given their voices, which results in the refreshing indie-pop twist to the song. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this intro, you will be introduced to your guitar instructor, Mike Walker, who will show you how to tune up the guitar for this song. 

Song Arrangement: Right here is the structured breakdown of the song; you will learn how the different parts, such as verse, intro, chorus, and bridge of this song, should be played on your electric guitar.This is the most crucial part of the lesson because it allows you to understand the musical journey of this song.

Song Demo: Here, Mike will play the guitar parts with the backing track to help you see how you need to sync up the guitar chords with the vocals and the other instruments; with this song demo, you get to see, hear, and feel the song in action. 

Improvisation: For the improvisation, Mike has taken the route of introducing a bluesy tone in the song. To achieve this sound, he used a B-flat scale. He will first play the song in the given scale and then explain how it affects the overall sound of the song.  

FAQs – Dil Dhadakne Do Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. How does the key of the song Dil Dhadakne Do influence the chord selection?  

Ans. The song is in the key of D major; this particular key gives the entire song a bright and more uplifting tone. It also defines the feel-good progression, which makes the song lively and upbeat. 

Q2. How should I adapt my guitar strumming to learn Dil Dhadakne Do? 

Ans. The song follows a common time stamp of 4/4; to match it, you need to make sure that your strumming follows syncopation, with accented upstrokes and dynamic variations. If you wish, you can also add muted percussive strumming in order to capture the true groove of the original recording.  

Q3) What scales should I be using if I wish to improvise guitar play for this song? 

Ans. You should be sticking to D major to create a melodic improvisation; on the other hand, for simpler soloing, you can go with D major pentatonic, and if you wish to add more depth to the song, you can use D Lydian raise to the 4th during the instrumental breaks or outro of the song. 

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that carries both emotional weight and spiritual depth Bulleya by Papon from the 2016 Bollywood film Sultan. Composed by the iconic duo Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Irshad Kamil, the song has a deep Sufi influence that speaks about longing, surrender, and redemption. Sung soulfully by Papon, the track marks a moment of emotional transformation in the film. It plays when the main character, Sultan, is trying to make peace with his past and win back the love of his life.

The song borrows its name and spirit from the famous Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. One of the standout lines in the song, “Tu bole toh ban jau main Bulleh Shah saudayi” (If you say so, I shall become Bulleh Shah’s devotee), ties the narrative to the idea of surrendering one’s ego in the face of love and higher truth. Over the years, this track has remained close to the hearts of listeners not just for its melody, but for the way it captures what it feels like to yearn, for love, for peace, and for redemption.

Bulleya Guitar Lesson

The lesson on Bulleya is taught by our expert Steve Luciano, who walks through all parts of the song with great detail and clarity. The song is in the key of A major and moves between some very expressive chords that bring out the emotional flavor of the track. You’ll encounter chords like A/E, C# minor, B major, Emaj7, Emaj9#4, and C#m7 and while they might sound complicated, Steve breaks them down in a way that even early intermediate players can grasp. One chord that stands out is Emaj9#4, which adds a haunting character to the progression. It's a variation of the regular major chord but with extra notes that add color the #4 gives it a dreamlike sound.

The track also uses what’s called a slash chord like E/G# - which simply means you're playing an E major chord but starting the bass note from G#. This kind of movement helps the progression feel more connected and smooth, especially when moving between sections of the song. Steve explains how to position your fingers for these chords and offers alternate voicings if you find the originals too challenging. 

One of the unique aspects of this lesson is how Steve connects the emotional flow of the song to the playing technique. It’s not just about hitting the right chords it’s about how you play them. The strumming is soft and steady, with emphasis on dynamics to match the emotional rise and fall of the lyrics. The lesson ends with a complete demonstration of the song, making it easy for you to follow along, section by section, until you can play it smoothly from start to finish.   

FAQs

Q. What level of guitarist is Bulleya suited for?

1. Bulleya is best suited for early intermediate players. If you’re familiar with barre chords and can handle a few extended voicings, you’ll enjoy learning this track.

Q. What tuning is used in this version of Bulleya?

1. The song is played in standard tuning — E A D G B E. No capo is needed.

Bulleya is a song of devotion towards your love; it is a song filled with deep meaning, and it serves as a powerful backdrop of the emotional turmoil faced by the main characters of the movie. It’s a song that reflects on the theme of love, separation, regret, and finding a path to redemption. The heartfelt vocals of Papon elevate the song’s intensity and make a deep connection with listeners. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction is from your guitar instructor Steve Luciano, in here he talks about how this song has some amazing chord changes, and a great melody to play on acoustic guitar, along with other things, which also made the song his favorite song to teach as well. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the guitar lesson, Steve begins with the most common chord used in the song, which is none other than the E chord, then comes A2, and A2 with E in the base. Here, he will show you all the chords that you need for this song and the rhythm that you need to follow. 

Song Arrangement: Right here, you will get to know exactly how the song should be performed on the guitar section-by-section. Steve creates a roadmap of his own for this song and shows you what to play, when to play, and how each part fits together. 

Quarter Note Triplets Section: In this song, you also need to learn how to use quarter notes; these notes are present with the harmonics on the 12th fret. 

Song Demo: Now, with this section, you have reached the point where Steve plays the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. In this song demo, he’s going to play the harmonics, but if you do want to skip them, you can do it without hesitation. 

Solo: The guitar solo is in the key of E, and the pickup note for the solo is placed on the 12th fret. The solo is present at the end of the 43rd measure. You can learn this solo and practice it, depending on your skill set. You can add this to the song, or you can skip it if you wish to. It won’t make a big difference to the feel of the song. 

Why Learn Bulleya Song From The Movie Sultan?

Learning a Bulleya song on acoustic guitar is a great way to harmonise sufism with rock, which gives you a rich melodic palette allowing you to be deeply expressive with your musical instrument. It has a pretty versatile arrangement that can be helpful for practicing gentle arpeggios in the verses and powerful strumming in the chorus. 

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.