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.

Banda is one of the most popular songs by Bilal Khan, who is a Pakistani singer-songwriter. The lyrics for the song take you on an introspective ride, which has an acoustic-driven sound to it. Bilal released this song during the early years of his career, and this particular composition quickly gained a cult following among the indie music scene in South Asian countries. 

Song Structure:

Introduction: The introduction to this guitar song lesson is from Mike Walker, who is also going to be your guitar instructor for this lesson. In this introduction, he shows you how to tune up your guitar to play this song. 

Song Arrangement: In this part of the guitar lesson, Mike first shows you all the different chords you need to learn for this song, and then he shows you the rhythm that you have to follow. 

Song Demo: Now that you know all the chords, rhythms, and where you have to use them, it is time for you to see how to play the song with the backing track. 

Overdubs: This is the overdubs section, which is divided into three parts. Mike starts with the licks, which begin at the start of the song, and from there he moves forward to the next parts. 

Improvisation: When playing this song, you can use a number of improvisation techniques 

that are present in this part of the guitar lesson, or you can create your own depending on how much depth you want to add to the song. 

Why Learn This Banda By Bilal Khan?

If you are someone who loves and appreciates heartfelt songwriting and acoustic-driven music, then Banda is a perfect song for you to learn on guitar; it’s a song that helps you to become more expressive in your live performances. The song uses stripped-down arrangements, making it easier for you to focus on rhythm, dynamics, and clean transitions, which are particularly necessary for acoustic guitar playing. In addition to this, you can play it with gentle strumming or fingerpicking, which is one of the rare songs that goes well with both styles of playing, making it a versatile song for different types of musicians. 

FAQs – Banda By Bilal Khan Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What is the tempo of the song Banda by Bilal Khan? 

Ans. The song follows a moderate tempo, which makes the song emotional, reflective, and ideal for acoustic sessions or even for solo performances where you can sing as well as play the guitar. 

Q2. Can I use the fingerpicking technique to play Banda by Bilal Khan? 

Ans. It is not necessary to use fingerpicking technique but if you wish to you can use it in the intro and in the verse sections of the song, the simple arpeggio pattern which you should follow would be something like this P–I–M–A, this will make your sound more intimate and gives it an unplugged feel. 

Pasoori – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that is a masterclass in songwriting and storytelling, and essentially art. Ali and Shae wrote an Urdu-Punjabi song that became the most-streamed Coke Studio song on YouTube, with more than 800 million views.

Pasoori is a song that is layered in its meanings relating to themes of conflict in love, life, chaos, self-expression, and the partition event. The lyrical metaphors have strong emotional, societal and political connotations and are presented in the style of the folk-pop genre.

The inspiration of the song, as Ali mentions, came from a quote in Punjabi written on the back of a transport truck that said ‘aag lavaan teri majbooriyan nu’ (set fire to your compultions), which he then followed up with ‘aan jaan di pasoori nu’ (the crisis of coming and going), symbolising the conflict of not just love but also the daily trades of life.

Pasoori Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, the tutor goes over all the parts of the song, section by section, displaying the techniques needed to play them perfectly. The song has three verses and three choruses and one bridge section that has a Baglama (a Turkish stringed instrument) solo and a mandolin solo, which are explained in detail by the instructor.

The song is in the key of B minor and can be easily played in the open position on the guitar using the standard chord shapes. Since the rhythm and beat of the song resembles that of reggaeton music, the strumming sounds like a shuffle between the chord changes and goes like D’ U D U’ D U D U - D’ D’ D’ (D is a downstrum and U is an upward strum, and the ‘ is an accented strum). It is a unique spin on the rhythm that sounds Oriental or Middle Eastern as well as Indian at the same time.

The song, having Oriental motifs, features what is known in music theory as the Andalusian cadence, i.e. usage of the chords A minor - G - F - E in sequence in the chorus sections. The tutor demonstrates the full song in its entirety and also includes a section on how to improvise on the track.

FAQs

Q. Why is Pasoori so popular?

The song is popular because of the catchy tune that has been given to the chorus of the song and because of the romantic expression of the lyrics that rides on the upbeat tempo of the song. There is one more factor for its success, which is cultural association –phrases like ‘gheo di churi’, which is a sweet dish popular in the Sindh region, triggered nostalgia among the regional north indians.

Q. What chords are used in Pasoori?

Pasoori uses simple open chords like Bm, G, F, Em, E and F#. These chords create its signature melancholic yet catchy melody.

Q. Is Pasoori suitable for beginners?

Yes, Pasoori is ideal for beginners because of its open chord voicings and moderate tempo. It helps learners practice smooth transitions and strumming patterns.

Aye Khuda From The Film Paathshala 

Aye, Khuda is one of those songs that got stuck with us even after the movie became decades old. It is the song that allows you to connect deeply with both the lyrics and the music present in the song. As you play this song, you will be learning how to properly finger pick and take full advantage of the arpeggios pattern. 

Fun Fact: The movie Paathshala didn't make too much noise at the box office, but this particular song from the movie was being played on repeat on radios, music TV channels and even by teenagers who got the cassette album. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The common arpeggio which you can use for this song is: P, I, M, A, M, I

• P = Thumb (for the bass note)
• I = Index
• M = Middle
• A = Ring

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern of the song has a nice flow to it, which keeps the song smooth and emotionally rich. You have to put a bit of an emphasis on the downstroke at the beginning of each measure and make sure to keep the upstrokes softer and fluid: D - DU - D - UD - U. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum

Song Structure 

Intro, Chords, & Rhythm: The guitar lesson is performed by Pawan Jalan; in this section, he first shows you how to tune your guitar in the key of A. After this, Pawan shows you how to play the chords that are required for the song, and then comes a lesson on strumming patterns for the same. 

Why Learn Aye Khuda From The Film Paathshala?

It is a simple yet impactful song that you can quickly learn to play as it uses common guitar chords like Am, F, C, G, and others. These guitar chords make it easier for beginners to play this song with fluency. For people who love to perform solo or in open mics, for them it is a perfect song to gain the audience's interest towards them. 

FAQs – Aye Khuda From The Film Paathshala Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who sang Aye Khuda for the film Paathshala? 

Ans. The main singer for the song was none other than Salim Merchant who is half part of the famous music duo Salim Sulaiman. 

Q2. Who was the composer of the song Aye Khuda? 

Ans. The song was composed by Salim-Sulaiman; the duo is known for creating emotionally rich and cinematic soundtracks for various Bollywood movies. 

Q3. Who penned down the lyrics of the song Aye Khuda? 

Ans. Irfan Siddiqui was the writer who wrote the lyrics for this song. 

If you wish to light up the vibe of your jamming session or want to make people start dancing at a party, you need to learn Sadi Gali on your guitar. This is your typical upbeat desi song, which can perfectly be placed to break the monotony of mellow Bollywood covers. In truth, it makes the people go singing, clapping, and maybe breaking into bhangra. 

This song is a mix of Punjabi folk, pop, and funk, which is why when you are learning how to play it on guitar, you will get to know how to implement fusion style in your guitar play and increase your genre versatility. 

Before the song was chosen for the Bollywood movie, it was released by an independent Punjabi artist, Lehmber Hussainpuri, and the song witnessed a pretty massive fan following in Northern India, from where the song originally came from. 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern you need to follow is: D – D U – U D U.  

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

If you wish to play a more percussive version which adds more groove to the song, then you should go with the following pattern: D – X U – U D U. 

• X = Mute 

You can use palm muting after the first downstroke, which will mimic a dhol-like rhythm. 

Technical Aspects Of the Guitar That You Are Going To Learn In the Sadi Gali Song Lesson 

Learning Sadi Gali on guitar is more than just a fun activity; it’s a song that teaches you different technical skills that make you a better guitarist. Here’s a list of a few things you are going to learn from this guitar lesson: 

Mike Walker, our guitar instructor, has dissected this lesson into 5 different parts, each of which has its own skillset that you will practice and learn. Apart from this, you will be introduced to power chords and barre chord shapes. Mike will show you how to play them precisely. 

Furthermore, this song takes a lot of inspiration from Punjabi-Bhangra music, and here you 

will learn the strumming pattern with syncopation and upstrokes required to make your guitar sound similar.

Why Learn This Song Sadi Gali On Guitar?

This song has a lively tempo and syncopated beat, which is a great workout for your strumming hand; it will improve your timing, groove, and also help in building your endurance. The song follows a basic 3-4 chord structure; as a result, even beginners can master it quickly and make their guitar sound impressive. The guitar play for this song is quite simple, but it's the tempo that fills it up with power and makes the song seem like it is technically challenging. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Oh My Love as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Piano Section, Chords, Rhythm, and Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Intro and Final Solos and Easy Version. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Introduction:

Senorita is a perfect blend of Hindi and Spanish in addition to the cultural twist that is represented in the song. With this song, you will be able to learn how to blend flamenco-style Spanish guitar with Bollywood melody. In addition to this, this song gives you one of the rare chances to explore how world music is able to influence Indian guitar. 

Fun Fact: Farhan, Hrithik, and Abhay Deol sang their own parts for this song; their imperfect and natural voice gave the track its authentic feel and perfectly matched the easygoing undertone of the movie. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Here is the arpeggios picking pattern that you need to follow for this song 

P – I – M – A (Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring)

Strings by chord:

• Am: 5 – 4 – 3 – 2
• G: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2
• F: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2
• E: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2

Note:- Play slowly and melodically, with a bit of Spanish flair

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern for Senorita from ZNMD follows the 4/4 time: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 
• D (Take a slight pause for rhythm)
• DU ( Keep the chords light and bouncy)
• UDU (Make sure to keep the groove flowing)

Song Structure:

Chords, Rhythm, and Backing Track: This is the first part of the guitar lesson where your guitar instructor, Steve Luciano, is going to teach you how to tune up your guitar for this song. In addition to this, he’s also going to showcase chords and rhythms that you need to learn for this song.

Solo and Lead Fills: In this section, you will learn about the solo notes, which are basically beat picks that come in the fourth beat of the previous bar. 

Complete Cover: Finally, in this part, Steve will play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Outro Solo: To play the outro solo for this song, you first need to understand that the solo is based on the lower section of the guitar, starting with the 9th position. 

Why Learn this song?

The importance of learning Senorita from ZNMD will help you in sharpening your accuracy and timing. It will also give you control over percussive strums and play with bounce. 

On the other hand, if you are able to play this song in a public gathering, then without a doubt, you will be able to please the crowd because everyone vibes with this song. 

FAQs – Senorita From Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who is the singer for the song Senorita in the movie ZNMD? 

Ans. It might come as a shock to you, but the lead actors of the movie, Farhan, Hrithik, and Abhay Deol, along with Spanish singer Maria Del Mar Fernádez, recorded a Senorita song for the movie. 

Q2. Was ZNMD a hit Bollywood movie? 

Ans. ZNMD became the highest-grossing Hindi film worldwide in 2011; it was declared a blockbuster both in India and in the overseas market. 

Q3. Did Kabir marry Natasha in ZNMD?

Ans. No, the couple did not marry, and they parted ways at the end of the movie. On the other hand, Arjun and Laila got married and Imran’s poems finally went public as he published them. 

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. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Kyon (Barfi) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords, Rhythm and Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Conclusion, Kyon (Advanced Version) and Improvisation. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Bin Tere as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Progressions, Rhythm, With Backing Track, Solo Lesson and Conclusion. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!