Song Arrangement

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Tu Hi Mera as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords, Intro Piece, Groove Section, Song Demo, Discussion on Rhythm and Conclusion, Solo 1 Lesson and Solo 2 Lesson. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the most emotional title tracks to come out of Bollywood in the last decade — Sanam Teri Kasam. Composed by Himesh Reshammiya and sung by Ankit Tiwari and Palak Muchhal, this song belongs to the 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam, directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. It tells the story of Inder, a man with a broken past, and Saru, a woman rejected by her own family. Their journey from complete strangers to soulmates is carried forward by the lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan, and this title track captures that entire journey.

The guitar theme by Vivek Verma is one of the standout parts of the soundtrack and plays as a kind of emotional thread that pulls the whole film together. In fact, this theme has become so iconic that it returned to the big screen in the film’s re-release in February 2025. Even years later, people still remember this song not just for its melody, but for how deeply it made them feel.

Sanam Teri Kasam – Guitar Lesson

This lesson is taught by Steve Luciano, and he takes you through the entire track step by step, in a way that’s easy to understand even if you’re not a music theory expert. The song is in the key of C minor, and it has a mix of simple and emotionally rich chords, including Cm, G/B, Eb, Bb/F, Ab, and Bb. These chords create a blend of tension and release, which matches the emotional highs and lows in the song’s storyline.

One interesting chord you’ll play is Bb/F, a slash chord, where the bass note is not the root of the chord. That F in the bass changes the mood of the chord slightly, adding a deeper colour to an otherwise familiar sound. Steve explains this in a way that even beginners can follow, breaking down the fingering and showing how these changes affect the overall feel of the song.

What also stands out in this lesson is how Steve pays attention to not just the chords but the phrasing and mood. The strumming is soft and patient more like painting with sound than just playing rhythm. He also shows how you can play along with the original recording, even suggesting how to simplify some of the chord shapes if you're still getting comfortable with barre chords. Whether you’re looking to perform the song or just play it in your room for yourself, this lesson gives you all the tools to do justice to it.

FAQs

Q. Can beginners learn to play Sanam Teri Kasam?

Yes, but expect a small challenge. Some chords like Bb/F and barre shapes might take practice, but Steve also offers easier versions for those still getting comfortable with these grips.

Q. Do I need a capo for this song?

No capo is used for this version. All chords are played in open or barre forms in standard tuning.

Tu Hai is a deeply spiritual and romantic song from the 2016 historical film Mohenjo Daro, starring Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde. Composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the track blends devotion and love in a way that feels timeless. Sung by Rahman himself along with Sanah Moidutty, the song carries a meditative quality, as if it’s a prayer set to music. The gentle instrumentation soft flutes, ambient strings, and subtle percussion—creates a dreamy atmosphere that transports listeners to the ancient world of the film.

The lyrics speak of love as something divine, almost sacred, fitting perfectly with the film’s themes of destiny and connection. Rahman’s soft, breathy vocals and Moidutty’s delicate harmonies make the song feel intimate yet grand. While Mohenjo Daro had mixed reviews, the soundtrack stood out, and "Tu Hai" remains one of Rahman’s most cherished compositions for its emotional depth and simplicity.

Tu Hai-Guitar Lesson

Taught by Steve Luciano, this lesson breaks down how to play Tu Hai on guitar. The song uses a beautiful chord progression: C, Am7, Fmaj6,9, which gives it a warm, open sound. The Fmaj6,9 chord (played as xx3210) adds a jazzy, dreamy quality that fits the song’s spiritual mood. The strumming is soft and flowing, matching the gentle rhythm of the original track.

The verse follows a C - Am7 - Fmaj6,9 - C pattern, with each chord held for two bars. The strumming should be light—mostly downstrokes with a relaxed feel, letting the notes ring. The chorus introduces slight variations, with the Am7 sometimes replaced by G/B for a smoother transition. The key is to keep the playing fluid and unhurried, as the song moves at a slow, reflective pace.

For the melody, the song mostly uses the C major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B), with occasional slides and light vibrato to add expression. The guitar can mimic the vocal lines by playing simple, sustained notes with careful phrasing. The Fmaj6,9 chord is essential—it gives the song its unique, floating quality, so practice switching into it smoothly from Am7.

Beginners should focus on the chord shapes and slow strumming first. Intermediate players can work on adding arpeggios (plucking individual strings) to match the song’s delicate feel. Advanced players can experiment with fingerstyle patterns to bring out the melody within the chords.

FAQs

Q. How do I play the Fmaj6,9 chord?

Fret the 3rd fret on the D string, 2nd fret on the G string, and 1st fret on the B string, leaving the high E open.

Q. What’s the best strumming pattern?

Use slow, gentle downstrokes with occasional upstrokes—let the chords breathe.

Q. Can I simplify the Fmaj6,9 chord?

Yes, you can play a regular F major (133211) if needed, but the 6,9 adds the song’s signature sound.

Q. How do I make it sound more like the original?

Add light reverb and play with a soft touch, avoid heavy strumming.

In this video lesson, Ashish Noel John teaches how to play the Panchayat Theme as part of our guitar series on Hindi songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords and Rhythm, Melody, Melody Demo, and Song Demo.

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

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.

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Har Saans Mein as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement , Easy Version, Song Demo, Solo 1, Solo 2, Solo 3, Solo 4 and Overdub Licks and Improvisation. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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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.

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.