Capo Version

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a beautiful, melancholic ballad that is Choo Lo by The Local Train, which features an iconic intro and a powerful chorus that gives goosebumps every time you listen to it. The band’s debut album, ‘Aalas ka Ped’, was received with joy and celebrated across the country. The song Choo Lo has over 80 million views on YT.

Choo Lo is a story about romantic longing. The lover exclaims that he is still standing and waiting where she had left him and that she should touch him, or else he’ll be lost. Invoking the feelings of deep melancholy and longing for a loved one, this song resonated with everyone who had ever been in love. 

Choo Lo Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, the tutor goes over all the parts of the song, starting from the basics –key and tuning of the song to the solo section, along with improvisation tips. The first few sections focus on the intro part, followed by sections on rhythm, chords, strumming, and time signatures, followed by the power chord section that covers the chorus part of the song. Finally, the tutor demonstrates a full playthrough of the song.

The interesting thing about Choo Lo guitar chords is that two of them are suspended chords –Asus2 and Bsus2. These chords do not have the major or the minor third in them, which means that the chords don’t have a concrete identity and give a feeling of incompleteness. The incompleteness relates well to the overall narrative of the song, which is about the desire to be acknowledged. 

The tempo of the song is 146 bpm in 4/4 timing, and the strumming pattern is D - - D - U D U D - D - (D is a downward strum, and U is an Upward strum). The tutor meticulously explores all the melody motifs in the song and teaches the solo note by note in the final sections of the lesson.

The lesson also offers Choo Lo lyrics and guitar tabs along with the video lesson.

The real beauty of this song is in the power chords that are played over the chorus that, when played with a band, in artist speak, sounds ‘big’. Go ahead and pick up your acoustic guitar and treat yourself to one of the sweetest intro melodies.

FAQs

Q. How can I quickly learn the Choo Lo guitar solo?

1. Break the solo into shorter sections and practice them individually until you master them, and then, once mastered, practice transitioning between the sections until the solo sounds as one.

Q. How to play suspended chords?

1. Playing suspended chords at first can be challenging, especially if you’re a beginner, but as instructed by the tutor in this lesson, you can play fewer notes of the chords to get the essential sound and eventually get to the full barre chords.

Dum is one of the songs that was part of the wave that was known as the Bollywood Edgy tracklist. It embraces the sound of rock music and makes it possible for new audiences to connect with Indian rock. 

Fun Fact: It is one of the first songs that fully embraced hard rock and nu-metal in the Bollywood industry; the idea was to mirror the global rise of band voices like Linkin Park and Korn in the early 2000s.

Strumming Pattern 

The song follows a primary rock pattern which is like this: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

There’s an alternate pattern for power chord sections to produce choppy and punchy rock patterns using all downstrokes with rests/muting in between: D D D D. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction, Mike, your guitar instructor, talks about how the song has a unique solo guitar play. In addition to this, Mike also shows you how to tune up the guitar for this song. 

Song Arrangement: The song is present in the key of E flat and E minor, which is relative; in this part of the guitar lesson, Mike shows you the chords you need to play for the intro, verse, chorus, and outro as well. 

Song Demo: Right here you will get to see Mike playing the guitar section of the song with the backing track. 

Overdub Section: Here, you will learn the guitar overdubs that come throughout the song. 

Solo Lesson: This is the final part of the lesson and it teaches you how to play the solo on guitar. Mike has divided the solo into different sections so it becomes easier for you to learn and practice it. 

Why Learn Dum From Movie Dum Song?

If you want to add energy, edge, and rock-inspired tunes to your music arsenal, then Dum is the perfect song of choice. It’s a powerful rock anthem that includes some of the boldest electric guitar riffs that you will hear from Bollywood music. 

FAQs – Dum Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Which type of guitar should I be using to play Dum's song? 

Ans. An electric guitar is a must to capture the song’s gritty and overdriven tone, you can still capture some essence of the song if you play it on acoustic with lots of energy and rhythm. 

Q2. Which chord technique do I have to use to play this song? 

Ans. You need to learn power chords and palm muting downstroke techniques for the song. 

Q3. Can I play this song solo on acoustic guitar? 

Ans. Yes, you can, but it is not recommended; the song has an overdubs section, which someone else needs to play on their electric guitar. As a result, it’s not a song for solo playing. 

Aashiyan means home, and this is one of the few songs from modern-day Bollywood that actually conveys the meaning of comfort, joy, and belonging. When you play this song on guitar, it makes it possible for you to express emotions with the help of music. 

Fun Fact: The song was inspired by French Cafe music with the special use of Accordion, which plays a swing-style rhythm. Composer Pritam really wanted the song to feel like it is coming straight from a European street performance, which matches up with the silent-film feel of Barfi’s storytelling. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Here is the suggested arpeggio-picking pattern that you can learn if you want to use the fingerpicking technique: 

For chords with the root on the 5th string (like C, Am, F):

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4

(T – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1)

For chords with the root on the 6th string (like G):

6 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4

(T – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1)

• T = Thumb, 
• 1 = Index, 
• 2 = Middle, 
• 3 = Ring.

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is: D-D-U-U-D-U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction is by Mike Walker who is going to be your guitar instructor for this lesson. Here, he talks about the complexity of the song, how it has a jazz tone to it, and how he’s going to show a copy version of the song, which is a lot easier to play and beginner-friendly at the same time. 

Chords, Rhythm, and Song Arrangement: The song is present in the key of B, and the intro section can be played freely, but even for that, you need to learn the chords and rhythms that are present here for you to learn. 

Song Demo: In this part of the guitar lesson you will get to know how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Easy Version: Right here, Mike shows you how you can place a capo on the 4th fret to play the easier guitar version of the song. 

Why Learn Aashiyan Song?

The melody of the song is quite catchy, making it ideal for singing and playing the song on guitar at the same time. It also helps in improving your strumming control, timing, and sensitivity to the music, which allows you to easily shift between verses and chorus. 

FAQs – Aashiyan From The Movie Barfi Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is Aashiyan's song beginner-friendly on guitar?

Ans. The chords used in the song are pretty simple, and the strumming pattern, too, is beginner-friendly. 

Q2. What is the original key of the song?

Ans. The song is present in the key of B, making it suitable for guitarists who are just starting their musical journey. 

Q3. Are there arpeggios used in the song Aashiyan? 

Ans. The original recording of the song uses full instrumentation, but if you want, you can add a little arpeggio pattern during the verse section of the song. 

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.

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Mujhko Pehchaan Lo (Don 2) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Licks, Verse and Jazz Bridge, Don Theme , Pedal Lick Section, Chorus and Tritone Section, Wah Wah Section, Improvisation and Song with Backing Track. 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 Iktara (Original) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Solo 1, Solo 2 and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Daaru Desi is a high-energy and lively song from the movie Cocktail, which was released in 2012. It’s a crowd favorite because of its catchy and easygoing beats. Pritam is the man behind composing songs for the movie Cocktail, and with this song, he tried to give a modern, pop-style beat with a traditional Bollywood touch. 

Fun Fact: When Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade were recording this song, Pritam asked them to improvise and be casual with it. He wanted them to think of the recording session as a live performance where they are singing it in front of friends. 

Strumming Pattern 

The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for the song is D D U U D U. 

To play this chord, it would be great if you keep the hand loose and relaxed to maintain the groovy nature of the song. 

• D = Down strum.
• U = Up Strum.

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the song is by Steve Luciano; he shares that to play this song, you must be able to use an iconic hook. After learning the iconic hook, the rest of the song is not that difficult to learn. 

Intro Riff: Here, you will find out how to play the intro lick which is of two measures; you will be playing only the first chord; the second chord is more of a bass note, and the same goes for the third and the fourth chord. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the guitar lesson, you will be learning how to play the specific chords and rhythms that are required for the song. 

Song Demo: In this section, Steve is going to show you how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Daaru Desi (Easy Version): Here, Steve shows you how to play the Daaru Desi on guitar with easier chord progression. 

Why Learn Daaru Desi Song?

Daaru Desi is a song that uses simple open chords, which makes it easier for beginners to play it while still sounding impressive. This is a fun song which has a feel-good tune to it and it is instantly recognizable. As a result, when you play it for the audience you are surely going to set a positive vibe in the crowd. 

FAQs – Daaru Desi Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who composed the song Daru Desi for the movie Cocktail? 

Ans. The composer of the song was Pritam Chakraborty, and the two singers were Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade. 

Q2. What are some of the chords that you need to learn to play Daru Desi from Cocktail?

Ans. The basic chords are G, D, Em, and C. 

Q3. Is there a need to use Capo for the song Daru Desi from Cocktail? 

Ans. No capo is required to play this song for the standard tuning, and you will still be able to match up with the original feel of the song. 

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 Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Oh Meri Jaan as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Chords and Rhythm (Electric Guitar), Song Demo, Intro Arpeggios, Acoustic Intro Solo, Acoustic Main Solo, Acoustic Overdub Parts, Electric Intro Solo, Electric Main Solo and Electric Overdub Sections. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Raabta as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Raabta (Introduction), Raabta (Song Lesson with Distortion), Raabta (Song Demo with Distortion), Raabta (Song Lesson with Clean Tone), Raabta (Song Demo with Clean Tone), Raabta (Overdub Licks), Raabta (Intro Piano Piece with Tapping) and Raabta (Improvisation). Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!