Introduction and Tuning

July Matham - Introduction

July Matham is a beloved Tamil song from the 1993 film Pudhiya Mugam, composed by A.R. Rahman in his early career. The song features the legendary voices of S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Annupamaa, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. It is set in Pilu raga, which gives it a sweet yet melancholic feel. The film tells the story of an assassin who transforms into a hero, and this song plays during a key emotional moment.

The melody flows gently, with soft orchestration and expressive vocals. Rahman’s use of harmonies and subtle rhythm changes makes the song stand out. Even today, it remains a favorite among fans of 90s Tamil music because of its simple yet deep emotional appeal. The way the vocals glide through the notes makes it perfect for guitar adaptation.

July Matham Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson covers the song’s structure in D minor, shifting to D major in some sections. The harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#) is used for the sorrowful parts, while the major scale brightens the mood. The chords follow a cycle of Dm - Bb - F - C, with occasional passing chords like Gm and A7 for tension.

The strumming pattern is relaxed, matching the 6/8 rhythm. Use downstrokes on beats 1 and 4, with light upstrokes in between. The pre-chorus has arpeggiated chords, where you pluck individual notes instead of strumming. The chorus returns to fuller strums, emphasizing the emotional highs.

For the melody, focus on the D minor pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C). The vocal line moves smoothly, often sliding between notes. On guitar, try bending into some notes for expression, like bending the F (1st fret, high E string) slightly upwards. The bridge shifts to D major, changing the mood completely before returning to the minor key.

Beginners should practice the chord transitions first, especially Dm to Bb. Intermediate players can work on the arpeggiated sections, ensuring each note rings clearly. Advanced players can experiment with subtle vibrato and slides to mimic the vocal phrasing.

FAQs

Q. How to play the arpeggios smoothly?

Pluck the strings one by one in order and keep your fingers close to the frets. Avoid moving your arm and try maintaining a rhythm with moving only your wrists.

Q. Why does the song switch between minor and major?

The minor scale brings sadness, while the major parts add hope, matching the song’s emotional journey.

Q. Can I use a pick for this song?

Yes, you can use a pick for the picking patterns but the songs’ authentic feel comes only when fingerpicking is involved.

Q. What effects should I use?

A little reverb and delay help recreate the original’s dreamy sound. 

Dhimu Dhimu - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on Dhimu Dhimu, a soft romantic ballad from the 2011 Tamil film Engeyum Kadhal. Directed by Prabhu Deva, the movie stars Jayam Ravi and Hansika Motwani, and this track became one of its emotional high points. Composed by Harris Jayaraj and sung by Karthik, the song is soaked in longing and tender expression.

Interestingly, Dhimu Dhimu holds a unique spot in the film's music journey—it was the first track composed for Engeyum Kadhal, even though it was first heard by the public in its Telugu adaptation “Chilipiga” for the film Orange. Still, the Tamil version managed to claim its own space with a different emotional tone and arrangement.

Dhimu Dhimu Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, instructor J J Patishall takes you through Dhimu Dhimu in a way that’s both thoughtful and easy to follow. The song is played in standard 4/4 time at around 120 BPM, which makes it a comfortable speed for both beginner and intermediate players. The chords are rooted in C major and include C, Fmaj7, G, and even a slightly unexpected Bb chord. J J explains how these chords work together to create that dreamy atmosphere the song is known for. For example, the Fmaj7 adds a floating quality—it's basically an F major chord, but with an open E string, giving it a more emotional sound.

J J also talks about how to play the song with smooth transitions between chords. He focuses a lot on how to hold each chord shape lightly and clearly, so the ringing notes don't get muddy. The Bb chord might feel like a challenge for some, since it's usually a barre chord, but J J breaks down a simplified version so even newer players can try it without stress.

The strumming pattern is kept subtle and steady—mostly downstrokes with light upstrokes filling the gaps. It reflects the slow-burning feel of the track. J J also offers an optional picking style for those who want to add more texture to their playing. He demonstrates how to pluck the individual strings of each chord in rhythm with the melody, which matches the orchestral style of the original arrangement.

Lastly, there's a small section where the harmony shifts in a surprising way, using the Bb to break the usual major pattern. J J points this out and explains how little moments like this can really pull at your emotions, even if you’re not actively aware of it while listening. It’s this kind of insight that makes the lesson a blend of both learning and feeling the music.

FAQs

Q. Is the Bb chord necessary to play Dhimu Dhimu?

Yes, but if you're a beginner, J J shows an easier version of it that works just fine for the song’s feel.

Q. Do I need to know music theory to follow this lesson?

Not at all. J J keeps the explanation simple—he talks more about how things sound and feel than using technical language.

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Baatein Ye Kabhi Na (Khamoshiyan) as part of our Guitar series on song lessons. The song lesson is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction and Song Arrangement. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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!

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. 

Mann Mera is a perfect song that combines melody, emotions, and simplicity to give us an ideal track to be played on guitar. It has a soothing tune to it, and the lyrics are quite heartfelt, giving you a chance to express your emotions through music. 

Fun Fact: This particular track helps Gajendra Verma make his name in Bollywood and in the mainstream music scene. The original version of the song went quite viral on the internet, and it became the youth’s favourite song to play even to this day.  

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The basic arpeggio fingerpicking pattern for this song is Thumb (P) – Index (I) – Middle (M) – Ring (A) – Middle (M) – Index (I).

Now, in terms of each individual string: 

6 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (for G and D chords)

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4 (for Em and C chords)

Strumming Pattern 

The following pattern you have to repeat smoothly throughout the song, and it also works well with the chord progression: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the lesson is from J.J. Pattishall, who is going to show you how to tune up your guitar for the song and tells you that the song is present in the key of C-sharp minor. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the guitar lesson, J.J. shows you where you have to play the specific chords and what rhythm you need to follow for this song. 

Song Arrangement: After showcasing all the chords that you will be playing, J.J. provides information on the song arrangement, in which he gives you details of chords that make up the chorus and verse sections of the song. 

Intro Riff: In this part, you will learn how to play the iconic opening riff of the song, which made the song so easy to remember just from its tune. 

Song Demo: In the final part of this guitar lesson, J.J. is going to show you how to play the guitar chords with the backing track. 

Why Learn Mann Mera Song?

Mann Mera is a beginner-friendly song; it uses open chords that guitarists learn at the beginning of their musical journey. In addition to this, the song also includes a simple fingerpicking technique that allows you to improve finger coordination and control as you play. 

FAQS – Mann Mera Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who is the composer of the song Mann Mera from the movie Table 21? 

Ans. The song was composed by Gajendra Verma, who also sang it. 

Q2. Do I need to use Arpeggios for the song Mann Mera? 

Ans. Yes, for the intro and for the verse part, you have to use the fingerpicking pattern in order to play the song softly. 

Q3. Do I need to have a capo for this song? 

Ans. To play this song, you don’t require a capo, but if you have one, you can use it to match up with the original pitch used by the composer.