Introduction

Introduction

In My City is the debut song from Indian actress Priyanka Chopra featuring Will.i.am. The song was co-written by Ester Dean, who also provides his voice for additional vocals. 

Priyanka gives homage to her nomadic childhood and shows her journey from a small-town girl to a big Bollywood star. This isn’t a guitar song in the first place, but J.J. Pattishall is going to teach you how to turn it into a guitar song. 

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

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this part, J.J. Pattishall talks about how this song is a unique dance number and the influence of singer/ DJ Will.i.am makes the song upbeat, similar to the songs from Black Eyed Peas. In this section, you will also learn the tuning of the guitar for this song. 

Chords and Rhythm: Here, you will learn the outline of the chords and the rhythm that you are going to use in the song. Furthermore, you will get to know how to improvise guitar playing in this song to make it more interesting.

Song Arrangement: In this section, you will be learning how to play the chords of Will.i.am, part of the song. 

Song Demo: This is the last section where your guitar instructor is going to show you how to play the guitar section alongside the song. 

Fear of the Dark - Introduction

Fear of the Dark is one of Iron Maiden’s most famous songs, released in 1992 on the album of the same name. Written by bassist Steve Harris, it explores the fear of darkness and the unknown. The song starts slow and eerie, then explodes into fast, heavy riffs. It became a fan favourite, especially in live shows where the crowd sings along.

The lyrics describe the creeping fear of being alone in the dark, where every shadow feels threatening. Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals and the twin-guitar harmonies make it unforgettable. The song’s structure is dynamic; starting quietly, building tension, then bursting into full energy. It remains one of their most-streamed tracks today.

Fear of the Dark Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down the song’s F major to D minor shifts. The intro uses clean arpeggios (F - C - Dm - Bb) before the heavy riff kicks in. The main riff is in D minor, played with palm muting for a tight sound. The tempo starts at 80 BPM but speeds up later.

The verse has a chugging rhythm (D5 - C5 - Bb5), while the chorus opens up with power chords (F5 - C5 - D5 - Bb5). The solos use the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#), giving them a dark, dramatic feel. The twin-guitar harmonies are a key feature—two guitars play different but matching melodies.

For the solos, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith use the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#). This scale gives the leads their dramatic, almost classical sound. The twin-guitar harmonies are a key feature—one guitar plays a melody while the other plays a matching part at a different pitch. These harmonies use intervals of thirds and sixths to create that classic Iron Maiden sound.

The bridge section before the final chorus has a rhythm part with quick chord changes. Here, you switch between D5 - F5 - C5 - Bb5 in rapid succession. The key is to keep your palm muting consistent while moving between chords. The song ends with a repeat of the intro arpeggios.

Beginners should start by learning the power chord shapes and the galloping rhythm pattern. Practice the palm muting to get that tight, punchy sound. Intermediate players can work on the twin-guitar harmonies—try recording one part and playing the other over it. Advanced players should focus on the vibrato and bends in the solos, which need to be precise to match the original recording.

FAQs

Q. What tuning does Iron Maiden use for this song?

Standard tuning (EADGBE), though they sometimes play it half-step down live.

Q. How do I play the rhythm correctly?

Use downstrokes on the main beats and upstrokes in between (down-down-up). Start slow with a metronome.

Q. Why does the solo sound so dramatic?

It uses the D harmonic minor scale, which has a raised 7th note (C# instead of C natural).

Q. Can I play this song on a single guitar?

Yes, but you’ll miss the harmonies. Try recording one guitar part and playing the other over.

Bohemian Rhapsody – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on what is referred to as the greatest rock song of all time, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It is a 6-minute ‘suite’ –a musical performance that typically includes four or five dances, according to Western classical music. But Bohemian Rhapsody is nothing like a classical piece. It is, in fact, the opposite of a classical piece. It is an alternative rock song parodying orchestral music.

Freddie Mercury was born to Parsi-Indian parents in Zanzibar, which is an island town on the east coast of Africa. After the Zanzibar revolution began, they had to flee to Middlesex, England, to save their lives. Since that is the environment Freddie grew up around, it makes sense for him to choose alt-rock and prog-rock as his genres.

Bohemian Rhapsody Guitar Lesson

The lesson on this song is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, who explains all the different sections of the song –and there are many –in the simplest of ways. The lesson is divided into multiple sections, explaining all the parts of the song section by section –from the intro that talks about the chords and different voicings of those chords, to the rhythms and solos of the song.

The song contains an iconic intro, a ballad segment, an orchestral passage, a rock progression, an iconic solo, and an outro. It is almost as if the song is a contraption of multiple songs. Consequently, it has a number of chords and key changes. The instructor, though, gives time to explain all the changes meticulously.

The song follows the following keys: B♭ Major, E♭ Major, A Major and F Major. With most of the chords being non-standard shapes, for instance, the intro features flat-6 and 7th chords, and minor 7th chords. There is a motif in the verse that makes the section iconic –a set of repeating two notes –G to F while on a Bb chord, A to G on the Gmin, and D to C on the Cmin. The instructor shows how to play it in great detail and along with the original track.

Another iconic part of the song is Brian May’s guitar solo, which has been deemed one of the greatest solos of all time. Featuring a guitar that Brian built in his garage, sloppy vibratos, dynamics, and pure emotional playing make it one of the greatest.

The lesson also has a breakdown of the main solo and the outro solo, including the rhythm distortion guitar parts as well, shown in full by the tutor.

Q. Is Bohemian Rhapsody playable on an acoustic guitar?

Yes, once you master the chord shapes, you can easily play the fingerstyle version of the song and sing along.

Q. What effects does Brian May use?

Brian used a Phaser pedal into a treble booster that then went into a Vox AC30.

Q. How do I sing and play this at the same time?

Practice playing the chords first. The ballad actually follows the vocal melody and so mastering the chords can easily get you there.

Heaven By Bryan Adams

In this guitar lesson, instructed by Mike Walker, you will learn the clean electric guitar progression that comes in at the beginning of the song. The structure you have to follow is quite straightforward; it uses verse, bridges, chorus, and then again a bridge. 

But what sets this song and its lesson apart is the use of gravel-toned vocals, which carry a hint of vulnerability that was pretty rare back in the '80s rock anthems. On the other hand, if we look at the lyrics, they were quite earnest and at the same time universal. 

Why Learn Heaven Song On Guitar?

Heaven is a dream song to learn, especially if you are a beginner. Let us show you how it can be part of your musical journey and help you learn new techniques: 

Use of Basic Chords: It is the song that uses simple open chords such as C, G, Am, F and Dm. In addition to this, there’s also a capo version which allows you to use simpler fingerpicking. 

Slow Tempo: Heaven is played with a tempo of 65-70 BPM. This slow pace makes it a perfect song for learning clean transitions and rhythms. 

Emotional Expressions: It’s a great song for people who are trying to play songs that are heavy on feels. Besides this, it also teaches you how to move beyond mechanical strumming. 

Follows Familiar Structure: You have to follow a verse-chorus structure, which is beginner-friendly and, at the same time, makes you understand how popular songs are composed. 

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.

Channa Mereya – Introduction

Channa Mereya is a soulful ballad from the 2016 Bollywood film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, composed by Pritam and sung by Arijit Singh. The song, written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, explores themes of unrequited love and heartbreak, perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil of Ranbir Kapoor’s character in the film. Its melancholic yet poetic lyrics, combined with Arijit Singh’s emotive vocals, made it an instant classic.

The song became one of the most popular tracks from the album, peaking at #1 on Radio Mirchi’s Top 20 chart and staying there for five months. It was also nominated for several awards, including Best Lyricist at the Filmfare Awards. The acoustic and Sufi-inspired arrangement, that beings together Indian classical elements with contemporary.

Channa Mereya Guitar Lesson

Steve Luciano trachea you how to play the Channa Mereya melody while breaking down the song’s delicate guitar work. The track is in the key of A minor. The verse melody begins with a gentle descent from F to D, establishing the melancholic mood. The pre-chorus builds tension by emphasizing the higher notes (C and D), while the chorus releases this tension with its wider intervallic leaps. The melody's beauty lies in its subtle variations, the singer in the song slightly alters certain phrases when they repeat.

To play this on guitar, use the middle position of the neck (5th to 8th frets). The main phrases can be played on the B and high E strings, with some notes extending to the G string. Focus on clean hammer-ons and pull-offs between adjacent notes, and use vibrato on sustained notes to match Arijit's vocal style.

For the more expressive sections, incorporate slides between notes and careful bending (especially the microtonal bends characteristic of Indian music). The bridge section features the melody's highest notes - practice shifting positions smoothly to reach these. Remember to breathe between phrases like a singer would.

The melody stands out for its beautiful simplicity and emotional power. The tune stays with listeners long after the song ends, making it one of Arijit Singh's most memorable performances. This lesson focuses specifically on playing the vocal melody on guitar.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in this song?

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) with no capo needed.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Practice slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before speeding up.

Q. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Yes, the chords are basic, but the emotional delivery requires practice.

Q. What effects are used on the guitar?

A clean tone with light reverb matches the original recording.

Welcome to the guitar lesson for Dariya, the soft and emotional track from the 2016 film Baar Baar Dekho. Written, composed, and sung by Arko Pravo Mukherjee, this song has a personal and heartfelt tone that sets it apart from other romantic numbers in Bollywood. Arko’s voice, paired with a delicate acoustic arrangement, makes Dariya feel more like a quiet moment than a typical film song.

Lyrically, Dariya uses the image of a river as a way to talk about longing and resistance to change. The line “O dariya, mujhe nahi jaana uss paar” isn’t just romantic, it’s also about not wanting to move on or drift away from the person you love. That’s what gives the song its emotional weight. It’s not just about love, but about the fear of losing it. It resonated deeply with listeners when it came out, especially those who found something familiar in its stillness and simplicity.

Dariya Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, instructor Steve Luciano breaks down Dariya in a calm and clear way that matches the tone of the song. The track is played with a capo on the 1st fret, which raises the pitch slightly and gives the guitar a softer, warmer sound. The chords used in this version are very beginner-friendly and include G, Am7, C, Cadd9, Em7, and G/D. Steve walks through each one slowly, explaining the subtle differences between standard chords and their extended versions. For instance, Cadd9 is just a C chord with the added 9th note, which gives it a brighter, fuller feel. Em7 is like a regular Em but with a hint of openness that makes the transitions smoother.

The strumming pattern Steve demonstrates is meant to keep things simple and emotional. The rhythm follows the vocal phrasing more than a strict count, which makes it a great lesson for those learning how to “feel” a song rather than just play through the motions. He also gives tips on how to mute the strings slightly with your palm to make certain parts sound more intimate, especially during the verses.

What makes this lesson especially accessible is that even though the chords repeat often, Steve adds small details, like where to let a chord ring or when to use a hammer-on that make your playing feel closer to the original. He also talks about how to switch from open chords to chords like G/D smoothly, even if you’re new to them. And since this is a fingerstyle-friendly song, Steve shows a picking variation toward the end that you can use instead of strumming if you want to bring out the softer side of the track.

FAQs

Q. Can I play Dariya without a capo?

Yes, but it will sound lower in pitch than the original. Using a capo on the 1st fret brings the tone closer to the studio version and helps match Arko’s vocal range.

Q. Is this lesson suitable for beginners?

Absolutely. The chords are mostly open and easy to play. Even the extended chords like Cadd9 and Em7 are simple once Steve explains them.

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. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Karz Theme as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Flamenco Lick, Main Melody, Chords and Rhythm and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Introduction

AC/DC is a hard rock band from Australia. The band recorded the song "You Shook Me All Night Long," which appeared in their album Back In Black. Ozzest 100 considers it one of the most Australian songs of all time. 

According to rock critic Robert Christgau, this song was the only great work of art from the band. If you ever get to witness AC/DC live, you will surely hear this song, which has become a staple of the band's live performances. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song You Shook Me All Night Long as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo and Solo Lesson. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song is in the key of G major and uses lots of open chords. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction, Mike Walker teaches you how to tune up your guitar for this song. He also discusses the open chords you will use in this song and the G pentatonic bass chords in the solo section.  

Song Arrangement: Here, you will learn how to play the iconic guitar introduction of the song. Mike also shares tips on where to play specific chords so you can quickly transition to open chords. 

Song Demo: Here, Mike plays the guitar chords with the backing track to explain how to keep up with the song and maintain the rhythm.

Solo Lesson: This is the most interesting part of the song and of this guitar lesson. In this part, you learn how to play Angus Young's electric guitar solo and tips to make it sound exactly like him. 

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Oh Sanam as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Chords, Rhythm, and Arrangement, Chord Embellishment, Song Demo and Song Lesson without Capo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!