Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm

Introduction

It’s Time is the debut single by the American rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released as the leading single from the band’s first major label EP which was Continued Silence. In the same year the band included this song in their first feature album. 

It’s Time is the staple of Imagine Dragons’s live concert; they usually play this song in the beginning of their performance as it is the first song which gave the band its much needed recognition in the American music scene. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song It's Time as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement and Song Demo. 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 It’s Time is present in the key of D 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern that you have to follow for this song is D-DU-UD-DU, which means: 

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause or slight break

Song Structure 

Introduction: In this part of the guitar lesson Mike Walker your music instructor is going to show you the tuning requirements for the song. 

Song Arrangement: Here, you are going to learn how to play specific chords in the open chord style. In addition to this, you will also learn the lick, which you will be playing over and over again in the verses. 

Song Demo: This is the last part of this guitar song lesson where Mike is going to teach you how to play the guitar section alongside the backing track. 

Good Times Bad Times - Introduction

Good Times Bad Times" is the first song on Led Zeppelin's 1969 debut album. The band released it as their first single in America. John Paul Jones wrote the main riff on a Hammond organ before playing it on bass. Jimmy Page used a Fender Telecaster guitar with a Tone Bender pedal for a fuzzy sound.

John Bonham played fast triplets on his bass drum with one foot. This drum technique impressed Jimi Hendrix. Robert Plant recorded his vocals twice to make them sound thicker. The song was almost called "A Man I Know" before they changed the title.

Good Times Bad Times Guitar Lesson

Mike Dugan's lesson breaks down every essential element of this classic track. The song's foundation lies in its deceptively simple power chord progression in E major. What makes it unique is the sliding technique between chords rather than the typical staccato approach. When playing the main riff (E5-D5-A5), focus on smoothly gliding between positions while maintaining steady palm muting for that tight, punchy sound. The verse rhythm follows a syncopated pattern that locks perfectly with John Bonham's groundbreaking drum work.

The guitar solo represents one of Jimmy Page's most inventive early recordings. Using a Leslie speaker cabinet (typically used for organs), Page created that distinctive swirling, phase-shifted tone. The solo primarily uses the E minor pentatonic scale (E-G-A-B-D) but incorporates several blues techniques. Pay special attention to the quick hammer-on/pull-off licks between the 12th and 15th frets on the B string, and the dramatic whole-step bends on the G string at the 14th fret. The solo's second half features rapid alternate picking that requires precise right-hand control.

For the rhythm parts, the secret lies in the dynamic contrast between sections. The verses use a tight, muted strumming pattern (down-up-down-up with emphasis on beats 2 and 4), while the choruses open up with full, ringing chords. Notice how Page slightly delays his strums during the verses to create that signature laid-back groove. The bridge section introduces a clever variation with quick chord changes (E-D-C#m-B) that build tension before returning to the main riff.

Advanced players should study the subtle nuances that make this recording special. Page's use of partial chords (often just the root and fifth with occasional added octaves) creates a lean, powerful sound. His muting technique - a combination of left-hand fret muting and right-hand palm muting - gives the rhythm parts their distinctive percussive quality. For authentic tone, use a Telecaster with the tone knob rolled back slightly, a medium-gain overdrive, and a small tube amp set clean with just a touch of natural breakup.

FAQs

Q. What tuning does this song use?

Standard tuning (E A D G B E). No special tuning needed.

Q. Is this song good for beginners?

The power chords are easy, but the slides and strumming take practice.

Q. What guitar effects were used?

Page used a Tone Bender fuzz pedal and Leslie speaker on the solo.

Perfect - Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that needs no introduction. Perfect by Ed Sheeran topped all the charts in 2017 and became a super duper hit worldwide. This song has now become part of mainstream pop youth culture. All lovers, depending on their heartbroken status, either love or hate this song. It has collected more than 4.9 billion views (almost half of humanity) on YouTube since its release and has been in all the romance playlists on every streaming service platform.

The song is a ballad celebrating the traditional marriage relationship between two lovers, written about Sheeran’s wife-to-be, Cherry Seaborn, whom he had known since he was in school and then reconnected with her when she was working in New York. Sheeran has said the song captures the feeling of finding "the one" - that magical moment when you realise you've met your soulmate.

Perfect Guitar Lesson

The guitar lesson on Perfect is an easy one. Nevertheless, the lesson has many sections that talk about the chords and rhythm of the song, and a section on improvisation where the instructor is demonstrating how to solo over the track.

The song only has four chords, namely – G - Em7 - Cadd9 - D, which the tutor explains is meant to be played with the capo on the 1st fret, as does Sheeran himself in live performances. The strumming of the song goes in triplets of 4, covering four bars of music.

The thing about minor 7th chords and augmented chords used in the song is that in the open position, they share some of the notes, and when chords share notes, the phenomenon of voice leading occurs. Voice leading is when the notes of one chord lead to another, creating an interesting movement between anticipation and resolution in the music.

Although the studio recording version of the song uses a capo on the first fret, the lesson here demonstrates both ways, with and without a capo, of playing the song in its entirety. The song follows a 12/8 time signature, and the rhythm sounds like that of a waltz, which makes it an easy song to dance to, especially with one’s lover.

The lesson makes available Perfect lyrics and chords along with the video lesson, which the advanced players can refer to when learning the song.

FAQs

Q. What is the story behind Ed Sheeran's song Perfect?

Perfect was written by Ed Sheeran as a love song for his then-girlfriend (now wife) Cherry Seaborn. The lyrics describe their real-life romance, from meeting as teenagers to falling in love as adults.

Q. What key is Perfect?

Perfect is written in the key of Ab major (G major for live performances), though most guitarists use a capo on the 1st fret to make the chords easier to play. This transposition means you'll be playing standard shapes like G, Em, C and D but hearing them in Ab major.

In this video lesson Mike Dugan teaches how to play the song Can't Help Falling in Love as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Verse (Chords, Rhythm, and Singing) and Bridge 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 Lakh Duniya Kahe 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 and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Jiyein Kyun as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Chords, Rhythm, and Backing Track. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Tere Bina is a Sufi-inspired melody with a pinch of soft rock melody sprinkled here and there to elevate the song. It’s a great song to learn on guitar for both beginners and intermediate guitar players.

The perfectly tuned voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan adds a lot of weight to the overall song. Likewise, Tere Bina was composed by Sajid-Wajid, and the musical duo did everything to snug deep emotions in the song as they went with a semi-classical vocal style with this song. 

In this song, you are going to find gentle instruments like guitar, soft percussion, and orchestral elements, which help the composer duo create an emotionally intense atmosphere while still making the overall song soothing and pleasing to the ears. 

Tere Bina became one of the most popular songs from the movie Tezz, which is an action-packed thriller; the presence of such a romantic song in an action flick did raise some concern among directors, but in the end, composers managed to convince the director to keep it in the movie, and the result was truly outstanding. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recorded his vocals for this song in just one take, making it possible for Sajid-Wajid to capture the raw emotions and pain which was represented in the lyrics. 

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern for this song has to be slow because it requires the guitarist to match their strumming with that of light fingerpicking. For the acoustic version of the song, here’s the common pattern you need to follow on 4/4 time signature: D – D U – U D U

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Why Learn Tere Bina Song On Guitar?

It’s a song that includes a flowing chord progression, which makes it sound both emotional and rich when you play it on guitar. If you are someone who is trying to play guitar and vocals together, then this is the one song that you should definitely learn. It’s going to boost your confidence in mellow acoustic sets and even when you play it in open mics. 

To match the soothing mood of the song, you can use fingerpicking, but be sure to be gentle with strings as you play them. In addition to this, you have to be easy on strumming to create a more rhythmic sound; both of these techniques, which you will learn here in this song lesson, will allow you to develop control and tone. 

Apart from this, learning Tera Bina from the movie Tezz is a great way to explore Bollywood ballads and intricate Sufi elements. This song shows you how harmony can complement powerful lyrics and melody at the same time. 

Dil Kya Kare is from the 1975 film Julie is a hit song that, over the years, has fallen into the category of classic love songs. The song was composed by Rajesh Roshan, and the legendary Kishore Kumar gave the vocals. 

Fun Fact: The song Dil Kya Kare was recorded in one take by Kishore Kumar, the infusions of so much emotion in his voice during the first take of the recording that the entire team decided not to for another session, which is a rare occurrence in the film music industry 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction of the guitar lesson Dil Kya Kare by J.J. Pattishall describes the technicalities of the song. In addition to this, your guitar instructor gives you an overview of the things you are about to learn in the coming sections. 

Chords and Rhythm: In this part, you will be learning how to play the different chords that are part of this song, and after that, J.J. will share his insights on the rhythm technique that you have to follow. 

Verse, Prechorus and Chorus: In this section, J.J. has divided the song into three primary sections, starting with the verse, then comes pre chorus and finally chorus. Your guitar instructor will show you where and how to play the chords on the guitar, which you have just learned in the above section. 

Licks, Interlude, and Bridge: Right here, you will learn the chords required to play the instrumental section present in the song. 

Song Demo: This is the final part of the guitar lesson where J.J. Pattishall will play the guitar chords with the backing track to show you how to sync up your guitar play with that of the vocals present in the song. 

Why Learn Dil Kya Kare Song?

Learning this song on guitar is not only musically enriching, but it is emotionally rewarding as well. With this song, you will be able to comprehend the masterclass in melody that used to be part of old Bollywood songs. In addition to this, it will help you get the essence of Indian compositions, which can give you an advantage in terms of adding variety to your guitar playing style. 

FAQS – Dil Kya Kare Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What should be the mood and the playing style for the song Dil Kya Kare from the movie Julie? 

Ans. This is a romantic song combined with a love ballad, so it is required that you keep the tempo slow to create a melancholic and yet soothing tone. 

Q2. Is the song Dil Kya Kare suitable for beginners? 

Ans. Yes, in order to play this, you need to learn basic open chords, and when you are playing it on guitar, the pace of the song is slow, making it easier for newcomers to practice and learn. 

Q3. Can I sing this song as I play it on my guitar? 

Ans. Yes, you can, both the rhythm and the chord progression are singer-friendly, especially when you are playing solo. 

Humnava is a soulful and emotional song; the song is known for having a heart-touching melody and simple yet expressive chord progression. It’s an ideal song for every guitarist who wishes to combine technical skills with that of musical feeling. 

This version of the song uses open chords, making it quite easier for beginners to learn in jiffy. The song's tempo is pretty soothing and steady, which makes it a perfect option for individuals who wish to sing and play their guitar at the same time. 

Song Structure 

Song Arrangement: This right here is the easier guitar version of the song Humnava provided by Steve Luciano. In this song arrangement, Steve shows how it is different from the full version. In addition to this, the strumming pattern is quite straightforward as well, and you will first learn how to play the intro part, then the verse, and finally the outro. 

Song Demo: Right here, Steve is going to give a proper guitar demo of this song from start to finish as the backing track gets played alongside. 

Why Learn Humnava Song On Guitar?

As you play this song, you will learn how to switch between open chords to create a clean transition quickly; this will improve your control over fretting hands along with the overall fluency of the instrument. 

The gentle strumming pattern that you will learn here is going to help you maintain consistent timing and dynamics. 

FAQs – Humnava Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. In which key do I have to play the song Humnava on guitar?

Ans. You should play this song in a key of A minor; the A minor is responsible for providing it with a melancholic, soulful sound. Likewise, if you wish to play it like an original track, you might require a capo on the first fret or 2nd fret, depending on the version you wish to play. 

Q2. Which particular scales can I use in the song Humnava for pushing melodic fills or solos in the song? 

Ans. The A minor scale and A minor pentatonic scale work perfectly for creating an emotional intro for this song. 

Q3. What time signature does the song Humnava is present in? 

Ans. This song lesson follows a 4/4 time signature, which is quite easy to keep up and suitable for practicing timing and dynamics.

Q4. Shall I use fingerpicking with this song? 

Ans. If you wish, you can go with fingerpicking in parts of the song Humnava; for starters, you can replace standard strumming with a back Travis picking or a simple plucking pattern. With these replacements, you will be giving this song a more delicate and intimate feel.