Introduction

Pasoori – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that is a masterclass in songwriting and storytelling, and essentially art. Ali and Shae wrote an Urdu-Punjabi song that became the most-streamed Coke Studio song on YouTube, with more than 800 million views.

Pasoori is a song that is layered in its meanings relating to themes of conflict in love, life, chaos, self-expression, and the partition event. The lyrical metaphors have strong emotional, societal and political connotations and are presented in the style of the folk-pop genre.

The inspiration of the song, as Ali mentions, came from a quote in Punjabi written on the back of a transport truck that said ‘aag lavaan teri majbooriyan nu’ (set fire to your compultions), which he then followed up with ‘aan jaan di pasoori nu’ (the crisis of coming and going), symbolising the conflict of not just love but also the daily trades of life.

Pasoori Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, the tutor goes over all the parts of the song, section by section, displaying the techniques needed to play them perfectly. The song has three verses and three choruses and one bridge section that has a Baglama (a Turkish stringed instrument) solo and a mandolin solo, which are explained in detail by the instructor.

The song is in the key of B minor and can be easily played in the open position on the guitar using the standard chord shapes. Since the rhythm and beat of the song resembles that of reggaeton music, the strumming sounds like a shuffle between the chord changes and goes like D’ U D U’ D U D U - D’ D’ D’ (D is a downstrum and U is an upward strum, and the ‘ is an accented strum). It is a unique spin on the rhythm that sounds Oriental or Middle Eastern as well as Indian at the same time.

The song, having Oriental motifs, features what is known in music theory as the Andalusian cadence, i.e. usage of the chords A minor - G - F - E in sequence in the chorus sections. The tutor demonstrates the full song in its entirety and also includes a section on how to improvise on the track.

FAQs

Q. Why is Pasoori so popular?

The song is popular because of the catchy tune that has been given to the chorus of the song and because of the romantic expression of the lyrics that rides on the upbeat tempo of the song. There is one more factor for its success, which is cultural association –phrases like ‘gheo di churi’, which is a sweet dish popular in the Sindh region, triggered nostalgia among the regional north indians.

Q. What chords are used in Pasoori?

Pasoori uses simple open chords like Bm, G, F, Em, E and F#. These chords create its signature melancholic yet catchy melody.

Q. Is Pasoori suitable for beginners?

Yes, Pasoori is ideal for beginners because of its open chord voicings and moderate tempo. It helps learners practice smooth transitions and strumming patterns.

Shukran Allah is a timeless romantic ballad that is created with a combination of simplicity, soul, and subtle musicality. The composition is the brainchild of none other than Shankar-Eshaan-Loy, and it effortlessly weaves together elegant instrumentation with heartfelt lyrics. 

This song isn’t flashy, and neither is it complex, but it’s the song you need to learn if you wish to understand how a melody is controlled on guitar and how you are able to express emotions with it. The song is built on a simple yet effective chord progression, which is rooted in C major or D major, making it a beginner-friendly guitar song to learn. 

The gentle acoustic guitar elements in the original recording of the song translate wonderfully when you play this song solo. One of the biggest lessons you will have from this song is developing musical sensitivity. 

Strumming Pattern 

The tonality of the song is gentle, so it requires a light and flowing strumming pattern that compliments its romantic and airy vibe; here is the required pattern that would be best for beginners: D – D U – U D U. 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

When you are practicing this song, make sure you emphasize the second downstroke in order to create a gentle, rhythmic pulse. During the verse section of the song, play the strumming pattern as lightly as possible, or you can even make a switch to fingerpicking for an intimate feel. 

There is an optional strumming pattern that you can follow: D – x U – U D U. 

Here, X is a soft, muted strum; this adds a whole new sound texture to your strumming. 

Why Learn Shukran Allah Song On Guitar?

The song is not just another generic Bollywood number that you learn on guitar; it’s a routine, an exercise that helps you subtly build chord control, making this song a brilliant choice for guitar learners. 

FAQs – Shukran Allah Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What time signature do you need to follow to play Shukran Allah on guitar? 

Ans. The song follows a 4/4 time signature, which makes it a simple and straightforward guitar song for beginners to learn about rhythm and timing. 

Q2. Is the song Shukran Allah a good song to practice singing and playing guitar at the same time? 

Ans. Yes, due to its steady rhythm and simple chord progression, you don’t have to keep a lot of fret positions in your mind when playing it. In addition to this, the acoustic nature of the song makes it possible for you to experiment with simple arpeggios or even fingerpicking patterns. 

Q3. Can I use chord inversions or higher fret voicings in the song Shukran Allah? 

Ans. Yes, it is possible, but we do not recommend beginners or even intermediate guitar players to try it out because then you have to learn every single inverted or partial chord, which is equivalent to the original one. 

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Ilahi 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!

If you are searching for a song that has stood the test of time, then O Mere Dil Ke Chain is surely one of the songs that popped in your head. It’s a timeless romantic classic from the golden age of Bollywood. The song was originally sung by none other than Kishore Kumar, and the composer was a legend of his field, Mr R.D. Burman.

As you learn this song on guitar, you will be exploring the influence of vintage melodies, and this song will teach you how to master smooth chord transitions. Simply said, it’s a song for everyone, from teenagers to millennials and even grandads; everyone loves this song and knows its lyrics through and through.

Strumming Pattern

This slow classic ballad follows 4/4 time. In addition to this, the strumming pattern of this song is pretty subtle, soft, and rhythmic, which matches the overall mellow tone of the song. The basic strumming pattern that you need to follow for this one is: D – D U – U D U.

D = Down Strum.

U = Up Strum.

Song Structure

Introduction: The introduction is from J.J. Pattishall, who is going to be your guitar instructor for this guitar lesson. He first tells you that the song is in the B-flat minor, and then he shows you how to tune up the guitar in order to play this song.

Chords and Rhythm: In this part of the lesson, your guitar instructor will show you all the different chords that you will be using in this song, and after that, he will show you the rhythm that you have to follow.

Verse, Pre-chorus, and Chorus: J.J. has divided the song into three parts, which are chorus, verse, and then there is an extended part, which is a pre-chorus.

Licks, Interlude, and Bridge: Here you will learn all the extra little details like chords for the bridge, interlude, and licks. All of these will help you create a cohesive tune for the overall song.

Song Demo: Finally, in this section, J.J. will play the guitar with the backing track to show you how to sync up your guitar chords with those of the vocals and other instruments that are part of the song.

Why Learn O Mere Dil Ke Chain Song?

This is one of those classic old songs from Bollywood that are still relevant to this day, making it possible for you to dive into the golden era of Bollywood music while enhancing your expressive and technical guitar playing skills. 

Dil Haaray Pukaray - Introduction

Dil Haaray Pukaray is a timeless track from Pakistani pop-rock band JAL's debut album Aadat released in 2004. Composed and performed by Goher Mumtaz, the song beautifully captures the band's signature style of emotional lyrics blended with melodic guitar work. Its themes of love and heartbreak struck a chord with listeners across South Asia, helping establish JAL as one of the region's most influential pop-rock acts. The song's enduring popularity led to its inclusion in the remastered 20th anniversary edition of Aadat in 2024.

The track features gentle acoustic guitar arpeggios that create a melancholic yet soothing atmosphere. Goher's heartfelt vocals float over the instrumentation, delivering lyrics that speak directly to the pain of unrequited love. What makes this song special is its ability to balance simplicity with deep emotion - the melody stays with you long after the song ends. The 2024 remaster gives the recording new clarity while preserving its original emotional impact.

Dil Haaray Pukaray Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson breaks down the song's beautiful guitar work. The track is in the key of G major and uses a flowing chord progression of G-Em-C-D throughout most of the song. The magic lies in the delicate fingerpicking pattern that carries the melody. Use your thumb for the bass notes (G, E, C, D) and fingers for the higher strings to recreate the original recording's texture.

The intro and verses feature a signature arpeggio pattern that moves between these chords. Play it slowly at first, focusing on clean note separation before building speed. The chorus introduces slightly fuller strumming while maintaining the song's gentle feel. Pay attention to the dynamics - the verses are softer, while the chorus opens up with more volume and emotion.

For the lead parts, the melody follows the vocal line closely using notes from the G major scale. The fills between verses incorporate hammer-ons and pull-offs on the B and high E strings. The solo section is minimal but expressive, with subtle bends and vibrato that match Goher's vocal style. Use a clean tone with reverb to mimic the song's soundscape.

Beginners should start by mastering the basic chord shapes and transitions. The slow tempo makes this a good song for practicing changes between G, Em, C and D. Intermediate players can work on fingerpicking nuances and dynamic control that give the song its depth.

FAQs

Q. What tuning is used in this song?

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

Q. Is this song suitable for beginners?

Yes, the chords are basic and tempo is slow, making it great for practice.

Q. What guitar tone works best?

A clean acoustic tone with light reverb matches the original recording well.

Q. Can I play it with a pick instead of fingers?

You can, but fingerstyle better captures the song's delicate character.