Non Capo Version

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 favorite, 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 quiet, 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.

Introduction:

The Middle was released by the band Jimmy Eat World in October 2001 as the second single of their fourth album called, Bleed American (2001). The song became an instant hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2002 and it also reached top 50 in various other countries like Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The Middle is a power chord driven song which includes fast strumming as well. But if you want you can add arpeggios for adding a bit of variation. 

The optional arpeggio-picking pattern is as follows: 

E|----------------|  

B|------3--------|  

G|----2---2------|  

D|--0-------0----|  

A|--------------|  

E|--------------|  

Strumming Pattern 

This song has open power chords in the chorus section and palm muting in the verses, giving it a classic high-energy-punk rock feel. 

The strumming pattern goes like this: D - D - D - U - D - U  

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum
• - = Pause (mute or let the chord ring)

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction Mike Walker your guitar instructor will teach you how to tune up your guitar in order to play this song. 

Song Demo: This is the final part where Mike will play the guitar part of the song while it plays at the back to show you how to sync up with other instruments and vocals. 

Song Arrangement: Here you will learn how to play the intro, and the middle section of the song along with required intervals which provides the riff of the song that iconic sound. 

Overdubs: In this part of the guitar lesson, you will be learning about the overdubs that you will be playing besides verses 1, 2 and 3. 

Solo Lesson: In this section Mike is going to teach you piece-by-piece how to play the solo of The Middle and give you tips on how to make it sound melodic. 

Why Learn The Middle By Jimmy Eat The World Song?

For someone who is into punk-rock, Jimmy Eat The World’s The Middle is the holy grail of punk music to start with. The main riff of the song is pretty catchy and it can be played using easy power chords. Also, this song can be used as a great introduction to palm muting which allows you to build tight rhythm playing. 

FAQs-The Middle By Jimmy Eat The World Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What is the meaning behind the song “The Middle?”

Ans. It reflects the hard time that the band had to go through when there was no funding, and they had kept things simple in their recording rather than doing experimentation as they were doing in their previous records. 

Q2. When did Jimmy Eat The World start?

Ans. The band was formed in 1993 and they released their debut EP, entitled One, Two, Three and Four in 1994 under Wooden Blue Records. 

Q3. What is the music genre of Jimmy Eat The World?

Ans. The sound the band created falls in the category of punk rock; the first demo tape of the band was released in 1993, followed by their debut EP.

Introduction

This is the most iconic instrumental theme of one of the greatest mafia movies ever produced by Hollywood. The theme was produced by Nino Rota for the film The Godfather in 1972. The lyrics of the song were written by Larry Kuski, and the original song was composed by Nino Rota. The English version of the song was sung by Angela Bacari. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Godfather Theme as part of our guitar series on English songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction and Chords, Solo, Song Demo and Improvisation. 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: For the most part, the song is in the key of F. 

Song Structure 

Introduction and Chords: In this section of the guitar lesson Mike walker your guitar instructor shows you how to tune the guitar for this song. Likewise, Mike also talks about which chord progression you need to follow for this song. 

Solo: The melody of Godfather theme is divided in 2 sections and here Mike shows you how to play both of them separately and as one after you master both the parts. 

Song Demo: In the song demo, you will learn how to play the entirety of the song with the backing track. Mike also highlights the importance of improvisation, which you should be doing, as the song playing the iconic tune on the guitar is a bit more challenging than playing other rock and metal songs. 

Improvisation: Here, you will learn all the improvisation techniques that Mike has used to play this song. Furthermore, you will learn the alternative scales, which come in handy during your initial plays if you are a beginner. 

Tum Ho is a song that A.R. Rahman was made specifically for Mohit Chauhan’s voice. He asked Mohit to sing this song like a whisper that came from the heart, and the result of his instruction led to one of the most mesmerizing songs of the new Bollywood era. 

Fun Fact: According to many insiders, A.R. Rahman composed the song Tum Ho in complete silence, late at night, in his studio in order to make sure he is able to feel the spiritual and emotional loneliness of the character Jordan. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The arpeggio pattern you need to follow for this song is (P - I - M - A - M - I). In addition to this, the standard fingerpicking pattern is: 

• Thumb (P) for the bass note (6th, 5th, or 4th string depending on the chord)
• Index (I) for the 3rd (G) string
• Middle (M) for the 2nd (B) string
• Ring (A) for the 1st (high E) string

Strumming Pattern 

The main strumming pattern that you need to follow is D - DU - UDU

• U = Down Strum 
• U = Up Strum 

Song Structure 

Tum Ho Lesson with Capo: In this part of the guitar lesson, the guitar instructor, Will MacMorran, shows you how to play the guitar parts of the song Tum Ho by using capo on the 2nd fret. 

Song with Backing Track: After he teaches you how to play the chords, Will is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track. 

Lesson without Capo: In case you don’t have a cap, you can watch this part of the guitar lesson to learn how to play the song without using a capo. 

Why Learn Tum Ho From Rockstar?

Tum Ho is a song filled with emotions, longing, and finding spiritual love. If you are someone who wants to express emotion through melody, this is the right song to begin with. It uses basic guitar chords that are easy to play but they do sound rich when you strum or pick them. 

FAQs – Tum Ho From Rockstar Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who was the vocalist for the song Tum Ho from the movie Rockstar? 

Ans. Mohit Chauhan was the man behind the soulful vocals of the song Tum Ho. Along with him the female portion of the song was sung by Suzanne D’Mello. 

Q2. What particular theme does the song Tum Ho touch? 

Ans. Tum Ho is a song about deep love, longing for someone, and trying to find a spiritual connection between the two souls. 

Q3. In which genre does Tum Ho fit in? 

Ans. Tum Ho is a soft rock. Along with this, it is also a romantic ballad with the addition of ambient textures that come to life with the help of acoustic guitar, piano, and even orchestral backing. 

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Maa as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction and Arpeggios, Verse and Rhythm, Interlude and Chorus and Solo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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. 

Introduction

I Will Wait is a song by Mumford & Sons. It was released in the United States in 2012 as a lead single for their second studio album, Babel (2012). Rolling Stones Magazine named this song as the 13th-best song that came out that year. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: In the key of D flat, you have to put on a capo on the first fret of your guitar to play this song. 

Strumming Pattern 

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

• D = Down strum
• U = Up strum

This strumming pattern results in a rolling, percussive feel, which resonates with the song’s energetic drive. 

Song Structure 

• Introduction: In this part of the guitar lesson, your guitar instructor talks about the song and the band Mumford & Sons. He will also teach you how to tune the guitar in order to play this song. 
• Chords and Rhythm: In this section, you will learn how to play both the rhythm and the vocal sections of the song. Furthermore, J.J. Pattishall will show you how to keep up with the underlying rhythm of the song. 
• Song Arrangement: This part of the guitar lesson is divided into five different sections: intro, verse, pre-chorus, bridge, and chorus to make it easier for you to learn chord progressions that you need to play at a certain point in the song. 
• Sing and Play: Here, you will learn how to sing along as you play chords on the guitar. Your guitar instructor will show you how you can mark certain downbeats to steer your vocal in the right direction as you sing along. 
• Song Demo: At this point, J.J is going to give a demo of the song where he plays the song on guitar and sings along with the backing track. 
• Non-Capo Version: This is the alternative version of the song, which does not require capo at all. 

In this video lesson Will MacMorran teaches how to play the song Why This Kolaveri Di as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, Rhythm, & Solo and Kolaveri Di Improvisation. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!