Introduction, Chords, and Rhythm

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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 Jee Le Zara as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, and Rhythm and Song Demo. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

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

Introduction:

Jo Bhi Main is a song that represents the feelings of many teenagers and young individuals who feel that their words are mostly misunderstood. Their words are trapped in their thoughts, and they are finding it hard to express themselves to the world, including their loved ones.  

The song appears early in the movie Rockstar, showcasing Jordan’s transformation from Janardhan Jakhar. 

Fun Fact: For the song, A.R. Rahman brought a group of people on board to give their voices for the background chorus, which was the “Aa... Aa... Aa...” instead of creating the voice of the crowd digitally. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson:

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The song is present in the G major, but if you have a capo, you can put it on the 3rd fret and play the song E major shape to match the original recording of the song. 

The arpeggio section of the song is as follows: 

P I M A M I

| | | | | |

6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for Em, G)

5 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for C)

4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 (for D)

Strumming Pattern:

The strumming pattern is pretty mellow, smooth, and expressive; in order to play this song on the guitar, you have to learn the following pattern: D - DU - UD - U 

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure:

Intro Piece, Chords, & Rhythm: In this section of the guitar lesson, Steve Luciano, your guitar instructor, is going to show you how to play the intro piece of the song with basic guitar chords, the rhythm of the song which you need to follow and other important things which makes it easier for you to play this song. 

Jo Bhi Main (Solo Lesson): The second part of the guitar lesson is taught by Mike Walker where he shows you how to play the iconic guitar solo from the song. The solo starts with the E-minor and Mike has divided it into multiple sections for easier compression. 

Why Learn this Song on Guitar?

Jo Bhi Main is a Bollywood song that is soulful and yet packs amazing rock punches, which made it so popular among teenagers and adults alike. The song uses basic guitar chords depending on the key you choose, thus making it great for individuals who are new to guitar playing. 

In addition to this, the mellow strumming pattern matches up with the depth of the lyrics; this song has a great dynamic of being played softly and with higher intensity. 

FAQs-Jo Bhi Main (Rockstar) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who was the lead singer for the song Jo Bhi Main from Rockstar? 

Ans. The lead singer for this song was none other than Mohit Chauhan. The composition of the song was done by A.R. Rahman, and the lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil. 

Q2. What is the theme of the song Jo Bhi Main? 

Ans. With this song, the lyricist is trying to express the inner turmoil, self-doubt, and Jordan’s inability to express his true feelings while he is on his journey of becoming a musical maestro. 

Q3. In what genre does Jo Bhi Main fall in? 

Ans. This song is a blend of Indian melodies with that of a rock ballad; the fusion is typical of A.R. Rahman's signature, which he is known for. 

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. 

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Oh My Love as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Piano Section, Chords, Rhythm, and Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Intro and Final Solos and Easy Version. 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 Tu Jaane Na as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, and Rhythm. 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 Tu Jaane Na (Kailash Kher) as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chords, and Rhythm. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!