Introduction

Bulleya - Introduction

Bulleya is a groundbreaking Sufi rock song by the legendary Pakistani band Junoon, released in 1999 as part of their album Parvaaz. The track is an adaptation of the poetry of Bulleh Shah, a revered Punjabi Sufi saint, questioning identity and divine love. Composed by Salman Ahmad, the song blends Western rock energy with Eastern spiritual depth, featuring electric guitar riffs, bluesy vocals by Ali Azmat, and traditional tabla rhythms.

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Bulleya became Junoon’s signature track, celebrated for its fusion of rock and Sufi philosophy. The lyrics—"Bullah ki jaana main kaun" ("I know not who I am")—reflect the Sufi quest for self-discovery beyond religious labels. Over the years, the song has been reimagined multiple times, including an English version in 2010, and remains a staple in Junoon’s live performances, inspiring countless covers across South Asia.

Bulleya Guitar Lesson

Taught by Salman Ahmad himself, this lesson breaks down the song’s unique chord progressions and Sufi-rock fusion. The track uses D9, Am, Dm7♭9, G6, E7sus4, and Esus4, creating a hypnotic, spiritually charged sound. The D9 (xx0230) and Dm7♭9 (xx0111) chords add tension, while G6 (320000) and E7sus4 (020200) provide resolution, mirroring the song’s themes of seeking and surrender.

The rhythm alternates between a rock-driven 4/4 strum and qawwali-inspired grooves. The main riff, played on electric guitar, uses the D minor pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C) with bluesy bends. The verse follows D9 - Am - G6, while the chorus shifts to E7sus4 - Esus4, creating a call-and-response effect. The bridge introduces a Dm7♭9 - G6 vamp, emphasising the Sufi trance-like quality.

For the lead parts, Salman’s playing combines Eastern phrasing (sliding between notes like in a raga) with Western rock techniques (sustained bends, wah pedal). The solo builds on the D harmonic minor scale (D-E-F-G-A-B♭-C#), adding a mystical edge.

Beginners should focus on the D9 and Am transitions first. Intermediate players can work on the sus4 chords and bluesy licks. Advanced players should explore the modal interchange between D minor and D Mixolydian (D-E-F#-G-A-B-C), a key element in Junoon’s sound.

FAQs

Q. How to play the Dm7b9 chord?

Fret the 1st fret on high E (F), 1st on B (C), and leave G open (xx0111).

Q. What’s the strumming pattern for the song Bulleya by Junoon?

Verses: Down-down-up-up-down | Chorus: Aggressive downstrokes on E7sus4.

Q. Why does the E7sus4 go to the Esus4?

The suspended notes (A in E7sus4 resolving to G# in Esus4) mimic qawwali vocal ornamentation.

Q. What is the best way to practice bends?

Target the F to G (1st to 3rd fret, B string)—a key bluesy motif in the solo.

Afreen Afreen - Introduction

Afreen Afreen is a legendary Sufi-inspired love song originally composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the 1990s. The song’s poetic lyrics, written by Javed Akhtar, celebrate divine beauty and love through rich metaphors. The 2016 Coke Studio Pakistan version, performed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Momina Mustehsan, brought the song back into the spotlight. Their rendition blends classical Sufi elements with modern production, creating a mesmerising duet that captivated millions worldwide.

The Coke Studio version stands out for its emotional depth and stunning vocal performances. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s powerful qawwali-style singing contrasts with Momina Mustehsan’s softer tone. The arrangement mixes traditional instruments like the tabla and harmonium with electric guitars and synths, giving the song a fresh feel. With over 500 million YouTube views, this version remains one of the most beloved Pakistani songs ever recorded.

Afreen Afreen Guitar Lesson

Taught by Mike Walker, this lesson covers how to play "Afreen Afreen" in Eb standard tuning (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb). The song is in A major, but since the guitars are tuned down a half-step, the shapes you play will sound in Bb major. The main chord progression follows A - F#m - D - E, creating a rich, emotional foundation for the vocals.

The strumming pattern is slow and flowing, matching the song’s romantic mood. Use downstrokes on the main beats with light upstrokes in between to keep the rhythm gentle. The verses feature arpeggiated chords, where you pluck individual strings to highlight the melody. The chorus switches to fuller strums for a bigger sound.

For the lead parts, the song uses the A major scale (A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#) with occasional slides and bends for expression. The instrumental breaks include melodic phrases inspired by classical Indian music, so focus on smooth transitions between notes. The tuning (Eb standard) gives the guitar a deeper, warmer tone that fits the song’s soulful vibe.

Beginners should start by learning the chord shapes and slow strumming. Intermediate players can work on the arpeggios and lead fills. Advanced players should focus on the nuances, like vibrato and dynamics, to capture the song’s emotional depth.

FAQs

Q. Why is the tuning Eb standard?

The lower tuning matches the original recording’s key and gives the guitar a richer, deeper sound.

Q. How do I play the arpeggios smoothly?

Pluck each string one by one in order (root, third, fifth) and let the notes ring together.

Q. What scale is used for the lead parts?

The A major scale, with occasional bends and slides for a vocal-like feel.

Q. Can I play this in standard tuning?

Yes, but you’ll need to transpose the chords up a half-step (Bb major shapes).

Q. How to make it sound more authentic?

Add light reverb and play with expressive phrasing, mimicking the vocal melodies.

Honey Singh is a man who can sing whatever he wants, and people are surely going to love his music. If you don’t believe this statement, then you need to check out Dheere Dheere Se's song from Honey Singh. 

It’s a completely different genre for Honey Singh, but he still nailed it and made the song popular. This romantic Bollywood number was repeated by TV channels and radio shows. The song retains the classic 90s charm while adding a smooth and contemporary vibe to the composition. 

We have made sure that this guitar song lesson is accessible for beginners; that’s why we have asked the guitar instructor to use basic chords and rhythms in this lesson. In addition to this, if you are an intermediate guitar player, you can experiment with chord embellishments or melodic fills to make the song sound more interesting and upbeat.  

Even though this song doesn’t fit in the overall aura of Honey Singh and his discography, still the song was able to cross 500 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most viewed Bollywood songs on the internet. 

Why Learn Dheere Dheere Se Mere Zindagi Song On Guitar?

Dheere Dheere is a soulful song that is perfect for beginners to learn on guitar. It sounds amazing when played on acoustic guitar, and you only need to practice open chords like G, Em, C, D, and others like them for this song. 

In addition to this, this particular Honey Singh song has a gentle melody, and the lyrics haven’t been changed a lot. As a result, if you are thinking about playing it live, it’s a perfect song to make people join your performance and sing their hearts out. 

Furthermore, it's a song that teaches you how to control your rhythm and have clean transitions between the chords, which is one of the essential skills that every guitarist needs to learn if they wish to be more than just a casual player. 

FAQs – Dheere Dheere Se Mere Zindagi Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. What are some modal characteristics present in the song Dheere Dheere by Honey Singh?

Ans. The song follows Ionian mode, which is basically playing a major scale with the help of capo placement on the fret. With the Ionian mode, you get a bright, melodic, and uplifting feel to the song, even if the tempo of the song is slow and mellow. 

Q2. Can I use alternate tuning for the song Dheere Dheere by Honey Singh?

Ans. In all honesty, you don’t have to use alternate tuning for this song, but if you wish to, we would ask you to use Drop D tuning (D A D G B E); this will make the guitar give a much deeper and bassy response, but make sure you do adjust the chords shapes accordingly as they will be substantially changed.

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai 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!

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song Kill Dil Title Track as part of our Guitar series on song lessons. The song lesson is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

If needed add some text content with lesson to show on viewer's screen.

In this video lesson Steve Luciano teaches how to play the song Nakkaddwaley Disco Udhaarwaley Khisko as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Intro, Chord, and Rhythm. 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.