Introduction

In this video lesson Mike Walker teaches how to play the song But It Rained as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Solo, Chords, Rhythm, and Overdubs, Solo Lesson, Song Demo and Overdubs with Backing Track. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Welcome to the guitar lesson on what is a fun experimental track collaborated upon by Pritam and Shah Rukh Khan, Safar from the movie Jab Harry Met Sejal, a modern Indian interpretation of the 1989 Hollywood film When Harry Met Sally. The song has received over 15 million views on YouTube since its release in 2017.

The song is about life as a journey, which is the underlying theme of the movie. Specifically, the narrative around the circle of life, returning to the place one started from after a long journey, i.e. Safar. The lyrical motif of the song is “I don’t belong here or there, I belong to the journey”.

Safar Guitar Lesson

Safar guitar lesson is taught by our beloved expert, Mike Walker, who explains all the different sections of the song in a section-by-section manner, starting from the intro that talks about the chords and different voicings of those chords, through the overdubs and the guitar solo section, to the final section that talks about improvisation on the track.

The song is mostly in the key of C major, but by the genius of Pritam, one of the most prominent music directors of the Bollywood music industry, the song also goes to the G major. The D major and the F major chords, which straddle the two keys, create a unique sound for the song.

The song intro has a swinging rhythm pattern and follows minor 7th and suspended chords, underlying the uncertain, ambiguous and suspenseful nature of the journey of life. The guitar solo is based on the A minor pentatonic scale and features string bending and controlled vibrato techniques, which are very good for practicing those techniques for a beginner.

The acoustic and electric overdubbed motifs play between the verses and chorus, again using techniques like palm-muted picking that the tutor refers to as ‘percolated’ effect on the electric guitar and a major 7th arpeggio on the acoustic guitar.

In the section on improvisation, the tutor demonstrates some of the advanced techniques like pinch harmonics and a whammy bar dive and legato runs. These techniques played over the A minor pentatonic scale up and down the neck make it sound like a classic rock guitar solo.

FAQs

Q. Is Safar suitable for beginners?

The chords themselves are basic, but the song's phrasing and dynamic control may require practice. Beginners can start by learning the chord changes and then focus on the strumming pattern.

Q. What are the main chords used in Safar?

The primary chords are Am7, Fsus2, Dmaj9, with occasional transitions to an F# major in the first section of the song; the latter part of the song features the standard F, C, G and D major chords.

Q. What is the strumming pattern for the song?

The strumming follows a gentle, flowing 4/4 rhythm, down, down-up, up-down-up sequence. Fingerpicking can also be used for the intro and verses to make it feel melodic.

In this video lesson Bobby Koelble teaches how to play the song Main Kya Karoon as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Intro Piece, Verse 1 and Chorus, Solo Lesson, Violin Chords, Verse 2, Outro Section , Song Demo and Easy Version. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Aashiyan means home, and this is one of the few songs from modern-day Bollywood that actually conveys the meaning of comfort, joy, and belonging. When you play this song on guitar, it makes it possible for you to express emotions with the help of music. 

Fun Fact: The song was inspired by French Cafe music with the special use of Accordion, which plays a swing-style rhythm. Composer Pritam really wanted the song to feel like it is coming straight from a European street performance, which matches up with the silent-film feel of Barfi’s storytelling. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: Here is the suggested arpeggio-picking pattern that you can learn if you want to use the fingerpicking technique: 

For chords with the root on the 5th string (like C, Am, F):

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4

(T – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1)

For chords with the root on the 6th string (like G):

6 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 4

(T – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1)

• T = Thumb, 
• 1 = Index, 
• 2 = Middle, 
• 3 = Ring.

Strumming Pattern 

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

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: The introduction is by Mike Walker who is going to be your guitar instructor for this lesson. Here, he talks about the complexity of the song, how it has a jazz tone to it, and how he’s going to show a copy version of the song, which is a lot easier to play and beginner-friendly at the same time. 

Chords, Rhythm, and Song Arrangement: The song is present in the key of B, and the intro section can be played freely, but even for that, you need to learn the chords and rhythms that are present here for you to learn. 

Song Demo: In this part of the guitar lesson you will get to know how to play the guitar parts of the song with the backing track. 

Easy Version: Right here, Mike shows you how you can place a capo on the 4th fret to play the easier guitar version of the song. 

Why Learn Aashiyan Song?

The melody of the song is quite catchy, making it ideal for singing and playing the song on guitar at the same time. It also helps in improving your strumming control, timing, and sensitivity to the music, which allows you to easily shift between verses and chorus. 

FAQs – Aashiyan From The Movie Barfi Guitar Lesson

Q1. Is Aashiyan's song beginner-friendly on guitar?

Ans. The chords used in the song are pretty simple, and the strumming pattern, too, is beginner-friendly. 

Q2. What is the original key of the song?

Ans. The song is present in the key of B, making it suitable for guitarists who are just starting their musical journey. 

Q3. Are there arpeggios used in the song Aashiyan? 

Ans. The original recording of the song uses full instrumentation, but if you want, you can add a little arpeggio pattern during the verse section of the song. 

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Hai Junoon 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!

Welcome to the guitar lesson on Uthe Sabke Kadam, a charming, feel-good song from the 1979 romantic comedy Baton Baton Mein. Directed by Basu Chatterjee, the film follows the everyday romance between Amol Palekar and Tina Munim, with the story unfolding in the local trains and cosy apartments of suburban Mumbai. This track, composed by Rajesh Roshan with lyrics by Amit Khanna, brings joy into the narrative. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Amit Kumar, and Pearl Padamsee, the song is playful and carefree, much like the spirit of the film itself. It celebrates the small but happy moments of life.

The tune of Uthe Sabke Kadam is famously similar to the American folk song Polly Wolly Doodle, which first appeared in the 1935 Shirley Temple film The Littlest Rebel. While it has sparked conversations around musical inspiration and cultural borrowing, it also shows how melodies can travel and take new forms in different corners of the world. In the film, the song captures a montage of the characters just being themselves. 

Uthe Sabke Kadam – Guitar Lesson

This lesson is taught by our instructor, Steve Luciano. He breaks down the entire track in a simple, section-by-section format that lets you learn at your own pace. The song uses a capo on the 5th fret, which allows you to play easy open chords while still staying in the original key. The chords used are C major, G major, F major, and D minor. Steve starts by showing how to position the capo, and then goes straight into the chord shapes with a clear explanation of where your fingers should go and how to transition smoothly between each one.

The strumming in this song is bouncy and follows the upbeat mood of the track. Steve keeps it light, using a basic down-up rhythm with a swing feel. He also shows how to add slight accents to certain beats to match the original groove of the track. One of the great things about this song is that you don’t need to know any advanced music theory to make it sound good. As long as you get the rhythm right and strum with energy, you’ll be able to capture the song’s vibe.

What really helps in this lesson is how Steve focuses on the song’s flow. Instead of just playing the chords in isolation, he walks through how the chords and rhythm work together to carry the melody. He demonstrates how the transitions match with the lyrics and phrasing, which helps you not just play the chords, but actually feel the song. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have a full performance version ready to go.

FAQs

Q. What level is this song suited for?

This lesson is perfect for beginners. If you can play basic open chords and use a capo, you’ll find this one very approachable.

Q. Do I need to use a capo for this version?

Yes, the capo is placed on the 5th fret. This keeps the chord shapes simple while matching the original pitch of the song.

In this video lesson Pawan Jalan teaches how to play the song Pukarta Chala Hoon Main 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!

In this video lesson J.J. Pattishall teaches how to play the song Gustakh Dil 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, Overdub Section 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 Sham as part of our guitar series on Indian songs. The song is broken down into multiple lessons for easy learning - Introduction, Song Arrangement, Song Demo, Easy Version, Solo 1, Solo 2 and Solo 3. Don't forget to make use of the chords and tabs provided with the song lesson!

Iktara is the soul-touching song composed by none other than Amit Trivedi, and the lyrics of the song were penned down by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The song plays a crucial role in the movie, reflecting the personal growth of the main character and his introspection. 

Fun Fact: The song was not meant to be the emotional centrepiece of the movie; in fact, it was added pretty late in the film because the production team felt that there was a need for a soulful and reflective track in the movie. 

Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson

Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: The given progression C – G – Am – F has to be repeated throughout the verse, and it forms the base of the arpeggiated picking. 

Apart from this, the basic arpeggio pattern which you should follow is this: P – I – M – A – M – I. 

Apply this to:

• C chord (P = 5th string)
• G chord (P = 6th string)
• Am chord (P = 5th string)
• F chord (P = 6th string)

Strumming Pattern 

The strumming pattern that you need to follow for this song is D – D U – U D U.

• D = Down Strum. 
• U = Up Strum. 

Song Structure 

Introduction: In the introduction of this song lesson, Steve gives an overview of the song and the things you are going to learn in this lesson. He also gives you a sneak peek of how the song uses open chords and easy strumming patterns that are beginner-friendly. 

Song Arrangement: Here you are going to learn the chords and rhythm of the main guitar, which sets the tone of the song. Steve will show you all the base notes that you require to play this one. 

Solo 1: This solo is present in the key of G, and Steve will play the solo for you to show you where you need to put your fingers in order to mimic the exact sound that you hear in the song. 

Solo 2: The second solo is a bit longer than the first one, and it is present in the G tonality. You can copy the finger placement that is used by Steve in this lesson, or you can change it according to your comfort and knowledge. 

Song Demo: In the final section of this guitar lesson, Steve is going to play the guitar parts of the song while the song is being played in the background. 

FAQS – Iktara (Original) Song Guitar Lesson

Q1. Who composed the song Iktara for the movie Wake Up Sid? 

Ans. The song was composed by Amit Trivedi and sung by Kavita Seth and Amitabh Bhattacharya. 

Q2. Is the song beginner-friendly for people who are new to guitar? 

Ans. Yes, it is considered to be a great song for beginners to learn as it features open chords and has a gentle strumming pattern. 

Q3. Are there any arpeggios present in the song Iktara? 

Ans. Yes, you can use arpeggios in the intro and verse section of the song; it works pretty well with the soft acoustic version. 

Pashmina – Introduction

Welcome to the guitar lesson on one of the most delicately composed love songs in Hindi cinema — Pashmina by Amit Trivedi, from the 2016 film Fitoor. The song is a soft, poetic track that floats between romance and melancholy, wrapped in layers of orchestration and Amit Trivedi's unique singing style. The film itself was an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, and Pashmina works as a musical expression of the complex emotions in the story.

The word Pashmina refers to an extremely fine wool from Kashmir, and in the song, it becomes a metaphor for love — soft, rich, intricate, and fragile. The lyrics, written by Swanand Kirkire, are as layered as the melody, bringing out that sense of a love that can’t be held too tightly, or it will slip away. The song has been compared by some to western tracks like California by Phantom Planet, but Pashmina stands on its own because of the way it mixes classical Indian textures with modern songwriting.

Pashmina – Guitar Lesson

This is an easy acoustic version of Pashmina, taught by Mike Walker, with the goal of helping beginner players fall in love with the guitar just as much as they love the song. The version is played with a capo on the 5th fret, which raises the pitch to match the original recording, while keeping the chord shapes extremely simple and familiar.

The chords used are Am, D, Em, F, C, and G — all open chords, which means if you know your basics, you’ll be able to play this version comfortably. Mike goes over every chord change and voicing with clear instructions, making this lesson feel very hands-on.

The progression flows in a way that lets the emotional content of the song shine through. The use of Am and Em, both minor chords, gives the song a slightly wistful tone, while G and C open up the resolution at the right moments.

The chord changes follow the original mood of the track, but are simplified to make it more accessible. Even the F chord, which can be tricky for beginners, is demonstrated with alternate fingerings and techniques so that anyone can play it with enough practice.

The strumming pattern is relaxed and meant to match the fluid movement of the melody. There’s no pressure to play it fast — in fact, slowing it down helps bring out the beauty of the song. Mike also talks about how to let your fingers move smoothly between chords and how to make the transitions sound clean without breaking the rhythm. You’ll also learn how to use dynamics — like playing softer or louder — to really bring out the emotion in different sections of the song.

FAQs

Q. Is this lesson suitable for absolute beginners?

Yes, this version is made especially for beginners. If you know your basic open chords and can change between them slowly, you’ll be able to follow along easily.

Q. What tuning is used in this version of Pashmina?

This song is played in standard tuning with a capo on the 5th fret to match the original key.