At Guitar Tricks® we make learning how to play songs a lot of fun!
Our instructors cover every section of the song slowly at first, and once you get each part down you get to play along with a professional backing band! For difficult songs we offer a 'Songs Made Easy' version for beginners, which is simplified to the basic chords and one guitar part.
Each song includes accurate guitar tabs as well as standard music notation.
Free Lesson: Sweet Home Alabama (Made Easy!)
Anders will show you this classic Southern Rock anthem in a version that has been made easy, so you can hang at any level.
This is a really fun song that almost everyone knows, and it features three basic chords repeating throughout the whole song, so if you can learn and perform even the simplest version of it, it is bound to pay off.
In this tutorial Tom Finch will teach you to play "Oye Como Va", as made famous by Santana. We'll take a look at the signature lead lines and soloing, the classic ensemble rhythmic breaks, we'll learn the chords and comping styles, the rhythmic hooks, the chromatic descending line, and finally we'll play through the tune from top to bottom. Enjoy!
Get your love beads on and learn to play this fun and easy classic. We opted for a simple approach to this song, so we'll be delving into a solo guitar version by Janis Joplin. We'll look at the chords, strumming patterns, and guitar work...and we'll also look at the overall song structure, and what it is that makes this "cinematic" country song "tick".
In this set of lessons, Anders Mouridsen will teach you "Tush", by ZZ Top. After giving an overview of the song and talking about the gear and tones, Anders will dive right into the main intro riff and the verse. The we're on to the slide solo in two parts, followed by solo #2. The we'll look at how to play all the parts using one guitar, to help in playing this song live. We'll end with a play along, then you take over and jam by yourself with the backing track.
In this tutorial, Henrik Linde will teach "Back in the U.S.S.R.", as made famous by The Beatles. We'll introduce the song and talk about gear and tone, then learn the lead and rhythm in the song intro. The verse rhythm is up next, then we'll look at the chorus parts before breaking down the bridge. We'll detail the cool solo, then head to the outro, then do full and single guitar performances. You'll take over in the "guitar karaoke" jam along.
In this set of 10 videos, Anders Mouridsen will teach you "Susie Q", as performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Anders will give an overview and talk about the tones, then dive into the classic riff. You'll then learn the verses, and the rhythm guitar. The next 3 lessons are all solos, then you'll do a play along performance and then you're on your own in the jam along.
In this short, easy song tutorial, Mike Olekshy is going to guide you through the acoustic grunge song "Polly", as made famous by Nirvana. Mike will first talk about the grungy acoustic tone. Next up is the break-down of the verse section with just four easy power chords, and the chorus section with just four easy power chords too. Then we'll do a full song performance so you can play along.
In this song tutorial, Anders Mouridsen will teach you the 1974 hit by the Eagles, "Already Gone". Anders will explain the gear and tone for the song, then dig into the song intro, verse, and chorus. He'll then teach you the lead fills that come in the second verse and chorus, followed by the solo after the second chorus. Then he takes a look at some rhythm guitar, more lead fills, and the leads in the outro jam. We'll take it out with a play-along performance.
Caren will show you how to play a made easy version of this song that teaches you all the chords and parts to play along with the band on this iconic tune.
Mike will show you the 2 guitar layers in this song. Guitar 1 is an acoustic guitar that lays the foundation of the tune with some steady, consistent strumming. Guitar 2 is an electric guitar that plays the intro and solo melodies originally played by a 6 string bass on the recording.
In this series of lessons, Hunter Perrin is going to teach you "Gimme Three Steps", by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hunter will go over the lessons then delve into the gear and tone a bit, then he'll break down the cool intro riffing and lead. We'll learn the verse rhythm before we take on the 1st solo, then get into the chorus rhythm. The 2nd solo comes next, then the outro solo; we'll tie things up with a play along performance and a jam along.
Mike will show you all the parts in this early 60s surf instrumental, from the iconic melody to the rhythm guitar chord progression. There's also the vibrato-bar heavy "surf guitar sounding" technique to dig into.
In this set of lessons, Mike Olekshy will teach "Interstate Love Song", by Stone Temple Pilots. Mike will give a synopsis of the lessons and discuss gear and tone, then present the intro parts on acoustic, electric, and slide before slamming into the signature main riff. The verse and chorus parts that comprise most of the song are next, then we'll do a play along performance, a single guitar performance, then a jam along where you take over.
Mike will show you both guitar layers in this song. Guitar 1 is a crunch electric guitar tuned one whole step down from standard tuning, playing both rhythm and lead guitar. Guitar 2 is also a crunch electric that plays only rhythm, and is tuned to standard tuning.
Lisa McCormick gives you a complete tour of this classic 70s hit by Cat Stevens, guiding you through the song form and chord structure, strumming rhythms, signature riffs, and the songwriting sensibilities. You get a full play-along at the end of the tutorial, plus a bonus lesson at the very end!
In this set of lessons, Douglas Showalter will teach you "Change the World", performed by Eric Clapton. After an introduction and a look at the gear and tones, we're off to the acoustic motif; then the choruses. Then we'll learn the solo of the song, the outro, then the ambient electric parts. We'll do a full performance play along, a single guitar performance, then end with a jam along.
In this six lesson song tutorial, we'll learn the parts of the "Batman Theme", as made famous by The Ventures in the 1960's. You'll use your knowledge of basic pentatonic scales and box patterns, learn the simple chromatic hook riff that is central to the song, how the rhythm breaks work, how to play the simple solo, and how to voice the Batman vocals on guitar. We'll cap it all off with a play along to a custom "bat" backing track!
Welcome to a giant standard in the classic rock catalog. In this series, we'll explore how to take simple chords and scales and add a healthy dose of chops to learn Carry On Wayward Son. This tutorial will methodically break down all the major song riffs as well as the solos, the tempos and feels, the rhythmic elements, the tone and gear, and lots more. We hope you are warmed up!
In this nine lesson tutorial, Tom Finch will guide you through the various parts of the classic rock hit, "Don't Fear the Reaper" as made famous by Blue Oyster Cult. We'll examine the gear and tone, the classic hook, the pre-chorus and chorus chords and structure, tasty fills in the chorus, the intriguing form in the song and solo, the final chorus, and a play along at the end. Get out your cowbell!
In this set of fourteen lessons, Mike Olekshy guides you through all the parts to the alt rock song "Kryptonite", as made famous by 3 Doors Down. Mike talks about the gear and tone, then tunes you in to the arpeggiated chord riff and the strumming. There's an effected single line motif that he'll show you, and the crunch guitar in the verses and chorus. There's some variations in the verses that you'll learn as well, and a main guitar solo with the rhythm parts underneath plus an outro solo. Then we'll play the song through with a backing track.
In this set of acoustic lessons, Henrik Linde will teach "Five Hundred Miles" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. Henrik will give a song overview and talk about the acoustic tones, then teach the intro, verse, and chorus parts in a strumming version. Following that we'll break down a more challenging finger picked approach to all the sections. We'll conclude with play along performances and jam along for both the strumming and finger picking.
