Perhaps one of the hardest rocking bands of its era, Led Zeppelin is often considered the predecessor to heavy metal. With a heavy guitar-driven sound and a strong blues-rock influence the band put out hits like Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love. Whole Lotta Love with its freeform middle section which built to a [...]
Category Archives: How to Play Songs on Guitar
How to play Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
He’s one of the greatest guitarists in rock and roll history. In fact, Eric Clapton, got his nickname, Slowhand, because of his guitar skill. He’s been successful in his career with the bands Cream and The Yardbirds as well as in his own solo career. While most musicians are inspired by the relationships around them, [...]
How to play Wonderwall by Oasis
Wonderwall is a song by the band Oasis. The song was a mega-hit for the band but it wasn’t their first. Oasis found success with the release of their first album, Definitely Maybe. Their second studio album with songs like Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova found even greater success and broke several records. Though the group’s [...]
How to play Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
The song Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is the song that almost wasn’t. An intensely personal song, the lyrics were written by Anthony Kiedis to express his feelings about the impact drugs had on his life and his feelings during that time. After some convincing, Kiedis presented the song to the [...]
How to play Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
English progressive rock band Pink Floyd blazed trails with its musical experimentation, cutting edge style and over-the-top live shoes. The band produced thought- provoking, mind-exploring music and earned critical acclaim. Perhaps one of the best known songs, and definitely the song most guitarists desire to learn is Wish You Were Here. The song explores themes [...]
How to play Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi has been rocking audiences since the 1980s. Hailing from Sayreville, New Jersey, the band gained worldwide recognition with its third album Slippery When Wet in 1986. After the album’s success the band toured non-stop until finally taking a hiatus in 1990. The band returned two years later with the album Keep the Faith. [...]
How to play Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix
In a musician’s world, sometimes that spark of genius comes not from the rehearsed performance but from the impromptu jam session. That’s how the classic song Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix was born into existence. But then again nothing was ever really rehearsed with Hendrix. Many of his greatest performances veered away from the songs [...]
How to play The Times They Are a-Changin’ by Bob Dylan
When American singer-songwriter and poet Bob Dylan first appeared on the scene, he had a voice that turned off some people but had a message that appealed to many. With his poetic and politically charged lyrics he became a prominent figure in the anti-war and civil rights movements. Dylan’s music and lyrics inspired a generation [...]
How to play Taylor by Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson is an American folk singer, songwriter and musician, known for his laid-back tunes and acoustic stylings. Son of well-known surfer Jeff Johnson, the Hawaii-born Jack Johnson initially pursued a career in professional surfing. That pursuit ended after a bad surfing accident at Pipeline which resulted in 150 stitches to his head and a [...]
How to play Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
It was a terrible tragedy that inspired one of Eric Clapton’s most successful songs, Tears in Heaven. Clapton had been working with Will Jennings for a particular song for the soundtrack to the movie Rush. During the process Clapton was inspired to write a song about his four-year-old son, who had recently died. Despite the [...]
How to play Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
When the radio plays the song Sweet Home Alabama by Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and those infamous first words are uttered “Turn it up” you can’t help but comply. The song was a response to Neil Young’s Southern Man. In the song the band’s producer can actually be heard lightly singing Southern Man in [...]
How to play Santeria by Sublime
Santeria is a song by ska-punk band Sublime. The band first gained popularity outside of the Los Angeles area with the song Date Rape off their debut album. Their second album brought them further into the limelight. However, it was their third and last album that brought them the most success, propelled by the song [...]
How to play Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper
Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals first gained popularity with college radio airplay. Written by Harper, the song is one of his more mainstream songs reaching #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult top 40 Tracks in 2000. The song may have reached mainstream, but Harper had been a well-respected musician [...]
How to play Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
The song Ring of Fire was the biggest hit by country music icon Johnny Cash. The song stayed at the number one spot on the charts for seven weeks. The song was written by June Carter with the term Ring of Fire, referring to falling in love, which is how she felt about Johnny Cash [...]
How to play No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley
No Woman, No Cry is a reggae song by Bob Marley off the 1974 album Natty Dread. The album was a first in a lot of ways for Marley. It was the first time the band recorded as Bob Marley and The Wailers. It was the first time they recorded without former bandmates Peter Tosh [...]
How to play Please Bleed by Ben Harper
Growing up with the musical influences that Ben Harper had when he was young, it’s no surprise that he is the musical powerhouse that he has become. The American singer-songwriter grew up around his grandparent’s music store with exposure to many influential musicians. That exposure helped shape Harper’s music infusing a mix of soul, blues, [...]
How to play Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
Nothing Else Matters is a song by Metallica that marked a departure from the band’s metal thrash sound and a move toward a more commercial metal sound. Released off the album Metallica, the song reached #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. And the top ten in many European countries. The song was written [...]
How to play Light My Fire by The Doors
The song Light My Fire was a song by The Doors, an American band that were an influential part of the psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s. When the single Light My Fire was released, the song catapulted the band to success. The song is ranked #35 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 Greatest [...]
How to play Layla by Eric Clapton
The song Layla was written by Eric Clapton when he was with his band Derek and the Dominoes. It appears on the band’s album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Layla has been performed in both a rocking electric version and a stripped down acoustic version. The song was written about the wife of Clapton’s [...]
How to play I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash
I Walk the Line is a classic Johnny Cash song and one of his first hits. The song is actually a defining hit for Cash whose later songs would feature the “boom-chicka-boom” sound developed in I Walk the Line. The song is a classic but it’s not hard to play. In fact it’s a great [...]
How to play I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton
I Shot the Sheriff is a song by Eric Clapton that has become a favorite Clapton song for many. The song was originally a Bob Marley song but when Clapton covered it the song became a hit. In fact, it’s Clapton’s only #1 hit in the U.S. I Shot the Sheriff remains an important introduction [...]
How to play Hurt by Johnny Cash
Hurt is a song that was one of Johnny Cash’s final hits before his death. The song was originally written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Cash’s dramatic acoustic version makes a definite impact, however, it’s an easy song to play. Reznor was a little hestitant when first hearing about Cash covering the song, [...]
How to play Hotel California by The Eagles
Hotel California is a song by The Eagles that talks about the excesses of life in the music industry and the high price of success. The song and its cryptic lyrics describe the band’s first impressions of Los Angeles when they first arrived in the city. Through the years people have interpreted the song to [...]
How to play Hey There Delilah by Plain White Tee’s
Hey There Delilah by the Plain White Tee’s is a love song about a long-distance romance. It’s a sincere love song that features a catchy melody that has a way of staying with you. Plain White Tee’s achieved their biggest success to date with this song, which was a hit in both the U.S. and [...]
How to play Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe is a song that was made popular by Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s when he recorded it with his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song is the story of a man who shoots his wife and is on the run to Mexico. The song was popular in the UK but failed to [...]
How to play Help! by The Beatles
Help! was a hit by The Beatles that came from both the album and film of the same name. The song was written primarily by John Lennon but was credited to Lennon/McCartney as were all The Beatles songs. The song was written about The Beatles quick rise to fame.The album’s release in the United States [...]
How to play Flake by Jack Johnson
Flake by singer-songwriter Jack Johnson is a laid back song that makes easy listening at any time. Like many of Johnson’s songs, Flake is a mostly acoustic arrangement with the mellow sound that Johnson is known for. Johnson is a musician, surfer and film director. He has directed and composed the music for a number [...]
How to play Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Comfortably Numb is an iconic song by Pink Floyd that any guitarist would love to have in their repertoire. It’s highly regarded for its guitar solo by David Gilmour. The solo has been featured in many “best of” lists by the likes of Guitarist and Guitar World magazines. A dark melody and meaningful lyrics has allowed this rock classic to endure. It remains one of the most requested and played songs by Pink Floyd.
How to play Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
Brown Eyed Girl is a classic song by singer songwriter Van Morrison. The song has an upbeat tempo and fun lyrics. Brown Eyed girl still gets popular radio air play and has been covered by many bands.
The song is great for a novice guitarist to learn because of its simple structure and use of just four main chords. A distinctive intro makes the song a little more challenging and a lot of fun to play.
How to play Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House
Better Be Home Soon is a song by the Australian rock group Crowded House and released in July 1988. The song is a great display of singer-songwriter Neil Finn’s writing prowess. Though it only performed moderately well in the United States and British charts, the song peaked at number two on the Australian charts.
An acoustic favorite, the song has a catchy chorus and melody that’s unforgettable. It’s a good song for novice guitarists to learn and because of that melody and a unique strumming technique that offers just a bit of challenge.
How to play Angie by The Rolling Stones
The song Angie by The Rolling Stones is an acoustic driven ballad about the end of a romance. Written by band members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song is regularly played by the band in live performances and has been covered extensively by many other bands.
The song’s distinctive piano chords were played by The Rolling Stones recording regular Nicky Hopkins, and the strings on the piece were arranged by Nicky Harrison. An interesting fact about Angie is that a “ghost vocal” can be faintly heard on the song, which is Jagger’s vocal guide track.
How to play Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
There are many great bands, but only a few can make as big of an impression, or as lasting of one as Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin forever changed the way bands rock. With their guitar-driven sound infused with a blues-rock influence the band presented a sound like no other when they first arrived on the [...]
How to play Blackbird by The Beatles
Despite its rhythmic and pleasant melody, Blackbird is a song with a much deeper meaning. It’s a song written by Paul McCartney—though credit as usual was given to Lennon-McCartney—while McCartney was in Scotland. He was inspired to write it after seeing footage of the racial tension happening in the U.S. during the 60s.
The song remains a beautiful ode to a time of upheaval and civil unrest. The combination of lyrical meaning and moving melody makes Blackbird a great song to learn.
How to play Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
The song Everybody Hurts was released off the album Automatic for the People, by R.E.M. The song and the album itself was largely seen as a departure from the band’s established alternative rock sound. Even so, the subdued sounds of the album didn’t cause fans to turn away and the album hit #2 on the [...]
How to play Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses is an American hard rock band that created a stir in the late 1980s and early 1990s with its rebelliousness and punk attitude. The band is a fusion of punk rock, blues-rock, heavy metal and hard rock. The band’s image and sound is largely based on Finnish band Hanoi Rocks, of which [...]
How to play Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits
Dire Straits came onto the scene with nothing but a demo cut of Sultans of Swing. The song got radio rotation on Radio London and quickly gained popularity. That song caught the attention of record executives and Dire Straits was on its way to becoming a best selling music group. Marked by a bluesy, laid [...]
How to play Back in Black by ACDC
Australian rock band ACDC is known for its hard rocking sound and one of the greatest rock songs of all time, Back in Black. Written as a celebratory song, Back in Black is actually a tribute to the band’s former lead singer Bon Scott who died in 1980 of alcohol poisoning. The band didn’t want [...]
How to play Drive by Incubus
Drive is an excellent song by Incubus that allowed the band to cross over into mainstream. The song gave the band a chance to show off its songwriting skills and paved the way for an even more successful follow up album.
Drive is notable for its strong guitar riff and acoustic elements. The song has been played in a variety of ways. It’s been acoustic and electric, and has been remixed and reconstructed. No matter how it’s played it remains one of Incubus’ best.
How to play Redemption Song by Bob Marley
When Bob Marley wrote Redemption Song he had already been diagnosed with cancer. Some say that the song is Marley coming to terms with his mortality. Some of the lyrics are taken from a speech by Marcus Garvey, a Pan-Africanist orator. Redemption Song is off the album Uprising and like many of the songs on [...]
How to play Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix is an iconic song of the psychedelic rock days of the 1960s. The song is often considered Hendrix’s greatest song by both critics and music lovers alike. The song is often thought to be about drugs, however Hendrix has repeatedly denied that, saying instead that it’s just another love song [...]
How to play Night Moves by Bob Seger
The song Night Moves is a nostalgic look at teenage love by American rock musician Bob Seger. Seger’s raspy voice and honest lyrics invoke a sincere reminiscence of a coming of age romance. The song brought Seger to fame after finding success as an artist in the Detroit area as The Bob Seger System. Night [...]
How to play More Than Words by Extreme
More than Words is a beautiful ballad by rock band Extreme, in which the writer urges a loved one to express that love in more than words. The ballad was a huge hit for the band, but it was quite a departure from the band’s usual hard-rocking, guitar-heavy sound. Nonetheless More than Words was the [...]
How to play Moondance by Van Morrison
Moondance is a jazzy song by Irish musician Van Morrison. The song was the title track of his 1970 album but was not released as a single until seven and a half years after the album’s release. It was finally released in 1977 with the B-side single Cold Wind in August which was featured on [...]
How to play Fire and Rain by James Taylor
Fire and Rain by James Taylor is really the song that launched his career. The song talks about some traumatic times in Taylor’s life. Yet, the song has a simple, quiet melody. Released in 1971, Fire and Rain is an acoustic song with a melody that is just as unforgettable as the lyrics. When it [...]
How to play Everlong by Foo Fighters
Everlong is a rocking song by the Foo Fighters. Coming from a band that was founded by an excellent drummer, formerly of the notorious band Nirvana, the sound is pure guitar magic featuring some really rocking riffs. Everlong is the second release from the band’s second album but it’s one that left an indelible impact, [...]
How to play Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Dust in the Wind is a moody acoustic song by the band Kansas that is a popular song with guitarists. It has an unforgettable melody that is all at once rich and varied yet derived from what was originally meant to be a finger exercise. The song is remarkable in that it uses only three [...]
How to play Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix
Little Wing is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967. The unique thing about the song is that it was played through a Leslie speaker along with some distortion to create a unique sound. Like much of the album Little Wing uses a lot of recording techniques, [...]
How to Play All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix
All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix is a powerful and well crafted rock song. Originally written and performed by Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix’s treatment of this song has helped establish All Along The Watchtower as one of the greatest rock songs ever.
How to play Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson
Always On My Mind is a beautifully written country ballad, that has been recorded by many artists. One of the most memorable rendition’s is one by country singer Willie Nelson.
The song features lyrics infused with emotion. Nelson’s sincere vocals and laid back stylings give the song a depth of feeling and makes it a great version for performers of all skill levels.
How to Play Adam’s Song by Blink 182
Adam’s Song has a very strong motif which is played on an electric guitar with some effects.
The same little riff can be played on an acoustic guitar and it sounds fantastic. If you are want to learn how to play Adam’s song you will need to learn this motif, the chorus and a few other little parts.
We have made a full video lesson which breaks down each section into manageable chunks. If you would like to see the preview and the first chapter of the video the link below will take you to the Song lesson in SongPond. For now here is some information about Blink 182 and Adam’s Song.
How to Play Sunshine of Your Love by Cream
Sunshine of Your Love by Cream is now live on SongPond. Mark McKenzie presents another incredible lesson and sheds light on all the intricacies involved in playing this song (This is the perfect chance to exercise your vibrato muscles and practice your new skills in context). Getting this Rock ‘n’ Roll anthem under your belt [...]