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song guides and technique tips from our teachers
featured Song Guide
Sounding like they just found a long lost Punk demo-tape, Surf Curse take you back to the 1970s with the ridiculously catchy Freaks. More surprising still, this track recorded in 2013 has become a Spotify Billion-streams lister. Freaks is a classic electric guitar punk thrasher. Rock out!
Latest Technique Tip
If you're thinking of starting guitar lessons, finding the right teacher for you is crucial! If you get the right start on the instrument, you'll have a much smoother time moving forward. Finding a new guitar teacher can be daunting, especially if you’re completely new to guitar. But we’re here to help! With a few tips, you can make the process a little bit easier and set yourself up for success straight away. Read on!
most popular song guides
Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish is the title track from her second album Happier Than Ever. Released in 2021, the casual, old-school guitar style makes it sounds more like a 1950s Country lament until the energy starts to build towards the Grunge/thrash style ending. An intelligent mix of chords and the blending of styles make it a great song for acoustic guitarists.
Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes is the big global hit from their 2003 album Elephant. Based on a simple seven-note riff it, became the White Stripes’ most enduring hit and remains popular around the world on radio, television and streaming formats. The riff, repeated in power chords, and the solo based on the same tune make it a perfect choice for developing electric guitarists.
The classic ‘90s hit from Oasis that became their signature song and epitomizes the whole Britpop era. The opening strains from the rhythm guitar are one of the most recognizable of all strumming songs. The original is played on acoustic steel-string but it sounds great on electrics too. Not so suitable for nylon-strings though; you won’t get the jangle!
This lovely fingerstyle number has become a wedding staple around the world since its release in 2017. Whilst the original is played on acoustic steel-strings, it sounds great on classical guitar. It can also sound good on electric guitars with medium-heavy gauge strings and wider spacing to allow for comfortable finger-picking.
Wow, a current hit song with a prominent and continuous electric guitar part! Okay, we’re doing it! Medium tempo number that doesn’t just repeat the same four bars over and over (what a relief)! The part is intelligently arranged and fits really neatly with the percussion track, making it a good chart to play along with. Works best on electric but will also sound okay on steel-string acoustic.
Sounding like they just found a long lost Punk demo-tape, Surf Curse take you back to the 1970s with the ridiculously catchy Freaks. More surprising still, this track recorded in 2013 has become a Spotify Billion-streams lister. Freaks is a classic electric guitar punk thrasher. Rock out!
Good Luck, Babe by Chappell Roan is one of the biggest global hits of 2024. A brilliant ‘80s Pop takeoff, it may not feature guitar but it’s steady rhythm and classic structure make it perfectly playable for developing guitarists. This rhythm chart is a suggested part for an accompaniment guitar and is ideal for guitarist-singers.
Better Man is one of Robbie Williams’ most popular songs and is also the title track of his 2024 biopic film Better Man. Originally from his 2000 album Sing When You’re Winning this version of Better Man is based on Robbie’s concert version from that time. Featuring common open-position chords, and a moderately slow tempo, this chart makes an excellent rhythm guitar piece for developing players.
Sailor Song by Gigi Perez has been a top 10 hit in numerous countries in the second half of 2024, including reaching No.1 in the UK. It’s dreamy alt-pop soundscape features a sophisticated, interesting strumming pattern that makes an excellent rhythm study for developing acoustic guitarists. Sailor Song is a great example of how you can make a simple progression sound interesting.
Jingle Bells is one of the most popular, most cheery and infectious of all Christmas songs. The 19th Century original by James Pierpont (the WIkipedia entry for it is well worth a read) refers to sleigh bells as ‘jingle bells’ but you don’t have to be in a snow-bound place to know this song - it gets sung everywhere from Greenland to the Australian Outback! This finger-style version includes chord symbols so a second guitar/ukulele can accompany with the chords, or for a sing along and hey, the whole lot can go together! Merry Christmas all!
Leave The Door Open is the big-production Philadelphia-Soul style hit from the 2021 album An Evening With Silk Sonic by the ‘super duo’ Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak. A Top 10 hit in over twenty countries, Leave The Door Open is a fantastic advanced chord study piece for guitarists to help develop their understanding of jazz harmony.