Paul McCartney got the idea for this song when he jumped in a cab and asked the driver, “How've you been?”

The guy’s response was, “Oh, working hard…working eight days a week.”

Below, I want to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Eight Days A Week” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Eight Days A Week?

“Eight Days A Week” was written primarily by Paul McCartney. However, it’s officially credited to the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. 

The Beatles recorded “Eight Days A Week” at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London on October 6 and 18, 1964. George Martin was at the helm producing, and the song is noted as one of the first ever pop songs to fade in. This was a technique suggested by recording engineer Norman Smith. 

“Eight Days A Week” was released in the UK on the album Beatles for Sale in December 1964. Shortly after, it was issued as a single in the US in February 1965. This is when it bec...

True story:

The first version of this song I learned on guitar was actually the cover version done by Marilyn Manson.

But it’s a haunting song, touching on the complexities of human relationships and the music industry. 

Below, I want to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Sweet Dreams” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sweet Dreams?

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” was originally written by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart – the British duo also known as Eurythmics. It’s one of the most iconic synth-pop songs of the 80s.

The song came about during a chaotic period following the breakup of their previous band, The Tourists, and their personal relationship. Lennox and Stewart were together however, they didn’t work out, but still remained musically active together. 

Lennox described the lyrics as reflecting a sense of disillusionment and vulnerability, stating, "I was feeling very vulnerable. The song was an expre...

Here’s a groovy love song written from Paul McCartney to Jane Asher. It’s got some fiery guitar parts laid down by John Lennon and George Harrison.

For me, this one brings back nostalgia of simpler times. Times where loyalty and commitment seem to have held more value in society. 

Below I’m going to dive into the LEAD and RHYTHM guitar styles behind it.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “All My Loving” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote All My Loving?

"All My Loving" was written by Paul McCartney, though as with all Beatles songs, it’s credited to Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership. While John Lennon contributed to many of their early songs, this one was almost entirely Paul’s work, both in lyrics and melody.

The lyrics to “All My Loving” read like a love letter from someone about to (temporarily) leave their lover. But they promise to remain faithful and dream of coming home. I get the feeling Paul McCartney is a pretty standup guy. Too bad so many women seem t...

Ever dream of being in a band?

Hanging out with friends, playing music, groupies… the works.

Well, here’s a song about some kids doing just that back in 1969.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Summer of '69” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Summer of '69?

"Summer of '69" was written by Bryan Adams (Canadian singer-songwriter and musician) and his longtime songwriting collaborator, Jim Vallance. It’s one of Bryan’s most iconic songs from his fourth studio album, Reckless released in 1984. "Summer of '69" sings of the excitement around forming a band and chasing musical dreams. The lyrics have a feeling of longing for the past and the bittersweet nature of reminiscence.​

The recording of "Summer of '69" was done in 1984 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada. It was produced by both Adams and Bob Clearmountain. The recording process involved multiple takes to perfect its distinctive sound.​

It was later released as a single in June 1985 and the song ...

J.J. Cale sang:

===

After midnight… We're gonna let it all hang out.

===

It’s true. 

Below, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind this classic song. It’s also been covered by a ton of legendary guitarists as well, like Eric Clapton and Chet Atkins. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “After Midnight” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote After Midnight?

“After Midnight” was written by American singer-songwriter J.J. Cale. The song’s laid-back groove helped form the foundation for what would later become known as the “Tulsa Sound." 

J.J. Cale originally recorded “After Midnight” in 1966, releasing it as the B-side to his single “Slow Motion.” At the time, Cale was working as a studio engineer in Los Angeles, having moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma. But the track never took off. 

It wasn’t until 1970 when Eric Clapton covered it on his self-titled debut solo album that the track and J.J. Cale’s writing were brought to a broader audience.

Clapton was introduced ...

Here’s an incredible tune that walks the line of deep personal reflection and folklore.

Dylan, in interviews, has remained a mystery about this tune’s origins. But nonetheless, the song and vibe have struck a chord with listeners around the world. 

Below, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Girl From The North Country” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Girl From The North Country?

"Girl from the North Country" was written by legendary American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. It’s a haunting song that originally appeared on his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released in 1963.

It’s a bit of a poetic mystery. There has been much speculation about who the "girl" is in the song. Two common thoughts are:

1) Echo Helstrom – Dylan’s high school sweetheart from Hibbing, Minnesota.  Or, 2) Suze Rotolo – Dylan's girlfriend in New York in the early 1960s. (Suze is the one who appears walking with Dylan on the front cov...

Here’s a raw acoustic song with a disturbing back story…

It was written from the perspective of a protagonist in a real life crime story.

Below I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Polly” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Polly?

"Polly" was written by Kurt Cobain, the lead singer/guitarist of the American rock band Nirvana. It first appeared on their iconic album Nevermind, which was released in 1991. The tune stands out with a stark acoustic arrangement, as opposed to the heavier grunge sound heard on the rest of the album.

The inspiration came from a crime where a 14-year-old girl was kidnapped. She got into a completely random man’s car hitchhiking home after a concert. That ride did not end well. Thankfully, she managed to escape after being enslaved in his motor home for 2 days.

The lesson: teach your children to never get into cars with random strangers. But "Polly" was recorded in 1990 at Sound City Studios in Van...

Let's talk about one of the most important techniques to master as a guitarist.

In fact, this one thing can make a huge difference in whether your playing sounds like an amateur or a pro. And, this applies to everything you play. Whether that’s strumming along to a song, or ripping a solo.

What’s the technique?

Well, it’s something every player should know and that’s how to mute strings on guitar. 

So, let’s get into the first point and that’s understanding:

1) Strum hand muting

(Demonstrate a G major scale) 

When a player plays without proper strum hand muting, they will get all kinds of unwanted noise. In my years of teaching, I’ve noticed many students aren’t even aware this is happening.  

So first start by taking stock and listening to your sound. 

On acoustic this can be tougher to hear. Sometimes players won’t realize it’s happening. Their playing sounds unclean. If they switch to electric guitar, and crank up the volume, that’s often when things sticks out. The unwa...

Here’s a tune that was almost shelved by Columbia Records.

They weren’t going to release it because 1) it clocked in at over 6 minutes long, which defied the rules of modern radio during the time. And 2) the executives thought it was too long, too loud, and too weird.

Add to this the fact that guitarist Al Kooper wasn’t even supposed to be on the session. You see, he snuck in, jumped on the organ, and improvised these little off-the-beat melodies. Bob Dylan loved the sound he added, and the rest is history.

Below, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Like A Rolling Stone” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Like A Rolling Stone?

“Like a Rolling Stone” was written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. He wrote it during a period of personal and artistic transformation in 1965. The track marked a significant change in his music. 

He was pivoting from folk to electric rock, and this move gained a lot of controversy – ...

Behold… an epic track featuring LA funk royalty!

Below, I want to share some insider tips on how to play guitar in the style used on one of Bill Withers’ most iconic hits. 

This tune only uses 2 chords…

But it’s deep… 

And “in the pocket”... 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Use Me” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Use Me?

“Use Me” was written by the legendary American singer-songwriter Bill Withers in 1972. It was released as the second single from his album Still Bill and became one of his biggest hits, reaching No. 2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts.

The first single from this album was “Lean On Me”. 

“Use Me” lyrics are interesting. The song sings about complexities in a relationship where the narrator is aware he’s being taken advantage of. However, he chooses to stay because of the pleasure he’s getting from it.

The song was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles and produced by Withers along with members of the Watts 103rd Street R...