If you look closely at many iconic Beatles songs, you'll find they have roots in rhythm & blues. 

The guitar in this legendary song rips a boogie-woogie bass line. right along with the piano part.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

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

Who Wrote Lady Madonna?

“Lady Madonna” was written by the great Paul McCartney. However, it’s credited to the typical Lennon/McCartney partnership in The Beatles. The inspiration came from McCartney seeing a photo in National Geographic of a mother with her children. That was when the idea hit him.

It’s a tribute to everyday women juggling the toils of trying to be a mother while also a provider. 

“Lady Madonna” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios on February 3rd and 6th, 1968. The sessions were done with George Martin producing. McCartney played piano and sang lead vocals, Lennon and Harrison played guitars and sang backing v...

Is this the EASIEST AC/DC riff?

AC/DC has some of the best fist-pumping stadium riffs I’ve ever done heard, and this tune is a shining example.

You only need 3 chords to play it.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

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

Who Wrote TNT?

“TNT” was written by brother guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, plus AC/DC’s lead singer at the time, Bon Scott.

This song is pure rock and roll energy. The “Oi! Oi! Oi!” chant became one of AC/DC’s most epic stadium anthems. The recording for “TNT” took place in 1975 at Albert Studios in Sydney, Australia, with producers Harry Vanda and George Young at the helm. 

It was released that same year in December on AC/DC’s album ”TNT”. The next year (1976), it was featured on their first international release, High Voltage.

In Australia, it was a major hit, reaching #11 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. 

The riff itself is a perfect e...

While not originally a Halloween song, this tune’s haunting title has made it a staple of countless Halloween playlists.

It also has a surprising and complex backstory to boot.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

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

Who Wrote Spooky?

"Spooky" was originally written by saxophonist Mike Shapiro (who recorded under the name Mike Sharpe). It began as a jazzier, instrumental piece. But the song has a pretty interesting backstory.

You see, the first instrumental version recorded by Sharpe was a minor success. It reached number 57 on the U.S. pop charts in 1967. However, shortly after the rock group Classics IV got hold of it, and took the haunting melody and added lyrics. Their version became the most popular and brought the song to a whole new audience.

The song's lyrics describe a relationship with a "spooky little girl." The line, "love is kinda crazy wit...

Not too many people know this, but…

This song was written about the great Duke Ellington.

He is… 

“Sir Duke”

My old mentor Kenny Burrell (who is friends with Stevie Wonder and has worked with him a lot) told me this directly. 

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

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

Who Wrote Sir Duke?

"Sir Duke" was written by the legendary Stevie Wonder. It’s a tribute to the power of music and the jazz legends he admires. 

It was primarily dedicated to jazz musician and composer Duke Ellington, who had passed away in 1974. But there are also other explicit lyric mentions to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald as well. 

The song is a celebration of music, and Wonder’s joyous laughter in the middle says it all. 

"Sir Duke" was recorded as part of Wonder's monumental 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. This album was recorded at severa...

Behold… a smash hit song that launched Carlos Santana’s legendary album, Supernatural, into the stratosphere.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

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

Who Wrote Smooth?

"Smooth" was written by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas. The song has quite an interesting backstory. You see, in the late ‘90s, Santana was working on a comeback album, Supernatural, and looking to collaborate with younger artists to reach a newer audience. Clive Davis, then the head of Arista Records, suggested Rob Thomas, the frontman for Matchbox Twenty. 

The genesis for “Smooth” began with Shur, who passed the track to Thomas, which at the time was called “Room 17”. Thomas then came up with different lyrics and melody inspired by his then-fiancée (now wife), Marisol Maldonado. 

This woman is a babe.

And the song’s lyrics, like the "hot one" like "seven inches from the midday sun" to the "Spanish Harle...

Here’s a legendary song that began as a folk arrangement.

But later in the studio, The Rolling Stones brought in a pianist and a percussionist, and the song took on a whole new life.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the RHYTHM & LEAD guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Sympathy for the Devil” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sympathy for the Devil?

“Sympathy for the Devil” was written by Mick Jagger, although it’s credited to the Jagger/Richards partnership. It’s the opening track on the Rolling Stones’ iconic album Beggars Banquet. Jagger came up with both the chords and the lyrics. He said later that Keith Richards helped shape the groove and was responsible for taking it from a folk ballad to an electric rocker.

That’s a pretty big contribution.

The song was recorded at Olympic Sound Studios in London in June 1968. Producer Jimmy Miller was at the helm and helped them develop it through a series of takes. In addition to ...

Countless hit songs are just a woman’s name, like: 

* Alison

* Peg

* Dirty Diana

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on a sweet example of this from The Allman Brothers Band.

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

Who Wrote Melissa?

“Melissa” was written by the legend Gregg Allman before The Allman Brothers Band was even formed. He wrote it while living in Florida about a girl he used to know from his youth.

What’s interesting is that “Melissa” was written around the same time as some of his earliest songs, but it wasn’t recorded and released until years later. Sometimes songs sit on the back burner.  But “Melissa” is a mellower ballad that shows a different side of The Allman Brothers Band. It contrasts their usual blues-rock jams with a softer, melodic singer-songwriter side.  

“Melissa” was eventually recorded for the 1972 album Eat a Peach, which was a landmark release for the band. 

Although it didn’t chart as highly as ...

After hearing this legendary John Prine song, a listener online commented:

===

How lucky I am to hear the sounds of the human heart.

So much that passes as life is absurd, inconsequential, tragic. But, from time to time, something sneaks in--something of abject beauty, of (at the same time) abject truth.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery...    Just give me one thing that I can hold onto....

Perhaps in Heaven I will have the opportunity to buy Mr. Prine a drink.

===

Well said.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind this classic John Prine tune.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Angel from Montgomery” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Angel from Montgomery?

“Angel from Montgomery” was written by the great American singer-songwriter John Prine in 1971. The song is sung from the perspective of a middle-aged woman. Despite John being a guy, many have felt he captured a unique angle. He often cited his fascination with story...

Here's a classic tune that became Bob Marley's first global hit.

It all started in Kingston, Jamaica. Shortly after, it was covered by Johnny Nash, who brought Marley’s music to a broader audience.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Stir It Up” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Stir It Up?

“Stir It Up” was originally written by reggae legend Bob Marley in 1967. It’s a simple song with a great vibe. The original version was recorded at West Indies Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, engineered by Carlton Lee, and produced by The Wailers.

It was first released as a single in 1967. However, it was not a big hit. A few years later, in 1972, Johnny Nash released an incredible cover version on his album I Can See Clearly Now, which became a major hit.

At this point, Nash’s cover made “Stir It Up” the first Marley song to chart internationally. It reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charted w...

Here's a song from the legendary 1994 Eagles album Hell Freezes Over.

Now the Eagles went through a lot.  

And after a 14-year hiatus of life beating them down, they came back and sang: 

===

When we're hungry

Love will keep us alive 

===

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Love Will Keep Us Alive” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Love Will Keep Us Alive?

“Love Will Keep Us Alive” was actually written by 3 guys: Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale. It was a cover. Jim Capaldi was a British songwriter and drummer, best known for his work with the band Traffic. Paul Carrack is a British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He’s known for his work with Ace, Mike + The Mechanics, and Squeeze. Peter Vale is yet another songwriter and collaborator on this tune. 

“Love Will Keep Us Alive” was written in the ‘90s and pitched to a whole slew of artists before it eventually ended u...