Something Guitar Lesson (Beatles)

Today I want to share with you a song that Frank Sinatra had very high praise for.

In fact, he often referred to it as “the greatest love song ever written" when he introduced it at his live concerts.

And I would definitely agree with Sinatra…

I think it’s one of the best ones I have ever heard too… 

The guitar solo in it is incredible as well. 

It’s a perfect example of taste and melodic lead playing. (It also uses the CAGED system, and is perfect for players who are studying CAGED)

So if you’d like to play it, then you are in luck because I’m going to break down all the chords, rhythms, key changes, and even the solo for you today in this “Something” guitar lesson.

So tune up and let’s begin!

Who wrote Something?

"Something" is a classic song by The Beatles, written by George Harrison. It was released on their 1969 album Abbey Road. The song was primarily composed by George Harrison, making it one of his most significant contributions to the Beatles' catalog. George Harrison played a pivotal role in the band's songwriting during their later years.

"Something" was recorded at EMI Studios (now known as Abbey Road Studios) in London, England, during the sessions for the Abbey Road album. The recording took place in the summer of 1969, and it features Harrison on lead vocals and lead guitar. 

The song received widespread acclaim and is highly regarded by music critics and is often considered one of the greatest love songs in rock music history. 

The song was a commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it the first Beatles song written by Harrison to achieve this feat.

"Something" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Elvis Presley, and many others, attesting to its enduring popularity and appeal.

Overall, "Something" is a timeless classic that showcases George Harrison's songwriting talent and remains an essential part of The Beatles' legacy.

Something Guitar Chords

There are a handful of chords to learn to play “Something”. Let’s start off with the intro section. This is a 1 bar riff that is the last bar of the Verse. It begins on the chord F for 2 beats and then moves to Eb, and then G/D one beat each like this:

/  /    /     /

F,   Eb, G/D (1 bar)

The chord shapes I would use here would be a full F bar chord at the 1st fret like this:

Then an Eb played from the 5th string down like this:

And then shift to a G/D chord, also from the 5th string down like this:

After this quick intro, the Verse begins. 

The Verse is a 9-bar progression that goes like this:

C (1 bar)

Cmaj7 (1 bar)

C7 (1 bar)

F (1 bar)

D7 (1 bar)

G (1 bar)

Am, Am(maj7) (1 bar)

Am7, D7 (1 bar) 

Then you play the intro measure again for the 9th bar. 

I would play C in open position like this:

Then just lift off your index finger for Cmaj7:

Then return back to C and put your pinkie on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string and you’ll have C7 like this:

Then we’ll play F as we did in the intro barred at the 1st fret.

D7 is played from the 4th string down like this:

Then G can be played in a folk style like this:

Then we’ll start a descending minor cliche chord progression that is used in millions of songs. Here are the 3 different Am variation chords all played from the 5th string down.

That’s the Verse. 

Then there is the Bridge (or you could call it the Chorus) section.

Now this part actually changes keys from the key of C to the key of A. These keys are connected in that Am is the relative minor of C. But instead of the key being Am George chooses to go to the key of A major. It’s a beautiful sound. This bridge is 8 bars long and starts out with 2 chords per bar for the first 3 bars like this:

A, C#m/G# (1 bar)

F#m, A/E (1 bar)

D, G (1 bar)

A (1 bar)

Here I’ll play the A chord in open position like this:

Then C#m/G# is a bar chord played at the 4th fret using all 6th strings like this:

F#m is a bar chord played at the 2nd fret like this:

A/E is played just like the A chord above however we’ll also play the open 6th string like this:

Finally, D is played from the 4th string down like this:

Then the whole progression repeats again but the second time ends on a C chord like this: 

A, C#m/G# (1 bar)

F#m, A/E (1 bar)

D, G (1 bar)

C (1 bar)

That C chord then transitions us back to the key of C for the Verse again. It’s brilliant!

So altogether the Bridge goes: 

A, C#m/G# (1 bar)

F#m, A/E (1 bar)

D, G (1 bar)

A (1 bar)

A, C#m/G# (1 bar)

F#m, A/E (1 bar)

D, G (1 bar)

C (1 bar)

What key is something by the Beatles in?

"Something" by The Beatles is in the key of C. However, it does have a key change from C major to A major in the middle of the song and then back. The verses are in the key of C major, while the chorus modulates to A major. This key change adds depth and variation to the composition, contributing to its musical complexity and appeal. 

Something Guitar Solo

For soloing over "Something", you can primarily use the C major scale. Remember the verses of the song are in the key of C major. However, the chorus modulates to the key of A major. So it's essential to be aware of that key change if you want to solo over the chorus section too.

But on the original recording Harrison only solos over the Verse. 

Here's a breakdown of the scales you can use for soloing over the different sections of the song:

Verses (Key of C major): 

C Major Scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B

Chorus (Key of A major):

A Major Scale: A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#

When the song transitions from the Verse to the Chorus (C major to A major), you can adjust your soloing to match the change in key. 

This allows you to create musical tension and resolution that complements the song's structure. 

Experiment with these scales and learn the solo I explain here as a start:

Conclusion: 

Here’s the bottom line: "Something" by The Beatles is a masterpiece. It’s captured the hearts of music lovers for generations. George Harrison's exquisite songwriting and heartfelt lyrics have made it a timeless classic.

Though not simple to play on guitar. It’s a beautiful song. So keep practicing and for another great Beatles-style guitar lesson check out “Yer Blues” next!