Behold…one of the signature songs of Beatlemania.

A unique period in pop culture history where a whole horde of teenagers went berserker for The Beatles. It was a time characterized by overwhelming excitement, devotion, and sometimes even chaotic reactions from fans – especially young women – during the 60s. 

This song is rooted in the blues and fundamental principles every guitarist should know. So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this “Can’t Buy Me Love” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Can’t Buy Me Love?

"Can't Buy Me Love" was originally written by Paul McCartney although it was credited to the usual Lennon-McCartney partnership. It was released in 1964 and became one of The Beatles’ biggest hits. It’s considered a signature song of Beatlemania. And has a powerful, timeless theme: money can’t buy love. 

"Can't Buy Me Love" was recorded at the famous Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris on...

All aboard sailors!

Here's a fun and groovy tune that's sure to get your audience up on the dance floor.

It may sound simple, but this song is definitely an intermediate-level guitar song. You’ll want to make sure you know how to play effortless bar chords and syncopated rhythms. 

Below I’ll walk you through key insights and strategies to keep in mind as you cruise along in your journey.

So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this “Brandy” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)?

"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" was written by Elliot Lurie, the lead guitarist and co-lead singer of the American pop rock band Looking Glass. It was released in 1972 on their self-titled album and became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

The song’s lyrics tell of a woman named Brandy who works as a barmaid in a busy harbor town. She waits for a sailor (the love of her life) to return back to her but he never comes. The...

Here’s a hauntingly beautiful song that’s resonating with audiences around the world.

There are two famous versions. The original by Tears For Fears and the minimalistic piano cover by Gary Jules. In this post, I’m going to discuss guitar styles for how to play them both. And some behind the scenes on this powerful tune. 

So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this “Mad World” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Mad World?

"Mad World" was originally written by Roland Orzabal, cofounder and main creative force behind the British pop rock band Tears for Fears. The song sings of deep emotional reflection and existential struggles.

It’s pretty bluesy and dark, but it’s moved a lot of people. Musically speaking, it’s very simple. Despite the melancholy feel of the lyrics, the original version of "Mad World" features a relatively upbeat new wave sound. Then the Gary Jules version lowers the key and hits a deeper emotional...

Here’s an iconic song that was released unfinished.

You see, Otis had recorded the rough vocal, but then shortly after was in a horrific plane crash and went on to join the choir invisible. 

Even the final whistling at the end was meant to be just a place holder where he was going to write more lyrics.

The band finished the production without him, and he never made it to the release. This is a very unique situation. 

So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sitting on the Dock of the Bay?

"Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" was written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper. Otis took some time off in Sausalito, California. Sausalito is about 4 miles north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

The waters tapping the shores here was what inspired Otis to come up with this tune. Particularly the lyrics:

“Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll...

Did you know the Beatles used many unusual recording tricks to create some of their biggest hits?

In this post, I want to share with you a strange example of this. The final recording was pieced together in the studio with some tape machine magic from producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Strawberry Fields Forever” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Strawberry Fields Forever?

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is one of The Beatles' most iconic and experimental songs. It was written primarily by John Lennon but has some contributions from Paul McCartney. It is credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, as were all Beatles songs written by either or both of them. “Strawberry Fields Forever” was released as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane" in February 1967. 

The studio recording techniques used in this song at the time were quite unconventional and groundbreaking. 

The recording...

So, you want to learn how to become a better guitarist in a band?

You want to improve your skills playing behind singers?

And you don’t want to practice a bunch of boring scales and exercises…

Well if so, this post below might help you out. I’m going to break down a classic song from the 70s that features brilliant guitar work from the late great Reggie Young. (Young was a world-class guitarist who played in many bands accompanying singers masterfully on countless hit records.)

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

Who Wrote Drift Away?

"Drift Away"  was written by songwriter Mentor Williams in 1970. Now, it was first recorded by John Henry Kurtz in 1972. But the version that put the song on the map was done by Dobie Gray in 1973. 

It’s a classic soul tune with a laid-back, feel-good vibe. It blends together elements of rock, soul, and even country. 

There’s just something...

Behold… a perfect song to play in a balmy breeze on an island under a coconut tree.

But while this song sings of sipping margaritas and a laid-back lifestyle. If you look under the surface it actually has undertones of mistakes made in a relationship.

Ever been there?

Well, jamming this song just might help you out.

So grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this “Margaritaville” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Margaritaville?

"Margaritaville" was written by the legend Jimmy Buffett (RIP) and his producer Norbert Putnam. Buffett was an American singer-songwriter and musician known for his laid back tropical vibes. He recorded over 30 albums in his career. 

“Margaritaville” was released in 1977 on his album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. It became one of his most well-known songs, and it was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida.

The song sings about the relaxed life of a man who is sipping margaritas while...

Want to know the secret to making your guitar really sing?

Well, you won’t find the answer to this by learning a million pentatonic scale patterns – or cramming your head with theory. But you can start to unlock it by mastering string bending and vibrato. 

This is particularly important if you want to become a competent blues guitar player and develop your own voice. Vibrato is unique to every guitar player. Each one of us has what I call a “sound concept” inside our minds that is unique to us. In this post, I want to share with you 5 blues guitar vibrato mistakes I hear all the time starting with…

1. The nervous vibrato

The nervous vibrato is something that exposes an insecure beginner player right away. It comes about almost as an involuntary reflex. They hit a note, and are holding it. But then suddenly become extremely unconfident in this note. Almost as if they were caught naked in public and immediately began to shake the note. Often in an...

Ever wanted to play the G blues scale on guitar?

This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the G blues scale on guitar. How to practice the G blues scale, and even songs that use the G blues scale. Plus we’ll also cover some music theory and a few other common questions about the G blues scale.

All right, no long blathering build-up.

Let’s jump straight in, starting with…

What is the G blues scale on guitar?

The G blues scale on guitar is a simple series of 6 notes in a row. It’s important to point out, when musicians say G “blues scale” 9 times out of 10 they mean the G minor blues scale. Which is what we are going to be covering in this lesson. It’s a way of grouping together a specific set of notes that can be used for solos, understanding chords, and music theory.

What notes are in the G blues scale?

The notes in the G minor blues...

Behold… one of the most iconic feel-good pop hits from the '60s.

It moved listeners then, and it’s still moving them now. 

In fact, check out what people are saying on YouTube:

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“This song feels like frolicking in a flower field with someone you love”

Or… 

“This is the song that plays in the heads of every Golden Retriever on the planet 24/7.”

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Those may be true.

In this post, I’m going to break down the guitar style behind this gem. So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Happy Together” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Happy Together?

"Happy Together" was written by Gary Bonner and Alan Gordon. Two blokes who were a part of the Brill Building songwriting community. The Brill Building songwriting community refers to a group of songwriters, producers, and music publishers who worked in and around the Brill Building, a famous office building located at 1619 Broadway in New York City,...