Mick Jagger sang:

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“It's the honky tonk women

That gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues…” 

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I heard no lies. 

In this post, I’m going to share with you some insider guitar tips on one of the Rolling Stones’ most popular tunes.

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

Who Wrote Honkey Tonk Women?

“Honky Tonk Women” was originally written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. It’s a fascinating song about a man’s run-ins with female nature. It describes the chaos and unpredictability found in bars and honky-tonk venues.

Richards said the song was inspired by a mixture of real-life experiences and his passion to blend the feel of country and rock. While Jagger said he wanted to highlight the charm and danger of these women.

The original recording was done at Olympic Studios in London and released as a single in 1969. The arrangement is raw and famously features a strong, cowbell, bluesy guitar ri...

Let's go back in time to 1963...

Here's a funky, soulful tune that's been played and recorded by tons of phenomenal artists.

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 “Sunny” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sunny?

“Sunny” was originally written by Bobby Hebb in 1963. However, the song has been recorded by so many different artists that it is now considered a standard.

The original inspiration for “Sunny” came from some pretty terrible circumstances in Hebb’s life. His brother was stabbed, and his mother passed away, so he wanted to write something positive, something to bring some light into the darkness. 

The song was originally recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and featured Bobby Hebb on vocals with a backing band that had more of a soulful groove to it.  

Upon its release in 1966, “Sunny” became an international hit, topping the charts in the United States and Europe. In addition to this s...

Here’s a nostalgic song about the complexities of the American dream.

It’s also a great example of how you can blend together strumming and cool riffs to fancy up your playing. 

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 “Pink Houses” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Pink Houses?

"Pink Houses" was originally written by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp. 

The song has an interesting contrast and has become one of Mellencamp’s biggest tunes. It’s almost a celebration and critique of American life all at once. 

Mellencamp was inspired to write “Pink Houses” after driving along Interstate 65 near his hometown in Bloomington, Indiana. He saw a black man sitting in front of a pink house on a front porch, and the image inspired the first line of the tune. Mellencamp later explained that the song isn’t meant to be cynical but rather an honest reflection on how many people live good, decent lives...

They say that two things in life are unavoidable: death and taxes. 

Here’s a song about a guy feeling down from the ladder.

The guitar part blends fun bass lines, swinging rhythms, and even some bluesy chord changes 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 “Sunny Afternoon” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sunny Afternoon?

“Sunny Afternoon” was originally written by Ray Davies, the lead songwriter of the English rock band The Kinks. The song’s lyrics have a similar theme to “Taxman” by The Beatles, which was released earlier the same year, 1966. With lyrics like:
The tax man's taken all my dough,” expressing the pain of higher tax bills. 

Davies captures the plight of a man who has lost his fortune and must adjust to a more modest way of living, capturing both humor and a subtle critique of social and economic circumstances. Despite the troubled circumstances, the protagonist in the s...

If you like blending rhythm and lead, then I think you’re going to enjoy this post. 

It’s on a song that’s become a singer-songwriter classic.

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 “Wild World” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Wild World?

Wild World” is a classic acoustic folk tune written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (a.k.a Yusuf Islam). It was placed on his iconic album Tea for the Tillerman, released in 1970.

The song sings about a man losing his girl. She extracted all she could from him and then left for greener pastures. Somehow still in love, the man offers her a mixture of well-wishes and cautionary advice. He tries to warn her of the bad out there, and still shows masculine virtue and care for her. 

The story most closely associated with the song's inspiration is the end of Stevens' relationship with American actress Patti D'Arbanville. They had been a coup...

I may die on this hill… but I’ll keep saying it.

The blues is the foundation of rock n roll, and those who master the fundamental principles will only play rock better than those who don't.

Below is another perfect example of this. 

It’s a legendary song from a band that’s been together for (as of this writing) 55 years. 

That’s an incredible feat.

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 “Walk This Way” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Walk This Way?

“Walk This Way” was originally written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Two founding members of the legendary American rock band Aerosmith. It was first released in 1975 on the album Toys in the Attic and has gone on to become one of their most popular songs.

It’s a unique blend of rock and blues. 

The guitars are gritty and funky.

Combined with Tyler’s incredible vocals and sexual lyrics, this song became a huge hit. Tyler has explained the lyri...

Here’s a tune that was first recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in 1963.

In 1965, the Beatles recorded their version with Ringo Starr singing lead.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind both of these versions.

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

Who Wrote Act Naturally? 

“Act Naturally” was originally written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, two songwriters in the country and Bakersfield, California music scene. The first recorded version of “Act Naturally” was done by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in 1963. This cut became Owens’ first number one hit on the Billboard Country Singles chart. 

The song has a light-hearted feel, which Ringo Starr later recorded super well with the Beatles. The Beatles’ version appeared on the UK version of Help! in 1965 and catapulted the song’s popularity. It was recorded at EMI Studios in London on June 17, 1965, and went on to become one of Ringo’s sig...

Let’s go back in time to the ‘90s…

Here’s a song from a landmark album from Alanis Morissette. 

You only need a handful of 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 “Ironic” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Ironic?

“Ironic” was originally written by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and guitarist-producer Glen Ballard. The song has a catchy, pop-rock sound to it, and was released in 1996 as the third single off the album Jagged Little Pill. 

“Ironic” was recorded primarily at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Morissette and Ballard worked closely on the arrangement, crafting a radio-friendly structure that highlighted her quirky, yet expressive vocals. It starts off with a simple acoustic guitar played without a pick. And then kicks into a full rock band sound.

Upon release, “Ironic” soared up to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Morisse...

Last month we lost a legend…

RIP Ozzy Osborne.

So below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind one of his most legendary songs with Black Sabbath. 

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

Who Wrote Paranoid

“Paranoid” was originally written by all four members of the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. 

The story is quite interesting… 

You see, they had just finished recording their second album, Paranoid. But their producer, Rodger Bain, said it wasn’t quite long enough and needed one more song. 

So Tony Iommi came up with the opening guitar riff and basic structure in about 20 minutes. Then, the rest of the band came together to finish it off and record it immediately.

Here’s the kicker, though…

It was meant to be a filler track for the album, but when the label heard it, they went against the band’s wishes and renamed the whole album af...

Behold… One of the smoothest songs of the ‘80s.

It’s about a Playboy who's got a shiny exterior but leaves behind a trail of broken hearts. 

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

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

Who Wrote Smooth Operator?

“Smooth Operator” was originally written by Nigerian-British singer-songwriter Sade Adu and Ray St. John. The song sings the story of a smooth and sophisticated man who travels the world and seduces women.  

It was recorded in London during sessions for Sade’s debut album Diamond Life. “Smooth Operator” was released in 1984 as a single and quickly became one of the band’s most famous tunes. The track is heavily jazz-based. The chords have a sophisticated sound blending elements of soul, pop, and R&B. The production is also features Stuart Matthewman on saxophone. This combination of understated instrumentation and Sade’s warm, controlled voice ...