Level: 🎸🎸Intermediate

Ever seen the 1969 movie "Easy Rider"?

It's about two bikers, Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper), who head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands. 

Along the way, they meet a man who shows them a counterculture gap of which they had been unaware.

Wyatt is riding his famous custom chopper, a.k.a "Captain America". 

It’s got long forks, a stretched frame, and an American flag painted on the gas tank. 

This bike isn't just cool -- it's iconic.

In the first part of the movie, there is a drug deal, and they hid the drug money inside the gas tank of the motorcycle...

Then... 

This awesome guitar groove comes in.

Now, the guitar groove isn’t just cool – it’s iconic.

Because, it's a perfect example of how the blues is the basis for rock n roll.

It’s very similar to the main guitar part in Eric Clapton's "Change the World"... 

Except this one is on electric guitar!

Jon “Easy Rider” MacLennan

Here’s one of the most beautiful acoustic rock guitar intros I’ve ever heard… 

It’s from the iconic Rolling Stones album Goats Head Soup, released in 1973.

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

Now, a lot of people make this song a lot harder than it needs to be. I’m going to make it easier for you.

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

Who wrote Angie?

“Angie” was primarily written by Keith Richards, but he brought it to Mick Jagger, and he put the finishing touches on it. It’s credited to the Jagger/Richards songwriting partnership. 

“Angie” is one of The Rolling Stones’ most popular songs. It kicks off with a beautiful acoustic guitar opening and showcases a more tender side of Mick Jagger’s vocal chops. 

The song is essential about the end of a relationship. The lyrics describe two people who have reached the end of their road together. Neither seems angry. Instead, the song captures the bi...

Here’s a song title that’s been used by many famous artists, from Bob Dylan to Rod Stewart, to Alphaville.

They’ve written and recorded completely different songs, but they all share the same theme and sentiment.

In this post, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style of each version.

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

Who wrote Forever Young?

Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young” was written by Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, and Kevin Savigar. It was released in 1988 on Stewart’s album titled Out of Order. It’s a power ballad rock anthem with a timeless, aspirational message. Stewart recorded it in Los Angeles during sessions for Out of Order. In fact, a friend of mine owns a studio not too far from me and has worked with Stewart for years. He’s also known for bringing in top LA studio musicians. 

The production for “Forever Young” is a polished, late-80s pop-rock sound. It’s driving with big guitars and keyboards. The style ...

“Us and Them” from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is an almost 8-minute-long sonic masterpiece. 

It segues straight out of the iconic tune, “Money”, and takes you on a journey.

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 “Us and Them” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Us and Them?

The music for “Us and Them” was originally written by the keyboard player for Pink Floyd, Richard Wright. He composed the chord progression and basic structure of the tune for a film called Zabriskie Point. The song was ultimately rejected from the film’s soundtrack, and then later, when Pink Floyd was recording Dark Side of the Moon, they revisited it.

At that point, Roger Waters wrote new lyrics, and “Us and Them” was created.

So the music was written by Richard Wright and the lyrics by Roger Waters.

The song almost has a film score kind of feel to it. It’s very hypnotic with one main progression and then a Bridge. Th...

Here's a song from the classic Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young album released in 1970 called Déjà Vu. 

It’s perfect for creating a sing-along.

And it’s also great for newer players because you only need 4 chords to start jamming it.

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

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

Who wrote Teach Your Children?

“Teach Your Children” was originally written by Graham Nash while he was in the band The Hollies. But it wasn’t recorded until he was with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. “Teach Your Children” is a song about a timeless struggle – the relationship between kids and parents, and how the world really changes by family dynamics and communication.  

The lyrics reflect how parents teach their children, but also how children shape their parents. Earlier versions of this song were performed. But once CSNY started recording it, for their landmark 1970 album D...

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” is one of the most famous folk-country anthems in American music history.

But many guitarists play it wrong.

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

We’ll look at how to strum it, how to Travis pick it, and even an easy version that uses a capo.

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

Who wrote Country Roads?

“Take Me Home, Country Roads,” or more commonly known as “Country Roads,” was originally written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver.

The song was not originally intended for John Denver at all. In fact, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert were working on the song with Johnny Cash in mind. They thought the country imagery would suit him. But before it went to Cash, Danoff and Nivert performed the unfinished tune for John Denver after one of his concerts in Washington, D.C. 

Denver immediately loved it and helped them complete the final lyrics. 

In 1...

Let’s go back in time to 1967…

Here’s one of the most iconic pieces of the psychedelic era.

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

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was originally written by John Lennon, but it’s credited to the Lennon/McCartney partnership of The Beatles. It appears on their groundbreaking 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a record that helped define the psychedelic era of popular music.

Now, many people think this song is about LSD. But its inspiration actually came from John Lennon’s young son Julian. He brought home a school picture of his classmate Lucy O’Donnell “in the sky with diamonds.” Lennon thought the phrase was interesting and transformed it into a musical journey. 

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1967 during the...

Here's one of the most instantly recognizable instrumental hits in rock and roll history. 

This one is all based around a simple Latin-inspired groove and a great saxophone melody.

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

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

Who wrote Tequila?

“Tequila” was originally written by saxophonist Danny Flores and recorded in 1957 by The Champs. It’s a catchy song that blends a pseudo-Latin groove with a rock and roll saxophone riff, and then just a single spoken word, “Tequila!”

This one word gives the track a playful, party-ready personality.

The origin story of “Tequila” is famously accidental. In December 1957, The Champs were at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, recording a song called “Train to Nowhere,” intended as the A-side of a single. They needed something quick to fill out the B-side, so Danny Flores suggested an instrumental he had written. The band ra...

Let’s go back in time to the early ‘60s…

This tune is one of the highest-selling singles of all time.

And it captures the early sound of The Beatles, which led to Beatlemania. It has a very simple band-like arrangement with no extra frills.

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 “She Loves You” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote She Loves You?

“She Loves You” was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney in early 1963. This was from a time when John and Paul would turn downtime on the road into songwriting sessions. Paul has said this song came together quickly. This is often the case with many hit songs. It’s as if they are already written in the subconscious mind, and then they just fall out of the ether. 

“She Loves You” became a defining song of Beatlemania and is often linked to when the band really started to get traction. 

The tune was recorded on July 1, 1963, at EMI Studios (Abbey Road) ...

Here’s a smooth ballad that has one of my favorite types of grooves.

It’s a rolling, triplet-based rhythm that you hear all the time in the blues. 

This style was super popular during the ‘50s, but it still sounds great today.

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 “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Put Your Head On My Shoulder? 

“Put Your Head on My Shoulder” was originally written and recorded by Paul Anka in 1959. During this time, he was emerging as one of the defining voices of late-1950s teen pop. 

This song has a smooth and romantic feel to it. “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” was first released as a single by ABC-Paramount and quickly became a major hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100. 

It’s a song about puppy love and embodies the innocence and sincerity of late-1950s. The combination of Anka’s smooth and youthful voice with the soft orchestral ...