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 ...

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: 

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When we're hungry

Love will keep us alive 

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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...

NPR included this tune in their “100 most important American musical works of the 20th century.”

It's got a groove that makes you want to move. 

When I first heard this song, I thought it was written by Santana. However, much later, I found out the truth.  

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 “Oye Como Va” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Oye Como Va?

“Oye Como Va” was originally written by legendary American musician Tito Puente. It’s all built around a catchy keyboard groove often known as a montuno in Latin music.

The song appeared on Puente’s album El Rey Bravo. Puente led a full Latin orchestra – timbales, horns, flute, piano, bongos, congas, vocals – which crafted his signature sound.

In fact, a couple of my friends have played percussion for him.

However, Carlos Santana recorded a cover of this tune on his classic album Abraxas. 

His version infused rock elements like distorted ...

Here’s an epic classic rock song I used to cover in my first band.

The crowd always went wild when I kicked into the opening lick.

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 “I Want You To Want Me” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote I Want You To Want Me?

“I Want You To Want Me” was written by Rick Nielsen, the lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the American rock band Cheap Trick. The first version was released in 1977 on their studio album called In Color. This original version was recorded at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California. The original version became very successful. But there is also another great live version as well from their album Cheap Trick at Budokan.

The energy and feel of the live version really capture the essence of the song, and this version climbed the charts, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. 

“I Want You To Want Me” has gone on to become one ...

After “You Really Got Me,” The Kinks followed up with another huge hit.

This one has an awesome combination of rock guitar techniques and will sound great solo or with a band. 

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 “Lola” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Lola?

“Lola” was written by Ray Davies, the lead singer and songwriter for the English rock band The Kinks. 

It’s a storytelling song that sings about a guy meeting someone named Lola in Soho, London. “Lola” was recorded at Morgan Studios in London in early 1970. The song kicks off with this “climbing” chord progression that moves up in whole steps in the key of E. This chord progression, combined with some cool arpeggio picking really helped create the vibe and basis for the song.

For its time, it was controversial and groundbreaking in many ways. Interestingly, the recorded version featured a lyric about “Coca-Cola”, which had to be changed...

If you're a fan of music from the '70s, then you've probably heard this iconic tune. 

It's a beautiful song about a 30-year-long-term relationship.

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 “Sara Smile” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sara Smile?

“Sara Smile” was originally written by Daryl Hall and John Oates. However, Oates has said it’s primarily a Daryl Hall song. Hall had most of it written, and then Oates contributed some minor lyric editing. 

The inspiration for this song came from Hall’s girlfriend, Sara Allen. They stayed together for 30 years. This song was sent as a heartfelt farewell postcard to Sara after their breakup.

It was released in August 1975 on the album Daryl Hall & John Oates. (This record is sometimes called The Silver Album because of its metal-looking cover.) “Sara Smile” was recorded at a few different studios in Hollywood, California, with Daryl Hall, John Oates, a...

Is this the greatest rock riff ever?

Possibly…

Well, to be accurate, it’s actually a series of riffs and sections.

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

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

Who Wrote Back in Black?

“Back in Black” was written by Angus and Malcolm Young, plus their new lead singer, Brian Johnson. You see, the Australian rock band AC/DC had just lost their lead singer, Bon Scott, to a sudden death caused by alcohol poisoning. 

Scott was only 33. 

But, instead of writing a sad ballad, they came up with something edgier. Something that matched his wide spirit. They wanted to march him out with an epic song as tribute. Johnson said he wrote the lyrics based on what he imagined Scott would say if he could come back and speak for himself. That’s where lines like, “Forget the hearse 'cause I never die” came from.

“Back in Black” was released as the title track for A...

Here’s a classic tune from the '90s to which a metalhead on YouTube commented:

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No shame. I'm a metalhead, and this is one of my favorite songs (ever). It grooves on drums and bass, riffs on guitar, and she's got a voice like an angel.

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He's got a point.

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

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

Who Wrote Lovefool?

“Lovefool” was an international breakthrough hit for the Swedish rock band The Cardigans, released in 1996. It was written by Peter Svensson and Nina Persson, the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist.

It’s got a sugary-sweet sound with lyrics that sing of a girl falling deep in love. The girl is pleading with a lover who doesn’t love her back, begging him to lie if necessary – just to keep her feelings alive. Persson said she was fascinated by the idea of someone willfully living a fantasy on the inside just to avoid heartbreak.

The ...