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 ...

After hearing this legendary John Prine song, a listener online commented:

===

How lucky I am to hear the sounds of the human heart.

So much that passes as life is absurd, inconsequential, tragic. But, from time to time, something sneaks in--something of abject beauty, of (at the same time) abject truth.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery...    Just give me one thing that I can hold onto....

Perhaps in Heaven I will have the opportunity to buy Mr. Prine a drink.

===

Well said.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind this classic John Prine tune.

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

Who Wrote Angel from Montgomery?

“Angel from Montgomery” was written by the great American singer-songwriter John Prine in 1971. The song is sung from the perspective of a middle-aged woman. Despite John being a guy, many have felt he captured a unique angle. He often cited his fascination with story...

Here's a classic tune that became Bob Marley's first global hit.

It all started in Kingston, Jamaica. Shortly after, it was covered by Johnny Nash, who brought Marley’s music to a broader audience.

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 “Stir It Up” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Stir It Up?

“Stir It Up” was originally written by reggae legend Bob Marley in 1967. It’s a simple song with a great vibe. The original version was recorded at West Indies Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, engineered by Carlton Lee, and produced by The Wailers.

It was first released as a single in 1967. However, it was not a big hit. A few years later, in 1972, Johnny Nash released an incredible cover version on his album I Can See Clearly Now, which became a major hit.

At this point, Nash’s cover made “Stir It Up” the first Marley song to chart internationally. It reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charted w...

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: 

===

When we're hungry

Love will keep us alive 

===

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...

Is she the ONE?

Well, here’s a classic Temptations song about just that.

A young couple in the throes of love. The opening guitar riff is one of the most famous riffs ever and is instantly recognizable.

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 “My Girl” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote My Girl?

“My Girl” was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White. They were both members of The Miracles, another vocal group also signed to Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan. 

Smokey Robinson had David Ruffin in mind, the Temptations’ lead singer, when he wrote the song. He knew about his soulful, gospel-influenced voice and thought it would be a perfect match for this song. 

Robinson was RIGHT!

You see, at Motown, there were songwriters and producers for other artists, all working together, creating a ton of hits. The Temptations recorded “My Girl” at Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown’s Studio A in Detroit, Michigan)...

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 ...

Many people don’t know this, but one of Jimi Hendrix's biggest influences was Curtis Mayfield. 

Mayfield’s style was unique. And you can hear strands of it in the DNA of Hendrix’s playing on tunes like “Little Wing” and “Wind Cries Mary.”

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on this style. 

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

Who Wrote People Get Ready?

“People Get Ready” was originally written by the great American singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield. The message of the song is one of hope and spiritual readiness. It was first recorded by The Impressions in 1965, and blends gospel, soul, and blues in a powerful way.

The Impressions' take was recorded at Universal Recording Corporation in Chicago. The arrangement is simple and combines gospel-inspired harmonies with Mayfield’s iconic guitar style. 

Upon its release, “People Get Ready” became a hit for The Impressions, reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B chart and #14 on th...