Picture this… 

You’re in a giant stadium for an event.

The crowd is stirring, feeling rebellious and rambunctious…

They’re wondering what is about to happen. Who will hit the stage or field? Suddenly, a guitar riff comes through the speakers…

What riff is it gonna be?

Well, a very common one is the mighty “Seven Nation Army” guitar riff.

In this post, I’m going to break down some insider tips on Jack White’s guitar style, and how you can get playing like this too.

So grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Seven Nation Army” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Seven Nation Army?

"Seven Nation Army" is one the most famous songs by the American rock band The White Stripes. It was written by Jack White, the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary writer. 

The song beats with a strong feeling of defiance and empowerment. As the lyrics sing of fighting back against forces and obstacles the narrator faces.

“Seven Nation Army” was featured on the band's fourth studio ...

Behold… THIS… was the first riff I ever done learned.

I was around 11 years old, went over to my neighbor’s house, and he showed me the notes. It’s a fun one – on only 2 strings. 

The problem was, I never got the counting right. 

You see, I thought the first note started on beat 1 but it didn’t…

It was a “pickup”... 

In music theory, this is called an anacrusis. Which means you start playing BEFORE beat 1. But I played the “Come As You Are” riff as if the first note was beat 1. 

This made my rhythm wonky. 

And guess what?

I didn’t correct this timing problem for decades…

Until one day, I tried to play with the recording and fell flat on my face. When I heard Dave Grohl’s drum groove against the riff, I started to figure out the timing…

It was weird. As a yute, trying so hard to learn the riff, I actually engrained the WRONG rhythm in me. Working with recordings can help you not mess up like this. It will help you sort out your favorite songs faster.

However, something was...

Have you ever said:

===

"I’ll do it tomorrow."

"I’ll get to it eventually."

"It’s on my to-do list."

=== 

Well if so, you might be able to relate to this epic Eagles rock song below. You see, the inspiration for it came from – putting off dreams until tomorrow.

This monumental tune also marks a pivotal change in the band’s sound.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “One Of These Nights” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote One Of These Nights?

"One Of These Nights" was co-written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, two founding members of the American rock band Eagles. Frey explained in an interview that the song's inspiration came from about from the them of postponing ambitions. 

He noted, "We've all said, 'One of these nights I'm gonna do something – get that girl, make that money, find that house.' We all have our dreams – a vision we hope will come true someday." 

The track was recorded between late 1974 and early 1975 at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. The reco...

Behold… an epic song about the dreamy California lifestyle and all its glory.

There are many guitars on the recording that create the sound you hear. But below I’m going to show you some tips for playing in this style and also getting a full sound with one guitar. 

You only need a handful of chords to play it. And, you get to blend together RHYTHM and LEAD.

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

Who Wrote Ventura Highway?

"Ventura Highway" was written by Dewey Bunnell, a founding member and singer-songwriter for the folk-rock band America. It reflects the spirit and vibe of the Calfornia lifestyle in the early 1970s. 

The lyrics of "Ventura Highway" are deliberately abstract. There are phrases like “purple rain” and “alligator lizards in the air.” These lines are meant to evoke imagery and feelings rather than tell a linear story. The "alligator lizards in the air" reference has puzzled listeners for decades. According to Bunnel...

I've always wondered about these famous songs titled a woman’s name...

Are they real? What was this person like at that time? Do they know said song was written about them?

Tunes like: 

* Jessica

* Layla

* Or Josie…

Well, below I’m going to break down the guitar style behind one of these types of songs. So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Roxanne" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Roxanne?

"Roxanne" was written by Sting, the lead vocalist and bassist for the English rock band The Police. The song sings of a man's romantic feelings for a woman named Roxanne, who is implied to be a prostitute. He drew inspiration from his experiences in Paris, where he observed the city's red-light district. The name "Roxanne" was inspired by a character from the play Cyrano de Bergerac, a poster of which was present in the hotel where the band stayed. 

"Roxanne" was recorded in 1978 at Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, England. It was released on April 7, 1978, as part of the...

Behold... the forbidden riff.

I’m thrilled to announce a brand new series of posts where I’m going dive deep into the guitar style behind “Stairway To Heaven”. We’re going to go slow and leave no stone unturned. 

So get excited, grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Stairway To Heaven" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Stairway To Heaven?

“Stairway To Heaven” was co-written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant – the guitarist and lead vocalist for the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. 

They wrote the song in 1970 while they were staying at Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales. It started with the guitar instrumental Page had already composed and the Plant developed the lyrics and melody around it. Plant described the lyrics as reflective of a journey and a warning against materialism, touching on the idea that chasing the wrong things in life can lead to spiritual emptiness. This journey is symbolized by the “stairway,” suggesting a path to enlightenment or transcendence...

Ever been at a party and stuck in the middle of an awkward conversation? 

This can be quite uncomfortable, and that’s where the inspiration for this song came.

It only uses a handful of chords. Below I’m going to break down a couple of ways to play it – easier to advanced.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Stuck In The Middle With You" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Stuck In The Middle With You?

"Stuck in the Middle with You" was co-written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan, two members of the Scottish band Stealers Wheel.

The song’s inspiration came from an awkward industry party hosted by their record label. They were at this party and feeling out of place. They took their discomfort and channeled it into the lyrics which poke fun at the superficiality of the music industry. The chorus, "clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right," reflects their sentiments of being caught between insincere individuals. 

“Stuck In The Middle With You” was released as a single...

I can’t think of any other song that begins with the sound of an airplane taking off. 

In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated Beatles songs. It’s a blend of rock n roll, rhythm & blues, and surf music.

Below we’ll take a look at the rhythm and lead guitar parts.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Back In The U.S.S.R." chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Back In The U.S.S.R?

"Back in the U.S.S.R." was written primarily by Paul McCartney, but it’s labeled with the typical Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. It was recorded by The Beatles, and released on the 1968 double album commonly known as the White Album.

The song is influenced by the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry. It features a blend of rock and roll, rhythm & blues, and surf music influences. 

McCartney wrote the song during a visit to India, where the Beatles were studying transcendental meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Inspired by the Beach Boys' "California Girls," McCartney aimed to creat...

If you’re looking for a song that can get your audience out on the dance floor… this could be the perfect solution.

In fact, every time I have played it live with a band it’s done just that.

The infectious bass line and groovy feel create an almost automatic desire to do the shimmy.

You only need to know a handful of chords to play it.

Below I’m going to break down the funky guitar style and share insider tips to get jamming along with this famous recording – fast.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Billie Jean" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Billie Jean?

"Billie Jean" was written and performed by pop legend Michael Jackson. It was the second single from his 1982 album Thriller, and is often regarded as one of the greatest pop songs ever. 

Jackson wrote "Billie Jean," after being inspired by fan letters he received that included claims of paternity. He later explained the song was not about a specific woman. But instead, a reflection of groupies he and his brot...

Here’s an epic rock song that NASA used as a wake-up call for the team working on the Spirit Mars rover. 

It only uses a handful of chords. 

Below I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it and share insider tips to get jamming along with this famous recording – fast.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Where Is My Mind" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Where Is My Mind?

"Where Is My Mind?" was written by Black Francis (Charles Thompson), the frontman for the alternative rock band Pixies. It was featured as the seventh track on their 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa. 

Francis, was inspired to write "Where Is My Mind?" by his experiences scuba diving in the Caribbean. He was being chased by a small fish while diving when inspiration struck.  

Joey Santiago came up with the song’s catchy guitar line. The Pixies started as a Boston-based band formed in 1986 by Francis and Santiago. They were roomates at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

“Where Is My Mind...