Learn Cole Porter’s Slightly Silly Show Tune “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love”
Compared to some of the songs we’ve covered in this series, this is a fairly adventurous arrangement using quite a few chords.
Play Kacey Musgraves’ Dreamy Ballad “Too Good to Be True”
This intimate song is built on layers of acoustic guitar, with fingerstyle parts that are so closely entwined it’s often hard to pick out the individual instruments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn to Play the Doobie Brothers’ Roots Rock Anthem “Black Water”
This mellow 1974 tune features an acoustic solo that requires a bit of dexterity and finesse to play convincingly.
Learn to Play Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe” | Patreon Song of the Month
Learn to play “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” first released on the 1964 album ‘Another Side of Bob Dylan,’ a defining piece of Dylan’s catalog.
How to Play “In the Jailhouse Now,” a Novelty Number Turned Country and Pop Hit
“Jailhouse” has been recorded many times over the years—often in very divergent styles—by the likes of Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, and others, and has been featured in major motion pictures.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn to Play “Green, Green Rocky Road” | Patreon Song of the Month
“Green, Green Rocky Road” is a traditional song that originated in the American South. Learn a dropped-D arrangement inspired by Dave Van Ronk's seminal version.
Learn to Play Mississippi John Hurt’s “I’m Satisfied” | Patreon Song of the Month
Mississippi John Hurt (1893–1966) was one of the great country blues singer-songwriters, and a superb, subtly eccentric guitarist whose work was teeming with colorful details. One of his most well-known recordings, “I’m Satisfied,” related to the Memphis Jug Band piece “You May Leave, But This Will Bring You Back,” offers…
Learn to Play “The Lakes of Pontchartrain” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
Learn a fingerstyle arrangement of this ballad; a tune interpreted by Paul Brady, Bob Dylan, Aoife O'Donavan, and countless pub session players.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play an Approachable Arrangement of the Classic Tune “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby”
There’s a fair number of chords in this arrangement—14 shapes in all—but they are mostly in open position and easy to play.
How to Play “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s
This arrangement is based on the original studio recording, which spotlights a fingerpicked acoustic guitar.
Learn to Play John Prine’s “Hello in There” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
The transcription here captures Prine’s original studio recording note for note.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn to Play “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
Add this classic country tune, replete with Jimmie Rodgers’ trademark yodeling, to your repertoire.
A Fun Guitar Arrangement Inspired by Bobby Darin’s Swinging Cover of “Mack the Knife”
What really sets this version apart is the use of five half-step modulations that keep raising the tension with each pass through the song.
Learn to Play “You Gotta Move” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
Learn to play an African American spiritual as interpreted by the legendary bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell
Learn Sophisticated Chordal Ideas Through Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
This gently rolling ballad is not only satisfying to play, it shows the musical benefits of learning pieces not originally composed for guitar.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Help Me”—Learn to Play a Rare Solo Version of the Joni Mitchell Classic
While details of Mitchell's playing are tough to discern on the original, this newly released solo demo is especially illuminating.
Learn to Play “Blue Skies”—a Jazz Age Classic with Clever Harmonies and a Bit of Drama
"Blue Skies,” arranged here in the guitar-friendly key of C, has been covered in many popular styles from ragtime piano to big band jazz to country.
Learn to Play “When the Levee Breaks” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
As I write this, California is seeing historic atmospheric rivers and treacherous flooding and I can’t help but think of this song from the blues canon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn to Play “Hotel California”| AG Patreon Song of the Month
This Eagles classic is one of the most requested song transcriptions from AG readers.
How to Play the Indigo Girls’ Folk-Rock Anthem “Closer to Fine”
With tight harmonies, sturdy twin guitar strumming, thoughtful lyrics, and a bit of vocal countermelody, the song has all the hallmarks of the duo's style.
Learn “In the Pines,” a Haunting Folk Song Recorded by Musicians from Lead Belly to Nirvana
The arrangement of this song, also known as "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," is inspired by Nirvana’s version.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn to Play Tracy Chapman’s Groundbreaking Hit “Fast Car”
Thirty five years after its release, this powerful narrative, with its distinctive guitar part, feels as vital as ever.
Taking a Fresh Look at the Centuries-Old Waltz “On Top of Old Smoky” on Guitar
Singer-songwriter Maurice Tani teaches how to add fresh color and anticipation to a traditional favorite.
Learn to Play Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
Lightfoot recorded the song on a 12-string—specifically, a Gibson B-45-12—but it will work just as well on a six-string.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play the Classic Sea Shanty “Drunken Sailor” with 3 Simple Chords
This easy campfire arrangement follows a traditional four-bar pattern using just the chords Am, G, and C.