Hold On Loosely Guitar Lesson (38 Special)

On the journey to becoming a great rock guitar player, there are many skills and techniques we need to develop...

In this post, I want to share with you some of those crucial areas to focus on so you can get the songs of the songs we all know and love. Specifically in this lesson, I’ll be addressing things like power chords, palm-muting, and how to “lock in” your eighth-note rhythms.

So grab your guitar, get tuned up, and let’s dive into this “Hold On Loosely” guitar lesson!

Who wrote Hold On Loosely?

"Hold On Loosely" is a classic rock anthem by the American band .38 Special, released in 1981 on their album Wild-Eyed Southern Boys. The song's origins go back to guitarist Don Barnes, who was facing personal struggles in his marriage. He confided in co-writer Jim Peterik, expressing his wife's lack of support for his musical aspirations.

From this raw emotion, the first line, "Hold on loosely, but don't let go," emerged. It captured the essence of navigating challenges while staying grounded in core values.

Peterik added the musical elements, blending classic rock influences with a touch of Southern charm, reflecting the band's roots

"Hold On Loosely" was recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California, and produced by Rodney Mills. The track opens up featuring Jeff Carlisi's iconic riff and Donnie Van Zant's soaring vocals.

The song became an instant hit, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Its catchy melody and relatable lyrics resonated with audiences around the world, solidifying .38 Special's place as Southern rock superstars.

"Hold On Loosely" was officially credited to Barnes, Peterik, and Richard Donald Barnes (better known as Donnie Van Zant). The song received three Grammy nominations: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked "Hold On Loosely" at number 39 on their list of the "100 Greatest Southern Rock Songs." 

What key is Hold On Loosely in?

“Hold On Loosely” is in the key of E major. All of the chords in the song fit the diatonic scale of E major except for 2 of them D5, and C5. However, I will discuss below how these chords are used in a very common classic rock-style chord progression. The song’s main riff is all based around a descending chord progression that walks down from the I chord (E).

Hold On Loosely Guitar Lesson Chords

To play “Hold On Loosely” on guitar you’ll need to know 8 chords E5, B/D#, D5, A/C#, C5, F#m, B, and A. The majority of these chords are going to be played as power chords and small 2-note chords.

A power chord on guitar is a simple yet punchy way to create the foundation for rock. It's a stripped-down chord that only uses two notes: the root note and the fifth of the major scale. This leaves out the third, which determines whether a chord is major or minor, resulting in a more ambiguous and "raw" sound.

Let’s start with the first shape E5. This chord is played with just two notes, the 7th fret on the 5th string and the 9th fret on the 4th string. The root for this chord is on the 5th string.

Tip: I often play power chords with my index and pinkie fingers in the fretting hand. This is comfortable for me and sets me up for the following movement in progression.

Next, we’ll move the index finger down 1 fret and get a B/D# chord like this:

Again using the fingers 1 and 4 in the fretting hand makes this stretch much easier on my tendons in the fretting hand.

From there, we’ll shift down and play a D5 at the 5th fret like this:

And again repeat the same move of dropping the index finger down one fret. This now will result in an A/C# chord like this:

Essentially it just repeats the same sequence two frets down.

From there we’ll shift even lower and get a C5 power chord. Here I like to beef up the power chord and use a 3-note power like this:

Those are all the power chords. Then for the remaining chords, I use full chords (non-power chords) starting with an F#m in second position like this:

B I play in the second position like this:

And finally, A I play in open position with only my index finger in the fretting hand:

Palm-muting and Rhythm

Two key factors in getting this song to sound right are having a solid palm-muting technique and locking in your eighth-note rhythms. Palm muting is a guitar technique that involves lightly resting the side of your picking hand palm on the strings near the bridge while picking or strumming. This dampens the strings, creating a shorter, percussive sound.

Here's how it works:

• Positioning: Place the side of your picking hand palm near the bridge, usually between the pickups and the bridge. Don't press down too hard, just enough to lightly touch the strings.
• Picking/Strumming: Maintain your usual picking or strumming technique, but be aware of the palm's contact with the strings.
• Sound: The palm muting dampens the high-end frequencies of the strings, resulting in a muted, punchier sound with less sustain.

This is used extensively not only in rock guitar, but in many other styles as well, so it's a great technique to practice.

In the main riff for “Hold On Loosely” the guitarist Jeff Carlisi mixes between using a palm-muted rhythm and then just open. 

The main groove is steady palm-muted eighth notes. But on the “and” of 3 and the “and” of 4 the palm-muting gets lifted up. This creates a “chunking” syncopated rock groove. Here is an example of how this can be done:

Typically in a rock groove, I will play all these eighth notes as downstrums with my strumming hand. This isn’t a hard and fast rule. But it does give you more of a driving rock sound.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, remember that the areas to focus on are knowing your power chords, getting a good palm mute, and locking in those driving eighth-note rhythms. With these tools in your arsenal, combine that with a mildly overdriven guitar tone and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this Southern rock anthem and beyond.

Practice slowly and don't rush. Start by playing the chords and riff at a slower tempo, focusing on accuracy and clarity. Gradually increase the speed as your muscle memory and timing improve.

Keep it up! And for more great rock lessons check out this Call Me The Breeze guitar lesson or this Midnight Rider guitar lesson next.