I Feel Fine Guitar Lesson (Beatles) RHYTHM and LEAD

Did you know this iconic cut marks one of the first rock and roll tunes to ever use feedback as part of the song’s production?

It was created by accident when Paul McCartney hit a low bass note that sent John Lennon’s acoustic guitar into a spiral.

The riff is epic. And, of course, you’ll find a ton of essential blues elements you can have fun jamming with for hours.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “I Feel Fine” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote I Feel Fine?

“I Feel Fine” was primarily written by John Lennon. However, it is credited to the songwriting partnership of Lennon-McCartney. It’s known for its catchy guitar riff and innovative production techniques. 

One of the cool things that happened at the beginning of the song is apparently Paul McCartney played a low A on his bass while Lennon’s guitar was leaning against McCartney’s amp. The vibrations from the low bass note caused Lennon’s guitar, a semi-acoustic Gibson to start feeding back. You can hear the string start to really whirl if you listen for it at the beginning of the song. 

Because Lennon’s acoustic had a pickup you could hear it being amplified, and the string made a crazy sound. To which the other members said 'What's that? Voodoo!' 'No, it's feedback.' 'Wow, it's a great sound!' 

Producer George Martin said they should use it on the record, and the rest is history. Later, Lennon was very proud of this sonic experimentation. In one of his last interviews, he said: "I defy anybody to find a record – unless it's some old blues record in 1922 – that uses feedback that way." This innovation marked a significant moment in the use of studio effects in rock music. 

The lyrics of "I Feel Fine" are simple and upbeat, reflecting sentiments about being in love. The tune captures the carefree and positive spirit of the mid-1960s. The song was written while The Beatles were on tour in 1964. Lennon came up with the riff and the melody while experimenting with his guitar, inspired by Bobby Parker's 1961 song "Watch Your Step," which also features a strangely similar guitar riff. 

"I Feel Fine" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London on October 18, 1964. The session was produced by George Martin, a.k.a the “fifth Beatle”. George played a crucial role in shaping the sound of The Beatles' recordings. It was first released as a single on November 23, 1964, in the UK and three days later in the US. 

It was an immediate success, reaching number one on the charts in both countries. In the UK, it became The Beatles' eighth consecutive number-one hit, and in the US, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. The single's B-side, "She's a Woman," was also popular, showcasing McCartney's bluesy vocal style.

Now, if you’re trying to play this iconic song on guitar you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for I Feel Fine?

The tuning for "I Feel Fine'" as recorded by The Beatles is standard tuning. 

They kept things simple.

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

Let’s next take a look at the…

I Feel Fine Chords

If you want to play "I Feel Fine'" on guitar there are 8 chords you need to know, D7, C7, G7, G, Bm, C, D, and Am. We’ll be using a mix of open chords and bar chords. Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes can be played on the fretboard. 

D7 is played in the 10th position as a moveable dominant seventh shape like this:

C7 just takes D7 and shifts it down two frets like this:

G7 is played the same way but again just shifted to a new location on the fretboard. This time moved to the 3rd fret like this:

It’s important to know throughout the song many times John will play a riff in place of these chords. But these are the fundamental chord shapes the riff is based on. These chords are the I, IV, and V chords the three most popular chords used in many blues songs. 

You see, millions of songs from the past 100 years of popular American music, use common blues principles. The better you can understand these blues principles, the easier and faster you will learn to play your favorite songs – if you want to play popular American music from the past 100 years. 

G is played as a bar chord in 3rd position like this:

Bm is played from the 5th string down and in 2nd position like this:

C is played in a standard open position like this:

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

Finally, Am is played from the 5th string down like this:

Now that you know the “I Feel Fine” chords let’s talk about…

What key is I Feel Fine by the Beatles in?

“I Feel Fine” as recorded by The Beatles is in the key of G major. All of the chords fit the diatonic scale of the song, except for C7, and G7. But as I mentioned above this is just taking the I, IV, and V chords in the key of G. But giving them a bluesy flair by making them dominant seventh chords. While this doesn’t fit into typical western harmony, as there is normally only one dominant chord in a key. This sounds really bluesy and great. 

Here’s a breakdown of the main chord functions and how they all relate in the key of G major. First, let’s look at the primary scale for the key.

G Major Scale

The G major scale is built from the following notes:

1. G (Root)
2. A (Major 2nd)
3. B (Major 3rd)
4. C (Perfect 4th)
5. D (Perfect 5th)
6. E (Major 6th)
7. F# (Major 7th)

G (I chord)

Notes: G, B, D

Function: The tonic chord, or the "home" chord, this chord establishes the key and provides a sense of resolution.

D (V chord)

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: The dominant chord, which creates tension that resolves back to the tonic (G major).

C (IV chord)

Notes: C, E, G

Function: The subdominant chord, which creates movement away from the tonic and introduces some tension that typically resolves back to the tonic or the dominant chord.

Bm (iii chord)

Notes: B, D, F#

Function: The mediant chord, which provides a minor color and can create a smooth transition between the tonic and other chords in the key.

Am (ii chord)

Notes: A, C, E

Function: The supertonic chord, which is minor and often used to transition to the dominant (D major) or the subdominant (C major).

Again, the I, IV, and V throughout the song at times are turned into dominant seventh chords. This is a staple of the blues and comes from the blues scale.

If you don’t know how to play this scale anywhere on your fretboard, then get your hands on my free blues scale pdf guide right here:

Now that you understand the key and chords, let’s talk about the…

I Feel Fine Opening Riff And Solos

The opening riff to “I Feel Fine” is based on the I, IV, and V chords. It’s the same riff simply shifted around the fretboard and played in different areas. You see, just like you would move a bar chord you can move a riff. But the original riff is a bit stretchy on the fretting hand. Here’s an example of a riff in the style of “I Feel Fine”

The “I Feel Fine” guitar solo uses a blend of G major and G minor pentatonic scales.

The G major pentatonic scale uses the notes:

• G (Root)
• A (Major 2nd)
• B (Major 3rd)
• D (Perfect 5th)
• E (Major 6th)

While there are many ways to play pentatonic scales, here is one way you may find useful:

This scale creates an open and smooth sound. While the G minor pentatonic has more of a grittier bluesy sound over the “I Feel Fine” chord progression. The notes in the G minor pentatonic are:

• G (Root)
• Bb (Minor 3rd)
• C (Perfect 4th)
• D (Perfect 5th)
• F (Minor 7th)

If you don’t know how to play these scales anywhere on the fretboard get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here:

But remember, solos don’t mean anything without the…

I Feel Fine Strumming Pattern And Groove

The main underlying groove for "I Feel Fine'" is a funky 16th-note groove. Strumming 16th notes means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into 4 equal parts.

To properly strum 16th notes, you need to understand how to count them within each measure. In a 4/4 time signature, each measure has four beats. When subdividing each beat into 16th notes, each beat is divided into four equal parts, giving us a total of sixteen 16th notes per measure.

To count 16th notes, you typically use the following syllables:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Here’s the breakdown:

1: The first 16th note (on the beat)

e: The second 16th note (off the beat)

&: The third 16th note (off the beat)

a: The fourth 16th note (off the beat)

When counting out loud, it sounds like:

"One e and a, Two e and a, Three e and a, Four e and a"

In straight 16th notes, each subdivision is played with equal timing, providing a consistent groove throughout.

Conclusion

There you have it! The story behind "I Feel Fine" is a perfect example of how innovation and a touch of luck can lead to groundbreaking moments in music. From its accidental feedback intro to its catchy riff and dynamic blues elements, this song has etched it’s place in the history of rock and roll. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free blues scale guide right here now: 

Jon MacLennan