True story:

I used to live in Box Canyon, where the psychopathic serial killer/cult leader Charles Manson used to hang out with his “Manson Family”.

Now, I lived there some 30 years later, things have changed quite a bit. I even recorded an album deep in the canyon. (Which you can listen to online called Songs From Box Canyon.)

But apparently Manson believed The Beatles’ had coded messages in their songs to him. Now what’s even scarier is I used to take little hikes out my back porch into the canyon when I lived in Box. And on one sunny day, I came around a bend and saw carved in a rock the words “Helter Skelter”.

I kid you not, it gave me the heebie jeebies.

However, the phrase "helter skelter" is a reference to a British amusement park slide, but Manson took it to mean impending doom and destruction.

So grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this “Helter Skelter” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Helter Skelter?

“Helter Skelter” was primarily written by Paul McCartney...

Have you ever been at wit's end in a relationship trying to work it out?

Well, maybe you were able to work it out… or maybe you didn’t.

But that’s what this song below is about. 

Grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “We Can Work It Out” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote We Can Work It Out?

"We Can Work It Out" was co-written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It is credited to the Lennon and McCartney partnership. McCartney wrote the A section and Lennon wrote the B section with the lines, "Life is very short".

Apparently McCartney came up with the main idea for the song when experiencing ups and downs in his relationship with Jane Asher. Asher is an English actress, author, and businesswoman. She met Paul McCartney in 1963 when she was just 17 years old. She was interviewing the Beatles for Radio Times and quickly became romantically involved with McCartney.

The song is essentially about the importance of resolving conflicts in a relationship. McCartney's verses carr...

Ever been in deep emotional pain?

Well, here’s an epic Rolling Stones’ 12-string tune that might be just about that.

It wasn’t as popular at first as say tunes like “Satisfaction”, or “Paint It Black.”  

But it’s definitely become a crowd favorite over the years. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “As Tears Go By” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote As Tears Go By?

"As Tears Go By" was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham. This collaboration was unusual in that it marked a rare songwriting contribution from Oldham – who was largely involved in the production side but also contributed lyrics.

“As Tears Go By” is an introspective tune possibly about heartbreak and the passing of time. The lyrics sing about deep sadness, and themes of loss. The song was written when the Rolling Stones were still in their early stages of stardom. Oldham thought of "As Tears Go By" as a more "pop-oriented" song, specifically written for t...

Picture this…

You’re outback, camping in the woods with some friends…

Nightfall hits and you build a fire…

You brought your guitar with you, and after a few shots of whiskey you decide to play a song for your friends under the stars… 

What tune are you going to play?

Well, here’s one that just might be a perfect solution.

Below I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Wish You Were Here” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Wish You Were Here? 

“Wish You Were Here” was originally written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour of the English rock band Pink Floyd. It was first released in 1975 as the title track of their album of the same name, and it’s gone on to be one of their most legendary songs.

It was inspired by Syd Barrett, the band’s original frontman, who left Pink Floyd due to severe drug-induced breakdowns and mental health issues. The lyrics sing about a sense of alienation, regret, and disconnect from oneself and ...

If you were around in the early ‘90s, here’s a little ditty you couldn’t escape. 

It was on the radio, MTV, and playing in the background of countless coffee shops and dorm rooms. But here’s the crazy thing: R.E.M. never expected it to be a hit.

Below I’m going to break down how to play guitar in the style of this iconic tune. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Losing My Religion” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Losing My Religion?

“Losing My Religion” was written by all four members of the American alternative rock band R.E.M. Including Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar, mandolin), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards), and Bill Berry (drums). It was the lead single from their 1991 album Out of Time, and despite having no traditional chorus, no electric guitar riff, and being built around a mandolin, it became their biggest song. 

While at a first glance, it’s easy to think the song is about religion. But the phrase "losing my religion" comes from a Southern saying...

Behold... the first music video from an Irish band to hit 1 billion views on YouTube.

The video was so polarizing it was banned in certain countries. The message behind the song and powerful imagery were meant to reflect the religious and political turmoil in Ireland during the early 90s.

Below I’m going to share with you some insider tips on how to play in the guitar style of it. It’s not too difficult and is a great choice for newer players.

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

Who Wrote Zombie?

"Zombie" was written by Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of the alternative rock group The Cranberries. O’Riordan composed the song alone, both the lyrics and melody, during the band's 1993 tour in the UK.

It was a protest anthem written in response to the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, England. This tragic event killed two children: three-year-old Johnathan Ball and 12-year-old Tim Parry. The bombing was part of the long-running conflict kn...

Behold…

A moody, vibey, and iconic song inspired from an absolutely tragic divorce.

There are not that many legendary hit songs tunes where the drummer is the writer, and also the lead singer. But this is one of them. You only need 3 chords to play it.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “In The Air Tonight” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote In The Air Tonight?

In the Air Tonight" is one of Phil Collins’ most iconic songs. It’s got a haunting atmosphere, dark lyrics, and one of the most famous drum fills in rock history.

Phil Collins wrote "In the Air Tonight" entirely on his own. It was the lead single from his debut solo album, Face Value (1981). The song is often interpreted as being about anger, betrayal, and personal loss—largely inspired by Collins' painful divorce from his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli.

Collins has said that Andrea was the one who initiated the breakup. As most women do, statistics show about 7 to 8 out of 10 divorces are initiated by women. Ac...

Here’s a song from an interesting period during the Rolling Stones’ career.

It has a slightly mellow feel to it in contrast to many of their more high-energy tunes. But the groove is deep and the song also features legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins

Grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Waiting On A Friend” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Waiting On A Friend?

“Waiting On A Friend” was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. But like many Rolling Stones songs, it was a collaborative effort. It all came together with significant contributions from the other band members and also some guest musicians.

Lyrically, the song is a departure from the Stones’ usual themes of love, sex, and rebellion. Instead, it leans more into the value of friendship and companionship. Mick Jagger has said in interviews that the song isn’t about waiting for a woman but rather about the camaraderie between friends. Given the Stones’ turbulent history, particularly in the 1970s, many interp...

One of my early mentors was a guy named Ron Anthony who has gone on to join the choir invisible. But he played guitar for Frank Sinatra. 

And one day in a guitar lesson he told me, “Jon all music is patterns.”

And it’s true.

So in this post, I want to share with you 5 super common chord progressions every guitarist should know. But before we begin, let’s first talk about…

How These Common Chord Progressions Work

In any major key, we have seven diatonic chords. In the key of C major they would be:

C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - Bdim

These chords are built by stacking thirds on each note of the scale. They follow a specific pattern of major, minor, and diminished chords:

• I (C): Major
• ii (Dm): Minor
• iii (Em): Minor
• IV (F): Major
• V (G): Major
• vi (Am): Minor
• vii° (Bdim): Diminished

This pattern applies to every major key, and understanding it is key to identifying and playing common chord progressions. These progressions are combinations of these chords, often grouped t...

When you find yourself in times of trouble, here’s a comforting song to pull you through.

You see, we all go through seasons in life.  

Seasons of happiness and seasons of pain.  

I believe, wherever you might be right now, playing this song can help. And also, it will level up your guitar playing at the same time. While many think this song is about the Virgin Mary, there’s a twist, and I’m going to get into it below. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Let It Be” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Let It Be?

"Let It Be" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership. It’s become one of the most iconic Beatles songs ever.

It all started with a dream McCartney had about his mother, Mary McCartney. It was during an intense period of recording with the Beatles. In the dream, his mother came to him and reassured him saying, ‘It’s going to be okay. Just let it be.’"

This dream deeply moved Paul, and he channeled that comfort ...