Beginner Guitar Lesson 10

Guru Challenge!

Welcome back, hope the revision lesson worked out for you.

It’s time for Gurus challenge where I want you to upload a video of yourself playing along to one of Spy Tunes songs.

In this first challenge I want you to play a second guitar part to the existing Spy Tunes version of The Verve‘s monster hit The Drugs Don’t Work.

To help you along I’ve come up with a few ideas, and tabbed them out for you.

Here’s the first part which would work over the verse.

Drugs Don't Work verse idea 1

As you can see the pattern remain the same as the chords change, this adds to the meditative effect of the parts working together.

In the last bar you’ll find a variation in the pattern, experiment with applying this pattern anytime a chord is played for two bars.

Also, try the 2nd idea below which has switched the pattern around somewhat.

Drugs Don't Work verse idea 2

Once you get the hang of the pattern, check how the last bar has a modified C chord. Since the new note is the same as we play on the open G string this doesn’t change the name of the chord, it is still just a C major chord.

Learn more about this when you study the interval of each chord shape.

As we enter the M8 (or bridge as Americans call it) there is a longer visit over chord IV (the F) than previously, the 2nd guitar parts explore this in two different ways.

Drugs Don't Work M8 idea 1

As we play the top F on the E string this is the highest note for a while, further setting the IV chord in focus, the climb down from the high G, ending on D gives the F a push back in again.

The second idea look at using space to create more excitement. This is usually a much better idea than to go the other way, adding more notes.

Drugs Don't Work M8 idea 2

Using the four ideas above, come up with your own variations.

Use the video to play along with. This is my first challenge, do you take it on?

Next up is Beginner Guitar Lesson 11.

Happy playing!

Dan (your guitar guru)