GUITARHABITS

Top 10 Best Tom Petty Guitar Songs

May 29, 2023 by Klaus Crow

Hi Folks, as a guitar student and musician you need to learn your Tom Petty songs and for a good reason!

Tom was a great American singer-songwriter who left an indelible mark on the world of rock music.

With his distinctive raspy voice and catchy songwriting, he became known for his ability to blend elements of rock, folk, and Americana, creating a unique and timeless sound.

In 1976, he gained widespread recognition with his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and later as a solo artist creating the iconic album “Full moon fever” produced by Jeff Lynne, and went on to release a string of great albums and hits.

Tragically, Tom passed away on October 2, 2017, leaving behind a profound influence on generations of musicians.

Luckily his songs are left for us to play, to study, to practice and enjoy. Tom Petty’s songs are a really good source to develop all the different skills you need as a guitar player from common chords and progressions, embellishments, catchy riffs, licks, and great song writing.

In this carefully curated list, you can find the cream of the crop from Petty’s extensive catalog, from the infectious hooks of “Free Fallin'” to the anthemic power of “American girl,” each song offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into Petty’s signature guitar style.

So grab your favorite six-string, make yourself some good coffee and let’s explore the magic of Tom Petty’s guitar-driven classics. Each title contains a link to Youtube and a link to the chords / Tabs and lyrics for the song.

Enjoy your practice and have a great one!

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1 – “Free Fallin’

“Free Fallin’ was written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne for the album “Full moon fever” and was released in 1989. The song was recorded in just two days and used a multitude of acoustic guitar to create that incredible dreamy sound.

It’s a nostalgic song about personal freedom and embracing life’s journey. It encourages you to let go and enjoy the ride, capturing the essence of self-discovery and adventure.

The song is in the key of F major and can be played as a beginner-friendly version by playing it with the capo on the 3rd fret following the chords D – G – D – A (sus4) throughout the entire song.

Free falling chords

2 – “I Won’t Back Down”

This song is an empowering anthem, released in 1989, and embodies resilience and determination. It’s a reminder to stay true to yourself and stand strong in the face of adversity.

With basic open chords like Em , D, G and C “I Won’t Back Down” is approachable for beginner guitarists. The song follows a verse-chorus structure, making it easy to learn and perform.

I won’t back down chords

3 – “American Girl”

“American Girl” is a classic rock song that captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and American dreams. The songs was released for their self-titled debut album in 1976 and tells the story of a young woman’s experiences and embodies the essence of rock ‘n’ roll energy.

The progression incorporates basic open chords like D, E7, G, and A. The song follows a verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure, giving you the chance to practice chord progressions and transitions. The melody and rhythm allows for energetic strumming.

American girl chords + TABS

Cool Blues Guitar Lick in the key of D

By Klaus Crow 2 Comments

January 12, 2025 by Klaus Crow

Looking to spice up your blues guitar playing? You’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’ll break down a Blues Lick in D that’ll add some serious flavor to your solos. Whether you’re just starting out or an intermediate player looking to expand your skills, this lick is a fun and powerful addition to your repertoire.

Why Play in the Key of D?

Before we dive into the lick, let’s take a moment to explore the key of D—a fantastic key for blues guitarists. Why is D so popular? For one, it’s relatively easy to play in, thanks to its open strings and familiar chord shapes. But more importantly, it has a raw, distinctive sound that feels right at home in blues music.

In the key of D, the primary chords are D7, G7, and A7—the classic I-IV-V progression that forms the backbone of countless blues songs. When improvising, you can lean on the D blues scale (or D pentatonic scale) to create those soulful, expressive lines.

A Simple 12-Bar Blues Progression in D

Let’s set the stage for this lick with a 12-bar blues progression in the key of D, a standard format in blues music. This is the perfect structure to practice over:

| D7 | D7 | D7 | D7 |
| G7 | G7 | D7 | D7 |
| A7 | G7 | D7 | A7 |

Feel free to jam over this progression to really get the feel of the key. Now, let’s move on to the good stuff—the lick itself!

The Cool Blues Lick in D

In the video lesson, we’re playing a Blues Lick in D based on the D blues scale. The lick incorporates double stops—playing two notes at once for a fuller, richer sound—and uses bend-ups and bend-downs. These techniques are classic in blues guitar and help create that signature emotional pull in your playing.

The beauty of this lick lies in its simplicity and expressiveness. By combining these techniques, you’ll be able to craft a line that sounds both bluesy and melodic, with just the right amount of tension and release.

How to Play a Blues Lick in D

Ready to play? Below, you’ll find the tablature for the lick as demonstrated in the video. Take it slow at first, and focus on nailing the bend technique and the timing of the double stops. Once you’ve got the feel, try speeding it up or adding your own personal touch.

Tabs for the Lick:

Final Thoughts: Take This Lick to Your Next Jam!

With these new techniques under your belt, you’re ready to incorporate this lick into your own solos and jam sessions. Try it over the provided 12-bar blues progression, or adapt it to different keys and progressions for added variety. Remember, blues is all about expression—don’t be afraid to play around with the lick and make it your own!

Enjoy the journey, and keep on playing!

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Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Guitar Tutorial Easy

By Klaus Crow 1 Comment

February 24, 2023 by Klaus Crow

What a beautiful day to learn “Have you ever seen the rain by” by CCR! 🎸🌞

Creedence Clearwater Revival, or CCR for short, is a legendary band that helped define the sound of classic rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of their most popular and enduring hits is “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” a song that’s still played on the radio and covered by musicians today.

If you’re a beginner or intermediate guitar player, learning how to play “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is a great way to dive into the world of rock music, and you know what? There are always people who are gonna ask you if you can play a song by CCR, Always! So this song has to be in your repertoire ;)

The song features relatively simple chord progressions and strumming patterns, but it also has a catchy melody and easy to sing along lyrics that make it a crowd-pleaser.

Chords & Strumming Pattern

In the video lesson I’ll break down the chords Am – F – C – G, explain the strumming pattern ↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑ and walk you through the song step by step, so you can start learning it on your guitar. I’ll also provide some tips and tricks to make the song sound even better. Whether you’re a fan of CCR or just looking to expand your musical horizons, this guide will help you master one of the most iconic rock songs of all time.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to play this song with confidence and really make it your own.

Enjoy!

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2 Heavenly Blues Turnarounds Guitar Lesson

By Klaus Crow 2 Comments

February 11, 2023 by Klaus Crow

If you’re a blues guitarist, you know that a good turnaround can give real flavor to your song, lift up the entire piece and make it stand out, so that’s what we’re going to do today!

A turnaround is a short musical phrase that leads back to the beginning of a song or progression and typically starts on the last two bars (or measures) of a 12-bar blues shuffle or 12-bar blues progression.

So if you’re playing a blues tune and you want to incorporate a turnaround, start by counting out the 12 bars of the progression, and then begin the turnaround on the 11th and 12th bars.

While turnarounds are often used to signal the end of a chorus or verse, and set up the next one, today’s heavenly blues turnarounds are only used at the end of a blues progression to finish the song with some raw and soulful blues elegance.

Add these two heavenly blues turnarounds to your repertoire and you’re good to go.

Remember, the key to mastering these turnarounds is practice, so be sure to spend plenty of time working on them. Grab your guitar, watch the video lesson and get started!

Happy playing!

TABLATURE

If you want more turnarounds you can also check out the Robert Johnson Style Turnarounds or 6 Cool Guitar Blues Turnarounds.

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