How Long will it Take Me to Learn Guitar / Play a Song?
Its a common question by would be guitarists “How Long will it Take Me to Learn Guitar / Play a Song?” but the truth is in the selection of a song to learn.
I’ve chosen a great song for us to get started called “Knocking on Heavens Door”. This song was released by Bob Dylan originally then one of my favourite rock bands “Guns N Roses” released a great version as well.
This is a great song that everyone knows I’m sure. So why not give this a go. The Chords are pretty easy and starting slow you will no doubt have the song in no time
First we need some chords.
It really depends on how new you are but if you can play these chords then this is a slow simple version of the song to get you playing your first song. Its pace is good and the strumming pattern remains the same throughout.
You can get more imaginative but simply the song can be played with all down strokes on the guitar.
Notation for strumming: \ = Down – /\ = up – = Rest (Pause)
All Down Strokes : //// – //// – //// ////.
If you find this ok then I would play it with this pattern:
\ . . \./\.\./\
Down (Pause) down/up/down – down up down
So this is – Down on beat 1, then a pause, then beats 3 & 4 down/up/Down. (Faster)
Intro.
G D Am
G D C
Verse 1.
G D Am
Mama, take this badge off of me
G D C
I can’t use it anymore
G D Am
It’s gettin’ to dark, too dark to see
G D C
Feels like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door
Chorus.
The chords are played G = 4 beats – 4 D= Beats – C – 8 Beats
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Verse 2
G D Am
Mama, put my guns in the ground
G D C
I can’t shoot them anymore
G D Am
That long black cloud is comin’ down
G D C
Feels like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door
Chorus – Repeat and Fade.
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
This is a short version but in its original form. This is an ideal introduction and will give you your first song to play. I hope you enjoy it.
Here is the original so you can play along with it. Enjoy.
The Author.
Brendon McAliece is a multi lingual expatriate Australian living in Thailand who speaks Thai, a number of its dialects and Lao. He has been playing guitar since he was 12 and continues to do so to this day.
He has performing in bands across the Middle East while contracting as a Aircraft Weapons Instructor with his 10 years of RAAF Armament Fitter experience and his maintained his love for playing guitar it continues to thrive today.
