A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles | Guitar Lesson

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Learn how to play A Hard Day's Night, as performed by The Beatles released as the title track for their 1964 album (and film). This is a super fun song to play even on just one guitar, but the lesson will break down what John plays on his 6 string acoustic part and what George plays on his 12 string electric parts. We'll cover the all important opening chord, rhythm and lead guitar parts, how they recorded the guitar solo, and the 12 string outro part.
I've linked some videos that have track separation that really let you hear what each of them are playing in the song. Also a great analysis / breakdown of the opening chord by Chris Buck's Friday Fretworks.
Chris Buck''s video • The Most FAMOUS Chord ...
Deconstructed Hard Days Night (all instruments) • Deconstructing The Bea...
Original recording of the guitar solo (George H & George Martin) • The Beatles - A Hard D...
00:00 Introduction / What to expect
02:03 How they did the opening chord
03:10 John's approach to his parts
04:30 Lesson - Johns acoustic guitar parts
09:10 George's approach to his parts
09:47 Lesson - George's 12 string electric parts
14:29 Lesson - the guitar solo section
17:36 Lesson - George's outro part
19:17 Final thoughts
Gear used in this video (if you purchase via these links I will earn a small commission):
Yamaha 6 string acoustic sweetwater.sjv.io/Jzjak7
Epiphone G1275 6/12 string
TC Elec. Hall of Fame Reverb: imp.i114863.net/5bdEX2
If you want to find the guitar models they used, you can find those here
Rickenbacker V63 12 string: sweetwater.sjv.io/q40qDb
Gibson J-160E (check for those on reverb or from gibson.com)
Also...
WIN FREE GEAR:
imp.i114863.net/9WoMd3
DEALS ON MUSIC GEAR:
imp.i114863.net/a1dxGM
USED GEAR:
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[@joegagliardi9066]

You are honest, humble, and a talented, music mentor. Thank you for all the great lessons.

[@12footchain]

I appreciate that!

[@Anne6621]

way back in 64 when we first heard this we all talked about the solo and most of us thought it was an organ or electric piano and whats the best part of spending your life playing Beatles is you can play a song 10,000 times and still make little discoveries you never heard before

[@billydeewilliams9104]

I heard that George struggled to play the solo in time and they had to record him low and speed it up.

[@roughcutguitars]

​@billydeewilliams9104 yup. As Their recording engineer tells it, George and George #2 :-) (on piano) played it at half speed and doubled it in the mix. Forehead slap every time I think back to killing myself to try and play it straight :-D

[@markdesod561]

Imagine back in the Summer of 64 when this came out and everybody was gaga over this tune? It happened to me!! Thank You Doug!!!

[@paullavallee1631]

When I started taking lessons 35 years ago I had a thick old Beatles book and was taught it front to back

[@ragnarlothbrok3067]

Same, my beginner book was the Pocket Beatles; still have it. Not nearly as real as this lesson, but got me close. Thanks 12, always learn a lot from your lessons and love your teaching style!

[@shakeyblues5128]

Great stuff 12 Ft, always loved the Beatles. Top shelf ♪♫♪♫♪

[@peterrocha9474]

Job job as usual. I learn something new every time. Thank you!

[@altonwilliams7117]

Love the sound of that acoustic guitar!🎵

[@rayross997]

Thanks for the great lessons. You've been workin' like a dog.👍

[@RickHardcore]

Great job my friend! Keep it up!! 🎸🎸🎸

[@1rwjwith]

I think possibly Lennon was strumming so hard was because he may have not heard himself so well since they were all playing together on these early tracks. It also shows how the FEEL they get includes small mistakes. Which they would fix in this day and age on separate tracks and lose the feel! Great job.

[@raymondfryar1533]

Hard days night and Hard for them to play live I bet. Great job, thanks.

[@northsongs]

Marvelous!!!

[@-Atmos1]

Sounds like the 60's , cool explantion

[@Nobody_Important_Yea]

Good, again!

[@rhinomechanics8423]

LOVE YA' MAN .. THANKS ~

[@kjking3087]

good job

[@rickprice2519]

DR Chain..............PHD of the F9!!

[@oddshot60]

Since you have the 12 string out ... Byrds?

[@jaycoover]

New acoustic? Very pretty.

[@jaycoover]

My P Bass is that same sort of honeyburst thing. Your gtr sounds great too. Full throated, meaty.

[@weedywet]

it's somewhat controversial, but some people think he played the outtro 12 string arpeggio by holding that high G on the E string and playing the F on the D string, rather than moving the finger on the E string.

[@seanmiller7187]

The solo is not triplets, it's a three over four pattern. That's why getting the feel right is so hard.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

It's Been A Hard Day's nit And I've been working up a snit...

[@freddiefreeman4119]

In the chorus it sounds more like an F to D at the end not C to D

[@oddshot60]

Steppenwolf? Since they did a lot of organ solos, maybe you could make up your own.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

I disagree with the chord for the word "tight". I think it s/b Am7, then D7.

[@12footchain]

quite possible

[@CatmanPete]

Maybe C9 to D7? I think John did live...

[@chrissullivan40]

That opening chord on the 12 string electric is impossible to play.

[@12footchain]

Its tough. The rickenbacker neck is thinner at the nut and it's easier to cover strings 4 & 5 with one fingertip. depending on your hand/finger size I think is the other factor. Difficult but not impossible