How to play 'Horse With No Name' by 'America'

[@willpennington5479]

My wife bought me my first guitar a month ago after my years of wishing I could play. I found it easier to learn than I ever thought it could be. Learning two simple chords and then playing along to a song, no matter how bad it may sound, is an instant confidence builder. I've learned five chords now, and can already do a basic strumming pattern to A Horse With No Name with fairly smooth chord changes. Why the heck did I wait so long to start? I'm 60 and having fun 😄

[@juana1483]

GOOOOOD FOR YOU BROTHER!!!!! YAH YAH YAH!!!! I've played for many years, but have had multiple health issues for past 15 years. I turned 62 last June and finally bought a Gibson J-45, which was my dream guitar. Seeing your post really got me motivated cos I remember when I 1st learned chords like you. You can create anything your soul tells you to!!! Keep it up!!! And great you have a wife that cares like that!!!!!!

[@clinnyboy]

I started at age 57 and I'm now turning 65. learned a lot from utube. Wish I stared earlier as I've developed rhuematoid in my hands about age 59 but so far God has been good and my hands are still doing o.k.. I think the guitar has helped with keeping the joints moving but sometimes I'm sore the next day. Still learning and still loving it! Playing is my favorite thing to do especially with my childhood buddy. Always more fun with others.

[@fredneedle123]

Only 60? The perfect age to start is whatever age you are. Enjoy.

[@andrewbarfoot4687]

Yeah I'm 48 just started and love it. Can play about 7,8 chords and they all sound awful - but I love it... strumming is so hard for me to get, is it because I'm a white guy with no rythm? - anyways when my guitar somewhat sounds like music I feel good.

[@tillabakos2248]

Have no regrets, won't help. Keep playing, will bring you joy. (great wife by the way to buy you a new lover) :)

[@benjaminmorton9436]

I have watched a lot of tutorials on this song, and this is the first one that really captures the sound of the recorded version.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Benjamin - much appreciated, it was fun to do. Shane

[@wesleycannon898]

Agreed!

[@TheColombianOreo]

3 years later and this is still the best tutorial for this song I’ve found on YT. That strumming pattern as a beginner was TOUGH, but this guide was a major step forward in helping me understand my guitar. THANK YOU.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Christian - much appreciated! Very glad to have you here with us and I hope you're having fun with it! Shane

[@suminshizzles6951]

I knew right away that this was right since i was taught the same chord. Em then split your fingers outward onto the frets. The strumming is also a bit hard for me after 30 years of being away. But i will persist.

[@thephenom_7231]

I’ve watched many tutorials for this song but this was by far the best sounding and most helpful so thank you.

[@GuitarAtWork]

A big thank you - very glad you enjoyed it. Glad to have you with us! Shane

[@blathy2]

@thephenom I would have to agree.Well spoken with some little tech talk thrown in there really makes it a top notch instruction vid

[@benokabayashi9039]

Facts

[@1200rexer]

I totally agree way helpful and far better than any other i have seen keep up the good work

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

I couldn't have said it any better 👍

[@raylarivey4326]

Shanes ability to speak the strum in time is impressive and really helpful.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Ray - always fun. Be sure to check out over 150 other videos on this channel. Glad to have you here with us! Shane

[@karenstemp7393]

Hi Shane from Australia, imm a 66 year old woman learning for the pasr 6 months, you are so good to learn with thank you so much, just loving your lessons, much appreciated

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Karen - so glad to have you here and I hope you’re having fun with it. Cheers! Shane

[@mortenknudsen9155]

Holy S***.. i spent the last 4 hours trying to learn when the cord change was supposed to happen, i watched several guides with no luck at all... I watched 4 minutes of your video and i got. Thank you sooo much Guitar At Work. Much appreciated.

[@MrBritishGent]

Eighteen months after picking up a guitar for the first time, playing this song as taught by you makes me feel like a proper guitar player! Brilliant lesson. Many thanks!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Super! My best to you and have fun with it! Shane

[@xcrfty]

Picked up my first guitar today and spent about an hour watching this video and memorizing the strings and patterns. Easy to understand and well put together. Thank you!!!

[@GuitarAtWork]

A big thank you. Have fun with it! Shane

[@regularguy3202]

Hey how’s it going with your playing? I’m just starting out as well.

[@felicityrose8975]

It's been 3 decade when i stop playing with my guitar and singing, i lost my memory about musics their lyrics.....so happy you have a channel to teach me again thanks a lot sir

[@toml6263]

Thanks Shane. At 66 years old, I'm trying to learn my first song. Great lesson!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Tom! Keep at it - you'll have a ton of fun - very happy to have you with us! Shane

[@andyshiflett2503]

Been playing for 40 years..and a teacher... you have a gift my friend...

[@redxgrey]

This is by far the best online lesson on this song. No one explained the strumming pattern nearly as clearly. Thank you.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you redxgrey - much appreciated. Happy to have you with us - Cheers! Shane

[@crabbyluigi751]

Shane, the main reason you're an excellent teacher is the fact you take your time explaining and don't whiz along and you don't assume everybody knows this stuff already..... Good job instructing!

[@jamessmith-cn9nl]

If you are a beginner, start circling back to the 8:00 mark and then adjust the speed of playback on youtube to 1.25 and then 1.5 and it makes the transition easier than jumping right into the full speed version at 9:00 ( the gear symbol by the CC is where you change speed at bottom right corner of video screen). Thanks Man!

[@russellcotter2491]

I've been playing guitar for 40 years, err, I mean for "over" 40 and go with the LONG periods of no guitar in hand and feel like I'm back to intermediate at best. You are without a doubt the best tutor I have ever run across in all my years. I can't even explain the fascination with which I watch your videos. Your sheer joy of the instrument comes through as if you're in the room with me! Wish I had you with me from start to now. Thanks so much for your time and work for those you have never even met. I think of so many folks rushing off to practice after watching your vid's and forgetting to leave a remark. They're all grateful! Thanks again compadre!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Russell - A giant thank you for that. It totally makes my day - I do these videos because I still love to talk about the guitar - I have had a never ending fascination and a full time love affair with it for over 35 years. I just never get tired of it. Thank you for your encouraging and inspiring words and I wish you my very best on your musical journey - playing music is for everyone! So happy to hear from you and so very glad to have you with us. Cheers! Shane

[@theTruthLifeNWay]

Aura around you is wonderful. Your technique and explaining is always on point, and a pure joy to watch and listen too, I've been playing guitar for 27 years, bass for 12, and mandolin for about 7 years, music saved my life. Thank you for all that you do and to those keeping the music and instrument learning alive from your videos. Peace and Love to you Good Sir from Ireland

[@GuitarAtWork]

A big thank you Marty - a lovely comment to receive - makes my day. Hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying your music. I'll be visiting your country in May of this year. Cheers! Shane

[@memez227]

Best tutorial for this song hands down

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Be sure to check out 180 other song videos on this channel. Cheers! Shane

[@regularguy3202]

There are tons out there doing this song. Yours is the best I’ve found. I’m 58 and just started. Thanks for your help!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you - comments like yours make my day - very encouraging. Glad you enjoyed and be sure to check out about 200 other videos on this channel. Cheers! Shane

[@regularguy3202]

@@GuitarAtWork Yes sir. Also subscribed!

[@stevemeyer8210]

I'm 56 bought a 6 string 2 months ago learning chords better late than not trying at all these lessons are rather priceless.

[@epifone]

In fact Dewey plays three chords (see: America - 1975 - A Horse With No Name)! His guitar is tuned D-E-D-G-B-D. The first chord starts with: pointer on 6th-string/2nd fret; middle on 4th-string/2nd fret and pinky or ring finger on 1st-string/2nd fret. Play this chord for 1 bar, then change pointer to 5th-string/2nd fret and middle to 3rd-string/2nd fret and leave your pinky/ring where it is. Play this chord for a half bar. Then just lift your pointer and leave your other fingers in place to play the third chord for another half bar. Play these chord changes throughout the song till you're old and grey. La la lala la la …

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks epifone. Such a great song! Shane

[@lukedangelo4807]

I just picked up a guitar for the first time yesterday tried using a different tutorial to learn this song and it didn’t sound good. I tried this one and I’ve been practice for about 45 mins and have the song mastered at full speed. You sir are a great man.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Luke - so great to hear that. Hope you have fun with it! Shane

[@arienne4990]

I started learning guitar a couple of weeks ago and struggled with learning an actual song. Practiced this for about 2 days straight and managed to keep up with your playing at the end! This is easily the best tutorial I’ve seen of this song, and your instructions were so clear and easy to follow. I look forward to learning through the rest of your videos! Thanks 😄

[@MVos-md3rp]

Playing for decades, and discovered that each instructor uses a unique personal style on the classics. Very cool!

[@nichol76]

Shane, you have a gift for making tricky things do-able (without being so slow as to be boring or so quick as to make it impossible to follow) - great job as always, and thanks so much!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Nichol - much appreciated! Shane

[@stephencarruthers4418]

My son has just started to learn to play and has only had 4 lessons. We watched your video and he said 'I can do that'...and he did!...he's now off to his next lesson to show his tutor what he can do. Thank You!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Stephen! What a great message to receive - much appreciated. I wish your son a very happy guitar experience! Shane

[@madcowusa4277]

After two weeks with my daughter's guitar, I was able to play the basic version of this well enough that the family actually recognized the song! Good video.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you madcow - so great to hear that. Glad to have you with us and hope you will check out over 130 other videos on this channel - Happy New Year! Shane

[@TinaGantomasso]

What a phenomenal teacher! Everything is broken down to the basics. This is how to build a good foundation structure.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you, Tina. I am so glad you enjoyed my best to you! Shane.

[@stephenpilkington4130]

have always liked this song since the early seventies. 2015 i started to learn the guitar and this was the second song i attempted. fast forward to 2019 and i feeling happy with myself that i have learnt the solo as well. its a hobby and i dont take it too serious ,but i really enjoy learning and improving my playing.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Glad to hear it Stephen - hope you are having fun with it! Shane

[@gardeningallotmentadventur1465]

Thankyou so much. I am 50 years old run my own business and need to de stress. You have helped massively with your excellent teaching style. I need every help I can as just starting out. Thanks again.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you John - so great to hear that. All the best with it! Shane

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Just Me - very encouraging and greatly appreciated. Shane

[@gardeningallotmentadventur1465]

I believe that my children running out of the room screaming and crying every time I am picking up the guitar is telling me something....... I am improving 😊

[@aimeeestelle423]

I've just brought my first quilter as I want to learn so bad! This is the first song I'm going to learn. Thank you for sharing it sounds amazing and my favourite song 😌

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Aimee - this song is the perfect choice for you. Have fun! Shane

[@twc9000]

This is the third video I've watched on how to play this song and it's the only one that explains it in enough detail to play it.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Thomas - hope you have fun with it. Be sure to check out over 190 other videos on this channel - Cheers! Shane

[@CaseyTXFA]

This guy is great. I feel like he would teach well in person. Awesome video!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Casey! Shane

[@rickyraveon]

I really enjoyed your video. I’ve been playing for 45 years, and never even thought of the one string thicker or thinner when teaching. Much easier for a beginner to understand.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Rick - much appreciated! Shane

[@tehblucryptic7049]

Wow I normally can't stand watching videos on how to play songs but this one was so well said and explained it's like he really gave you time to learn he didn't expect you'd get it immediately he just sort of helped you and guided you. Needless to say I learned this song quite easily with well practice.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you TehBlu - really appreciate your comment - happy to have you with us! Shane

[@jamiem.9443]

Ive watched dozens of videos to try to play this song and they always just sounded Wrong. Now when I play it it just sounds like i need to practice it more THANK YOU!!!!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Jamie - happy to hear that! Be sure to check out over 190 other videos on this channel. Cheers, Shane

[@randyclarke4817]

Love the tutorial, well done! I'll be back for more. Thank you for simplifying this song. I appreciate the open chord to transitioning between the Em to the Crazy D chord.

[@listerlau7479]

It is helpful. Others focused on the left hand on how to put your fingers on different chords but this man covered both, especially on your right hand step by step. Champion.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Lister - Very glad to have you with us! Shane

[@Schmitzchen]

Funny thing is: During my whole four weeks (haha!) of guitar learning, I had to fight with the campfire version. That always felt wrong. With the real strumming patterns the song now is beginning to form in my head. I'm still a bit slow, of course. But I'm getting there. Thanks a lot!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Glad to hear that Petra - hope you are having fun with it. Glad to have you with us! Shane

[@jasonryan1286]

Petra M. Schmitz are you still playing?

[@alexanderhammer688]

Petra, wunderbar. mach' weiterso.

[@dumpsterdonnie3408]

Wow not resting my bicep on the guitar might just be one of the most helpful strumming tips I've gotten in my couple month journey. Gonna take some getting used to but feels much more relaxed. Thank you!

[@Morbidity100]

At first I struggled with the rhythm, but after a good practice sesh I have this song under my belt. It’s so fun to play!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Glad to hear it Morbidity - hope you dig in and have fun with it. Cheers! Shane

[@joepringle9028]

I fell in love with this song as a young boy and always wanted to play it. This by fare is the best tutorial on the strum pattern. Rock on and Inner Peace to you all.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Joe - much appreciated! Shane

[@MJ-jn4qh]

i just got out my dad's old guitar and started playing - i've never even held a guitar but your tutorial is amazing, thank you so much:)

[@wildalbalass4867]

Brilliant. This is the first song I tried to teach myself a few months ago. I shelved it but now I am most definitely inspired to get right back into it following your instruction. I’m saving this. Huge appreciation sir. Many thanks.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks for that - my best to you! Shane

[@nevrens]

I use two more chords which are Em9 and E13sus4. The part where they sing' I've been through the desert on a horse with no name'. Em9 is played on the word 'been' and E13sus4 is played on the word 'horse'. The chords are fretted as such: Em9= 020002 and E13sus4= 000220.

[@allenpapiah8010]

Nicely written. Well done Sir.

[@bajhawk7]

I've been playing on & off since I was Ten, I'm now 55, taught myself everything I know - mostly Pink Floyd & Hawkwind Riffs & just making up rhythms, my mate used to play this song on his guitar & I thought WOW - much too hard for me, then I stumbled across this tutorial & I am so happy, also the solo,I can almost play it perfectly. Big Big thanks to you Shane.

[@hansjohnson9459]

This is the best strumming pattern that I’ve seen in any of the tutorials. I think you nailed it and it sounds like the song for sure. It isn’t easy but it sounds great when you get in the groove with it. Nice job!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Hans - glad to have you here with us. Be sure to check out 170 other songs on this channel! Shane

[@josephszpek5740]

The way you explained the strumming patters is remarkable because I got it so fast. Always have had trouble with strumming patters Great job thank you. You have no idea how long I have wanted to play songs like these correctly when it comes to strumming patters. Finally some one who can break it down at least for me. Thanks again will subscribe.

[@thomase4377]

I learned this song from some other videos but I'll have to do it over again because this sounds so much better! Great explanation

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Thomas. Best to you. Shane

[@alpwinterfell]

This tutorial best ever ❤ hello from turkey 🇹🇷

[@GuitarAtWork]

Big thank you - my best to you! Shane

[@lfranc2]

Best guitar tutorial on this song, mate! Keep up the good work!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Luis - really appreciate that. All the best with it and be sure to check out another 130 videos on this channel. Cheers! Shane

[@mnpd3]

I first heard that song on the AM car radio while travelling through Western Kansas on I-70 for the first time. No, the Great Plains are not a desert, but to a guy from the heavily-forested South who had never seen plains, it might as well have been. So, a half-century later when I hear this song, I imagine riding a horse through Kansas. Strange how the mind works.

[@HiggaionSelah_EWFMG]

Nicely explained ! Detailed break down , slowly , easy to follow and pick up on ; calming, soothing , gentle and patient ; I'd like to have you as my personal guitar instructor ! Best/Most helpful thought in the lesson: "It's almost like ..someone else is playing it..you know..really great" !! 😎

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Fullmoon - really great comment and I very much appreciate it. Glad to have you with us - Happy New Year! Shane

[@leopoldkirgo]

Hi Sir. Just want to thank you for this tutorial. I started to play guitar at the beginning of the covid lockdown in France and this song was my very first on guitar. Now I can play it almost like you do. You are a very good teacher. Have a nice day !

[@spencerbooth1]

this was the first song I learned and I learned it trough guitar at work

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you! It's a great song! Shane

[@gs646]

Shane! It's a good thing that you said to repeat one million times on the song sheet! I'm feeling pretty good after only one hundred... Just learning as a newly retired 63 year-old and loving it!

[@davethewelder1]

dude, one of my favorite all time songs. just started to play guitar and just love it. excellent video on how to play this song. thanks will be back to your channel.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks David - glad you enjoyed it - happy to have you with us! Shane

[@borntolose_livetowin]

I play since 5 weeks and I practice this song for appr. 5 days now. I just wanted to thank you for the help because my play becomes fluid, a groove knocks on my door and playing guitar starts to make FUN!!!

[@chrislloyd9241]

Brill lesson, so easy to understand and play straight away. Bring on more

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Chris - great to hear from you and glad to have you with us, Shane

[@ArmaGuyz]

Taking things back to the basics I wanted to look at your from the ground up teaching and I learned some things I didnt know. Like the landing of the percussive slap lower VS higher ready for the up Strum even the holding of the pick and why is something I learned. The song I learned as a straight forward strum and switching of chords So it sounded droney and never spent much time on it. Im gonna go back to this and learn it like this. Ive tried to help others learn enough to get them started I tell them Im not a teacher but this song is one of the first I show people cause it was the first Ive learned I show them it to explain anyone can play. Watching this has taught me one thing. Instead of just giving them something to play they'll get bored with and never play and wont sound right. Teach them the importance of learning a song the right way VS the fast way. A little longer practice to play a song right Vs a droning strum to show someone you know the bare bones seems far more worth it. I'm not a teacher but people ask to learn from me so I try to learn things the best I can to get anyone started I always refer them to youtube where I started. Ill be referring to your videos for sure. Very thorough understandable and to the point.

[@spencergauthier3594]

Awesome video, you just successfully taught me my first song!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Very glad Spencer - glad to have you with us! Shane

[@brianmyers6706]

Have tried to learn this song, as I'm still a new player at 54. This is the 1st video where I have seen the playing of the low E before the chord. Adds a little more to the song. Nice!

[@wiktorbejtka251]

Wow, your tutorials are amazing

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Wiktor - glad to have you here with us! Shane

[@crackerjackrappr]

Its amazing to know what youre doing in between strums. A magicians sleight of hand.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Aaron - much appreciate your comment. Hope you're getting the hang of it. Be sure to check out over 150 other guitar videos on this channel! Shane

[@sinam7713]

I just started playing guitar recently and I'm a complete beginner, but Horse with no name was the one song that made me want to learn guitar. You're teaching so good and easy to follow, I love the video! I'm just wondering why my high E sounds so loud and dominant when I am playing and strumming all strings (I tune the guitar every time before I start), it just doesn't sound right. When playing along the song I got the rhythm and the timing is right, but I hear that high note all the time!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Sina - you’re making progress! A lot of people have the same trouble you mentioned - just be sure to turn the pick on an angle for the upstroke. That way the pick won’t ‘collide’ with the strings. Cheers! Shane

[@sinam7713]

@@GuitarAtWork thank you very much Shane! Sometimes it's the tiny details that make it sound so much better and I keep practising with great advise like yours. All the best! Sina

[@MintyAlexx]

This is the single best guitar tutorial i've seen on this website

[@JayceLavandeos]

Practiced it for 2 days almost nailed it

[@GuitarAtWork]

That's great - have fun with it and glad to have you here with us! Shane

[@JayceLavandeos]

Ty

[@andrewbarfoot4687]

I love the way this instructor breaks down each step... god knows it works for me.

[@robertcress2809]

I went to the channel you mentioned for the “worksheet” could not find them?

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Robert - just go to guitaratwork.ca and look for the 'Free Downloads' Tab at the very top of the main page. It'll take you to some folders. You'll find this song in the 'Absolute Beginner' folder. Free download - Happy New Year! - Shane

[@jamesmccarthy5727]

That slap/strum on crazyD is what gives it the authentic sound. Now I can play it properly and I can sing it. If only I could do both at the same time.

[@runawayushould]

Is it possible to post the actual chords used? Makes it a little easy to do the fingering. Thanks!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Good suggestion Chris - thanks! Shane

[@judithordakowski2532]

Hi Shane! This is so exciting learning how to play this song “correctly” For years I played it with real basic strumming! Adding this whole new dimension to it, Makes it so much more Fun & of course it sounds Better! Thank-you Sooo Much for this lesson 🙏😁❤️💥

[@GuitarAtWork]

That’s SO great - thank you Judith! Shane

[@siddhantpore9310]

Just started learning guitar and this is my first song. Really well taught and easy to understand. Nice job on the video. Thanks

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Siddant - happy to have you here with us. Be sure to check out 140 other videos on this channel! Shane

[@elmichael009]

Your the only person to actually explain hpw complicated the strumming pattern is. I salute you my good sir.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Michael - much appreciated! Be sure to check out 125 other videos on this channel! Shane

[@PolyglotDB]

9:00 for the strum at full pace.

[@vaclogger]

I learned a little guitar when I was a teenager, 100 years ago in the 70s. The only teaching aids I had were a book of chords and a few songsheets, and I didn't get very far. I recently bought a decent guitar and started back into it. Having videos like this is awesome! This was a great teach, and pretty easy to learn. I played it for my grown daughter and she said, "Wow! That sounds like an actual song!" High praise indeed. THANKS!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you vaclogger - I really appreciate your kind words - very glad to have you with us! Shane

[@jhmvicta8]

They used to call me Crazy D

[@GuitarAtWork]

Ha! Thanks

[@listogenic6703]

Literally the best tutorial, not only on youtube but the best on this planet

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Listogenic - I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and hope you will check out over 100 other videos on this channel. Very glad to have you with us! Shane

[@listogenic6703]

@@GuitarAtWork yes, im gonna learn this song and keep cycling through all your videos day and night... 😀👍

[@listogenic6703]

@@GuitarAtWork also how do i get the songsheet?

[@GuitarAtWork]

Hi Listo - you can download song sheets for free at shanesimpson.com No hassles and no gimmicks - Cheers! Shane

[@antonsmit4667]

Great tutorial!!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Anton - happy to have you here with us and very glad you enjoyed it - Happy New Year! Shane

[@KelBordel_LLC]

Day 10 of learning how to play the guitar and you helped me "master" my first song ever. Big thank you!

[@strokerace4765]

I was paying $135 for Physical Therapy I decided to do $20 guitar lessons, I think it was a good idea.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Excellent! Shane

[@rockroll7649]

I'm doing the very same thing.

[@moorek1967]

After watching so many tutorials and then trying to play like they said, I thought mine was not good because it didn't sound like theirs. Then I watched this video and realized I was playing it right all along, naturally, because I thought the others didn't really sound like the song. So I got it right and you confirmed it. Thank you. I also have Dyslexia and Dyscalulia and really can't count, but that base and whack are part of the original song. You did what they couldn't do and that was to help by not fully down strumming, just hit the base and then down.

[@wherethetatosat]

"I know you can read that diagram." Nope, that's why I'm using a KZbin video. However, I do appreciate your description of the crazy D when noting how the middle finger moves down to a thinner string and the pointer finger moves up to the thicker string. This is how to teach beginners.

[@simon6436]

Mate you are an awesome teacher, thank you for doing this - I'm an absolute beginner at the guitar and I thought that while I do all the drills and learn the chords etc, it might be interesting and give me some momentum to find and learn an easy song. Looked at a number of tutorials but yours is by far the best. I'm still not quite there yet, I have the movements pretty-much down, as you demo around 8 minutes into the video, but when I try to actually play the song and make it sound musical, it's really just a lot like that demo bit .. base down up base up down up base up whack up whack up down up base down up .. etc ... When I try to speed it up and get that musical cadence you demo at the end ... pfft, but I'll keep practicing and get there. You're a great teacher, man.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Simon - I really appreciate the encouragement - be sure to check out over 100 other videos on this channel, Glad to have you with us! Shane

[@ubert1300]

Great tutorial, even for a french beginner like me ! :-) However I did'nt understand how you're doing the whack sound, when i try to do it just mutes the sound without "whack" !

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks for that Ubert1300 - much appreciated. The 'whack' can be tricky to get going. Try hitting the strings a bit harder and dragging your pick through them once your hand hits. Usually works! Shane

[@brittharper6214]

Dude you are a good teacher. I played guitar avidly for 12 or 14 years have not picked one up for 10 years but getting back into it. You make me want to play again

[@GuitarAtWork]

That’s SO great - thank you Britt, have fun with it! Shane

[@Andrew-cu9lf]

Clear, accessible, and inspiring. Thank you!!!!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Andrew - great comment and very happy to hear you enjoyed it! Shane

[@legaia_2804]

This is by far the best sounding tutorial I've seen for this song. Can't wait to try it out. I've been trying to find the right strumming for it for a couple of weeks now

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks! Have fun with it! Shane

[@lifeofkai5063]

Awesome video! Playing this on My electro acoustic sounds simply beautiful. Keep up the great work.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks for that - very happy you enjoyed! Shane

[@timwildey7974]

Agree, best sounding strumming pattern for the song after listening to other tutorials. Shane thanks for the great lesson and sharing all of your talent to help others learn.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Tim - greatly appreciated - really fun to make these videos and to hear from people who are enjoying and benefitting from them. Glad to have you with us! Be sure to check out the other 108 videos on this channel. Cheers! Shane

[@nathonhamilton4524]

yeah......very well explained ....a good teacher makes it sound simple....a fantastic song.......thanks

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Nathon - really glad you like it, Shane

[@keejoseph3145]

That's perhaps the best tutorial on this strum pattern

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks for that - my best to you! Shane

[@MPNNag]

Good job

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

Oldie... but I never thought it was a "goodie". I was bored to tears whenever it would come on the radio. It was bad enough in the dark, crowded back room of the bike shop, but this song was the coup d' grace. "I ain't knocking' A Horse with no Name, just give me a song that has a beat. I ain't knockin' A Horse with no Name, just give me a song that moves my feet! I don't need none of those funeral marches... I ain't dead yet! (insert here a movin' song by Chuck Berry).

[@ronnymcm9950]

There are four chords to this song not two, the chorus has two other chords

[@richp3873]

what are those chords?

[@pottypranks8628]

D

[@ronnymcm9950]

Rich P Em D6/9 Em9 Dmaj9 , first two chords are the verse and the second two are the chorus, but most people play the way you do, either way works, the later two just adds a richness to it

[@AthelstanEngland]

To my ear this is the first lesson I've seen to get the strum pattern right. Thanks

[@Sl0bkPL]

nicely explained, thank you

[@maherkoubaa1707]

No one could explain better than you did.....Extremely clear...thank you!!

[@RobertLaberge]

Second chord is at 1:50

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Robert!

[@mjmartini7742]

glad to see ppl who actually know music doing tutorials

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you MJ - greatly appreciated