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How to Play This Is The Life (Easy Acoustic Guitar Tutorial)
Chevans Music
Overview
This tutorial teaches you how to play "This Is The Life" by Amy McDonald on acoustic guitar. It covers the essential chords, a specific strumming pattern, and a short lead melody. The lesson emphasizes a capo on the fourth fret and breaks down four key chords: A minor, F major 7 over C, C, and E minor, showing efficient finger transitions. It also details a common strumming rhythm and demonstrates a simple lead riff, providing a comprehensive guide for beginners to learn the song.
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Chapters
- The song "This Is The Life" by Amy McDonald is a fun acoustic guitar song.
- A capo on the fourth fret is required for this song.
- The tutorial will cover chords, strumming, and a lead part.
Understanding the basic setup, including the capo and the overall scope of the lesson, helps learners prepare and know what to expect.
Placing a capo on the fourth fret of the guitar.
- Four main chords are used: A minor, F major 7 over C, C, and E minor.
- A minor is played with fingers on the 2nd and 3rd frets of the D and G strings.
- F major 7 over C involves keeping the first finger in place and adjusting others, with a C note in the bass.
- The C chord is a simple transition from F major 7 over C by moving one finger.
- E minor is formed by placing fingers on the 2nd fret of the A and D strings.
Mastering these specific chord shapes and understanding the finger transitions between them is fundamental to playing the song accurately.
Transitioning from an F major 7 over C chord to a C chord by simply moving the index finger down one string.
- The song features a fast strumming rhythm.
- The core strumming pattern is: down, down, up, down, down, up, down, down, up, up, down, up.
- The initial down strums often emphasize the lower bass strings.
- A technique to mute the low E string is to bring the thumb over the top of the fretboard.
- The strumming pattern can be practiced on the A minor chord initially.
The strumming pattern provides the song's rhythmic drive; learning it correctly is crucial for capturing the song's feel.
Playing the pattern 'down, down, up, down, down, up, down, down, up, up, down, up' on an A minor chord while muting the low E string with the thumb.
- A short lead part is played after the first chorus.
- The lead starts on the G string, second fret, played with the first finger.
- The sequence involves playing the 2nd fret (first finger), then the 4th fret (pinky), then the 3rd fret B string (pinky), and returning to the 4th fret G string (second finger).
- This lead part adds a melodic flourish to the song.
Learning this lead part adds an extra layer of musicality and allows the player to replicate a key melodic element of the original song.
Playing the notes: G string 2nd fret, G string 4th fret, B string 3rd fret, G string 4th fret.
Key takeaways
- Efficient chord transitions, especially between F major 7 over C and C, are key to smooth playing.
- Muting the low E string is important for achieving the correct sound with the specified strumming pattern.
- The strumming pattern requires practice to execute cleanly and at tempo.
- The lead melody, though short, adds a distinctive element to the song.
- Using a capo on the fourth fret changes the overall pitch and fingering for the song.
- Breaking down complex songs into chords, strumming, and melodies makes them more approachable.
Key terms
CapoFretA minor chordF major 7 over C chordC chordE minor chordStrumming patternLead partMuting
Test your understanding
- What is the purpose of the capo in this tutorial?
- How do the fingerings for the F major 7 over C and C chords relate to each other?
- Describe the main strumming pattern taught in the video.
- What sequence of notes constitutes the lead melody?
- Why is muting the low E string important for this song's strumming pattern?