God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - Coldplay

Coldplay's "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face" is an iconic track known for its emotive melodies and innovative guitar work. At LickLibrary.com, we've created a note-for-note guitar lesson that focuses on mastering the techniques found in this song, giving you the tools to replicate its signature sound. This lesson is perfect for guitarists looking to deepen their understanding of rhythmic playing, chord voicing, and melodic phrasing. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Guitarists

The song features the distinctive guitar work of Jonny Buckland, whose playing style is integral to Coldplay's sound. Buckland is celebrated for his atmospheric textures and innovative use of minimalism, often blending rhythmic precision with melodic flair. His ability to craft memorable hooks and ambient soundscapes has influenced countless modern guitarists. This lesson will give you insight into his technique, helping you understand and emulate his style.

Key Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Open-String Riffs

This lesson emphasises open-string riffs, a hallmark of the song’s introduction. By allowing notes to ring out, you create a resonant, open sound that is both engaging and full. Practicing this technique helps improve timing and string control, making your playing sound richer and more dynamic.

Slides

Slides are used throughout the track to transition smoothly between notes, adding fluidity and a lyrical quality to your playing. Mastering slides enhances your fretboard navigation and expressive capabilities.

Palm Muting

The verses feature subtle palm muting to create a dynamic contrast, muting the strings for a percussive and controlled tone. Practicing this technique improves your precision and rhythmic consistency, a vital skill for any guitarist.

Syncopated Rhythms

The rhythmic structure of this song relies heavily on syncopation, which adds complexity and groove to the guitar parts. Working on syncopated rhythms helps you build timing accuracy and the ability to integrate rhythmic diversity into your playing.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Buckland’s arpeggiated chord work is central to the song’s atmospheric sound. Breaking down these progressions improves your finger independence and fluency in picking patterns.

String Bending

This technique is used in the melodic sections to add emotion and nuance. Learning string bending strengthens your fingers and enhances your ability to convey feeling in your solos and melodies.

Vibrato

Adding vibrato to sustained notes gives them a singing, expressive quality. This technique not only enriches your tone but also allows you to inject personality into your playing.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

• Develop Better Timing and Dynamics: Techniques like syncopated rhythms and palm muting encourage greater control over timing and dynamics.
• Enhance Expressiveness: Mastering vibrato and string bending enables you to infuse more emotion into your playing.
• Expand Fretboard Knowledge: Slides and arpeggios improve your ability to navigate the fretboard smoothly.
• Build Core Skills: The variety of techniques covered in this lesson strengthens foundational guitar skills, making you a more versatile player.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

Here’s a comprehensive list of the techniques covered in this lesson. Follow the links to dive deeper into each technique:

• Vibrato
• Slides
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open-String Riffs