Weather With You by Crowded House

"Weather With You" by Crowded House is a classic pop rock tune that stands out not only for its captivating melody but also for its subtle yet powerful guitar work. In this note-for-note guitar lesson, we take a deep dive into the techniques that make this song truly unique and how mastering these techniques can elevate your playing.

Crowded House's guitarist on "Weather With You," Neil Finn, brings a warm, melodic touch that complements the song's upbeat yet reflective nature. His playing is deeply rooted in pop and rock traditions, drawing from influences like The Beatles and folk music. By studying Neil Finn's work on this track, guitarists can gain insight into the art of crafting melodic, song-serving guitar parts that enhance the vocal melody and overall feel of the song. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in "Weather With You"

The guitar in "Weather With You" makes excellent use of several techniques that are essential for developing a well-rounded guitar skill set. These techniques will not only help you play this song faithfully but also improve your overall musicianship and finger dexterity. Below, we explore the techniques you will focus on in this lesson:

1. Chord Progressions

At the core of "Weather With You" is its smooth and flowing chord progression, which supports the vocals and sets a bright, uplifting mood. Learning the chord progressions in this song is essential for understanding how harmony works within a song's structure. It will also improve your ability to transition between chords smoothly, an important skill for any rhythm guitarist.

The benefit of learning these chord progressions lies in developing a solid understanding of how chords function together to create a song's harmony. This will help you in playing not just pop songs but also various genres that rely on creative chord use.

2. Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Finn’s subtle use of arpeggiated chords in "Weather With You" adds texture and depth to the song. Arpeggiating chords involves playing the notes of a chord one at a time instead of strumming them all together, which adds a more melodic element to your rhythm playing.

Practicing this technique will strengthen your picking accuracy and teach you how to break up chords creatively. It also opens up the possibility for creating more intricate and interesting arrangements when playing rhythm guitar.

3. Slides

The smooth, flowing sound of slides is a key element of the guitar part in "Weather With You." This technique involves moving from one note to another by "sliding" your finger up or down the fretboard without lifting it off the string.

Mastering slides will give your playing a more fluid and connected sound, especially when transitioning between notes or phrases. This technique also improves finger coordination and control.

4. Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Throughout the song, hammer-ons and pull-offs are used to add subtle embellishments to the melody. These techniques allow you to play notes more efficiently by either "hammering" onto the fret or pulling your finger off to let another note ring out, adding smoothness to fast phrases.

Learning hammer-ons and pull-offs helps build finger strength and speed while reducing the number of pick strokes needed, leading to a smoother and more legato playing style.

5. Finger-Picking

"Weather With You" also incorporates elements of finger-picking, which enhances the song's delicate feel. Finger-picking is a technique where you use your fingers instead of a pick to pluck individual strings, creating a more dynamic and intimate sound.

This technique is especially useful in acoustic playing and adds versatility to your skillset, giving you greater control over the dynamics and tone of your guitar.

6. String Bending

Another key technique in "Weather With You" is string bending. Bends add expression to the guitar part by raising the pitch of a note to another desired note. In this song, bends are used subtly but effectively to emphasise key notes in the melody.

Learning string bending will improve your finger strength and add emotional depth to your playing, allowing you to bring more feeling and personality to your solos and lead parts.

7. Vibrato

Adding a controlled vibrato to certain notes brings a sense of movement and sustain, enriching the sound. In "Weather With You," vibrato is used sparingly to give emphasis to specific notes, adding a lyrical quality to the guitar parts.

Mastering vibrato helps develop control over note pitch and sustain, giving your playing a more professional, polished sound.

About Neil Finn and His Guitar Work

Neil Finn, the primary songwriter and guitarist for Crowded House, is known for his melodic sensibilities and subtle yet impactful guitar work. His style combines elements of folk, pop, and rock, often prioritizing the song's melody and feel over flashy guitar solos. Finn's influence can be heard in his ability to create guitar parts that serve the song without overpowering it, making him a master of understated, tasteful guitar work.

His playing on "Weather With You" exemplifies this approach, with delicate fingerpicking, arpeggiated chords, and gentle bends. Studying his playing style can help guitarists understand the importance of restraint and how to use guitar techniques to enhance a song's emotional depth.

Guitar Techniques Used in These Lessons

• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• String Bending
• Chord Progressions
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Finger-picking

By mastering the techniques in "Weather With You," you’ll not only be able to play this beautiful Crowded House classic, but you’ll also add a host of essential skills to your guitar toolkit that will help you tackle many other songs and styles.