Take It Easy by Eagles

The song "Take It Easy" by the Eagles is one of the most iconic tracks in rock history, blending country rock rhythms with intricate guitar techniques. Our note-for-note guitar lesson will guide you through each part of the song, focusing on techniques used by the original guitarists, including Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon. These techniques not only help you master the song but also improve your overall guitar skills in various aspects.

Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, learning "Take It Easy" will help you enhance your proficiency with strumming patterns, chord progressions, and lead guitar licks. In this lesson, we’ll break down the specific techniques used in the song and explain how mastering them will elevate your playing style. Erik Holmbom breaks down this iconic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind the Song

"Take It Easy" was co-written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, with Frey providing the lead vocals and acoustic guitar work. Bernie Leadon, another founding member of the Eagles, contributed to the harmony vocals and added his signature banjo part, giving the track a unique blend of country and rock influences.

Frey’s laid-back style and Leadon’s fingerpicking proficiency helped shape the Eagles' early sound, which combined elements of rock, folk, and country. Both guitarists are known for their melodic sensibilities and smooth rhythmic playing, which are fully evident in "Take It Easy." Their ability to seamlessly integrate catchy melodies with complex fingerpicking has influenced countless guitarists over the decades.

Key Techniques in "Take It Easy"

Fingerpicking

A significant aspect of "Take It Easy" is the fingerpicking style used throughout the song. This technique allows for a fuller sound on the acoustic guitar, blending melody and harmony within the rhythm. Fingerpicking also provides a dynamic touch to the song, giving each note a more intimate feel.

Benefits: Mastering fingerpicking improves your dexterity, hand coordination, and the ability to play multiple parts simultaneously. It’s an essential skill for any guitarist looking to enhance their versatility.

Open String Riffs

The song incorporates several open string riffs, particularly in the intro and verse sections. Open strings add a ringing, full-bodied sound to the chords and riffs, which is a signature element in country rock music.

Benefits: Learning to use open string riffs expands your ability to play fluidly across the fretboard while maintaining a consistent tonal quality, especially in acoustic guitar settings.

Hybrid Picking

Bernie Leadon's influence on the song includes subtle uses of hybrid picking, which combines fingerpicking with the use of a guitar pick. This technique allows for a seamless transition between rhythm and lead parts, which is vital in songs that feature both intricate melodic lines and rhythmic strumming.

Benefits: Hybrid picking enhances your ability to shift between different playing styles with ease, making it a versatile skill for multiple genres, especially rock and country.

Barre Chords

In the chorus sections of "Take It Easy," barre chords are employed to create a full, powerful sound. These barre chords form the backbone of the harmonic structure of the song, providing strength and depth to the rhythm section.

Benefits: Practicing barre chords helps build finger strength and precision, which is crucial for playing a variety of rock and pop songs. It also opens up the neck of the guitar, allowing you to play more complex chord voicings.

Slides

Slides are used in "Take It Easy" to add expression to certain lead lines and transitions between chords. The smooth movement of slides adds a vocal-like quality to the melody and can enhance the emotional depth of your playing.

Benefits: Incorporating slides into your playing makes your guitar work sound more fluid and expressive, allowing you to transition between notes with ease.

Travis Picking

The intro and verses of "Take It Easy" showcase elements of Travis picking, where the thumb alternates between bass notes while the fingers pick out melody notes. This technique, popular in country and folk music, creates a syncopated rhythm that drives the song forward.

Benefits: Travis picking develops finger independence and rhythm accuracy, which is essential for anyone looking to explore finger style guitar.

Chord Progressions

The song is built on classic chord progressions, which are relatively simple but serve as the foundation for much of rock and folk music. Learning the progressions in "Take It Easy" will not only help you master this song but also give you a deeper understanding of how chords interact across different genres.

Benefits: Mastering chord progressions improves your harmonic knowledge and prepares you to write or learn songs with similar structures.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

To add articulation and smoothness to the melody lines, "Take It Easy" makes use of hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques allow for quick, smooth transitions between notes, adding character and fluidity to the song’s lead lines.

Benefits: Learning hammer-ons and pull-offs sharpens your finger control and speed, allowing you to play intricate passages with ease and expression.

Techniques Covered in the Lesson

• Finger-picking
• Open-string riffs
• Hybrid-picking
• Barre-chords
• Slides
• Travis-picking
• Chord progressions
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs

List of Guitar Techniques Used

In "Learn to Play 'Take it Easy' by Eagles," the following guitar techniques are covered. Here's a quick reference list linked to more detailed explanations for each technique:

• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Legato
• Chord Progressions

Learning these techniques not only enhances your ability to play "Take it Easy" but also enriches your overall guitar playing skills, making you a more versatile and expressive musician. Join us at LickLibrary to master these iconic guitar parts and bring the timeless sound of the Eagles into your repertoire.