Learn to Play The Beatles Volume 2

At LickLibrary, we are proud to introduce our brand new product "Learn to Play The Beatles Volume 2". Following the success of Volume 1, Michael Casswell is back with more note-for-note lessons of some of The Beatles' most popular and influential songs. This volume comprises the classics: 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away', 'Norwegian Wood', 'Yesterday', 'Something', and 'Here Comes the Sun'. Let's take a closer look at each track.

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

Originally from the "Help!" album, 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' provides a wealth of guitar knowledge to unpack. The song is marked by its acoustic flavor and distinctive Dylanesque feel. As you learn, we'll cover techniques like hammer-ons, chord progressions, and the use of a capo.

The capo, placed on the second fret, creates a higher pitch and gives the song its unique sound. Notably, it allows for the use of open-string chord voicings, which lends to the richness and resonance of the song's harmonic texture. This piece serves as an excellent practice for chord changes, with transitions including G, D, F, C, and Dsus4 chords.

Norwegian Wood

'Norwegian Wood' is notable for its use of the Dorian mode and an acoustic guitar with a capo on the second fret. The song also features George Harrison's masterful use of a sitar, marking one of the earliest examples of the Indian instrument's incorporation into Western pop music. In our lesson, we translate the sitar lines to guitar, thus teaching the value of cross-instrument learning.

This song uses an interesting mix of chord progressions, double stops, and slides. The introduction is an excellent exercise in playing arpeggiated chord progressions, and the use of chromaticism adds a touch of complexity to the piece.

Yesterday

One of the most covered songs in the history of music, 'Yesterday' allows for exploration into the world of solo acoustic performance. Featuring a melody that is simple yet profound, it serves as an excellent example of the effectiveness of well-placed notes and phrasing.

In 'Yesterday', we examine the use of an altered tuning. McCartney tunes the guitar down a whole step to F to accommodate his vocal range, resulting in the song's unique tonality. McCartney's use of syncopated rhythms between the vocal melody and the guitar part makes this song a brilliant study for aspiring songwriters and instrumentalists alike.

Something

'Something', widely considered one of George Harrison's best compositions, features a beautiful, moving melody and rich harmonic structure. The song offers lessons in slide guitar technique, chromatic movement, and string bending.

The solo section is a study in melodic development. Harrison employs a combination of major and minor pentatonic scales, along with string bends, to produce a solo that is emotive and rhythmically engaging. His tasteful use of sustain contributes to the soulful quality of this song, making it a go-to for studying lead guitar.

Here Comes the Sun

'Here Comes the Sun' is another masterpiece from George Harrison. It features a capo on the seventh fret, which changes the timbre of the guitar and contributes to the song's brightness. It's a great piece for learning about the use of altered tunings, as well as arpeggiated chord progressions.

The intricate finger-picking pattern is a hallmark of this song, allowing you to delve into Travis picking. Harrison's mix of major and minor pentatonic scales further enriches the composition, creating a bright and optimistic vibe.

George Harrison and His Contributions

George Harrison, the lead guitarist for The Beatles, significantly shaped the band's sound. His incorporation of diverse genres, creative guitar techniques, and the use of unconventional instruments (like the sitar) influenced countless musicians. In our "Learn to Play The Beatles Volume 2", we dissect Harrison's ingenious guitar parts to provide invaluable learning material for both rhythm and lead guitar.

Techniques used in these lessons

Below is a list of the guitar techniques covered in these lessons. Each term is hyperlinked to a glossary entry on our site for further information.

• Capo
• Chord Progressions
• Hammer-Ons
• Double Stops
• Slides
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Chromaticism
• Altered Tunings
• Syncopated Rhythms
• String Bending
• Sustain
• Travis Picking

Dive in and learn the magic of The Beatles' guitar work. Start your journey with "Learn to Play The Beatles Volume 2".