Summer Of '69

Learn How To Play "Summer of 69" by Brian Adams On Guitar!

In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams on the electric guitar. We'll look at the authentic way to play that classic keyboard riff on the guitar and a super-easy beginner version too!

Many of us can relate to this song, those joyful days in our youth without responsibility and freely playing bands. But life gets in the way - and all we can do is remember those days. Grab your guitar, and let's dive in!

 

Chords & Palm Muting

To play this song, you start with a D5 chord, just like the regular D chord, but it requires lifting off your second finger. You'll need to put your palm-muting to work here! Palm-muting will accentuate the crunchy rock style; it creates this dead endnote sound essential to this song.

To palm mute, use the outer part of the strumming hand and slightly lay down on the unwanted strings. This will prevent it from ringing out. Try it out without even playing a chord; see how it feels and how much pressure you need.

You'll meet a slightly more challenging chord in the chorus: the B minor chord. This is beyond beginner level but not particularly difficult. It's worth trying if you're up for it, and it's a valuable chord for many other songs too! 

 

Rhythm & Strumming

There are a couple of different strumming pattern options to choose from. Loads of different layers in the original recording means you can play it heavy, arpeggiated, or clean. There's no specific pattern here, so the choice is yours. :)

If you're a beginner guitar player, you can play the chorus by hitting the chord once and letting it ring. It sounds great, especially if you're singing and playing with a band, and it'll be easier than picking out the notes. But if you're really feeling up for the challenge, experiment by only picking out a few notes to see how it feels! 

 

🚨 If you're committing to the picking out version, make sure you turn your distortion pedal off for that specific section.

 

Want to follow along to Summer of 69' with chords, tabs, and lyrics? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!