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In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Photograph by Ed Sheeran on the guitar. It's a really beautiful song, and we're going to simplify it so that it's perfect for beginners. We'll use a capo on the second fret, and you'll only need four chords to play along. Let's get started!
The four chords you'll need are C, A minor, F, and G. If you're new to playing the guitar, you might want to check out a beginner's course on my website to get comfortable with these chords. It's really important to have a solid foundation before diving into a song. There are many ways to play each chord, so find what is most comfortable for you. The goal is always to make music and have some fun.
The song has three main chord sequences: the intro and verses, the pre-chorus, and the chorus. These sequences are the basic structure of the song.
Intro and Verses: For the intro and verses, you'll play two bars of each chord in the following order: C, A minor, G, and then F. This sequence repeats throughout the verses.
Pre-Chorus: The pre-chorus is a little different. You will play one bar per chord in the following order: A minor, F, C, and then G. This means the chords change every bar in the pre-chorus.
Chorus: We are back to playing two bars for each chord in the chorus. The sequence is C, G, A minor, and F.
It's helpful to remember the order of the chords for each section. I recommend writing them down or visualizing them as little blocks. That way, you can really see and understand the song's structure. Just remember, the pre-chorus uses one bar per chord, while the intro, verses, and chorus use two bars per chord.
Now, let's get into rhythm and strumming. For the verses, we're going to use something called palm muting. You do this by resting the outside of your palm on the strings, which gives the verses a muted, more subdued feel. For the strumming, use eight down picks in each bar. The key here is to accent the beats on one, two, three, and four by pushing down on the strings a bit more. In between those accented beats, play the bass note of the chord. This gives a powerful sound to the song.
👉Need help with palm muting? Here's a lesson for you!
It is a good idea to practice this strumming pattern on one chord first. This will help you to get it down. It might seem tricky at first, but with a bit of practice, it will become automatic. You want to be able to strum and talk at the same time without having to think about the pattern too much. There are a lot of elements to consider when playing a song, so the more automatic the strumming pattern becomes, the better.
When you get to the chorus, you can drop the palm muting. This makes the chorus sound bigger, creating a nice contrast with the verses. Usually, the choruses are louder and more active, while the verses are quieter. This helps to add a little more interest to the song.
There's a little riff in the song that you can try if you want a challenge. It involves picking individual notes from the chords. It's worth noting that Ed Sheeran uses a looper pedal for this part of the song. He plays the riff once, and then the pedal loops it while he plays the chords. This is not an easy part, so don't put pressure on yourself to play it if you are a beginner.
I have another lesson on my website for this song in DADGAD tuning, which is how Ed Sheeran plays it these days. There are also lessons for other songs, like "Thinking Out Loud" and "The A Team," so be sure to check those out too.
I hope you really enjoy learning this song. Take your time, practice each part separately, and have fun. It's a great song to play once you get the hang of it. Now, go ahead and watch the video!
Check out the original