Challenging Yourself with Guitar: Songs to Test Your Skills
As a guitar player looking to seriously challenge yourself, you might be thinking, 'What songs should I learn on guitar?' This article will help you by suggesting a variety of songs suitable for different skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
Defining Your Current Skill Level
The answer to your query depends on where you currently stand in your guitar journey. For beginners, mastering smooth transitions between three open chords can be a major challenge. If you are comfortable with all open chords, you will likely find barre chords to be the next hurdle.
Recommended Songs for Beginners
If you're just starting out, 'Knocking on Heaven’s Door' by Bob Dylan is an excellent choice. It is a simple song with only three chords but is endlessly fun to play. Another great option is 'Blackbird' by The Beatles. This song may seem difficult at first glance, but it is actually much easier than it looks and can serve as an excellent party trick.
If you want to tackle sheet music reading, you may want to look into 'Tango Tarrega.' Ensure to downtune for this song, as it is typically played on a nylon-string guitar. This piece is not only challenging but also incredibly rewarding once mastered.
For those who are tired of basic techniques, 'Neon' by John Mayer is a great choice. The drop-C tuning used in this song offers a unique sound, and you'll also learn how to play slap guitar. It's a fantastic song for impressing fellow musicians or members of the opposite sex!
Intermediate and Advanced Challenges
The next step up from beginner material includes songs that require more advanced techniques. 'Africa' by Toto and 'Take on Me' by A-ha are both excellent choices. The latter is particularly interesting as one recurring part requires extremely fast chord changes, thus putting your switching speed to the test.
'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica is a challenging song that might challenge you, even though it is a metal piece. It involves complex fingerpicking and rhythm, so if you are up for a real challenge, giving it a try is highly recommended. 'Master of Puppets' by Metallica is another piece to consider, featuring one of the hardest rhythm parts in all of rock and metal.
Other challenging songs might include 'Never Going Back Again' by Fleetwood Mac, which extensively uses Travis picking. Travis picking is a fingerstyle technique that involves rapid alternating bass and melody notes, making it quite challenging for intermediate players.
Advanced Players: Take It to the Next Level
For those with advanced skills, you might want to try a piece like a John McLaughlin arrangement. An interesting rendition of McLaughlin's work has been arranged and performed by Berklee students, and it could certainly be a challenge to tackle. Enjoy the music and the journey of mastering these tricky pieces!
So, are you ready to take your guitar skills to the next level? Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, there are plenty of challenging songs out there to keep you engaged and improve your guitar skills.