How to Play 'Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution' by Tracy Chapman

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Here is another classic strumming tune.  The opening cut to Tracy Chapman's debut album has a great tied strum and a repeating chord progression that sounds awesome.

The challenge here is when the chord change occurs on the 'up' strum in each measure (namely the G to Cadd9 and the Em to D).  Take your time with it, and make sure your strumming hand never stops moving! 

Check out my new guitar lesson on how to play 'Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution' by Tracy Chapman. This is the second song in my new series of 'Strumming Songs' - awesome easy beginner strumming songs with one or two chord progressions but a great feel, perfect for open mic nights or campfire sessions.
Don't you know you're talking about a revolution It sounds like a whisper Don't you know they're talking about a revolution It sounds like a whisper While they're standing in the welfare lines Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation Wasting time in unemployment lines Sitting around waiting
The chord progression and strumming pattern throughout the song.

The chord progression and strumming pattern throughout the song.

How to Play 'Hey Ya!' by Outkast

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'Hey Ya!' is an absolute classic of a tune, and it's one that I often get out for students to work on a tied strumming pattern at a fast tempo.

It was presenting this to a student last week that prompted me to come up with the idea of a new series of videos for my YouTube channel, entitled (very unoriginally I know) 'Strumming Songs'.  This will be a series of songs that have one or two chord progressions with beginner chords but a great vibe to them.  There'll probably be lots of tied strumming patterns going on.

Check out my new guitar lesson on how to play 'Hey Ya!' by Outkast. This is the first in a new series of 'Strumming Songs' - awesome easy beginner strumming songs with one or two chord progressions but a great feel, perfect for open mic nights or campfire sessions.
OutKast's official music video for 'Hey Ya!'. Click to listen to OutKast on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/OutKastSpotify?IQid=OutKHY As featured on SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below.

Below is a copy of the chord progression to download.  This is the progression throughout the song (although I still can't decide whether the E chord becomes an Em sometimes).

Good luck with it.