To play “Back in Black” on an acoustic guitar, begin by tuning the guitar to standard EADGBE tuning. The song’s intro is a two bar riff played in the key of A minor and can be fingered with a combination of open strings and frets 0, 1, 2 and 4 on the D string. Once you have mastered the opening riff, strum through the verses which involve playing chords of Gmaj7/D, Dsus2/F#, Bm7/E and Asus4/G followed by some fills between each chord. Finally you will need to practice the chorus progression which consists of Am6/C, D9sus2/A and Gadd9/B chords before ending with one final strumming phrase.
Contents:
I. Understanding the Chords of “Back in Black”
Knowing the chords of a song is essential to playing it on an acoustic guitar. This is especially true with “Back in Black” by AC/DC, as there are several unique chords used throughout the song. The first step to mastering this classic hit is to familiarize yourself with each chord. To start, you’ll need two major chords: A Major and E Major. A Major has four notes – A, C#, E, and G; while E Major contains only three – E, B and G#.
In addition to these two majors chords, “Back in Black” also requires a minor (A Minor) and diminished (B Diminished) chord for its signature sound. An A Minor consists of five notes – A, C, D# or Eb (depending on tuning), F and G; whereas a B Diminished has just four – B, Db or C# (again depending on tuning), F and Ab or G#. It’s important to note that both of these should be played with extra attention paid to muting strings between frets so they do not ring out into other chords which can ruin the progression of the song.
“Back in Black” features two power chords: E5 & A5 Chords are composed solely of the root note along with another interval determined by their number at its fifth scale degree i.e. a 5th above the root note). Power Chords offer less texture than normal open-voiced forms but more punchiness when playing live or recording due to their simplicity which allows them to cut through distorted sounds more easily. With these six key components mastered – knowing how they should be strummed together will lead you closer towards finally nailing down this iconic riff.
II. Mastering the Fingerpicking Technique
If you want to play “Back in Black” on an acoustic guitar, mastering the fingerpicking technique is key. As one of AC/DC’s most popular songs, this classic rock anthem requires a keen ear and agile hands to perform it faithfully. To learn how to pick “Back in Black” accurately and effectively, here are some steps that can help get you there:
First off, practice the song slowly at first. Focus on playing the individual notes accurately before increasing speed. This will ensure that your fingers learn the right way to move over the strings instead of relying solely on muscle memory when picking faster.
Next, familiarize yourself with basic chord shapes so you can transition between chords quickly as needed while playing through “Back in Black”. Mastering chords will also help build strength and accuracy in your left hand while playing more complex rhythms with your right hand.
Make sure you keep an even rhythm throughout all sections of the song by metronome or other form of time-keeping device. Practicing consistently with a metronome will teach your hands to become accustomed to certain tempos and dynamics associated with different genres of music, such as classic rock for “Back in Black”.
III. Working on the Song Structure and Transitions
After selecting the right acoustic guitar for playing “Back in Black”, it is time to work on mastering the song structure and transitions. For this part of learning how to play the song, it is important to break down each section into individual parts. Starting with an introduction riff or verse, a chorus, and potentially a solo if desired. The best way to begin practicing these sections is by using a metronome. This will help keep you in time as you practice your speed and accuracy while playing each part of the song.
Transitioning between sections will require some extra attention when learning how to play “Back in Black” on an acoustic guitar. It can be helpful to practice making smooth transitions between verses and choruses before adding in any other elements such as leads or solos. You should also make sure that both hands are performing equally well when switching from one section of the song to another so that nothing becomes too overwhelming or rushed during performance.
When fully comfortable with all parts of the song structure, you can then begin adding in embellishments or further techniques such as bends and hammer-ons for dynamics and variation throughout your rendition of “Back In Black” on acoustic guitar. Practicing this step requires careful focus, but will give your performance more depth and feeling overall once complete.
IV. Polishing Your Strumming Rhythm
Once you have practiced and perfected the chords, it is time to hone in on your strumming. Without a consistent rhythm, even the most perfectly placed notes can seem out of tune or off beat. It may take some time to find the right cadence for “Back in Black” but with patience and practice you can achieve a beautiful sounding acoustic version.
First step is to identify where in the song changes occur. Take note of how often each chord should be played during that section of the song. A good way to figure this out is by counting down from 4 so every measure begins at 1 (one-two-three-four). Once you have identified these measures then begin practicing playing each chord for the allotted amount of counts within those measures as indicated in the original recording. This will help develop muscle memory and make switching between chords easier when learning other aspects of playing guitar like singing or altering tempo while still keeping track of rhythm.
Try adding different variations such as upstrokes or accents here and there throughout your performance to give extra character to what you are playing. This also helps prevent boredom when playing long sections without a break as would happen if one were simply holding down notes instead of incorporating unique rhythmic elements into their performance. With dedication any player can master an acoustic rendition worthy of being belted out at a campfire sing along.
V. Adding Dynamics to the Performance
Taking your performance of “Back in Black” to the next level means adding dynamics to your rendition. To give an acoustic guitar version extra oomph, consider employing a technique known as fingerpicking. The use of this style adds a percussive element that often punctuates certain notes or chords. You can choose to add it throughout the song, which will provide energy and depth, or sparingly at select moments for dramatic effect. This works especially well during instrumental breaks and if you want to build tension leading up to the chorus.
To make sure all the nuances of fingerpicking don’t get lost in your rendition, consider investing in an amplified acoustic guitar setup. Doing so allows you to plug into amplifiers or PA systems with greater ease, thus capturing every subtle detail of each fretboard movement. An additional benefit is having more control over how loud or soft you play – enabling you to build dynamic contrast within a piece by going from whisper-soft passages to bombastic choruses without lifting a finger on the volume knob.
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