Learn how to play "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran on guitar!

The vocal on this track is exceptional. :)

Ed Sheeran is a seriously talented musician, and Thinking Out Loud is such a great song. It's definitely a great one to play on the electric guitar!

In this guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play Thinking Out Loud as in the album recording, but the way it's played live - usually acoustic - is pretty much the same, just more emphasis on the muted backbeat. ;)

Thinking Out Loud is relatively easy to play, but get ready for some string muting and a Bm Barre Chord. If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, this is a great tune for Grade 3+ students.

Now let's check it out.

Thinking Out Loud - Chords & Rhythm

The basic version of this song uses the chords D, D/F#, G, and A. The D with the F# bass gives a special touch to the chord progression! But there are also a few ways of fancying up those grips. If you're up for some little finger work-out, using a hammer-on will sound great.

💡 Hammer-ons are when you pick one note and then hammer a second finger down onto the same string to get a second note - without picking a second time! The technique is simple, but it does require some finger strength. Hammer-on is also a great exercise to help you develop finger independence and dexterity. Learn a great beginner hammer-ons exercise here!

Once you're comfortable playing the chords, your second task is to get the rhythm right! The counting can help you out, but you'll probably be able to play it easier if you're well familiar with the song. For this lesson, I'm using an electric guitar - but the same grips will work great on the acoustic too.

Now, for the fingerpicking - you'll need to use some palm muting! On the electric, it just takes a little bit of effort. On the acoustic guitar, it seems Ed Sheeran really accentuates the backbeat muted, so make sure you get that vibe too. In both cases, you'll be alternating the bass note, so stay aware of your thumb position when switching between chords.

Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!