🚨 New tutorial available here!

How to play "All I Want Is You" by U2 on guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play All I Want Is You by U2 on the guitar. This classic hit is a beautiful ballad that showcases U2's signature sound. It starts simple but builds in complexity, making it a great song to grow with as you develop your skills.

The song features a mix of basic chords and some more advanced techniques, but don't worry—we'll break it all down step by step. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player, there's something here for everyone. So, grab your guitar, and let's dive in!

Basic Chord Progression

At its core, All I Want Is You revolves around a simple chord progression. We primarily work with A and D chords, with an F♯ minor thrown in for good measure. Don't let that F♯ minor scare you off, though! We've got some great simplification tricks up our sleeve for beginners.

The song's basic structure is one bar of A and one bar of D. Occasionally, we swap out the A chord for the F♯ minor. This creates a lovely, rolling sound that's characteristic of the song.

Palm Muting and Adding Accents

One of the coolest things about this song is the palm muting technique. It's what gives the song its distinctive sound. If you're new to palm muting, don't worry! It's a technique where you lightly rest the side of your picking hand on the strings near the guitar's bridge. This creates a muted, percussive sound that adds texture to your playing.

In All I Want Is You, we use palm muting with a pattern of eight down strums per bar. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it. And trust me, it's worth the effort—it really makes the song come alive!

Once you've got the basic palm muting down, we can start adding accents. These accents give the song its groove. We're putting emphasis on beat one, the "and" after beat two, and beat four. It might sound complicated, but it's all about feel. When you get it right, you'll know—it just clicks!

The Riff

The riff in All I Want Is You is where things get really interesting. It combines an acoustic guitar part with an electric guitar melody on top. Don't worry if you can't manage both parts at once—we've got a simplified version that captures the essence of the riff using just an acoustic guitar.

The simplified version uses A and D chords with some sus2 chords thrown in. A sus2 chord is just a regular chord where we lift off one finger, creating a slightly different sound. There's also an Easy Open Suspended Chords lesson that you can check out. It's these little details that make the song so captivating.

Advanced Strumming Pattern

We have an advanced strumming pattern that uses 16th notes for those of you looking for a challenge. I know that sounds like a mathematical nightmare, but it's really just about getting a feel for the rhythm. We'll break it down in the video so you can gradually build up to the full pattern.

Final Thoughts

Learning to play All I Want Is You is a journey. It's a song that can grow with you as you develop your skills. Whether you're just starting out with the basic chords or you're ready to tackle the advanced strumming patterns, there's always something new to discover in this U2 classic.

One of the best things about a song like All I Want Is You is that it's a great opportunity to develop your ear. I encourage you to listen to the original track and try to pick out the different elements we've discussed. Can you hear the palm muting? The accents? The sus2 chords in the riff?

Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy the process. Don't get discouraged if you can't nail everything right away. Every great guitarist started as a beginner, and with practice and patience, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.

I hope this lesson inspires you to pick up your guitar and start playing. Watch the video for a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to play All I Want Is You. We'll look at each technique we've discussed and see some tips on how to practice effectively.

Keep strumming, keep practicing, and most importantly, keep having fun! Before you know it, you'll be playing All I Want Is You like a pro. Rock on!

💡 Get verified chords, lyrics, and tabs for All I Want Is You and loads of other song lessons! Try out JustinGuitar Tabs for free!