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"Wonderwall" by Oasis is lots of fun to play and great for working on your strumming!

This song is such a hit - and a good one! I know many guitar students who have picked up their guitars to learn this song. :) Wonderwall gotta be one of the most played songs on acoustic guitar!

In today's lesson, we'll learn how to play it exactly the right way. Getting the strumming pattern for this song seems the hardest job for new guitar players, so we'll go through it in small little chunks.

The chord progression uses the Stuck 3&4 grips! If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you'll learn more about them right at the beginning of Grade 2. These chords are known as The Wonderwall Chords because they're used in many 90's classics. A fun thing about these chords is that you'll keep the fingers 3 and 4 in the same position throughout the entire song!

Now let's check out a few important details on how to (really) play Wonderwall by Oasis on the acoustic guitar.

Wonderwall - Chords & Guitar Capo

You should first get used to playing the chord progression without stopping your strumming pattern. Start by using only down strums - you'll be able to fancy it up once you're confident with the chord changes. Some of the chord changes happen pretty fast and will need more practice than others!

I'd also recommend you learn this song in short sections. For example, move on to learn the verse when you're fully comfortable playing the introduction. Check out the video lesson to learn how I suggest you go through the song. We'll also sing its chords together: E minor don't believe that G chord-body...

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

The chord progression on Wonderwall is easy to remember, which makes this song a great campfire plus one! It's ok if, at first, you're reading tabs or have the chords written in front of you, but don't miss out on your medium-term goal. You should aim to play songs from memory!

To sound like the original recording, put your guitar capo on the second fret of your instrument. If you're singing along with it, remember you can always adjust the capo position to fit your voice best.

Wonderwall - The RIGHT Strumming Pattern

Wonderwall is a 4x4 song with a 16th Note Strumming Pattern. It can take some time to get it right, and changing chords in the right way of the strumming pattern is an important detail to play this song with the right vibe.

To start, I recommend you only use down strums on each beat of the bar. When you can keep the rhythm and chord changes steady and consistent, you can fancy it up.

Check out the video lesson for the accurate strumming pattern. If you want to get it written on paper with some more incredible guitar tips, check out my Beginner Guitar Songbook.

You'll get away with that strumming pattern through the entire song! There are some minor variations, but as long as you keep your hands moving consistently.

Why Is Your Little Finger Hurting?

If you're a beginner guitar player, chances are you haven't been using your little finger a lot! To play Wonderwall, you'll use your little finger at the same position during the entire song. Expect some pain level. :)

Make sure you take enough breaks to let it heal a bit between your practice sessions, and if you haven't already - set up your practice sessions with My Practice Assistant. This free tool helps set up effective practice sessions to prevent overplaying.

💡 Don't be in a hurry - you will learn BETTER and FASTER if you give yourself time to heal.

Nitsuj found his Finger 3 was hurting a lot when learning the Stuck 3&4 Chords. Finger 3 overcompensates for the weakness of Finger 4 by pressing harder than it should - so be mindful of this. He knows what was going on and still struggled with it. It's normal if you struggle too! Stay aware, and don't hurt yourself. :)

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