Learn How To Play "If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow On Guitar!

In this easy acoustic guitar lesson, we'll learn how to play If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow. If you're looking for a laid-back song, look no further! This tune has a tasty groove, a super laid-back vibe, and an easy-ish riff. And getting that nice lazy feeling on the guitar is really special!

This campfire classic is great to add to your repertoire, with many embellishments that can add some interest to your sound. It's one that your audience will love belting out to - especially during the chorus. :)

🚨 Get ready to put your Grade 2+ skills to practice. We got an alternate strumming pattern, sus chords, a peculiar G chord and hammer-ons to work out here.

G chord Fingering

You'll encounter Sus chords many times throughout the song, so make sure you're ace with that! The chord progressions mainly work around a spread-out G chord, which requires you to use your third and fourth fingers on the opposite side of the guitar.

This grip might be tricky for the average beginner guitar player, but it's an excellent way to get comfortable with stretchier chords! It's different from the standard G chord for beginners, so check out that close-up to help you get the correct fingering.

With practice, stretchy chords like this one help you build your finger's dexterity. Another benefit is that it frees up your first and second fingers, which you can use to play that tasty little riff and other cool embellishments.

Strumming & Playing Tips

The strumming pattern requires alternate strums, but what's most important is that your hand moves constantly. During those strums, you're targeting different areas of your strings. This should be effortless - so try not to overthink it!

A good practice tip is to mute all the strings with your fretting hand and play along with the original recording. This will help you get that lazy time feeling. This song has a lovely laid-back groove to pocket, and you want to embody that vibe with just your guitar!

The riff is a big deal, but it's not the easiest. If you have to leave it out - that's completely fine! Nothing wrong with keeping things simple, as long as it sounds good. :)

Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this Sheryl Crow song? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!