Learn how to play "Mamma Mia" by ABBA on guitar.

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Mamma Mia. You may be surprised to listen to this ABBA classic on an acoustic guitar, but trust me—it works great and offers a fun challenge for those looking to expand their repertoire!

The Intro and the Verse

Our journey into this ABBA classic begins with a simple look at the chords. The song starts with a G chord. Next, we'll introduce a G augmented or, as some call it, a G with a sharpened fifth. Alternating between these two gives us the unique sound of the intro.

The verse is where things start to heat up. We begin with a G chord and then transition to C. The progression here is pretty straightforward: two bars of G and two bars of C, then repeating this pattern twice. We then move on to one bar each of G and G augmented (the same chord we used in the intro), two bars of C, and finally, two bars of D. The verse is a great place to start getting comfortable with these chord transitions.

The Chorus, Post-Chorus, and Outro

The chorus is where things get more dynamic. We start with the G chord and then move on to the C with a G bass. This is done by holding the two outside notes for the G chord, then adding the first finger in the first fret of the second string and the second finger in the second fret of the fourth string. So the sequence for the chorus is G, followed by C with a G, back to G, and then back to C with a G.

The post-chorus changes the rhythm, adding a unique dynamic to the song. It starts with a G, moving to a D with an F# bass, and then to an A. The progression then goes from C to F and then back to C. This is followed by two bars of A minor and two bars of D. This section is particularly catchy and will likely get everyone singing along!

The outro is a repetition of the intro with some slight variations, but you'll have the hang of it by now.

A Little Extra Spice

Once you're comfortable with the chords, we can start adding some of the melodic elements throughout the song. This will help to bring your rendition of Mamma Mia to life. We'll look at incorporating these elements while maintaining the rhythm and chord progression.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Mamma Mia is a great tune to add to your setlist. Not only is it fun to play, but it's also a crowd-pleaser. People love ABBA, and this song is one of its most popular songs. Plus, working on this song will help you improve your chord transitions and rhythm skills.

We cover a lot of ground in this lesson, from the basics of the chords to the more complex melodic elements. Watch the video for a step-by-step guide. And remember, every great musician started somewhere. Even if you're new to playing the guitar, you can learn to play Mamma Mia and many other great songs with a little patience and persistence. So, please pick up your guitar, tune those strings, and make some music!

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