Learn to play "Man in Black" by Johnny Cash on the guitar

Today, we're diving into the rich country music history to learn how to play one of the greatest tunes ever, Man in Black by the legendary Johnny Cash. This song is an absolute classic, and the best part is it's just a 16-bar chord sequence that repeats through the whole tune. It's all about the story and the emotion this song carries. It might be a bit challenging to sing, especially if you're not comfortable with low registers, but don't worry; it's fun to play and sing along to.

Rhythm and Chords

Before we start with the chords, let's talk about the rhythm. We'll be using the classic boom-chicka strumming pattern. Here's how it works: you play the bass note on beat one, followed by a down strum and an up strum on two and three, and then up, down, up on four. The dynamic of this rhythm pattern is what gives the song its unique sound.

Now, let's move on to the chord sequence. It's simple and repetitive. We start with four bars of G, then move to A for two bars, and then to C. And finally, G, A, and then D7. The sequence goes on like this for the whole song.

On the last line of the last verse, he plays A7, and instead of staying on A and then going to D7, he goes A7 bar, D7 for one bar.

Singing and Playing

One of the crucial aspects of this song is memorizing the chord sequence so you can sing along with it. Just the chord progression on its own won't win too many hearts and minds. So, the real goal here is to learn to play and sing the song's story at the same time. This song tells a fascinating story about why Johnny Cash always wore black clothes. Even if you don't usually wear black, you can still relate to and convey the song's message through your performance.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! That's the whole tune. The key elements to work on are the rhythm, getting the chord sequence right, and then trying to sing it. I can't wait to see how you do. I wish I could sing it better, but it's a bit too tricky for me. Otherwise, I'd love to do a cover for you.

Remember, practice makes permanent, and it's all about having fun while learning. So keep practicing, stay motivated, and don't forget to enjoy every step of the journey.

Now that you've read through the lesson, it's time to watch the video and see everything in action. So grab your guitar, and let's start playing!

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