Learn to Play “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel on Guitar

“Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel is one of the most recognizable songs of the late 1960s. This timeless folk-pop classic perfectly combines catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and thoughtful guitar work. Whether you know it from The Graduate soundtrack or from singing along on the radio, it’s one of those tunes that feels great to play on an acoustic guitar.

In this lesson, we learn every part of the song step by step, starting with basic chords and strumming, then building up to more advanced basslines, embellishments, and the famous intro riff. By the end, you’ll have a complete version that you can play solo, sounding musical and full, just as Paul Simon intended.

Why Learn “Mrs. Robinson”?

There’s a good reason this song has been at the top of JustinGuitar’s song request list for years. It’s fun, familiar, and playable at multiple levels.

For beginners, it’s an excellent song to practice chord transitions, timing, and singing while strumming.
For intermediate players, it introduces a handful of more advanced techniques, such as bassline movement, chord embellishments, and rhythmic phrasing, without becoming overwhelming.

Plus, the song is a perfect example of how a simple folk chord structure can sound rich and sophisticated when paired with thoughtful strumming and musical variation.

The Setup: Capo on 2 and Key of E Major

To play along with the original recording, you’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret. The chords are then played as if you were in the key of E major, though technically the song sounds in F# major due to the capo.

That means your main chord shapes will be E, A, D, G, C, and A minor, along with a few nice-sounding variations like E7, A7, and D/F# (D with an F-sharp bass).

If you’re a newer player, don’t worry about the embellishments yet. You can play the entire song beautifully with just the standard open chords and simple strumming.

Step 1: Understanding the Structure and Timing

Before diving into the details, it’s worth knowing that “Mrs. Robinson” has an unusual musical twist—a five-bar phrase in the verse. Most songs stick to even groups of four or eight bars, but here there’s an extra bar of E that creates a natural “pause” after the lyric phrase.

That extra bar can throw players off if they’re counting automatically, so it’s important to feel the phrasing rather than just counting blindly. Start by strumming one downstroke per bar, slowly, and sing along to internalize where those changes occur.

Once you can play through the verse and chorus comfortably with single strums, you’re ready to add rhythm.

Step 2: Basic Strumming Pattern

When you’re starting, Justin recommends keeping it simple: one strum on beat 1 of each bar.

Once you’ve got that locked in, the next step is to add a bit of movement by emphasizing the bass note on beat 1, then strumming on beats 2, 3, and 4.

Think of it as:
Bass – Down – Down – Down

This “bridging pattern” helps you prepare for the more advanced style later on, where you’ll start adding moving bass notes and accent variations.

The idea is to build control and consistency before complexity — that’s the core of Justin’s approach. If you can create a simple rhythm that sounds solid, everything else falls into place naturally.

Step 3: The Verse Progression

The verse starts on an E chord and follows this general pattern:

E (x4 bars) E (1 extra bar) A (x4 bars) D – G – D – C – D – A minor E – D

At first, play through those chords cleanly, focusing on smooth transitions. Then, as you get more confident, you can start experimenting with embellishments — like switching from E to E7 in that fifth bar.

Adding the 7th gives a sense of movement and tension, leading beautifully into the next section. It’s a simple trick that makes your version sound more musical and dynamic.

Step 4: The Chorus Progression

The chorus is where the song really opens up.

You’ll use:

G – E minor – G – E minor – C – D – G E minor – G – E minor – C – A minor – E

Here you can experiment with walkdowns — those little bass note movements between chords that make the song feel alive. The most famous one happens between C–B–A–G, which you can play by shifting your finger placement slightly between each note.

Don’t worry if it feels awkward at first — it’s a great exercise for finger control and coordination, and it’s one of those “wow” details that really elevates your performance.

Step 5: Chord Variations and Embellishments

Once you’re comfortable with the structure, you can start adding color to your chords:

E7: Add your little finger to the 3rd fret of the second string for that bluesy lift.
A7: Play an A chord with the 3rd fret of the high E string (G note) to add brightness.
D/F#: Wrap your thumb over the neck to play F# on the bass (2nd fret of low E string). This one’s a bit tricky but worth learning — it adds a deep, full sound to your D chord.

Paul Simon’s playing is full of subtle chord tweaks like this. You don’t have to play them all at once — try one at a time and see which ones feel natural.

Step 6: The Famous Intro Riff

That opening riff is one of the most iconic acoustic guitar lines in pop history — but it’s also surprisingly layered. On the original recording, it’s two or three guitars working together, so Justin’s version aims to recreate the essence of it on a single instrument.

You’ll start with a hammer-on from the open A string, mixed with picked notes from the D and E strings. It takes a bit of right-hand coordination, so start slowly and count it carefully:

1 e and a 2 e and a 3 4

As you speed it up, focus on maintaining a tight and relaxed rhythm. If you miss a note here or there, don’t worry — the overall groove is far more important than note-perfect execution.

This riff is a fantastic study in rhythmic picking, string control, and feel — the three things that separate good acoustic players from great ones.

Step 7: Building Your Own Version

What makes “Mrs. Robinson” such a great guitar song is that it’s flexible. You can keep it simple and singable, or you can dress it up with all the walkdowns, basslines, and embellishments Justin demonstrates in the video.

Justin also encourages you to watch a few live performances by Paul Simon. He often changes his fingerpicking and strumming slightly, showing how the same song can evolve depending on your interpretation.

Once you’ve got the structure under your fingers, make it your own — that’s what great musicians do.

Step 8: Practice Tips

Start slow. Play through the verse and chorus with just downstrokes until the transitions feel smooth and seamless.
Sing early. Even if you’re shy, practicing vocals helps you lock in the rhythm and phrasing.
Add one element at a time. Don’t overload yourself with all the embellishments at once.
Anchor your hand. Rest your pinky lightly on the pickguard when playing bass notes — it’ll help improve your accuracy.
Play along with the original. It’s the best way to develop feel and groove.

Why This Lesson Matters

Learning Mrs. Robinson isn’t just about memorizing chords — it’s about understanding how rhythm, bass movement, and chord variation work together to make music interesting.

You’ll strengthen your timing, train your ear to hear chord changes, and discover how small tweaks — like adding a seventh or walking down a bass note — can completely change the song’s emotional color.

It’s a great workout for both beginners and intermediates, and by the end, you’ll have a performance-ready version you can sing and play with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Paul Simon’s songwriting has stood the test of time for good reason, and Mrs. Robinson captures everything that makes his music so enduring: melody, rhythm, and story.

Whether you’re strumming it simply around a campfire or working toward a polished solo performance, this song teaches you skills that will show up in countless other tunes. Take it slow, enjoy the process, and remember, it’s supposed to be fun.

🥳 Keep learning with my Songs & Lessons App! Download here and enjoy a free trial.