Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is one of their most popular songs, with a beautiful melody and heartfelt lyrics that have touched many people. If you’re a fan of the song and want to learn how to play it on guitar, you’re in luck! In this guitar lesson, we’ll show you how to play “Wake Me Up When September Ends” step by step.
Chords Used in “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
Before we start, let’s take a look at the chords used in the song. There are only four chords you need to know: G, C, D, and Em. If you’re not familiar with these chords, don’t worry – we’ll explain how to play them.
To play a G chord, place your middle finger on the third fret of the low E string, your index finger on the second fret of the A string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the high E string. Strum all the strings.
To play a C chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the B string, your middle finger on the second fret of the D string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the A string. Strum from the A string.
To play a D chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the G string, your middle finger on the second fret of the high E string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the B string. Strum from the D string.
To play an Em chord, place your middle finger on the second fret of the A string, your index finger on the second fret of the D string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the B string. Strum from the E string.
The Intro
The intro to “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is a series of arpeggios. To play an arpeggio, you pick each note of a chord individually. In this case, you’ll be playing the G, C, and D chords in arpeggio form. Here’s how to play the intro:
1. Start with the G chord. Pick the low E string, then the G string, then the high E string. Repeat this pattern twice.
2. Move to the C chord. Pick the A string, then the D string, then the high E string. Repeat this pattern twice.
3. Move to the D chord. Pick the D string, then the B string, then the high E string. Repeat this pattern twice.
4. Move back to the G chord. Pick the low E string, then the G string, then the high E string. Repeat this pattern twice.
The Verse
The verse of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” uses the same chords as the intro, but this time you’ll be strumming them instead of playing arpeggios. Here’s how to play the verse:
1. Start with the G chord. Strum it four times.
2. Move to the C chord. Strum it once.
3. Move to the D chord. Strum it once.
4. Move back to the G chord. Strum it twice.
5. Repeat this progression for the second half of the verse.
The Chorus
The chorus of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” uses the same chords as the verse, but with a different strumming pattern. Here’s how to play the chorus:
1. Start with the G chord. Strum it twice.
2. Move to the C chord. Strum it twice.
3. Move to the D chord. Strum it four times.
4. Move back to the G chord. Strum it four times.
5. Repeat this progression for the second half of the chorus.
The Bridge
The bridge of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” uses a different chord progression than the rest of the song. Here’s how to play it:
1. Start with the Em chord. Strum it twice.
2. Move to the G chord. Strum it twice.
3. Move to the D chord. Strum it twice.
4. Move back to the Em chord. Strum it twice.
5. Repeat this progression for the second half of the bridge.
The Outro
The outro of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” uses the same chord progression as the chorus, but with a different strumming pattern. Here’s how to play it:
1. Start with the G chord. Strum it twice.
2. Move to the C chord. Strum it twice.
3. Move to the D chord. Strum it four times.
4. Move back to the G chord. Strum it four times.
5. Repeat this progression until the end of the song.
Conclusion
Learning to play “Wake Me Up When September Ends” on guitar is a great way to improve your skills and impress your friends. With just four simple chords and a little bit of practice, you’ll be playing this beautiful song in no time. So grab your guitar, follow these steps, and get ready to rock!
