How to Play Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Guitar

Free Bird is one of the most iconic songs by the American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was released in 1973 as part of their debut album (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd). The song features a complex guitar solo that lasts for over four minutes and is considered one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. In this article, we will show you how to play Free Bird on guitar using chords, tabs, and tips.

Chords

The song is in the key of G major and uses the following chords: G, D/F#, Em, F, C, Dsus4, D, Bb, Bb5, B5, C5, and A5. You can find the chord diagrams for each chord in the web search results. The song has two main sections: the verse and the chorus. The verse uses the chord progression G-D/F#-Em-F-C-Dsus4 four times, followed by G-D/F#-Em-F-C-D twice. The chorus uses the chord progression F-C-Dsus4 three times, followed by F-C-D twice. The song ends with a long solo that uses the chord progression G-Bb-C 37 times.

Free Bird chords
Lynyrd Skynyrd  1972 (Lynyrd Skynyrd)*
 
G D Em
F C D
G D Em
F C D 3x
 
G     D            Em
 If I leave here tomorrow
F          C              D
 Would you still remember me?
G              D          Em
 For I must be travelling on now
F                     C               D
 Cos there's too many places I got to see
 
G     D              Em
 If I stay here with you girl
F            C               D
 Things just couldn't be the same
G           D         Em
 Cos I'm as free as a bird now
F         C               D
 And this bird you cannot change
F         C               D
 And this bird you cannot change
F         C               D
 And this bird you cannot change
F     C             D
 Lord knows I can't change
 
G         D           Em
 Bye bye, it's been a sweet love
F            C               D
 Though this feeling I can't change
G                 D          Em
 But please don't take it so badly
F             C            D
 Cos the Lord knows I'm to blame
 
G         D              Em
 But if I stay here with you girl
F            C               D
 Things just couldn't be the same
G           D         Em
 Cos I'm as free as a bird now
F         C                 D
 And this bird you'll never change, oh oh oh
 
F         C               D
 And this bird you cannot change
F         C               D
 And this bird you cannot change
F     C             D
 Lord knows I can't change
F     C                D
 Lord help me, I can't change
 
G   Bb      C
    Lord, I can't change
          G   Bb   C
Won't you fly high free bird, yeah!
 
[Solo]
 
G   Bb   C   G  . . . .
 
* Alternate:
 
Capo II
 
G  = A
D  = E
Em = F#m
F  = G
C  = D
Bb = C

Tabs

The tabs for the song are also available in the web search results. The tabs show you how to play the melody and the solo of the song using numbers and symbols that indicate the frets and techniques you need to use. For example, 0h2 means hammer from open string to 2nd fret, 2p0 means pull off from 2nd fret to open string, 11/12 means slide from 11th fret to 12th fret, and 18bf means bend 18th fret a full tone. You can also listen to the backing track and watch video lessons to help you learn the song better.

Tips

Here are some tips to help you play Free Bird on guitar:

• Practice the chords and the strumming pattern before you attempt the solo. The strumming pattern is down-down-up-up-down-up for each chord.
• Use a capo on the second fret if you want to play along with the original recording. This will change the key of the song from G to A.
• Use alternate picking (down-up-down-up) for the solo to increase your speed and accuracy.
• Use a slide or a bottleneck for some parts of the solo to create a smooth and expressive sound.
• Use vibrato and feedback to add more emotion and intensity to your playing.

Conclusion

Free Bird is a classic rock song that showcases the guitar skills and creativity of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It is a challenging but rewarding song to learn and play on guitar. By following the chords, tabs, and tips in this article, you can master this song and impress your friends and family with your guitar playing. Remember to have fun and enjoy playing Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar.