Master the Guitar: Learn How to Play The First Cut is the Deepest

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Chords needed to play the song
3. The intro progression
4. The verse
5. The pre-chorus
6. The chorus
7. Chorus 2 and guitar solo
8. Breakdown and verse three
9. Final chorus and ending
10. Conclusion

🎸 How to Play "The First Cut is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow

Playing the guitar is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. In today's lesson, I'll be teaching you how to play the song "The First Cut is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow. This song is great for beginners as it uses only three chords. We'll start by learning the chords needed to play the song and then go through each section of the song, breaking them down step by step. So, grab your guitar and let's dive in!

1. Chords needed to play the song

To play "The First Cut is the Deepest," you'll need to familiarize yourself with three chords: D, G, and A. Let's learn how to play each of these chords.

• D chord: Place your first finger on the second fret of the G string, your second finger on the second fret of the high E string, and your third finger on the third fret of the B string. Strum the D string and above.
• G chord: Place your first finger on the second fret of the A string, your second finger on the third fret of the low E string, and your third finger on the third fret of the B string. Strum all strings from the low E string.
• A chord: Place your first finger on the second fret of the D string, your second finger on the second fret of the G string, and your third finger on the second fret of the B string. Strum all strings from the A string.

2. The intro progression

The song starts with an introductory section that sets the tone for the rest of the song. Here's how the intro progression goes:

• Start with the D chord and strum it for two beats.
• Transition to the G chord and play the bass note (the third fret of the low E string) followed by the second fret and third fret of the low E string and finally an open A string. Count one, two, three, and four.
• Move to the A chord and strum it with downward strokes. Hold the A chord for the entire second bar.

Repeat this intro progression twice. It is also used in the guitar solo and pre-chorus sections of the song.

3. The verse

After the intro, we move on to the verse of the song. The verse follows a simple chord progression. Here's how it goes:

• Play the D chord for two beats.
• Switch to the A chord for two beats.
• Move to the G chord for two beats.
• Go back to the A chord for two beats.

During the verse, you can add some arpeggio picking to make it more interesting. Start by playing the D string and progress to the higher strings. Repeat this picking pattern for each chord in the sequence. Strumming the chords is also an option if you find arpeggio picking challenging.

4. The pre-chorus

Before we dive into the catchy chorus, there's a short pre-chorus section. Let's break it down:

• Start by playing the intro progression once (D, G, and A).
• Repeat the same progression again for the second bar.

This pre-chorus section builds momentum and leads us into the chorus.

5. The chorus

Now, it's time for the chorus. The chorus follows a similar chord progression to the verse but with a different strumming pattern. Here's how to play it:

• Start with the D chord and play a quarter-note down strum.
• Strum the D chord again.
• Play a down-up strum on the D chord.
• Repeat this strumming pattern for the remaining chords in the chorus.

Remember, in the chorus, you'll play the verse progression three times instead of four. It adds a dynamic variation to the song structure.

Continued in responses.