We Are Going to Be Friends Guitar Tab: A Simple Guide for Beginners

“We Are Going to Be Friends” is a charming and wonderfully simple song that’s perfect for beginner guitarists. Whether you know it from The White Stripes or Jack Johnson, its catchy melody and easy-to-learn chords make it an excellent choice for your first fingerpicking or strumming adventure. This guide breaks down the “We Are Going To Be Friends Guitar Tab” into easy steps, so you can start playing this classic tune today.

Getting Started: Chords and the Basic Fingerpicking Pattern

This song primarily revolves around a few fundamental chords: G, C, and D. In the bridge, you’ll also encounter an A chord. These are common beginner chords, and mastering them here will open up a whole world of songs for you!

The original tab focuses on a fingerpicking pattern, particularly reminiscent of The White Stripes’ electric version. But don’t worry if fingerpicking seems daunting – you can absolutely strum the chords and still capture the song’s essence.

Let’s first look at the intro, which establishes the basic pattern:

Intro:
E ------------------
B -----0---0---0----
G -0-0---0---0---0--
D ------------------
A ------------------
E 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-

This intro is based on the G chord. You can play a full G chord, but for this pattern, you really only need to fret the 3rd fret of the 6th string (E string).

The core of the song’s rhythm comes from an alternating bass note and melody string pattern. Here’s how it works:

1. Thumb: Pluck the 6th string (E string, 3rd fret – your G bass note).
2. Index Finger: Pluck the open 3rd string (G string).
3. Thumb: Pluck the 6th string again.
4. Ring Finger: Pluck the open 2nd string (B string).

This Thumb-Index-Thumb-Ring pattern (T-I-T-R) creates the song’s signature gentle rhythm. For the intro, and in parts of the verses, you’ll notice a slight variation with repeated plucks on the G string to start each measure.

Verse and Chorus Chords: “Fall is Here, Hear the Yell”

The verses and choruses use the same chord progression and picking/strumming pattern. Here are the chords with the lyrics, so you can follow along:

G                      G
fall is here, hear the yell
G                       G
back to school, ring the bell
C                       C
brand new shoes, walking blues
G                      G
climb the fence, books and pens
D       C      G
i can tell that we are gonna be friends

G                  G
walk with me, suzy lee
G                      G
through the park, and by the tree
C                      C
we will rest upon the ground
G                     G
and look at all the bugs we've found
D       C      G
then safely walk to school without a sound

G                    G
well here we are, no one else
G                       G
we walked to school all by ourselves
C                       C
there's dirt on our uniforms
G                    G
from chasing all the ants and worms
D       C      G
we clean up and now it's time to learn

G                       G
numbers. letters, learn to spell
G                         G
noun, and books, and show and tell
C                       C
at playtime we will throw the ball
G                     G
back to class, through the hall
D       C      G
teacher marks our height against the wall

For each chord (G and C in the verses, and G, C, D in the chorus ending), you can apply the fingerpicking pattern (T-I-T-R) or simply strum the chord once or twice. Focus on keeping a steady rhythm. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become comfortable.

The Bridge: A Slight Change with the A Chord

The bridge section introduces a new chord – A – and slightly alters the D chord pattern:

C       G
and we don't notice any time pass
C       G
we don't notice anything
A
we sit side by side in every class
C
teacher thinks that i sound funny
D
but she likes the way you sing

For the A chord, use a similar picking pattern to the C chord – thumb on the 5th string (A), index on the 3rd, and middle on the 2nd. The D chord in the bridge uses a slightly different finger placement (full D chord shape) and you can pick a pattern like thumb on the 4th string (D), middle on the 2nd (B), and ring on the 1st (E).

Putting It All Together and Becoming Friends with This Song

The beauty of “We Are Going to Be Friends” lies in its repetition and simplicity. Once you get the basic G, C, and D chords down and understand the fingerpicking or strumming pattern, you’re well on your way.

Remember these key points:

• Start Slow: Focus on accuracy and rhythm before speed.
• Listen to the Song: Hearing how The White Stripes or Jack Johnson play it will help you internalize the timing and feel.
• Practice the Pattern: Isolate the fingerpicking pattern and practice it repeatedly until it becomes natural.
• Chord Transitions: Smooth transitions between chords are crucial for a flowing sound.

This “we are going to be friends guitar tab” is a simplified version to get you started quickly. For a more note-for-note accurate tab, you can explore resources like xguitar.com.

But for now, grab your guitar, practice these chords and patterns, and you’ll soon be playing this delightful song. You and your guitar are going to be friends, indeed!