“Riptide” by Vance Joy is a favorite for guitarists of all levels, especially beginners, thanks to its catchy melody and relatively simple chord progression. If you’re looking to learn how to play “Riptide” on guitar, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will break down the guitar notes, chords, and strumming pattern you need to master this popular song quickly. You’ll find that with just a few basic chords and a capo, you’ll be strumming along to “Riptide” in no time.
Essential Chords for Playing Riptide
To play “Riptide”, you only need to know four fundamental guitar chords: Am, G, C, and F. The F chord appears only in the bridge, making the majority of the song even simpler, relying just on Am, G, and C. These chords are widely used in countless songs, so learning them for “Riptide” is a fantastic step in expanding your guitar chord vocabulary.
| Am Chord | C Chord | G Chord | F Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
For those wanting to solidify these essential chords and more, consider exploring resources like guitar chord flashcards for a fun and effective learning method.
Strumming Pattern for Riptide
The strumming pattern in “Riptide” is what gives the song its distinctive rhythmic feel. It’s a relatively simple pattern of down-down-up-down-up. The key to getting it right is to emphasize the bass note on the first down strum of each chord. This accentuation creates the percussive and driving rhythm that defines “Riptide”. Practice this strumming pattern slowly at first, focusing on clean chord changes and the bass note accent, before gradually increasing speed.
Song Structure and Chord Progression
“Riptide” follows a classic song structure, making it easy to follow along and learn. The song is played with a capo on the 1st fret in standard tuning. Here’s a breakdown of the song structure with the chord progression for each section:
Intro:
Am G C
Am G C
Verse 1:
Am G C I was scared of dentists and the dark,
Am G C I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations,
Am G C Oh, all my friends are turning green,
Am G C You’re the magician’s assistant in their dreams.
Chorus Lead In:
Am G C Ooh, ooh, ooh
Am G C Ooh, ooh and they come unstuck
Chorus:
Am G C Lady, running down to the riptide,
Am Taken away to the dark side,
G C I wanna be your left hand man.
Am G C I love you when you’re singing that song and,
Am I got a lump in my throat ‘cause
G C You’re gonna sing the words wrong
Verse 2:
Am G C There’s this movie that I think you’ll like,
Am G C This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City,
Am G C This cowboy’s running from himself.
Am G C And she’s been living on the highest shelf
Chorus Lead In:
Am G C Ooh, ooh, ooh
Am G C Ooh, ooh and they come unstuck
Chorus:
Am G C Lady, running down to the riptide,
Am Taken away to the dark side,
G C I wanna be your left hand man.
Am G C I love you when you’re singing that song and,
Am I got a lump in my throat ‘cause
G C You’re gonna sing the words wrong
Bridge:
Am G I just wanna, I just wanna know,
C F If you’re gonna, if you’re gonna stay,
Am G I just gotta, I just gotta know,
C F I can’t have it, I can’t have it any other way
Am G C I swear she’s destined for the screen,
Am G C Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you’ve ever seen, oh
Chorus: (Repeat multiple times to fade out)
Am G C Lady, running down to the riptide,
Am Taken away to the dark side,
G C I wanna be your left hand man.
Am G C I love you when you’re singing that song and,
Am I got a lump in my throat ‘cause
G C You’re gonna sing the words wrong
Conclusion
Learning “Riptide” on guitar is an achievable goal for beginner guitarists. With its limited set of chords, repetitive structure, and manageable strumming pattern, it’s a rewarding song to learn. Practice the chords, master the strumming, and follow the song structure, and you’ll be playing “Riptide” for yourself and others in no time. Enjoy your guitar journey!
