Learning to play guitar is an exciting journey, and tackling your favorite songs is a fantastic way to improve. Today, we’re diving into Cat Stevens’ timeless classic, “Wild World.” This song is perfect for beginner guitarists because, while it introduces a variety of chords, it’s structured in a way that makes learning manageable and rewarding. If you’re ready to expand your chord vocabulary and learn a beautiful song, grab your guitar and let’s get started with “Wild World” chord guitar.
First, take a look at the chord progression for the first verse and chorus:
[Insert image of chord progression here]
At first glance, this might seem like a lot of chords for a beginner. But don’t worry! We’ll break it down step-by-step, focusing on smooth chord transitions and manageable strumming patterns. The key to mastering “Wild World” on guitar is to practice chord changes slowly and deliberately.
Understanding the Rhythm and Strumming for Wild World Guitar Chords
Before we jump into the chords themselves, let’s talk rhythm. While the original recording has its nuances, we’ll focus on two versatile strumming patterns that capture the essence of “Wild World” and are easy to learn. These patterns are inspired by the strumming style found in many Neil Young songs and are widely applicable to folk and pop guitar music.
We’ll be practicing at a tempo of around 100 BPM (beats per minute). If that feels too fast, start slower at 80 BPM and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. Remember, learning guitar is about progress, not perfection!
Let’s start with the first strumming pattern using just the Am chord. This will allow you to focus solely on the rhythm without the added challenge of chord changes.
[Listen to audio example of strumming pattern 1 here]
In this pattern, on the first beat of each measure, we play two eighth notes as downstrokes. You have options here: you can play just the bass note (open A string for Am), a partial chord (like striking the A and D strings), or the full Am chord. Experiment and see what sounds best to you! I personally like to palm mute these first two downstrokes for a percussive effect. For the sixteenth notes that follow, we alternate our strumming – down, up, down, up.
The second strumming pattern offers a slightly sparser feel.
[Listen to audio example of strumming pattern 2 here]
It begins the same way as the first pattern with two eighth-note downstrokes on the first beat. However, the second beat is broken down into a dotted eighth note (downstroke) followed by a sixteenth note (upstroke). When I play “Wild World,” I often switch between these two patterns to add variation and dynamics. The first pattern is fuller, while the second is a bit lighter and can be easier to sing along with.
Practice both strumming patterns with the Am chord until they feel natural. Then, try alternating between them. Getting these rhythms ingrained in your muscle memory will make learning the chord changes much smoother.
Mastering the Verse Chords and Transitions
Now, let’s tackle the first half of the verse, focusing on efficient chord changes. An important tip for smooth transitions: minimize finger movement! Think of chords as flowing into each other, rather than static shapes. Understanding a bit of music theory can also make chord changes feel more intuitive.
Here’s the chord progression for the first part of the verse again:
[Insert image of first part of verse chord progression here]
Notice that we’ve made a few slight chord substitutions in this arrangement to simplify things for beginners without sacrificing the overall sound of “Wild World.” These substitutions make the chord changes easier to manage and are common practice in beginner guitar arrangements.
Let’s break down the chord changes step-by-step:
Am to D7: Start with your standard Am chord. To transition to D7, simply keep your index finger on the first fret of the B string. Scoot your ring finger from the G string to the high E string and move your middle finger to where your ring finger was on the G string. The first beat of the D7 chord can just be the open D string, giving you time to set up the full chord for the sixteenth notes.
D7 to G: This change involves moving all three fingers, but we can maintain a “shape.” For the G chord, if you use your middle finger on the third fret of the low E string and your index finger on the second fret of the A string, these fingers maintain their relative position from the D7. It’s like shifting a shape rather than completely reforming the chord. After placing your middle and index fingers, slide your ring finger up a fret to the third fret of the high E string.
G to Cmaj7: We’re substituting a Cmaj7 for a standard C here for a slightly richer sound and, surprisingly, an easier transition in this context. A Cmaj7 is simply a C chord with the B string open. To move from G to Cmaj7, lift your index finger slightly and move both your middle and ring fingers up one string set. Again, we’re using that “shape” concept!
Cmaj7 to Fmaj7: Instead of the previous Cmaj7 fingering, we’ll use a slightly different approach to make the transition to Fmaj7 easier. Remove your index finger from the fretboard completely. Place your ring finger on the second fret of the D string and transfer your middle finger from the G string to the A string (second fret). From this Cmaj7 fingering, switching to Fmaj7 is straightforward: just shift your ring and middle fingers up one string set.
Fmaj7 to Dm: For Dm, a common fingering is index finger on the first fret of the high E string, pinky on the third fret of the B string, and middle finger on the second fret of the G string. Notice that your middle finger is already in the correct position for Dm when coming from Fmaj7! It doesn’t need to move.
Dm to E: This final change in this section requires moving all fingers. However, because of our finger positioning in Dm, it’s not as drastic as it seems. Your index finger moves from the B string to the G string, remaining on the first fret. Your middle finger moves down two string sets from the G string to the A string, staying on the second fret. Your ring finger then follows and lands on the second fret of the D string.
E to E7 (Optional Flourish): The last measure of this section is four beats of E. To add a little flavor, we can turn the E into an E7 by adding your pinky finger to the third fret of the B string. This allows for a nice pull-off on the B string for a bluesy touch. You can also simply play a regular E chord for the entire measure.
[Listen to audio example of verse part 1 chord changes here]
Remember to practice each chord change individually and slowly at first. Focus on smooth transitions and getting your fingers into position accurately. As you become more comfortable, gradually increase your speed.
Completing the Verse and Transitioning to the Chorus
The second half of the verse starts with the same chord progression as the first half. It then adds a “half measure” of C followed by a full measure of G to lead into the chorus.
[Listen to audio example of verse part 2 and transition here]
For the transition to the chorus, we can keep it simple or add a slightly more complex bass line for interest.
Simple Transition: Play a measure of C (or Cmaj7) followed by a measure of G using the strumming patterns we learned earlier.
More Complex Transition: For a more dynamic transition, we can incorporate a descending bass line. Start with a single downstrum on G, then play a sequence of sixteenth notes using the chords Fmaj7, C/E (a C chord with E in the bass), and G7/D. The fingerings for these chords are not overly complicated, and the G7/D is simply one finger on the first string!
[Listen to audio example of both transition options here]
Practice both transition options and choose the one you feel most comfortable with or that best suits your desired level of complexity.
Conquering the Chorus and Riffs
The chorus of “Wild World” is where things get even more fun! The good news is that we’ll be using the strumming patterns we’ve already practiced. The exciting part is learning two signature piano riffs on the guitar!
Here are the first two lines of the chorus:
[Insert image of chorus chord progression and riff indication here]
Chorus Riff #1: Descending C Major Scale: The first riff is simply a descending C major scale. It comes right after the Fmaj7 chord, making it surprisingly easy to execute.
[Insert image of finger positions for descending C major scale here]
Start by ensuring your fingers are correctly positioned for the Fmaj7 chord. Then, practice the descending C major scale riff slowly, focusing on even timing and clean notes. The goal is not speed initially, but accuracy and fluidity. Play the riff at a tempo that allows you to transition smoothly into the following G chord.
Chorus Riff #2: Lower String Run: The second riff is a cool-sounding run on the lower strings, played with the same sixteenth-note rhythm as the first riff. It occurs while holding a C major chord. Try to play this riff using your ring finger while keeping the rest of your C chord fingers in place. This might take some practice, but the result is a smooth and connected riff.
[Listen to audio example of chorus riffs here]
Chorus Turnaround: To transition back to the verse after the chorus, we use a turnaround consisting of a single beat each of Dm and E. Play these as two sixteenth notes followed by a rest. This creates a slight dramatic pause before returning to the verse.
Final Chorus Variation: For the final chorus, instead of the Dm and E turnaround, play two beats of C followed by two beats of G (strumming sixteenth notes). After the final chorus, end with a single, sustained strum of the C chord.
[Listen to audio example of full chorus and final chorus variation here]
Putting It All Together: Song Structure and Performance Tips
Now that we’ve learned all the sections, let’s look at the complete song structure:
- Intro: First four measures of the verse.
- Verse 1: Full verse.
- Chorus 1: Full chorus.
- Verse 2: Full verse.
- Chorus 2: Full chorus.
- Instrumental Verse: First two lines (four measures) of the verse (play “la la la” melody here if singing).
- Verse 3: Last two lines of the verse (sung lyrics).
- Chorus 3: Full chorus.
- Chorus 4 (Final): Full chorus with modified turnaround (C and G) and ending on a sustained C chord.
Performance Tips:
- Start Slow: Practice each section and chord change slowly and deliberately.
- Isolate Trouble Spots: If you’re struggling with a particular chord change, focus on practicing just that transition until it becomes smoother.
- Listen to the Original: Listen to Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” frequently to internalize the feel and rhythm of the song.
- Have Fun! Learning guitar should be enjoyable. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and enjoy playing this beautiful song.
“Wild World” is a fantastic song for beginner guitarists to learn. It introduces you to essential chords, strumming patterns, and even some simple riffs, all within a manageable and rewarding song structure. Don’t be intimidated by the number of chords – break it down, practice consistently, and you’ll be playing “Wild World” on your guitar in no time!
Happy playing!
If you have any questions or want to explore more guitar lessons, visit our Guitar Forums or email us at [email protected].
Peace.
[Insert original “Where Did The Guitar Tab Go?” section if deemed relevant and SEO-friendly, otherwise omit for conciseness and modern SEO best practices.]
