Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” is a massively popular song, and for good reason. Its catchy melody and positive vibes make it a favorite for guitar players of all levels. While originally written on guitar, it’s often simplified, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to learn a full song quickly. Here’s how you can easily play “I’m Yours” using just a few basic guitar chords.
Simple Chords to Get You Started
You’ll be happy to know that the easy version of “I’m Yours” only requires four chords: C, Am, F, and G. These are fundamental chords that every guitarist should learn early on. If you’ve been playing guitar for a little while, these chords should already be familiar to you.
The original song is in the key of B, but to make it simpler to play, especially for beginners, we’re going to play it in the key of C. This means we’ve transposed the chords to be in C major, which uses these beginner-friendly shapes. If you want to play along with the original recording, you would need to tune your guitar down a half step, or alternatively, learn to play it in the key of B – but sticking with C is much easier to start with!
Mastering the Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern is key to capturing the feel of “I’m Yours”. It’s upbeat and relaxed, perfectly matching the song’s vibe. This song is fantastic for developing your strumming rhythm and getting a feel for groove on the guitar.
Basic Down-Up Strum
At its core, the strumming pattern is a simple Down-Up-Down-Up-Down-Up (DUDUDU) sequence. The trick to making it sound like the song is to play it with a relaxed, slightly swung feel. Many guitarists damp or mute some of the strums to add more rhythmic interest.
To start, try practicing the DUDUDU pattern with your fret hand lightly resting across the strings, muting them. This will help you focus on the rhythm and feel of the strumming without worrying about chord changes just yet. Aim for a slight swing feel, where beats 2 and 4 feel a little stronger.
Guitar strumming pattern diagram for I'm Yours song
Listen to how this strumming pattern sounds. Notice the emphasis on beats 2 and 4 – these are often called the backbeat. Giving these strums a bit more emphasis helps create the groove of the song.
Adding Muting and Chunking
Once you’re comfortable with the basic DUDUDU strum, you can experiment with muting certain strums to create a “chunking” effect. A popular approach is to mute the 2nd and 4th up strums (the backbeat) and let the other strums ring out. This adds a percussive element to your playing and makes it sound even closer to many popular covers of “I’m Yours.” This technique involves lightly relaxing the pressure of your fret hand just after strumming to mute the strings momentarily, creating a “chunk” sound.
Example of muted guitar strumming for I'm Yours song
The beauty of “I’m Yours” is that there’s no single “correct” way to strum it. Many guitarists and ukulele players bring their own style to the strumming pattern. As long as you capture the overall relaxed and rhythmic feel of the song, you can experiment and find what sounds best to you. Don’t be afraid to try different variations and find your own groove!
Song Structure: Keep It Simple
The structure of “I’m Yours” is wonderfully repetitive, which makes it easy to learn and memorize. For the most part, the song revolves around a simple chord progression that repeats throughout: C – G – Am – F. You’ll find this sequence in the verses and chorus, making up the bulk of the song.
This repetitive structure not only makes the song easy to learn but also allows you to really focus on your strumming and groove as you play through it. Once you have the chords and strumming down, you’ll be playing the entire song in no time!
Guide to different ukulele strumming techniques
Get Playing!
“I’m Yours” is a fantastic song for beginner guitarists. With just four simple chords and a catchy strumming pattern, you can quickly learn to play this popular hit. Focus on getting comfortable with the C, Am, F, and G chords, and practice the DUDUDU strumming pattern, experimenting with muting to add your own style. Before you know it, you’ll be playing “I’m Yours” and enjoying this feel-good song on your guitar.
