So, you’re looking to play the catchy tune “Island in the Sun” by Weezer on your guitar? Fantastic choice! It’s a popular song for a reason, and luckily, it’s also quite approachable for beginner guitarists. If you’ve been struggling with confusing tabs, incorrect chords, or just can’t quite nail that strumming pattern, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will break down how to play “Island in the Sun” step-by-step, making it easy for you to learn and enjoy.
Let’s get started and explore how to play this awesome song! The song structure is quite straightforward, following this sequence: Intro / Verse 1 / Chorus / Verse 2 / Chorus / Bridge / Guitar Solo / Chorus / Bridge / Outro. We’ll tackle each section piece by piece to make learning smooth and manageable.
1. Intro: Setting the Island Vibe
The intro uses a set of unique chord voicings that give the song its distinctive sound. Here are the chords you’ll need:
- Em (special voicing): [xxx453] – Think of this as an E minor variation higher up the neck.
- A (special voicing): [xxx555] – An A chord voiced higher, sometimes called A5.
- D: [xx0232] – A standard D major chord. You can choose to play just the top three strings (232) for a lighter sound, which is often heard in the song.
- G (special voicing): [xxx433] – A G chord variation, again voiced higher on the neck.
Now, let’s visualize how these chords are played in tab form for the intro:
e|--3-3-3----5-5-5----2-2-2----3-3-3--|
B|--5-5-5----5-5-5----3-3-3----3-3-3--|
G|--4-4-4----5-5-5----2-2-2----4-4-4--|
D|--x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x--|
A|--x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x--|
E|--x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x----x-x-x--|
Em A D GPlay this sequence of Em – A – D – G chords repeatedly to create the intro. Listen to the song to get the timing right. Playing it around 5 times through is a good starting point to match the song’s intro length.
Mastering the Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern is crucial to capturing the feel of “Island in the Sun.” The main strumming pattern is: DD UDU DD UDU.
Let’s break that down:
- D = Downstroke (strum downwards)
- U = Upstroke (strum upwards)
- = Blank stroke (a muted strum, achieved by lightly brushing the strings without fully pressing down on the chords)
- Space indicates a slight pause.
For beginners, the blank stroke can be a bit tricky. If you find it difficult, you can simplify the strumming pattern to a full strum: DD UDDU DD UDU. In this version, the blank stroke () is replaced by a Downstroke (D). This simplified pattern still sounds great and is easier to learn initially.
Practice this strumming pattern on an easy chord like E minor or G major until it becomes second nature. Saying “Down, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Down, Up, Down, Up” out loud as you strum can really help internalize the rhythm.
Once you’re comfortable with the strumming, apply it to the intro chord progression:
- Em chord on the first DD of the strumming pattern.
- A chord on the UDDU part of the strumming pattern.
- D chord on the next DD of the strumming pattern.
- G chord on the final UDU of the strumming pattern.
Start slowly! Practice transitioning between these chords with the strumming pattern at a slow tempo. Gradually increase speed as you get more comfortable. Patience is key! 🙂
2. Verse: Simple Chords, Relaxed Rhythm
The verse chords are more standard open chords, making them easier to play than the intro voicings:
- Em: [022000] – Standard E minor.
- Am: [x02210] – Standard A minor.
- G: [320033] – Standard G major.
- D: [xx0232] – Standard D major.
Here’s how the chords fit with the lyrics in the first verse:
[Em]Wh[Am]en you’re on a [D]holi[G]day
[Em]Yo[Am]u can’t find the [D]words [G]to say
[Em] [Am]All the things that [D]come [G]to you
[Em][Am]And I wanna [D]feel it [G]too”
Notice that the chord changes often happen slightly before the lyrical phrase. For example, the Em chord starts before “When,” and you transition to Am as you sing “hen”. This timing is part of the song’s feel. Don’t worry if you don’t get it perfect right away; focus on smooth chord changes and rhythm first.
Verse Strumming Pattern
The verse uses a slightly extended strumming pattern: D DUD DUDDUDUDU.
Let’s color-code it to align with the chords: D DUD DUDDUDUDU.
- Em is played during the red portion of the strumming pattern.
- Am is played during the green portion of the strumming pattern.
- D is played during the yellow portion.
- G is played during the blue portion.
Counting can also help: “1, 2 & 3, 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4”. Practice the verse chords and strumming slowly until you can comfortably switch between Em, Am, D, and G while maintaining the rhythm. Singing along while playing can come later, once you are comfortable with the chord changes and strumming.
3. Chorus: Uplifting and Energetic
The chorus is musically similar to the verse, which makes it easy to learn after you’ve mastered the verse chords and strumming. The chords remain the same: Em, Am, G, D.
Here are the chorus lyrics with chords:
On an [Em]island in the [Am]sun
We’ll be [G]playing and having [D]fun
And it [Em]makes me feel so [Am]fine
I can’t [G]control my [D]brain
You can use the same strumming pattern as the verse (D DUD DUDDUDUDU) for the chorus. If you want a slight variation, a simpler D DUD pattern can also work well, changing chords on the last downstroke (D).
After singing the lyrics, the chorus extends with an instrumental part. Play the Em – Am – G – D progression twice, using the verse strumming pattern. On the very last strum of the G chord (the final “UDU” of the second repetition), add the “Hip Hip!” vocal. The “Hip” should land on the downstroke of the strum.
4. Bridge: A Change of Pace
The bridge offers a different feel from the verse and chorus, both in chords and strumming.
The bridge chords are: D, G, C, Am.
The bridge strumming pattern is: D DUDUD.
Here’s how the chords and strumming fit with the bridge lyrics:
[D]We’ll run aw[G]ay together
[D]We’ll spend so[G]me time forever
[C]We’ll never [Am]feel bad any[D]more”
After these lyrics, you’ll play five down-up strums (DU-DU-DU-DU-DU) on the D chord, letting the last one ring out as you add another “Hip Hip!” vocal, similar to the chorus ending. Following this, you’ll return to the “Hip Hip” instrumental section you played after the chorus.
5. Guitar Solo: Time to Improvise (or Learn a Simple Tab)
The guitar solo section might seem daunting, but don’t worry! Here’s a simplified tab to get you started. It captures the main melodic idea of the solo:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|---------7-9-75-4-5-4------4-2-----------------|
D|-------------------------(5)-------5-4-5-5(~~)--|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|Let’s break down some of the notation:
- 75 indicates a slide. Play the note at the 7th fret, then slide your finger down to the 5th fret without lifting off the string.
- (5) indicates a ghost note or a very lightly played note.
- ~~~~ means vibrato – wiggle the string to create a wavering pitch.
Practice this solo slowly at first, focusing on accuracy. The solo section is played twice in the song. If the tab is too challenging initially, don’t get discouraged! Focus on mastering the chords and strumming first. You can always come back to the solo later, or even improvise your own simple melodies using the Em, Am, G, D chords as a backing.
6. Outro: Bringing it to a Gentle Close
The outro is simple and brings the song to a relaxed ending.
The outro chords are: Em, Em, D, G.
Play this chord progression four times using the verse strumming pattern. As you approach the end, gradually slow down the tempo. Let the final G chord ring out to finish the song.
Congratulations! You’ve learned how to play “Island in the Sun” on guitar!
Keep practicing each section, gradually increasing your speed and smoothness. Don’t be afraid to go back and review sections as needed. With a bit of practice and patience, you’ll be playing along to “Island in the Sun” in no time. Enjoy making music!
If you found this lesson helpful or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy playing!
