R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion,” from their iconic 1991 album “Out of Time,” is a song that resonates with guitarists of all levels. While often perceived as an intermediate piece, its core structure is accessible to beginners, offering a fantastic opportunity to develop essential guitar skills. This lesson breaks down the “Losing My Religion Guitar Chords” and arrangement, making it easy for both novice and experienced players to master this timeless hit.
Delving Deeper into “Losing My Religion”
Upon listening to the original recording, several key elements stand out. The song is undeniably in A minor. This is evident not only by playing along with the track but also confirmed by sheet music and numerous online guitar tabs. Interestingly, the guitar part, skillfully played by Peter Holsapple (formerly of the dBs), is intentionally subtle in the mix. The mandolin takes center stage, defining the song’s intro, bridge instrumental, and outro with its distinctive melodic voice.
At its heart, “Losing My Religion” can be simplified to a strum-along song using basic chords in A minor: Am, F, G, Em, and Dm. However, to truly capture the essence of the song and move beyond a simplistic rendition, we need to consider the mandolin’s prominent role and how to translate that to the guitar. Simply strumming the chords can sound too heavy and miss the delicate, arpeggiated texture of the original.
To address this, we’ll explore transposing the song to E minor using a capo on the 5th fret. This transposition offers several advantages, most notably bringing the guitar into a higher register, closer to the mandolin’s sound. E minor also proves to be a comfortable key for guitar, facilitating a more nuanced and engaging performance.
By using a capo and focusing on an E minor arrangement, we can unlock new possibilities for mimicking the mandolin riffs and instrumental sections, using the full range of the guitar to create a richer, more dynamic solo guitar version. This approach allows us to capture more of the song’s original flavor, even in a solo guitar setting.
Ideally, “Losing My Religion” lends itself beautifully to a two-guitar arrangement – one with a capo and one without. This setup can truly recreate the interplay between guitar and mandolin. However, this lesson is designed for a single guitar arrangement, aiming to incorporate as many of the crucial mandolin parts as possible. Drawing inspiration from twelve-string guitar techniques, which share sonic similarities with the mandolin, we can craft a compelling solo performance with the capo on the 5th fret. Remember, this is just a starting point – feel free to experiment and adapt the arrangement to your own style and preferences.
Intro and Verse Chords: Capturing the Mandolin Start
Let’s begin, as the song does, right at the beginning. “Losing My Religion” starts on the third beat of a pickup measure with a short, iconic mandolin riff. Analyzing this riff reveals the following notes:
Losing My Religion intro riff guitar tab with and without capo
Notice that the tab is presented in both open position (standard tuning) and with the capo on the 5th fret (our E minor transposition). This is where the capo’s advantage becomes immediately apparent. For a solo guitar arrangement, simplicity is key, especially when singing simultaneously. Looking at the capoed version of the intro riff, we can utilize an Asus2 chord (002200) to play the opening notes. By fretting the Asus2 and letting the notes ring, we create a shimmering, mandolin-esque texture. This Asus2 then smoothly transitions to the C chord that marks the first full measure.
Let’s examine the complete intro sequence:
Losing My Religion full intro guitar tab with chords
Download MP3
As you can hear and see, the intro becomes remarkably manageable. Fret the Asus2, let the initial notes resonate, and then transition to the C chord. The sequence continues with Asus2 again, followed by Em. A helpful tip for smooth transitions is to anchor your middle finger on the second fret of the D string (the E note). This finger position acts as a pivot point, facilitating quicker changes between Asus2, C, and Em. You might also notice in the audio example that sometimes the bass note is emphasized slightly before the full chord – this is a stylistic choice that adds a subtle rhythmic nuance.
The verses are built upon simple strumming of the chords. The basic strumming pattern used in the verses is very similar to that in the intro and can be heard at the end of the intro audio file. It follows a pattern like this:
Losing My Religion verse strumming pattern guitar tab
One chord to pay special attention to in the verse is Bm. There are multiple ways to voice a Bm chord, and your choice can significantly impact the overall sound. Here are a few options:
Different voicings for Bm chord on guitar
In the provided audio sample, the first Bm voicing (full barre chord) is used. This voicing contributes to the desired mandolin-like feel that guides this arrangement. However, occasionally switching to Bm7 (the fourth voicing) can offer variation, allowing for the inclusion of a bass note or simply providing a sonic change for both the player and listener.
Chorus Guitar Chords: Building Intensity
The chorus, signaled by the iconic line “I thought that I heard you laughing…”, marks an increase in intensity and dynamic.
Losing My Religion chorus guitar chords and riff tab
Download MP3
In the chorus, the mandolin riff from the intro makes a return. The chorus progression initially mirrors the intro until the Em chord. Here, the arrangement shifts from mimicking the mandolin to incorporating bass lines, adding depth and texture.
Again, the capo placement proves invaluable. Notice that during the Em chord in the fourth measure of the chorus, no fretting is required! The open Em chord is utilized as a foundation for a walking bass line. This is achieved by striking the open sixth string firmly on the downstroke, followed by an arpeggiated upstroke across the first three open strings. Then, a walking bass line ascends: sixth string, second fret; sixth string third fret – alternating with the open-string arpeggios on the upstrokes.
In the latter half of measure five, the pace of the bass line walk quickens. While the initial steps spanned two beats each, these are compressed to one beat. This necessitates simplifying the arpeggio to a more percussive upstroke across a group of strings, sacrificing some subtlety for rhythmic drive – “crude but effective,” as they say.
Bridge and Outro: Mandolin Solo on Guitar
The bridge and outro sections truly highlight the brilliance of the capo positioning in this arrangement. In these sections, the mandolin takes center stage with a distinct single-note solo. However, with our capoed guitar arrangement, we can play full or partial chords, maintaining a sense of harmonic richness and preventing the arrangement from thinning out during the solo. This is especially crucial for a solo guitar performance.
This effect is achieved through creative chord voicings and strumming. Since the mandolin solo on the recording unfolds over an Am chord (which translates to Em with our capo), we can voice chords to play both the melody of the riff and the underlying Em or Em7 harmony simultaneously. Here’s how it works in the bridge after the second chorus:
Losing My Religion bridge guitar tab with chords
Download MP3
By barring across the first and fifth strings at the seventh fret, the first two eighth notes are played with a downstroke and upstroke. The middle open strings are then struck on a downstroke, followed by sliding the barring fingers from the seventh fret to the fifth fret for another full downstroke. The remaining strokes in the measure are short downstrokes. A helpful aspect is that the “seventh” fret position (with the capo) effectively becomes the twelfth fret in standard tuning, making it easier to locate visually.
Using the same rhythmic pattern, the chord then transitions to a standard Em chord, incorporating the G note (first string, third fret) for melodic interest, followed by the open high E string. This pattern is repeated twice for the solo section before returning to the lyrics. A dynamic touch is added by emphasizing the final Em and D chords before the verse, playing them sharply and staccato.
The outro, or coda, acts as a synthesis of the song’s various elements. Let’s examine the outro arrangement:
Losing My Religion outro guitar tab with chords
Emerging from the final chorus, the chorus progression continues, complete with the recurring intro mandolin riff. You can also incorporate the bass line from the chorus here to add further depth.
After the vocals conclude, the mandolin solo motif from the bridge reappears. This pattern is played seven times (totaling twenty-eight beats). Then, the slide from the seventh fret to the fifth fret on the first and fifth strings is repeated, followed by releasing the fifth string and sliding on the first string from the fifth fret to the third fret, and finally releasing the first string. These four chords are played with a downstroke followed by three upstrokes.
Next, forming a D chord and using the pinky finger to fret the fifth fret of the first string, the down-up-up-up pattern is repeated. With each repetition, the pinky finger position is altered – first from the fifth fret to the third, then removing it entirely, and finally refretting the third fret again.
Throughout this outro sequence, gradually decelerate the tempo, creating a grand, cascading descent of chords. The outro culminates in a long, sweeping downstroke on an Emadd9 chord (024000), a chord not heard on the original recording but added here for a satisfying final flourish.
Now it’s your turn to play! Remember that this lesson provides a framework and interpretation. Feel free to adapt and personalize it. Here’s a cheat sheet with the lyrics and chords to help you along the way:
Losing My Religion lyrics and guitar chords cheat sheet
Download MP3
This lesson includes “live” audio examples to provide a clearer sense of the intended sound. While not always perfectly mirroring the written notation, these examples offer a practical guide to how the arrangement should sound.
Enjoy learning “Losing My Religion” and have fun exploring this iconic song on guitar. For twelve-string guitar players, this arrangement is particularly rewarding. Consider sharing this lesson with fellow guitarists and collaborating to create your own multi-guitar arrangement.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions for future lessons, please visit the Guitar Forums or reach out via email at [email protected].
Until the next lesson, keep playing!
Peace.
Liner Notes: The Story Behind the Song
“Losing My Religion” stands as R.E.M.’s most commercially successful single. Michael Stipe has drawn parallels between its theme and The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” describing it as a “classic obsession pop song.” Stipe elaborated, “I’ve always felt the best kinds of songs are the ones where anybody can listen to it, put themselves in it and say, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’” This universal relatability, combined with its unique musical arrangement, is undoubtedly a key factor in the enduring appeal of “Losing My Religion.”
