The Beatles’ acoustic classic “Blackbird” is one of the most popular acoustic guitar songs in music history. Written by Paul McCartney for the White Album, it uses Baroque influenced guitar lines throughout. Paul McCartney has stated that the guitar parts in “Blackbird” where highly influenced by Bach’s “Bourree in E minor”, which he and George Harrison both tried to learn as a showpiece in their early days. The picking style involves both the bass notes and melody notes moving at the same time in a contrapuntal fashion. Paul McCartney employs one of his favorite finger picking patterns throughout most of the song to great effect. Even without vocals the guitar stands on its own in “Blackbird” with beautiful chromatic bass lines and harmonies. It truly is an acoustic guitar masterpiece that everyone should learn to play at some point. Good luck!!

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The Beatles “Blackbird” – Intro, Verse & Turnaround

The Beatles “Blackbird” - Chorus, Bridge & Outro