a-ha - Take On Me

How to play a-ha - Take On Me by a-ha on guitar

This song is a great beginner pick because the groove is upbeat, familiar, and instantly recognizable. You get to focus on clean changes and steady time, and when you lock in the progression it feels lively and satisfying to play.

Most of the shapes are friendly open chords, with Bm and F#m asking for barre control. The main thing to watch is the move from E to F and then into Bm, since that shift can slow you down if your fretting hand is tense. Keep the changes small and relaxed.

Start by looping E - F - E - Bm very slowly until each change feels smooth. Then bring it up in short bursts, aiming for even timing before speed. Once that feels solid, play along with the full song and keep the rhythm steady from start to finish.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.