Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

How to play Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil by onlythepianoplayer on guitar

This song is a strong beginner pick because the groove is steady, the tempo sits at a comfortable pace, and the progression loops in a way that helps you lock into the rhythm quickly. You get a driving, upbeat feel without needing a lot of flash, so it is great for building confidence while keeping things musical.

Most of the chart uses open shapes, which makes it easier on your fretting hand. The harder shapes are the barre chords, so keep an eye out if the song moves into one of those. The main change to watch is the opening move from G to A and then into Em, since that shift sets up the whole feel and can expose any hesitation.

Start by practicing the opening progression slowly until the shape changes feel automatic. Then loop the open chords first, adding the barre shapes only after the basic movement is clean. Once the changes are smooth, bring it up toward the full tempo and focus on staying relaxed through each repeat.

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.