Count on Me

How to play Count on Me by Bruno Mars on guitar

This is a great beginner song because it feels warm, steady, and easy to sing along with. You get a relaxed, familiar groove that makes you sound musical quickly, even if you are still building confidence on guitar.

All the chords are open shapes, so you can focus on clean fretting and smooth changes instead of barre work. The main thing to watch is the move through C - Em - G - F, since that last change can feel like the biggest stretch in the pattern. Keep your fingers close to the strings and aim for even transitions.

Start by looping C - Em - G - F slowly until the shapes feel automatic. Then practice the same cycle with a steady pulse, making each change on time. Once that feels solid, bring it up toward the song tempo and keep your strumming light and consistent.

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.