Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

How to play Ed Sheeran - Sapphire by TrendingTracks on guitar

This song is a great beginner play-along because it sits in a bright key and moves at a steady 120 BPM, so you can focus on clean changes instead of chasing a fast groove. It feels upbeat and polished, and the opening progression gives you a clear loop to lock into right away.

You will need to switch between open shapes and barre shapes, so the main challenge is keeping your hand relaxed while moving into the harder grips. Watch the jump from G# to C# to F and back to C# - that change is the one to smooth out first, since it tests both accuracy and timing.

Start by fretting each chord one at a time, then loop the opening progression slowly until the shapes feel automatic. Next, practice the switch between G# and C# on repeat, then add F, and only after that bring it up toward full tempo. Once the changes are steady, play along with the track and let the rhythm carry you.

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.