Free Bird

How to play Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar

Free Bird is a great song to learn because it has a strong, familiar feel and a steady groove that makes you sound solid fast. You get to lock into a classic rock progression that feels driving and confident, so it is rewarding even before you play it at full speed.

Most of the chart uses open shapes, so your left hand can stay relaxed on G, D, Em, F, and C. The harder shape is A#, so watch for that move if it appears in your version. The main change to keep clean is the opening G - D - Em - F, since that shift sets the feel and can blur if you rush it.

Start by looping G - D - Em - F slowly until each change feels automatic. Then add the rest of the shapes one at a time, keeping your hand close to the fretboard. Once the switches are smooth, bring it up toward tempo and focus on staying even through the transitions.

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.