Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird

How to play Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird by Unknown on guitar

Free Bird is a great beginner play-along because the opening progression feels steady and familiar, so you can lock into the groove quickly. At about 120 BPM, it gives you a relaxed but driving feel, and the repeating movement makes it satisfying to keep going once you settle in.

Most of the song uses open shapes, so your fretting hand can stay comfortable for much of the time. The harder shapes are F#m and A#, so if they appear later, be ready for a quick shift from the easier open chords. The main change to watch is the move through G - D - A - Em, since that sequence asks you to keep your changes clean and even.

Start by looping G - D - A - Em slowly until each change feels automatic. Then bring it up to tempo in short sections, keeping your strumming steady and your chord switches relaxed. Once that feels solid, connect the sections and focus on staying smooth through the harder barre shapes when they show up.

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.