Photograph

How to play Photograph by Ed Sheeran on guitar

Photograph is a great beginner song to learn because the progression feels steady and familiar, and it gives you a smooth, emotional groove to lock into. At about 108 BPM, you can keep it relaxed while still feeling the forward motion.

You’ll get a mix of open shapes and barre shapes, so the main challenge is moving cleanly between the easier chords and the harder grip shapes. The opening progression A - E - C#m - B is the change to watch closely, especially when you shift into C#m and B without losing the beat.

Start by looping just A - E - C#m - B slowly until the changes feel automatic. Then add the rest of the song in small sections, keeping your hand relaxed and your timing even. Once the chord moves feel solid, bring the tempo up little by little until it sits comfortably.

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.