Redemption Song

How to play Redemption Song by Bob Marley on guitar

Redemption Song is a great beginner tune because it feels calm, reflective, and musical right away. You can focus on clean changes and steady timing without having to fight the guitar, so it is a strong song for building confidence.

All of the shapes are open, so you do not need any barre chords here. The main thing to watch is the move through G, Em, C, and Am, since that opening progression asks you to switch smoothly between familiar open positions without losing the pulse.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly until each change feels easy. Then practice it in time at a relaxed pace, aiming for even transitions and clear notes. Once that feels solid, bring it up toward the song's tempo and keep the changes relaxed.

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.