Escape (The Pina Colada Song)

How to play Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes on guitar

This song is a fun beginner pick because the groove is easy to follow and the changes feel familiar right away. You get a bright, relaxed pop feel, and once the pattern settles in, it is satisfying to keep the song moving without much strain.

All of the shapes are open, so you do not need to worry about barre chords here. The main thing to watch is the move from C to F to G and back to C, since that loop is the backbone of the song and can feel a little quick at first.

Start by switching slowly between C, F, and G until each change feels clean. Then add the full opening progression at a steady pulse, and only after that bring it up to song speed. If you can keep the changes smooth, the rest falls into place quickly.

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.