Teenage Dirtbag

How to play Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus on guitar

These are the sounding chords. With a capo on fret 4 you play C, G, F, Am, E, the shapes the player above shows.

This is a fun beginner song to learn because it has a simple, catchy feel and a steady drive that makes you sound locked in quickly. You can get the groove going without needing a lot of advanced technique, so it feels rewarding fast.

The chart uses open E and A shapes, plus the harder barre shapes B, C#m, and G#. That means your left hand will spend some time switching between easy grips and more demanding moves, so focus on clean changes. The main change to watch is the opening move from E to B and back again, then into A.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly until your changes feel smooth. Then add the rest of the chord flow in short sections, keeping your timing steady. Once the shapes are comfortable, bring it up to full speed and play through the song without stopping.

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.