Tom Odell - Black Friday

How to play Tom Odell - Black Friday by Tom Odell on guitar

This song is a strong beginner pick because it sits in a steady, emotional groove and gives you a clear repeating pattern to lock into. You can focus on clean changes and even timing instead of chasing a lot of flash, so it feels controlled and musical right away.

The chart uses one open shape, F, but most of the work is in the barre shapes B, G#m, F#, D#m, A#m, and G#. The main change to watch is the opening move from B to G#m to F# and back to G#m, since that loop sets the feel and can expose any slow hand shifts.

Start by practicing the opening progression very slowly, making each chord ring clearly before moving on. Then link the full loop in time, and only after that bring it up to tempo by keeping your fretting hand relaxed and your changes small.

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.