Under the Bridge

How to play Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers on guitar

This song is worth learning because it has a steady, reflective feel and a memorable progression that sits well on guitar. At about 85 BPM, you can focus on clean changes and let the chords ring, which makes it feel controlled and expressive.

You will move between open shapes and barre shapes, so the left hand needs to stay relaxed. The opening F# - E - B - A is the change to watch closely, since it asks you to shift from a harder shape into more familiar ones without losing the pulse.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly, then add the rest of the song in small sections. Once the changes feel smooth, play along with the full tempo and keep your strums even so the progression stays steady.

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.