Wild Thing

How to play Wild Thing by The Troggs on guitar

Wild Thing is a great first song because it feels bold, simple, and instantly recognizable. You get a steady, raw rock groove that is fun to lock into, and the repeating feel makes it easy to stay confident while you play.

You only need open shapes here, so your hands can stay relaxed and close to the fretboard. The main thing to watch is the quick change through E - A - D - E, since that turnaround comes back often and can trip you up if you rush it.

Start by switching the chords slowly and cleanly, making sure each shape rings out. Then practice the opening progression in time, one cycle at a time, and only speed up when the changes feel automatic. Once that is solid, play along with the full song and keep the rhythm 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.