Yesterday

How to play Yesterday by The Beatles on guitar

This song is worth learning because it is instantly recognizable and lets you focus on clean changes and a steady feel. At about 97 BPM, it sits in a comfortable middle tempo, so you can shape each chord clearly without rushing.

You will mostly use open shapes, with F, Em, A, Dm, G, E, and C doing most of the work. The harder barre shapes are A# and Gm, so watch for any spot where the chart moves into those and be ready to shift your hand smoothly. The opening F - Em - A - Dm sets the tone, so make that change feel relaxed.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly, then add the next chord changes one at a time. Once your hands know the moves, play through longer sections at a gentle tempo and only speed up when the changes feel automatic.

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.