The Beatles are responsible for creating some of popular music’s most thoughtful and infectiously catchy guitar riffs. Widely regarded as the most influential band in rock music, The Beatles created an immense amount of guitar-driven music in the mere decade they were together. Borrowing ideas from folk, country western, Celtic, rhythm and blues, vaudeville, and other musical genres, the masterfully crafted guitar parts in Beatles songs have the power to help us see our instrument in a completely new and different light. If you’re new to the guitar or are a seasoned player in search of some interesting material to cover, Beatles guitar tabs are a fun way to explore what’s possible on your instrument. We’ve got 5 excellent guitar-driven Beatles songs to show you how to play in this article. Let’s get started!

beatles guitar tab

“Across The Universe”

First on our list of Beatles guitar tabs is this amazing song that features one of the most interesting guitar riffs in popular music. It’s unique because it spans most the length of the guitar neck and uses fingerpicking, single notes, and full chords for its full sound. It also moves all over the guitar as opposed to typical guitar riffs which usually stay within the span of a few frets. If you’re new and still getting your footing when it comes to playing the guitar, this is a great riff for you to try and master. The Beatles’ recorded version of this song is tuned a half step down.
beatles guitar tabs

[Verse]

D                 Bm               F#m
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
Em7                                    A                  A7
They slither while they pass they slip away across the Universe.
D                Bm               F#m
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
Em7              Gm
Possessing and caressing me.


[Chorus]

D               A7sus4
Jai Guru De Va  Om
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world


[Verse]

D         Bm                F#m                           Em7
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
                       A                  A7
They call me on and on across the Universe.
D                Bm             F#m
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox
    Em7                               A                 A7
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the Universe.
       
       
[Chorus]

D               A7sus4
Jai Guru De Va  Om
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world


[Bridge]

D                   Bm                 F#m
Sounds of laughter, shades of earth are ringing through my opened ears
Em7          Gm
Inciting and inviting me.
D            Bm                      F#m                            Em7
Limitless, undying love which shines around me like a million suns
                       A            A7
And calls me on and on across the Universe.

       
[Chorus]

D               A7sus4
Jai Guru De Va  Om
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world
A                         A7                       
Nothing’s gonna change my world
G                         D
Nothing’s gonna change my world


[Outro]

D
Jai Guru Deva.  
D
Jai Guru Deva.

“Revolution”

This catchy song is one of the first known examples of recorded music that uses the sound of intentionally distorted electric guitars. “Revolution” is an example of blues music evolving into rock music in a noticeable way. This song blends chord progressions and form with heavy guitars and drum parts to create a vivid sound and feel that was completely new when it was released. Your guitar will need to be distorted for this song.

                                  

revolution tab

[Verse/Chorus]

    B                                    E
You say you want a revolution   well you know

                           B
We all want to change the world

    B                                     E
You tell me that it’s evolution  well you know

                          F#
We all want to change the world

C#m                        F#
But when you talk about destruction

C#m                           A   B  G#   F#
Don’t you know that you can count me out (in?)

                         B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         B       E     F#7
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright


    B                                    E
You say you got a real solution, well you know

                           B
We’d all love to see the plan

    B                                     E
You ask me for a contribution, well you know

                          F#
We’re all doing what we can…


C#m                        F#
But if you want money for minds that hate

C#m                           A   B  G#   F#
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait

                         B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         

B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         B       E     F#7
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

    B                                    E
You say you’ll change the constitution, well you know

                        

  B
We all want to change your head

    B                                     E
You tell me it’s the institution, well you know

                          F#
You better free your mind instead


C#m                        F#
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao

C#m                           A   B  G#   F#
You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow…

                         B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         B       E
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

                         B       E     F#7
Don’t you know it’s gonna be   Alright

“Twist and Shout”

Photo credit: Lenscap Photography / Shutterstock.com

Next on our list of Beatles guitar tabs, this is a great tab to learn if you’re a newer student of this amazing instrument. Originally recorded by a band called The Top Notes, The Beatles’ version of this song is likely to get stuck in your head for a long time after the first listen.

beatles chords    


[Verse 1]

                 D           G          A
Well shake it up baby now, (shake it up baby)
           D       G         A
Twist and shout. (Twist and shout)
                                    D          G       A
Come on, come on, come on, come on, baby now, (come on baby)
                       D     G          A
Come on and work it on out. (Work it on out, ooh!)


[Verse 2]

                D     G          A
Well work it on out, (work it on out)
                      D     G       A
You know you look so good. (Look so good)
                    D           G      A
You know you got me goin’ now, (Got me goin’)
                      D             G        A
Just like I knew you would. (Like I knew you would, ooh!)


[Verse 3]
                 D           G          A
Well shake it up baby now, (shake it up baby)
           D       G         A
Twist and shout. (Twist and shout)
                                    D          G       A
Come on, come on, come on, come on, baby now, (come on baby)
                       D     G          A
Come on and work it on out. (Work it on out, ooh!)  


[Verse 4]

                             D       G           A
You know you twist it little girl, (twist little girl)
                      D       G       A
You know you twist so fine. (Twist so fine)
                            D            G             A
Come on and twist a little closer now, (twist a little closer)
                            D             G           A
And let me know that you’re mine. (Let me know you’re mine, ooh!)


[Solo Chords]

D  G A  D  G A  D  G A   D  G A  


[Bridge]

A        A7
Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh  yeah!!


[Verse 5]

D           G          A
Baby now, (shake it up baby)
           D       G         A
Twist and shout. (Twist and shout)
                                   

                        D          G       A
Come on, come on, come on, come on, baby now, (come on baby)
                       D     G          A
Come on and work it on out. (Work it on out, ooh!)


[Verse 6]

                           D       G             A
You know you twist it little girl, (twist little girl)
                      D       G       A
You know you twist so fine. (Twist so fine)
                            D            G            A
Come on and twist a little closer now, (twist little closer)
                            D             G           A
And let me know that you’re mine. (Let me know you’re mine ooh!)


[Verse 7]

                                D          G           A
Well shake it shake it shake it baby now. (shake it up baby)
                                D          G           A
Well shake it shake it shake it baby now. (shake it up baby)
                                D          G           A
Well shake it shake it shake it baby now. (shake it up baby)
A        A7            A  Bb  B  C  C#  D   D9
Ahh ahh ahh  ahh

“In My Life”

“In My Life” is a great song to learn if you’re looking for something with a simple riff and easy-to-memorize chords. This simple song is not only one of the best known Beatles songs, but is also one of the most widely loved songs in music history.

beatles guitar tab

[Verse 1]

         A      E      F#m   A/G    
There are places I’ll remember
      D Dm        A
All my life though some have changed
       A    E       F#m    A/G
Some forever not for better
         D Dm     A
Some have gone and some remain

         F#m               D
All these places have their moments
    G                    A
With lovers and friends I still can recall
        F#m               B
Some are dead and some are living
  Dm           A
In my life I’ve loved them all


[Verse 2]

      A         E           F#m    A/G
But of all these friends and lovers
        D  Dm     A
There is no one compares with you
         A        E          F#m    A/G
And these memories lose their meaning
      D        Dm      A
When I think of love as something new

        F#m7                    D
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
   G                      A
For people and things that went before
 F#m7                            B
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
  Dm        A     
In my life I love you more


[Solo]

A E F#m A/G D Dm A
A E F#m A/G D Dm A


[Verse 3]

        F#m7                    D
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
   G                      A
For people and things that went before
 F#m7                            B
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
  Dm        A     
In my life I love you more
  Dm                     A
In my life … I love you more

“Day Tripper”

Another great example of The Beatles’ unique interpretation of blues music, “Day Tripper” features one of the most popular riffs in rock music. This riff is catchy because of its unique use of syncopation and sequencing. The material found in the first riff repeats over other chords and during the solo in a new and interesting way.

day tripper tab

E7
Got a good reason, for taking the easy way out
A7                 E7
Got a good reason, for taking the easy way out
         F#
She was a day____ tripper, one way ticket yeah
          A7     G#7          C#               B
It took me so____ long to find out, and I found out

(Repeat same chord sequence throughout other than solo section)


She’s a big teaser, she took me half the way there
She’s a big teaser, she took me half the way there
She’s a day tripper, one way ticket, yeah
It took me so long to find out, and I found out

[solo] B—-


Tried to please her, but she only played one night stands
Tried to please her, but she only played one night stands
She was a day tripper, Sunday driver, yeah
It took me so long to find out, and I found out

beatles tabs
Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock.com

Tips for learning these songs

If you’re completely new to the guitar, it’s a good idea to seek help from an experienced teacher in your area. We recommend looking for someone with a strong background in music theory who shares similar tastes in bands and music styles.

Whether you work with a teacher or not, we recommend working on these Beatles guitar tabs by playing the material in these songs slowly to the click of a metronome. It’s hugely important that you do your best to add rhythm to your playing process as soon as you can. Start slow and work your way up to the actual speed these songs are played at. With some hard work and focused practice, you’ll be able to play these amazing Beatles tunes in no time. For more awesome music articles, instructional videos and online tutorials, check out the Musika Lessons blog.

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