If you’re an aspiring guitar player and you’re just learning to play new songs, you must have thought about Star Wars and its amazing soundtrack. Whether it’s just the main theme, the Imperial March theme, or anything else that piques your interest, you can definitely play it on your guitar. You just need the will, the time, and the passion. Let’s dive in and read more about how to play that iconic theme on the guitar with these tips.
Don’t Stick to Watching YouTube Only
Let’s be honest, you can’t just stick to YouTube videos if you’re trying to learn this specific song. Even though the videos may seem great, they can’t fully explain to you how to play them. Watching videos is great, but you need to download the actual tabs of the song. Some people convince themselves that they learn better visually — seeing the guitarist play the song. But that’s a skill that’s hard to master on its own and you might pick up some bad techniques that can be quite difficult to fix later. Make sure you get the tabs of the song; most of it is probably free too. You then need to practice it by yourself and get acquainted with the tab.
Pick the Right Guitar
Many people wonder if they need to pick the right guitar for the Star Wars theme. Quite frankly, there is no “right” guitar for playing songs because it depends on your skill, what you like, and what you’re good at. Some people play bass, electric, or even bluegrass guitars, and these options are appealing choices for you if you’re into that sound. Yes, you can play the Star Wars theme on a bluegrass guitar because, why not?! Just remember that for bluegrass guitars, you need to master the G major bluegrass key because it’s one of the most popular keys for this type of guitar. But if you’re into acoustic guitars, then you need to master playing single notes with chords at the same time to get the hang of the theme because it can get quite intense later on.
If you’re more of an electric guitar player, then you need to master the C string because the theme mostly uses the 4th, 3rd, and 6th frets. But it does get deeper than that later. If you fancy the bass guitar more, then you need to practice your Octaves and get used to some “slap” techniques as you play because it will sound phenomenal on a bass guitar if you do. Overall, you have a lot of different guitars to choose from and the choice is up to you. It all depends on which one you’re more comfortable with and which one you’re more experienced in. Just remember to never listen to anyone that says you can’t play the Star Wars theme on any specific guitar.
Take It Easy and Don’t Rush It
This theme song is art, and you can’t rush it. Take it easy and one step at a time. This is all for fun, after all, isn’t it? You don’t need to pressure yourself into learning the theme song in one sitting. Practice and practice some more until you master it. Guitarists don’t become pros overnight. Just remember to always make the experience fun and appealing. If you find yourself stuck on a specific part, then take a little break and come back at it when you’re fresh later. It’s not a race, and it’s not about reaching the finish line. It’s all about having fun while learning.
Learn the Basics First Before Adding Your Elements
One last tip is to learn the theme song’s basics first before you start adding your personal flare to it. Many guitarists love spicing up theme songs with special additions, but focusing on those more than the song itself can ruin it for you. Don’t get too excited and forget about the actual theme. Learn it well first, then spice it up all you want.
Any skill requires patience, discipline, and the right framework to allow you to master it. Sure, you can play the guitar, but can everyone say that they can play iconic tunes like the Star Wars theme? You need to practice, make mistakes, and learn from them. Only then can you truly master the theme and play it flawlessly. Get your tabs, picks, and extra strings ready, because you’re about to play the Star Wars themes like a champ and make the great John Williams himself proud! Don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than you expect.
