REO Speedwagon

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Roll With The Changes

  Roll With the Changes is another one of REO Speedwagon's biggest hits, and surely a fan's favorite. 

  It appears on their album "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish', and was released in 1978.

  The original recording was done in the key of C, and performed as such in the early eighties. In later years they've been playing it a half step down in the key of B. 

  Kevin Cronin, the frontman, has played the song with chord shapes in the key of C and much more often in A, which is why we take a look at both. The latter is definitely the one that I prefer.

  Other than that, we break down the double time strumming, the main four measure progression, a few syncopated chord changes, a little descending bassline and other details. 

  The band has been playing the song for decades now, so keep in mind that each performance might be arranged a little differently. 

  In one occasion I've seen Cronin play it in the key of Ab, which made me think of playing it with shapes in the key of G (Capo I). This key turns out to be very doable, and might suit the ones with lower vocal ranges. 

   

• Lesson 2: Time For Me To Fly

  Time For Me To Fly is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released in 1978 as the second single from the album 'You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish. 

  It features only three chords in the key of D (D-G-A), which you could simply play in standard tuning. 

  That said, the lead singer Kevin Cronin, who also wrote the song, usually plays it with Open D-tuning (DADF#AD). But in another occasion, like during The Midnight Special (1980), he played it with chord shapes in the key of E (E-A-B), with all strings tuned down a whole step. (DGCFAD).

  Probably the biggest challenge is the timing of the chord changes. Very often they appear on the offbeats and are all over the arrangement. For example, the 'and of 2', the 'and of 3', the 'and of 4', the 'ie of 4'. All in all, you must be somewhat comfortable strumming in general. 

  This lesson breaks down all the above. 

• Lesson 3: In My Dreams

  In My Dreams is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon, from their twelfth studio album 'Life As We Know It' (1987).

  The bands frontman Kevin Cronin very often plays the song by himself with just him singing and playing the guitar. This lesson is entirely based on how he performs it. 

  He uses shapes in the key of A, including a few barre chords. Nowaydays he often tunes his guitar a half step down. 

  As for the right hand, he does a combination of flatpicking and strumming, which could be a little challenging for some.

  Of course we take a close up look at both hands and once you got the hang of those, playing through the song should be doable for most guitarplayers, since it's really straight forward. 

• Lesson 4: Take It On The Run

  Take It On The Run is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon off the band's ninth studio album 'Hi Infidelity' (1980).

  It certainly is a gem for all guitarplayers, since it's a great song and relatively easy to play.

  We go over the chords in the key of G thoroughly, aimed at the ones who are just starting their guitar playing journey.  Of course we take a look at the double time strumming as well, and go through the progression. 

• Lesson 5: Can't Fight This Feeling

  Can't Fight This Feeling is a power ballad performed by the American rock band REO Speedwagon. It appears on their 1984 album 'Wheels Are Turning'  and became another big hit. 

  This lesson is entirely based on how they might perform it in an acoustic setting, 

  We break down the chords in the key of G (Capo II for the original recording), the strumming and the progression. 

  Every aspect of the song is relatively easy, but has little things to pay attention to. All in all, a great song to add to your repertoire. 

• Lesson 6: Keep On Loving You

  Keep On Loving You is a soft rock power ballad by American rock band REO Speedwagon. It appears on their 1980 album 'Hi Infidelity' and turned out to be a great success. 

  This lesson is entirely based on how Kevin Cronin, the lead vocalist, occasionally performs it on guitar. He plays it either in the key of C, or A (Capo III), usually tuned down a half step in more recent years. We take a look at both.

  Most of the chords are relatively easy and also the strumming isn't necessarily hard, but there is a lot of syncopation throughout the arrangement, with accents on off beats, or when changing chords. This can be challenging and tricky if you're still working on timing in general.