Ed Sheeran 8-Pack

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Photograph - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  Photograph is an acoustic pop ballad recorded by the ever popular English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It’s the 6th track of his 2nd album ‘X’ (Multiply) and was released as the fifth and final single in May 2015.
  
  This lesson covers two versions of how Ed plays it. The first one is based on his acoustic stripped down performance at Capitol FM. It’s in the key of E, standard tuning, with one string tuned down. The other version shows how he plays it nowadays, which is in the key of D, using DADGAD-Tuning, where the guitar is capoed on the second fret.
  
  The progression is very classic and uses chords I, IV, V and VI. We also take a look at the uptempo strumming, which should be done randomly and in some parts palm muted with accents on beats 1, the and of 2 and 4.

• Lesson 2: Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  Give Me Love is a song by the immensely popular British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and showcases his talent in several different ways. It was released as the sixth and final single from his debut studio album ‘+’.
  
  The lesson takes a look at the acoustic version, although Ed often uses a loopstation on stage, while adding harmonies with rhythmic and percussive effects.
  
  The song is in the key of B, using chord I, II, IV, V and VI, where the guitar is capoed on the 2nd fret. It’s in 6/8 time and features an easy progression and arrangement. The guitar playing also involves several hammer –ons and a signature ascending bass run.
  
  Even though the progression is pretty straight forward, the student needs to be able to play barre chords and be comfortable strumming randomly and as freeform as Ed does.

• Lesson 3: Sing - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  Sing is a song by the popular English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, which was released as the lead single of his new second album ‘X’.
  
  It features two barre chords, from the E and A families, and fast uptempo strumming at the speed of 16ths. A few hammer-ons as well as muting the strings with the fretting hand should be incorporated as well.
  
  The lesson takes a look at the three main patterns which are being played on the original. There are also a few examples of how he plays it in live performances as well.
  
  In the end, Ed Sheeran’s playing in general is very free form and random, this song is no exception to that. Basic strumming skills are absolutely needed.

• Lesson 4: I See Fire - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  I See Fire is a song from ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’, written, composed and performed by a very talented and young English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran.
  
  It features a simple chord progression and a few chords in open position in the key of Em. There are syncopated chord changes and the strings need to be consistently muted with the fretting hand on beats 2 and 4.
  
  The biggest challenge lies within the tricky yet great sounding intro riff, with a few embellishments like hammer-ons and pull-offs.

• Lesson 5: I'm A Mess - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  I’m A Mess is the 2nd track of the major selling album X (Multiply), recorded and performed by the ever popular British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
  
  It contains fast uptempo strumming, while going back and forth between focused, palm muted strumming and full on strumming. This could be challenging for beginners. Important is to emphasize beat 1, the and of beat 2 and beat 4 throughout the whole song.
  
  The song is in the relative key of E, and uses power-chord shapes only, where the guitar is tuned down a half step, with the third string down to Eb.

• Lesson 6: Lego House - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  The beautiful Lego House is a song by a very talented English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran. It was released as his second single in the US in February 2013.
  
  This lesson takes a look at how Ed Sheeran plays it in live performances, which is a little different from the album version. The song features one of the most common chord progressions, the I-V-VI-IV in the key of B major, using uptempo fingerpicking with the emphasis on the bass notes.
  
  The chords are fairly easy, but if the student chooses to also strum the song, which Ed does in later parts of the song, then full barre chords of the E and A families are needed.

• Lesson 7: Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  Thinking Out Loud is a song by the immensely popular English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and is the third official single of his latest album X (Multiply). It’s a romantic ballad, which he describes as a ‘walking down the aisle-song’.
  
  The lesson is primarily based on how Ed performs this song live on stage by himself. As always, keep in mind that his playing in general is very random, Thinking Out Loud is no exception to that.
  
  The song features an easy progression in the key of D, syncopated chord changes, a very cool groove, plucking and strumming for the right hand, muting techniques for both hands and a few embellishments.

• Lesson 8: Perfect by Ed Sheeran - Guitar Lesson

  This lesson is for all you fingerpicking Ed Sheeran fans. While relatively simple in your fretting hand, the fingerpicking in this song will give you a work out!
  
  In this lesson you’ll get the inside scoop on how to play all the fingerpickng patterns and chord melodies in this famous pop song!