How to Play "Here Comes the Sun" on Guitar

"Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, written by George Harrison, is a beginner-friendly acoustic classic from Abbey Road. Its open chords and bouncy intro riff make it perfect for learning fingerstyle basics or simple strumming, as detailed in popular tutorials.

Quick Chord Guide

Master these core open chords—no barre chords needed for starters. Use standard tuning (EADGBE), capo on 7th fret for original key (or no capo for easier versions in D major).

Chord| Fingering (Strings 6-1)| Notes
---|---|---
D| xx0232| Beginner essential 1
Dsus2| xx0230| Lift middle finger from D 1
G| 320003| Steady rhythm base 3
A| x02220| Quick transitions 1
A7| x02020| Adds flavor to chorus 3
E7| 020100| Bridge lift 5
F| xx3211 (easy version)| Avoid full barre initially 1
C| x32010| Outro flow 3

Pro Tip : Practice D to Dsus2 switches—they happen fast in the intro. Strum lightly for that sunny vibe.

Iconic Intro Riff

The fingerpicked intro hooks everyone—play it arpeggio-style (thumb bass, fingers higher strings). Repeat twice before verse. Here's a simplified tab (no capo version):

D               Dsus2          D               Dsus2
e|---2---0-------|---0---------|---2---0-------|---0---------|
B|-----3---3-----|-3---3---3---|-----3---3-----|-3---3---3---|
G|---2-------2---|---2-----2---|---2-------2---|---2-----2---|
D|---------------|-------------|---------------|-------------|
A|-0-------------|-0-----------|-0-------------|-0-----------|
E|---------------|-------------|---------------|-------------|
  D   D U   D U    D U D U     (Pattern repeats)

Strumming Alternative : Down-down-up-up-down-up (D-D-U-U-D-U) keeps it bouncy without picking.

George Harrison used precise picking for Abbey Road's recording—nail the rhythm first, then add melody notes like the high D on the B string.

Verse and Chorus Breakdown

Verse ("Here comes the sun..."): Cycle D - Dsus2 - G - A over lyrics. Fingerpick bass note first, then strum up.

Chorus ("Sun, sun, sun, here it comes..."): G - A7 - D - Bm - F#m - G - A

  • A7 - E7. Add target notes (e.g., pluck B string 3rd fret on D chord) for authenticity.

Practice Flow :

  1. Metronome at 60 BPM—verse only.
  2. Add chorus, slow strums.
  3. Bridge ("And I say..."): A7 - E7 - C - G - A7, single down-strums for drama.
  1. Full song run-through.

Beginners: Simplify to strumming only, as in 2025's "Easiest Way" tutorial—no fingerpicking required.

Advanced Tips from Pros

  • Rhythm Feel : Steady 4/4, emphasize "and" of beats 2 & 4 for bounce.
  • Common Pitfalls : F chord—use xx3211; speed up transitions gradually.
  • True-to-Original : Capo 7, hybrid picking (pick + fingers). Check JustinGuitar or Marty Music for video breakdowns.
  • Variations : No-capo electric versions swap for power chords.

"The secret is a steady strumming rhythm with your hand—everything flows from there." – GuitarZero2Hero lesson insight

TL;DR : Learn D/Dsus2 intro riff, core chords (D, G, A, A7), DDUUDU strum. Beginner? Strum simplified version in 10 mins; full fingerstyle in a week.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.