How to Play Every Breath You Take by The Police on Guitar: Step-by-step Guide

Learning to play a popular song on the guitar can be a rewarding experience for musicians of all levels. 

In this tutorial video, renowned guitarist Ellen demonstrates how to play "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.

With step-by-step instructions, chord diagrams, and helpful tips, Ellen (for3v3rfaithful) guides us through the song, making it accessible to guitar enthusiasts at any skill level.

Lesson Overview:

"Every Breath You Take" is an intermediate-level song due to its chord complexity and strumming patterns. The guitar needs to be in standard tuning, with a capo on the first fret if you want to play in the original key. The tutorial covers eight different chord shapes, including two barre chords, and provides two strumming patterns and a picking pattern similar to the original song.

How to Play Chords:

Ellen starts by demonstrating the eight chord shapes required for the song. She begins with the G chord and progresses through E minor, C, D, C suspended two over A sharp, A7, C minor seven, and F. Each chord shape is displayed on screen, accompanied by its corresponding sound. Pause the video and practice transitioning between the chords to familiarize with the shapes.

Practice Pattern:

To help beginners get accustomed to chord changes and rhythm, Ellen introduces a practice pattern involving a single down strum for each chord change. This allows us to focus on the timing and memorization of chord transitions while singing along. Ellen demonstrates the practice pattern with the song's first verse.

Strumming Options:

Ellen presents two beginner-friendly strumming patterns for the song. The first pattern involves a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes (down, down, up, up, down, up). The second pattern consists of eight consecutive downstrokes, with emphasized beats for added rhythm. Both patterns can be applied to the entire song, providing options to choose what feels most natural.

Picking Pattern:

For those interested in a fingerstyle approach, Ellen demonstrates a picking pattern for the song. She introduces a modified G chord shape and explains how the thumb and fingers will be assigned to specific strings for consistent picking. Ellen breaks down the picking pattern for G and E minor chords . Practice until you feel comfortable with the coordination.

Learning to play "Every Breath You Take" on the guitar is an exciting endeavor for guitar enthusiasts. Ellen's tutorial video provides aspiring musicians with comprehensive guidance, covering chord shapes, strumming patterns, and a fingerstyle picking technique. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, Ellen's clear instructions and demonstrations will help you master this iconic song. So grab your guitar and get ready to captivate audiences with your rendition of "Every Breath You Take."