“Tears in Heaven” is an iconic song by Eric Clapton, released in 1992. The song was written as a tribute to Clapton’s son, who tragically passed away at the age of four. The song won three Grammy awards and remains one of Clapton’s most well-known pieces.
Tuning
Before you start playing “Tears in Heaven,” it’s important to ensure that your guitar is properly tuned. The song is played in the key of A major, which means that you’ll need to tune your guitar to the following notes:
- Low E string: A
- A string: E
- D string: A
- G string: A
- B string: C#
- High E string: E
Chords
“Tears in Heaven” uses four chords: A, E, F#m, and D. Here’s how to play each chord:
- A: Place your first finger on the second string, second fret. Place your second finger on the fourth string, second fret. Place your third finger on the third string, second fret.
- E: Place your first finger on the third string, first fret. Place your second finger on the fifth string, second fret. Place your third finger on the fourth string, second fret.
- F#m: Place your first finger on the second string, first fret. Place your second finger on the third string, second fret. Place your third finger on the fourth string, second fret.
- D: Place your first finger on the third string, second fret. Place your second finger on the first string, second fret. Place your third finger on the second string, third fret.
Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for “Tears in Heaven” is relatively simple. It’s just a basic down-up pattern, with a slight emphasis on the upstroke. Here’s what the pattern looks like:
Down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up
Playing the Song
Now that you have the chords and strumming pattern down, it’s time to start playing “Tears in Heaven.” The song is played in the following order:
- Intro: A, E, F#m, D
- Verse: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
- Chorus: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
- Verse: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
- Chorus: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
- Solo: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
- Chorus: A, E, F#m, D (repeat twice)
Conclusion
Learning to play “Tears in Heaven” can be a rewarding experience for any guitar player. By following the tuning, chords, strumming pattern, and song structure outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this beautiful song.