Playing guitar is a fun and rewarding hobby, but figuring out how to play a specific song can be a challenge. One popular song that many guitar players love to learn is “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga. In this article, we’ll go over the steps you need to take to learn how to play “Poker Face” on guitar.
Step 1: Tuning your guitar
Before you start playing any song, it’s important to make sure your guitar is properly tuned. The standard tuning for a six-string acoustic or electric guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E, with the thickest string (the low E string) at the top and the thinnest string (the high E string) at the bottom. If you’re unsure how to tune your guitar, there are many online resources and smartphone apps that can help.
Step 2: Chords
The chords used in “Poker Face” are relatively simple, consisting of only four chords: G, D, Em, and C. Here they are:
G: 3rd fret on the low E string (thickest), 2nd fret on the A string (2nd thickest), 3rd fret on the high E string (thinnest).
D: 2nd fret on the G string (3rd thickest), 3rd fret on the B string (2nd thinnest), 2nd fret on the high E string.
Em: Open low E string, 2nd fret on the A string, 2nd fret on the D string (4th thickest), open G string, open B string, open high E string.
C: Open A string (5th thickest), 3rd fret on the A string, open D string, 2nd fret on the G string, 1st fret on the B string (2nd thinnest), open high E string.
Step 3: Strumming
Once you know the chords, it’s time to work on your strumming. The strumming pattern for “Poker Face” is relatively simple and consists of four main beats per measure. Here’s how you can play it:
Down, down, up, up, down, up.
It may take some practice to get the strumming pattern down smoothly, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while to get it right.
Step 4: Putting it all together
Now that you know the chords and the strumming pattern, it’s time to put everything together and play “Poker Face” in its entirety. Here are the lyrics and chord progression for the song:
Verse:
G D/F# Em C
I wanna hold ’em like they do in Texas plays
G D/F# Em C
Fold ’em let ’em hit me raise it baby stay with me (I love it)
G D/F# Em C
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
G D/F# Em C
And after he’s been hooked I’ll play the one that’s on his heart
Chorus:
G D/F# Em C
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhhh oh-oh-e-oh-oh-oh
G D/F# Em C
I’ll get him hot show him what I’ve got
G D/F# Em C
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhhh oh-oh-e-oh-oh-oh,
G D/F# Em C
I’ll get him hot show him what I’ve got
Step 5: Practice makes perfect
Remember that learning how to play a song on guitar takes time and practice. Don’t expect to be able to play “Poker Face” perfectly right away – it may take several weeks or even months of consistent practice to get it down. But the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
In conclusion, learning how to play “Poker Face” on guitar is a great way to improve your skills and add a fun song to your repertoire. By following these steps and practicing consistently, you’ll be able to play the song with confidence in no time.