Easy Guitar Songs by R.E.M.
These lessons feature songs by R.E.M. that we think beginners can learn easily and turn into nice solo arrangements.
R.E.M. formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980. Their debut album Murmur was released in 1983. The bands reputation grew with constant touring and the support of college radio. Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987 with the single “The One I Love.” In 2007, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their latest release is Accelerate.
R.E.M. for Guitar
Peter Buck’s style of playing guitar is one of the most distinctive aspects of R.E.M.’s music. Buck’s economical, arpeggiated, poetic style is reminiscent of the 1960s folk rock band The Byrds. R.E.M. songs are great for learning about song structure – intro, verse, chorus. These lessons feature songs by R.E.M. that we think beginners can learn easily and turn into nice solo arrangements.
Man on the Moon – Easy Songs for Beginners # 36
Man on the Moon is a beautiful song that beginners can play easily, and it doesn’t take all that much to add some very nice touches to it for a solo arrangement. It also offers a good look at how to “cheat” on quick chord changes.
Losing My Religion – Songs for Intermediates # 8
In this arrangement you can play the guitar, mandolin and bass parts all on a solo acoustic guitar. Includes audio examples you can download.
Driver Eight – Songs for Intermediates # 12
This is a fun and easy to play arrangement of an old REM song, Driver Eight. We’ll look at incorporating a riff into the strumming and switching our strumming around with different patterns for different parts of a song.
Love Is All Around
Arjen Schippers, who goes by Promedics on the Forum, has been kind enough to throw together a great song lesson on the REM cover version of this old classic.
