How To Save A Life by The Fray Lesson

Song Lessons Grade 1 Songs
1

Learn to play How To Save A Life by The Fray on JustinGuitar!


View the full lesson at How To Save A Life by The Fray | JustinGuitar

2

In the Beginner Song App there is an Em in the verse progression. So G D Em D. Is that an error?

3

I’ve noticed with some of the songs on the App they must not be played with a Capo as the video here shows. So that might change the chords some. Did you ever find out?

4

Hi!
For this song the chord progression on the app seems to be correct but, yes, to play it with the original recording you need a capo on fret 2. I guess they updated the chords when they made the app as opposed to the video.
I have one of Justin’s printed songbooks and it tells you when you need a capo. I really wish the app did the same! Oh well. Maybe it’s something I should try to do on my own as a challenge.

5

Ooooh, I’m trying to figure out that D chord flourish at about 6:20. Sounds cool, no idea how to do that.

6

So, while he strums the D chord, he picks out the following sequence of notes (ignoring the capo):

D D D E   F#  G
D U D U   U   U
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Good luck!

EDIT: It occurs to me, you may not yet have learned where the various notes are. So (again, ignoring the capo):

D: B string, fret 3
E: open high-E string
F#: high-E string, fret 2
G: high-E string, fret 3

7

Thanks I’ll give that a try!

8

Hello,
I am have not well understood how to pick out some notes as Justin explains at the end of the video. I am sorry, I have tried to apply what you explained @jjw but I do not well undertsand. On which movements I need to strum and on which I need to pick a note ?
Thank you

9

hi Nathalie, @Estel8

With the caveat that I don’t play the song, but have looked at Justin’s lesson: the goal is to strum and pick the notes at the same time. So, strum with the pattern I give above, but try to aim for the particular note. It’s tricky to do, if you haven’t done this sort of thing before.

To start, I would try to learn to pick the individual notes (without strumming), but using the Ups and Downs that I gave above and with the correct rhythm. Get that into your fingers. Then it’s a matter of getting a bit freer with the picking hand so you’re strumming, but still picking out the notes.

Good luck!

10

Hello @jjw,
Thank you so much for your explanation!

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