UCL2 - WEEK 4
"SWEET CHILD O MINE"

This week you will explore a 1980s rock classic, SWEET CHILD O MINE by rock band, Guns N Roses and first released back in 1987. 
This song featured in Big Daddy (1999), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Step Brothers (2008), Captain Fantastic (2016), and The Wrestler (2008). It also appears in the 2025 series finale of Cobra Kai. Additionally, a cover of the song, performed by Adam DeVine and Flula Borg, is in the movie Pitch Perfect. 

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AUDIO

Have a listen to the audio track below with the Level 2 part and vocals. Please note the opening 8 bars are played by the L2.2 group and are in the track for reference so that you know where to come in.

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About The Song

SWEET CHILD O MINE was originally written as a poem by Axl Rose, lead singer of the band. Slash came up with the riff when he was playing around on his guitar. He thought it was silly and wanted nothing to do with it, but Axl loved it and had him keep playing it. Izzy Stradlin added some chords, and the song came together. 

The song contains two megalithic solo sections which have been reduced down to just one, which the level 3 group will perform and includes Slash's riff for the opening section. You will add the percussive elements of the chords at this point.

CHORDS

There are only 4 chords contained in this song which are as follows: 
​(Blue labelled chords are for left hand players)

STRUMMING PATTERNS

There are a few interchangeable strumming patterns within this song arrangement including the calypso strum, some singe strums and a rhythmic intro. Illustrated below, the intro section is more of a rhythmic section that comes in after 8 bars of the initial riff. The first down & up come in just before beat one of each bar. 

Half Chuck Strum

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The half chuck strum comes in at the Solo part - changing the rhythm slightly here will really help the solo part cut through - that the L2.2 group will be playing. Watch the video below to see how to play the half chuck strum. 

VIDEO TUTORIALS

INTRO SECTION

There are 8 bars of the intro that you don't need to play anything for. This is where the riff is played by the level 2.2 group. You will come in just before the next round of 8 bars starts as follows:

VERSE & SOLO SECTIONS

The verse sections are mostly played with the calypso strum until you get to bar 8:

CHORUS & OUTRO SECTIONS

in these sections, the chord sequence changes to begin with G and uses some single strums before coming back in with the calypso on C. 
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