River
by Ed Sheeran • Lesson #117 • Dec 30, 2017
Video lesson
Looking for a Print-Friendly Guide?
This is one of my few lessons that doesn't have a printable song sheet / PDF available. If you'd like to request I make one, let me know by clicking the button below! If there's enough demand I'll bump it toward the top of the list.
Note about capo and tuning
To play this song in standard tuning with no capo, you’ll need many difficult barre chords (shown below). You can make the song easier in two ways:
- Use a capo on the 4th fret
- Tune all your guitar strings down 1/2 step
Most of what I show in this lesson is for the capo 4th fret approach, though I’ll explain the no-capo-standard-tuning version too.
Intro tab
Capo 4
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
B –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
G –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
D ––––––––––––––––––2–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––2–––––––––––4––––
A ––2–––––––––––2–––3–––––––––––2–––2–––––––––––2–––3–––––––––––5––––
E ––0–––––––––––3–––––––––––––––3–––0–––––––––––3––––––––––––––––––––
Em G C G Em G C D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
No capo (standard tuning)
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
B –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
G –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
D –––––––––––––––––(9)–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––(9)–––––––––11––––
A ––6–––––––––––9–––11––––––––––9–––6–––––––––––9–––11––––––––––––13–
E ––4–––––––––––7–––0–––––––––––7–––4–––––––––––7–––0––––––––––––––––
G#m B E B G#m B E F#
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
B –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
G –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
D –––––––––––––––––(9)–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––(9)––––––––––4––––
A ––6–––––––––––9–––11––––––––––9–––6–––––––––––9–––11––––––––––4––––
E ––4–––––––––––7–––0–––––––––––7–––4–––––––––––7–––0–––––––––––2––––
G#m B E B G#m B E F#
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Verse chord timing
Capo 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em . . G C . . D Em . . G C . Am .
No capo (standard tuning)
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G#m B E F# G#m B E C#m
Strumming pattern
I like to do this three times:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U U D D U D U
Followed by this one once:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U U U U D U
See my lesson for reference! I know this may seem tricky.
Enjoy!
Let me know if you have questions. I hope this is helpful!
Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!
Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent Lessons
-
July 24, 2024
Must-Know Strumming Patterns in 6/8 Time
-
July 13, 2024
"Wondering Why" by Red Clay Strays
-
July 8, 2024
Viewing Notes in a Certain Area of the Fretboard
-
June 21, 2024
"Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits
-
June 14, 2024
"Have a Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt
-
June 6, 2023
"And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff
-
June 1, 2024
Introduction to Reggae Strumming & Rhythm
-
May 20, 2024
What Types of Play-Along Covers are Most Helpful?
-
May 10, 2024
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell
-
May 1, 2024
Tour of My New "KeyMaster" Web Tool
-
April 24, 2024
13 Must-Know Riffs with Droning Strings
-
April 18, 2024
"Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens