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This is America

by Childish Gambino • Lesson #152 • May 8, 2018

About this lesson

In this video I’ll teach you how to play the a simplified version of the acoustic riff you hear in the song This is America by Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) – tabs included! I’ll actually explain two different ways to play the riff, to show some options you have in pulling it off. My aim is to make this beginner friendly. Let me know how it goes!

The tabs below show an easy, simplified, accessible version of the acoustic riff you hear in this song. I’m not pretending this is “exactly” how it’s played in the actual song - but it’s close enough, and I think quite beginner friendly compared to what is actually being played.

Simplified riff, variation 1 of 2

E |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
B |––––––––1–––––––––1–––––––3p1–––––|––––––––––––––––––––––––––1––––––––|–
G |––––––2–––––2–––––––2–––––––––2–––|––––––––3–––––––––3–––––––––––0––––|–
D |––3–––––––––––3–––––––3–––––––––––|––––––2–––––2–––––––2––––––––––––––|–
A |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––––––––––3–––––––3––––––––––––|–
E |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +    1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
     F                                  C7

Simplified riff, variation 2 of 2

E |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
B |––––––––1–––––––––1–––––––3p1–––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
G |––––––2–––––2–––––––2–––––––––2–––|––––––––3–––––––––3–––––––5––––0–––|–
D |––3–––––––––––3–––––––3–––––––––––|––––––5–––––5–––––––5––––––––––––––|–
A |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|––3–––––––––––3–––––––3––––––––––––|–
E |––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|–
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +    1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
     F                                  C7

Understanding chord shapes

No matter which of the two variations you’re playing (above), understand that it’s ideal to position your left hand into the chord shapes below. I show both C7 variations here - use the first position for variation 1 (easier), and the second position for variation 2 (a bit tougher because you’re barring part of the 3rd string).

E –––––––––––––––––––––
B –––1–––––1–––––5–––––
G –––2–––––3–––––3–––––
D –––3–––––2–––––5–––––
A –––––––––3–––––3–––––
E –––––––––––––––––––––
     F     C7    C7

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