Melodic Fingerstyle Bass + Melody (ft. "Live Forever" by Billy Joe Shaver)

Lesson #620 • Apr 24, 2026

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About This Lesson

In today’s mini-lesson I’ll teach you a short, melodic fingerstyle arrangement inspired by Billy Joe Shaver’s classic Live Forever. Instead of teaching you the full song, I’ll take the core melody (heard in the intro) and show you three ways to play it using fingerstyle guitar. Each approach combines bass notes and melody, which you can play with just two fingers on your picking hand.

Part 1: Free Lesson

Part 2: Same Riff in Two Other Keys

Instructional PDF 2 pages

Lesson Discussion

Slow Playthroughs

Here’s some separate videos where I play the riff in each of the three levels: zoomed-in, showing tabs on screen, and without talking. I count in for two measures before starting, and repeat the main riff twice in each video.

Level 1: Melody + Single Bass Note

Level 2: Melody + Droning Bass Notes

Level 3: Melody + Alternating Bass Notes

If you need help with the techniques used in this song, here’s a few lessons that may help out.

Melody & Travis Picking

The Song That Inspired This Lesson

Billy Joe Shaver’s 1993 song Live Forever is what planted the melodic seed that turned into my lesson. I should note, I took some liberties to simplify the chord progression slightly. Specifically, when Billy Joe changes to G — he stays on it for two counts before moving to A (also played for two counts) before returning to D for the fourth measure. In my lesson, I stay on G and A for one measure each, respectively.

I have not taught the full song as Billy Joe plays it, and currently I have no plans to. That may change one day, but for now here’s some videos that will help if you’re looking to play the full song exactly like Billy Joe plays it:

Full song cover, without singing (Key of D):

Full song lesson, as The Highwaymen play it (Key of G):

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Melodic Fingerstyle Bass + Melody (ft. "Live Forever" by Billy Joe Shaver)

About This Lesson

Part 1: Free Lesson

Part 2: Same Riff in Two Other Keys

Instructional PDF 2 pages

Lesson Discussion

Slow Playthroughs

Level 1: Melody + Single Bass Note

Level 2: Melody + Droning Bass Notes

Level 3: Melody + Alternating Bass Notes

Related and Recommended

The Song That Inspired This Lesson

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Travis Picking Essentials

Practical Music Theory

Guitar for Beginners

Beginner Chord Guide

Blues Starter Kit

Reading Music for Guitarists

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

JamBox

Key Master

Capo Captain

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons