The intro to “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is a simple yet iconic acoustic guitar riff. It’s played using basic open chords in a picking pattern
Here’s a breakdown:
- Chords: The intro uses the chords G, Cadd9, and D. The progression is G → Cadd9 → D → G.
- Picking Pattern: Instead of strumming, you pick the individual strings in each chord:
- Start by plucking the 6th string (low E) with your thumb for the G chord, then move to the 4th (D) string, 3rd (G) string, and 2nd (B) string.
- For the Cadd9 chord, pluck the 5th (A) string, followed by the same strings as the G chord (D, G, B strings).
- On the D chord, pluck the 4th (D) string, then the 3rd (G), 2nd (B), and 1st (high E) strings.
- Finally, repeat the picking for the G chord to complete the cycle.
The key to this intro is smooth transitions between the chords while keeping the picking steady. Play it slowly at first, and once you’re comfortable, you can speed up to match the tempo of the song.
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