God Only Knows Guitar Lesson – The Beach Boys


In this God Only Knows guitar lesson, I will show you all the guitar chords to this harmonically sophisticated classic by The Beach Boys.

Brain Wilson really shows us how to use many chord inversions and advanced chords to create moments of tension and release in the harmonic accompaniment of "God Only Knows".

It feels like that beautiful vocal melody is being pulled back and forth between different moods. You really never know what to expect next.

Throughout this lesson, I will use a fingerpicked comping style in order to be recreate the rhythm of the original track. It will stay very consistent throughout so you can concentrate on the chords more easily.

Speaking of those chords, this God Only Knows guitar lesson is a fantastic guitar chord workout. You will probably find many unique chord voicings that you have never played before. These chords can sometimes require a pretty big reach with the frethand. Take your time when getting them under your fingers, it will be well worth it in the end.

All-in-all you simply can't go wrong with The Beach Boys. Their music is not only so well put together and musical, but also incorporates some very advanced harmonic ideas all over the place. Brian Wilson created such beautiful harmonies that I hope you will take the time and study them a bit. I wish pop music these days could be even 5% as brilliant as this amazing song.

Carl...

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God Only Knows Guitar Lesson - The Beach Boys

3 Comments

  1. Andrew Witts on December 25, 2015 at 3:49 am

    More Beach Boys lessons please Carl?

  2. Brian Belsey on January 3, 2016 at 5:24 am

    Yes, more Beach Boys would be great. I didn’t realise this song was so interesting harmonically. Sounds beautiful in this arrangement.

  3. KennyH on March 5, 2016 at 1:44 am

    Outstanding!… Thank you Carl.
    Always a pleasure to listen to your clear-headed logical explanations.
    I also love that you leave your ego outside the door when you teach and play.

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