Try and Love Again by The Eagles – Guitar Lesson

Discover the melodic charm and expressive guitar work of one of The Eagles’ most underrated gems with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “Try and Love Again.” Featured on the band’s iconic 1976 Hotel California album, this uplifting track stands out with its optimistic tone, lyrical vocal performance, and tasteful, emotionally charged guitar parts. Crafted with finesse and musicality, the guitar work on “Try and Love Again” is the perfect study for players who want to develop expression, control, and feel in their lead and rhythm playing.

In this LickLibrary lesson, we break down every note, riff, and solo with a focus on four essential techniques that give this song its character: alternate picking, pull-offs, vibrato, and string bending. This detailed breakdown helps you not only learn how to play the parts authentically but also understand the phrasing, timing, and nuance that elevate this song beyond a standard rock ballad. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Technique Focus

Alternate Picking

Throughout the solos and melodic fills, alternate picking is used to maintain clarity and even note attack, particularly in the more rhythmically complex passages. It ensures that each note stands out in the mix without sacrificing flow.

Learning benefit: Practicing alternate picking builds right-hand speed, consistency, and timing. It’s essential for playing cleaner, faster lines and allows you to develop control across strings and different rhythmic groupings.

Pull-Offs

The solos and melodic embellishments feature pull-offs to add a smooth, flowing feel to phrases without relying on picked attack. These legato elements enhance the lyrical quality of the lead lines and keep them light and expressive.

Learning benefit: Working on pull-offs improves left-hand dexterity and allows for more fluid, natural phrasing. It’s a great way to add character and speed without picking every note.

Vibrato

One of the defining characteristics of Joe Walsh’s and Don Felder’s playing is their use of expressive vibrato. In “Try and Love Again,” vibrato is applied to sustain notes with emotion and make solos feel more vocal and dynamic.

Learning benefit: Developing your vibrato adds personality to your lead playing and helps notes sing with more emotion. It’s a key expressive tool for making your solos sound alive and natural.

String Bending

String bending is used tastefully to emphasise key melodic notes and create movement within the solo lines. These bends mimic the nuances of the human voice, adding an emotive layer to the guitar phrasing.

Learning benefit: Mastering string bending sharpens your pitch control and helps you express emotion with simple note choices. Bending is essential for blues, rock, and country-inspired solos.

Why Learn This Song?

Learning “Try and Love Again” is an excellent way to refine your phrasing, tone, and expressive vocabulary as a guitarist. The song doesn’t rely on flashy technical feats—instead, it teaches you how to craft memorable melodies, support a song with sensitivity, and let every note count.

Whether you’re working on your lead guitar chops or looking to play more musically in a band or solo setting, this lesson gives you the tools to elevate your playing and bring feeling to every phrase.

About the Guitarist and Their Influence

“Try and Love Again” was written and sung by Randy Meisner, The Eagles’ original bassist, who also played rhythm guitar on the track. The lead guitar duties were handled by Joe Walsh and Don Felder, whose tasteful, harmonised leads and melodic solos helped define the band’s mid-70s sound.

Both guitarists brought a unique flair to The Eagles’ arrangements. Felder, with his smooth and lyrical approach, and Walsh, with his bluesy grit and vocal phrasing, created a blend that has become iconic. Their playing on Hotel California bridged the gap between West Coast rock and country-influenced tones, offering guitarists a blueprint for melodic soloing and expressive articulation. Studying “Try and Love Again” offers valuable insight into how less-is-more playing can have a major emotional impact.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

Our guitar lesson for “Try and Love Again” covers both rhythm and lead guitar parts, helping you capture the warmth and precision of The Eagles’ signature style. You’ll learn how to control dynamics through your picking hand, create movement and depth with bending and vibrato, and add expressive nuance to your phrasing through legato techniques like pull-offs.

This lesson is ideal for intermediate players who want to break free from mechanical playing and develop a more expressive, vocal-like approach to guitar. From the jangly chord work in the verses to the sweet, soaring lead lines, every detail is presented clearly so you can play with confidence and authenticity.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Pull-Offs
• Vibrato
• String Bending

Learn to play Try and Love Again with finesse and emotional depth, and let your guitar speak with the same clarity and warmth that defined The Eagles’ timeless sound.