Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran

Learn to master "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran with Licklibrary's comprehensive, note-for-note guitar lesson, designed to enhance your playing through a variety of guitar techniques used throughout this acoustic ballad. This lesson focuses on the techniques that make "Give Me Love" an emotionally rich and dynamic song, offering guitarists of all skill levels a chance to build on their technical foundation and deepen their musicality.

In this lesson, you will explore a wide range of guitar skills including finger-picking, alternate picking, slides, and the use of a capo—each of which is crucial for recreating the tone and feel of the original track. Ed Sheeran’s "Give Me Love" is not only a melodic masterpiece but also a great practice tool for developing precise rhythm and technical execution. Danny Gill breaks down this classic pop track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitar Techniques in "Give Me Love"

Finger-Picking Technique

At the heart of "Give Me Love" is its intricate finger-picking style. This method allows the guitarist to play melody and harmony simultaneously by plucking individual strings instead of strumming chords. The song's finger-picking pattern gives it a delicate, intimate feel, which is characteristic of Sheeran's acoustic-driven songs.

Benefits: Finger-picking enhances dexterity, control, and independence between your thumb and fingers. It’s a key technique for guitarists looking to improve precision, rhythm, and the ability to play more dynamic, emotionally nuanced music.

Capo Use

A capo is used to elevate the pitch and simplify chord shapes, making certain voicings easier to play. In "Give Me Love," Sheeran uses a capo to adjust the key while keeping the open chords that give the song its warm, resonant quality.

Benefits: Using a capo helps in transposing songs to different keys effortlessly while keeping familiar fingerings. It also creates new tonal possibilities and helps in mastering songs in different keys.

Slides

Sheeran’s fluid transitions between chords are supported by slides, which add a smooth, connected quality to the playing. Sliding into notes, rather than plucking each one individually, contributes to the song’s flow and is essential for creating the smooth transitions that make the song sound cohesive.

Benefits: Practicing slides enhances finger control and helps you create more expressive phrasing in your playing, allowing you to connect notes in a fluid and seamless manner.

Alternate Picking

Throughout the more rhythmic sections of the song, alternate picking helps to maintain a steady tempo. This technique involves alternating downstrokes and upstrokes to achieve a consistent, flowing picking pattern.

Benefits: Alternate picking develops speed and accuracy, helping players build a solid rhythmic foundation. It also aids in balancing dynamics between different strings and helps maintain efficiency in hand movements.

Open String Riffs

Sheeran’s playing in "Give Me Love" makes use of open string riffs, where open strings are incorporated into melodic lines. This creates a ringing, resonant quality to the riff sections, adding depth and texture to the song.

Benefits: Mastering open string riffs enables players to add a full, rich sound to their playing without needing complex finger positions. It also helps improve string awareness and tone control.

The Guitarist Behind "Give Me Love"

Ed Sheeran is a master of acoustic performance, blending folk, pop, and singer-songwriter styles into a seamless and captivating sound. His guitar playing in "Give Me Love" epitomises his approach—stripped-back, yet rich in emotion. Sheeran often performs with a loop pedal, building layers of rhythm, harmony, and melody live, but his core playing is rooted in finger-picking and rhythmic strumming.

Sheeran’s work has been heavily influenced by artists like Damien Rice and John Mayer, and his ability to make complex playing sound effortless has made him a household name among guitarists. Learning the techniques used by Sheeran in this track will not only help you replicate his sound but also give you insight into how simplicity in playing can be powerful when combined with the right technical finesse.

Why Learn "Give Me Love"?

"Give Me Love" is an ideal song for guitarists looking to improve their technique, especially if you are focusing on finger-style acoustic playing. The song balances melodic beauty with rhythmic drive, allowing you to develop both finger-picking and chord-based techniques. Additionally, by learning how Sheeran constructs his songs, you’ll gain insight into songwriting, arrangement, and how to create emotional impact through guitar playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in the Lesson

• Finger-picking
• Capo
• Slides
• Alternate Picking
• Open String Riffs

Whether you're an aspiring singer-songwriter or a guitarist looking to expand your skillset, this lesson on "Give Me Love" will guide you step by step to mastering one of Ed Sheeran’s most beloved tracks. Get ready to improve your technique and bring new depth to your playing with this essential addition to your guitar repertoire.