Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day is a powerful and emotionally charged ballad that showcases the band's ability to blend soft melodies with dynamic, driven rock segments. This song is a perfect lesson for guitarists looking to expand their technique while learning a beautiful, iconic track. At Licklibrary, our guitar lesson breaks down this song in detail, covering both the rhythm and lead guitar sections, while focusing on essential techniques that will improve your playing. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist: Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day's Influence

Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day’s frontman and guitarist, is known for his simple yet effective playing style. His approach is often centred around emotionally driven melodies, catchy chord progressions, and punchy rhythms. His playing in "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a great example of how less can sometimes be more. Armstrong’s focus on combining basic techniques with excellent songwriting has inspired countless guitarists worldwide. The song represents a masterclass in creating emotion through simplicity and dynamics, making it an excellent learning resource for both beginners and intermediate players.

Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Power Chords

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" features power chords throughout its verse and chorus sections. Power chords are the backbone of modern rock music and provide a powerful, driving sound while remaining easy to play. This technique is ideal for beginners and intermediate players alike. Learning power chords helps develop finger strength, precision, and the ability to transition between chords quickly, which is key to playing more complex rock songs.

Palm Muting

In several parts of the song, Billie Joe Armstrong uses palm muting to create a dynamic contrast between the quiet verses and the powerful chorus. Palm muting is essential for controlling the sound and intensity of a performance. Mastering this technique will give you greater control over your sound, allowing you to add texture and build tension in a song. Palm muting is commonly used in rock, punk, and metal genres, making it a versatile skill for any guitarist.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

The intro and verse sections of "Wake Me Up When September Ends" involve arpeggiated chord progressions, where each note of the chord is played individually rather than strummed all at once. This technique gives the song a more melodic and gentle feel during the quieter sections. Practicing arpeggios not only improves your picking accuracy but also enhances finger coordination, giving your playing a more fluid, musical quality.

String Bending

The lead guitar parts in the song's solo feature string bending, which allows the player to raise the pitch of a note by physically bending the string. This technique adds expressiveness and emotion to your playing, which is crucial for creating a vocal-like quality in your guitar solos. Learning string bending will improve your ear for pitch and give your lead playing a more professional sound.

Vibrato

Another important aspect of the lead guitar work in this song is vibrato, a subtle and controlled bending of the note to create a wavering sound. Vibrato adds emotion and sustain to your notes, and mastering this technique can make even simple melodies sound more powerful. Developing a good vibrato will give your playing a more polished and emotive feel, perfect for both solos and melodic lines.

Slides

Throughout "Wake Me Up When September Ends," Armstrong utilises slides, especially in the lead sections. Sliding between notes is a technique that creates smooth transitions and connects different positions on the fretboard. Incorporating slides into your playing will help you move across the fretboard more fluidly and create a more legato sound. This technique is particularly useful when transitioning between lead guitar phrases and when adding flair to riffs.

Alternate Picking

In the more energetic parts of the song, alternate picking is used to create rhythmic consistency and speed. This technique involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes when picking the strings. Mastering alternate picking will enhance your speed, accuracy, and stamina, making it easier to play fast riffs or solos while maintaining clarity.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

• Power Chords: A fundamental technique in rock, it allows you to play rhythm guitar parts with power and precision.
• Palm Muting: Helps you control dynamics and adds tension to your playing.
• Arpeggios: Improves finger coordination and picking accuracy, making your playing sound more articulate.
• String Bending: Adds emotion and expressiveness to your solos.
• Vibrato: Gives your lead lines a vocal-like quality, adding depth and sustain to your notes.
• Slides: Helps create smooth transitions and a more connected sound in your solos.
• Alternate Picking: Improves speed and precision, crucial for playing faster riffs and solos.

List of Techniques Used in the Lessons

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Arpeggios
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Alternate Picking

By mastering these techniques through our detailed lesson for "Wake Me Up When September Ends," you'll not only be able to play this Green Day classic but also enhance your overall guitar skill set, making you a more versatile and expressive guitarist.