Half the World Away by Oasis

Oasis’ "Half the World Away" is an iconic acoustic track that showcases the melodic and emotionally charged guitar playing that has become a hallmark of the band's music. Our guitar lesson provides a comprehensive, note-for-note breakdown of this beautiful song, focusing on a variety of essential guitar techniques. Whether you're a beginner looking to expand your knowledge of classic Oasis tracks or an intermediate player aiming to refine your technique, this lesson offers valuable insights into playing like the masters. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist

"Half the World Away" was written by Noel Gallagher, the lead guitarist and principal songwriter of Oasis. Known for his ability to blend simple, memorable chord progressions with melodic embellishments, Noel’s guitar work has had a lasting influence on the Britpop movement of the 1990s. His playing is rooted in classic rock but also incorporates folk and acoustic influences, making his style both accessible and nuanced. Noel’s use of open chord voicings, melodic fills, and rhythmic strumming patterns gives his songs a distinct sound, which is beautifully demonstrated in "Half the World Away."

Guitar Techniques in "Half the World Away"

1. Fingerpicking

The song opens with a delicate and thoughtful fingerpicking pattern that carries throughout most of the track. Fingerpicking is a technique where the fingers (usually thumb, index, and middle) pluck individual strings instead of strumming all the strings at once. This allows the player to create a more intricate, layered sound, adding texture to the chord progression.

  • Benefit: Learning fingerpicking can improve finger independence and precision, giving your playing a more dynamic and nuanced sound. It’s a critical skill for acoustic guitarists who want to play softer, more intimate songs.

2. Open Chord Voicings

Throughout the song, Noel Gallagher uses a variety of open chord voicings. These open chords resonate more fully than barre chords, giving the song its lush and expansive sound. The combination of open chords and the fingerpicking pattern creates a beautiful harmonic texture.

  • Benefit: Mastering open chord voicings can enhance your ability to play songs with a fuller, more resonant sound. Open chords are also the backbone of many acoustic ballads, making them essential for any guitarist to learn.

3. Slides

In "Half the World Away," you’ll find several slide techniques where the player moves smoothly between notes on the same string. Sliding from one note to another helps create fluidity and expressiveness in your playing, adding emotional weight to the music.

  • Benefit: Learning to execute slides cleanly will improve your phrasing and enable you to move between notes more seamlessly. Slides are a key technique in many musical styles, from rock to blues to folk.

4. Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

The song features subtle use of hammer-ons and pull-offs, where one note is played, and another is sounded by "hammering" or "pulling" the string without plucking it again. This technique adds a legato feel to the melody, making transitions between notes smooth and connected.

  • Benefit: Hammer-ons and pull-offs are essential for creating fluid, connected lines without the harsh attack of a pick, giving your solos and melodic lines a more lyrical quality.

5. Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Instead of strumming the chords in a block, Noel uses arpeggiated chord progressions, where each note in the chord is played individually in sequence. This technique gives the song its signature ethereal feel, allowing each note to ring out clearly.

  • Benefit: Learning to play arpeggios helps you break away from basic strumming patterns and adds complexity to your rhythm playing. It’s particularly useful for ballads and softer acoustic pieces like "Half the World Away."

6. Chord Progressions

The song is built around a simple but effective chord progression, using a combination of major and minor chords. This progression serves as the foundation of the song and is complemented by melodic embellishments.

  • Benefit: Understanding how to build and play chord progressions will give you a deeper insight into songwriting and composition. Mastering common progressions is essential for learning new songs quickly and effectively.

Guitar Techniques Used in These Lessons

By learning these techniques through "Half the World Away," you’ll not only master an iconic Oasis track but also develop a strong foundation of skills that can be applied across a wide range of musical genres.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Jamie Humphries

Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...

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