Shape of My Heart by Sting

If you're looking to master one of the most beautiful and intricate songs by Sting, our "Shape of My Heart" guitar lesson is the perfect place to start. This note-for-note guitar lesson teaches you every detail of this iconic track, helping you unlock the emotion and subtlety within each note and chord.

The song "Shape of My Heart" is renowned for its delicate fingerpicking patterns, tasteful chord progressions, and melodic phrasing. The guitar work is mesmerising, showcasing a range of techniques that will expand your musical vocabulary and elevate your playing. In this lesson, we break down each section of the song with a focus on the key techniques used by the guitarists, helping you develop new skills while adding an iconic song to your repertoire. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The guitarist on "Shape of My Heart"

The guitar work on "Shape of My Heart" is performed by Dominic Miller, who has been a long-time collaborator with Sting. His playing style is subtle yet complex, marked by an intimate understanding of melody and harmonic structure. Miller's influence on this track can't be overstated—he brings a delicate balance of classical and contemporary guitar techniques that give the song its haunting beauty. His use of fingerpicking and intricate chord voicings serve as the foundation of the song, making it an essential piece for guitarists who want to explore sophisticated yet accessible playing styles.

Techniques Focused on in the Lesson

Finger-Picking

The song heavily employs finger-picking, where each string is plucked individually to form a complex and melodic rhythm. In this lesson, you'll learn how to control each finger's movement to achieve a fluid and dynamic sound. Finger-picking not only enhances your overall dexterity but also improves your ability to handle polyphonic music, where multiple notes or melodies are played simultaneously. This technique is essential for acoustic and classical players who want to add depth to their playing.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

"Shape of My Heart" features beautiful arpeggiated chord progressions, where the notes of each chord are played in succession rather than simultaneously. This gives the music a flowing, harp-like quality. By mastering arpeggiated chord progressions, you'll improve your ability to break down complex chord shapes and create intricate rhythmic patterns. This technique is ideal for enhancing your sense of timing and melody, as well as developing smooth transitions between chords.

Chord Progressions

At its core, the song is built on interesting and non-traditional chord progressions that serve to enhance the emotional depth of the music. Learning these unique chord progressions will help you break free from basic patterns and explore more complex harmonic possibilities. Understanding these progressions will also improve your songwriting and improvisational skills by allowing you to create more emotionally resonant music.

Slides

Another technique prominently featured in the song is slides. Sliding from one note to another creates a smooth, connected sound, which is vital for maintaining the song's fluidity. Learning how to use slides effectively will add expressiveness to your playing, allowing you to move between notes and chords with greater ease and emotion.

Vibrato

Adding vibrato to certain notes brings extra life and character to the melody. In this lesson, we demonstrate how to apply vibrato tastefully, especially in the more expressive parts of the song. Mastering this technique can dramatically improve your phrasing and add a more vocal-like quality to your playing, making your notes sing.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

The melody in "Shape of My Heart" also includes hammer-ons and pull-offs to create smooth, flowing lines without the need to constantly pick the strings. These techniques are essential for creating fluidity and speed in your playing. Learning hammer-ons and pull-offs will give you more control over your legato playing, making your lines more connected and dynamic.

Hybrid Picking

While finger-picking is the primary technique, there's also an element of hybrid picking in some parts of the song, where a pick and fingers are used together. Hybrid picking gives you the precision of using a pick combined with the flexibility of finger-picking, making it a valuable skill for any modern guitarist. This technique enhances your ability to tackle more complex arrangements and switch between picking styles effortlessly.

Chord Voicings

Dominic Miller uses unique chord voicings to create the lush, resonant sound of "Shape of My Heart." In this lesson, we explore how these voicings can open up new harmonic possibilities on the guitar. Learning these chord voicings will give you a broader palette of sounds and allow you to experiment with richer, more textured harmonies in your own playing.

Why Learn "Shape of My Heart"?

Learning "Shape of My Heart" will greatly enhance your understanding of melody, harmony, and rhythm. The song incorporates a variety of techniques that challenge both your technical abilities and musicality. From mastering delicate finger-picking patterns to understanding complex chord structures, this song is a fantastic addition to any guitarist’s repertoire.

Not only will you improve your technical skills, but you will also gain insight into how to create emotional and expressive music. Whether you're an intermediate player looking to expand your skills or an advanced guitarist wanting to refine your touch and phrasing, this lesson offers valuable insights into the art of guitar playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

Here is a list of the guitar techniques used in this lesson, many of which can be explored in greater depth via the links below:

• Vibrato
• Finger-picking
• Arpeggiated chord progressions
• Slides
• Chord Progressions
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Hybrid picking

Explore these techniques, and start learning "Shape of My Heart" today to take your guitar playing to the next level!