Master "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears with Essential Guitar Techniques

Delve into the intricate guitar work of Tears for Fears' hit "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" with our detailed guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com. This song, celebrated for its catchy melody and lush soundscapes, utilizes a range of guitar techniques that define its iconic sound. This lesson focuses on mastering slides, alternate picking, double stops, and altered tunings, providing a robust learning experience for guitarists looking to enhance their skill set and musical understanding. This song lesson is taught by Sam Bell.

Technique Breakdown

Slides

Slides are used throughout "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" to transition smoothly between notes, adding fluidity and a sense of motion to the guitar lines. This technique involves gliding your finger from one fret to another on the same string, maintaining pressure to create a continuous sound. Learning slides can help you connect phrases more musically, contributing to a more cohesive and expressive playing style.

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking, a foundational technique for efficiency and speed, is crucial for the guitar parts in this song. This method involves consistently alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes, allowing for faster note sequences and more rhythmic precision. Mastering alternate picking enhances your ability to tackle fast passages and improves overall picking control.

Double Stops

Double stops add richness and harmonic depth to the guitar arrangement in "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." This technique involves playing two notes simultaneously, often on adjacent strings. Double stops can provide a fuller sound and are excellent for emphasizing certain parts of a melody or adding a layered effect to solos and riffs.

Altered Tunings

The song features an altered tuning that changes the sonic characteristics of the guitar, offering a unique voicing and resonance that standard tuning does not provide. Learning to play in altered tunings can open up new creative possibilities, allowing you to explore different soundscapes and chord voicings that can inspire new music.

The Guitarists of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"

The guitar work on this track was primarily handled by Neil Taylor, alongside Roland Orzabal, the band's co-founder. Taylor's approach to the guitar on this song is noted for its tastefulness and inventiveness, seamlessly blending with the synth-heavy production to enhance the song’s dreamy and powerful atmosphere. His playing on this track has influenced countless guitarists by demonstrating how the guitar can serve both as a lead and rhythmic instrument in a pop context.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

By learning these guitar techniques, you will gain a diverse set of skills that will not only allow you to play "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" authentically but also apply these techniques to a wide array of musical styles. Slides and double stops enrich your melodic capabilities, alternate picking boosts your playing speed and precision, and understanding altered tunings offers new approaches to songwriting and arranging.

Conclusion

Our guitar lesson for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is more than just a tutorial; it's an exploration into versatile guitar playing that elevates your musicality and technical prowess. This lesson equips you with the tools needed to expand your expressive range and adaptability as a guitarist.

List of Guitar Techniques Used in the Lessons

• Slides
• Alternate Picking
• Double Stops
• Altered Tunings

Join us at Licklibrary.com to master these techniques and bring your guitar playing to new heights with the guidance of expert tutors and meticulously crafted lessons.