Here Comes My Girl – Tom Petty

Learn to Play "Here Comes My Girl" by Tom Petty

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ "Here Comes My Girl" is a classic rock staple, blending driving rhythms, arpeggiated chord progressions, and expressive lead guitar work. This lesson from LickLibrary.com provides a note-for-note breakdown of the song, focusing on the essential guitar techniques that define its sound.

Whether you're a beginner looking to expand your chordal vocabulary or an intermediate player aiming to refine your picking precision and dynamics, this lesson will elevate your playing with detailed insights into Mike Campbell’s signature guitar work. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind "Here Comes My Girl"

The song features Mike Campbell, the lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who played an integral role in crafting the band's distinctive sound. Campbell’s tasteful phrasing, melodic sensibility, and economical note choices helped define Heartbreakers' music. His influence extends far beyond this track, inspiring guitarists worldwide with his less-is-more approach, proving that feel and note placement are just as important as technical prowess.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Here Comes My Girl"

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Throughout the verses, Campbell uses an arpeggiated chord progression, where the chords are played note by note rather than strummed. This technique adds movement and texture to the rhythm section, making the song feel more dynamic. Mastering this technique will help guitarists add depth to their playing and improve left- and right-hand coordination.

String Bending

The lead lines in the song incorporate string bending to give the melody an emotive, vocal-like quality. By bending notes correctly, you’ll enhance your intonation and finger strength, allowing for expressive solos and melodic embellishments in your own playing.

Double Stops

Mike Campbell frequently uses double stops, playing two notes at a time to create harmonised and thicker-sounding licks. This technique adds a rich texture to guitar lines and is useful in lead and rhythm playing alike.

Slides

Slides help connect notes smoothly and add a fluid, expressive quality to the lead lines. Learning slides will improve your control and phrasing, allowing for smoother transitions between notes and more dynamic soloing.

Chord Progressions

The song’s chord progressions drive the emotional arc of the track. Studying the harmonic structure of "Here Comes My Girl" will expand your understanding of song construction and improve your ability to accompany vocal melodies with the right chord choices.

Palm Muting

The song uses palm muting in certain sections to control dynamics and add a percussive quality to the rhythm guitar. This technique is crucial for building tension and keeping your rhythm playing tight.

Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs

The melodic embellishments feature hammer-ons and pull-offs, adding fluidity and legato phrasing to the song’s lead parts. These techniques help increase speed and allow for smoother transitions between notes without excessive picking.

Octave Melodies

Certain sections incorporate octave melodies, reinforcing the main riffs with doubled notes an octave apart. This technique is great for thickening a melody line and making single-note passages stand out in a mix.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• String Bending
• Double Stops
• Slides
• Chord Progressions
• Palm Muting
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Octave Melodies

Conclusion

This note-for-note lesson on "Here Comes My Girl" will not only teach you to play the song accurately but also develop essential guitar techniques that are applicable across multiple styles. Whether you’re looking to enhance your rhythm playing, lead phrasing, or overall musicianship, this lesson provides the tools to take your skills to the next level. Dive in, learn from the masterful playing of Mike Campbell, and bring authentic rock energy to your own performances!