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Guitar Songs, Tabs & Lessons

Moana

1 guitar song · Tabs, Lessons & Tone Guide Pop Rock

Choose a Moana Song to Play

About This Collection

Moana is the critically acclaimed 2016 Disney animated film featuring a soundtrack composed primarily by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina. While it is not a traditional "band" in any sense, the Moana soundtrack has become a staple for guitarists looking to develop their acoustic arranging skills, vocal accompaniment techniques, and melodic phrasing. The breakout hit "How Far I'll Go," performed by Alessia Cara for the pop single version, has become one of the most requested songs for guitar players at every level, from campfire strummers to intermediate fingerstyle arrangers. From a guitar perspective, the Moana soundtrack is rooted in accessible chord progressions that emphasize strong melodic movement and emotional dynamics. "How Far I'll Go" revolves around a handful of open and barre chords (primarily in the key of E major) but the magic is in the strumming dynamics, the way the song builds from verse to chorus, and how you handle transitions between sections. For beginners, this is an ideal entry point into pop accompaniment guitar. For intermediate players, it opens the door to fingerstyle arrangements that capture the piano and orchestral parts on a single acoustic guitar. The Polynesian-influenced music of the broader soundtrack, led by Opetaia Foa'i of the band Te Vaka, introduces guitarists to rhythmic patterns and modal ideas outside typical Western pop. Songs like "We Know the Way" feature driving rhythmic guitar work inspired by Pacific Island music, which can challenge your sense of groove and syncopation. The overall difficulty for the Moana catalog ranges from beginner-friendly (basic open chord strumming for "How Far I'll Go") to intermediate (fingerstyle arrangements and Polynesian-flavored rhythmic picking). If you are a guitarist who wants to build a repertoire of crowd-pleasing, singalong-ready songs while also exploring some unique rhythmic territory, the Moana soundtrack delivers on both fronts.

What Makes Moana Essential for Guitar Players

  • "How Far I'll Go" uses a straightforward chord progression (E, B/D#, C#m, A, B) that is perfect for practicing smooth barre chord transitions and building stamina in your fretting hand. Focus on clean changes and consistent strumming dynamics to nail the song's emotional arc.
  • The verse sections reward controlled, lighter strumming or fingerpicking, while the chorus calls for a fuller, more aggressive attack. This contrast is a great exercise in dynamic control, teaching you when to hold back and when to let loose.
  • For fingerstyle players, arranging "How Far I'll Go" as a solo guitar piece is an excellent intermediate challenge. You will need to handle bass notes with your thumb while picking melody lines on the higher strings, developing independence between your picking hand fingers.
  • The Polynesian rhythmic influence found in songs like "We Know the Way" introduces syncopated strumming patterns that sit differently from standard pop or rock grooves. Practicing these patterns builds rhythmic versatility and tightens your internal clock.
  • Capo usage is common when adapting Moana songs to guitar. Experimenting with capo placement (try capo 4 for "How Far I'll Go" in certain arrangements) lets you use open chord voicings that ring out more naturally and can simplify difficult key signatures.

Did You Know?

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote "How Far I'll Go" while working on Hamilton, and the chord progression has a theatrical quality that translates beautifully to solo acoustic guitar, making it one of the most popular Disney songs for guitar covers on YouTube.

Opetaia Foa'i of Te Vaka brought traditional Polynesian log drum rhythms and vocal chants into the soundtrack. Guitarists who transcribe these rhythmic patterns onto the guitar develop a unique sense of groove rarely found in standard pop or rock playing.

Alessia Cara's pop version of "How Far I'll Go" uses a slightly different production arrangement than the film version sung by Auli'i Cravalho, giving guitarists two distinct versions to learn and compare in terms of phrasing and dynamics.

The soundtrack was recorded with a mix of live orchestral instruments and traditional Pacific Island percussion, meaning guitarists arranging these songs need to think about covering multiple textural roles (bass, rhythm, melody) on a single instrument.

"How Far I'll Go" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2017, cementing it as one of the defining pop ballads of the decade. Its simple but powerful chord structure is a masterclass in how a few well-chosen chords can carry enormous emotional weight.

Mark Mancina, who handled much of the score and arrangements, is a guitarist himself, which subtly influenced the harmonic voicings throughout the soundtrack. Some of the orchestral parts translate surprisingly well to guitar chord shapes.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Moana (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2016

This is the essential (and only) album to learn from. "How Far I'll Go" teaches dynamic strumming and clean chord transitions, while "We Know the Way" introduces Polynesian rhythmic patterns that will challenge your groove playing. "You're Welcome" offers a fun, percussive strumming workout with a Broadway flair that builds right-hand rhythm chops.

Spotify Apple Music

How to Practice Moana on GuitarZone

Every Moana song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice Alessia Cara - How Far I'll Go - Guitar Cover