George Michael - Careless Whisper - Guitar Cover

About Careless Whisper

Few songs are as immediately recognizable from a single melodic phrase as this one, and on guitar the challenge is doing justice to that famous four-bar saxophone riff, typically rendered on a single string or across a couple of strings in D minor. The lines are deceptively simple to finger but demand a singing, legato quality that rewards slow, careful attention. Getting the phrasing right, with smooth slides and controlled vibrato rather than stiff, even notes, is where most players need to put their time. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the opening riff slowed down until each note speaks with confidence before you bring it back up to tempo. George Michael co-wrote the piece with Andrew Ridgeley, and the melodic sensibility throughout is very pop-oriented, meaning clarity and tone matter more here than raw technique. The chord progression underneath is straightforward in D minor, so once you have the riff under your fingers, comping the changes is a satisfying and accessible goal. Note that while this song is catalogued under Hard Rock, its feel and dynamics are smooth and restrained, so match your picking touch accordingly.

• The signature melody sits in D minor and is most commonly played on guitar as a single-note line, requiring smooth legato phrasing and controlled vibrato.
• Keeping the melodic riff even and singing at full tempo is harder than it looks, so loop it slowed down with the Practice Toolbar to lock in the phrasing.
• The underlying chord progression is relatively straightforward in D minor, making rhythm guitar accompaniment a good entry point for intermediate players.