Justin Bieber - Sorry - Guitar Cover

Purpose (Deluxe)

2015 3:21

Listen on Spotify

About Sorry

At 100 BPM in F# minor, "Sorry" sits in that sweet spot where the groove feels relaxed but the rhythmic precision it demands is anything but. The track leans heavily on a dancehall-influenced, bouncy dembow feel, so the biggest challenge for guitarists covering it is locking that choppy, offbeat rhythmic pattern in tightly without rushing. Strumming or muting against a driving pulse like this rewards a relaxed picking hand rather than a tense one, and even small timing slips will stand out in a mix this clean. The tropical house production means a bright, clean tone works best if you are arranging this for guitar. Justin Bieber and his collaborators crafted something that sounds deceptively simple, which is exactly the trap. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main rhythmic figure slowed down until the offbeats feel completely natural before bringing it back up to tempo. Playing it in E Standard keeps things straightforward technically, so the work is really all about feel and timing in the Pop tradition.

• The core guitar challenge is nailing the dancehall-style offbeat chop rhythm cleanly at 100 BPM without letting the relaxed tempo tempt you into sloppy timing.
• E Standard tuning keeps the F# minor chord shapes accessible, making this a good song for intermediate players working on rhythmic groove and feel.
• A clean tone with a touch of brightness suits the tropical house production style best when arranging this track for guitar.