Practice Studio

Kelly Clarkson - Heartbeat Song - Guitar Cover

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key C major
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

Piece By Piece (Deluxe Version) album cover
Piece By Piece (Deluxe Version)
2015 3:19
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

About Heartbeat Song


Running at 128 BPM in C major on a standard E tuning, "Heartbeat Song" from Kelly Clarkson's 2015 deluxe release sits squarely in Pop Rock territory, and the guitar work reflects that. The driving pulse of the track means your rhythm playing has to lock in tight with the kick drum from the very first bar, keeping your strumming pattern consistent without dragging or rushing. At this tempo, chord transitions that feel comfortable slowly can start to slip under pressure, so isolating the busier chorus sections with the Practice Toolbar and working them slowed down is a smart way to build the muscle memory before bringing it back up to speed. The chorus in particular rewards a confident, full-strum attack that gives the song its anthemic lift, so focus on keeping your fretting hand clean under that kind of energy. Getting the dynamics right, softer in the verses and opening up in the chorus, will make your performance feel as intentional as the recording.

  • At 128 BPM in C major, the rhythm guitar part demands consistent strumming accuracy and solid chord-change timing throughout.
  • E Standard tuning keeps every chord shape familiar, making this a practical song for intermediate players building rhythm stamina.
  • Using the Practice Toolbar to loop the chorus slowed down will help you nail the transition from a restrained verse feel to a full, open strum.

How to Play Heartbeat Song

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C major · Tempo: 128 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 128 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Clarkson's Stratocasters deliver the clear, responsive single-coil tone that captures every nuance of her session guitarists' pick dynamics in studio recordings. The versatile platform supports both clean rhythm work and subtle lead textures without sacrificing the articulation her pop-rock productions demand.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Telecaster's bright, cutting single-coil character gives Clarkson's rhythm sections punch and presence in dense mixes while maintaining note definition across all strings. This guitar sits perfectly in her balanced, clarity-focused approach to studio and live arrangements.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Clarkson's session musicians use the TS9 for mild overdrive on rhythm parts, adding subtle warmth and sustain without clouding the clean tone and pick dynamics essential to her sound. The pedal's transparency preserves the natural response of her single-coil guitars rather than imposing aggressive coloration.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)