Practice Studio

Maroon 5 - Girls Like You - Guitar Cover

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Select a Loop

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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.

Red Pill Blues (Deluxe) album cover
Red Pill Blues (Deluxe)
2018 3:34
Maroon 5 Pop Rock 2018 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

About Girls Like You


At 92 BPM in C major, "Girls Like You" sits in a comfortable tempo range that makes it approachable for intermediate players, but there is still plenty worth focusing on. The song is built around a repeating four-chord progression, and getting the rhythmic feel right is the real challenge: the strumming pattern has a relaxed, slightly syncopated groove that needs to feel natural rather than mechanical. Maroon 5 layer the guitar subtly beneath the pop production, so your job as a guitarist is to lock into that groove and keep the dynamic level controlled throughout. In E Standard tuning, the open chord shapes for C major, G, Am, and F sit comfortably under the fingers, but clean transitions between them at tempo take practice. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse or chorus slowed down until each chord change feels automatic before bringing it back up to speed. Strumming accuracy and consistent tone across those transitions is what will make this one feel polished.

  • The song follows a C, G, Am, F chord progression throughout, making it a solid exercise in smooth open-chord transitions at a steady 92 BPM.
  • In E Standard tuning, all four chords use familiar open-position shapes, but the syncopated strumming pattern requires focused attention to get the groove feeling natural.
  • Keeping your strumming hand relaxed and your dynamic level even across the full progression is the key technique challenge this song presents.

How to Play Girls Like You

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C major · Tempo: 92 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

James Valentine's primary choice for Maroon 5's clean, articulate tone. The vintage single-coil pickups deliver the bright definition and percussive muting clarity essential to their funky rhythm style.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Valentine uses this for its sharp, cutting single-coil tone on specific tracks. The Telecaster's natural brightness complements Maroon 5's pop-funk aesthetic without requiring additional EQ or effects processing.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The studio foundation for Maroon 5's signature clean headroom and natural tube warmth. Its vintage spring reverb and headroom support their controlled, sculpted tone before post-production compression shapes the final sound.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)