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

About How Far I'll Go

Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for Disney's 2016 film Moana, "How Far I'll Go" sits in E major at a steady 104 BPM, which makes it approachable for intermediate players while still rewarding careful attention to dynamics. The song's strength on guitar comes from its flowing, arpeggiated chord work: the right hand needs to stay consistent and even so the melodic line breathes naturally above the accompaniment. In E Standard tuning, the open strings ring beautifully against the chord shapes, so take time to let notes sustain rather than choking them early. The chorus builds in intensity, and managing that swell with your picking hand, rather than just strumming harder, is the real challenge here. Alessia Cara brought this version to a wider audience, and her recording is a good reference for phrasing. If the chord transition into the chorus feels rushed, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the movement becomes automatic. This is a great piece for anyone working on expressive, song-driven Pop Rock playing.

• Played in E Standard tuning, the key of E major lets open strings ring naturally, giving chord voicings a fuller, more resonant sound.
• The main challenge is keeping arpeggiated picking even and consistent across the verse while maintaining a clear melodic voice on top.
• At 104 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the chorus build requires deliberate right-hand dynamics rather than simply increasing strum force.