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Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man - Guitar Lesson

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Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man - Guitar Lesson

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Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man guitar lesson video
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Unorthodox Jukebox album cover
Unorthodox Jukebox
2012 3:34
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Bruno Mars Pop 2012 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

When I Was Your Man

"When I Was Your Man" is a ballad by Bruno Mars, released as a single from his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox (2012). Written by Mars alongside Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, and Andrew Wyatt, the song is rooted in a stripped-back, piano-driven arrangement. For electric guitar players, it offers an excellent opportunity to explore sensitive chord voicings, gentle fingerpicking or clean arpeggios, and expressive dynamics that serve the emotional tone of the track.

  • The song was co-written by four writers, including the production team the Smeezingtons, Mars, Lawrence, and Levine.
  • Originally piano-driven, adapting it to electric guitar rewards players who focus on clean tones and restrained, expressive playing.
  • Released as the second official single from Unorthodox Jukebox, it reached mainstream US radio on January 15, 2013.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Bruno Mars relies on the Strat's bright single-coils for crisp, quacky funk tones, using the middle and neck positions for warm, percussive rhythm work that cuts through live mixes.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Tele's snappy single-coil bite gives Mars' guitarists sharp, cutting rhythm tones perfect for funk strumming and chord stabs that demand precision and dynamic touch responsiveness.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

This semi-hollow body delivers the warmer, jazzier voice Mars' live band uses for ballads like 'Versace on the Floor,' adding richness to emotional passages.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's crystal-clear headroom and built-in spring reverb provide the pristine, punchy clean tone foundation for Mars' funk grooves without any breakup or distortion.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp

Fender Deluxe Reverb

This amp offers the same clean, articulate response as the Twin Reverb but in a more portable package, delivering bright midrange punch ideal for funk rhythm work on stage.

Boss CE-2 Chorus
Pedal

Boss CE-2 Chorus

Mars uses this subtle chorus to add a retro 80s shimmer to clean tones, thickening the sound on tracks like '24K Magic' while maintaining the precision his funk style demands.

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