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Tom Petty - Learning to Fly - Guitar Lesson

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Tom Petty - Learning to Fly - Guitar Lesson

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Tom Petty - Learning to Fly guitar lesson video
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Learning to Fly

"Learning to Fly" is a rock song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, written in 1991 by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne for the album Into the Great Wide Open. Built on just four repeating chords, it is an ideal track for electric guitar players at any level looking to study rhythm feel, chord transitions, and the clean, understated style that defined the Heartbreakers. The song topped the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, making it one of the band's signature radio hits.

  • The entire song is built on four simple chords, making it highly accessible for beginner and intermediate electric guitarists.
  • Co-written with Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, the track reflects Lynne's polished, layered production approach.
  • Released in June 1991 on MCA Records, it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Mike Campbell uses the Stratocaster for its versatile single-coil tones, delivering the jangly chime and smooth lead work central to Heartbreakers songs. Its bright character complements his minimalist effects approach, letting natural tone shine through.

Fender Telecaster
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Fender Telecaster

Tom Petty's blonde Telecaster became iconic for its raw, twangy bite and natural attack on rhythm parts. Campbell's 1950 Broadcaster (proto-Telecaster) uses its original single-coil for that signature edge-of-breakup crunch heard across classic Heartbreakers tracks.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Mike Campbell's 1959 Les Paul Standard with PAF humbuckers delivers warm, fat lead tones with smooth sustain for solos. Its thicker voice contrasts beautifully with his single-coil guitars, giving the band tonal variety across different songs and moods.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not specifically documented in Campbell's main arsenal, the Les Paul Custom shares the humbucker warmth and sustain that defines the band's heavier lead tones. Its darker character works similarly to the 1959 Standard for creating fuller, more aggressive solos.

Fender Twin Reverb
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Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's clean, sparkling reverb tone provides the crystalline foundation for Petty's rhythm work and ballads. Running at moderate volume, it delivers natural tube compression while preserving the bright attack of his Rickenbackers and Telecasters.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
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Fender Deluxe Reverb

Campbell relies on the Deluxe Reverb for its sweet, responsive reverb and manageable wattage that breaks up naturally at performance levels. Its warm, slightly compressed tone pairs perfectly with both single-coils and humbuckers across the Heartbreakers' catalog.

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