Magic! - Rude - Guitar Lesson

Don't Kill the Magic

2014 3:45

Listen on Spotify

About Rude

At 92 BPM in G major, "Rude" by Magic! sits in that sweet spot where Pop Rock meets a reggae-flavored groove, and the guitar is the heartbeat of the whole track. The signature part is a clean, syncopated skank pattern built around open-position chords, and getting that rhythmic bounce to feel natural takes more focus than the chord shapes themselves. The chords are accessible for intermediate players, but the strumming pattern demands you lock into the off-beat with real confidence, clipping the strings neatly so each hit pops without bleeding into the next. If the rhythm keeps slipping, use the Practice Toolbar to loop just the first verse slowed down until your right hand internalizes the feel before you bring the tempo back up. The key of G major also means you can make good use of open strings to let chords ring naturally, so pay attention to which voicings give you that airy, sun-soaked tone the song needs.

• The signature guitar part is a reggae-style off-beat skank pattern in G major, requiring tight right-hand muting to get the correct choppy feel.
• E Standard tuning at 92 BPM keeps the track approachable, but nailing the syncopated strumming rhythm is the main technical challenge for most players.
• Open-position G major chord voicings let you take advantage of ringing open strings, which helps recreate the bright, clean tone heard on the recording.