Duran Duran - Ordinary World - Guitar Lesson

Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)

1993 5:40

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About Ordinary World

At 92 BPM in E major with standard tuning, "Ordinary World" sits in a comfortable range for intermediate players, but the real work is in capturing its restrained, emotive feel rather than just hitting the right notes. The arpeggiated chord shapes and clean fingerpicking that carry the verse demand a light, consistent touch, and any tension in your picking hand will immediately stand out against the song's open, airy texture. Duran Duran built the track around a lush layered sound, so on guitar your goal is smooth voice leading between chords and keeping the dynamics gentle in the quieter sections. The chorus lifts with fuller strumming, so practicing the transition between the delicate verse feel and that broader strum pattern is where most players need to focus. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that verse-to-chorus shift slowed down until the change feels natural. This is a great song for developing dynamic control within Pop Rock playing.

• The song sits in E major with standard tuning, making all the open-string chord voicings ring out naturally and keeping the arrangement accessible for intermediate players.
• The verse relies on arpeggiated or fingerpicked clean chord shapes, so right-hand consistency and a relaxed touch are the main technique challenges to address.
• Practicing the shift from the soft, picked verse to the fuller strummed chorus is the key repetition drill, and looping it slowed down helps lock in the dynamic change.