Queen - Under Pressure - Guitar Lesson

About Under Pressure

That descending bassline is the heart of "Under Pressure," and on guitar your first job is understanding how it drives the whole arrangement. Playing in D major at 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the song sits in a comfortable range, but locking in with the groove is trickier than it looks. The Funk Rock feel demands tight rhythmic control: the chords need to sit right on the beat without rushing, and the dynamic contrast between the sparse verses and the fuller chorus sections requires real restraint. Queen and David Bowie build tension through feel rather than flashy technique, so your focus should be on tone and timing rather than speed. The chorus chord changes are straightforward, but getting the strumming pattern to breathe correctly takes some work. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse sections slowed down until the rhythm feels completely natural before bringing it back up to tempo.

• The signature four-note descending bass figure can be adapted to guitar and is a great exercise in playing a simple motif with consistent tone and timing.
• At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning and D major, the chord shapes are accessible, but the funk-influenced rhythmic feel requires careful attention to strumming dynamics.
• Practising the verse sections with the Practice Toolbar looped and slowed down helps you nail the restrained, behind-the-beat groove before playing at full tempo.