(Don't Fear) The Reaper

How to play (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult on guitar

This is a great beginner song because the groove is steady, the harmony is simple, and the repeating feel makes it easy to settle in. You get a classic, relaxed rock pulse that sounds good quickly, even at a basic level.

All the shapes here are open, so you can focus on clean fretting and smooth changes instead of barre work. The main thing to watch is the back-and-forth between G and Am, since that opening loop repeats and can expose any hesitation if you lift too much between chords.

Start by looping G and Am slowly until the movement feels automatic. Then play the opening progression in time with a light, even touch, and only after that bring it up toward full tempo. Keep the changes small and relaxed, and let the repetition do the work.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.