Knockin' on Heaven's Door: one line, played twice

A good first song: slow, four open chords, and the same line keeps coming back with only the last chord changed.

The whole song

G, D, Am. Then G, D, C. Round and round.

Give G and D two beats each, and give the last chord four. Our chart runs at 70 beats a minute, which is slow enough to breathe.

What to practise

G to D comes up every line, so spend the most time there. Then D to Am, D to C, and Am or C back to G. Give each change one minute on its own, four beats per chord, without stopping your strumming hand.

Play through it straight-down strumming at first. When that is comfortable, try this on each chord: down, down-up. It takes a plain strum and gives it a sway.

Listen for it

Stop on Am and it feels unfinished. Stop on C and it is brighter, though it still wants to go back to G. Try playing the Am line softer and the C line a bit fuller.

You're done when: you can get through the whole song with the record, without stopping, at any speed.