"Fast Car" Riff, Explained - From Simple to Advanced (Tracy Chapman / Luke Combs)

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In this week's lesson I'll be walking you through the intro riff to Fast Car, the Tracy Chapman classic from 1988. I'll show you how to play things step by step, starting with the most beginner-friendly version of the riff. With each step I'll add one additional layer of complexity, eventually leading to the full version you can hear Chapman play. No matter your skill level, I've got you covered!
- 0:00 Overview
- 1:10 Basic Campfire Version
- 2:22 Rhythm & "Pushed" Chords
- 5:14 Adding the Melody
- 9:51 Adding Chapman Chords
- 14:34 Adding Fingerpicking
- 16:01 Adding Grace Notes
A few final notes re: capo -
My video lesson = no capo
Tracy Chapman = capo 2
Luke Combs = capo 1

[@boomerdell]

I absolutely love the way you teach and explain, David. Seriously. I never get lost when I'm playing along with one of your lessons. Thank you!

[@blueser100]

Same here 😊

[@blueser100]

Diana here…Thanks for this David. I’ve tried to learn this song for years through other lessons and tabs but never got it til now. Thx. ❤

[@harveymacarthur2040]

Great break down of the song and thanks for simplifying 🎸

[@John-um3bx]

David
You are the best teacher on youtube. Please give us a full lesson on Fast Car
Thanks
John D

[@Tomgoestravelling]

brilliant lesson David - thank you!
Also - amazing to see how you’ve progressed with producing the videos and sheet music, and integrating the two. So great.

[@nishikanttayade7446]

I stopped mid way to like and comment, because this is so detailed and so much fun..Thanks for all your effort

[@TateSkosana]

Hi David much appreciated you tutorial is straight forward 🙏 You give us more variations of playing Fast car by Tracy Chapman. God bless you.

[@PastorTom2009]

Great job. I’ll be trying this

[@boblydecker]

Great lesson David - thank you

[@marleyorange]

good lesson- thank you

[@tombain5665]

Absolute masterclass but simple to follow great teaching. Thanks a lot

[@user-ym5dm9xd5w]

Great channel. Well presented and explained. Good pace of elevated learning. Thanks.

[@artv3232]

Wow. Very impressive way to teach this song. I really like your teaching style. Thank you!

[@remyvangelder]

Thanks for this wonderful explanation. Would love to see your full lesson of fast car.

[@simonkoeb9225]

Awesome lesson David!! Please do record a full lesson 😊

[@barbarasandoval2231]

Thanks so much for your explanation of TC song, both ways, I was struggling with the Xtra way of em d. 🎉😅

[@IAMAGUDNYANO]

What a fantastic lesson David.

[@neiltyra3360]

Really like your approach to this song. In particular, I love the intermediate way of playing in the open position. When performing this with the singer in our band, I get tired of running up the neck. I never would have thought of playing the whole thing in the open position. Love to hear your thoughts about those bridge? parts.

[@Skier_202]

Like a lot of others, I really relate well to your teaching approach. It is really clear and to the point!! Another plus is that you are a fellow University of Maryland alum. Fear the Turtle!

[@Myctafa579]

Bien expliqué. Bravo merci👍

[@leifurthorleifs9869]

Easy going lessons.
Subscribed.

[@xinx.3180]

great teaching

[@robg8784]

Awesome!Thank you🤭

[@bws1billsimpson362]

This is great, can we get a full lesson please?

[@etnadsduran2529]

nice bro, thanks

[@joezuniga8953]

What model of Taylor are you playing?

[@billieg826]

Luke Combs sure has gotten a lot of mileage out of Tracy Chapman's masterpiece.

[@ibew1951]

Another great lesson !!
Thx