Hold On Loosely Guitar Lesson (.38 Special)

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Learning to play a song you grew up with on guitar, feels like flying…
It’s awesome.
When I started guitar, a lot of my friends were into pop, rap, whatever…
But early on, what really got me fired up to play was classic rock…
The guitar riffs, the tones, just the whole vibe…
I LOVED it.
Anything from Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, AC/DC…
That was where I started…
I spent a lot of time studying all these bands' music.
If you want to play in this style…
You’re going to need to become familiar with the RIGHT essential rock guitar techniques…
Today I have a lesson for you on 3 very important ones.
Who wrote Hold On Loosely?
"Hold On Loosely" is a classic rock anthem by the American band .38 Special, released in 1981 on their album Wild-Eyed Southern Boys. The song's origins go back to guitarist Don Barnes, who was facing personal struggles in his marriage. He confided in co-writer Jim Peterik, expressing his wife's lack of support for his musical aspirations.
From this raw emotion, the first line, "Hold on loosely, but don't let go," emerged. It captured the essence of navigating challenges while staying grounded in core values.
Peterik added the musical elements, blending classic rock influences with a touch of Southern charm, reflecting the band's roots
"Hold On Loosely" was recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California, and produced by Rodney Mills. The track opens up featuring Jeff Carlisi's iconic riff and Donnie Van Zant's soaring vocals.
The song became an instant hit, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Its catchy melody and relatable lyrics resonated with audiences around the world, solidifying .38 Special's place as Southern rock superstars.
"Hold On Loosely" was officially credited to Barnes, Peterik, and Richard Donald Barnes (better known as Donnie Van Zant). The song received three Grammy nominations: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked "Hold On Loosely" at number 39 on their list of the "100 Greatest Southern Rock Songs."
What key is Hold On Loosely in?
“Hold On Loosely” is in the key of E major. All of the chords in the song fit the diatonic scale of E major except for 2 of them D5, and C5. However, I will discuss below how these chords are used in a very common classic rock-style chord progression. The song’s main riff is all based around a descending chord progression that walks down from the I chord (E).
Hold On Loosely Guitar Lesson Chords
To play “Hold On Loosely” on guitar you’ll need to know 8 chords E5, B/D#, D5, A/C#, C5, F#m, B, and A. The majority of these chords are going to be played as power chords and small 2-note chords.
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