Adult Guitar Lessons

This opening riff for "Secret Agent Man", as recorded by Johnny Rivers, was a big hit in the 60's, and was a predecessor to the "James Bond" theme song.

The riff, although not technically difficult, can be a little tricky to pull off at first.

 

Look at the TAB for the opening riff below. If you are not familiar with TAB please see our tutorial titled "How to Read TAB".

secret agent tab 01

The riff begins by placing the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. Play that note along with the open 1st and 2nd strings, let the 1st and 2nd strings sustain while sliding on the 3rd string from the 2nd fret to the 4th fret.

All the fretted notes occur on the 3rd string. Hand and finger movement can be kept to a minimum by playing the notes on the 4th fret with the 1st finger, the notes on the 5th fret with the 2nd finger, and the notes on the 6th fret with the 3rd finger.

If you are unfamiliar with string numbers see "Naming the Open Strings". For a review on "finger" numbers see "Fret & Finger Numbering" tutorial.

There are two measures in the above TAB. They are identical, just learn one and you have to whole riff!

Play this slowly to begin with and then gradually work up speed. Have fun!

Enjoy...

111 signature sm

Lesson Goals:

♦ Learn the proper fingering for the G5 & A5 chords
♦ Review the A major chord in the open position
♦ Play both versions of "You Really Got Me" Intro

This well known opening riff for the Kinks classic "You Really Got Me" is fairly easy.

We are going to show you two different ways to play the opening riff. The first is the way it was played on the Kinks version, and then we will show you the riff like it was played in the Van Halen re-make of the song.

Let's first take a look at the chord diagrams for the G5 and A5 chords. If you are unfamiliar with chord diagrams please see "Reading Chord Diagrams". Both of these chords are simple two note chord formations.

you really diagram 01

The G5 is formed by placing the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string and the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string. If you are unfamiliar with the string numbers please see "Naming the Open Strings".

The pattern or shape of the A5 chord is identical to the fingering pattern of the G5, except that it is played two frets higher than the G5.

In this case, the A5 is formed by placing the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string, and the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string.

 

Look at the TAB below for playing the Kinks version of the opening riff. If you are unfamiliar with reading TAB please see our tutorial titled "How to Read TAB".

you really tab 1 01

The riff opens with one beat on the G5, then two beats on the A5, then one beat on the G5, and finishes with one beat on the A5.

 

Now take a look at the TAB below for the Van Halen version of the opening riff.

you really tab 2 01

This version is based around the A major chord in  the open position.

This easiest way to play this version is to form an A chord using the one finger method, where your 1st finger covers the notes on the 2nd fret of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings.

Staying planted in the A chord position, you will then use your 2nd finger to reach to the 3rd fret of the 6th string and do a string bend. While you are at the top end of the bend, you strike the A chord.

When the bend is made, you are going from a G note (3rd fret of the 6th string) and bending up to an A note. When the bend reaches the A note, then you strike the A chord, which the bended note then naturally resolves too.

It's a lot easier to play than to describe. Give it a try!

Enjoy...

111 signature sm