Learn to play Tracy Chapman's Give Me One Reason on Guitar and Harmonica

Difficulty: Yeah, this one's tricky. Keeping the syncopated rhythm guitar going while singing or playing harmonica is the trick.

Lesson Length: :

Instructor: George Goodman

Help File: Download the Chords, Lyrics and Guitar Tabs here: Give Me One Reason - for educational purposes only.

Takamine EG541SC
I am playing my black tak in this one.

This is a Takamine G Series EG541SC bought in North Carolina when I was playing in a band called Double Take.
Specs:
Top - Solid Spruce
Back - Nato
Sides - Nato
Finger Board - Rosewood
Electronics - TK40
Finish - Gloss Black
Check out more Takamine G Series Guitars

Give Me One Reason is in the key of F#. To play in second position is going to require a B harmonica. Or you can put a capo on the first fret moving the key to G which requires a C harmonica.

I often play a Hohner Special 20 Harmonica through a Shure Green Bullet microphone Model 5200 and Fender Super Champ amplifier

Seydel Gecko

The Seydel Gecko Harmonica Holder is high-quality. Seydel offer much more flexibility. You feel comfortable while playing harmonica with this holder. Great design; simple to use; changing harmonicas is quick and easy. The position isn't friction dependent, but rather on a "stop," you get a consistent, easily adjusted rack. The leather pads not only make it more comfortable, but also reduce slipping.

G7 Capo

Small, light and beautifully-formed: The low-profile, flip lever guitar capo. The G7th Newport is meticulously designed for your fretting hand, eyes and ears. Flip the cunningly-concealed lever to clamp and fine-tune the tension for buzz-free, tuneful capoing.

Guitar

Barre Chords are a big challenge for the guitar. Finger picking and muting with a syncopated rhythm adds to the difficulty.

Check out The Guitar Essentials, Chords, Finger Picking, and Rhythm Guitar and Strumming courses for help with your guitar playing.

Harmonica

For Harmonica, second position blues with bending is explored. We will be playing single notes, chords as well as precision bending.

If any of that is new to you or you need some refreshers then check out the Harmonica Essentials Course which includes Bent Harmonica - Draw Bends on the Diatonic Harmonica.

We'll also look at my Blues Chart and Cheat Sheet for learning chords for different keys and where the best notes are for each chord on the harmonica

The Blues

Finally, if you're new to the Blues then The Blues on Guitar and Harmonica course lays out the framework for the 12 Bar Blues on guitar and harmonica.

Hey George here for harpnguitar.com, the website that helps you sound great on guitar and harmonica.

Today we're going to look at a great Blues song, Tracy Chapman's Give Me One Reason. You might not think of this as a Blues song but it is a 12 Bar Blues with some great synchopation.

We can definitely add some blues harmonica, in second position.

Harmonica Tabs for Chords

See the Blues Chart and Cheat Sheet for Guitar and Harmonica for reference.

Start Slow

Begin by playing simple chords following simple principles: Draw on I, Blow on IV and Draw on V.

Continue by playing the root notes for each chord. I = -2; IV = 4 V = -4 or -1.

Next incorporate rhythm into the notes and chords.

In addition to the root notes, include bass transition notes.

Next up is adding riffs based on the melody.

Things To Note

This was recorded in my off grid bus studio parked in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia in February 2025.

Leave a comment below.

Right on. See you in the next one.

Peace,

George

George Goodman's Tip Jar
If you've been enjoying the lessons and can spare some change, click the link above.