Play Superstition by Stevie Wonder on Guitar!

Breaking down "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder - one of the best songs to jam with other musicians. I demonstrate the iconic clavinet-style riff moving between frets 5 and 7 (which is also similar to "Livin' on a Prayer"), the syncopated rhythm patterns, bar chord chorus progression, and the octave muting technique that Dave Grohl uses in "Everlong" and Green Day uses in "Holiday."

The Main Riff: Frets 5 and 7

The iconic riff isn't really a guitar part - it's a clavinet. But on guitar it's played between fret 5 and fret 7 using fingers 1 and 3. The pattern goes 0-7-5-7-5-7, then the same thing again but starting differently: 5-7-5-7-5-5-5-7. It's the same syncopated rhythm pattern used in "Livin' on a Prayer," making it a two-for-one learning opportunity. Getting the feel and timing of this syncopated rhythm is what separates beginners who can play the notes from pros who really make it groove.

The Chorus: Bar Chords and Octaves

The chorus uses bar chords for impact - B♭, C, B♭, A. Then there's the octave technique where you mute loads of strings with your first finger while your right hand strums all the strings all the time. This is the same octave muting technique Dave Grohl uses in "Everlong" and Green Day uses in "Holiday." It really gives the chorus punch and power.

The Solo: Blues Scale

The solo sections use the blues scale, creating those classic Stevie Wonder flourishes. The challenge is playing and singing simultaneously while maintaining that groove, but once you nail the syncopated rhythm of the main riff, the rest of the song falls into place.