Blackbird

About This Piece

Written by Paul McCartney in 1968 and inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States, Blackbird is one of the most beloved songs in the Beatles' catalog. McCartney's guitar part — played entirely on an acoustic guitar using a modified Travis picking pattern — is itself a masterpiece of fingerstyle arranging.

The song is often one of the first fingerstyle pieces intermediate players tackle, and yet it rewards advanced players equally. Its deceptive simplicity hides genuine musical sophistication.

The Guitar Part

McCartney uses a two-finger picking pattern (no ring finger or pinky on picking hand), alternating between bass notes and melody. The melody is played entirely on the top two strings while the thumb maintains the bass.

Right-hand technique:

• Thumb: alternating bass on low strings
• Index finger: counter-melody and harmony
• No pick required — McCartney used bare fingertips

Key Musical Moments

Opening Riff (0:00–0:15)

The instantly recognizable two-bar figure. Focus on letting the bass note ring while the melody note sits clearly on top.

Verse (0:15–1:00)

The vocal melody is carried by the guitar simultaneously. Note how the guitar part never stops — it's continuously supporting the song.

Bridge: "All your life..." (1:00–1:30)

A departure that uses a walking bass line down from G, creating an emotional peak.

Learning Approach

Week 1: The Basic Pattern

Practice the open-string picking pattern before adding chord shapes. Your thumb and index finger should be comfortable alternating before complicating things with chord changes.

Week 2: Chord Changes

Add the chord shapes one at a time. The G to Am7 to G/B movement is the most common hurdle.

Week 3: Singing While Playing

McCartney sings the melody while playing — an advanced challenge. Even if you don't sing, thinking melodically while playing will improve your musicality.

Why Every Fingerstyle Player Should Know This

Blackbird teaches the fundamentals: bass/melody separation, chord changes under a continuous picking pattern, and musical phrasing. Master this piece and you've built a foundation for virtually all fingerstyle playing.