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Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks (Patreon)

Published:
2026-05-17 09:59:06
Imported:
2026-05

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Content

Hi everyone,

Greetings from Italy. I've just completed a fantastic first workshop of the year - so great to spend the week teaching, playing and jamming with an excellent bunch of people. There's another workshop next week, but before that starts I wanted to take the opportunity to launch the new video, which I filmed a couple of week's ago.

This one's obviously an all-time classic, and one of those songs that really rewards close study. It's built around a deceptively simple chord progression, but there's loads of elegant detail in the songwriting and the guitar parts that I've tried to explore as thoroughly as possible.

With this lesson you'll find the full tab for both the acoustic and electric parts, including the optional bassline variation on acoustic that I discuss in the video. I've also put together three versions of the backing track - no guitars, no electric, and no acoustic - so you can practice each part in context.

Hope you enjoy it.

Adrian

Files

Waterloo Sunset: Lessons from a Perfect Song (Chords, Lead Guitar & Tone)

In this lesson I break down the guitar parts to Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks, one of the most perfect songs ever written. I cover the acoustic rhythm parts, Dave Davies' lead guitar lines, and the gear and tone needed to get close to the original recording. The song is in E major and built around a simple but beautiful 1-4-5 chord progression, with some elegant songwriting details worth understanding along the way. Tabs and backing track available on Patreon. Chapters Hi 00:00 Performance 00:48 About the song 02:05 Acoustic intro 03:36 Bass line on the guitar 05:55 Acoustic verse part 06:55 Acoustic descending part 08:31 Acoustic bridge part 11:01 Electric intro part 15:28 Electric melody 17:19 Electric verse fills 20:01 Electric bridge section 23:32 Gear used in this video 24:57 Bye 28:29 Gear used: Acoustic: Martin D28 Electric: Gibson Les Paul 59 Reissue / Fender Princeton Pedals: Great Eastern Effects Small Speaker Overdrive / Catalinbread Belle Époque Deluxe delay More Kinks on this channel: Sunny Afternoon Father Christmas 🎸 Patreon (tabs & backing track): https://www.patreon.com/anyonecanplayguitar 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acpgtr/ My in-depth course library: https://courses.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk My latest album: https://zodiactoys.bandcamp.com/releases SUBSCRIBE for more: https://bit.ly/3Efy0W3 Check out my website: https://www.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk

Comments

hugh hales-tooke

Does anyone shoot any video documenting the workshop? I’m so curious to see what it’s like!

Ignatz Maus

Thank you for this. This is one of the all time greats and likely my favorite song of all time. I've watched loads of videos showing how to play the tune on solo acoustic, incorporating the descending bass lines into the chords and such. This video is special because it takes the band approach which is an exploration of what made the Kinks great but also breaks down what makes the song so powerful as a composition. Thanks for all you do, you have been a fabulous teacher from a far.

Andrew Gallagher

Any chance you might do a Royal Trux tune? “Map of the City” or “Bring Out the Lions” maybe? I know they are a bit obscure, but they are so riff-heavy and seemingly right in your musical wheelhouse.

NB

One of my favourite songs ... thanks very much Adrian - Grazie infinite!!

Chester Burnett

Adrian: I've loved this song since the first time I heard it long ago on "Arthur" (great concept album). Thank you for this, and all that you do.

Jim Moore

Wonderful breakdown. Nice lesson .

Jim Parker

I'm with you Adrian on your original instinct with that bridge part. The C#m sounds a bit odd to me voicing the entire chord. Also love the way you were fighting your inner music geek in getting into the secondary dominant concept on the F# major. On the intro, I've always played it on solo guitar by playing a full B chord palm muted at the second fret and dropping the bass from B to A to G# to F#, then just running down on the single A string from the seventh fret - E D# C# B. Agree with you entirely too on the tastefulness of Dave Davies' lead guitar fills. Less, as usual, is more. Thanks for the lesson.

Dan Vergano

Thanks for doing this. love the Kinks. Would be thrilled if you ever look at Skin and Bone or Oklahoma USA.