(Download the tabs and sheet music)
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In this lesson, Ayla Tesler-Mabe teaches You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away by The Beatles. This acoustic classic was written by John Lennon (though credited to Lennon/McCartney) and was inspired by the works of Bob Dylan. If you want to get the exact feel of the original recording, you’ll need a 12-string guitar. You’ll also notice when playing along to the track that things sound a little out of tune. That’s because the track is actually a little bit flatter than standard tuning.
Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern you’ll primarily use throughout the song is down, down, up, down. There will be some slight variations as you move through the sections, but the general feel never changes. Counting 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, etc. will help you keep track of the pattern as you play it.
The Chords
The song starts off on a G major chord with a hammer-on on the D string. You’ll then move into the verse where you’ll play G major, Dsus4, F major (add9), and C major. Lastly, the chorus consists of G major, C major, and D major. Be sure to download the sheet music so you can see how each chord is made.
The Finishing Touches
There are a few things beyond just chords and strumming that you can do to make the song feel complete. These include a walkdown in the verse and some D major chord movement with your pinky at the end of the chorus. You can also add some intentional inconsistencies to the strumming and chording to really nail John’s vibe. We’ve also included the tabs for Ayla’s unofficial version of the song that incorporates the vocal melody into your playing!
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