Queen Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Queen’s music covers a remarkable amount of ground, from acoustic folk and rockabilly to hard rock and polished 80s pop. On this page, you’ll find 6 Queen acoustic guitar lessons arranged for one guitar, with the chords, rhythm patterns, riffs, bass runs and lead sections I use to bring each song to life.
You can explore the folk-rock sound of “’39,” the rockabilly groove of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” the driving rhythms of “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Hammer To Fall,” or the contrasting styles of “All Dead, All Dead” and “I Want To Break Free.” Each lesson focuses on the practical details of the arrangement, including tuning and capo positions, rhythm patterns and the signature guitar parts used in my acoustic versions.
Start with the video overview below for a quick look at all six songs, then jump to any lesson you’d like to explore.
🎸 Watch the Queen Guitar Lessons Overview
performance clips taken directly from the complete lesson videos.
Click Play, then drag the timeline to quickly preview any Queen lesson featured on this page.
Note: Every arrangement has been personally created, recorded and taught by Kirby
using teaching methods refined through decades of acoustic guitar instruction.
What's Included With Every Lesson
📦 Your Lesson Package Includes
✓ 8–12 minute HD video lesson so you can learn each song step-by-step.
✓ Printable chords & lyrics PDF for easy practice away from the screen.
✓ Instant download—start playing in minutes.
✓ Learn at your own pace on any device.
New To Queen?
If you're new to playing Queen songs on acoustic guitar, Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a great place to begin. Its rockabilly groove, bass runs and recognizable guitar parts give you a good introduction to adapting Queen's music for one acoustic guitar.
From there, try Fat Bottomed Girls, where the small chord set lets you concentrate on the two contrasting rhythm patterns and the song's distinctive chop and galloping feel.
Next, move into I Want To Break Free and work on combining a steady rhythm with descending bass lines and a melody-line lead break. Hammer To Fall takes that idea further with its muted shuffle feel and an acoustic lead section adapted from the heavier electric arrangement.
When you're ready for more chord movement and embellishment, ’39 brings in a larger chord vocabulary along with bass runs, riffs, hammer-ons and quicker changes. Finish with All Dead, All Dead, where the richer collection of major seventh, augmented, suspended and slash chords puts much more emphasis on smooth chord movement and control.
Queen Guitar Lessons Included On This Page
39 Guitar Lesson
All Dead All Dead Guitar Lesson
Crazy Little Thing Called Love Guitar Lesson
Fat Bottomed Girls Guitar Lesson
Hammer To Fall Guitar Lesson
I Want To Break Free Guitar Lesson
🎁 Free Demo Preview
Scroll down to check out a completely free demo on Queen's “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”.Scroll down to check out a completely free demo on Queen's “Fat Bottomed Girls”.
39 - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
39 was composed by Brian May and released on Queen’s 1975 album A Night at the Opera. One of the band’s most acoustic-driven songs, it features a prominent 12-string acoustic guitar and has a folk-inspired, almost campfire quality that makes it particularly well suited to acoustic guitar.
The lyrics tell an unusual science-fiction story about space travellers who return home to discover that, because of time dilation, many years have passed on Earth while comparatively little time has passed for them. Brian May sang the lead vocal on the studio recording, although Freddie Mercury sometimes handled the lead when Queen performed the song live.
“’39” was not released as an A-side single, but appeared as the B-side of “You’re My Best Friend” in 1976 and became a popular live singalong during Queen’s concerts. The song also had a memorable later appearance at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, where George Michael performed it with the surviving members of Queen.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
This song is played in standard tuning with a root down up down up down up rhythm pattern that repeats throughout much of the arrangement. The chords used are G, D, Em, C, E, Am, A#, Ddim, B7, G6, D#, Cm and A7. It has an up-tempo acoustic feel with bass runs throughout, some chop rhythm in places and several quick chord changes that help keep the song moving.
There are riffs at the beginning and end, along with smaller riffs and hammer-ons blended into the rhythm as the song progresses. There is no dedicated lead break, so the focus stays on maintaining the rhythm while working those embellishments and bass runs naturally into the accompaniment.
Start by becoming comfortable with all of the chord shapes and changes, then apply the main rhythm pattern until you can keep it moving steadily. From there, work on the individual riffs and hammer-ons and gradually blend them into the rhythm. Once those pieces are comfortable, add the bass runs and chop rhythm to bring the full acoustic arrangement together.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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All Dead All Dead - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
All Dead All Dead was written by Brian May and released on Queen’s 1977 album News of the World. The melancholy song was partly inspired by the death of May’s childhood pet cat, although he later explained that its theme also grew out of his feelings about loss and the passing of friends.
The original recording is a piano-led ballad with Brian May singing the lead vocal, giving the track a very different character from many of Queen’s larger rock productions. The song was not released as a single.
An interesting piece of Queen history surfaced in 2017, when the 40th-anniversary edition of News of the World revealed a previously unheard alternate recording featuring Freddie Mercury on lead vocals. Queen also released a hybrid version combining elements of Freddie’s vocal take with the familiar album recording.
Although piano plays a major role in the original arrangement, the song’s rich chord movement and melancholy melody also translate naturally to acoustic guitar.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
This song is played with a capo on the 3rd fret, which puts you in the original key using the chords Dmaj7, G, D, Em, A/Db, Daug, Bm, Gb7, A, Gb, A/Gb, D/Gb, Bm/A, Gbsus and Gaug. The rhythm is played mainly with downstrokes across the chords, although it transitions briefly into a down up down up pattern in places.
There is no dedicated picking or lead section, but the arrangement does include a break that uses several of the song's chords. With the variety of major seventh, augmented, suspended and slash chords in the progression, much of the character of this arrangement comes from the chord movement itself.
Start by becoming comfortable with all of the chord shapes and changes. Once those are in place, work on the rhythm and pay attention to the accents in specific parts of the song. From there, learn the break section and concentrate on keeping the chord changes smooth as you move through the arrangement.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Crazy Little Thing Called Love arrived in 1979 as Queen took an unexpected turn toward the rockabilly and early rock ’n’ roll sound associated with Elvis Presley. Freddie Mercury came up with the song while taking a bath in Munich and later recalled putting it together on guitar in only a matter of minutes.
Freddie played acoustic guitar on the studio recording, helping give the track its stripped-down vintage sound. The song became a regular part of Queen’s concerts, where Freddie would also strap on a guitar for the performance.
Released months before Queen’s 1980 album The Game, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” became Queen’s first No. 1 single in the United States and also topped the chart in Australia, where it remained at No. 1 for seven weeks. It reached No. 2 in the UK and became one of the band’s biggest international hits.
With its upbeat rockabilly rhythm and prominent acoustic guitar, the song translates naturally into a solo acoustic arrangement while retaining much of the character of the original recording.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
I play this song in Drop D tuning, mainly because of the walking bass you'll use as you move through the arrangement. The chords are D, G, C, A#, E and A, with a steady down up down up down up rhythm pattern that repeats throughout much of the song.
There are riffs, bass runs and single-note lead picking blended into the arrangement, along with several starts and stops that help capture the song's bouncy rockabilly feel. There is also a dedicated lead section, so you'll be combining rhythm playing with several recognizable guitar elements as you work through the song.
Start by getting comfortable with the chords in Drop D tuning and locking in the steady rhythm pattern. Next, add the bass runs and rhythm accents where they occur, paying attention to the starts and stops. Once the rhythm arrangement is comfortable, come back and work through the lead section separately before blending everything together.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Fat Bottomed Girls - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Fat Bottomed Girls appears on the 1978 on Queen’s Jazz album, bringing together Brian May’s bluesy guitar writing, the band’s trademark vocal harmonies and a heavy, stomping rock groove.
The song became closely associated with “Bicycle Race,” and the two tracks even reference each other in their lyrics. They were released together in October 1978 as a double A-side single, reaching No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
Built around strong guitar riffs, vocal harmonies and a driving rhythm, “Fat Bottomed Girls” became one of Queen’s most recognizable rock songs. Although the original has a much heavier electric sound, its chord-driven structure and rhythmic punch also lend themselves well to a stripped-down acoustic arrangement.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
This song is played in E, so to maintain the original key I use Drop D tuning with a capo on the 2nd fret. This allows me to play the arrangement using just D, C, G and A. There is no dedicated lead break, so the focus is primarily on the rhythm and getting the right feel from the chord changes.
There are two different rhythm patterns used in the arrangement. The first is down down up down, heard mainly through the verses and played with a chop-style rhythm that gives the chords a short, punchy attack. The second pattern is down down up down down up, which repeats and gives the song an almost galloping feel as the rhythm opens up.
With only four chords to learn, start by getting comfortable with those shapes in the Drop D and capo setup. Then work on each rhythm pattern separately, paying particular attention to the chop-style accents in the first pattern. Once both rhythms are comfortable, practice moving between them smoothly to capture the changing feel of the song.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Hammer To Fall - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Hammer To Fall can be found on Queen’s 1984 album The Works and became the fourth single released from the album. The Brian May composition brought the band back toward a harder-rocking guitar sound, built around a powerful riff and driving rhythm.
Although its references to growing up “in the shadow of the mushroom cloud” gave the song a strong Cold War-era backdrop, May later explained that its broader theme is life, death and the inevitability of mortality. The “hammer” represents death eventually coming for everyone, regardless of wealth or status.
The single reached No. 13 in the UK, following three The Works singles that had all reached the UK Top 10: “Radio Ga Ga,” “I Want To Break Free” and “It’s A Hard Life.” “Hammer To Fall” gained an even larger place in Queen history when the band performed it during their celebrated Live Aid appearance at Wembley Stadium in 1985.
With its strong rhythm and distinctive guitar attack, the song can also be stripped back effectively for acoustic guitar while retaining much of the energy of the original.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
This song is played in standard tuning using the chords A, D/A, E/A, E, D, G and Gbm. The rhythm has a slightly muted feel, using downstrokes blended with a quick shuffle in places to create the driving rock groove of the arrangement.
I've included an acoustic lead break in this version because the original lead section is largely a stand-alone distorted electric guitar part. My break gives you something that works naturally on acoustic guitar, and you can either play it as taught or use it as a starting point for developing your own lead. Vocally, the original sits toward the high end of A, while I sing this version at the low end of the same key.
Start by learning the chord shapes and getting comfortable with the muted rhythm and quick shuffle. Once you can keep that groove moving consistently, come back and work through the lead break separately. Then blend the two together so you can move cleanly from the rhythm accompaniment into the instrumental section and back again.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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I Want To Break Free - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
I Want To Break Free made its appearance in 1984 as one of the major singles from Queen’s album The Works. John Deacon supplied the song, which combined a memorable pop-rock progression with the prominent synthesizer sound that helped give the track its distinctive 1980s character.
The song became even more famous for its iconic music video, which featured the members of Queen dressed as women in a parody of British television soap operas. The humorous concept was readily understood by British audiences but proved much more controversial in North America.
“I Want To Break Free” became a major international success, reaching No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in several other countries, while performing much more modestly in the United States.
Although synthesizers play a major role in the original recording, the strong chord progression and memorable melody also make the song well suited to a stripped-down acoustic arrangement.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
I play this song in Drop D tuning with a capo on the 2nd fret using the chords Bm, A, G, D, Dsus and E7. The rhythm is played with a down down up down down up down down pattern that repeats throughout much of the arrangement.
There are descending bass lines worked into the accompaniment, which is one of the reasons I use Drop D tuning for this version. The arrangement also includes a melody-line lead break, giving you an instrumental section that works naturally on acoustic guitar while retaining some of the melodic character of the song.
Start by learning the chord shapes in Drop D tuning and then get comfortable with the main rhythm pattern. Next, work through the descending bass movement and the lead section separately. Once those pieces are comfortable, blend them into the rhythm and bring the complete acoustic arrangement together.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these Queen songs be played on one acoustic guitar?
Yes. These lessons are arranged for a single acoustic guitar, with the important rhythm, bass movement, riffs and melodic parts worked into the arrangements where practical. Songs such as I Want To Break Free and Hammer To Fall originally rely heavily on synthesizer or electric guitar parts, so the lessons adapt those elements into something that works naturally on acoustic.
Do I need standard tuning or a capo for these Queen songs?
It depends on the song and arrangement. ’39, All Dead All Dead and Hammer To Fall use standard tuning, with All Dead All Dead using a capo on the 3rd fret. Crazy Little Thing Called Love uses Drop D, while Fat Bottomed Girls and I Want To Break Free use Drop D with a capo on the 2nd fret. These choices help accommodate the bass movement, chord shapes or original key used in each arrangement.
What Queen songs here are good for working on acoustic rhythm?
Crazy Little Thing Called Love is useful for developing a steady rockabilly groove with bass runs, accents and starts and stops. Fat Bottomed Girls uses two contrasting patterns, including chop rhythm and a galloping feel, while Hammer To Fall combines muted downstrokes with quick shuffle rhythms. ’39 offers a faster folk-rock rhythm with bass runs and quick chord changes.
Do these Queen guitar lessons include riffs or lead sections?
Several do. Crazy Little Thing Called Love includes riffs, bass runs and single-note lead picking, while Hammer To Fall has an acoustic lead break that can also be used as a starting point for your own lead ideas. I Want To Break Free includes a melody-line lead break, and ’39 uses riffs and hammer-ons without a dedicated lead section. Fat Bottomed Girls and All Dead All Dead concentrate more heavily on rhythm and chord movement.
Which Queen song here has the most varied chord changes?
All Dead All Dead has the richest chord vocabulary of these six arrangements, including major seventh, augmented, suspended and slash chords. ’39 also uses a broad collection of chords along with quicker changes, bass runs and embellishments. If you want to work specifically on chord movement rather than lead playing, those two lessons offer plenty to explore.
From the acoustic folk character of “’39” and the rockabilly groove of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” to the heavier rhythms of “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Hammer To Fall,” these six songs show just how much of Queen’s music can translate to one acoustic guitar.
As you work through the lessons, you’ll encounter different rhythm patterns, alternate tunings, capo positions, bass runs, riffs and lead sections, along with the richer chord movement found in songs like “All Dead, All Dead.” Take the arrangements one section at a time, then bring the rhythm and guitar parts together to create a complete solo performance.
Choose the Queen song that interests you most, grab your guitar and enjoy working through the lessons.
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Kirby Swinemar is an acoustic guitar instructor, performer and song arranger who has taught online for 21 years and created more than 4,000 original acoustic guitar lessons. He specialises in song-based acoustic guitar instruction, rhythm guitar techniques, and creating full-sounding solo arrangements that help beginner and intermediate players move beyond basic strumming.
Explore his work at Kirby's Guitar Lessons and on social media on his social media YouTube Channel and his Facebook Page. Learn more about Kirby on his About Me page.
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