The Tragically Hip Guitar Lessons – Learn 6 Classic Songs
For more than 30 years, The Tragically Hip were part of the soundtrack of Canada. The five-piece band from Kingston, Ontario, filled their songs with Canadian places, history and storytelling, and their emotional farewell tour in 2016 brought Canadians together in front of their television screens.
On this page, you'll find six Tragically Hip guitar lessons I've arranged for acoustic guitar, from one of their best-known songs, "Ahead by a Century," and the beloved ballad "Bobcaygeon" to early favorites like "Boots or Hearts" and songs from Fully Completely and Day for Night.
Each lesson walks you through the chords, strumming patterns and recognizable guitar riffs, with lead guitar parts where applicable, so you can build your confidence and enjoy playing these Canadian rock classics on acoustic guitar.
The Tragically Hip Guitar Lessons — Video Previews
performance clips taken directly from the complete lesson videos.
Click Play, then drag the timeline to quickly preview any Tragically Hip 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 The Tragically Hip? Start Here!
If you're new to playing The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar, I'd recommend starting with "Ahead by a Century." It's a great introduction to the band's music, with a manageable chord progression, a repeating strumming pattern and no lead guitar parts to worry about.
Once you're comfortable with that one, try "Bobcaygeon." You'll use a similar strumming pattern while learning to blend a few short guitar riffs into the rhythm. From there, "Boots or Hearts" is a good next step, using just three chords along with some additional riffs and lead guitar work.
For something a little different, "Thugs" introduces a steady down-up rhythm with sections of straight downstrokes and a recurring riff. "Looking for a Place to Happen" adds more variety with shuffle-style strumming, hammer-ons, slides and a lead section.
Finally, give "We'll Go Too" a try. It uses only three chords, but the unusual upstroke-driven strumming pattern makes it a worthwhile rhythm challenge, along with a short lead break featuring slides and chord-shape variations.
There's no need to master every riff right away. Get comfortable with the chords and rhythm first, then add the extra guitar parts as your confidence grows.
Tragically Hip Guitar Lessons Included On This Page
Bobcaygeon Guitar Lesson
Boots or Hearts Guitar Lesson
Looking For A Place To Happen Guitar Lesson
Thugs Guitar Lesson
We'll Go, Too Guitar Lesson
Ahead By A Century - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Ahead By A Century is the Tragically Hip’s biggest hit. The band wrote it together, and it grew out of the long improvised middle section of their live favorite “New Orleans Is Sinking,” where Gord Downie would ad-lib stories and try out ideas.
Released on April 22, 1996, as the lead single from Trouble at the Henhouse, it reached No. 1 on both Canada’s pop singles chart and its rock/alternative chart and was later certified 5× Platinum. The album, which the band co-produced with Mark Vreeken, debuted at No. 1 in Canada and stayed there for four weeks.
The song also closed the band’s final concert in Kingston, Ontario, on August 20, 2016, and after Downie’s death in October 2017 it became the most-played song on Canadian radio.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar using standard tuning and the chords D, E7/D, C, A and G. We'll work through the main down, down, up, down, up, down, up strumming pattern, which repeats throughout the song.
There are no lead guitar parts to worry about, so you can concentrate on learning the chord changes, keeping a steady rhythm and developing the relaxed, flowing feel of this classic Tragically Hip song.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Bobcaygeon - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Bobcaygeon is named for a small town in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region, the kind of place you stop to pick up groceries on the way to a cabin.
It’s a ballad from the Tragically Hip’s 1998 album Phantom Power, which Steve Berlin of Los Lobos produced and which won the 1999 Juno Award for Best Rock Album. The band wrote it together, and it was released as a single in 1999, reaching No. 3 on Canada’s singles chart and No. 2 on the rock/alternative chart.
It won the Juno Award for Single of the Year in 2000 and has become one of the band’s most enduring songs. Phantom Power, released on July 14, 1998, went to No. 1 in Canada.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "Bobcaygeon" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar in standard tuning using the chords G, Am7, C, Bm, Em and D.
We'll work through a repeating down, down, up, down, up, down, up strumming pattern that provides the foundation for the song. The arrangement begins with a short guitar riff blended into the rhythm, and you'll learn several additional riffs that appear throughout the song.
Start by getting comfortable with the chords and steady strumming pattern, then gradually work the riffs into your playing to capture the relaxed, melodic feel of this Tragically Hip classic.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Boots or Hearts - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Boots Or Hearts comes from Up to Here, the Tragically Hip’s first full-length studio album.
The band wrote it together, and producer Don Smith recorded it with them at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, for the album released on September 5, 1989. Released as the album’s third single in early 1990, it runs about 3 minutes and 41 seconds, reached No. 41 on the RPM singles chart and went to No. 1 on the Canadian Content chart. Up to Here was also the band’s first US release, and it was awarded diamond status in Canada in 1999, for sales of a million copies.
The album’s other singles were “Blow at High Dough,” “New Orleans Is Sinking” and “38 Years Old.”
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "Boots or Hearts" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar in standard tuning using just three chords: G, D and C.
We'll cover the repeating down, up, down, down, up, down, up strumming pattern that gives the song its steady, roots-rock feel. The arrangement also includes several guitar riffs blended into the rhythm, along with some lead guitar work to help capture the sound of the original.
Start by getting comfortable with the three chords and main strumming pattern, then gradually add the riffs and lead sections to build a complete acoustic arrangement.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Looking For A Place To Happen - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Looking For A Place To Happen is track two on Fully Completely, the 1992 album that critics often call the Tragically Hip’s greatest artistic achievement.
The band recorded the album in London with producer Chris Tsangarides, and it was released on October 6, 1992, going to No. 1 in Canada and eventually reaching diamond certification. Many of its songs draw on Canadian history, and this one alludes to explorer Jacques Cartier and the encroachment on First Nations territory.
Released as a single in 1993, it reached No. 51 on the RPM singles chart, one of six singles from the album, and didn’t chart in the United States, where MCA stopped promoting the album after two weeks.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "Looking for a Place to Happen" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar using the chords Em, G, D, C, A and F.
We'll cover the repeating down, down, up, down, down, up strumming pattern, along with sections that use straight downstrokes and shuffle-style strumming to capture the song's driving roots-rock feel. The arrangement begins with a recognizable intro riff that returns during parts of the verses, and there's also some lead guitar work featuring hammer-ons and slides blended into the rhythm.
Start by learning the chords and main strumming pattern, then work on adding the intro riff wherever it appears. Once those parts feel comfortable, tackle the lead section to complete the arrangement.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Thugs - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Thugs is from Day for Night, the 1994 album the Tragically Hip released on September 19, 1994, which went to No. 1 in Canada and was certified 7× Platinum.
It’s a darker, more atmospheric record than its predecessor, Fully Completely, which Exclaim! says “thrives on a lyrical and musical darkness.” The song wasn’t released as a single until 1996, long after the album, and it reached No. 81 on Canada’s RPM singles chart; it didn’t chart in the United States.
Fans often point to its offbeat lines, including the phrase “thugs in perpetuity.” The band wrote it together, as with all their songs, splitting the royalties five ways.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "Thugs" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar in standard tuning using just four chords: G, A, C and E.
We'll work through a steady down, up, down, up strumming pattern, along with sections that use straight downstrokes to create a stronger, driving rhythm. The arrangement also features a recognizable opening riff that returns throughout the song and is blended into the rhythm guitar playing.
There are no separate lead guitar sections to learn, so start by getting comfortable with the chords and both rhythm patterns, then gradually work the recurring riff into your playing to capture the song's distinctive Tragically Hip sound.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
We'll Go, Too - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
We'll Go, Too is track seven on Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip's third studio album, released on October 6, 1992, by MCA Records. Chris Tsangarides produced the album at Battery Studios in London, and it was recorded in August 1992.
The song was never released as a single, though more than half of the album's tracks were played on Canadian radio, with six released as singles, including "Locked in the Trunk of a Car," "Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)," "At the Hundredth Meridian," "Fifty Mission Cap," "Looking for a Place to Happen" and the title track.
Fully Completely went to No. 1 in Canada, was certified Diamond and became one of the best-loved Canadian albums of all time.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to play "We'll Go Too" by The Tragically Hip on acoustic guitar in standard tuning using just three chords: E, Asus2 and B.
The main challenge is mastering the unusual repeating up, up, down, up, down, up, up, down, up, down strumming pattern that gives the song its distinctive rhythmic feel. You'll also learn several guitar riffs that are blended into the rhythm, along with a short lead break featuring slides and chord-shape variations played farther up the neck.
Start by getting comfortable with the three chords and the main strumming pattern, then gradually work the riffs into the song. Once those parts are flowing smoothly, tackle the short rhythm-based lead section to complete the acoustic arrangement.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Back To Song List
Frequently Asked Questions About The Tragically Hip Guitar Lessons
1. What is the easiest Tragically Hip song to learn on acoustic guitar?
"Ahead by a Century" is a good starting point for beginners. My arrangement uses the chords D, E7/D, C, A and G with a repeating strumming pattern and no lead guitar work. Once you're comfortable with that song, "Bobcaygeon" is another good choice, although it introduces a few short riffs blended into the rhythm.
2. Can you play The Tragically Hip songs on a single acoustic guitar?
Yes! All six lessons on this page are arranged for a single acoustic guitar. While the original recordings feature a full band and multiple guitar parts, my arrangements focus on the essential chords, strumming patterns and recognizable riffs. You can play these songs without needing another guitarist.
3. Do I need alternate tunings or a capo to play these songs?
Several of the arrangements, including "Ahead by a Century," "Bobcaygeon," "Boots or Hearts," "Thugs" and "We'll Go Too," are taught in standard tuning. You won't need to learn an alternate tuning for those lessons. Check each individual lesson for any specific tuning or capo instructions.
4. Which Tragically Hip song has the most challenging strumming pattern?
"We'll Go Too" offers an interesting rhythm challenge because it uses an unusual repeating up, up, down, up, down, up, up, down, up, down strumming pattern. "Looking for a Place to Happen" is another good rhythm workout, combining a repeating strum with straight downstrokes and shuffle-style sections. Both are worth exploring once you're comfortable with basic strumming.
5. Do these Tragically Hip guitar lessons include riffs and lead guitar?
Yes, several of them do. "Bobcaygeon" and "Thugs" feature recognizable riffs blended into the rhythm, while "Boots or Hearts" and "Looking for a Place to Happen" include additional lead guitar work. "We'll Go Too" features a short lead break using slides and chord-shape variations farther up the neck. If you're just getting started, learn the chords and rhythm first, then add the riffs and lead parts when you're ready.
6. What's the best way to learn The Tragically Hip's guitar style?
Start by developing a steady rhythm and getting comfortable with the chord changes. Much of The Tragically Hip's recognizable guitar sound comes from the way the rhythm and riffs work together. Practice the main strumming pattern until it feels natural, then gradually introduce the riffs, accents and lead parts. Songs like "Thugs," "Boots or Hearts" and "Looking for a Place to Happen" are especially useful for developing that combination of rhythm and riff playing.
Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with the music of The Tragically Hip. Gord Downie's distinctive lyrics and the band's driving guitar sound offer plenty of opportunities to develop your rhythm playing, chord changes and ability to blend riffs into an acoustic arrangement.
Take these songs one at a time, starting with the chords and main strumming pattern before adding the riffs and lead guitar parts where needed. Many of these songs work beautifully on a single acoustic guitar, whether you're playing for yourself or entertaining friends. I'll continue adding new lessons, so be sure to check back for more Tragically Hip songs in the future.
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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 more of Kirby's work at Kirby's Guitar Lessons, watch his performances and tutorials on his YouTube Channel or follow him on Facebook. You can also learn more about his teaching background on the About Me page.
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