How To Play Ho Hey On Guitar

So, you want to play "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers on guitar? Awesome! You've picked a winner. It's like the musical equivalent of a warm hug and a campfire sing-along all rolled into one.

First Things First: The Chords

You're going to need three magical chords: Em (E minor), C (C major), and G (G major). Don't worry if these sound intimidating. They're like the ABCs of guitar, except way cooler because they let you play awesome songs.

Em (E minor) - The Melancholy One

This one sounds a bit sad, but in a cool, artistic way. Think of it as the musical representation of a rainy day when you still have a great book to read.

Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Strum all six strings. Congratulations, you're officially feeling the Em vibes!

C (C major) - The Happy Camper

C Major is like sunshine and rainbows. It's the musical embodiment of ice cream on a summer day.

Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string. Avoid strumming the low E string for a cleaner sound!

G (G major) - The Grounded Friend

G Major is solid and reliable. It's the musical equivalent of a good cup of coffee on a Monday morning.

Place your middle finger on the 6th string (low E) 3rd fret, your index finger on the 5th string (A) 2nd fret, and your ring finger on the 1st string (high E) 3rd fret. Strum all six strings and feel the grounded goodness of G.

The Strumming Pattern: Simplicity Itself

Okay, this is where the magic happens. The strumming pattern for "Ho Hey" is ridiculously simple: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down. I know, right? You could teach a goldfish to do it (maybe).

Practice this a few times with just one chord to get the rhythm down. Pretend you're conducting a tiny orchestra of one.

Putting It All Together: The Ho Hey Formula

Now, let's combine the chords and the strumming pattern. The song follows a simple chord progression: Em - C - G - D. Whoops! Added a D, just to keep you on your toes! The D chord is similar to A just move it down a string, play 2nd fret on the G string, 2nd fret on the high E string, and 3rd fret on the B string.

Each chord gets strummed four times using our trusty Down, Down, Up, Up, Down pattern. It's like a musical recipe, and you're the chef!

"Ho! Hey!" (The Fun Part)

Alright, time for the iconic "Ho! Hey!" part. This is where you unleash your inner Lumineer.

During the "Ho! Hey!" sections, the chord progression shifts to Em - C - G. Feel free to shout "Ho!" and "Hey!" with as much enthusiasm as you can muster. The more, the merrier!

Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect

The key to mastering "Ho Hey" (or any song, really) is practice. Start slow, and gradually increase the tempo as you get more comfortable.

Don't get discouraged if you mess up. Everyone does! Even The Lumineers probably tripped over their own chords once or twice when they were learning.

Most importantly, have fun! Playing guitar should be enjoyable. So crank up the volume, grab your guitar, and get ready to "Ho! Hey!" your way to musical glory!