This Everlong guitar lesson breaks down one of the Foo Fighters’ most beloved tracks. The song combines driving power chords with intricate fingerpicking patterns that create its signature sound. What makes Everlong so rewarding to play is how it shifts between delicate, almost ethereal verses and explosive, high-energy choruses. You’ll work on drop D tuning, palm muting techniques, and chord transitions that require solid intermediate skills. The fingerpicking sections might challenge you at first, but once you get them down, you’ll have a technique that works across dozens of other songs.
Song Story & Context
Dave Grohl wrote Everlong during a particularly creative period for the Foo Fighters in 1997. The song was recorded for their second album “The Colour and the Shape” and became one of their signature tracks. Grohl has mentioned in interviews that he wrote it in about 45 minutes, and the entire band learned it that same day. The recording features Grohl’s distinctive guitar work in drop D tuning, which gives the song its heavy, resonant low-end punch. The track reached number 18 on the Modern Rock charts and has since become a staple at Foo Fighters concerts. What’s particularly interesting is how Grohl balances the song’s quiet-loud dynamics, something he learned from his Nirvana days but applied with a completely different energy.
What You’ll Learn
- Drop D tuning and how it changes your chord fingerings
- Fingerpicking patterns that create the verse’s flowing sound
- Power chord progressions with palm muting in the chorus
- Smooth transitions between fingerpicked and strummed sections
- String bending techniques used in the bridge section
- How to build dynamics from quiet verses to explosive choruses
Chord Progression Breakdown
The verse progression in drop D tuning centers around D, Bm, G, and A chords, but the drop D tuning changes how you’ll finger some of these. For the D chord, you can simply bar across the 12th fret or play it open. The Bm chord becomes much easier in drop D since you can use the low D string as a drone note.
Your fingering for the verse Bm will be different from standard tuning. Place your first finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, second finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, and third finger on the 4th fret of the high E string. Keep that low D string open for the drone effect.
The chorus shifts into a more aggressive power chord approach. You’ll mainly use D5, Bb5, F5, and C5 power chords. The beauty of drop D tuning shows up here because you can play power chords with just one finger across two strings. For D5, bar your first finger across the 7th fret of the A and D strings.
Watch your transitions between the G and A chords in the verse. Many players rush these changes, but the song breathes better when you give each chord its full value. Practice moving from G to A slowly at first, making sure each note rings clearly.
Strumming Pattern & Rhythm
The verse sections rely more on fingerpicking than traditional strumming. You’ll pluck individual strings to create arpeggiated patterns that flow between the chords. Start by practicing the basic pattern: thumb on the low strings, fingers on the higher strings. The pattern follows a down-up-down-up motion, but you’re picking individual notes rather than strumming all strings together.
For the chorus sections, switch to a driving eighth-note strumming pattern. The basic pattern is down-down-up-down-up, with heavy emphasis on the downbeats. Palm muting becomes crucial here. Rest the side of your picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge to get that chunky, controlled sound.
Practice the dynamic shift between sections slowly. The contrast between the gentle fingerpicking and aggressive strumming is what gives Everlong its emotional impact. Don’t just play louder in the chorus, actually change your picking technique and attack.
Tips for Playing This Song
Get comfortable with drop D tuning first. If you’re new to alternate tunings, spend time just playing basic chords and scales in drop D before tackling the song. Your muscle memory from standard tuning might fight you at first, but drop D opens up so many sonic possibilities that it’s worth the adjustment period.
Focus on the fingerpicking flow. The verse sections shouldn’t sound choppy or mechanical. Think of the fingerpicked notes as creating one continuous melodic line rather than separate chord hits. Practice the fingerpicking pattern without any chord changes first, then gradually add the chord progressions.
Use palm muting strategically. Don’t palm mute everything in the chorus, just the power chords. The open strings and higher notes should ring freely to maintain the song’s dynamic range. Experiment with how much palm muting sounds right to your ear.
Build up the tempo gradually. Everlong sits at a medium tempo, but the complexity of switching between fingerpicking and power chords can trip you up if you jump to full speed too quickly. Practice each section separately at a slower tempo, then work on the transitions between sections.
Keep working with the video lesson and don’t get frustrated if the fingerpicking sections take time to develop. Everlong rewards patience, and once you have it down, you’ll have learned techniques that apply to countless other songs in the alternative rock catalog.