How to Practice Riptide
Vance Joy's 'Riptide' built modern indie-folk's signature sound on three chords (Am-G-C) and a ukulele. The song is shockingly simple to play and shockingly hard to play well — the rhythm is what carries it.
Song Details
- Key
- Am
- Tempo
- 100 BPM
- Time
- 4/4
- Style
- boom-chuck
Structure
What to Focus On
Three chords (Am-G-C). Driving strum pattern. Confident vocal phrasing in the verse and chorus.
Practice Tips
- 1
Three chords, no excuses. Master the transitions and the strum is what's left to figure out.
- 2
Originally written on ukulele but works equally well on guitar. Use whichever feels right.
- 3
The strum pattern is the song. Don't simplify it; the syncopation is what makes it sound like Riptide.
Why This Song
It's the modern three-chord folk-pop standard — and a great first ukulele or guitar song.
Practice Riptide Daily
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