Amazing Guitar – The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
Few songs capture pure hope and joy as perfectly as Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. Written by George Harrison in 1969, this song has become one of the most beloved pieces in modern music history. Beyond its cheerful lyrics and uplifting melody, Here Comes The Sun features one of the most beautiful and iconic guitar parts ever recorded. Today, decades later, guitarists around the world still try to capture the magic Harrison created with six strings and a warm heart.
The Story Behind the Song
Here Comes The Sun was born during a difficult time for The Beatles. The band was going through internal struggles, dealing with legal battles, and the pressure of fame weighed heavily on them. George Harrison, feeling overwhelmed, decided to take a break and visit his friend Eric Clapton’s house.
It was there, in the quiet of Clapton’s garden, that Harrison picked up an acoustic guitar and wrote Here Comes The Sun. Inspired by the arrival of spring and a feeling of personal relief, Harrison captured a moment of hope, renewal, and happiness in a simple, beautiful melody.
The song would later appear on Abbey Road, The Beatles’ final recorded album — and it has since stood as one of the greatest expressions of optimism in popular music.
The Guitar Work
The acoustic guitar in Here Comes The Sun is nothing short of amazing. George Harrison’s playing is delicate but incredibly precise. He uses a capo on the 7th fret, giving the guitar a bright, sparkling tone that feels like sunlight itself.
The introduction is instantly recognizable: a combination of fingerpicking and flowing melody that immediately lifts the spirit. Harrison’s rhythm is playful yet tight, blending intricate picking patterns with smooth chord changes. His guitar doesn’t just accompany the song — it leads it.
One of the magical aspects of this guitar part is how it feels both simple and complex at the same time. On the surface, it sounds easy and effortless. But for guitarists trying to learn it, the piece is a masterclass in timing, phrasing, and dynamics. The careful balance between bass notes, melody lines, and syncopation shows Harrison’s genius as a musician.
Impact on Guitarists Everywhere
For generations, guitar players have been drawn to Here Comes The Sun as a kind of rite of passage. Learning the song teaches essential guitar techniques: fingerpicking, fretting with a capo, mastering rhythmic feel, and understanding how melody and chords can dance together.
What makes it even more special is the emotional connection. Every guitarist who plays Here Comes The Sun feels that sense of light breaking through after darkness. It’s a song that isn’t just played — it’s felt.
Many famous guitarists, from Eric Clapton to modern players like John Mayer, have spoken about the beauty and influence of George Harrison’s playing. His approach was never about flashy solos or technical showmanship. Instead, Harrison’s genius lay in creating parts that served the song perfectly — and that’s what makes Here Comes The Sun so timeless.
Performances and Covers
Since its release, Here Comes The Sun has been covered countless times, each artist putting their own spin on the guitar work. Some stay faithful to Harrison’s original fingerpicking pattern, while others reimagine it with different styles — from classical interpretations to jazz versions.
One of the most beautiful things about the song is its adaptability. Whether played on a steel-string acoustic, a nylon-string classical guitar, or even an electric guitar with soft effects, the heart of the song always shines through.
In recent years, street performers and YouTube artists have kept the spirit of Here Comes The Sun alive, sharing intimate performances that spread its message of hope to new audiences around the world.
Why the Guitar Part is So Powerful
There are a few reasons why George Harrison’s guitar work on Here Comes The Sun remains so deeply moving:
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Melody and Harmony Combined: The guitar part isn’t just rhythm or background; it carries the melody as well as the chords. This gives the listener a feeling of completeness, even without any vocals.
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Joyful Sound: Thanks to the capo and the bright picking style, the guitar sounds happy — like sunshine. It creates an emotional response that’s almost impossible to resist.
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Human Touch: Harrison’s slight tempo fluctuations and dynamics give the recording an organic, human feel. It’s not sterile or mechanical; it breathes.
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Technical Challenge: For musicians, mastering the guitar part is a rewarding challenge. It requires coordination between the fretting and picking hands, good timing, and a sensitive touch.
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Timeless Simplicity: The song proves that greatness often lies in simplicity. It doesn’t rely on a hundred notes or fast playing — just the right notes at the right time.
George Harrison’s Legacy
George Harrison has sometimes been called “The Quiet Beatle,” but his contributions were monumental. Songs like While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something, and Here Comes The Sun show his ability to write deeply emotional and musically sophisticated pieces.
Here Comes The Sun represents the very best of Harrison’s songwriting and guitar playing. It’s joyful without being naive, intricate without being showy, and profoundly human.
Today, Harrison’s work continues to inspire not only guitarists but musicians of all kinds. His emphasis on heart, authenticity, and musicality over flash and ego is a lesson that remains just as relevant now as it was decades ago.
Listening Today
Whenever we hear Here Comes The Sun, whether it’s a polished studio version or a raw street performance, it brings a smile. In a world that often feels heavy, this song reminds us that light always follows darkness, that better days are always ahead.
The amazing guitar work in Here Comes The Sun isn’t just a technical achievement — it’s a bridge to hope, carried on the strings of an acoustic guitar.
Conclusion
Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles, and particularly George Harrison’s amazing guitar work, stands as a timeless masterpiece. It’s more than just a song — it’s an emotion, a feeling of relief, renewal, and quiet joy. Harrison’s delicate, radiant playing continues to inspire guitarists of every generation, inviting them to find their own light through music.
In the end, every time a guitar picks up the opening notes of Here Comes The Sun, it’s not just music that fills the air — it’s hope. And that’s something the world will always need.