Introduction

"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell is an iconic song, known for its evocative lyrics and beautiful melody. Let's dive into how to play this song on the guitar.

Chords

Firstly, take note of the specific chords used in the song: D, Dsus4, Dsus2, Em, G, F#m, A, and Asus4. For beginners, some of these chords, particularly F#m, might be challenging. However, practicing these chords and their transitions will improve your overall guitar skills.

Strumming Pattern

The song doesn't have a fast tempo, so a simple downstroke strumming pattern should work well. You can experiment with adding some upstrokes for emphasis at specific points in the song.

Chord Transitions

In the verses, the song frequently transitions between D and Em or G. These are relatively easy transitions, making it a good song for beginners to practice their chord changes.

The transition from G to A in the line "I've looked at clouds that way" might be slightly tricky for beginners but keep practicing, and it will soon become second nature.

Techniques

The song uses a lot of suspended chords (Dsus4 and Dsus2), which create a beautiful, ethereal sound that matches the song's lyrics. To play these, you'll need to add or remove a finger from the basic D chord shape on the correct string.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Both Sides Now" is a beautiful song that's great for practicing chord transitions, particularly for suspended chords. Take it slow, practice the chords and transitions, and you'll be playing this song beautifully in no time.