How to play Almost With You by The Church

Song Guides
Written By Michelle Nelson
 
Download the chart here
 

Almost With You by The Church is a rewarding track for established guitarists. The hit single from their 1982 album The Blurred Crusade, it features the band’s signature dual guitar interplay, one of the richest chord progressions of the era plus a classic nylon-string guitar solo.

Chords : C2 G/B D4/A‍ ‍G D4/F#‍ Em7 ‍D D4 D2 C Am‍ ‍‍F Em‍ ‍Bm‍

Is the key correct? Yes, Almost With You is in the key of G. It’s worth noting there are examples on YouTube that sound like they have been dubbed from a cassette, or a turntable not running at correct speed, that play almost a semitone higher than concert pitch. We recommend you listen to the 2002 remastered version; it plays at the correct pitch and has superior clarity and tone.

Pick or Fingers? All the guitars on Almost With You are played with a pick (including the nylon-string solo).

Acoustic or Electric? Mostly electric, the exception being the acoustic solo.

What does metallico mean? In the section leading into the chorus there is an F and Em that are played with a 3-and-a-half beat strum followed by a raked upstrum on the last half-beat of the bar. The term metallico directs you to strum close to the bridge so that a metallic tone is produced. This upstrum should land on the bass note on the 1st beat in the next bar.

What type of guitar is the solo played on? The beautiful guitar solo in Almost With You is played on a classical guitar; an acoustic nylon-string instrument. And, it was played with a plectrum, rather than with classical β€˜apoyando’ finger picking. It’s a rare, but inspired choice of guitar for a solo and a distinguishing feature of the studio original.

Relevant pages in Modern Guitar Chord Styles 1 : To learn more about the chords and rhythm techniques in Almost With You see pages 5, 8, 10, 12 - 14, 21, 24, 34, 24, 31 and 34. And for an excellent course in electric guitar scales, techniques and soloing styles check out the very helpful Electric Guitar Solo Style series.

Need a bit of help? Try the beginner bundle

Getting the right start is crucial on the guitar. Make sure your foundations are solid with the beginner bundle from author, educator and composer Michelle Nelson!

Absolutely perfect for beginners: Make chord changes fast and easy with Modern Guitar Chord Styles 1, and learn all the basics of guitar soloing with Electric Guitar Solo Style 1.

Nothing will get you playing whole songs fluently on the guitar faster!

What’s inside?

  • All the basic open guitar chords & exercises to help you change between them quickly and easily

  • Learn to pick arpeggios, fingerpick, and how to play bar chords comfortably

  • Learn to hammer on, pull off and slide & get pitch perfect bends every time

  • Learn to combine those techniques into licks + build your speed

  • Play full guitar solos combining the techniques you hear on professional recordings

Buy now

Buy both together, and save!

Michelle Nelson

Michelle Nelson is a professional guitarist, composer, and educator with decades of experience across classical and electric styles. A fully accredited VMTA teacher, she has performed in rock bands, classical ensembles, and plucked string orchestras, and currently composes for the Birrarung Trio and Concordia ensemble. Michelle specialises in Classical (Classical era to Modern), Rock, and Blues guitar, and draws inspiration from artists like Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Wes Montgomery, and Mauro Giuliani.

Next

How to play Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond