Premium
VIP
Beta Tester
Last Kiss
by Pearl Jam • Lesson #87 • Jul 27, 2017
Video lesson
Print-Friendly Song Sheet 3 pages
Follow along with my print-friendly guide for this song! It’s available for purchase at Musicnotes.com, the web’s leading provider of licensed sheet music.
On the fence? Here's a guide I made showing the purchase & print process, including answers to common questions about my song sheets.
Buy at Musicnotes.comEditor’s notes
This lesson shows you an easy way to play “Last Kiss” as covered by Pearl Jam . I’ll show you the chords needed, talk about transitioning between chords easily, and tackle the strumming pattern. This is a fun song to learn, as it only uses 4 chords repeating for the entire song: G-Em-C-D. Good luck!
Chords needed
The entire song uses these four chords, in this order, over and over. Very straight forward. For the G, you can play the 3rd fret on the B string if you want - that’s a correct way to play G also.
E ––––3–––––0–––––0–––––2–––––
B ––––0–––––0–––––1–––––3–––––
G ––––0–––––0–––––0–––––2–––––
D ––––0–––––2–––––2–––––0–––––
A ––––2–––––2–––––3–––––––––––
E ––––3–––––0–––––––––––––––––
G Em C D
As I note in my video lesson, if you’re having trouble with the chord transitions, realize that for some of the transitions you’re keeping fingers on the same note. This makes changing much easier, since it is one less finger to move. For example:
E ––––3–––––0––––
B ––––0–––––0––––
G ––––0–––––0––––
D ––––0–––––2––––
A ––––2–––––2–––– <-- index finger plays 2nd fret for both chords
E ––––3–––––0––––
G Em
And also for the Em to the C:
E ––––0–––––0––––
B ––––0–––––1––––
G ––––0–––––0––––
D ––––2–––––2–––– <-- middle finger plays the 2nd fret for both chords
A ––––2–––––3––––
E ––––0––––––––––
Em C
And finally, for the D to G turnaround:
E ––––2––––––3––––
B ––––3––––––3–––– <-- ring finger plays the 3rd fret for both chords
G ––––2––––––0––––
D ––––0––––––0––––
A –––––––––––2––––
E –––––––––––3––––
D G
In general, keep an eye out for this sort of “pivot note” transition in any song you’re learning. It can make many chord transitions much easier, and faster, to pull off while keeping in step with the song’s rhythm.
Chord progression and timing
Quite simply, you’ll be doing one measure (four counts) of each chord, in sequence. That is:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G . . . Em . . . C . . . D . . .
I recommend counting out loud, if you can, to master the timing (if it’s giving you trouble).
Strumming pattern
I recommend this strumming pattern for the whole song:
D = down strum
U = up strum
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D U U D U
Repeat this, playing the pattern once per each chord. If it’s giving you trouble, simplify it and start with something you can do without much challenge. Such as
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D D
From there, add an up-strum on the final “4 +” count:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D D U
Then, once you have that, don’t strum on the “3” count:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D U
And finally, one you have mastered that, add up strums on the “2 +” and “3 +” counts.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D U U D U
The key is to keep your strumming hand (arm) moving up and down continuously, but only bringing the pick down on the strings when the strumming pattern demands it.
Browse Related Lessons
Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent Lessons
-
April 9, 2024
Chords & Music Theory... 9 New Lessons!
-
March 30, 2024
Gordon Lightfoot's "Carefree Highway"
-
March 22, 2024
Lead Guitar & the F1 Theme Song
-
March 15, 2023
Pink Floyd's "Breathe" - with Simpler Chords Included
-
March 6, 2024
Q&A: 8 Tips to Avoid Muting Strings
-
March 1, 2024
Blues Shuffle Riffs - Using Just 2 Strings!
-
February 16, 2024
Soulful Lead Guitar with "America the Beautiful"
-
February 8, 2024
Country Honk by The Rolling Stones
-
January 31, 2024
Beginner Blues - New Course Sneak Peek!
-
January 23, 2024
Strumming with Accented Notes