Calling all millennials! Do you remember when alternative and punk rock was synonymous with pop culture? Well, you can partially owe those fond memories to international superstars, Green Day. Hailing from East Bay, California, Green Day is one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time. They have sold over 75 million records globally, earned themselves a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, have won 5 GRAMMY Awards (nominated for 20), and are ascribed as one of the driving forces behind the mainstream popularity of punk rock music.

Today, we’re looking at some of the songs that made them famous. Check out these Green Day song lessons from JamPlay’s top educators!

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day – Song Lesson – JamPlay

In this song lesson, JamPlay educator Chris Buono shows you how to play one of Green Day’s biggest (if not the biggest) hits of all time, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” Apparently, singer, Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this song to chronicle his disappointment when his then-girlfriend moved away to Ecuador. Since its release, it has broken the top 20 charts in five countries, gone certified Platinum in the UK, and become one of the most played high school graduation songs of all time.

The song’s arrangement includes one acoustic guitar, Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals, and a strings section. The rhythm of the acoustic guitar is paramount to the performance of this song, and is one of its identifying features. To see a full breakdown of how to play this song on guitar, check out Chris Buono’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” song lesson on JamPlay!

“Basket Case” by Green Day – Song Lesson – JamPlay

Green Day’s “Basket Case” debuted as a single from their 1994 full-length album, Dookie, and spent five weeks as No. 1 on the Alternative Charts in the US. It would ultimately go on to earn a nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in the 1995 GRAMMY Awards. This is one of the songs that put Green Day “on the map” in terms of global popularity.

This song is tuned to E flat, so you’ll have to tune your guitar down a half step! For the full breakdown where Chris Buono shows you how to play this song note-for-note, check out his “Basket Case” song lesson on JamPlay!

For more Song Lessons, check out JamPlay.com! JamPlay has over 450 guitar courses from 120+ instructors, and online guitar lessons tailored to every skill level, music genre, and playing style. Click here to learn more.

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