One of the most accoladed bands to come out of the 1970s, Kansas is one group that knows how to bring the rock (and get a melody stuck in your head). Though the group’s roster seems like a revolving door of talented musicians, one definitive consistency is their ability to write great music. Kansas has three multi-platinum records, one single platinum record, and nine gold albums.

So, if you’re interested in learning songs that other people will recognize instantly, Kansas songs are a great place to start. Let’s check out some Kansas guitar lessons with JamPlay educator, DJ Phillips!

“Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas – Song Lesson – JamPlay

Can you guess which song was the No. 1 and No. 2 most played on US classic rock radio stations in 1997 and 1995 respectively? If you guessed “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas, you are correct! This song was Kansas’ first ever top 40 hit, and is certified 4x Platinum in the US.

In this lesson, DJ Phillips teaches you how to play all of the guitar parts for this classic rock mega hit. For the full breakdown, check out DJ Phillips’ full song lesson on JamPlay!

“Song For America” by Kansas – Song Lesson – JamPlay

Though the single version of the song clocks in at three minutes, the album version of “Song For America” is a whopping ten minutes long and features an instrumental overture for the first three minutes. Like “Carry On Wayward Son,” this song was mostly written by Kerry Livgren, Kansas’ guitarist and keyboardist.

This song is relatively challenging because of the rhythms and time changes featured in the song. For the full lesson where DJ Phillips breaks down the rhythms, time changes, and guitar parts for “Song For America,” check out his 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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