How to Play “sweet Child O’ Mine” Intro on Guitar

Learning to play the iconic intro of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses on guitar is a rewarding challenge for many guitar enthusiasts. Its distinctive melody and powerful riffs make it a favorite among beginners and advanced players alike. In this guide, we will walk you through the basics to get started with this famous intro.

Understanding the Song Structure

The intro of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is primarily based on a series of arpeggiated chords and a memorable riff. It is played on the high strings, mainly using the E, B, and G strings. The intro lasts about 15 seconds and sets the tone for the entire song. Familiarity with the pentatonic scale and basic fingerpicking techniques will help you master this part.

Guitar Tabs for the Intro

Below are the simplified tabs for the intro:

  • e|–15–14–12–14–15–14–12–15–14–12–14–15–14–12–14–12–10–12–10–8–10–8–7–8–7–5–7–5–3–5–3–2–3–2–0–2–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0–0