Billie Eilish is one of the biggest singers today, and she has fans all over the globe. The first song that helped her gain public attention was “Ocean Eyes,” and it was released in 2015. However, it took a few years before fans were able to get their hands on a whole album.
Her first studio album came out in 2019, and it was titled “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” The album became an instant hit, and it sold over one million copies in the United States. It also allowed her to establish herself as one of the biggest pop stars today.
Even though Billie Eilish released only two full albums (“Happier Than Ever” came out in 2021), there are plenty of other songs that are a part of extended plays, singles, movie soundtracks, and so on.
So, if you are a fan of Billie, you are probably already aware that she has a rich career. This is a perfect opportunity for you to learn how to play some of her most famous songs. The primary focus will be on acoustic guitar, and most of these songs are adapted for the guitar.
Billie has a unique style and tone, and it doesn’t always feature a guitar. But it is something you can easily adapt and make it your own.
Ocean Eyes
Ocean Eyes was the lead single from Billie’s EP Don’t Smile at Me, and it came out in 2016. It received positive reviews, and many people praised the lyrics and the composition. The single also allowed Billie to show everyone how talented she is.
As for the song, the original recording doesn’t have a guitar. But this doesn’t mean you can’t play it on one. You can easily follow the song with a simple chord progression. If you are a beginner, you might need to practice quite chord changes to follow the intro.
Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under is the debut single Billie Eilish released, and it is not a part of the album. In fact, she released it through SoundCloud in 2016. Billie’s brother Finneas O’Connell wrote the entire song and produced it. The song was re-released later in 2016, and it became an instant hit.
If you are interested in learning how to play Six Feet Under, there are two main approaches you can take. Firstly, you can just strum the chords following the recording, and it is a simpler approach for beginners. But if you want something more, the fingerpicking version will sound so much better. Both options use the same chords.
Bored
Bored was released in 2017, and it is something a bit different. This is not a single from one of her albums, and it’s not even on the album. This is a song recorded for the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack. And it instantly became popular among the fans.
Naturally, you can find a single from the soundtrack, and it is a fun little piece to play. Since you will be following the synthesizer, a simple chord progression will do the trick. You can also explore different strumming patterns, or use the one mentioned in the video.
Lovely
People love soundtracks, especially if a movie or a TV show is enjoyable. And since 13 Reasons Why has four seasons, it is safe to say that the audience loved the show. Billie Eilish recorded a single for the soundtrack for the second season as well, but this time, it is a collaboration with Khalid.
The song was released in 2018, and while it might seem complex, it is something you will be able to learn with a bit of practice. Lovely is perfect for both beginners and intermediate players, and it will help you get a bit more comfortable with fingerpicking. The original version is played on the piano, but the guitar mimics the same notes.
When The Party’s Over
After years of singles and soundtracks, Billie Eilish finally released her debut album. Needless to say, fans were over the moon when it happened, and the record received numerous awards. The second single from When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? came out in 2019, and the song was When the Party’s Over.
The first thing you will want to do is prepare a capo and place it on the fourth fret. As for the rest of the song, there will be a few barre chords you will need to tackle, but the song itself is not too hard to learn.
When The Party’s Over Guitar Chords
Bad Guy
For many people, Bad Guy was the introduction to Billie Eilish. Surprisingly enough, this was the fifth single from When We All Fall Asleep, and it was released in 2019. The song is a combination of different genres, and it felt like a breath of fresh air when it was released.
Now, there are two different ways you can approach this song when playing it. You can go for the simplistic version where you will strum chords along with the song, or follow the bass line and the main theme of the song. Naturally, the latter version is more fun!
No Time To Die
The James Bond series is a cult classic. And if there is one thing that’s been common among those movies is that they always have an amazing theme song. Billie Eilish wrote the song for No Time to Die in 2020, and it is worth checking out if you are unfamiliar with it.
The intro of the song is on piano, but you can easily play it on guitar as well. Naturally, it might take some time if you are inexperienced, but it will be worth your time. The song is incredible, there is a beautiful chord progression, and it is an instant classic.
My Future
Now it’s time to take a look at the second album from 2021 called Happier Than Ever. The song My Future came out exactly one year before the album, and it will be a great way for beginners to practice a bit of uncommon chords.
The song has a clear influence of soul and jazz, and you will need a capo on the third fret to play it correctly. Additionally, there are a few seventh and sixth chords, and a couple of other combinations you don’t often see. And it is a perfect opportunity for you to learn all of them.
Everything I Wanted
Everything I Wanted was released in 2019 as a single, and it is not a part of any album. However, the song was later added to some versions of When We All Fall Asleep that came out a few months later. The primary theme of the song is Billie’s relationship with her brother.
This beautiful tune uses synthesizers, bass, and piano like the majority of the songs, but you can make beautiful covers on your guitar as well. The chord progression is a bit more complex, but not impossible. Thanks to the slower tempo, you will have enough time to switch to the appropriate chords.
Everything I Wanted Guitar Chords
The 30th
There are many songs by Billie Eilish that don’t include guitars in the original recording. But The 30th is not one of them. In fact, it is a song from the EP called Guitar Songs. And this is something that all guitarists will adore.
Since the primary focus is on guitars, this might take you a bit to tackle. The song is in standard tuning, there is no capodaster, but it includes fingerpicking. And that’s for the entire song. While you could play it with basic chords and strumming, it wouldn’t sound nearly as good.
Happier Than Ever
Happier Than Ever is a song from 2021, and it’s from the album of the same name. The song was one of the singles from the album, and it is a combination of pop-funk, with clear hints of jazz. The song starts with an acoustic guitar, and it becomes quite heavier during the chorus.
Of course, you don’t need to switch guitars, and you can play it on anything you want. Doing the entire song on an acoustic or an electric guitar is still possible, and it gives you a way to experiment with the track. Happier Than Ever is beginner-friendly, and it can be quite fun to play.
Happier Than Ever Guitar Chords
Your Power
Your Power was released on Happier Than Ever, and it was the third single on the record. With powerful lyrics and beautiful chord progression, the song quickly became a favorite for so many fans. The song includes an acoustic guitar in the background, and it is a great way for fans to learn a couple of new tricks.
One of the first things to mention is that you will need a capo on the fifth fret and that you will need to learn how to play around certain chords. It starts with the Cmaj7, which is the same shape as the open C major, but without the index finger. You will use it to play the main theme around the Cmaj7 chord.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin was released on Happier Than Ever, and it is an interesting song due to its obvious EDM influence. At the same time, the song doesn’t include guitars, and playing means that you will need to improvise and adapt it to your liking.
While you won’t be able to get an authentic sound as the record version, it will give you a chance to create your unique cover. And there are plenty of different ways to achieve this. There are two main chords in the song and a few fillers that can spice it up a bit.
Bellyache
Bellyache was released on the first EP called Don’t Smile at Me, and it came out in 2017. The song incorporates several different genres, and it is a great choice if you want to explore different rhythms on your guitar.
There are three main chords in the song, but you will also need to play variations of those chords as well. If you are a beginner, the introduction and the strumming pattern might seem like too much, but you should consider practicing. It won’t take you long to figure it out.
Bury A Friend
Bury a Friend was one of the songs from the When We All Fall Asleep album, and it was the third single for the record. People described the song as a mixture of electronica, synth-pop, electropop, and other similar genres. And with subtle vocals, it is easily one of the most popular songs on the album.
If you want to learn how to play Bury a Friend, you won’t struggle a lot with it. There are three main chords in the song, and the capo is placed on the third fret. Of course, you could play it without a capo, but it would be way more challenging.
Conclusion
There is no denying that Billie Eilish is one of the most influential musicians of her generation. And she already has so many incredible songs. While many people consider her to be a pop singer, she is so much more.
If you are a fan and want to learn how to play her songs on the guitar, there are many different ways to approach her music. The reason for this is that there are so many songs that are played on synthesizers or piano. This gives you a chance to improvise and add your own signature to each of the songs.
Fortunately, the songs are not too complex to learn. Having such beautiful chord progressions along with simplicity is not something you often encounter. This is one of many reasons why Billie has so many fans across the globe.