The Kids Aren’t Alright - The Offspring - Solo Acoustic Guitar Cover (Fingerstyle)

My solo acoustic guitar arrangement of the song “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring.
This song was one of the singles from the popular and commercially successful “Americana” (1998) album and features on the band’s Greatest Hits compilation album.
For this arrangement, I tuned 2 of the strings up from standard tuning a half step, so the full tuning is as follows:
1- E
2- C
3- G
4- D
5- A
6- F
The original recorded version of the song is in A# minor (C# major) but I played it a semitone lower in A minor to avoid having to use a capo, which would otherwise need to go on the first fret to get the song back into the original key.
The reason for tuning the 2nd string higher (to C) was so the minor 3rd is in the open position, which then allows it to be played open over every chord in the progression. However, this does make it slightly trickier to play the melody for standard chord shapes on the first three frets!
The reason for tuning the 6th string up was to make it the open root of the second chord (F) in the progression. Again, this then allows a lot more freedom for playing the melody notes higher up the neck, and for the guitar solo section.
The song is fairly fast which makes it quite a challenge to play fingerstyle, so I slowed the tempo down a few bpm from the original recorded version and tried to replicate the feel of the strumming pattern by arpeggiating the chords in the verse, incorporating the melody notes wherever possible. I also switched octaves for the pre-verse guitar riff melody to try and keep it interesting
.
Other than this the structure is the same as the original apart from the ending, which is very abrupt in the song, so I made up an outro.

[@paulpaul9817]

Beautiful! Great Arrangement! Do you have Tabs for it? I would love to play it.

[@TRGuitar]

Thank you! I’m really sorry but I don’t use tabs so don’t have anything to pass on. I worked this out purely by ear and am not classically trained, therefore don’t have the know how or set up to transcribe my arrangements to tab at this point in time. I appreciate the interest though and thanks for listening 🎶 🙏

[@sandwichlaw]

Dude, thats awesome!

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked! 👍 🍻 🎸

[@manuelcontreras9711]

This should have way more views. Amazing.

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks a lot, appreciate it!

[@vyarzy]

amazing

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks!

[@jesusdegarcia4903]

Gorgeous!

[@yungstyles4027]

You must be pleased with that performance. Not an easy one to get through, but you made it look effortless to the end ✔️👏🖤🙏

[@TRGuitar]

Cheers! It’s actually the same four chord progression all the way through but tough in terms of the rhythm and keeping a steady tempo for fingerstyle playing. Thanks for listening though!!

[@dupladetreis]

Awesome

[@realjohnplays]

Perfect! Great job man.

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks very much John!🍻

[@joshbranch9922]

Underrated as hell man. This should have 500000k easy. This is hard as f to nail with no mess ups and arranged beautifully 👌

[@manusguitarjourney]

Nailed it! You played that great arrangement in perfection!

[@TRGuitar]

Thank you 🙏 Appreciate it and thanks for listening!

[@TheKoshmaras2]

never heard acoustic version, great job

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks!

[@Bien_se_passer_tkt_pas]

Underrated, really nice fingerpicking, well done

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks for that! 🙏

[@albertconroy5251]

So smooth and a melodic arrangement. Great stuff.

[@omarperezprada]

It´s a excellent cover, thanks

[@TRGuitar]

Thank you for listening and the nice comment!

[@ApCommunityRock]

!! GG my friend that a nice video keep rocking :D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks! 🙏

[@fingerstylejim]

WOW 😱 this is nicceeeeeeeee!!!! Great work my friend

[@TRGuitar]

Thank you!

[@ZYXWVUQ992Q]

Beautiful brother ❤

[@TRGuitar]

Thanks!

[@alexbell694]

Это легендарная песня.

[@vandipapeo]

Klasik Amazing Goodluck my friend

[@TRGuitar]

You too! Thanks! 🙏

[@rafaelsurfitapema1938]

Irado!!!

[@Nachfin.08]

Очень круто👍

[@TRGuitar]

🍻👍

[@onebritishboi9892]

Hey dude! Any tips for someome learning to play guitar currently? I dont like how a pick feels in my hand so i also use my fingers!

[@TRGuitar]

Probably too many to go into here! A good idea is to find players who you like and study them, I.e. just try to copy what they’re doing! Using fingers as opposed to a plec is mostly a stylistic thing for me, it’s good to do both depending on what you’re playing. Actually if you listen to a lot of original pop/punk music, e.g. the offspring (I’m covering here), using a plec is quite essential for the getting that sound with overdriven electric guitars. Playing solo acoustic chord melody instrumental stuff , a la ‘fingerstyle’, wouldn’t really work with just a plec, although some players use both fingers and a plec together in a hybrid way (‘hybrid picking’) which can give the best of both worlds. Using a thumb pick is also a popular choice for acoustic players in this style. Ultimately It’s up to you, but try and enjoy it whatever route you go down! 👍

[@onebritishboi9892]

@@TRGuitar awesome thank you, legend! Very insightful :)

[@gabrielmunoz4152]

It sounds like "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi 😅

[@valeraskl76]

Omg need lesson