Sarah McLachlan – Building a Mystery

Learn how to play Sarah McLachlan – Building a Mystery note-for-note on guitar.
Difficulty level: Intermediate. The main chords and strum pattern would qualify as easy, but the small re-tuning and the licks played around the chord shapes push it into intermediate. Still, it’s not that hard to play
Barre chords: No
Thumb over chords: No
Playing Style: Strummed
Tuning: E A D G A D
The preview video shows the main chords and strum pattern. These are relatively easy. The full lesson goes beyond this to show you the subtle additions Sarah makes in her version.
The complete file contains 2 lesson videos, a performance play thru video, full tabs, chords and lyrics. You’ll receive a link to download the lessons which will download as a zip file of 486 Mb containing all the lesson content.
Return to Individual Songs page
Lesson Preview
Tab Preview
Chords & Songsheet Preview
Return to Individual Songs page
You’ll receive at least two videos per song, one lesson and one performance-standard play-through. You’ll receive the chords/lyrics and guitar tabs as PDF files.
The videos are mp4 format and should play on PC’s, Macs and most mobile devices.
They will download as Zip files. If you don’t have a Zip program on your PC you’ll need to install one to open the file.
If you want to download to an iPad or iPhone you’ll need an app to do so, please read here to know more about it.
Browse Our Lessons by
Fingerstyle Instrumental pieces
Mark says
Hi, Jerry:
Bought this one years ago and finally learning it today. Funny (stupid?) question: In the video I think you based your lesson on, she’s playing with the capo on the 5th fret, rather than. the 7th. Yet, I’m able to play along with her on capo 7. Has she also re-tuned her guitar?
None if this matters for playing it, and your lesson is great. I’m just wondering.
Mark in Brooklyn
Jerry says
Hi Mark
I see that, and no doubt when I made the video I figured out what was going on there, but it was a while ago.
Looking at it again now, it must be that rather than dropping the top two strings by a full step, she’s actually raised the other 4 by a full step.
I guess she’d do that to gain the bit of extra space you get at the 5th fret.
I’d avoid it because I don’t like to risk breaking strings :)