How To Play Dont Fear The Reaper
By Blue Oyster Cult

On this page Id like to explain how to play Dont Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult.

The song was released as a single in 1976 from the album Agents Of Fortune. The song was the bands biggest hit and peaked at #12 that same year.

Donald Roeser, the bands lead guitarist who wrote the song, said the song is about eternal love and not as many have suggested, about suicide.



The Reaper is making reference to the Grim Reaper from the Middle Ages in European culture who of course was associated to the subject of death.



We only have 4 chords in this song and there isn't any lead guitar work. The chords are G, Em, C and D. The chorus section is a bit tricky rhythm wise, but I do explain it in full in the full instructional video tutorial at the link below.

                 
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This song can be played with a steady up and down pattern with a bit on an accent on the last two downstrokes. In the chorus you can use your baby finger on the D string as a bit of a walking bass line.

Same thing on the C chord where a double strum is required. Or you could do a slide on the A string from the C note.

As I mentioned above, I discuss this technique in the full instructional tutorial. Free tab over in the left menu.

I hope you found this How To Play Dont Fear The Reaper By Blue Oyster Cult useful and informative.

Feel free to tweet about it (bottom of the page) or like it on Facebook from the "Like" button above or below ... either is most welcomed and appreciated.

Blue Oyster Cult Official Website




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