According to John Lennon, Paperback Writer is like a ‘brother’ to Day Tripper which was released the previous year (1965). Day Tripper starts with an open E and this one is in the key of G so starts in the 3rd fret of the E string. Anyway, on this post, we will learn how to play the great dirty guitar riff of one of The Beatles‘ number one hit (both in the US and UK) – .

This song was written by Paul McCartney and was the A-side of John Lennon’s “Rain”. This is also their first number one hit song that was not about Love or Peace or anything like that. (We all know The Beatles stands for love and peace eh?).

How to Play Paperback Writer on Guitar

The guitar riff for this song is easy enough for any beginner and not to mention the strumming pattern for the whole song! This song is also or will be a part of the “Easy Beatles Songs to Play on Guitar” post. Check it out!

A tip in playing this riff is to maintain the position of the first finger barring the top 3 strings – E, A and D.

How to play “Paperback Writer”

The riff starts with the notes of the 3rd fret of the E and A strings followed by the fifth fret of the 5th and 4rth strings that is played by the third and fourth fingers.

The next 2 notes are the same one in the first two notes played by simple removing the 3rd and 4rth fingers bringing the fingering back to the first finger which is barring the strings E and A.

For more info see the image/tablature in Songsterr.com or watch the video above.

Paperback Writer chords
The Beatles

C G Em7
Paperback writer, writer

G7
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
C
And I need a job so I want to be a paperback writer
G7
Paperback writer
[ Tab from: https://www.guitaretab.com/b/beatles/275452.html ]
G7
It’s a dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn’t understand
His son is working for the Daily Mail
C
It’s a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer
G7
Paperback writer

G7
It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few
I’ll be writing more in a week or two
I can make it longer if you like the style
C
I can change it ’round and I want to be a paperback writer
G7
Paperback writer

C G Em7
Paperback writer, writer

G7
If you really like it you can have the rights
It could make a million for you overnight
If you must return it you can send it here
C
But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer
G7
Paperback writer

C G Em7
Paperback writer, writer