Faded — One String Guitar Tab
Alan Walker
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Practice Tips
- 1Start slow — use the 0.5x speed option
- 2Focus on one note at a time
- 3Keep your fretting hand relaxed
Similar Melodies
About This Melody
Faded by Alan Walker is one of the most streamed electronic tracks of all time. Released in 2015, the song has racked up billions of plays and its haunting melody is instantly recognizable across the globe. While the original is an EDM production, the core melody translates beautifully to guitar — and it can be played on just one string. Using only the 1st (high E) string and frets 0 through 12, this is a great way to play a modern hit on acoustic or electric guitar without any music theory.
How to Play
- This melody uses just the 1st string (high E string) of your guitar. The fret sequence is: 3, 3, 3, 7, 12, 12, 12, 10, 7, 7, 7, 7, 2, 2, 2, 0.
- Start by playing fret 3 three times. Keep the notes even and steady — this sets the mood for the whole melody.
- Jump up to fret 7, then make a bigger jump to fret 12. This is the highest point of the riff — let the note ring out.
- Play fret 12 three times, then step down to fret 10 and back to fret 7.
- Stay on fret 7 for four notes. This is the emotional center of the melody — keep the rhythm steady and even.
- Drop down to fret 2, play it three times, then finish on the open string (fret 0).
- The melody follows a clear arc: it rises from 3 to 12, then gradually descends back to 0. Start at half speed and focus on making each transition smooth. The original tempo is around 90 BPM, but there's no rush — the song sounds great even when played slowly.
Common Mistakes
Rushing the repeated notes — frets 3, 12, 7, and 2 are each played multiple times in a row, and it's tempting to speed through them. Give each note its full length. Missing the jump from fret 7 to fret 12 — this is a five-fret stretch, so practice sliding your finger up smoothly rather than lifting and repositioning. Letting the open string (fret 0) buzz at the end — make sure your fretting hand is completely off the string so it rings clearly. Playing on the wrong string — this melody uses the 1st (high E) string, the thinnest one, not the 6th (low E).