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Step 1
Set your fingers in position to play a G chord, as this song is sung and recorded in the key of G. If you want to play the song in a different key, look at a chord transposition chart, or transpose the chord yourself, to get the proper chords in the proper sequence.
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Step 2
Begin a basic four-beat strum (or go for a simple finger-picking approach if you want to experiment) with the G chord. Smoothly switch to C and strum for another four beats. Time your rhythm by listening to a recording of Freebird, or set your own pace.
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Step 3
Switch to an E-minor chord and strum for eight beats. This is a good place to do a simple finger picking of the top four strings of the chord, if you've only been strumming until now. Then go to F with four beats, and then to C with another four.
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Step 4
Play the D chord for eight beats. If you want to play a bit, experiment by alternately lifting and setting down your ring finger on the B string of the third fret. Then go to G to start the sequence over.
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Step 5
Produce a melodic riff by using a slide around your little finger. This helps you press down on the string (the G string in this case) cleanly, but you want to make sure you do it just enough to get the clear sound. Follow the lead of the video or listen carefully to a recording to figure out which frets you want to slide to. The main thing is that you start on the high G note, twelfth fret. Improvise a bit between that fret down through to an open G string, to keep it in line with the chords you've been playing.
