Intermediate Acoustic, Intermediate Electric, Songbook + TAB

Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this guitar lesson, we explore how to play Teenage Dirtbag on one guitar, recreating the layered arrangement from the original with clever use of power chords, open strings, and dynamic strumming - Try it all with Backing Tracks!

Teenage Dirtbag | TAB

Let’s go through all sections to discover how the different chords and riffs are repeated throughout.

I’ve designed the TAB to work on one guitar in a band, imitating the layered guitars on the original recording. They’ll also work on just one acoustic—do pay attention to all the small details.

Here’s the intro, verse, and instrumental section:

Teenage Dirtbag TAB, intro, instrumental, verse.

The E is an E5—we avoid string 3. Genius! The B5 is powerful thanks to the open strings. The Asus2 has no 3rd. Notice how the first hit is two strings and the second, three. This helps with the groove.

Here’s the bridge. Only one chord, and the order has changed—the new chord is the relative minor of E, VI (C#m), instead of I.

Here’s the chorus. All power chords—distortion on! Notice how I add more strings for each chord.

Here’s the chorus tag. This is the first time we get a full triad. The part is repetitive before we recycle the last four beats of the chorus. The way this builds is so clever.

Here’s the breakdown chorus. I’m again messing with the number of strings—play the most where the snare goes (2 and 4).

Lastly, here’s the outro. You must learn this note for note, as everyone in the band will play it. Nailing parts like this makes you sound like a rehearsed band—even if you formed the band in the car park!