Music Educademy

Channa Mereya Guitar Chords (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - Arijit Singh

“Channa Mereya” by Arijit Singh from the movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is one of the most emotional Bollywood songs ever written. The song is slow, expressive, and works beautifully on the guitar with just a few open chords.

The great thing about this song is that it uses a very simple repeating chord progression, which makes it perfect for players who want to focus on strumming feel and expression rather than complex chord changes. Even though the chords are easy, the emotion in the strumming and dynamics is what really brings the song to life.

In this lesson, you’ll learn the chords, strumming pattern, and some useful playing tips to make the song sound fuller and more musical.

Song Details

Artist – Arijit Singh

Movie – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Tuning – Standard (EADGBE)

Tricky Chords – None

Strumming – D DUDU D DUDUDUDU

Capo – No

*** Pls note that this song has just the chords Am/F/Dm/C/G played in order throughout the song. If you want to make it more interesting by adding newer chords, go though the video as I will be teaching a trick that you can use.

Watch the Channa Mereya Guitar Chords Lesson (Step-by-Step)

e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----4-5-4-5---5--5-------5/7/7----7---7- -------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

Am F Dm C G

Accha chalta hoon, Duaaon mein yaad rakhna, Mere zikr ka zubaan pe swaad rakhna

Am F Dm C G

Accha chalta hoon, Duaaon mein yaad rakhna, Mere zikr ka zubaan pe swaad rakhna

Am F Dm C G

Dil ke sandookon mein, Mere acche kaam rakhna, Chitthi taaron mein bhi, Mera tu salaam rakhna,

Am F Dm C G

Andhera tera maine le liya, Mera ujla sitaara tere naam kiya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Mmm… mehfil mein teri, Hum naa rahe jo, Gham toh nahi hai, Gham toh nahi hai

Am F Dm C G

Qisse humaare nazdeeqiyon ke, Kam toh nahi hai, Kam toh nahi hai

Am F Dm C G

Kitni dafaa, subah ko meri, Tere aangan me baithe, Maine shaam kiya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Tere rukh se apna raasta, Mod ke chalaa, Chandan hoon main, Apni khushboo chhod ke chala

Am F Dm C G

Mann ki maaya rakh ke, Tere takiye tale, Bairagi, bairagi ka sooti chaula, Odh ke chalaa

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Sachi mohabbat shayad wohi hai, Jisme junoon hai, Jisme junoon hai

Am F Dm C G

Par do dilon ki yaari mein bhi to, Kitna sukoon hai, Kitna sukoon hai

Am F Dm C G

Deke mujhe teri judaai, Mere Rab ne mujhe paigham diya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Am F Dm C G

Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya, Channa mereya mereya Beliya, O piya

Video Lesson

Watch the Channa Mereya Guitar Chords Lesson (Step-by-Step)

Strumming Pattern Explained

D DUDU D DUDUDUDU

Start with a soft downstroke to establish the slow emotional groove of the song.

The DUDU motion should be relaxed and flowing using the wrist rather than the arm.

Keep the overall strumming gentle, since this song relies heavily on dynamics.

Slightly emphasize the first downstroke when switching chords so the progression feels clear.

The DUDUDUDU section creates the emotional lift in the rhythm, especially during the chorus.

Try practicing the pattern slowly on Am ? F ? Dm ? C ? G before bringing it up to full tempo.

Teaching Notes (PRO Tips)

If the F chord feels difficult, you can start with a mini F or Fmaj7 and switch later to the full barre version.

Focus on smooth chord transitions, because the same progression repeats throughout the entire song.

Avoid strumming too aggressively — soft dynamics make the song sound more authentic.

Try adding light palm muting during the verses and opening up the strumming during the chorus.

Once comfortable, experiment with adding passing chords or embellishments like shown in the lesson video.

FAQs

Q: What chords are used in Channa Mereya?

A: The song mainly uses Am, F, Dm, C, and G, repeated throughout the song.

Q: Is Channa Mereya beginner-friendly?

A: Yes. The chord progression is simple, though the F chord may take a little practice for beginners.

Q: Do I need a capo to play Channa Mereya?

A: No, the song is played in standard tuning without a capo.

Q: What strumming pattern works best for Channa Mereya?

A: A commonly used pattern is D DUDU D DUDUDUDU, played softly to match the emotional feel of the song.

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Final Thoughts

“Channa Mereya” is a beautiful song to practice emotional guitar playing and dynamic control. Even though the chord progression is simple, the real magic comes from the feel of the strumming and smooth chord changes.

Take your time with the rhythm, keep the strumming relaxed, and focus on letting the chords ring out naturally. Once you get comfortable, you can start adding small variations to make the arrangement sound richer and more expressive.

Don’t stop here — check out MORE Song Lessons to keep building your repertoire!