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True story:
The first time I ever heard this song was when one of my childhood best friend’s played it at a high school talent show.
I remember sitting in wooden fold-down chairs, in the school auditorium when they came on to perform. But something looked a little bit different with the rhythm section. The drummer (who played with my friend) managed to cover keys and drums at the same time. He moved away the floor tom and played the synthesizer part on a keyboard setup where the floor tom would be with his right hand. The rest of his body played the rock drum beat.
I was blown away. My childhood friend sang the lead, and the crowd loved it.
There’s just something about this rock anthem that is so satisfying to listen to and play.
So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this The Cars’ “Just What I Needed” guitar lesson!
Who wrote Just What I Needed?
"Just What I Needed" is a classic rock song by the American rock band The Cars. It was written by the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Ric Ocasek. The song was released as a single from their self-titled debut album, "The Cars," in 1978.
The song is about a relationship where one person feels like they've found exactly what they needed in the other person. It's a catchy, upbeat track with memorable guitar riffs and Ocasek's distinctive vocals.
"Just What I Needed" was recorded at the AIR Studios in London, England, and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. The track was a commercial success, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also received significant airplay on rock radio stations.
The song has been praised for its tight songwriting, infectious melody, and catchy hooks. It has since become one of The Cars' most iconic songs, and a staple of classic rock radio. The album "The Cars" itself was a commercial success, (I had it on vinyl back in the day) it reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200 charts and eventually became certified six-times platinum in the United States.
"Just What I Needed" has been recognized as one of the standout tracks from the late 1970s rock era.
Just What I Needed Guitar Chords
To play “Just What I Needed” on guitar you only need to know 5 chords E, B, C#m, G# and A. I play the majority of them as power chords in the song. But let’s take a look at a way to play the full shapes.
E is played as a bar chord in the 7th position like this:
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