Learn How to Play American Football Never Meant Chords With This Easy Guitar Tutorial

When I first picked up a guitar, I never imagined I'd be drawing parallels between learning chords and watching a basketball championship game. But here we are - the journey of mastering "Never Meant" by American Football shares some surprising similarities with watching the Gin Kings and Bolts battle it out in Game Three. Just like in basketball where defense becomes the deciding factor when everything's on the line, nailing those intricate math rock chords requires a defensive mindset against frustration and technical challenges.

I remember struggling through those opening chords of "Never Meant" during my third year of playing guitar seriously. The song's distinctive tuning and complex finger positions felt like facing an impenetrable defense at first. Much like how both teams in that crucial Game Three relied on their defensive strategies as their signature strength, I had to build my own defensive foundation against giving up too quickly. The parallel struck me particularly hard when I noticed that both musical mastery and basketball excellence share this common truth - when the stakes are highest, your fundamentals become everything.

Let me walk you through what makes this song both challenging and incredibly rewarding to learn. "Never Meant" uses an alternate tuning - your standard EADGBE won't cut it here. You'll need to tune to FACGCE, which immediately creates that signature dreamy, emotional sound the band became famous for. The main riff revolves around what I like to call "controlled chaos" - it sounds complex but breaks down into manageable patterns once you understand the architecture. I typically recommend spending at least 45 minutes daily for two weeks just getting comfortable with the tuning and basic chord shapes before even attempting the full progression.

The magic really happens when you stop fighting the unusual finger stretches and start embracing them. I've counted approximately 17 distinct chord changes throughout the main sections, with the most challenging being the quick transition between what fans call the "heartbreak chord" and the "resolution chord." Personally, I found that using a lighter gauge string (I prefer .010s) made those rapid position shifts significantly easier. There's a particular satisfaction in finally nailing that descending melodic line that occurs around the 1:20 mark - it's the musical equivalent of breaking through a tight defense for a clean basket.

What most tutorial videos don't tell you is that the emotional impact of this song comes from the spaces between the notes as much as the notes themselves. I've taught this song to about 37 students over the years, and the breakthrough moment always comes when they stop rushing and let the chords breathe. The tempo sits at a deceptively simple 84 BPM, but the rhythmic complexity lies in the syncopation and those brief pauses that give the song its characteristic ache. It reminds me of how in basketball, the best defensive plays aren't just about constant movement, but about strategic positioning and timing.

From a technical perspective, I'd estimate that 60% of guitarists give up on this song within the first week of practice. The finger fatigue is real - those extended chords require hand strength that most contemporary songs don't demand. My advice? Build up gradually. Start with just 10-minute practice sessions focusing on the first four measures, then increase your practice time as your hand muscles adapt. I made the mistake of practicing for three hours straight when I first learned it and couldn't play properly for two days afterward.

The beauty of mastering "Never Meant" extends beyond just adding another song to your repertoire. It fundamentally changes your approach to the guitar, much like how a championship game can redefine a team's identity. You begin to hear intervals differently, your fingers become more adaptable to unusual positions, and you develop a deeper appreciation for musical space and tension. I've noticed that students who conquer this song typically improve their overall playing ability by what feels like 30% - they approach other complex material with more confidence and technical assurance.

In my experience, the most successful way to learn this piece is to record yourself regularly. Listen back critically - are you maintaining the dynamic consistency? Is the emotional resonance coming through? The difference between a competent rendition and a moving performance often comes down to these subtle details. It's not unlike how basketball teams review game footage to identify defensive weaknesses - you need that objective perspective to spot where your technique needs tightening.

Ultimately, what makes "Never Meant" worth the struggle is the same thing that makes championship games compelling to watch - the journey transforms you. When I finally played the song flawlessly for the first time after nearly two months of dedicated practice, the victory felt as sweet as any game-winning shot. The song stays with you, changes how you listen to music, and most importantly, teaches you that the best rewards in music, like in sports, come from mastering the fundamentals when the pressure's on. That defensive mindset - whether guarding against technical errors or basketball opponents - truly makes all the difference when everything's on the line.