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From Video Game to TV: How to Play 'The Last of Us Theme' on Guitar

If you're a guitartist and a fan of the video game or HBO show, here's your chance to learn how to play the main theme from 'The Last of Us'!

Musicnotes

Jun 15, 2023 • 4 min read

With post-apocalyptic survival stories being all the rage these days, it's no wonder that The Last of Us has become a phenomenon. Avid gamers have known the story of Joel and Ellie's mission to save humanity from a cannibal-causing infection since 2013, when the video game was released and sold millions of copies, earning numerous awards and serious critical acclaim.

It's also been adapted into a television series with big-name stars that's earned top critical and audience approval, making it a binge-worthy favorite among new and long-time fans alike. Its hauntingly exciting theme, featuring the acoustic guitar, is a huge hit too, and if you want to know how to play The Last of Us songs, it's a great piece to add to your collection.

How to Play the Last of Us Theme: Sheet Music Options

To learn The Last of Us songs, licensed sheet music is the way to go. With this route, you can be sure the music is accurate and true to the original composition, with all the musical detail and instruction you need. Even within this category, you have two options for playing the theme on acoustic guitar.

The Tab Approach

The most popular method for reading and playing guitar music is using a guitar tab. It's similar to a music staff but each line corresponds to a particular string on the guitar. From top to bottom in order, going from the thinnest to thickest guitar strings in the same position, they are as follows:

Rather than just notes, you'll see numbers on guitar tabs. These signify which fret to press with your fingers as you pluck or strum the notes. For example, a 3 instructs the musician to press the third fret, while a 0 means to play an open string.

The Chord Approach

You can also play The Last of Us songs by learning the chord progression of the theme. This approach can help you master where to place your fingers in anticipation of the next section or measure. It also allows the instrumentalist to strum chords rather than just play individual notes, and makes it easier for advanced players to transpose it to a different key.

Understanding the Song Style

If you want to learn how to play The Last of Us theme, there are a few elements about the piece you should familiarize yourself with first.

Time Signature

This song was originally composed in 12/8 time, meaning there are 12 beats in a measure and the eighth note gets one beat. The notes move quickly and the piece sounds like it can be counted as "1-2-3", which gives it the vibe of a quick waltz. Playing The Last of Us songs correctly requires a good feel for this type of timing, which may not come naturally if you're new to guitar or music in general. With practice though, it can be easy to master.

It's also worth noting that the tempo is allegro moderato, or moderately fast. Because of the plucking style used to play the guitar in this song, it may take some time and dedication to get up to speed if you are a novice guitarist. Don't let that dissuade you though; many other elements of this piece make it relatively easy to learn quickly.

Key Signature

The original key for the theme is E minor, a favorite for most guitar players because it is one of the easiest to learn and master on the instrument. It's a relative key of G major and contains just one accidental: an F sharp. Fortunately, if you're using tab sheet music, you don't have to worry too much about figuring out sharps and flats; the numbers do that work for you.

Fingerstyle

The Last of Us songs are played fingerstyle. Rather than strumming chords, individual strings are plucked with the fingers, giving rise to the simple yet haunting melody. While you certainly could learn the chords and simply strum them instead, it will not have the same effect without that signature melody shining through and could be difficult to recognize when strumming.

Tips for Mastering The Last of Us Songs

To get started playing the theme from The Last of Us as quickly as possible, these tips can help guide your practice sessions. With dedication and the right approach, you can impress your friends with your favorite rendition of this popular song in no time.

Listen Religiously

No matter what your instrument of choice is, listening to recordings and performances of a particular piece is an excellent place to start. This can help you get a better feel for the notes, tempo, and overall emotion of the piece. It will also help you easily identify mistakes.

Start Slowly

When practicing The Last of Us songs, remember to start slowly. The tempo for this piece is quick, but if you try to play up to speed immediately, you'll likely find yourself frustrated. Take it one section at a time and increase your speed gradually instead.

Mark Your Music

When learning music from a guitar tab, it can be challenging to know which note is part of the melody until after you've played it. Be sure to mark the melodic notes to The Last of Us songs clearly as you go, with a colored pencil or highlighter. This will help you play in a way that emphasizes the most important notes without losing the melody.

Use a Metronome

Time signatures that are divided by three instead of four can be challenging. Also, this particular fingerstyle piece requires a steady stream of perfectly timed eighth notes played in close succession. To help ensure you aren't speeding up or slowing down, a metronome can help you keep the beat.

Learn The Last of Us Songs with Musicnotes

If you're eager to learn how to play The Last of Us theme, Musicnotes offers the perfect solution. With a variety of options that you can listen to, transpose, and print for your convenience, you can keep practicing anytime, anywhere. Be sure to check out all of our popular guitar titles from today's biggest video game, television, and movie hits to add to your repertoire.