How to Play “House Again” by Hudson Westbrook – Guitar Tutorial

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How to Play “House Again” by Hudson Westbrook
If you’re looking to add a realistically playable country-song to your guitar repertoire, you’re in the right place. In this lesson video you’ll learn how to play House Again by Hudson Westbrook — from the chord progression to the strumming pattern, plus I sing the lyrics along so you get the feel of playing and singing.

Why This Song Works on Guitar
Hudson Westbrook’s House Again is a modern country ballad that blends emotion, strong lyrical imagery, and a chord progression that sounds full but is approachable. According to the meaning-breakdown, the protagonist reflects on memories in a home that is now “just a house again.” holler.country+2billboard.com+2 That storytelling makes it a great choice for acoustic guitar—especially if you add your voice.

Song Details at a Glance

• Song: House Again

• Artist: Hudson Westbrook en.wikipedia.org+2billboard.com+2

• Released: October 18, 2024 (lead single) en.wikipedia.org+1

• Key elements: A reflective vibe, space to sing and play comfortably.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

• How to place the capo at the correct fret (Capo: 1st fret).

• The full chord set: G, C, Bm, Em, D.

• The strumming pattern: D U D U D U D U D U (Down-Up repeated).

• How to sing along with the chords (I include lyric cues in the tutorial).

• How to make it sound more expressive (e.g., adding dynamics, letting the strumming breathe).

Chords, Capo & Strumming Pattern

• Capo: 1st fret (so you’re playing as if in G, but sounding in A♭/G♯ if measuring real pitch)

• Chords used: G, C, Bm, Em, D

• Strumming: D U D U D U D U D U — that’s 10 hits (or effectively 5 down-up cycles) per bar of the pattern.

Here’s how it breaks down (bar by bar):

• Bar 1: G chord → D U D U D U D U D U

• Bar 2: C chord → same pattern

• Then Bm → Em → D etc (depending on section).

When you play along in the video I demonstrate how to keep your tempo steady and how to add slight accents (for instance on the first down-stroke of each measure) to give it that country feel.

Step-by-Step Tutorial (including singing along)

1. Set your capo on the 1st fret, tune your guitar.

2. Play through the chord progression with me at a slow tempo in the video.

3. Once you feel comfortable, I’ll bring in the full strumming pattern.

4. Then we’ll go section by section (verse → chorus → bridge) with lyric cues so you can sing or just play.

5. Finally, we’ll play the full song together so you see how the chords + strum + vocals fit.

Tip: During the singing-section I encourage you to lightly hum or sing along even if you’re just practicing the instrument part — it helps lock in the rhythm and phrasing.

Tips for Practice & Making It Sound Good

• Start very slowly (e.g., half speed of the video) just to get chord changes clean.

• Use a metronome or the built-in one on your phone at about 70-80 BPM (or match the video) so you keep steady.

• Focus on the downstroke on beat 1 of each measure — that’s your anchor in country strumming.

• As you get comfortable, lighten up the up-strums and let the song breathe — country songs often benefit from little space.

• When you sing along, pick one phrase at a time and pause right after to reflect—this builds both playing and voice-confidence together.

• Record yourself (phone video) playing the entire song once you feel comfortable — when you listen back you’ll hear where your timing or dynamics could improve.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this song beginner-friendly?
A: Yes — if you’re comfortable with basic open-chords (G, C, D, Em) you’re in good shape. The Bm chord is a bit more advanced (barre or simplified version) but I show a simplified version in the video.
Q: Can I leave out singing?
A: Absolutely. You can use the video to learn just the guitar part if you prefer instrumental. But I encourage singing because it improves rhythm and feel.
Q: Do I have to use a capo?
A: The song sounds best with the capo on the 1st fret (to match the original key by Hudson Westbrook). If you want to play without a capo you can, but you'll be in a lower key if you are using the chords I show.

Watch the Full Tutorial Video
Here’s the lesson where I walk you through everything:

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If you enjoyed learning this song, check out more country guitar lessons on Learn Guitar Favorites! Here are a few more songs you might like:

Good Times & Tan Lines - Zach Top

Spin You Around (1/24) - Morgan Wallen