A timeless love song that works beautifully on acoustic guitar!

In this lesson, we’ll learn how to play “Have I Told You Lately” by Van Morisson using easy, familiar chord shapes with a capo on the 4th fret, making it comfortable to play and sing without complex techniques or flashy strumming. This song sounds especially great when we keep things simple and let the song breathe.

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We’ll break the song down into clear, manageable sections, starting with a straightforward verse progression built around C, E minor, F, and G. The focus is on:

Smooth chord changes
Keeping the rhythm steady
Playing in a way that supports the vocal rather than competing with it

This is a great example of how simplicity can sound musical and expressive.

Optional Chord Variations

Once the basic progression feels solid, more advanced beginners can explore a few optional ideas:

Alternative ways to play the F chord (including an easier, more open sound)
Subtle G sus-style colours that add tension without overcomplicating things
Simple embellishments that can be added only if they feel comfortable

None of these are required—the song works perfectly well without them—but they’re there if we want to experiment.

Chorus and Musical Feel

The chorus uses longer chord durations, which gives us space to:

Relax the strumming
Focus on timing and feel
Experiment gently with melody notes if we want an instrumental moment.

It’s a great lesson in restraint and control, rather than speed or complexity.

Singing Tips

This song doesn’t need big vocals to work. In fact, it often sounds best when we:

Sing lightly or “talk-sing”
Focus on phrasing rather than power
Choose a key that suits our voice

We also look at how moving or removing the capo can make the song easier to sing, depending on the vocal range.

Who This Lesson Is For

This lesson is ideal if:

We want a meaningful song that’s playable without advanced technique
We’re learning to play and sing together
We want to sound musical without overplaying

It’s a reminder that a great performance isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right amount.

👉 Ready for more? Browse hundreds of beginner-friendly tutorials organized by chords, artists, and more!