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Bulleya Guitar Lessson - Introduction
Bulleya - Introduction
Welcome to the guitar lesson on a song that carries both emotional weight and spiritual depth — Bulleya by Papon from the 2016 Bollywood film Sultan. Composed by the iconic duo Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Irshad Kamil, the song has a deep Sufi influence that speaks about longing, surrender, and redemption. Sung soulfully by Papon, the track marks a moment of emotional transformation in the film. It plays when the main character, Sultan, is trying to make peace with his past and win back the love of his life.
The song borrows its name and spirit from the famous Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. One of the standout lines in the song, “Tu bole toh ban jau main Bulleh Shah saudayi” (If you say so, I shall become Bulleh Shah’s devotee), ties the narrative to the idea of surrendering one’s ego in the face of love and higher truth. Over the years, this track has remained close to the hearts of listeners not just for its melody, but for the way it captures what it feels like to yearn — for love, for peace, and for redemption.
Bulleya Guitar Lesson
The lesson on Bulleya is taught by our expert Steve Luciano, who walks through all parts of the song with great detail and clarity. The song is in the key of A major and moves between some very expressive chords that bring out the emotional flavor of the track. You’ll encounter chords like A/E, C# minor, B major, Emaj7, Emaj9#4, and C#m7 — and while they might sound complicated, Steve breaks them down in a way that even early intermediate players can grasp. One chord that stands out is Emaj9#4, which adds a haunting character to the progression. It's a variation of the regular major chord but with extra notes that add color — the #4 gives it a dreamlike sound.
The track also uses what’s called a slash chord — like E/G# — which simply means you're playing an E major chord but starting the bass note from G#. This kind of movement helps the progression feel more connected and smooth, especially when moving between sections of the song. Steve explains how to position your fingers for these chords and offers alternate voicings if you find the originals too challenging.
One of the unique aspects of this lesson is how Steve connects the emotional flow of the song to the playing technique. It’s not just about hitting the right chords — it’s about how you play them. The strumming is soft and steady, with emphasis on dynamics to match the emotional rise and fall of the lyrics. The lesson ends with a complete demonstration of the song, making it easy for you to follow along, section by section, until you can play it smoothly from start to finish.
FAQs
Q. What level of guitarist is Bulleya suited for?
Bulleya is best suited for early intermediate players. If you’re familiar with barre chords and can handle a few extended voicings, you’ll enjoy learning this track.
Q. What tuning is used in this version of Bulleya?
The song is played in standard tuning — E A D G B E. No capo is needed.
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