West Coast

Lana Del Rey’s “West Coast” is a dreamy, melancholic ode to California. Released in 2014, it quickly became a summer anthem — with its laid-back vibe and nostalgic lyrics. The song captures the essence of longing, love, and the allure of the West Coast lifestyle. The song was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

This is my favorite song by Lana Del Rey. As a musician, I am continually stunned by her unmistakable sound and aesthetic. The lazy croon. The spring-reverb guitars. Lana is a true American original.

I originally posted this piece way back in 2014, but I’ve updated the performance and guitar tab for 2024.

You might also like to play…
(some other Lana Del Rey arrangements)

Salvatore | fingerstyle guitar + TAB

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How to play West Coast | fingerstyle guitar

The guitar tab for this arrangement is beautifully written across 3 pages. It’s an involved guitar piece, but relatively easy to play. I did my best to keep the chord positions as simple as possible. Enjoy, the tab is available below:

My song structure looks like this, in accordance with the guitar tab:

Intro, Verse 2x, Pre Chorus,

Chorus 2x, Chorus End

Intro, Verse 2x, Pre Chorus,

Chorus 2x, Chorus End

**Lana Del Rey: West Coast | fingerstyle guitar

West Coast is played in standard tuning with a capo on the 2nd fret.