Hiroshi Masuda (also known by his online handle peacejoytown) is highly regarded for his delicate fingerstyle guitar arrangements of classic pop and movie themes.
Finding his tabs can be tricky because he primarily shares them through a private Supporter’s Area on his website or via Patreon, and many third-party sites have removed them due to copyright requests. Popular Fingerstyle Pieces by Hiroshi Masuda
If you are looking for specific pieces to learn, these are his most famous arrangements:
"Moon River" (from Breakfast at Tiffany's): One of his most-viewed arrangements, featuring a lush, flowing fingerstyle pattern.
"Imagine" (John Lennon): A minimalist and soulful arrangement included in his album Good Day Sunshine.
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (The Beatles): Specifically his arrangement of the "Anthology" version, which focuses on melodic clarity.
"American Tune" (Paul Simon): A technically challenging piece that highlights his precision.
"Both Sides Now" (Joni Mitchell): Arranged in the key of A, this piece is known for its beautiful harmonic movement. Where to Find Tabs
Since many free versions have been taken down, here are the official and reliable ways to access his work:
Hiroshi Masuda’s Official Facebook/Website: He frequently updates his Facebook page with links to his Supporter's Area, where he hosts high-quality PDF scores and tabs.
YouTube (peacejoytown): You can watch his performances on his YouTube channel to learn by ear or observe his finger positioning. hiroshi masuda guitar tabs
Songsterr: Some of his arrangements, like those for popular Beatles tracks, occasionally appear on Songsterr, though these are often user-generated. Important Distinction
Do not confuse Hiroshi Masuda (fingerstyle arranger) with Toshio Masuda, who is the composer for the Naruto soundtrack. If you are looking for pieces like "Sadness and Sorrow," you should search for "Toshio Masuda" tabs instead. Hiroshi Masuda Guitar Tabs | Songsterr Tabs with Rhythm
74 let ring let ring C G/B. 75 Chorus (Instrumental) = 84 Am7 Em7/D. 76 D. 77 Am7 Em/D. 78 D C/D D. 79 Am7 Em7/D. 80 D O - o - o - www.songsterr.com Hiroshi Masuda
To master Hiroshi Masuda's intricate fingerstyle arrangements, you should focus on his specialized fingerpicking technique and official resource channels. Masuda, also known as peacejoytown, is widely celebrated for his Beatles arrangements and his rhythmic, "rock-guitarist" precision applied to acoustic fingerstyle. 1. Official Sources for Tabs
The most reliable way to obtain accurate, high-quality tabs is through Masuda's own platforms:
Supporter’s Area: Most of his professional-grade scores and tabs (e.g., Imagine, Help!, The Sound of Silence) are hosted in a dedicated Supporter's Area on his website.
Direct CD Orders: His arrangements for albums like Good Day Sunshine often have corresponding scores available for purchase or through his official website.
YouTube Video Descriptions: Masuda frequently includes links to specific tab locations or contact information in his YouTube video descriptions. 2. Community & Free Tab Archives
If you are looking for community-contributed or interactive tabs, check these sites:
Songsterr: Provides interactive tabs with rhythm for some of his popular arrangements, such as Alone Again (Naturally) and Stairway to Heaven. Hiroshi Masuda (also known by his online handle
Fingerstyle Guitar Tabs (Blog): Sites like anagiollo.wordpress have occasionally hosted collections of his Beatles fingerstyle tabs. 3. Learning His Playing Style
Masuda’s style differs from traditional classical guitar through its "rhythmic precision" and specific tonal production.
Key Techniques: He often utilizes slow picking and close-up views in his tutorial videos to help students follow complex chord shapes and movements.
Tutorials: Dedicated lesson videos, such as the one for Sukiyaki, break down his arrangements with "VideoTabs" and slow-motion picking guides.
Equipment: He is known to use high-end instruments like Jeffrey Yong or Jose Ramirez guitars, often employing standard tuning or a capo (e.g., 5th fret for J'attendrai) to achieve his signature bright, clear tone. Recommended Starting Songs
Sukiyaki: Excellent for learning his use of close-ups and slow picking guides.
Help! (The Beatles): A great introduction to his rhythmic "pop" fingerstyle approach.
Imagine (John Lennon): A melodic piece that showcases his ability to blend multiple parts into a single arrangement. hiroshi masuda free tabs - Fingerstyle guitar Tabs
Hiroshi Masuda (also known as peacejoytown ) is a Japanese fingerstyle guitarist renowned for his delicate solo arrangements of pop, rock, and folk classics. His guitar tabs and sheet music are primarily distributed through his own official platforms and community-driven archives. Where to Find Hiroshi Masuda Tabs Official Supporter's Area
: Masuda hosts the majority of his arrangements, including scores and tabs for songs like "Imagine," "All You Need Is Love," and "Take Me Home Country Road," on his official website Prefer positions that minimize string shifts for smooth
: Community-uploaded versions of his arrangements, most notably for "Stairway to Heaven," are available for interactive playback on
: You can find PDF sheet music for his arrangements, such as "April Come She Will," uploaded by users on : His channel peacejoytown
features video demonstrations of his arrangements. Some instructional videos by third-party creators, like those for his "Sukiyaki" arrangement, also include integrated video tabs. Notable Arrangements
Masuda has arranged a wide catalog of songs, often characterized by standard tuning and the use of capos to match specific vocal or tonal ranges: All You Need Is Love (Fingerstyle Guitar) Hiroshi Masuda
Learn more · Sign in. This content isn't available. Support: https://www.paypal.com by Lennon & McCartney ------------- The score/ peacejoytown SUKIYAKI - HIROSHI MASUDA fingerstyle GUITAR LESSON
Occasionally, independent arrangers post their own versions. Be careful: these are often arrangements of Masuda, not Masuda’s original compositions. Read the description to ensure it says "As performed by Hiroshi Masuda."
Masuda’s right hand is a split-brain marvel. His thumb (p) plays a walking bass line on the E and A strings, while his index (i), middle (m), and ring (a) play melodic lines on the G, B, and high E. Tab Tip: When you see a measure with a bass note on beat 1, a chord on the "and" of 2, and a melody note on beat 3—that is not a typo. That is Masuda. Practice the bass line alone, then the melody alone. Combine at 50% tempo.
It is a common frustration among fingerstyle enthusiasts. You search for a tab, and all you find are low-quality text files on ultimate-guitar.com or a synthesia-style video that moves too fast to follow.
There are a few reasons for this scarcity:
If you read basic Japanese (or use a translator), search for “増田浩司 ギタータブ” (Hiroshi Masuda guitar tab) on Niconico or FC2 Blog. Some retired guitarists share their personal transcriptions as images. The quality varies, but you can occasionally find gems like a full tab for “Sora No Tori” with fret-hand fingerings indicated.
Before hunting for tabs, you should know which pieces offer the best educational return. Here are four cornerstone works, ranked by difficulty.