If you're looking for a song that’s both catchy and easy to play, 'Riptide' is a gem. The chords—Am, G, C, F—are straightforward, but the magic lies in the rhythm. I like to emphasize the off-beats to mimic the ukulele’s bouncy feel. Some tutorials suggest a capo on the 1st fret, but I prefer playing it open; it sounds warmer to me. The bridge’s slight variation (C, G, Am, F) adds just enough contrast without derailing the simplicity. It’s one of those tunes that feels like an old friend after just a few tries.
Learning 'Riptide' on the guitar was one of those moments that made me fall in love with folk-pop music. The song's simplicity is its charm, and the chords are beginner-friendly but still carry so much emotion. The main progression goes like this: Am, G, C, and F. That’s it! The verse and chorus both follow this pattern, which makes it easy to pick up quickly. I remember strumming along to Vance Joy’s ukulele version first, then switching to guitar—the transition felt seamless because the chords translate so well.
What’s fun about 'Riptide' is how versatile it is. You can play it with a steady downstroke strum for a punchy feel or go for a fingerpicking pattern to soften it up. I sometimes add a capo on the 1st fret to match the original key, but it works just as well without. The bridge shifts to C, G, Am, F, which keeps things fresh without complicating the flow. Honestly, it’s the perfect campfire song—easy to teach, impossible to forget, and always a crowd-pleaser. The first time I played it for friends, we ended up singing it three times in a row.
2026-05-06 20:35:22
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During a family dinner, the older relatives smiled and encouraged Dylan Jenkin and me to sit together.
But once I sat down, he casually turned away and settled beside my stepsister, Ivy Langford.
One of the elders said teasingly, “Aren’t you and Nina joined at the hip? We thought you two might make it official today. Why aren’t you sitting together?”
Dylan chuckled and poured Ivy a cup of tea.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. Nina and I are just close friends,” he said with calm and casual ease.
His gaze swept over me without a hint of affection. Then, he turned to Ivy beside him. His voice grew gentler as he said, “I’ve always liked girls like Ivy.”
Laughter echoed around the table, yet a chill settled into my heart.
No one knew that we had been secretly dating for three years. After countless nights in each other’s arms, he reassured me that he would tell the family about us once his older brother had a girlfriend. He said they might see his brother as irresponsible and immature if he revealed his relationship first.
I finally saw the truth behind those excuses: he simply did not love me.
I forced a smile and nodded along with his words. “Yes, we’re just friends.”
Dylan exhaled in relief. He was clearly pleased with my response.
He had no idea that I was not actually playing along. With those final words, I stopped holding on and gave up on our secret relationship.
Life was easy and happy until she met her mate. There is a ritual in the Crismon red pack that Once you find your mate you have to mark and accept them willingly but Once the head alpha finds his mate, his Luna, he can't reject her. Otherwise, the rejected mate has to bear the consequences. She never thought her mate would reject her and let her live in hell.
Arvan Black, the head Alpha of the Crismon red pack is very dominant and a big bad wolf. Even Lycans are afraid of him. He is a true blood alpha. He expects his mate to be a powerful alpha or beta female. He never thought that a weak omega would be his mate. It crushed his ego and his respect. He thought she couldn't satisfy his needs and protect the whole pack with him.
Rose Lee, the mate of the head alpha. She knew how to struggle but never thought she had to survive her mate's rejection. She promised herself that she would never forgive the alpha who rejected her mercilessly.
BUT little did they know
FATE HAD ANOTHER PLAN FOR THEM!
I’ll teach ya how to be the most vicious version of yourself you’ll ever know. I can make ya the strongest you’ve ever been. Mind an’ body. An upgrade to evolution, as it were. Most importantly, when you’re ready, you’ll go home to the ones who love ya the most. The ones needin’ ya the most, and you’ll be able to take care of them. I can give you what you need to be at the top of the food chain. Do ya agree to stay and learn from me, Riley Coyle? Agree to train to be an apex predator?”
“Tare care of the ones who love me the most. You mean Ainsley?”
“I mean Ainsley.” He nods.
I search his eyes for a lie. There are none. He’s serious, or at least he believes his own bullshit and I’ll have to settle for that. In my mind, there’s not even another option. If staying here somehow gets me back to Ainsley, then I’ll do what it takes. “Yeah. I agree to stay and do whatever I need to do to go home alive.”
Maeve Sinclair learned the hard way that love can be the cruelest of prisons.
After years of running from her traumatic past and the three men who never stopped loving her, she is kidnapped and wakes up tied up in a presidential suite on a luxurious cruise ship at sea. Her captors? The same ones she tried to forget:
Zion Brooks — the famous singer with a seductive voice and explosive temper, who hides a dark side, part of the mafia underworld.
Luka Rhodes — the brilliant music producer who hides a dangerous life in the Irish mafia alongside Declan Callahan.
Elias Voss — the ex-military man and boxer, silent, lethal, and obsessively protective.
Trapped together for seven nights in the middle of the Caribbean, the three are willing to do anything to break down the walls Maeve has built around her heart. They feed her, protect her, tease her… and tie her up when necessary. Because for them, Maeve had always belonged to them — from that unforgettable night on the beach, from the conception of Matthew, the eleven-year-old son she raised alone while hiding secrets capable of destroying them all.
Between luxury, forbidden desire, and suffocating possessiveness, Maeve fights against her own body and against the unhealthy love she feels for them. But the more she resists, the closer the three get to truths she swore to take to the grave: the abuse from her father that still haunts her, the depression that almost destroyed her as a mother, and the paralyzing fear that her love is poison to everyone around her.
On a cruise where there is no escape, Maeve discovers that the real prison was never the silk ropes…
It was their love.
Jude Queens never believed in fairytales—until Malachi Flynn crashed into his world with a grin like summer and a spike that could stop time. Bound by their shared love for volleyball, their chemistry burned bright and fast, leaving everything else in the shadows. But just as Jude opened his heart, Malachi vanished without a word.
Two years later, Malachi returns—older, familiar, and still devastatingly magnetic. The moment they lock eyes, the ache returns. So does the desire. But buried beneath Malachi’s smile are secrets that could shatter them both.
Torn between anger and longing, Jude must decide: can he forgive the boy who left him in pieces, or is some pain too deep to heal?
“Why Did You Leave Me When I Needed You Most?” is a sizzling, tender story of second chances, the scars we carry, and the hope that love—real, soul-deep love—can echo back stronger than before.
******
“Do I truly have no effect on you, Delia?” Rafe’s voice was low and husky as he slowly drew her into his embrace. His fingers trailed down the curve of her spine, igniting a spark that sent a shiver racing through her body.
As she sucked in her breath, unable to tear her gaze away from him, he leaned in closer, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of her neck.
“Does this not feel good?” he murmured, his warm breath fanning her damp skin.
Delia remained silent, unable to form a coherent response as he trailed his mouth to hers, slowly capturing her lips in a searing kiss.
*******
Delia Scott is seeking refuge from her troubled past on the tranquil shores of St. John, unaware that the moment she steps foot on the island, her fate is sealed. She is the destined mate of Raphael “Rafe” Donovan—the enigmatic and formidable Alpha of the Nightclaw Pack, one of the largest Coastal Wolves Pack.
Rafe, rules with an iron fist and works tirelessly to maintain the delicate balance between the humans and werewolves that reside in St. John. After years of believing his fated mate was nothing more than a lost dream, Delia’s arrival changes everything. And now that he’s found her, he will stop at nothing to keep her by his side.
As their destinies collide, Rafe and Delia find themselves ensnared in a tempest of desire and longing, each grappling with the depths of their emotions. But beneath the sun-drenched paradise, a sinister threat looms, waiting to tear them apart. And when a third player enters the game, questions arise—Is Delia truly meant for Rafe, or was she never his to claim?
Riptide by Vance Joy is one of those songs that instantly puts me in a good mood every time I hear it. The ukulele-driven folk-pop vibe translates surprisingly well to guitar, and it’s actually a great song for beginners to learn because of its simple chord progression and catchy rhythm. The song is played in standard tuning (EADGBE), and the main chords you’ll need are Am, G, C, and F. The strumming pattern is where the magic happens—it’s got this bouncy, syncopated feel that mimics the original ukulele version. I like to down-strum on the beat and then add little up-strums to give it that light, skipping rhythm. It takes a bit of practice to get the flow right, but once it clicks, it’s super satisfying to play.
If you want to add some flair, try incorporating the little hammer-on lick that Vance Joy plays during the verse. It’s just a quick hammer from the open G string to the second fret (A note) while holding an Am chord. The chorus is where the energy picks up, and you can really lean into the strumming to make it feel more dynamic. The F chord might be tricky if you’re new to barre chords, but you can cheat it by playing Fmaj7 (just the top four strings) if needed. I remember struggling with the timing at first, but playing along with the original track helped me lock into the groove. Honestly, mastering 'Riptide' feels like unlocking a gateway to so many other indie-folk tunes—it’s that perfect blend of simplicity and charm.
The tempo of 'Riptide' by Vance Joy is around 102 beats per minute (BPM), which gives it this breezy, foot-tapping feel that's perfect for road trips or lazy afternoons. It's not too fast, not too slow—just this sweet spot where the ukulele strums and his vocals glide effortlessly. I love how the rhythm mirrors the song's theme of being swept up in emotions, like a gentle current pulling you along.
What's cool is how the tempo complements the storytelling. The steady pace lets Vance Joy's lyrics shine, especially those vivid images like 'Lady, running down to the riptide.' It feels like a carefree sprint, but with enough room to breathe. I've noticed it's one of those songs that instantly lifts my mood, maybe because the tempo makes it impossible not to sway a little.