“Unchained Melody” is a romantic ballad originally written in 1955 by Alex North (music) and Hy Zaret (lyrics). It was composed as the theme for the little-known prison film Unchained (hence the title). Over the years, the song has been recorded by numerous artists, but the most famous version was released by The Righteous Brothers in 1965. Their rendition, featuring Bobby Hatfield’s soaring vocals, became an enduring classic.

The song expresses deep longing and love, with lyrics describing the ache of separation and the hope of reunion. Its emotional depth and haunting melody have made it one of the most recorded and beloved love songs of all time. The song saw a resurgence in popularity in 1990 when it was featured in the film Ghost, further cementing its place in pop culture history.

Here’s how I played it… There are 6 counts in each measure (6/8 time):

1 – Pinch 4th, 2nd, and 1st string with thumb, index, and middle fingers
2 – 3rd string played with thumb
3 – 2nd string played with thumb
4 – 1st string played with middle finger
5 – 2nd string played with index finger
6 – 3rd string played with thumb

That’s how I do it, but it’s up to you if you don’t want to use your thumb that much. You could even use your thumb and three fingers and designate a different finger for each string, for example, 4th string thumb, 3rd string index, 2nd string middle finger, and 1st string ring finger. Whatever works for you.

Here’s the original from the 1955 movie “Unchained”…