Chords for How To Play John Denver Today (intro only)
Tempo:
139.5 bpm
Chords used:
Eb
Ab
Fm
B
F
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[N]
Today is capoed at [Eb] fret 3 [Ab] and we're playing [Fm] chord shapes [Ab] in the key of D.
And we're in 3 beats to the bar.
Almost every [B] bar in this song counts [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
[Ab] So unless I tell you [Eb] otherwise, a bar is always counting [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
And almost no bars in the song change that, so I'll just tell you [Eb] the ones that change it.
[Ab]
Let's take it 4 bars at a time.
The intro is [B] quite long, so here are bars, technically 1 to 5 of your tab,
but I'll just leave it at that [G] because bar 1 is [E] just a little one note [F] pick up.
[Gm]
[C]
[Ab] So hold down a D chord.
Bar [Fm] 1 is just this pick up of the 3rd [Eb] string of the 2nd [Fm] fret.
Just leading us into the main pattern.
[Ab] And then at bar 2 [Eb] we've got a D chord and he adds the 1st string of the 5th fret.
That's quite a stretch.
[Ab] Let your thumb drop down [Eb] the back of the neck, let the wrist rock forward to open that [B] hand up,
the fretting hand up, [Fm] and stretch that little finger out while still holding the D chord.
[Ab] If you can't do [B] that, by the way, we're about to pinch 4 and 1 [F] out of that shape.
If you can't do that, [Eb] then pinch 4 and 1 with 1 [E] back at the 2nd fret in normal D [Fm] shape.
So 4 and 1, 2, 3, 2, then little finger away, 3 and 1 together, [D] and then 3 and [Eb] 1 open.
[F]
At bar [Fm] 3 we want a B [Ab] minor chord, but it's a partial [Eb] B minor shape.
It's B minor without the bar.
So you've just got this [E] part with fingers 2, 3 and 4.
And [Fm] you need to use 2, 3 and 4 for this.
[Cm] We're going [Eb] to pinch 4 and [Dm] 2, 3, [Eb] 1 which should be [G] open, [Eb] 3, 1 at the 2nd [B] fret, that's why you need your index finger free,
[Dm] [B] and 3 and your tab says open and it may well be open because you can hear on the record John Denver [Eb] plays it open
because he's about to move into the E minor shape that comes next.
[F]
[G] [Dm]
[B] Now for E minor he plays a slightly unusual shape.
First string [Ab] 3rd fret, second string 5th fret, pinch 6 and 1, [Gm] 3, 2, 3, [Ab] 2 at the 3rd fret, I let the index finger go back [Fm] there, and [Bb] 3.
[Gm]
And now at bar 5 [Eb] make an A chord, [C] 5 and 2, [Cm] 3, 4, [Fm] 2 at the 3rd fret, [Eb] 1 should be open, 2 again at [Fm] the 3rd fret.
I think from listening to him playing this that that [F] last note, the 2 at the 3rd fret, actually you might have already formed the [Eb] D chord shape [E] at that point.
I [Ab] don't do that, I play it out of the A shape, but you feel what works better for you.
You can go back to that D chord [E] just that half beat [Cm] early.
1 and 2 and 3 and, [Fm] then it'll go back to D in the [B] next bar.
But we're [Fm] taking this 4 bars at a time, so here are those [Ab] first 5 bars because [G] of the pickup bar, slowly.
[F] [Dm]
Today is capoed at [Eb] fret 3 [Ab] and we're playing [Fm] chord shapes [Ab] in the key of D.
And we're in 3 beats to the bar.
Almost every [B] bar in this song counts [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
[Ab] So unless I tell you [Eb] otherwise, a bar is always counting [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
And almost no bars in the song change that, so I'll just tell you [Eb] the ones that change it.
[Ab]
Let's take it 4 bars at a time.
The intro is [B] quite long, so here are bars, technically 1 to 5 of your tab,
but I'll just leave it at that [G] because bar 1 is [E] just a little one note [F] pick up.
[Gm]
[C]
[Ab] So hold down a D chord.
Bar [Fm] 1 is just this pick up of the 3rd [Eb] string of the 2nd [Fm] fret.
Just leading us into the main pattern.
[Ab] And then at bar 2 [Eb] we've got a D chord and he adds the 1st string of the 5th fret.
That's quite a stretch.
[Ab] Let your thumb drop down [Eb] the back of the neck, let the wrist rock forward to open that [B] hand up,
the fretting hand up, [Fm] and stretch that little finger out while still holding the D chord.
[Ab] If you can't do [B] that, by the way, we're about to pinch 4 and 1 [F] out of that shape.
If you can't do that, [Eb] then pinch 4 and 1 with 1 [E] back at the 2nd fret in normal D [Fm] shape.
So 4 and 1, 2, 3, 2, then little finger away, 3 and 1 together, [D] and then 3 and [Eb] 1 open.
[F]
At bar [Fm] 3 we want a B [Ab] minor chord, but it's a partial [Eb] B minor shape.
It's B minor without the bar.
So you've just got this [E] part with fingers 2, 3 and 4.
And [Fm] you need to use 2, 3 and 4 for this.
[Cm] We're going [Eb] to pinch 4 and [Dm] 2, 3, [Eb] 1 which should be [G] open, [Eb] 3, 1 at the 2nd [B] fret, that's why you need your index finger free,
[Dm] [B] and 3 and your tab says open and it may well be open because you can hear on the record John Denver [Eb] plays it open
because he's about to move into the E minor shape that comes next.
[F]
[G] [Dm]
[B] Now for E minor he plays a slightly unusual shape.
First string [Ab] 3rd fret, second string 5th fret, pinch 6 and 1, [Gm] 3, 2, 3, [Ab] 2 at the 3rd fret, I let the index finger go back [Fm] there, and [Bb] 3.
[Gm]
And now at bar 5 [Eb] make an A chord, [C] 5 and 2, [Cm] 3, 4, [Fm] 2 at the 3rd fret, [Eb] 1 should be open, 2 again at [Fm] the 3rd fret.
I think from listening to him playing this that that [F] last note, the 2 at the 3rd fret, actually you might have already formed the [Eb] D chord shape [E] at that point.
I [Ab] don't do that, I play it out of the A shape, but you feel what works better for you.
You can go back to that D chord [E] just that half beat [Cm] early.
1 and 2 and 3 and, [Fm] then it'll go back to D in the [B] next bar.
But we're [Fm] taking this 4 bars at a time, so here are those [Ab] first 5 bars because [G] of the pickup bar, slowly.
[F] [Dm]
Key:
Eb
Ab
Fm
B
F
Eb
Ab
Fm
[N] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Today is capoed at [Eb] fret 3 [Ab] and we're playing [Fm] chord shapes [Ab] in the key of D.
And we're in 3 beats to the bar.
Almost every [B] bar in this song counts [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
_ _ _ [Ab] So unless I tell you [Eb] otherwise, a bar is always counting [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
_ And almost no bars in the song change that, so I'll just tell you [Eb] the ones that change it.
_ [Ab] _ _
Let's take it 4 bars at a time.
The intro is [B] quite long, so here are bars, technically 1 to 5 of your tab,
but I'll just leave it at that [G] because bar 1 is [E] just a little one note [F] pick up. _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [Ab] So hold down a D chord.
Bar [Fm] 1 is just this pick up of the 3rd [Eb] string of the 2nd [Fm] fret.
Just leading us into the main pattern. _ _
[Ab] And then at bar 2 [Eb] we've got a D chord and he adds the 1st string of the 5th fret.
That's quite a stretch.
[Ab] Let your thumb drop down [Eb] the back of the neck, let the wrist rock forward to open that [B] hand up,
the fretting hand up, [Fm] and stretch that little finger out while still holding the D chord.
[Ab] If you can't do [B] that, by the way, we're about to pinch 4 and 1 [F] out of that shape.
If you can't do that, [Eb] then pinch 4 and 1 with 1 [E] back at the 2nd fret in normal D [Fm] shape.
So 4 and 1, _ 2, 3, 2, then little finger away, 3 and 1 together, [D] _ _ and then 3 and [Eb] 1 open.
_ _ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ At bar [Fm] 3 we want a B [Ab] minor chord, but it's a partial [Eb] B minor shape.
It's B minor without the bar.
So you've just got this [E] part with fingers 2, 3 and 4.
And [Fm] you need to use 2, 3 and 4 for this.
[Cm] We're going [Eb] to pinch 4 and [Dm] 2, _ 3, [Eb] 1 which should be [G] open, _ [Eb] 3, _ 1 at the 2nd [B] fret, that's why you need your index finger free,
[Dm] _ [B] and 3 and your tab says open and it may well be open because you can hear on the record John Denver [Eb] plays it open
because he's about to move into the E minor shape that comes next.
_ _ [F] _ _
[G] _ _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [B] Now for E minor he plays a slightly unusual shape.
First string [Ab] 3rd fret, second string 5th fret, pinch 6 and 1, [Gm] _ _ 3, 2, _ 3, [Ab] 2 at the 3rd fret, I let the index finger go back [Fm] there, and [Bb] 3. _
_ _ _ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ And now at bar 5 [Eb] make an A chord, [C] 5 and 2, [Cm] 3, _ 4, [Fm] 2 at the 3rd fret, _ _ [Eb] 1 should be open, 2 again at [Fm] the 3rd fret.
I think from listening to him playing this that that [F] last note, the 2 at the 3rd fret, actually you might have already formed the [Eb] D chord shape [E] at that point.
I [Ab] don't do that, I play it out of the A shape, but you feel what works better for you.
You can go back to that D chord [E] just that half beat [Cm] early.
_ 1 and 2 and 3 and, [Fm] then it'll go back to D in the [B] next bar.
But we're [Fm] taking this 4 bars at a time, so here are those [Ab] first 5 bars because [G] of the pickup bar, slowly.
_ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [Dm] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Today is capoed at [Eb] fret 3 [Ab] and we're playing [Fm] chord shapes [Ab] in the key of D.
And we're in 3 beats to the bar.
Almost every [B] bar in this song counts [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
_ _ _ [Ab] So unless I tell you [Eb] otherwise, a bar is always counting [F] 1 and 2 and 3 and.
_ And almost no bars in the song change that, so I'll just tell you [Eb] the ones that change it.
_ [Ab] _ _
Let's take it 4 bars at a time.
The intro is [B] quite long, so here are bars, technically 1 to 5 of your tab,
but I'll just leave it at that [G] because bar 1 is [E] just a little one note [F] pick up. _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [Ab] So hold down a D chord.
Bar [Fm] 1 is just this pick up of the 3rd [Eb] string of the 2nd [Fm] fret.
Just leading us into the main pattern. _ _
[Ab] And then at bar 2 [Eb] we've got a D chord and he adds the 1st string of the 5th fret.
That's quite a stretch.
[Ab] Let your thumb drop down [Eb] the back of the neck, let the wrist rock forward to open that [B] hand up,
the fretting hand up, [Fm] and stretch that little finger out while still holding the D chord.
[Ab] If you can't do [B] that, by the way, we're about to pinch 4 and 1 [F] out of that shape.
If you can't do that, [Eb] then pinch 4 and 1 with 1 [E] back at the 2nd fret in normal D [Fm] shape.
So 4 and 1, _ 2, 3, 2, then little finger away, 3 and 1 together, [D] _ _ and then 3 and [Eb] 1 open.
_ _ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ At bar [Fm] 3 we want a B [Ab] minor chord, but it's a partial [Eb] B minor shape.
It's B minor without the bar.
So you've just got this [E] part with fingers 2, 3 and 4.
And [Fm] you need to use 2, 3 and 4 for this.
[Cm] We're going [Eb] to pinch 4 and [Dm] 2, _ 3, [Eb] 1 which should be [G] open, _ [Eb] 3, _ 1 at the 2nd [B] fret, that's why you need your index finger free,
[Dm] _ [B] and 3 and your tab says open and it may well be open because you can hear on the record John Denver [Eb] plays it open
because he's about to move into the E minor shape that comes next.
_ _ [F] _ _
[G] _ _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [B] Now for E minor he plays a slightly unusual shape.
First string [Ab] 3rd fret, second string 5th fret, pinch 6 and 1, [Gm] _ _ 3, 2, _ 3, [Ab] 2 at the 3rd fret, I let the index finger go back [Fm] there, and [Bb] 3. _
_ _ _ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ And now at bar 5 [Eb] make an A chord, [C] 5 and 2, [Cm] 3, _ 4, [Fm] 2 at the 3rd fret, _ _ [Eb] 1 should be open, 2 again at [Fm] the 3rd fret.
I think from listening to him playing this that that [F] last note, the 2 at the 3rd fret, actually you might have already formed the [Eb] D chord shape [E] at that point.
I [Ab] don't do that, I play it out of the A shape, but you feel what works better for you.
You can go back to that D chord [E] just that half beat [Cm] early.
_ 1 and 2 and 3 and, [Fm] then it'll go back to D in the [B] next bar.
But we're [Fm] taking this 4 bars at a time, so here are those [Ab] first 5 bars because [G] of the pickup bar, slowly.
_ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [Dm] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _