Here’s an acoustic guitar lesson for How Far I’ll Go from the 2016 film Moana. I’m teaching this song in the Key of C, which requires you to add a capo 4th fret if you choose to play along with the album version. Playing it in this key (C) allows you to use much easier chords than would otherwise be required.
Here’s a lyrics & chords sheet from another teacher… which uses the same Key of C (capo 4) approach I teach. Just swap out the uke chord charts for their guitar equivalent.
Chord progressions
Four beats per measure, roughly 84 beats per minute. Every chord name and dot below represents one beat. So, you’d play C for one measure, then Dm for one measure, then Am for one measure… and so forth.
VERSE
"I've been staring at the edge of the water..."
C . . . Dm . . . Am . . . F . . .
C . . . Dm . . . Am . . . F . . .
PRE-CHORUS
"Every turn I take, every trail I track..."
Am . . . G . . . C . . . Fm . . .
CHORUS
"See the line where the sky meets the sea..."
C . . . G . . . Am . . . F . . .
C . . . G . . . Am . . . Fm . . .
Chords with lyrics
(capo 4)
C Dm
I've been staring at the edge of the water
Am F
Long as I can remember, never really knowing why
C Dm
I wish I could be the perfect daughter
Am F
But I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try
Am
.....Every turn I take, every trail I track
G
.....Every path I make, every road leads back
C
....To the place I know, where I cannot go
Fm
...Where I long to be
C G
See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me...
Am F
And no one knows... how far it goes
F G
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
Am Fm C
One day I'll know, If I go there's just no telling how far I'll go
Post-chorus riff
Totally optional, but this captures the Alessia Cara post-chorus melody. See my video lesson for context.
E —––––0––2––5––0––––
B —–3––3––3––3––2––––
G —–2––2––2––2––2––––
D —–0––0––0––0––2––––
A —–––––––––––––0––––
E —––––––––––––––––––
Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!
Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!
Looking for More Song Lessons?
Featured Courses
Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made
Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent Lessons
-
July 17, 2026
Travis Picking Essentials: 10 New Pages of PDF Guides!
-
July 16, 2026
[Updated] How I Learned to Travis Pick with John Prine ft. Clay Pigeons
-
July 3, 2026
"Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin (full song lesson)
-
June 21, 2026
Dad-Inspired Songs for Father's Day
-
June 12, 2026
"Ramble On" Acoustic Bassline Groove (Led Zeppelin)
-
June 6, 2026
Melody, with Chords: "Love Me Tender"
-
June 5, 2026
"Love Me Tender" as played by Elvis Presley
-
May 29, 2026
Learning Triads with "Happy Birthday" (Key of G)
-
May 19, 2026
Guitar Jam Tracks: How I Make Them!
