Carefree Highway

by Gordon Lightfoot • Lesson #545 • Mar 30, 2024

In today’s lesson I’ll teach you how to play Gordon Lightfoot’s Carefree Highway (1975). I’m using an arrangement with capo on the 2nd fret, which has us using chord shapes in the Key of D. I’ll begin by teaching the easiest possible way to play things, cutting a few of the tricky corners that may prove too difficult for beginners.

If you’re looking for the full version Lightfoot plays, stick around for the end of the lesson where I’ll demonstrate. This one goes out to Song Notes supporter Richie - who emailed asking for any tips on simplifying some of the trickier chords. Richie, and everyone else watching – I hope this helps!

0:00 Lesson Overview
2:36 Intro
4:04 Verse
8:27 Chorus
10:51 Advanced Tips

Lesson Discussion

Practice Notes 5 pages

Song Sheet with Lyrics

I have not yet made a licensed song sheet for this song - but here’s a recommended arrangement I found online, with lyrics and chords that match the arrangement I teach.

Extended Video Lessons

How I Changed the Key (from C to D)

If you’re curious, here’s the process of me changing this key’s song – shown in real time. Be sure to check out my PDF guide showing the Most Common Chords in Each Key, which is what I am using in the the video below.

Zoomed Playthrough - Simple Version

This shows the easiest possible way to play things - with no fast chord changes.

Zoomed Playthrough - Full Version

Largely the same as the simple version, but with slightly more advanced parts in a few places (all of which are highlighted in gold). It’s not required to play like this, but it will sound a tad bit more like Gordon.

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!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Recently Added

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

While your left hand is busy learning chords, your right hand has its own job: creating a sense of rhythm with strumming! This can be tricky at first, but there's so much fun-to-be-had once you get over the hump. Here's a guide to get you started.

17 lessons

View

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Dive into the basics of fingerstyle guitar, with plenty of examples of riffs, exercises, and songs that put this technique to use. This includes a healthy serving of Travis Picking lessons, which feature an alternating bass note played with your right thumb.

31 lessons

View

Blues Starter Kit

A guide to must-know elements of beginner blues guitar! I'll walk you through the essential topics, showing you fun things to play along the way.

18 lessons

View

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learn to read tabs, chord charts, fretboard diagrams, strumming patterns, and more! This course explains how to understand all of these must-know notation styles.

6 lessons

View

Learning Lead Guitar

A collection of videos teaching you licks, riffs, solos, and other lead guitar techniques! Includes info on scales, CAGED shapes, and other helpful lead guitar concepts.

24 lessons

View

Beginner Chord Guide

A guide to the must-know chords you'll need when getting started with guitar! The quickest way to learn major chords, minor chords, the chords in each key, and more.

22 lessons

View

Practical Music Theory

A general overview of must-know theory concepts. The goal here is practical, easy-to-understand explanations — all of which provide clarity to your everyday guitar playing.

12 lessons

View

Using a Capo

Capos are incredibly helpful if you want to play along with your favorite artist, change a song's key, adjust things to your vocal range, and so on. In this series of videos I explain all this & more!

8 lessons

View

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

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

November 15, 2024

"Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead

Let's dive into the 1974 classic from the Dead, with an acoustic-friendly arrangement using Key of G chords! I also show how you can include the catchy riffs wherever they occur, which is great way to channel the full spirit of this song.
November 12, 2024

Does CAGED Help When Learning Songs?

A quick audience Q&A video, where I talk about how CAGED helps (or does not help) when learning songs. Featuring the main riff from Scarlet Begonias by the Grateful Dead, which I'll be teaching soon!
November 8, 2024

Rhythm Deep Dive: "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle

Watch the process of me transcribing the rhtyhm of an incredibly tricky song! All shown in real time, in writing. Featuring "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle.
Nov 1, 2024

Website Tour – November 2024

A look at the state of the Song Notes website, as of November 2024. I've been working on more than just new lessons... check out the latest updates here!
Oct 24, 2024

"Fast Car" - Strumming & Rhythm Guide!

I've gotten a ton of emails asking how to strum Fast Car — here's a lesson showing 3 possible approaches! You can strum the whole song using what I teach, or combine this with the fingerstyle riff from lesson #494.
October 18, 2024

CAGED - It's More Than Just Chords!

Learn how each CAGED shape contains not only a chord, but also an arpeggio, pentatonic, and full diatonic scale! This is a must-know realization that'll level up any practice you do with these shapes.
October 3, 2024

Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee"

In honor of Kris Kristofferson's passing, here's a brand new play-along cover of his 1971 classic Me and Bobby McGee – with some updated strumming tips included.
September 27, 2024

Paul Simon Fingerstyle with "59th Street Bridge Song"

Let's dive into Simon & Garfunkfel's 1966 hit, where I'll walk you through several ways to tackle Paul Simon's Travis-style fingerpicking.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage

Carefree Highway

Lesson Discussion

Practice Notes 5 pages

Song Sheet with Lyrics

Extended Video Lessons

How I Changed the Key (from C to D)

Zoomed Playthrough - Simple Version

Zoomed Playthrough - Full Version

Other Videos of Note

Album Recording from “Gord’s Gold” (1975)

Lesson Teaching the Solo

Related Lessons I’ve Made

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Strumming & Rhythm

Fingerstyle & Travis Picking

Blues Starter Kit

Reading Music for Guitarists

Learning Lead Guitar

Beginner Chord Guide

Practical Music Theory

Using a Capo

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Key Master

Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons