Premium
VIP
Beta Tester
Chords needed for 99% of the song
You’ll need to be able to play these chords. The C#m is most certainly going to the hardest of these, especially if you’ve never played barre chords before. If this vexes you, stay tuned – you can likely fake your way through the song and pull off the C#m without barring the full 4th fret.
E ––––0–––––4–––––0–––––0–––––
B ––––0–––––5–––––2–––––0–––––
G ––––1–––––6–––––2–––––2–––––
D ––––2–––––6–––––2–––––2–––––
A ––––2–––––4–––––0–––––0–––––
E ––––0–––––––––––––––––––––––
E C#m A Asus2
Main progression
Pretty much the entire song uses this riff. You’re on each of these chords for a single measure (basically 4 counts), but what makes things interesting is how you’re only plucking 3 of the stirngs for each chord.
E –|–––––––––––––––|––––––––(4)––––|–––––––––––––––|––––––––––(0)––|–
B –|–––––––––––––––|––5––––––––––––|––2––0–––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–
G –|––1––––––––––––|––6––––––––––––|––2––2–––––––––|––1––––––––––––|–
D –|––2––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–
A –|–––––––––––––––|––4––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–
E –|––0––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–
E C#m A E
Understand that for each chord above, your left hand should be in the normal position for that chord:
E –|––0––––––––––––|––4––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–
B –|––0––––––––––––|––5––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–
G –|––1––––––––––––|––6––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––|––1––––––––––––|–
D –|––2––––––––––––|––6––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––|–
A –|––2––––––––––––|––4––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|––2––––––––––––|–
E –|––0––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––|––0––––––––––––|–
E C#m A E
But on your picking hand, your fingers are only targeting the strings that need to be played.
For the E,
E ––(0)–––
B ––(0)–––
G –––1–––– <-- right middle finger
D –––2–––– <-- right index finger
A ––(2)–––
E –––0–––– <-- right thumb
E
For the C#m,
E ––(4)–––
B –––5–––– <-- right middle finger
G –––6–––– <-- right index finger
D ––(6)–––
A –––4–––– <-- right thumb
E ––––––––
C#m
For the A,
E ––(0)–––
B –––2–––– <-- right middle finger
G –––2–––– <-- right index finger
D ––(2)–––
A –––0–––– <-- right thumb
E ––––––––
A
And so on. Feel free to slightly deviate from these tabs if you wish (it sounds like Micahel Tyler does from time to time).
Bridge chords
You’ll also need an F#m and B chords for the bridge (in addition to a C#m, which is shown above). Use the same strumming / fingerpicking approach shown above for those chords. If you can’t play a regular B, you can sub in a B7.
–––2––––2––––2––––
–––2––––4––––0––––
–––2––––4––––2––––
–––4––––4––––1––––
–––4––––2––––2––––
–––2––––––––––––––
F#m B B7
Browse Related Lessons
Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:
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
-
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!
-
May 4, 2026
New and Improved! Song List Update.
-
April 24, 2026
Country Fingerstyle, Melody + Bass (feat. "Live Forever" by Billy Joe Shaver)
-
April 21, 2026
Sneak Peek! Step-by-Step Travis Picking Course
-
April 10, 2026
"Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty
-
March 23, 2026
"I'm a Little Crazy" by Morgan Wallen
