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Harry Nilsson - 1941 Chords

ChordsBb7, A7, D7, G, C7, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

Bb7A7
WellinD7nineteen-fortyGoneahappyC7fatherhadaAson
AndbyD7nineteen-fortyGfourthefatherC7walksrightouttheAdoor
AndinD7fortyGfivethemomandC7sonwerestill Aalive
ButBb7whocouldtellinfortysixiftheA7twoweretosurvive
WelltheD7yearswerepassingGquickly,
butnotC7fastenoughforAhim
SoheD7closedhiseyesthroughGfiftyfive,
thenheC7openedthemupAagain
ThenheD7lookedaroundheGsawaclown
andtheC7clownseemedveryAgay
AndheBb7setthatnighttojointhatcircusA7clownandrunaway
WellheD7followedeveryGrailroadtrackandC7everyhighwayAsign
AndheD7hadagirlinGeachnewtown
andtheC7townsheleft Abehind
AndtheD7openGroadwastheC7onlyroadthatheAknew
ButtheBb7colorofhisdreamswasslowlyA7turningintoblue
ThenheD7metagirl,theGkindofgirlheC7wantedallhisAlife
ShewasD7softandkindandGgoodtohim,
soheC7tookherforaAwife
AndtheyD7gotahousenotGfarfromtownandC7inalittleAwhile
TheBb7girlhadseenthedoctorandsheA7camehomewithasmile
NowinD7nineteen-sixtyGoneahappyC7fatherhadaAson
AndbyD7nineteen-sixtyGfourthefatherC7walkedrightouttheAdoor
AndinD7sixtyGfivethemomandC7sonwerestill Aaround
ButBb7whatwillhappentotheboywhentheA7circuscomestotown
Wellallolololadiddyetc(chordsasperverse)fading
AlbumPandemonium Shadow Show
Year1967
KeyD
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play 1941 on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Harry Nilsson - 1941 on guitar requires 6 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

1941 uses these transitions most often: C7 → A (15), D7 → G (15), and G → C7 (15). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Bb7 - A7 chord transition.

1. Bb7 → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb7 to A7:

  1. While playing Bb7, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Bb7 to A7

2. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move from A7 to D7:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A7 to D7

3. D7 → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D7 to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

D7 to G

4. G → C7 chord transition

Switching from G to C7:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

G to C7

5. C7 → A chord transition

Switching from C7 to A:

  1. While playing C7, lift your pinky from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

6. A → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D7:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

7. A → Bb7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A to Bb7:

  1. While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in 1941.

  • 1941 includes 71 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how 1941 connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C7: 0%