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John Prine - Be My Friend Tonight Chords

ChordsC, F, D7, G7, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

CIthrewaparty,Fnobodycame
CIboughtallthetickets,D7theycancelledtheG7game.
CIgiveyoumypicture,Fitdidn’tfityourframe
CBeGmyfriend Ctonight
FBemyfriendtonight,Cbemyfriendtonight.
FI’llsleeponthecouch,CyoucanleaveonthatG7light.
CWell,Iwon’tdonothingwrongFtillyousayit’sright
CComeonHoney,Gbemyfriend Ctonight
CNowyoubringtheglassesFandI’llbringthewine
CI’llrubyourshouldersD7justliketheywereG7mine
CIwon’tmakenopassesFtillit’spassingtime
CIfyour’reonlygonnaGbemybuddy Ctonight
FBemyfriendtonight,Cbemyfriendtonight.
FI’llsleeponthecouch,CyoucanleaveonthatG7light.
CWell,Iwon’tdonothingwrongFtillyousayit’sright
CComeonDarling,Gbemyfriend Ctonight
CWell,I’llmindmymanners,FmyP’sandQ’s
CIwon’tgiveyounothingD7thatyoucan’tG7use
CI’llwhipoutthatoldguitarFandsingyoutheblues
CBeGmyfriend Ctonight
FBemyfriendtonight,Cbemyfriendtonight.
FI’llsleeponthecouch,CyoucanleaveonthatG7light.
CWell,Iwon’tdonothingwrongFtillyousayit’sright
ComeonHoney,Gbemyfriend Ctonight
FBemyfriendtonight,Cbemyfriendtonight.
AlbumAimless Love
GenresFolk
Year1984
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Be My Friend Tonight on Guitar (Step-by-step)

John Prine - Be My Friend Tonight on guitar requires 5 chords and 5 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.

Be My Friend Tonight uses these transitions most often: C → F (16), F → C (16), and C → G (6). 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 C - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

Switching from C to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

C to F

2. C → D7 chord transition

Switching from C to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to D7

3. D7 → G7 chord transition

To move from D7 to G7:

  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 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

D7 to G7

4. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 to C:

  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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

G7 to C

5. C → G chord transition

Here's how to move from C 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 D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Be My Friend Tonight.

  • Be My Friend Tonight includes 59 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Be My Friend Tonight contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Be My Friend Tonight connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%