Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi Chords
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,E,G keys to play this song with easier chords.
How to play Big Yellow Taxi on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.
Big Yellow Taxi uses these transitions most often: F → Bb (18), Bb → C (9), and Bb → F (9). 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 F - Bb chord transition.
1. F → Bb chord transition
Here's how to move from F to Bb:
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from D string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 18 times.
2. Bb → C chord transition
Here's how to move from Bb to C:
- While playing Bb, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 9 times.
3. C → F chord transition
Here's how to move from C to F:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 9 times.
Big Yellow Taxi chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Big Yellow Taxi.
- Big Yellow Taxi includes 45 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Big Yellow Taxi contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Big Yellow Taxi connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
- F → Bb: 5%
After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).- Bb → F: 34%
- Bb → C: 20%