Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Fmaj7 chord diagram
[Opening]
All the leaves are [Am]brown
([G]leaves are [F]brown)
And the [G]sky is [E]gray
(and the sky is [E7]grey)
I’ve been for a [C]walk
(I’ve been [E7]for a [Am]walk)
On a [F]winter’s [E]day
(on a winter’s [E7]day)
I’d be safe and [Am]warm
(I’d be [G]safe and [F]warm)
If I [G]was in L.[E]A.
(if I was in L.[E7]A.)
[chorus]
California [Am]dreaming
(Cali [G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [E]day [E7]
[Closing]
Stopped into a [Am]church [G][F]
I passed a[G]long the [E]way [E7]
Well I [F]got down on my [C]knees
(got down [E7]on my [Am]knees)
And I pre[F]tend to [E]pray
(I pretend to [E7]pray)
You know the preacher likes the [Am]cold
(preacher [G]likes the [F]cold)
He knows I’m [G]gonna [E]stay
(knows I’m gonna [E7]stay)
California [Am]dreaming
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [E]day [E7]
[chorus]
California [Am]dreaming
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Am]day
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Am]day
(Cali[G]fornia [F]dreaming)
On [G]such a winter’s [Fmaj7]day [Am]
How to play California Dreaming on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming on guitar requires 7 chords and 12 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.
California Dreaming uses these transitions most often: Am → G (9), F → G (9), and G → 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 Am - G chord transition.
1. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. G → E chord transition
To move from G to E;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
4. E → E7 chord transition
To move from E to E7;
- While playing E, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on G string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
5. E7 → C chord transition
To move from E7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
6. E7 → Am chord transition
To move from E7 to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
7. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am 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.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
8. F → E chord transition
To move from F to E;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
9. E7 → F chord transition
To move from E7 to F;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
10. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
11. G → Fmaj7 chord transition
To move from G to Fmaj7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
12. Fmaj7 → Am chord transition
To move from Fmaj7 to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
California Dreaming chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in California Dreaming.
- California Dreaming includes 62 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- California Dreaming contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how California Dreaming connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → Am: 13%
- G → F: 9%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → F: 26%
- Am → G: 21%