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James Taylor - Carolina In My Mind Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Bb, C, Dm
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 D,A,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

[chorus]
[F]In my mind I’m [Bb]going to Caro[C]lina
[Bb]Can’t you see the [C]sunshine
[Bb]Can’t you just feel the [C]moonshine
[F]Ain’t it just like a [Dm]friend of mine
[Bb]It hit [F]me from be[C]hind
[Bb]Yes [C]I’m [F]going to [C]Carol[Bb]ina [C]in my [F]mind

[Opening]
[F]Karen she’s a [Bb]silver sun
You best [Bb]walk her way and [C]watch it shining
[Dm]Watch her [Bb]watch the morning [C]come
A [Bb]silver tear appear[F]ing now [Dm]I’m [C]cryin, [Bb]ain’t [C]I?
[F]Going [C]to Caro[Bb]lina [C]in my [F]mind

[verse 2]
[F]There ain’t no doubt in [Bb]no one’s mind
That [Bb]love’s the finest [C]thing around
[Dm]Whisper [Bb]something soft and [C]kind
And [Bb]hey babe the [F]sky’s on [Dm]fire, I’m [C]dying, [Bb]ain’t [C]I?
[F]Going to [C]Caro[Bb]lina [C]in my [F]mind

[chorus]
[F]In my mind I’m [Bb]going to Caro[C]lina
[Bb]Can’t you see the [C]sunshine
[Bb]Can’t you just feel the [C]moonshine
[F]Ain’t it just like a [Dm]friend of mine
[Bb]To hit [F]me from be[C]hind
[Bb]Yes [C]I’m [F]going to [C]Carol[Bb]ina [C]in my [F]mind

[verse 3]
[F]Dark and silent [Bb]late last night
I [Bb]think I might have heard the [C]highway calling
[Dm]Geese in [Bb]flight and dogs that [C]bite
[Bb]Signs that [F]might be omens [Dm]say I [C]going, [Bb]go[C]ing
I’m [F]gone to [C]Caro[Bb]lina [C]in my [F]mind

[Closing]
With a [Dm]holy host of [Bb]others [Dm]standing [C]round me
[F]Still I’m [Bb]on the dark side [Dm]of the [C]moon
And it [Bb]seems like [Bb]it goes on like this [C]for[F]ever
You must [Dm]forgive [C]me
If I’m up and [F]gone to [C]Caro[Bb]lina [C]in my [F]mind

[chorus]
[F]In my mind I’m [Bb]going to Caro[C]lina
[Bb]Can’t you see the [C]sunshine
[Bb]Can’t you just feel the [C]moonshine
[F]Maybe just like a [Dm]friend of mine
[Bb]To hit [F]me from be[C]hind
[Bb]Yes [C]I’m [F]going to [C]Carol[Bb]ina [C]in my [F]mind

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SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistJames Taylor
AlbumJames Taylor
GenresCountry, Country Rock, Folk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1968
KeyF

How to play Carolina In My Mind on Guitar (Step-by-step)

James Taylor - Carolina In My Mind on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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.

Carolina In My Mind uses these transitions most often: Bb → C (29), C → Bb (23), and C → F (19). 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

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

To move from F to Bb;

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

2. Bb → C chord transition

Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from Bb to C;

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

3. C → F chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move 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.
C to F

4. F → Dm chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram

To move from F to Dm;

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

5. Dm → Bb chord transition

To move from Dm to Bb;

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

6. C → Dm chord transition

To move from C to Dm;

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

Carolina In My Mind chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Carolina In My Mind.

  • Carolina In My Mind includes 120 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Carolina In My Mind contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Carolina In My Mind 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 → F: 16%
    • C → Dm: 5%
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → F: 34%
    • Bb → C: 20%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.