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Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, F, G, Em, D, F#m, A, D#, G#, A#, Gm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

  • 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
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar Gm chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-0-0-3-3Guitar Gm chord diagram

[chorus]
[C]Delta Dawn, what’s that [F]flower you have [C]on?
[C]Could it be a [F]faded [C]rose from days gone [G]by?
And [C]did I hear you [Em]say he was [F]meeting you here to[C]day.
[C]to take you to his [G]mansion in the [F]sk[D]y?

[Opening]
[C]She’s forty-one and her [F]Daddy still calls her, [C]Baby.
[C]All the folks around [F]Brownsville say she’s [C]crazy.
[C]Cause she [F]walks downtown with her [G]suitcase in her [C]hand.
[C]looking for a [F]mysterious dark haired [C]man.

[verse 2]
[C]In her younger days they [F]called her Delta [C]Dawn.
[C]Prettiest woman [F]you ever laid eyes [C]on.
[C]Then a [F]man of low de[G]gree stood by her [C]side.
[C]promised her he’d [F]take her for his [C]bride.

[chorus]
[D]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G]flower you have [D]on?
[D]Could it be a [G]faded [D]rose from days gone [G]by?
And [D]did I hear you [F#m]say he was [G]meeting you here to[D]day.
[D]to take you to his [A]mansion in the [G]sk[D]y?

[chorus]
[D]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G]flower you have [D]on?
[D]Could it be a [G]faded [D]rose from days gone [G]by?
And [D]did I hear you [F#m]say he was [G]meeting you here to[D]day.
[D]to take you to his [A]mansion in the [G]sk[D]y?

[chorus]
[D]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G]flower you have [D]on?
[D]Could it be a [G]faded [D]rose from days gone [G]by?
And [D]did I hear you [F#m]say he was [G]meeting you here to[D]day.
[D]to take you to his [A]mansion in the [G]sk[D]y?

[chorus]
[D#]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G#]flower you have [D#]on?
[D#]Could it be a [G#]faded [D#]rose from days gone [A#]by?
And [D#]did I hear you [Gm]say he was [G#]meeting you here to[D#]day
[D#]to take you to his [A#]mansion in the [G#]sk[D#]y?

[chorus]
[D#]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G#]flower you have [D#]on?
[D#]Could it be a [G#]faded [D#]rose from days gone [A#]by?
And [D#]did I hear you [Gm]say he was [G#]meeting you here to[D#]day
[D#]to take you to his [A#]mansion in the [G#]sk[D#]y?

[Closing]
[D#]Delta Dawn, what’s that [G#]flower you have [D#]on?
[D#]Could it be a [G#]faded [D#]rose from days gone [A#]by?

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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.
ArtistHelen Reddy
AlbumLong Hard Climb
GenresPop
Year1973
KeyC

How to play Delta Dawn on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn on guitar requires 11 chords and 18 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.

Delta Dawn uses these transitions most often: G → D (15), C → F (10), and G# → D# (10). 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

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

2. C → G chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

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.
C to G

3. C → Em chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

To move from C to Em;

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

4. Em → F chord transition

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

To move from Em to F;

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

5. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

6. F → D chord transition

To move from F to D;

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

7. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C;

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

8. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

9. D → F#m chord transition

To move from D to F#m;

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

10. F#m → G chord transition

To move from F#m to G;

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

11. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A;

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

12. A → G chord transition

To move from A to G;

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

13. D → D# chord transition

To move from D to D#;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on E string from fret 2 to 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 4.

14. D# → G# chord transition

To move from D# to G#;

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

15. D# → A# chord transition

To move from D# to A#;

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

16. D# → Gm chord transition

To move from D# to Gm;

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

17. Gm → G# chord transition

To move from Gm to G#;

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

18. A# → G# chord transition

To move from A# to G#;

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

Delta Dawn chord transition analysis

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

  • Delta Dawn includes 98 chord transitions, 18 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Delta Dawn contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Delta Dawn connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
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.