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Neil Diamond - First Time Chords

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ChordsF, C, Dm, 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 G,D,C 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 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
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

[Opening]
[F] [C] [F] [C] [F] [C] [F]
[Dm]Uuh [C]uh, [Dm] [C] [Dm]uuh [C]uh [Dm] [C]
[Dm]First [C]time [Dm] [C], [Dm]how do you [C]feel? [Dm] [C]
[Dm]Little bit [C]strange it’s a [Dm]little un[C]real
That [Dm]first [C]time, [Dm] [C]you’re [Dm]far from [C]home, [Dm] [C]

[verse 2]
[Dm]Finally [C]out there [Dm]on your [C]own
And it’s [F]your [C]time [F] [C]for [F]making it [C]happen [F] [C]
It’s [F]your [C]time, and [F]it’s gonna [G]happen your [C]way
[G]Every step you [Dm]take from now [C]on,

[verse 3]
Be [G]taken as far as you [C]can
You [G]oughta be [Dm]moving a[C]long
[F]Singing your song, and [F]making your [G]plans
[G]First [C]time, [F] [C] [F]first [C]time [F] [C]

[verse 4]
[Dm]Uuh [C]uh, [Dm] [C] [Dm]uuh [C]uh [Dm] [C]
[Dm]First [C]time [Dm] [C], like a [Dm]Ferris [C]wheel [Dm] [C]
[Dm]Scared to [C]go, but it’s [Dm]no big [C]deal
That [Dm]first [C]time [Dm] [C]it’s [Dm]always the [C]best [Dm] [C]

[verse 5]
Re[Dm]member it [C]still you for[Dm]get all the [C]rest
It’s [F]your [C]time [F] [C]so [F]live in the [C]moment [F] [C]
It’s [F]your [C]time, you [F]don’t want to [G]throw it a[C]way!
Still [G]remember the first word you [C]wrote

[verse 6]
And [G]every single [Dm]note that you’ve [C]played!
Got a [G]book and you learned it by [C]rote
[F]Long time a[C]go, re[F]member that [G]day?!
Big [C]rhyme, [F] [C] [F]so [C]fine, [F] [C] [F]first [C]time! [F] [C]

[verse 7]
[Dm]Uuh [C]uh, [Dm] [C] [Dm]uuh [C]uh [Dm] [C]
[Dm]First [C]time [Dm] [C], it [Dm]comes una[C]ware, [Dm] [C]
You’re [Dm]unre[C]hearsed, and [Dm]unpre[C]pared for that
[Dm]First [C]time, [Dm] [C]the [C]free and un[C]bound [Dm] [C]

[verse 8]
No [Dm]playing it [C]safe, gotta [Dm]jump off the [C]sound
It’s [F]your [C]time, [F] [C]and [F]good things will [C]happen [F] [C]
But [F]this [C]time, you [F]gotta put your [G]heart on the[C]game!
You’re [G]out for the first [C]time, but [G]you’re not really out there a[C]lone

[verse 9]
Keep [G]doing it, the words gonna [C]spread
[F]Keep out of your [C]bed, get [F]out on your [G]own.
Keep [C]trying, [F] [C]be fine [F]first [C]time! [F] [C]

[verse 10]
[Dm]Uuh [C]uh, [Dm] [C] [Dm]uuh [C]uh [Dm] [C]
[F]This [C]time, [F] [C]the [F]whole world is [C]watching [F] [C]
[F]This [C]time, you [C]better put your [G]heart on the [C]game!
You’re [G]rocking for the very first [C]time, you [G]only want the feeling to [C]last,

[Closing]
And [G]every single day that you’re going [C]out
It’s [F]less of a [C]doubt, it’s [F]all in the [G]past!
This [C]time, [F] [C] [F]you [C]shine, [F] [C] [F]your [C]flying, [F] [C] [F]first [C]time! [F] [C]

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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.
ArtistNeil Diamond
AlbumMelody Road
GenresFolk, Pop
Year2014
KeyF

How to play First Time on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Neil Diamond - First Time 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.

First Time uses these transitions most often: Dm → C (54), C → F (51), and C → Dm (50). 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 - C chord transition.

1. F → C chord transition

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

To move from F to C;

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
F to C

2. 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

3. Dm → C chord transition

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

To move from Dm to C;

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

4. F → G chord transition

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

To move from F to G;

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

5. G → C chord transition

To move from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

6. G → Dm chord transition

To move from G to Dm;

  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 B string fret 3.

First Time chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in First Time.

  • First Time includes 240 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.06% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • First Time contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how First Time 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 Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → C: 18%
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.