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Roberta Flack - First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Chords

ChordsDm, G, G7, C, Am, Em7, F, Bb
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DmG
TheDmfirsttimeG7everICsawyourface,
AmIthoughtthesunEm7roseinyour Feyes.
AndtheCmoonand G7starsweretheCgiftsyougave,
TotheBbdarkandtheendlessCsky,mylove.
DmAndthefirsttimeGeverIEm7kissedyourGmouth,
AmIfelttheearthEm7moveinmyChands.
GLikethetremblingFheartG7ofaCcaptiveGbird
BbThatwasthereatCmyG7commandGmylove
DmAndthefirsttimeGeverIEm7laidCwithGyou,
AmIfeltyourheartEm7soclosetoCmine.
AndGIknowourFjoyG7wouldCfilltheGearth,
BbAndlastCtilltheendoftime,Gmylove.
DmThefirsttimeeverICsaawCyourface,
Bbyourface,CyourFface,
YourCface
AlbumFirst Take
GenresR&B, Soul
Year1969
KeyDm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Roberta Flack - First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on guitar requires 8 chords and 16 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 Ever I Saw Your Face uses these transitions most often: C → G (6), Bb → C (5), and G7 → C (5). 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 Dm - G chord transition.

1. Dm → G chord transition

To move from Dm to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 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 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Dm to G

2. Dm → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to G7:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 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 3 and place it on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse.

Dm to G7

3. G7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

G7 to C

4. C → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

C to Am

5. Am → Em7 chord transition

Switching from Am to Em7:

  1. While playing Am, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. Em7 → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Em7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

7. F → C chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. C → Bb chord transition

Switching from C to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

9. C → Dm chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

10. G → Em7 chord transition

To move from G to Em7:

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

11. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

  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 G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

12. Em7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Em7 to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

13. F → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

14. C → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

15. G → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

16. F → Bb chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

  • First Time Ever I Saw Your Face includes 58 chord transitions, 16 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • First Time Ever I Saw Your Face contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 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 G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Am: 13%