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Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, C, Dm, Bb, Gm, Eb, Db, Ab, Bbm, A, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

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

[Opening]
[F] [C] [Dm] [C] [Bb] [C] [F]
[Gm]When are you [Bb]gonna come [C]down
[F]When are you going to [Bb]land
I [Eb]should have stayed on the [C]farm, should have
[F]Listened to my old man
You [Gm]know you can’t [Bb]hold me [C]forever
I [F]didn’t sign up with [Bb]you
I’m [Eb]not a present for your [C]friends to open
This [F]boy’s too young to be singing
The [Db] [Eb]blues… [Ab] [Db]Ah… [Bbm] [C]Ah…

[chorus]
So [F]Goodbye yellow brick [A]road
Where the [Bb]dogs of society [F]howl
You [D]can’t plant me in your [Gm]penthouse
I’m [C]going back to my [F]plow
[Dm]Back to the howling old [A]owl in the woods
[Bb]Hunting the horny black [Db]toad
Oh I’ve [F]finally [C]decided my [Dm]future lies [C]
[Bb]Beyond the [C]yellow brick [Db]road [Bbm]ha hà [Eb]ha
[Ab] [Db]Ah, [Bbm] [C] [F]Ah…

[Closing]
[Gm]What do you [Bb]think you’ll [C]do then?
I [F]bet to shoot down your [Bb]plane
It’ll [Eb]take you a couple of [C]vodka and tonics
To [F]set you on your feet again
[Gm]Maybe you’ll [Bb]get a [C]replacement
There’s [F]plenty like me to be [Bb]found
[Eb]Mongrels who [C]ain’t got a penny
[F]Sniffing for tidbits like you [Bbm]ha hà [Eb]ha
[Ab] [Db]Ah, [Bbm] [C] [F]Ah…

[chorus]
So [F]Goodbye yellow brick [A]road
Where the [Bb]dogs of society [F]howl
You [D]can’t plant me in your [Gm]penthouse
I’m [C]going back to my [F]plow
[Dm]Back to the howling old [A]owl in the woods
[Bb]Hunting the horny black [Db]toad
Oh I’ve [F]finally [C]decided my [Dm]future lies [C]
[Bb]Beyond the [C]yellow brick [Db]road [Bbm]ha hà [Eb]ha
[Ab] [Db]Ah, [Bbm] [C] [F]Ah

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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.
ArtistElton John
AlbumGoodbye Yellow Brick Road
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1973
KeyF

How to play Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on guitar requires 11 chords and 25 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.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road uses these transitions most often: C → F (15), Bb → C (7), and Db → Bbm (6). 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. C → Dm chord transition

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

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.
C to Dm

3. C → Bb chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C 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 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.
C to Bb

4. F → Gm chord transition

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

To move from F to Gm;

  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 E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from D string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
F to Gm

5. Gm → Bb chord transition

To move from Gm to Bb;

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

6. F → Bb chord transition

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.

7. Bb → Eb chord transition

To move from Bb to Eb;

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

8. Eb → C chord transition

To move from Eb to C;

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

9. F → Db chord transition

To move from F to Db;

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

10. Db → Eb chord transition

To move from Db to Eb;

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

11. Eb → Ab chord transition

To move from Eb to Ab;

  1. While playing Eb, 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.

12. Ab → Db chord transition

To move from Ab to Db;

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

13. Db → Bbm chord transition

To move from Db to Bbm;

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

14. Bbm → C chord transition

To move from Bbm to C;

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

15. F → A chord transition

To move from F to A;

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

16. A → Bb chord transition

To move from A to Bb;

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

17. 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.

18. D → Gm chord transition

To move from D to Gm;

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

19. Gm → C chord transition

To move from Gm to C;

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

20. F → Dm chord transition

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.

21. Dm → A chord transition

To move from Dm to A;

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

22. Bb → Db chord transition

To move from Bb to Db;

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

23. C → Db chord transition

To move from C to Db;

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

24. Bbm → Eb chord transition

To move from Bbm to Eb;

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

25. F → Bbm chord transition

To move from F to Bbm;

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

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

  • Goodbye Yellow Brick Road includes 102 chord transitions, 25 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Goodbye Yellow Brick Road contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 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 F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → Dm: 5%
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.