Bill Withers - Grandma’s Hands Chords

ChordsEm, B7, A7

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 A key to play this song with easier chords.

EmMmm-mm-mm,mmm-mm-mm.

EmGrandma’shands,clappedinchurchonSundaymorning,

Grandma’shands,playedaB7tambourinesowell.

EmGrandma’shands,usedtoissueoutawarning,she’dsay;

B7”Billydon’tyouA7runsofast;

B7mightfallonaA7pieceofglass,

B7”MightbesnakesthereA7inthatgrass”,

EmGrandma’shands.

EmGrandma’shands,soothedalocalunwedmother,

Grandma’shands,usedtoB7achesometimesandswell.

EmGrandma’shands,usedtoliftherfaceandtellher;

B7”Baby,GrandmaA7understands,

B7thatyoureallyA7lovethatman,

B7PutyourselfinA7Jesus’hands”,

EmGrandma’shands.

EmGrandma’shands,usedtohandmepieceofcandy,

Grandma’shands,pickedmeB7upeachtimeIfell.

EmGrandma’shands,boy,theyreallycameinhandy,she’dsay;

B7”Mattydon’tyouA7whipthatboy,

B7whatyouwanttoA7spankhimfor?

B7Hedidn’tdropnoA7applecore”,

butIB7don’thaveGrandmaA7anymore.

B7IfIgettoHeaven,A7I’lllookfor,EmGrandma’shands.

EmMmm-mm-mm

ArtistBill Withers

AlbumJust as I Am

GenresSoul

Year1971

KeyEm

DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Grandma's Hands on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.

Grandma's Hands uses these transitions most often: B7 → A7 (11), A7 → B7 (8), and Em → B7 (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 Em - B7 chord transition.

1. Em → B7 chord transition

Switching from Em to B7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

2. B7 → A7 chord transition

To move from B7 to A7:

While playing B7, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
Slide your index finger on D string from fret 1 to fret 2.
Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

3. A7 → Em chord transition

To move from A7 to Em:

While playing A7, lift your index finger from D string fret 2.
Lift your middle finger from B string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
Place ring finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

Grandma's Hands chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Grandma's Hands.

Grandma's Hands includes 31 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
These transition patterns show how Grandma's Hands connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After B7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are Em (58%), E7 (10%), and C (8%).
- B7 → Em: 58%
- B7 → A7: 2%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
- Em → B7: 1%