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Harry James - It’s Been a Long, Long Time Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, C7, Am, C#, G7, Dm, A, Dm7, Em7, Em, A7, Fm, Bb7, D7
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 C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-4-3-1-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Dm7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar A7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-2-0Guitar A7 chord diagram
  • Guitar Fm chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-1-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Fm chord diagram
  • Guitar A#7 | B♭7 chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-1-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A#7 | B♭7 chord diagram
  • Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram

[chorus]
So [C]kiss me once
Then [C7]kiss me twice,
Then [Am]kiss me once a[C]gain
It’s been a long, [C#]long [G7]time.

[Opening]
[Dm]Haven’t felt like [A]this, my dear,
Since [Dm7]can’t remember [G7]when
It’s been a [Dm7]long, [G7]long [C]time.

[verse 2]
You’ll never [C7]know
How many [Em7]dreams I’ve [Em]dream about [A7]you,
Or [Dm]just how empty [Fm]they all seemed with[Bb7]out you, [G7]

[chorus]
So [C]kiss me once
Then [C7]kiss me twice
Then [Em7]kiss me once a[A7]gain
It’s been a [Dm7]long, [G7]long [Em7]time, [A7]

[Closing]
It’s been a [D7]long, [G7]long [C]time

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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.
ArtistHarry James
AlbumSingle
GenresJazz
Year1945
KeyC

How to play It's Been a Long, Long Time on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Harry James - It's Been a Long, Long Time on guitar requires 14 chords and 22 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.

It's Been a Long, Long Time uses these transitions most often: C → C7 (3), Dm7 → G7 (3), and G7 → C (3). 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 - C7 chord transition.

1. C → C7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram

To move from C to C7;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.
C to C7

2. C7 → Am chord transition

Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from C7 to Am;

  1. While playing C7, lift your pinky from G string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
C7 to Am

3. Am → C chord transition

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

To move from Am to C;

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

4. C → C# chord transition

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

To move from C to C#;

  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.
C to C#

5. C# → G7 chord transition

To move from C# to G7;

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

6. G7 → Dm chord transition

To move from G7 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 1 and place it on B string fret 3.

7. 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.

8. A → Dm7 chord transition

To move from A to Dm7;

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

9. Dm7 → G7 chord transition

To move from Dm7 to G7;

  1. Lift your index finger from B 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. Place ring finger on E string fret 1.

10. G7 → C chord transition

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.

11. C7 → Em7 chord transition

To move from C7 to Em7;

  1. While playing C7, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

12. Em7 → Em chord transition

To move from Em7 to Em;

  1. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Place ring finger on D string fret 2.

13. Em → A7 chord transition

To move from Em to A7;

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

14. A7 → Dm chord transition

To move from A7 to Dm;

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

15. Dm → Fm chord transition

To move from Dm to Fm;

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

16. Fm → Bb7 chord transition

To move from Fm to Bb7;

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

17. Bb7 → G7 chord transition

To move from Bb7 to G7;

  1. While playing Bb7, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
  2. Slide your index finger on A string from fret 1 to fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 3 to E string fret 1.
  4. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

18. Em7 → A7 chord transition

To move from Em7 to A7;

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

19. A7 → Dm7 chord transition

To move from A7 to Dm7;

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

20. G7 → Em7 chord transition

To move from G7 to Em7;

  1. While playing G7, 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.

21. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move from A7 to D7;

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

22. D7 → G7 chord transition

To move from D7 to G7;

  1. Lift your index finger from B 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. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 1.

It's Been a Long, Long Time chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in It's Been a Long, Long Time.

  • It's Been a Long, Long Time includes 31 chord transitions, 22 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • It's Been a Long, Long Time contains 2 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how It's Been a Long, Long Time connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%
    • G7 → Dm: 3%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → C7: 2%
    • C → C#: 0%
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.