Crosby, Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
[intro]
[Am] [C] [G] [D]
[Opening]
[Am]Helplessly hoping her [C]harlequin hovers near[G]by,
awaiting a [D]word.
[Am]Gasping at glimpses of [C]gentle true spirit,
he [G]runs wishing he could [D]fly,
only to [Am]trip at the [C]sound of good[G]bye
[verse 2]
[Am]Wordlessly watching he [C]waits by the window
and [G]wonders at the empty place in[D]side
[Am]Heartlessly helping him[C]self to her bad dreams
he [G]worries did he hear a good[D]bye,
or [Am]even [C]hel[G]lo? [C]
[verse 3]
They are [G]one person, they are two a[G]lone,
they are [G]three together,
they are [G]for [Dm]each [C]other
[Am]Stand by the stairway you’ll [C]see
Something certain to [G]tell you
confusion has its [D]cost.
[verse 4]
[Am]Love isn’t lying, it’s [C]loose in a lady who [G]lingers,
saying she is [D]lost and [Am]choking [C]on hel[G]lo. [C]
[Closing]
They are [G]one person, they are two a[G]lone,
they are [G]three together,
they are [G]for [Dm]each [C]other
How to play Helplessly Hoping on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.
Helplessly Hoping uses these transitions most often: C → G (12), Am → C (10), and D → Am (7). 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 Am - C chord transition.
1. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
3. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
4. D → Am chord transition
To move from D to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
5. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. G → Dm chord transition
To move from G to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
7. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
Helplessly Hoping chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Helplessly Hoping.
- Helplessly Hoping includes 44 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Helplessly Hoping contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Helplessly Hoping connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → Am: 10%