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Eric Clapton - Holy Mother Chords

ChordsG, C, Em, D, Bm
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.

GHolyMother,CwhereareGyou
EmTonightIfeelDbrokeninGtwo
GI’veseenthestarsfallCfromtheGsky
EmHolyMother,can’tDkeepfromGcrying
COhIneedyourGhelpthistime
EmTogetmethroughthisDlonelyGnight
CTellmepleasewhichGwaytoturn
EmBymyselfDagain
GHolyMotherChearmyGprayer
EmSomehowIknowDyou’restillGthere
GSendmepleasesomeCpeaceofGmind
EmTakeaDwaythisGpain
Ican’tBmwait,Ican’tGwait
Ican’tCwaitanyDlonger
Ican’tBmwait,Ican’tGwait
Ican’tCwaitforDyou.
GHolyMother,ChearmyGcry
EmI’vecursedyournameaDthousandGtimes
GI’vefelttheangerrunningCthroughmyGsoul
EmAllIneedisaDhandtoGhold
COhIfeeltheGendhasCcome
EmNolongermyDlegswillGrun
CYouknowIwouldGratherbe
EmInyourarmsDtonight
GWhenmyhandsnoClongerGplay
EmMyvoiceisstillIDfadeaGway
GHolyMother,CthenI’llbe
EmLyingin,DsafewithinyourGarms.
AlbumAugust
Year1986
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Holy Mother on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Eric Clapton - Holy Mother on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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.

Holy Mother uses these transitions most often: G → C (15), D → G (13), and Em → D (12). 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 G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

To move from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

G to C

2. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

G to Em

3. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Em to D

4. D → G chord transition

Switching from D to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E 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 13 times.

D to G

5. G → Bm chord transition

To move from G to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

6. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D:

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

7. D → Bm chord transition

To move from D to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

8. C → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Holy Mother.

  • Holy Mother includes 69 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Holy Mother contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Holy Mother 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 → Em: 9%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%