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Elton John - Honky Cat Chords

ChordsD7, D, G, B7, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

D7DG
D7WhenIlookbackboyImusthavebeenDgreen
GBoppinginthecountry,fishinginastream
D7LookingforananswerDtryingtofindasign
GUntilIsawyourcitylightshoneyIwasblind
TheysaidB7getbackhonkycat
B7Bettergetbacktothewoods
WellIE7quitthosedaysandmyredneckways
D7MmmDohthechangeisgonnadomeGgood
D7DG
YoubetterB7getbackhonkycat
B7Livinginthecityain’twhereit’sat
It’slikeE7tryingtofindgoldinasilvermine
It’slikeD7tryingtodrinkwhisky,Doh,fromabottleofGwine
D7DG
WellID7readsomebooksandIDreadsomemagazines
AboutthoseGhighclassladiesdowninNewOrleans
AndalltheD7folksbackhomewell,saidIwasafool
TheysaidGoh,believeintheLordisthegoldenrule
TheysaidB7getbackhonkycat
B7Bettergetbacktothewoods
WellIE7quitthosedaysandmyredneckways
D7mmmmmmDohthechangeisgonnadomeGgood
D7DG
TheysaidB7getbackhonkycat
B7Bettergetbacktothewoods
WellIE7quitthosedaysandmyredneckways
D7mmmmmmDohthechangeisgonnadomeGgood
D7DG
TheysaidD7stayathomeboy,yougottatendthefarm
GLivinginthecityboy,isgoingtobreakyourheart
ButD7howcanyoustay,whenyourheartsaysno?
GHowcanyoustopwhenyourfeetsaygo?
TheysaidB7getbackhonkycat
B7Bettergetbacktothewoods
WellIE7quitthosedaysandmyredneckways
D7mmmmmmDohthechangeisgonnadomeGgood
YoubetterB7getbackhonkycat
Livinginthecityain’twhereit’sat
It’slikeE7tryingtofindgoldinasilvermine
It’slikeD7tryingtodrinkwhisky,Doh,fromabottleofGwine
D7DG
AlbumHonky Château
GenresRock
Year1972
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Honky Cat on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Elton John - Honky Cat on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.

Honky Cat uses these transitions most often: D → G (15), D7 → D (15), and G → D7 (11). 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 D7 - D chord transition.

1. D7 → D chord transition

Switching from D7 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 G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

D7 to D

2. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move 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 15 times.

D to G

3. G → D7 chord transition

Switching from G to D7:

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

G to D7

4. G → B7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to B7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

G to B7

5. B7 → E7 chord transition

Switching from B7 to E7:

  1. While playing B7, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

6. E7 → D7 chord transition

To move from E7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Honky Cat.

  • Honky Cat includes 62 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Honky Cat contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Honky Cat connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → D: 3%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D7: 1%
    • G → B7: 0%