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Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Chords

ChordsDm, G, A7, G7, Bm, D7, D, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

DmGDmGDm
Ooh,IDmbetyou’rewonderin’GhowIDmknew,
‘BoutyourA7planstomakemeG7blue.
WithsomeotherDmguyyouGknew Dmbefore,
BetweentwoofusA7guys,youknowIlovedyouG7more.
Ittookmeby Bmsurprise,ImustG7say,
WhenID7foundout G7yesterday.Don’tyouknowthat:
ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
NotmuchG7longer,wouldG7youbemine.
Oh,ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
Oh,I’mG7justabouttolosemyDmind,Dhoney,Fhoney,Dmyeah.
IDmhearditthroughthegrapevine,
NotmuchlongerwouldyouGbeDmmybabyGDmG
IknowaDmmanain’t GsupposedtoDmcry,
ButtheseA7tears,Ican’thold G7inside.
LosingDmyou,wouldendmyGlife,youDmsee,
‘CosyouA7meanthatmuchtoG7me.
YoucouldhaveBmtoldme G7yourself,
ThatyouD7lovedsomeoneG7else.
ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
NotmuchG7longer,wouldG7youbemine.
Oh,ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
Oh,I’mG7justabouttolosemyDmind,Dhoney,Fhoney,Dmyeah.
IDmhearditthroughthegrapevine,
NotmuchlongerwouldyouGbeDmmybabyGDmG
DmGDmGDm
DmPeoplesay;believehalfofwhatyousee,
Son,andA7noneofwhatyouG7hear.
ButIcan’tDmhelp,butbeconfused,
Ifit’sA7true,pleasetellme,G7dear.
DoyouBmplantoletmeG7go,
FortheotherD7guyyouloved G7before?
ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
NotmuchG7longer,wouldG7youbemine.
Oh,ID7hearditthroughtheG7grapevine;
Oh,I’mG7justabouttolosemyDmind,Dhoney,Fhoney,Dmyeah.
IDmhearditthroughthegrapevine,
NotmuchlongerwouldyouGbeDmmybabyGDmG
DmG7DmGDm
AlbumIn the Groove
GenresSoul
Year1968
KeyDm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play I Heard It Through The Grapevine on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine on guitar requires 8 chords and 9 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.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine uses these transitions most often: G → Dm (21), Dm → G (18), and D7 → G7 (15). 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 Dm - G chord transition.

1. Dm → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from E 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. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Dm to G

2. Dm → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Dm to A7

3. A7 → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A7 to G7

4. G7 → Dm chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

G7 to Dm

5. G7 → Bm chord transition

To move from G7 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 1 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. G7 → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 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 1 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

7. G7 → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

8. D → F chord transition

To move from D to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

9. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine includes 101 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how I Heard It Through The Grapevine connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → G: 16%
    • Dm → G7: 6%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → Dm: 3%
    • G7 → D7: 2%