Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]If you could read my mind love, [F]what a tale my thoughts could tell
[G]Just like an old time movie, [F]about a ghost from a wishing well
[G]In a castle dark or a [C]fortress strong
With [D]chains upon my [Em]feet you [C]know that ghost is [G]me
And [C]I will never [G]be set free
As [Am7]long as I’m a [D]ghost that you can’t [G]see
[verse 2]
[G]If I could read your mind love, [F]what a tale your thoughts could tell
[G]Just like a paperback novel, the [F]kind that drugstores sell
[G]When you reach the part [C]where the heartaches come
The [D]hero would be [Em]me but [C]heroes often [G]fail
And [C]you won’t read that [G]book again
[Am7]because the ending’s [D]just too hard to [G]take
[verse 3]
[G]7 I’d walk away like a [C]movie star,
who gets [D]burned in a three way [Em]script
[C]Enter number [G]two: a [C]movie queen to [G]play the scene
Of [Am7]bringing all the [D]good things out in [G]me,
[C]but for now love, let’s be [G]real
[chorus]
I [C]never thought I could [G]act this way,
and I’ve [Am7]got to say that I [D]just don’t get it
[C]I don’t know where [G]we went wrong,
But the [Am7]feeling’s gone and I [D]just can’t get it [G]back
[Closing]
[G]If you could read my mind love, [F]what a tale my thoughts could tell
[G]Just like an old time movie, [F]about a ghost from a wishing well
[G]In a castle dark or a [C]fortress strong with [D]chains upon my [Em]feet
But [C]stories always [G]end. And [C]if you read be[G]tween the lines
You’ll [Am7]know that I’m just [D]trying to under[G]stand
the [C]feelings that you [G]lack
[chorus]
[C]I never thought I could [G]feel this way,
and I’ve [Am7]got to say that I [D]just don’t get it
[C]I don’t know where [G]we went wrong [Am7]but the feeling’s gone
And I [D]just can’t get it [G]back
How to play If You Could Read My Mind on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind on guitar requires 6 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.
If You Could Read My Mind uses these transitions most often: C → G (14), G → C (12), and Am7 → D (8). 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 - F chord transition.
1. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- 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 A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- 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 A string fret 3.
3. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
4. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
5. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
6. G → Am7 chord transition
To move from G to Am7;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- 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.
7. Am7 → D chord transition
To move from Am7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
8. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
If You Could Read My Mind chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If You Could Read My Mind.
- If You Could Read My Mind includes 74 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- If You Could Read My Mind contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how If You Could Read My Mind 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 → F: 9%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → D: 11%