John Prine - Paradise Chords

ChordsD, G, A7

Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

WhenDIwasachildmyGfamilywouldDtravel,

downtoWesternKentuckywheremyA7parentswereDborn

Andthere’sabackwardsoldtownthat’sGoften Dremembered,

somanytimesthatmyA7memoriesareDworn.

AndDdaddywon’tyoutakemebacktoGMuhlenbergDCounty,

downbytheGreenRiverwhereA7ParadiseDlay

Well,I’msorrymyson,butyou’reGtoolateinDasking,

Mr.Peabody’scoaltrainhasA7hauledit Daway

Well,Dsometimeswe’dtravelrightGdowntheGreenDRiver,

totheabandonedoldprisondownbyA7AdrieDHill

Wheretheairsmelledlikesnakesandwe’dGshootwithourDpistols,

butemptypopbottleswasA7allwewouldDkill.

AndDdaddywon’tyoutakemebacktoGMuhlenbergDCounty,

downbytheGreenRiverwhereA7ParadiseDlay

Well,I’msorrymyson,butyou’reGtoolateinDasking,

Mr.Peabody’scoaltrainhasA7hauledit Daway

ThentheDcoalcompanycamewiththeGworld’slargestDshovel,

andtheytorturedthetimberandA7strippedalltheDland

Well,theydugfortheircoaltilltheGlandwas Dforsaken,

thentheywroteitalldownastheA7progressofDman.

AndDdaddywon’tyoutakemebacktoGMuhlenbergDCounty,

downbytheGreenRiverwhereA7ParadiseDlay

Well,I’msorrymyson,butyou’reGtoolateinDasking,

Mr.Peabody’scoaltrainhasA7hauledit Daway

WhenIDdieletmyashesfloatGdowntheGreenDRiver,

letmysoulrollonuptotheA7RochesterDdam

I’llbehalfwaytoHeavenwithGParadiseDwaitin’,

justfivemilesawayfrom A7whereverIDam.

AndDdaddywon’tyoutakemebacktoGMuhlenbergDCounty,

downbytheGreenRiverwhereA7ParadiseDlay

Well,I’msorrymyson,butyou’reGtoolateinDasking,

Mr.Peabody’scoaltrainhasA7hauledit Daway

ArtistJohn Prine

AlbumJohn Prine

GenresCountry

Year1971

KeyD

DifficultyEasy

How to play Paradise on Guitar (Step-by-step)

John Prine - Paradise on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 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.

Paradise uses these transitions most often: A7 → D (16), D → A7 (16), and D → G (16). 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 D - G chord transition.

1. D → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

2. D → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from D to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

Paradise chord transition analysis

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

Paradise includes 64 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
Paradise contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
These transition patterns show how Paradise connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 29%
- D → A7: 1%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → D: 24%