Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram
[Opening]
Deep [A]down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way [A]back up in the woods among the evergreens
There [D]stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where [A]lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who [E7]never ever learned to read or write so well, but he
could [A]play the guitar like a ringing a bell.
Go… go…
[chorus]
[A]Go go, Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go
[D]Go go Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go [E7]go!
Johnny B. [A]Goode…
[verse 2]
He used to [A]put his guitar in a gunny sack
And go [A]sit beneath a tree by the railroad track.
An [D]engineers could see him sitting in the shade
[A]Strumming to the rhythm that the drivers made
[E7]People passing by… They would stop and say
Oh [A]my but that little country boy can play.
Go… go…
[chorus]
[A]Go go, Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go
[D]Go go Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go [E7]go!
Johnny B. [A]Goode…
[Closing]
His [A]mother told him “someday you will be a man”
And [A]you will be the leader of a big ole’ band
[D]Many, many people come from miles around
To [A]hear your guitar till the sun go down
[E7]Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying [A]‘Johnny B. Goode tonight’.
Go… go…
[chorus]
[A]Go go, Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go
[D]Go go Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go [E7]go!
Johnny B. [A]Goode…
[chorus]
[A]Go go, Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go
[D]Go go Johnny go go
[A]Go go Johnny go go [E7]go!
Johnny B. [A]Goode… [E7] [A]
How to play Johnny B Goode on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode 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.
Johnny B Goode uses these transitions most often: A → E7 (8), E7 → A (8), and A → D (7). 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 A - D chord transition.
1. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
2. A → E7 chord transition
To move from A to E7;
- While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
Johnny B Goode chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Johnny B Goode.
- Johnny B Goode includes 30 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Johnny B Goode contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Johnny B Goode connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
- A → D: 29%
- A → E7: 4%
After E7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (31%), Am (28%), and A7 (7%).- E7 → A: 31%