Dolly Parton - Jolene Chords

ChordsAm, C, G, Em7

Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em7 chord diagram

[chorus]
Jo[Am]lene Jo[C]lene Jo[G]lene Jo[Am]lene
I’m [G]begging of you [Em7]please don’t take my [Am]man
Jo[Am]lene Jo[C]lene Jo[G]lene Jo[Am]lene
[G]Please don’t take him [Em7]just because you [Am]can

[Opening]
[Am]Your beauty is be[C]yond compare
With [G]flaming locks of [Am]auburn hair
With [G]ivory skin and [Em7]eyes of emerald [Am]green
[Am]Your smile is like a [C]breath of spring
Your [G]voice is soft like [Am]summer rain
And [G]I cannot com[Em7]pete with Jo[Am]lene

[verse 2]
[Am]He talks about you [C]in his sleep
And there’s [G]nothing I can [Am]do to keep
From [G]crying when he [Em7]calls your name Jo[Am]lene
[Am]And I can easily [C]understand
How [G]you could easily [Am]take my man
But [G]you don’t know what he [Em7]means to me Jo[Am]lene

[Closing]
[Am]You can have your [C]choice of men
But [G]I could never [Am]love again
[G]He’s the only [Em7]one for me Jo[Am]lene
[Am]I had to have this [C]talk with you
My [G]happiness de[Am]pends on you
And what[G]ever you de[Em7]cide to do Jo[Am]lene

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ArtistDolly Parton

AlbumJolene

GenresFolk

Year1974

KeyAm

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

Dolly Parton - Jolene on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.

Jolene uses these transitions most often: Am → C (12), Am → G (12), and C → G (12). 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 Am - C chord transition.

1. Am → C chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0

To move from Am to C;

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

2. C → G chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3

To move from C to G;

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

3. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am;

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 G string fret 2.

4. G → Em7 chord transition

Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0

To move from G to Em7;

While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.

Jolene chord transition analysis

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

Jolene includes 72 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
Jolene contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
These transition patterns show how Jolene connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
- Am → G: 21%
- Am → C: 16%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → Am: 13%
- G → Em7: 0%

1. Am → C chord transition

2. C → G chord transition

3. G → Am chord transition

4. G → Em7 chord transition

5. Em7 → Am chord transition