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Richard Thompson - Keep Your Distance Chords

ChordsF, C, Bb, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

FCBbF
IfIFcrossyourpath FagainwhoknowsFwherewhoknowsBbwhen
OnsomeFmorningwithoutFnumberonsomeBbhighwaywithoutBbendC
Don’tFgraspmyhandandFsayfatehasFbroughtyouhereBbtoday
ForFfateisonlyCfoolingwithusBbfriendC
FKeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceF
DmWhenIfeelyouCclosetomewhatBbcanIdobutCfall
KeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceBb
WithFusitmustbeCallornoneatBballCF
FCBbF
It’saFdesperategameweFplay,throwourFsoulsourlives Bbaway
FWoundsthatcan’tbeFmendedandBbdebtsthatcan’tbeBbpaidC
OhIFplayedandIgotFstungnowI’mFbitingbackmyBbtongue
I’mFsweepingouttheCfootprintswhereIBbstrayedC
FKeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceF
DmWhenIfeelyouCclosetomewhatBbcanIdobutCfall
KeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceBb
WithFusitmustbeCallornoneatBballC
FKeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceF
DmWhenIfeelyouCclosetomewhatBbcanIdobutCfall
KeepyourBbdistanceBbkeepyourFdistanceBb
WithFusitmustbeCallornoneatBballCFC
WithFusitmustbeCallornoneatBballCBbF
AlbumRumor and Sigh
Year1991
KeyF
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Keep Your Distance on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Richard Thompson - Keep Your Distance 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.

Keep Your Distance uses these transitions most often: Bb → F (16), C → Bb (15), and F → Bb (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 F - C chord transition.

1. F → C chord transition

Here's how to move from F to C:

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

F to C

2. C → Bb chord transition

Switching from C to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

C to Bb

3. Bb → F chord transition

Switching from Bb to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

Bb to F

4. F → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Dm:

  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 E string fret 1.
  3. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  4. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

F to Dm

5. Dm → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Keep Your Distance.

  • Keep Your Distance includes 77 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Keep Your Distance contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Keep Your Distance connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → Dm: 5%
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → F: 34%
    • Bb → C: 20%