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Eric Clapton - Key To The Highway Chords

ChordsA, E7, D, D7, A7
Strumming↓-↓↑

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

IgottheAkeytotheE7highway,
BilledDoutandboundtoD7go.
I’mgonnaA7leavehererunning
E7WalkingismosttooAslowE7
I’mgoingAbacktotheE7border
DWoman,whereI’mbetterD7known.
YouknowyouA7haven’tdonenothing
E7DroveagoodmanawayfromAhomeE7
WhentheAmoonpeeksovertheE7mountains
DI’llbeonmyD7way.
I’mgonnaA7roamthisoldhighway
E7UntilthebreakofAdayE7
OhgivemeAone,onemorekissE7darlin’
DJustbeforeID7go,
‘CausewhenIA7leavethistimeyouE7knowI
Iwon’tbebacknoAmoreE7
IgottheAkeytotheE7highway,
BilledDoutandboundtoD7go.
I’mgonnaA7leavehererunning
E7WalkingismosttooAslowE7
AlbumLayla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Year1970
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Key To The Highway on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Eric Clapton - Key To The Highway on guitar requires 5 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.

Key To The Highway uses these transitions most often: A → E7 (10), E7 → A (9), and A7 → E7 (5). 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 - E7 chord transition.

1. A → E7 chord transition

Switching from A to E7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 10 times.

A to E7

2. E7 → D chord transition

Switching from E7 to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

E7 to D

3. D → D7 chord transition

To move from D to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

D to D7

4. D7 → A7 chord transition

Switching from D7 to A7:

  1. While playing D7, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

D7 to A7

5. A7 → E7 chord transition

To move from A7 to E7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Key To The Highway.

  • Key To The Highway includes 39 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Key To The Highway connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (31%), Am (28%), and A7 (7%).
    • E7 → A: 31%
    • E7 → D: 6%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → E7: 4%