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Melanie Safka - Lay Down Chords

ChordsG, D, F, Em, A, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram


[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [G]frown.
[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [Em]frown.


We were so [D]close, there was no [Em]room,
We bled in[D]side each [Em]others wounds.
We all had [D]caught the [Em]same disease,
And we all [D]sang the [Em]songs of [D]peace.


[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [G]frown.
[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [Em]frown.


So [D]raise the [A]candles [Em]high,
’cause if you [G]don’t, we could stay [D]black a[Am]gainst the [Em]night.
Oh, [D]raise them [A]higher a[Em]gain,
And if you [G]do, we could stay [D]dry a[Am]gainst the [Em]rain.


[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [G]frown.
[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [Em]frown.


We were so [D]close, there was no [Em]room,
We bled in[D]side each [Em]others wounds.
We all had [D]caught the [Em]same disease,
and we all [D]sang the [Em]songs of peace.


Some [D]came to sing, some [D]came to pray,
Some [D]came to keep the [Em]dark away.


So [D]raise the [A]candles [Em]high,
’cause if you [G]don’t, we could stay [D]black a[Am]gainst the [Em]night.
Oh, [D]raise them [A]higher a[Em]gain,
And if you [G]do, we could stay [D]dry a[Am]gainst the [Em]rain.


[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [G]frown.
[G]Lay down, [D]lay it down, [F]lay it all [G]down,
Let your white birds [D]smile up at the [F]ones who stand and [G]frown.

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AlbumCandles in the Rain
GenresPop
Year1970
KeyG

How to play Lay Down on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Melanie Safka - Lay Down on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.

Lay Down uses these transitions most often: G → D (20), D → F (16), and Em → D (14). 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 G - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

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

2. D → F chord transition

To move from D to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E 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 A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
D to F

3. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G;

  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 A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
F to G

4. F → Em chord transition

To move from F to Em;

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

5. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D;

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

6. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A;

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

7. A → Em chord transition

To move from A to Em;

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

8. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

9. D → Am chord transition

To move from D to Am;

  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 D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

10. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em;

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

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

  • Lay Down includes 98 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Lay Down contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Lay Down 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 → A: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%