Bob Dylan - Lay, Lady, Lay Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[intro]
[G] [Bm] [F] [Am] [G] [Bm] [F] [Am]
[Opening]
[G]Lay, lady, [Bm]lay,
[F]lay across my [Am]big brass [G]Bed [Bm] [F] [Am]
[G]Lay, lady, [Bm]lay,
[F]lay across my [Am]big brass [G]Bed [Bm] [F] [Am]
[D]Whatever [Em]colors you have [G]in your mind
[D]I’ll show them [Em]to you and you’ll [G]see them shine
[G]Lay, lady, [Bm]lay,
[F]lay across my [Am]big brass [G]Bed [Bm] [F] [Am]
[verse 2]
[G]Stay, lady, [Bm]stay,
[F]stay with your [Am]man awhile [G] [Bm] [F] [Am]
[G]Until the break of [Bm]day,
[F]let me see you [Am]make him smile [G] [Bm] [F] [Am]
[D]His clothes are [Em]dirty but his [G]hands are clean
[D]And you’re the [Em]best thing that he’s [G]ever seen
[G]Stay, lady, [Bm]stay, [F]stay with your [Am]man awhile [G] [Bm] [F] [Am]
[verse 3]
[Bm]Why wait any longer for the [G]world to begin
[Bm]You can have your cake and eat it [G]too
[Bm]Why wait any longer for the [G]one you love
When he’s [Bm]standing in front of [Am]you [D]
[Closing]
[G]Lay, lady, [Bm]lay, [F]lay across my [Am]big brass [G]bed [Bm] [F] [Am]
[G]Stay, lady, [Bm]stay, [F]stay while the [Am]night is still a[G]head [Bm] [F] [Am]
[D]I long to [Em]see you in the [G]morning light
[D]I long to [Em]reach for you [G]in the night
[G]Stay, lady, [Bm]stay, [F]stay while the [Am]night is still a[G]head [Bm] [F] [Am]
[outro]
[G] [Bm] [F] [Am] [G] [Am] [Bm] [C] [G]
How to play Lay, Lady, Lay on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Bob Dylan - Lay, Lady, Lay on guitar requires 7 chords and 11 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, Lady, Lay uses these transitions most often: G → Bm (24), Bm → F (21), and F → Am (21). 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 - Bm chord transition.
1. G → Bm chord transition
To move from G to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
2. Bm → F chord transition
To move from Bm to F;
- Slide your index finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from G string fret 4 to D string fret 3.
3. F → Am chord transition
To move from F to Am;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
4. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. Am → D chord transition
To move from Am to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
6. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
7. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
8. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
9. Am → Bm chord transition
To move from Am to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
10. Bm → C chord transition
To move from Bm to C;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
11. C → G chord transition
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.
Lay, Lady, Lay chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Lay, Lady, Lay.
- Lay, Lady, Lay includes 112 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Lay, Lady, Lay contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Lay, Lady, Lay connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → D: 24%
- G → Am: 13%
After Bm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).- Bm → G: 25%
- Bm → C: 12%