Chuck Berry - Maybelline Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram
[chorus]
[A]Maybelline, why can’t you be true?
Oh, [D7]Maybelline, why [A]can’t you be true?
You’ve [E7]started back [D7]doin’ the [A]things you used to do.
[Opening]
[A]As I was motivatin’ over the hill,
I saw Maybelline in a Coupe de Ville.
Cadillac rollin’ on the open road, but nothin’ outruns my V-8 Ford.
Cadillac doin’ ’bout 95, bumper-to-bumper, rollin’ side by side.
[chorus]
[A]Maybelline, why can’t you be true?
Oh, [D7]Maybelline, why [A]can’t you be true?
You’ve [E7]started back [D7]doin’ the [A]things you used to do.
[verse 2]
[A]Cadillac rolled up ahead of the Ford, the Ford got hot, wouldn’t do no more.
It soon got cloudy and it started to rain.
I tooted my horn for the passing lane.
Rain was pourin’ under my hood, I knew that was doin’ my motor good.
[chorus]
[A]Maybelline, why can’t you be true?
Oh, [D7]Maybelline, why [A]can’t you be true?
You’ve [E7]started back [D7]doin’ the [A]things you used to do.
[chorus]
[A]Maybelline, why can’t you be true?
Oh, [D7]Maybelline, why [A]can’t you be true?
You’ve [E7]started back [D7]doin’ the [A]things you used to do.
[Closing]
[A]Motor cooled down, the heat went down,
that’s when I heard that highway sound.
The Cadillac sittin’ like a ton of lead, 110 half a mile ahead.
The Cadillac looked like it was sittin’ still.
I caught Maybelline at the top of the hill.
[chorus]
[A]Maybelline, why can’t you be true?
Oh, [D7]Maybelline, why [A]can’t you be true?
You’ve [E7]started back [D7]doin’ the [A]things you used to do.
How to play Maybelline on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Chuck Berry - Maybelline on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.
Maybelline uses these transitions most often: D7 → A (10), A → D7 (5), and A → 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 - D7 chord transition.
1. A → D7 chord transition
To move from A to D7;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
2. A → E7 chord transition
To move from A to E7;
- While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
3. E7 → D7 chord transition
To move from E7 to D7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
Maybelline chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Maybelline.
- Maybelline includes 25 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Maybelline connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
- A → E7: 4%
- A → D7: 1%
After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).- D7 → A: 5%