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Chuck Berry - Maybelline Chords

ChordsA, D7, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

AMaybelline,whycan’tyoubetrue?
Oh,D7Maybelline,whyAcan’tyoubetrue?
You’veE7startedbackD7doin’theAthingsyouusedtodo.
AAsIwasmotivatin’overthehill,
IsawMaybellineinaCoupedeVille.
Cadillacrollin’ontheopenroad,butnothin’outrunsmyV-8Ford.
Cadillacdoin’’bout95,bumper-to-bumper,rollin’sidebyside.
AMaybelline,whycan’tyoubetrue?
Oh,D7Maybelline,whyAcan’tyoubetrue?
You’veE7startedbackD7doin’theAthingsyouusedtodo.
ACadillacrolledupaheadoftheFord,theFordgothot,wouldn’tdonomore.
Itsoongotcloudyanditstartedtorain.
Itootedmyhornforthepassinglane.
Rainwaspourin’undermyhood,Iknewthatwasdoin’mymotorgood.
AMaybelline,whycan’tyoubetrue?
Oh,D7Maybelline,whyAcan’tyoubetrue?
You’veE7startedbackD7doin’theAthingsyouusedtodo.
AMaybelline,whycan’tyoubetrue?
Oh,D7Maybelline,whyAcan’tyoubetrue?
You’veE7startedbackD7doin’theAthingsyouusedtodo.
AMotorcooleddown,theheatwentdown,
that’swhenIheardthathighwaysound.
TheCadillacsittin’likeatonoflead,110halfamileahead.
TheCadillaclookedlikeitwassittin’still.
IcaughtMaybellineatthetopofthehill.
AMaybelline,whycan’tyoubetrue?
Oh,D7Maybelline,whyAcan’tyoubetrue?
You’veE7startedbackD7doin’theAthingsyouusedtodo.
AlbumRock, Rock, Rock!
GenresRock
Year1956
KeyA
DifficultyEasy

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

Switching from A to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

A to D7

2. A → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move 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 5 times.

A to E7

3. E7 → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from E7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 5 times.

E7 to D7

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%