Creedence Clearwater Revival - Midnight Special Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]Well you wake up in the mor[C]nin’, you hear the work bell [G]ring
And they march you to the [D]table to see the same old [G]thing
Ain’t no food upon the [C]table and no pork up in the [G]pan
But you better not com[D]plain boy you get in trouble with the [G]man [G7]
[chorus]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special shine a light on [G]me [G7]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special [D7]shine an ever lovin’ light on [G]me
[verse 2]
[G]Yonder come miss [C7]Rosie, how in the world did you [G]know?
By the way she wears her [D]apron, and the clothes she [G]wore
Umbrella on her [C7]shoulder, piece of paper in her [G]hand
She come to see the [D]gov’nor, she wants to free her [G]man [G7]
[chorus]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special shine a light on [G]me [G7]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special [D7]shine an ever lovin’ light on [G]me
[Closing]
[G]If you’re ever in [C7]Houston, well, you better do the [G]right
You better not [D]gamble, there, you better not [G]fight, at all
Or the sheriff will [C7]grab ya and the boys will bring you [G]down
The next thing you [D]know, boy, oh! you’re prison [G]bound [G7]
[chorus]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special shine a light on [G]me [G7]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special [D7]shine an ever lovin’ light on [G]me
[chorus]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special shine a light on [G]me [G7]
Let the Midnight [C]Special shine a light on [G]me
Let the Midnight [D]Special [D7]shine an ever lovin’ light on [G]me
How to play Midnight Special on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Midnight Special on guitar requires 6 chords and 7 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.
Midnight Special uses these transitions most often: G → D (14), C → G (10), and D → G (10). 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 - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. 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.
3. G → G7 chord transition
To move from G to G7;
- Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.
4. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
5. D → D7 chord transition
To move from D to D7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
6. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
7. G → C7 chord transition
To move from G to C7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on G string fret 3.
Midnight Special chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Midnight Special.
- Midnight Special includes 67 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Midnight Special contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Midnight Special 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 → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → D7: 1%