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Creedence Clearwater Revival - Midnight Special Chords

ChordsG, C, D, G7, D7, C7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

GWellyouwakeupinthe Cmornin’,youheartheworkbellGring
AndtheymarchyoutotheDtabletoseethesameoldGthing
Ain’tnofoodupontheCtableandnoporkupintheGpan
Butyoubetternot DcomplainboyyougetintroublewiththeGmanG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialshinealightonGmeG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialD7shineaneverlovin’lightonGme
GYondercomemissC7Rosie,howintheworlddidyouGknow?
BythewayshewearsherDapron,andtheclothessheGwore
UmbrellaonherC7shoulder,pieceofpaperinherGhand
ShecometoseetheDgov’nor,shewantstofreeherGmanG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialshinealightonGmeG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialD7shineaneverlovin’lightonGme
GIfyou’reeverinC7Houston,well,youbetterdotheGright
YoubetternotDgamble,there,youbetternotGfight,atall
OrthesheriffwillC7grabyaandtheboyswillbringyouGdown
ThenextthingyouDknow,boy,oh!you’reprisonGboundG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialshinealightonGmeG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialD7shineaneverlovin’lightonGme
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialshinealightonGmeG7
LettheMidnightCSpecialshinealightonGme
LettheMidnightDSpecialD7shineaneverlovin’lightonGme
AlbumWilly and the Poor Boys
Year1969
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

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:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

G to C

2. G → D chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

G to D

3. G → G7 chord transition

Switching from G to G7:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to G7

4. G7 → C chord transition

To move from G7 to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 7 times.

G7 to C

5. D → D7 chord transition

Switching from D to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

6. D7 → G chord transition

Switching from D7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. G → C7 chord transition

To move from G to C7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

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%