Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E,B,F# keys to play this song with easier chords.
How to play Moonlight Shadow on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.
Moonlight Shadow uses these transitions most often: Bb → C (22), C → F (22), and Dm → Bb (18). 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 Dm - Bb chord transition.
1. Dm → Bb chord transition
To move from Dm to Bb:
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Place pinky on B string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.
2. Bb → C chord transition
Switching from Bb to C:
- While playing Bb, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 22 times.
3. C → F chord transition
Switching from C to F:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 22 times.
4. C → Dm chord transition
Here's how to move from C to Dm:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 17 times.
5. F → Bb chord transition
Switching from F to Bb:
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from D string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.
Moonlight Shadow chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Moonlight Shadow.
- Moonlight Shadow includes 101 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Moonlight Shadow contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Moonlight Shadow connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → F: 16%
- C → Dm: 5%
After Bb, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).- Bb → C: 20%