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Lovin’ Spoonful - Nashville Cats Chords

ChordsC, G, G7, C7, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

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CNashvilleCcatsplaywildasmountaindew
CNashvilleCcatsbeenplayin’sincethey’sbabies
CNashvilleCcatsgetworkbeforethey’retwo
Wellthere’sC13hundredand52guitarG7pickersinNashville
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OnaCTennesseeanthill
Yeahthere’s13hundredandC752guitarFcasesinNashville
AndanyG7onethatunpackshisguitarcanplay
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YesIwasjust13youmightsayIwasamusicalproG7verbialkneehigh
WhenIheardacouplenewsoundin’tunesonthetubes
AndtheyCblastedmeskyhigh
AndtherecordmansaideveryC7oneisayellowsun
FrecordfromNashville
AndupGnorthhereain’tnobodybuys‘emandIsaidbutCIwill
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CNashvilleCcatsplaycleanascountrywater
CNashvilleCcatsplaywildasmountaindew
CNashvilleCcatsbeenplayin’sincethey’sbabies
CNashvilleCcatsgetworkbeforethey’retwo
CWellthere’s16thousand821G7mothersfromNashville
Alltheirfriendsplaymusicandtheyain’tuptight
IfConeofthekidswill
Becauseit’scustommadeforanyC7mother’sson
TobeaFguitarpickerinNashville
AndIG7sureamgladIgotachancetosayaword
AboutthemusicandthemothersfromCNashville
CNashvilleCcatsplaycleanascountrywater
CNashvilleCcatsplaywildasmountaindew
CNashvilleCcatsbeenplayin’sincethey’sbabies
CNashvilleCcatsgetworkbeforethey’retwo
AlbumHums of the Lovin' Spoonful
Year1966
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Nashville Cats on Guitar (Step-by-step)

The Lovin' Spoonful - Nashville Cats on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.

Nashville Cats uses these transitions most often: G → C (13), C → G (12), and G7 → C (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 C - G chord transition.

1. C → G chord transition

Switching from C 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 D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

C to G

2. C → G7 chord transition

To move from C to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to G7

3. C → C7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to C7

4. C7 → F chord transition

Here's how to move from C7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C7 to F

5. F → G7 chord transition

To move from F to G7:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. F → G chord transition

Switching from F to G:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Nashville Cats.

  • Nashville Cats includes 42 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Nashville Cats contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Nashville Cats 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 → G: 35%
    • C → G7: 2%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%