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Burl Ives - Pearly Shells Chords

ChordsG, G7, C, A, D, Cm, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram
  • Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram


[G] Pearly shells from the ocean [G7]
Shining in the [C] sun covering the [A] shore [D]
When I [G] see them
My heart [C] tells me that I love [Cm] you
More than [G] all the [D7] little pearly [G] shells


For every [D7] grain of sand upon the beach
I [G] got a kiss for you
And I’ve got [D7] more left over for each star
That [A] twinkles in the [D] blue


[G] Pearly shells from the ocean [G7]
Shining in the [C] sun covering the [A] shore [D]
When I [G] see them
My heart [C] tells me that I love [Cm] you
More than [G] all the [D7] little pearly [G] shells


For every [D7] grain of sand upon the beach
I [G] got a kiss for you
And I’ve got [D7] more left over for each star
That [A] twinkles in the [D] blue


[G] Pearly shells from the ocean [G7]
Shining in the [C] sun covering the [A] shore [D]
When I [G] see them
My heart [C] tells me that I love [Cm] you
More than [G] all the [D7] little pearly [G] shells
More than [G] all the [D7] little pearly [G] shells

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ArtistBurl Ives
AlbumPearly Shells and Other Favorites
GenresFolk, Pop
Year1964
KeyG

How to play Pearly Shells on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Burl Ives - Pearly Shells on guitar requires 7 chords and 10 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.

Pearly Shells uses these transitions most often: G → D7 (8), D7 → G (6), and A → D (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 G - G7 chord transition.

1. G → G7 chord transition

To move 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.
G to G7

2. 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.
G7 to C

3. C → A chord transition

To move from C to A;

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

4. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D;

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

5. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

6. 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.

7. C → Cm chord transition

To move from C to Cm;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

8. Cm → G chord transition

To move from Cm to G;

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

9. G → D7 chord transition

To move from G to D7;

  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 G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.

10. D7 → A chord transition

To move from D7 to A;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Pearly Shells.

  • Pearly Shells includes 44 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Pearly Shells contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Pearly Shells 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 → G7: 2%
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → A: 5%