Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins - Poor Boy Blues Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
[A7] [E] [G] [A7] [D]
[D] Do I want you, yes I do
Do I need you baby, you know it’s true
[G] But I ain’t got nothin’, that [A7] you can [D] use
So I’m [A7] sittin’ on my own here, [G] with these [A7] poor boy [D] blues
[verse 2]
[D] One day, baby, you will see
You’re gonna give all your love to me
[G] I’m the one, babe, that you’re [A7] gonna [D] choose
[A7] But in the meantime, [G] I got these [A7] poor boy [D] blues
[interlude]
[A7] [E] [G] [A7] [D]
[D] [G] [A7] [D] [A7] [E] [G] [A7] [D]
[Closing]
[D] Things won’t always, be the same
Someday soon, everything will change
[G] You’ll tell your mama, her baby’s [A7] got good [D] news
[A7] But until then, well, [G] I got these [A7] poor boy [D] blues
[A7] But until then, well, [G] I got these [A7] poor boy [D] blues
[outro]
[A7] [E] [G] [A7] [D]
How to play Poor Boy Blues on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins - Poor Boy Blues 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.
Poor Boy Blues uses these transitions most often: A7 → D (12), G → A7 (12), and D → A7 (7). 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 A7 - E chord transition.
1. A7 → E chord transition
To move from A7 to E;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on D string fret 2.
2. E → G chord transition
To move from E to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
3. G → A7 chord transition
To move from G to A7;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 2.
4. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
5. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
Poor Boy Blues chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Poor Boy Blues.
- Poor Boy Blues includes 47 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Poor Boy Blues contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Poor Boy Blues connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (42%), D7 (18%), and Dm (12%).
- A7 → D: 42%
- A7 → G: 4%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → A7: 1%