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John Hiatt - Slow Turning Chords

ChordsC, F, Bb, G, Dm
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 A,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram


When I was a boy. [C] [F] [Bb] [F] I thought it just came to ya [C] [F] [Bb] [F]
But I never could tell what’s mine, so it didn’t matter anyway
My only pride and joy was this record down here, banging on an old guitar, singin’ what I had to say.
[G]I always thought our house was haunted, [Dm]’cause nobody said ‘boo’ to [F]me [C]
[G]I never did get what I wanted, [Dm]but now I get what I need [F]


It’s been a slow turning, [C] [F] [Bb] [F] from the inside out [C] [F] [Bb] [F]
A slow turning baby but you come about
A slow learning but you learn to sweat, a hey, hey, hey
A slow turning baby not fade away, not fade away, not fade away


Now I’m in my car, [C] [F] [Bb] [F]ooh I’ve got the radio down [C] [F] [Bb] [F]
Now me yelling at the kids in the back, cause they’re banging like Charlie Watts
You think you come so far in this one horse town
Then she’s laughing that crazy laugh, cause you haven’t left the parking lot
[G]Time is short, and here’s the damned thing about it, [Dm]you’re gonna die, gonna [F]die [C]for sure
[G]You can learn to live with love or without it, [Dm]but there ain’t [F]no cure


There’s just a slow turning, [C] [F] [Bb] [F] from the inside out [C] [F] [Bb] [F]
A slow turning but you come about, a slow learning you learn to sweat, a hey, hey, hey
A slow turning baby not fade away, not fade away, not fade away, not fade away, not away

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AlbumSlow Turning
GenresRock
Year1988
KeyC

How to play Slow Turning on Guitar (Step-by-step)

John Hiatt - Slow Turning 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.

Slow Turning uses these transitions most often: F → C (9), Bb → F (8), and C → F (8). 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 - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

To move from C 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. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
C to F

2. F → Bb chord transition

To move from F to Bb;

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

3. F → G chord transition

To move 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.
F to G

4. G → Dm chord transition

To move from G to Dm;

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

5. Dm → F chord transition

To move from Dm to F;

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

6. C → G chord transition

To move 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.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Slow Turning.

  • Slow Turning includes 45 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Slow Turning contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Slow Turning connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%