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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.

WhenIwasaboy.CIFthoughtBbitFjustcametoyaCFBbF
ButInevercouldtellwhat’smine,soitdidn’tmatteranyway
Myonlyprideandjoywasthisrecorddownhere,bangingonanoldguitar,singin’whatIhadtosay.
GIalwaysthoughtourhousewashaunted,Dm’causenobodysaid‘boo’toFmeC
GIneverdidgetwhatIwanted,DmbutnowIgetwhatIneedF
It’sbeenaslowturning,CfromFtheBbinsideFoutCFBbF
Aslowturningbabybutyoucomeabout
Aslowlearningbutyoulearntosweat,ahey,hey,hey
Aslowturningbabynotfadeaway,notfadeaway,notfadeaway
NowI’minmycar,CoohFI’veBbgotFtheradiodownCFBbF
Nowmeyellingatthekidsintheback,causethey’rebanginglikeCharlieWatts
Youthinkyoucomesofarinthisonehorsetown
Thenshe’slaughingthatcrazylaugh,causeyouhaven’tlefttheparkinglot
GTimeisshort,andhere’sthedamnedthingaboutit,Dmyou’regonnadie,gonnaFdieCforsure
GYoucanlearntolivewithloveorwithoutit,Dmbutthereain’tFnocure
There’sjustaslowturning,CfromFtheBbinsideFoutCFBbF
Aslowturningbutyoucomeabout,aslowlearningyoulearntosweat,ahey,hey,hey
Aslowturningbabynotfadeaway,notfadeaway,notfadeaway,notfadeaway,notaway
AlbumSlow Turning
GenresRock
Year1988
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

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

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

C to F

2. F → Bb chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

F to Bb

3. F → G chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

F to G

4. G → Dm chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. C → G chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

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%