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Leonard Cohen - So Long, Marianne Chords

ChordsA, Bm, D, G, F#m, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

ComeAovertothewindowmylittleBmdarling
DI’dliketotrytoreadyourApalm
GIusedtothinkIwassomekindofDgypsyboy
F#mBeforeIletyoutakemeE7home
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AWellyouknowthatIlovetoBmlivewithyou
DButyoumakemeforgetsoveryAmuch
GIforgettoprayfortheDangels
AndthentheF#mangelsforgettoprayforE7us
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AWemetwhenwewereBmalmostyoung
DDeepinthegreenlilacApark
GYouheldontomelikeIwasaDcrucifix
F#mAswewentkneelingthroughtheE7dark
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AYourletterstheyallsaythatyou’re Bmbesidemenow
DThenwhydoIfeel Aalone
GI’mstandingonaledgeandyourDfinespiderweb
IsF#mfasteningmyankletoaE7stone
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AFornowIneedyourBmhiddenlove
DI’mcoldasanewrazorAblade
GYouleftwhenItoldyouIwasDcurious
F#mIneversaidthatIwasE7brave
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AOhyouarereallysuchaBmprettyone
DIseeyou’vegoneandchangedyourAnameagain
GAndjustwhenIclimbedthiswholeDmountainside
F#mTowashmy E7eyelidsintherain
NowAsolongMarianneF#mit’stimewebegan
ToE7laughandcryandcryandlaughaboutitAallagainA
AlbumSongs of Leonard Cohen
GenresPop
Year1967
KeyA
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play So Long, Marianne on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Leonard Cohen - So Long, Marianne on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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.

So Long, Marianne uses these transitions most often: E7 → A (12), F#m → E7 (12), and A → Bm (6). 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 A - Bm chord transition.

1. A → Bm chord transition

Switching from A to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A to Bm

2. Bm → D chord transition

Switching from Bm to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Bm to D

3. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

D to A

4. A → G chord transition

To move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

A to G

5. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E 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 6 times.

6. D → F#m chord transition

Switching from D to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

7. F#m → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from F#m to E7:

  1. While playing F#m, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

8. E7 → A chord transition

Switching from E7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 12 times.

9. A → F#m chord transition

Switching from A to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in So Long, Marianne.

  • So Long, Marianne includes 66 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • So Long, Marianne contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how So Long, Marianne connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → G: 13%
    • A → Bm: 8%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → F#m: 2%