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Carpenters - Solitaire Chords

ChordsD, Bm, A7, A, F#m, Em
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

DTherewasamanBmalonelyman
A7Wholosthislovethroughhis Dindifference
AheartthatcaredBmthatwentunshared
A7UntilitdiedwithinhisDsilenceA
AndDsolitaire’stheonlygameinF#mtown
AndBmeveryroadthattakeshimtakeshimdown
AndEmbyhimselfit’seasyto Apretend
He’llneverDloveagainA
AndDkeepingtohimselfheplaystheF#mgame
BmWithoutherloveitalwaysendsthesame
WhileEmlifegoesonaroundhim Aeverywhere
He’splayingDsolitaireA7
DAlittlehopeBmgoesupinsmoke
A7JusthowitgoesgoeswithoutDsaying
TherewasamanBmalonelyman
A7WhowouldcommandthehandDhe’splayingA
AlbumHorizon
GenresPop
Year1975
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Solitaire on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Carpenters - Solitaire on guitar requires 6 chords and 8 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.

Solitaire uses these transitions most often: A7 → D (5), A → D (4), and Bm → A7 (4). 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 D - Bm chord transition.

1. D → Bm chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

D to Bm

2. Bm → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

Bm to A7

3. A7 → D chord transition

Switching from A7 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 B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A7 to D

4. D → A chord transition

Here's how 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 3 times.

D to A

5. 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 2 times.

6. F#m → Bm chord transition

Switching from F#m to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

8. Em → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

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

  • Solitaire includes 29 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Solitaire contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Solitaire connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → Bm: 5%
    After Bm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).
    • Bm → Em: 13%
    • Bm → A7: 0%