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Ralph McTell - Streets of London Chords

ChordsC, G, Am, Em, F, Dm, G7, D, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CHaveyouseentheGoldmanintheAmcloseddownEmmarket
FKickinguptheCpaperwithhisDmwornoutGshoes?
CInhiseyesyouGseenopride,AmandheldlooselyEmbyhisside
FYesterday’sCpapertellingG7yesterday’sCnews
SoFhowcanyouEmtellmeyou’reClonely,
DAndsayforD7youthatthesundon’tGshine?G7
CLetmetakeyouGbythehandand
AmLeadyouthroughEmthestreetsofLondon
FI’llshowyouCsomethingtoGmakeyouchangeyourCmind
CHaveyouseentheGoldgirlwhoAmwalksthestreetsofEmLondon
FDirtinherChairandherDmclothesinGrags?
CShe’snotimeforGtalking,sheAmjustkeepsrightonEmwalking
FCarryingherChomeinG7twocarrierCbags.
SoFhowcanyouEmtellmeyou’reClonely,
DAndsayforD7youthatthesundon’tGshine?G7
CLetmetakeyouGbythehandand
AmLeadyouthroughEmthestreetsofLondon
FI’llshowyouCsomethingtoGmakeyouchangeyourCmind
CIntheallnightGcafé,ataAmquarterpastEmeleven,
FSameoldCmanissittingDmthereonhisGown
CLookingattheGworldovertheAmrimofhisEmteacup,
FeachtealastanChourthenheG7wandershome Calone
SoFhowcanyouEmtellmeyou’reClonely,
DAndsayforD7youthatthesundon’tGshine?G7
CLetmetakeyouGbythehandand
AmLeadyouthroughEmthestreetsofLondon
FI’llshowyouCsomethingtoGmakeyouchangeyourCmind
CAndhaveyouseentheGoldman, Amoutsidetheseaman’sEmmission
FMemoryfadingCwiththemedalDmribbonsthatheGwears.
CInourwinterGcity,theAmraincriesalittleEmpity
ForFonemoreforgottenCheroandaG7worldthatdoesn’tCcare
SoFhowcanyouEmtellmeyou’reClonely,
DAndsayforD7youthatthesundon’tGshine?G7
CLetmetakeyouGbythehandand
AmLeadyouthroughEmthestreetsofLondon
FI’llshowyouCsomethingtoGmakeyouchangeyourCmind
FI’llshowyouCsomethingtoGmakeyouchangeyourCmind
AlbumSpiral Staircase
GenresFolk
Year1969
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Streets of London on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ralph McTell - Streets of London on guitar requires 9 chords and 14 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.

Streets of London uses these transitions most often: C → G (17), F → C (13), and Am → Em (12). 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 - G chord transition.

1. 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 17 times.

C to G

2. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

G to Am

3. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Am to Em

4. Em → F chord transition

To move from Em to F:

  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 A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Em to F

5. F → C chord transition

Switching from F to C:

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

6. C → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Dm:

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. Dm → G chord transition

To move from Dm to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 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 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

8. C → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to G7:

  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 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

10. C → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

11. Am → D chord transition

To move from Am to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

12. D → D7 chord transition

To move from D to D7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

13. D7 → G chord transition

To move from D7 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 G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

14. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

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

  • Streets of London includes 128 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Streets of London contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Streets of London connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Am: 13%