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George Gershwin - Summertime Chords

ChordsDm, A7, Gm, Gm7, Bb, E7, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

DmA7DmA7DmA7Dm
SummerDmtimeA7Dm
AndtheA7livin’isDmeasyA7Dm
FishareGmjumpin’Gm7Bb
AndthecottonisE7high
Oh,yourdaddy’sDmrichA7Dm
AndyourA7maisgoodDmlookin’A7Dm
SoFhush,littleDmbaby;Gmdon’tBbyouDmcryA7Dm
OneoftheseDmmorningsA7Dm
You’regonnaA7riseupDmsingingA7Dm
Thenyou’llGmspreadyourwingsGm7Bb
Andyou’lltaketotheE7sky
But’tilthatDmmorningA7Dm
Thereain’tA7nothin’canDmharmyouA7Dm
WithFdaddyandDmmammyGmstandBbin’DmbyA7Dm
SummerDmtimeA7Dm
AndtheA7livin’isDmeasyA7Dm
FishareGmjumpin’Gm7Bb
AndthecottonisE7high
Oh,yourdaddy’sDmrichA7Dm
AndyourA7maisgoodDmlookin’A7Dm
SoFhush,littleDmbaby;Gmdon’tBbyouDmcryA7Dm
OneoftheseDmmorningsA7Dm
You’regonnaA7riseupDmsingingA7Dm
Thenyou’llGmspreadyourwingsGm7Bb
Andyou’lltaketotheE7sky
But’tilthatDmmorningA7Dm
Thereain’tA7nothin’canDmharmyouA7Dm
WithFdaddyandDmmammyGmstandBbin’DmbyA7Dm
AlbumSingle
GenresJazz
Year1938
KeyDm
DifficultyAdvanced

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

George Gershwin - Summertime on guitar requires 7 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.

Summertime uses these transitions most often: A7 → Dm (31), Dm → A7 (31), and Dm → Gm (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 Dm - A7 chord transition.

1. Dm → A7 chord transition

To move from Dm to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 31 times.

Dm to A7

2. Dm → Gm chord transition

To move from Dm to Gm:

  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 E string fret 3.
  3. Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Dm to Gm

3. Gm → Gm7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Gm to Gm7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

Gm to Gm7

4. Gm7 → Bb chord transition

Switching from Gm7 to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

Gm7 to Bb

5. Bb → E7 chord transition

To move from Bb to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

6. E7 → Dm chord transition

Switching from E7 to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. Dm → F chord transition

Here's how 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.

8. Gm → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from Gm to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. Bb → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Bb to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

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

  • Summertime includes 102 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Summertime contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Summertime connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → F: 14%
    • Dm → Gm: 5%
    After A7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (41%), D7 (18%), and Dm (13%).
    • A7 → Dm: 13%