Crosby, Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
[Opening]
[D]You who are on the [G]road
Must have a [D]code that you can [A]live by [A7]
And [D]so become your[G]self
Because the [D]past is just a [A]goodbye
[verse 2]
[D]Teach your children [G]well
Their father’s [D]hell did slowly [A]go by [A7]
And [D]feed them on your [G]dreams
The one they [D]picks the one you’ll [A]know by
[chorus]
[D]Don’t you ever ask them [G]why
If they told you you will [D]cry
So just look at them and [Bm]sigh [G] [A]
And know they [D]love you [G] [D] [A] [A7]
[verse 3]
And [D]you of tender [G]years
Can’t know the [D]fears that your elders [A]grew by [A7]*
And so please [D]help them with your [G]youth
They seek the [D]truth before they [A]can die
[Closing]
[D]Teach your parents [G]well
Their children’s [D]hell will slowly [A]go by [A7]
And [D]feed them on your [G]dreams
The one they [D]picks the one you’ll [A]know by
[chorus]
[D]Don’t you ever ask them [G]why
If they told you you will [D]cry
So just look at them and [Bm]sigh [G] [A]
And know they [D]love you [G] [D] [A] [D]
How to play Teach Your Children on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.
Teach Your Children uses these transitions most often: D → G (12), G → D (12), and D → A (10). 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 - G chord transition.
1. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. D → A chord transition
To move from D to A;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.
3. A → A7 chord transition
To move from A to A7;
- While playing A, lift your ring finger from B string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
4. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
5. D → Bm chord transition
To move from D to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
6. Bm → G chord transition
To move from Bm to G;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.
7. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
Teach Your Children chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Teach Your Children.
- Teach Your Children includes 57 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Teach Your Children contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Teach Your Children 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 → G: 29%
- D → A: 17%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → D: 24%
- G → A: 6%