Leonard Cohen - Tennessee Waltz Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Gmaj7 chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar Em7 chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar B7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [D7] [G] [C] [G]
I was [G]dancing with my [Gmaj7]darling
To the [G7]Tennessee [C]Waltz
When an [G]old friend I [Em7]happened to [A7]see [D7]
I intro[G]duced him to my [Gmaj7]darling
And [G7]while they were [C]dancing
My [G]friend stole my [D7]sweetheart from [G]me [C]
[chorus]
I re[G]member the [B7]night and the [C]Tennessee [G]Waltz
‘Cause I know just how [Em7]much I have [A7]lost [D7]
Yes I [G]lost my little [Gmaj7]darling
The [G7]night they were [C]playing
The [G]beautiful [D7]Tennessee [G]Waltz [C]
[chorus]
I re[G]member the [B7]night and the [C]Tennessee [G]Waltz
‘Cause I know just how [Em7]much I have [A7]lost [D7]
Yes I [G]lost my little [Gmaj7]darling
The [G7]night they were [C]playing
The [G]beautiful [D7]Tennessee [G]Waltz [C]
[Closing]
She comes [G]dancing through the [Gmaj7]darkness
To the [G7]Tennessee [C]Waltz
And I [G]feel like I’m [Em7]falling a[A7]part [D7]
And it’s [G]stronger than [Gmaj7]drink
And it’s [G7]deeper than [C]sorrow
This [G]darkness she’s [D7]left in my [G]heart [C]
[chorus]
I re[G]member the [B7]night and the [C]Tennessee [G]Waltz
‘Cause I know just how [Em7]much I have [A7]lost [D7]
Yes I [G]lost my little [Gmaj7]darling
The [G7]night they were [C]playing
The [G]beautiful [D7]Tennessee [G]Waltz [C]
The [G]beautiful [D7]Tennessee [G]Waltz [C] [G]
How to play Tennessee Waltz on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Leonard Cohen - Tennessee Waltz on guitar requires 8 chords and 10 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.
Tennessee Waltz uses these transitions most often: C → G (17), D7 → G (12), and G → C (7). 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 G - D7 chord transition.
1. G → D7 chord transition
To move from G to D7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. G → Gmaj7 chord transition
To move from G to Gmaj7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
4. Gmaj7 → G7 chord transition
To move from Gmaj7 to G7;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
5. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
6. G → Em7 chord transition
To move from G to Em7;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
7. Em7 → A7 chord transition
To move from Em7 to A7;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 2.
8. A7 → D7 chord transition
To move from A7 to D7;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
9. G → B7 chord transition
To move from G to B7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
10. B7 → C chord transition
To move from B7 to C;
- While playing B7, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
Tennessee Waltz chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Tennessee Waltz.
- Tennessee Waltz includes 85 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Tennessee Waltz contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Tennessee Waltz connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D7: 1%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%