Skip to song content

Leonard Cohen - Tennessee Waltz Chords

ChordsG, D7, C, Gmaj7, G7, Em7, A7, B7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GD7GCG
IwasGdancingwithmyGmaj7darling
TotheG7TennesseeCWaltz
WhenanGoldfriendIEm7happenedtoA7seeD7
I GintroducedhimtomyGmaj7darling
AndG7whiletheywereCdancing
MyGfriendstolemyD7sweetheartfromGmeC
I GremembertheB7nightandtheCTennesseeGWaltz
‘CauseIknowjusthowEm7muchIhaveA7lostD7
YesIGlostmylittleGmaj7darling
TheG7nighttheywereCplaying
TheGbeautifulD7TennesseeGWaltzC
I GremembertheB7nightandtheCTennesseeGWaltz
‘CauseIknowjusthowEm7muchIhaveA7lostD7
YesIGlostmylittleGmaj7darling
TheG7nighttheywereCplaying
TheGbeautifulD7TennesseeGWaltzC
ShecomesGdancingthroughtheGmaj7darkness
TotheG7TennesseeCWaltz
AndIGfeellikeI’mEm7falling A7apartD7
Andit’sGstrongerthanGmaj7drink
Andit’sG7deeperthanCsorrow
ThisGdarknessshe’sD7leftinmyGheartC
I GremembertheB7nightandtheCTennesseeGWaltz
‘CauseIknowjusthowEm7muchIhaveA7lostD7
YesIGlostmylittleGmaj7darling
TheG7nighttheywereCplaying
TheGbeautifulD7TennesseeGWaltzC
TheGbeautifulD7TennesseeGWaltzCG
AlbumDear Heather
GenresPop, Soul
Year2004
KeyG
DifficultyAdvanced

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

Here's how to move from G to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to D7

2. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

  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 A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to C

3. G → Gmaj7 chord transition

To move from G to Gmaj7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to Gmaj7

4. Gmaj7 → G7 chord transition

To move from Gmaj7 to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

Gmaj7 to G7

5. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 to C:

  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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

6. G → Em7 chord transition

Switching from G to Em7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

7. Em7 → A7 chord transition

Switching from Em7 to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

8. A7 → D7 chord transition

To move from A7 to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

9. G → B7 chord transition

To move from G to B7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

10. B7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from B7 to C:

  1. While playing B7, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

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%