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Tom Petty - The Apartment Song Chords

ChordsA, E, D
Strumming↓-↓-↓-↓↑

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

  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram


[A]I used to live in a two-room apartment, neighbors knocking [E]on my [A]wall
Times were hard I don’t wanna knock it, I don’t miss it [E]much at [A]all


[D]Oh [A]yeah [E]I’m [A]alright [D]I just [A]feel a little [E]lonely tonight
[D]I’m [A]okay [E]most of the [A]time [D]I just [A]feel a little [E]lonely [A]tonight


[A]I used to need your love so badly, then I came to [E]live with [A]it
Lately I get a faraway feeling, and the whole thing [E]starts [A]again


[D]Oh [A]yeah [E]I’m [A]alright [D]I just [A]feel a little [E]lonely tonight
[D]I’m [A]okay [E]most of the [A]time [D]I just [A]feel a little [E]lonely [A]tonight


[A]I used to need your love so badly, then I came to [E]live with [A]it
Lately I get a faraway feeling, and the whole thing [E]starts [A]again

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ArtistTom Petty
AlbumFull Moon Fever
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1989
KeyA

How to play The Apartment Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Tom Petty - The Apartment Song on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.

The Apartment Song uses these transitions most often: A → E (14), E → A (12), and D → A (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 A - E chord transition.

1. A → E chord transition

To move from A to E;

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

2. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D;

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

3. E → D chord transition

To move from E to D;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Apartment Song.

  • The Apartment Song includes 42 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Apartment Song contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Apartment Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → E: 12%
    After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    • E → D: 14%