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Eric Bibb - The Cape Chords

ChordsAm, G, F, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to G,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram


[Am] [G] [F] [C] [Am] [C] [F] [G] [C]
[C]Eight years old with a [Am]floursack cape
Tied [F]all around his [G]neck
[C]He climbed up on the [G]garage
[F]Figurin’ what the [G]heck
He [C]screwed his courage [Am]up so tight
The [F]whole thing [G]came un[C]wound
[Am]He got a runnin’ start and [C]bless his heart
He [F]headed [G]for the [C]ground


[F]He’s one of those who knows that life
Is [Am]just a leap of [C]faith
[C]Spread your arms and [Am]hold your breath
[F]Always [G]trust your [C]cape


[C]All grown up with a [Am]floursack cape
[F]Tied around his [G]dreams
[C]He was full of spit and [Am]vinegar
He was [F]bustin’ at the [G]seams
He [C]licked his finger and he [Am]checked the wind
It was [F]gonna be [G]do or [C]die
[Am]He wasn’t scared of [C]nothin’ boys
And he was [F]pretty sure [G]he could [C]fly


[F]He’s one of those who knows that life
Is [Am]just a leap of [C]faith
[C]Spread your arms and [Am]hold your breath
[F]Always [G]trust your [C]cape


[C]Old and grey with a [Am]flour sack cape
Tied [F]all around his [G]head
[C]He’s still jumpin’ [Am]off the garage
[F]Will be till he’s [G]dead
[C]All these years the [Am]people said
He’s [F]actin’ [G]like a [C]kid
[Am]He did not know he [C]could not fly
[G]So he [C]did


[F]He’s one of those who knows that life
Is [Am]just a leap of [C]faith
[C]Spread your arms and [Am]hold your breath
[F]Always [G]trust your [C]cape

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ArtistEric Bibb
AlbumFriends
GenresFolk
Year2004
KeyC

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

Eric Bibb - The Cape on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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 Cape uses these transitions most often: G → C (16), C → Am (15), and F → G (15). 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 Am - G chord transition.

1. Am → G chord transition

To move from Am to G;

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

2. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

3. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C;

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

4. C → Am chord transition

To move from C to Am;

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

5. G → C chord transition

To move 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.

6. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F;

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

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

  • The Cape includes 79 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Cape contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Cape connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → G: 21%