Skip to song content

Joan Baez - There But For Fortune Chords

ChordsA, Dm, F#m, B, E7, D, Bm, C#m
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

ADmADm
AShowmetheDmprison,AshowmetheDmjail
AShowmetheF#mprisoner,whoseBlifehasgoneE7stale
AndI’llAshowyou,youngF#mman,
WithsoDmanyreasonsBmwhy
C#mTherebutforF#mfortune,goByouorE7I,
mhAmhDmA
AShowmetheDmalley,AshowmetheDmtrain
AShowmetheF#mhobo,whoBsleepsoutintheE7rain
AndI’llAshowyou,youngF#mman,
WithsoDmanyreasonsBmwhy
C#mTherebutforF#mfortune,goByouorE7I,
mhAmhDmA
AShowmetheDmwhiskeyAstainsontheDmfloor
AShowmetheF#mdrunkard,asheBstumblesouttheE7door
AndI’llAshowyou,youngF#mman
WithsoDmanyreasonsBmwhy
C#mTherebutforF#mfortune,goByouorE7I,mhAmhDmA
AShowmetheDmcountry,wheretheAbombshadtoDmfall
AShowmetheF#mruinsoftheBbuildings,oncesoE7tall
AndI’llAshowyou,youngF#mland
WithsoDmanyreasonsBmwhy
C#mTherebutforF#mfortune,goByouandE7I,
youandAI
ADmAA
ArtistJoan Baez
AlbumJoan Baez/5
GenresFolk
Year1965
KeyA
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play There But For Fortune on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Joan Baez - There But For Fortune on guitar requires 8 chords and 9 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.

There But For Fortune uses these transitions most often: A → Dm (14), Dm → A (14), and A → F#m (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 - Dm chord transition.

1. A → Dm chord transition

To move from A to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

A to Dm

2. A → F#m chord transition

Switching from A to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

A to F#m

3. F#m → B chord transition

Here's how to move from F#m to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

F#m to B

4. B → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from B to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

B to E7

5. E7 → A chord transition

Switching from E7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

6. F#m → D chord transition

Switching from F#m to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. D → Bm chord transition

Switching from D to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

8. Bm → C#m chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to C#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. C#m → F#m chord transition

To move from C#m to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in There But For Fortune.

  • There But For Fortune includes 76 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • There But For Fortune contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how There But For Fortune 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 → F#m: 6%
    • A → Dm: 2%
    After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
    • Dm → A: 3%