Electric Light Orchestra - When I Was A Boy Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar G#7 | A♭7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]When I was a [Em]boy I had a [Am]dream, [C]
[F]All about the [Am]things I’d like to [Dm]be, [C]
[G]Soon as I was in my bed, [F]music played in[G]side my [Em]head,
When I was a [G]boy I had a [C]dream!
[verse 2]
[C]When I was a [Em]boy I learnt to [Am]play,
[F]Far into the [Am]night and drift a[Dm]way, [C]
[G]Don’t wanna work on the milk or the bread,
[F]Just wanna play my gui[G]tar instead [Em],
When I was a [G]boy I had a [C]dream!
[chorus]
And [C]ra[Em]dio [Am]waves [G]kept me [F]com[A7]pa[Dm]ny,
[Ab7]In those [C]beau[Em]tiful [Am]days,
[G]when there [F]was [A7]no [Dm]money,
When I was a [Ab7]boy I had a [C]dream!
[Closing]
[C]When I was a [Em]boy I had a [Am]dream, [C]
[F]Finding out what [Am]life could really [Dm]mean, [C]
[G]Don’t want a job, ’cause it drives me crazy,
[F]Just wanna sing, ‘Do you [G]love me, baby?’ [Em]
When I was a [G]boy I had a [C]dream!
[chorus]
And [C]ra[Em]dio [Am]waves [G]kept me [F]com[A7]pa[Dm]ny,
[Ab7]In those [C]beau[Em]tiful [Am]days,
[G]when there [F]was [A7]no [Dm]money,
When I was a [Ab7]boy I had a [C]dream!
When I was a [Ab7]boy! [Ab7] [C]
How to play When I Was A Boy on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Electric Light Orchestra - When I Was A Boy on guitar requires 8 chords and 15 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.
When I Was A Boy uses these transitions most often: C → Em (7), Em → Am (7), and G → F (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 C - Em chord transition.
1. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
2. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
3. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
4. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
5. F → Am chord transition
To move from F to Am;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
6. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
7. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
8. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
9. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
10. G → Em chord transition
To move from G to Em;
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
11. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
12. F → A7 chord transition
To move from F to A7;
- While playing F, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
13. A7 → Dm chord transition
To move from A7 to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
14. Dm → Ab7 chord transition
To move from Dm to Ab7;
- While playing Dm, lift your ring finger from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
15. Ab7 → C chord transition
To move from Ab7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
When I Was A Boy chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in When I Was A Boy.
- When I Was A Boy includes 72 chord transitions, 15 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- When I Was A Boy contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how When I Was A Boy 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 G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%