Blackbird
The Beatles
advancedKey G major96 BPM
Chords
G
Am7
G/B
C
C#dim
D
D#dim
Em
Strumming
↓D
↓D
↓D
↑U
↓D
↓D
↑U
↑U
↓D
↑U
Lyrics & chords
Verse 1
G
Blackbird
Am7
singing
G/B
in
G
the
dead
of
night,
C
Take
C#dim
these
D
broken
D#dim
wings
Em
and
Emmaj7
learn
to
fly.
D Cm
All
C#dim
your
C
life,
G/B
You
A7
were
only
D7
waiting
for
this
moment
to
G
arise.
Verse 2
G
Blackbird
Am7
singing
G/B
in
G
the
dead
of
night,
C
Take
C#dim
these
D
sunken
D#dim
eyes
Em
and
Emmaj7
learn
to
see.
D Cm
All
C#dim
your
C
life,
G/B
You
A7
were
only
D7
waiting
for
this
moment
to
be
G
free.
Bridge
F Bb6 C
Black
C/E
-
Dm
bird,
C
fly.
F Bb6 A7
Black
C/E
-
Dm
bird,
C
fly...
Dsus
Into
the
light
of
a
dark,
black
G
night.
Verse 3
G
Blackbird
Am7
singing
G/B
in
G
the
dead
of
night,
C
Take
C#dim
these
D
broken
D#dim
wings
Em
and
Emmaj7
learn
to
fly.
D Cm
All
C#dim
your
C
life,
G/B
You
A7
were
only
D7
waiting
for
this
moment
to
G
arise.
Outro
C
You
G/B
were
A7
only
D7sus
waiting
for
this
moment
to
G
arise.
C
You
G/B
were
A7
only
D7sus
waiting
for
this
moment
to
G
arise.
Coach tips
- ✦This song is originally fingerpicked by McCartney using a constant alternating bass-note pattern — even when playing chords, try to maintain that bass-note movement on beats 1 and 3 for authenticity.
- ✦The chromatic descending passing chords (C#dim, D#dim, Cm) are essential to the song's character — do not substitute them. Practice the sequence C → C#dim → D → D#dim → Em slowly before bringing it up to tempo.
- ✦G/B is voiced x2x003 — use your thumb over the top to fret the low B string, which is how McCartney plays it and allows smooth voice leading from C down to G/B → A7.
- ✦The Bb6 chord in the Bridge (x1x03x or x13333) creates a striking chromatic movement from C down to Bb — this non-diatonic chord is a hallmark of the song and should not be simplified or omitted.