How to Play Sundown Chords by Gordon Lightfoot on Guitar

Sundown is a classic folk-rock song by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, released in 1974. It was his only single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, and also topped the charts in Canada and Ireland. The song is about a troubled relationship with a woman who is unfaithful and secretive, and the narrator’s mixed feelings of jealousy, anger, and attraction.

The song has a catchy melody and a simple chord progression that makes it easy to play on guitar. In this article, we will show you how to play Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot on guitar, using chords, strumming patterns, and capo positions. We will also give you some tips on how to sing along and add some variations to spice up your performance.

Chords

The song is in the key of F#, but you can use a capo on the second fret to play it with easier chords in the key of E. The chords you will need are:

[Intro]
| E   | E   | E   | E   | x2
(E  E7 on upstroke if you listen to the recording, you'll get the idea!)
 
[Verse 1]
      E
I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
     B7                       E
In a room where ya do what ya don't confess
 
[Chorus]
E             A
   Sundown ya better take care
     D                                E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
E             A
   Sundown ya better take care
     D                                E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
 
E
 
[Verse 2]
           E
She's been lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
        B7                        E
And she don't always say what she really means
 
[Chorus]
E              A
   Sometimes I think it's a shame
       D                           E
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
E              A
   Sometimes I think it's a shame
       D                           E
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
 
[Instrumental]
| E   | E   | E
 
[Verse 3]
      E
I can picture every move that a man could make
        B7                         E
Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
 
[Chorus]
E             A
   Sundown ya better take care
     D                                E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
E              A
   Sometimes I think it's a sin
       D                              E
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again
 
[Instrumental]
| E   | E   | E   | E   | x3
| E   | E   | E
 
[Verse 4]
      E
I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans
        B7                        E
She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
 
[Chorus]
E              A
   Sometimes I think it's a shame
       D                           E
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
E             A
   Sundown ya better take care
     D                                E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
E             A
   Sundown ya better take care
     D                                E
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stairs
 
E
 
E              A
   Sometimes I think it's a sin
       D                              E
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again
 
[Outro]
| E   | E   | E   | E   | x2
| E   | E   | E
(fade out)
 
 
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simescan (rick s.)

Strumming

The strumming pattern for the song is:

• Down Down Up Up Down Up

You can accent the second downstroke and the last upstroke to give it some groove. You can also add some palm muting on the verses to create some contrast with the chorus.

Capo

As mentioned before, you can use a capo on the second fret to play the song in the key of E. This will make it easier to sing along and to play the chords. However, if you want to play it in the original key of F#, you can either:

• Move the capo to the fourth fret and play the same chords as before.
• Remove the capo and play these chords instead:
  • F#: 244322
  • C#7: x4342x
  • B: x24442
  • E: 022100

Singing

The song has a vocal range of G#3 to F#5, which is quite high for most male singers. If you find it too high, you can either:

• Use the capo on the second fret and sing an octave lower than Gordon Lightfoot.
• Transpose the song to a lower key, such as C or D, and adjust the chords accordingly.

Variations

If you want to add some variations to your playing, you can try these ideas:

• Play some lead fills between the chords using the E major pentatonic scale (E F# G# B C#).
• Add some hammer-ons and pull-offs on the chords to create some embellishments.
• Use a fingerstyle technique instead of a pick to give it a softer sound.

Conclusion

Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot is a great song to learn on guitar, as it has a simple chord progression, a catchy melody, and a memorable story. You can use this article as a guide to play it with chords, strumming patterns, and capo positions. You can also experiment with different voicings, fills, and techniques to make it your own. Have fun playing Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot on guitar!