Video lesson
Get the PDF chord sheet (4 pages)
- Support me on Patreon.com to get access to this and 200+ other PDF chord sheets I've made, plus new PDFs I make going forward (1-2 added each week).
- The cost is $3/month (one month minimum, cancel anytime). Annual plans also available. Here's a free sample if you're on the fence. Thanks!
After clicking the button and logging in to Patreon, look for the PDF attached to the bottom of the post.
Editorβs notes
Hey friends, hereβs a guitar lesson showing you how to play a solo acoustic version of βWill You Love Me Tomorrowβ, the classic from The Shirelles / Carole King. This arrangement uses no capo, is in the Key of C (matching the two aforementioned artists), and in all cases is using relatively easy βopenβ chord shapes β though I do show you some advanced chord voicings you can include at certain parts of the song. Iβll explain the chords, the progressions, and show two different strumming patterns to help you get going.
Timestamps for my video lesson:
- 0:00 Lesson overview
- 2:04 Full play-along cover
- 4:22 How to play the chords
- 9:44 Chord progressions
- 13:42 Strumming patterns
- 17:40 Adding melody notes while strumming
- 20:28 Farewell
I should note, for years now my favorite version of this song is from the YouTuber Arcadian Walnut, whose fingerstyle cover & vocal performance is 100% perfection in my opinion (watch her cover version here). Iβm using a chord progression very inspired by what she is playing β with a few small tweaks just to make things fit for my style. To do full honor of her version, Iβve included some additional notes on her fingerpicking approach to this song within my notes for this song.
Original & famous versions of this song
The Shirelles (1960)
The original! Fun fact: this song is the first by a Black all-girl group to reach number one in the United States.
Carole King (1971)
From her album βTapestryβ. Fun fact: even though it was 11 years before she recorded this version for Tapestry, Carole King was one of the original writers of this song (that the Shirelles went on to record), along with her then-husband Gerry Goffin.
Arcadian Walnut (2012)
This is my favorite version. Sheβs using a capo on the 9th fret. See below for more notes & tabs on this cover.
Lyrics and chords
C Am Dm7 G
...Tonight you're mine, completely
C Am Dm7 G
...You give your love so sweetly
E E7 Am Am
Tonight... the light... of love is in your eyes
Fmaj7 G C C
...But will you love me tomorrow?
C Am Dm7 G
...Is this a lasting treasure
C Am Dm7 G
...Or just a moment's pleasure?
E E7 Am Am
Can I... believe... the magic of your sighs
Fmaj7 G C C
......Will you still love me tomorrow?
F F Em Em
...Tonight with words--- unspoken
F F C C
...You say that I'm the only one
F F Em Em
...But will my heart be broken
Am Dm7 G G
When the night meets the morning sun?
C Am Dm7 G
...I'd like to know... that your love
C Am Dm7 G
...Is love I can... be sure of
E E7 Am Am
So tell... me now... and I won't ask again
Fmaj7 G C C
......Will you still love me tomorrow?
E E7 Am Am
So tell... me now... and I won't ask again
Fmaj7 G C C
......Will you still love me tomorrow?
Quick notes on my arrangement
The arrangement Iβm using this song is heavily inspired by the acoustic cover posted by YouTuber βArcadian Walnutβ β whose solo guitar fingerstyle version I absolutely love. I donβt presume these are the exact chords (in all cases) played by either The Shirelles or Carole King β even though they do play in they Key of C, just like I am. If youβre a stickler for how the original artist plays the song, this might bother you β just a heads up. Refer to my video lessonβ¦ if you like the sound of what I play there, youβre in luck!
Chord shapes
Here are common shapes, as well as alternate voicings, for all chords needed in this song. Use whatβs easiest for you! Iβm including multiple versions of some chords to give you a few options if you want to mix things up. For the Dm and F chords, note you can generally swap any variant of Dm for any version of F (and vice versa) β either will sound good with the vocal melody notes. Finally, I use the Dm7* and G* chords in the 2nd line of each verse β they work well with the vocal melody in that specific part of the song.
E βββ0βββ0βββ ββ1ββββ1ββββ0ββββ5βββ βββ3ββ3βββ βββ1βββ1βββ0βββ βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ
B βββ1βββ1βββ ββ3ββββ1ββββ1ββββ6βββ βββ3ββ3βββ βββ1βββ1βββ1βββ βββ0βββ3βββ0βββ
G βββ0βββ2βββ ββ2ββββ2ββββ2ββββ7βββ βββ0ββ4βββ βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ βββ1βββ1βββ0βββ
D βββ2βββ2βββ ββ0ββββ0ββββ0ββββ0βββ βββ0ββ5βββ βββ3βββ3βββ3βββ βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ
A βββ3βββ0βββ βββββββββββββββββββββ βββ2ββββββ βββ3βββββββββββ βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ
E βββββββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββ βββ3ββββββ βββ1βββββββββββ βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ
C Am Dm Dm7 Dm7 Dm7* G G* F F Fmaj7 E E7 Em
Chord progressions
This song has an βAβ section (the βverseβ in my chord sheet) and a βBβ section (the βbridgeβ in my chord sheet), following an βAABAβ format when combined. Hereβs the chord progressions for each. Four counts per measure!
Verse: | C | Am | Dm7 | G |
| C | Am | Dm7 | G |
| E | E7 | Am | Am |
| Fma7 | G | C | C |
Bridge: | F | F | Em | Em |
| F | F | C | C |
| F | F | Em | Em |
| Am | Dm7 | G | G |
Strumming
I prefer these two patterns, the first of which is easier β the second of which is a bit more βfullβ but can be trickier if youβre trying to focus on chord shapes/transitions or remembering the lyrics.
[ See PDF for diagram ]
Arcadian Walnutβs version
Given the fact that hers is my favorite version of this song (ever), and it was my inspiration for the arrangement I created for my lesson β I want to show you how YouTuber βArcadian Walnutβ plays this song.
Note, sheβs playing with a capo on the 9th fret (but still use all the chord shapes I show here).
Chord progression sheβs using
This is the same one I show in the pages above, except for the fact that she plays a Dm7 instead of an Fmaj7 in the final line of the verse. Everything else is the same as I play it.
Verse: | C | Am | Dm7 | G |
| C | Am | Dm7 | G |
| E | E7 | Am | Am |
| Dm7 | G | C | C |
Bridge: | F | F | Em | Em |
| F | F | C | C |
| F | F | Em | Em |
| Am | Dm7 | G | G |
Chord shapes sheβs using
Same as mine, with some exceptions. For one, notice how sheβs rarely playing the thinnest string on many of the chords. This is because of the fingerpicking pattern she uses, which Iβll show below. Also, for the Dm7 she usually uses the xx0210 variant, though sometimes she plays it as xx0230. Final note: she is including the 5th string when playing the Dm7 chords β Iβll explain this below too.
E βββββββββββ ββββββββββ βββββββ βββ1βββ βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ
B βββ1βββ1βββ ββ1ββββ3ββ βββ3βββ βββ1βββ βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ
G βββ0βββ2βββ ββ2ββββ2ββ βββ0βββ βββ2βββ βββ1βββ1βββ0βββ
D βββ2βββ2βββ ββ0ββββ0ββ βββ0βββ βββ3βββ βββ2βββ0βββ2βββ
A βββ3βββ0βββ β(0)ββ(0)β βββ2βββ βββ3βββ βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ
E βββββββββββ ββββββββββ βββ3βββ βββ1βββ βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ
C Am Dm7 Dm7 G F E E7 Em
Fingerpicking pattern she uses
Sheβs using a consistent fingerstyle pattern for all chords. The only difference is whether the bass note she plays is on the 5th string (C, Am, Dm7) or 6th string (G, F, E, E7, Em). Notice how for all your right-hand fingers EXCEPT your thumb, theyβre playing the same strings in the same pattern, always.
E βββββββββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββββββxββββββββ <= right ring B ββββββββββxββββββββ <= right ring
G ββββββxβββββxβββxββ <= right middle G ββββββxβββββxβββxββ <= right middle
D ββββxβββββββββxββββ <= right index D ββββxβββββββββxββββ <= right index
A ββxβββββxββββββββββ <= right thumb A βββββββββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββββββββββ E ββxβββββxββββββββββ <= right thumb
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Example (first 4 chords of the verse):
E βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|β
B ββββββββββ1ββββββββ|ββββββββββ1ββββββββ|ββββββββββ1ββββββββ|ββββββββββ3ββββββββ|β
G ββββββ0βββββ0βββ0ββ|ββββββ2βββββ2βββ2ββ|ββββββ2βββββ2βββ0ββ|ββββββ0βββββ0βββ0ββ|β
D ββββ2βββββββββ2ββββ|ββββ2βββββββββ2ββββ|ββββ0βββββββββ0ββββ|ββββ0βββββββββ0ββββ|β
A ββ3βββββ3ββββββββββ|ββ0βββββ0ββββββββββ|ββ0βββββ0ββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|β
E βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββ|ββ3βββββ3ββββββββββ|β
C Am Dm7 G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
You can also support me on Patreon. For only $3/month you'll get access to a print-friendly PDF of my notes for each new lesson (view free sample).
Thanks!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent video lessons:
π Print-friendly PDFs now available for all new lessons I make, including all those listed below. Get a free sample Β»
-
7 Summers
by Morgan Wallen
Jan 16, 2020 β’Β Lesson #347
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
by Nathan Evans
Jan 13, 2020 β’Β Lesson #346
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Melody Notes in "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 10, 2020 β’Β Lesson #344
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Blank Guitar Tab Templates
Free PDF (7-pages)
Jan 9, 2020 β’Β Lesson #345
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Auld Lang Syne
traditional New Years song
Dec 30, 2020 β’Β Lesson #203
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Sunday Morning Coming Down
by Johnny Cash / K. Kristofferson
Dec 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #98
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
O Holy Night
by Sufjan Stevens
Dec 24, 2020 β’Β Lesson #343
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Nothing Compares 2 U
by Chris Cornell
Dec 12, 2020 β’Β Lesson #339
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Cats in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin
Dec 5, 2020 β’Β Lesson #341
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Sweet Virginia
by The Rolling Stones
Nov 29, 2020 β’Β Lesson #340
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Last Christmas
by Wham!
Nov 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #200
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
You've Got a Friend in Me
Toy Story / Randy Newman
Nov 22, 2020 β’Β Lesson #338
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Enough to Leave
by Billy Strings
Nov 15, 2020 β’Β Lesson #337
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
by Bob Dylan
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #88
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
"Starlight" Riff in F#
Warm-Up Exercise
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #336
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Thunder Road
by Bruce Springsteen
Nov 1, 2020 β’Β Lesson #335
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
G finger position guide
Tips & Technique
Oct 25, 2020 β’Β Lesson #334
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Oct 23, 2020 β’Β Lesson #65
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Father and Son
by Cat Stevens
Oct 18, 2020 β’Β Lesson #333
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Layla (acoustic)
by Eric Clapton
Oct 11, 2020 β’Β Lesson #103
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»