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 new guitar lesson for Starting Over by Chris Stapleton, from his 2020 album of the same name. Super catchy song, great fun to play β and the intro & verse riff make very good use out of two very similar chords (G and Cmaj7), each of which has a single finger being added & removed for good effect. Iβll initially explain this (and the chorus) in a beginner-friendly way, before moving on and explaining some more advanced strumming techniques whichβll help you sound just like Chris Stapleton. Finally, Iβll end the tutorial with a full playthrough, showing you how it sounds when you put it all together. I hope you enjoy!
Video timestamps:
- 0:00 Preview & lesson summary
- 1:46 Intro chords w/ tabs
- 4:34 Verse chords w/ tabs
- 6:51 Chorus & bridge chords w/ tabs
- 12:15 Strumming patterns (simple + advanced)
- 16:51 Full playthrough w/ lyrics + chords
Lyrics with chords
Capo 3rd fret.
INTRO
G ... G4 G ... G4 Cmaj7 ... C Cmaj7 ... C (play twice, see PDF for tab)
VERSE
G G4 G
Well, the road rolls out like a welcome mat...
Cmaj7 C Cmaj7
To a better place than the one we're at.......
D Dsus2 Dsus2
And I ain't got no kinda plan.................
C Cmaj7 Cmaj7
But I've had all of this town I can stand.....
G G4 G
And I got friends out on the coast................
Cmaj7 C Cmaj7
We can jump in the water and see what floats......
D Dsus2 Dsus2
We've been saving for a rainy day.................
C Cmaj7 Cmaj7
Let's beat the storm and be on our way............
CHORUS
Em D/F# G Cadd9 D/F# G
It don't matter to me, wherever we are is where I wanna be
Em D/F# G Cadd9 D/F# G
And honey, for once in our life, let's take our chances and roll the dice
D C
I can be your lucky penny, you can be my four-leaf clover
G G4 G Cmaj7 C Cmaj7
Starting over
This [G] might not be an easy time... there's [Cmaj7] rivers to cross and hills to climb
[D] Some days we might fall apart [Dsus2]... and [C] some nights might feel cold and dark [Cmaj7]
When [G] nobody wins afraid of losing... and the [Cmaj7] hard roads are the ones worth choosing
[D] Some day we'll look back and smile [Dsus2]... and [C] know it was worth every mile [Cmaj7]
[Em] It don't [D/F#] matter to [G] me, wherever we [Cadd9] are is where [D/F#] I wanna [G] be
And [Em] honey for [D/F#] once in our [G] life
Let's take our [Cadd9] chances and [D/F#] roll the [G] dice
[D] I can be your lucky penny, [C] you can be my four-leaf clover [Cmaj7]
Starting [G] over...[G4][G]... Starting [Cmaj7] over...[C][Cmaj7]...
BRIDGE
| Am | Em | G | G |
| Am | Em | D | D | Dsus2 | Dsus2 |
[Em] It don't [D/F#] matter to [G] me, wherever we [Cadd9] are is where [D/F#] I wanna [G] be
And [Em] honey for [D/F#] once in our [G] life
Let's take our [Cadd9] chances and [D/F#] roll the [G] dice
[D] I can be your lucky penny, [C] you can be my four-leaf clover [Cmaj7]
Starting [G] over...[G4][G]... Starting [Cmaj7] over...[C][Cmaj7]...
[G] Oooh............ Ooh, [Cmaj7] ooh.....[C][Cmaj7]...
[G] Oooh............ Ooh, [Cmaj7] ooh.....[C][Cmaj7]... [G]
Chord shapes needed
Hereβs the chords youβll need for this song, broken into the verse and chorus sections. For the verse, note how the note on the 2nd string 1st fret is being added to both the G and Cmaj7, giving you a G4 (technically a Gadd11) and C, respectively. Keep your left pinky on the 3rd fret of the high-e string for the aforementioned four chords. For the chorus, the normal way to play these chords is below, but I have some tips further below if the D/F# gives you trouble.
Verse chords: Chorus chords:
e ββ3ββββ3ββββ3ββββ3ββββ2ββββ0βββ e ββ0ββββ2ββββ3ββββ3βββ
B ββ0ββββ1ββββ0ββββ1ββββ3ββββ3βββ B ββ0ββββ3ββββ3ββββ3βββ
G ββ0ββββ0ββββ0ββββ0ββββ2ββββ2βββ G ββ0ββββ2ββββ0ββββ0βββ
D ββ0ββββ0ββββ2ββββ2ββββ0ββββ0βββ D ββ2ββββ0ββββ0ββββ2βββ
A ββ2ββββ2ββββ3ββββ3βββββββββββββ A ββ2ββββ0ββββ2ββββ3βββ
E ββ3ββββ3βββββββββββββββββββββββ E ββ0ββββ2ββββ3ββββββββ
G G4 Cmaj7 C D Dsus2 Em D/F# G Cadd9
Chorus chord shapes, as I like to play them
For the Em-D/F#-G sequence, I prefer to use the voicings shown below. This is mainly because the D/F# played with the wrapped thumb isnβt my cup of tea. In the voicings below, Iβll keep my left ring finger on the B string (3rd fret) for all of the chords shown. I typically donβt play the thinnest string in any of the chords (though by habit, Iβll leave my left pinky on the 3rd fret of the thinnest string β which sounds fine if you happen to play it).
e βββ(3)ββββββ(3)ββββββ(3)ββββββ(3)ββ
B ββββ3ββββββββ3ββββββββ3ββββββββ3βββ
G ββββ0ββββββββ2ββββββββ0ββββββββ0βββ
D ββββ2ββββββββ0ββββββββ0ββββββββ2βββ
A ββββ2ββββββββ0ββββββββ2ββββββββ3βββ
E ββββ0ββββββββ2ββββββββ3ββββββββββββ
Em D/F# G Cadd9
Chord progression
178 BPM. See PDF for advanced strumming notation written within for this entire progression.
Intro:
G G G4 G G G4
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Cmaj7 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 Cmaj7 C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Verse:
G G G G4 G G4
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Cmaj7 Cmaj7 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D Dsus2 Dsus2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
C C Cmaj7 Cmaj7
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Chorus:
Em D/F# G Cadd9 D/F# G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Em D/F# G Cadd9 D/F# G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D C C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
C C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1
...play intro riff x1, starting on final G
Strumming pattern basics
The simplest pattern you can use is a simple βbass-DOWN-bass-DOWNβ on the 1-2-3-4 counts. The main idea here is to lightly play the bass string of whatever chord youβre playing on the β1β and β3β counts, and then do full down-strums on the β2β and β4β counts (with a bit more emphasis). This should feel like it has a bounce to it, alternating between light and heavy strums.
[ see my PDF for diagram ]
From there, you can upgrade to this pattern if you choose β which uses up-strums to round thing out. Keep the bass note on the β1β count, and likewise maintain the heavier strum on the β2β count. The final three strums (up-down-up) can be light brushes on the thinnest couple strings.
[ see my PDF for diagram ]
Basic strumming tabs for intro and verse
See my PDF for tabs showing you a simple way to strum the intro and chorus sections.
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»
-
Starting Over
by Chris Stapleton
Feb 20, 2021 β’Β Lesson #352
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Lonesome Town
by Ricky Nelson
Feb 14, 2021 β’Β Lesson #38
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Simple Twist of Fate
by Bob Dylan
Feb 12, 2021 β’Β Lesson #351
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Tonight, Tonight
by Smashing Pumpkins
Feb 6, 2021 β’Β Lesson #350
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Can't Help Falling in Love
by Elvis Presley
Jan 30, 2021 β’Β Lesson #349
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Harvest Moon
by Neil Young
Jan 27, 2021 β’Β Lesson #92
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Adding Pentatonic Fills over D-Cadd9-G
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 23, 2021 β’Β Lesson #348
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
7 Summers
by Morgan Wallen
Jan 16, 2021 β’Β Lesson #347
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
by Nathan Evans
Jan 13, 2021 β’Β Lesson #346
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Melody Notes in "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 10, 2021 β’Β Lesson #344
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Blank Guitar Tab Templates
Free PDF (7-pages)
Jan 9, 2021 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»