Video lesson
Get the PDF chord sheet (2 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.
Editor’s notes
In this lesson, I show you how to play the song “Strangers” by The Kinks. I’ll show you the chords, progressions, and strumming patterns used throughout the song. Tabs and lyrics are included. I do hope you enjoy this and find it helpful.
Chord progressions
Intro
G . . .
Verse
C . . . F . G . . . x4
Pre-chorus
C . . . F . E . . .
Am . Am/G . F . C . . .
F . . . C . E . . .
Am . Am/G . F . C . . .
Chorus
E . E7 . Am . F . . .
C . G . C . C/B . F .
C . G . . . G7 . . .
Strumming pattern
For the intro use this pattern:
| ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ |
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
For the verse, and for some of the rest of the song, note that there’s a measure of two beats nestled between two measures of four beats. As such, I use this pattern, where in the middle 2-beat measure, you have two distinct down strums directly on the main beat.
| ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ | ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ |
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
How I play the chords
For each of the chords in the song, I use the positions shown here:
E –––0–––––––––1––––3––––1––––0––––0––––0––––0––––
B –––1––––1––––1––––0––––0––––0––––3––––1––––1––––
G –––0––––0––––2––––0––––0––––1––––1––––2––––0––––
D –––2––––0––––3––––0––––0––––2––––2––––2––––2––––
A –––3––––2––––3––––2––––2––––2––––2––––0––––x––––
E –––––––––––––1––––3––––3––––0––––0–––––––––3––––
C C/B F G G7 E E7 Am Am/G
Now, of course – there are other positions and voicings you could use for many of these chords. For example, a true Am/G could be played as 302210; and E7 could also be played as 020100. Those are just a few of the alternatives… I am not going to note them all because that could get out of hand, and in my opinion there’s always some room for personal interpretation and pragmatism when it comes to you deciding how to play the chords you need in a song.
Lyrics with chords
INTRO
G
VERSE
C F G
Where are you going I don't mind
C F G
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
C F G
So where do I go what do I see
C F G
I see many people coming after me
PRE-CHORUS
C F E
So where are you going to I don't mind
Am Am/G F C
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
F C E
So I will follow you wherever you go
Am Am/G F C
If your offered hand is still open to me
CHORUS
E E7 Am F
Strangers on this road we are on
C G C C/B F C G G7
We are not two, we are one
C F G
So you've been where I've just come
C F G
From the land that brings losers on
C F G
So we will share this road we walk
C F G
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
C F E
Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
Am Am/G F C
All the things I own I will share with you
F C E
And if I feel tomorrow like I feel today
Am Am/G F C
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
E E7 Am F
Strangers on this road we are on
C G C C/B F C G G7
We are not two, we are one
C F G
Holy man and holy priest
C F G
This love of life makes me weak in my knees
C F G
And when we get there make your play
C F G
Cause soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
C F E
In a promised lie you made us believe
Am Am/G F C
For many men there is so much grief
F C E
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
Am Am/G F C
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
E E7 Am F
Strangers on this road we are on
C G C C/B
We are not two, we are one
E E7 Am F
Strangers on this road we are on
C G C C/B F C G G7 C (end)
We are not two, we are one
Thanks!
I truly hope this helps! Let me know if you have questions.
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:
📝 Print-friendly PDFs now available for all new lessons I make, including all those listed below. Get a free sample »
-
7 Summers
by Morgan Wallen
Jan 16, 2020 • Lesson #347
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
by Nathan Evans
Jan 13, 2020 • Lesson #346
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Melody Notes in "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 10, 2020 • Lesson #344
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Blank Guitar Tab Templates
Free PDF (7-pages)
Jan 9, 2020 • Lesson #345
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Auld Lang Syne
traditional New Years song
Dec 30, 2020 • Lesson #203
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Sunday Morning Coming Down
by Johnny Cash / K. Kristofferson
Dec 28, 2020 • Lesson #98
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
O Holy Night
by Sufjan Stevens
Dec 24, 2020 • Lesson #343
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Nothing Compares 2 U
by Chris Cornell
Dec 12, 2020 • Lesson #339
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Cats in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin
Dec 5, 2020 • Lesson #341
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Sweet Virginia
by The Rolling Stones
Nov 29, 2020 • Lesson #340
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Last Christmas
by Wham!
Nov 28, 2020 • Lesson #200
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
You've Got a Friend in Me
Toy Story / Randy Newman
Nov 22, 2020 • Lesson #338
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Enough to Leave
by Billy Strings
Nov 15, 2020 • Lesson #337
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
by Bob Dylan
Nov 8, 2020 • Lesson #88
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
"Starlight" Riff in F#
Warm-Up Exercise
Nov 8, 2020 • Lesson #336
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Thunder Road
by Bruce Springsteen
Nov 1, 2020 • Lesson #335
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
G finger position guide
Tips & Technique
Oct 25, 2020 • Lesson #334
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Oct 23, 2020 • Lesson #65
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Father and Son
by Cat Stevens
Oct 18, 2020 • Lesson #333
Watch Video & Get PDF »
-
Layla (acoustic)
by Eric Clapton
Oct 11, 2020 • Lesson #103
Watch Video & Get PDF »