“Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is a haunting and powerful song, famously covered by Nirvana on their MTV Unplugged album. Originally a traditional folk song popularized by blues legend Lead Belly, this tune is a must-learn for any guitarist. In this lesson, we’ll break down the guitar chords for “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, making it easy for you to play along whether you prefer the raw emotion of Nirvana’s rendition or the classic blues feel of Lead Belly’s original.
This guide will cover the essential elements: the chords you’ll need, the strumming pattern to get you in rhythm, and even some cool bass note transitions to add flavor to your playing. Let’s dive in and learn how to play this iconic song!
Tuning Your Guitar
Before we start with the chords, let’s talk about tuning. If you want to play exactly like Nirvana’s version, you’ll need to tune your guitar down a half step (E♭ tuning). However, for this lesson and for simplicity, we’ll be using standard tuning. You can still achieve a fantastic sound in standard tuning, and it makes it easier to play along with many other lessons and songs.
The Chord Progression
The beauty of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” lies in its simple yet effective chord progression. The entire song revolves around just four chords, repeated throughout. This makes it relatively easy to memorize and focus on your strumming and feel. Here’s the chord progression we’ll be using:
| E . . . . . | A . . G . . | B . . . . . | E . . . . . |Each chord is held for a measure of six counts, except for the measure with A and G, which are split with three counts each. This repeating pattern forms the backbone of the song and is crucial to understanding the song’s structure.
Mastering the Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is consistent and rhythmic, driving the song’s melancholic feel. It’s a down-up strumming pattern that you’ll repeat throughout the song. Here’s a breakdown:
Down... up down up down... up down up down... up down up down...When we count it out, emphasizing the downstrums on counts “1” and “4”, it sounds like this:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +
D U D U D U D U > >Practice this strumming pattern slowly at first, focusing on keeping it even and rhythmic. Once you’re comfortable, you can gradually increase the speed. The accents on the “1” and “4” downstrums will give the song its characteristic groove.
Playing the Guitar Chords
Let’s look at how to play each of the four chords in the progression. There are different ways to voice these chords, but we’ll start with some fundamental shapes.
E Chord
For the E chord, you have a few options. Nirvana’s version often sounds like they are playing an E5 power chord, which has a neither major nor minor quality. To achieve this, you can mute the G string slightly by letting one of your fingers gently rest on it. Alternatively, you can play a standard E minor chord or, for a bluesier feel reminiscent of Lead Belly, try an E7 chord. Here’s a basic E major shape:
E –––0–––––––––
B –––0––––
G –––1––––
D –––2––––
A –––2––––
E –––0–––––––––
EA Chord
For the A major chord, a common approach is to use your index finger to barre across the 2nd fret of the D, G, and B strings. Don’t worry about strumming the high E string in this voicing.
E ––––––––––
B –––2––––
G –––2––––
D –––2––––
A –––0––––
E ––––––––––
AG Chord
The G major chord is a fundamental open chord shape, easy to grasp and essential for countless songs.
E –––3––––
B –––0––––
G –––0––––
D –––0––––
A –––2––––
E –––3––––
GB Chord
The B major chord can be a bit trickier for beginners. If you find the full B major barre chord challenging, you can simplify it by playing a B power chord (B5) or using an open B7 shape. Here’s a common B major barre chord shape:
E –––––2––––
B –––4––––
G –––4––––
D –––4––––
A –––2––––
E ––––––––––
BAdding Bass Note Transitions
To really capture the essence of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” you’ll want to incorporate some of the melodic bass note transitions. These transitions add a bluesy and dynamic feel to the song.
Walking Up to the A Chord
One of the most recognizable bass lines in the song is the walk-up to the A major chord. This quick lick adds a distinctive flavor. It involves using your middle and ring fingers on the low E string to create a chromatic walk-up before landing on the A chord. It’s quick, so practice it slowly to get the timing right.
Spicing Up the B Chord Bass Note
In the intro and during instrumental parts, you can add a cool variation to the B chord by incorporating a lower bass note. This involves briefly hitting the 2nd fret on the low E string with your index finger while maintaining the B chord shape. This adds a richer, fuller sound to the B chord sections.
Keep Practicing!
Learning “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” guitar chords is a rewarding experience. With just four chords and a repeating strumming pattern, you can play this iconic song. Practice the chord changes smoothly, work on the strumming rhythm, and then start incorporating the bass note transitions to bring the song to life.
To further enhance your learning, consider checking out licensed sheet music for detailed chord diagrams, tabs, and lyrics. You can find a print-friendly guide at Musicnotes.com, a leading provider of licensed sheet music online.
Remember to take your time, be patient, and enjoy the process of learning this timeless classic! Happy playing!
