The timeless song ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman is a favorite for guitarists, especially those learning fingerpicking. This Guitar Domination classic is an excellent starting point for mastering fingerstyle guitar. Its beautiful melody and relatively simple structure make it approachable for beginners while still being rewarding to play. Many guitar students find “Fast Car” to be the perfect introduction to fingerpicking, and you might too!
Fast Car guitar chords diagram for beginner fingerpicking, as taught on GuitarDomination.net
Fast Car Guitar Chords
To play “Fast Car”, you’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret. The song uses just four chords: C, G, Em, and D. While the fingerpicking sections might make the Em and D shapes look unfamiliar at first, they are simply variations played higher up the neck. This highlights the importance of learning your major and minor chord shapes across the entire fretboard. Recognizing these chord forms in different positions will greatly benefit you when learning songs like this.
Fast Car Tab
Here’s the guitar tab for the fingerpicking intro and verses of “Fast Car”. Remember to start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. Smooth chord changes are key to playing this song well, so focus on transitioning between chords cleanly.
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|x2
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8---8-----7---7----------------------------------|
G|--0---------------0-----------------------0--------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------5--------------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8------10--8----7-----8----7---------------------|
G|--0---------------0--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------------5--------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8---8-----7---7----------------------------------|
G|--0---------------0-----------------------0--------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------5--------------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|Strumming Pattern for the Chorus
The chorus of “Fast Car” uses a straightforward strumming pattern known as ‘The Ultimate Strum Pattern’. It’s a versatile rhythm that works well across many songs. If you want to improve your strumming technique and explore more patterns, consider checking out resources dedicated to strumming practice.
Learning “Fast Car” on guitar is a rewarding experience. With its iconic melody and accessible arrangement, it’s an excellent song for developing your fingerpicking skills and expanding your guitar repertoire. Take your time, practice each section, and enjoy playing this classic tune!
