“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman is a timeless song loved for its poignant lyrics and memorable melody. For guitar players, it’s also a fantastic song to learn. The simple yet effective chord progression makes it accessible for beginners while still sounding beautiful and emotionally resonant. Here are the guitar chords for “Fast Car”, allowing you to play along with this iconic track.
Fast Car Chords – Full Song Structure
Below are the chords for “Fast Car” arranged according to the song’s structure. You’ll find it follows a repeating pattern, making it easy to memorize and play the entire song. The chords are presented in standard chord notation.
Intro: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | Repeat 4 times
Verse 1:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car, and
| Em D | I want a ticket to anywhere.
| Cmaj7 G | Maybe we make a deal.
| Em D | Maybe together we can get somewhere.
| Cmaj7 G | Any place is better.
| Em D | Starting from zero got nothing to lose.
| Cmaj7 G | Maybe we’ll make something, but
| Em D | me myself I got nothing to prove.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 2:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car, and
| Em D | I got a plan to get us outta here,
| Cmaj7 G | I been working at the convenience store,
| Em D | managed to save just a little bit of money,
| Cmaj7 G | won’t have to drive too far,
| Em D | just ‘cross the border and into the city.
| Cmaj7 G | You and I can both get jobs, and
| Em D | finally see what it means to be living.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 3:
| Cmaj7 G | You see my old man’s got a problem:
| Em D | he lives with the bottle, that’s the way it is.
| Cmaj7 G | . He says his body’s too old for working,
| Em D | His body’s too young to look like his.
| Cmaj7 G | . My mama went off and left him,
| Em D | she wanted more to life than he could give.
| Cmaj7 G | . I said, “somebody’s got to take care of him,”
| Em D | so I quit school and that’s what I did.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 4:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car,
| Em D | but is it fast enough so we can fly away?
| Cmaj7 G | We gotta make a decision:
| Em D | leave tonight, or live and die this way.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Chorus:
C So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
G the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Em and the city lights lay out before us
Dsus4 (crescendo all downs) and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
| C Em| D and I had a feeling that I belonged
| C Em| D and I had a feeling I could be someone | C D | be someone, be someone.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 5:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car,
| Em D | and we go cruising to entertain ourselves.
| Cmaj7 G | You still ain’t got a job,
| Em D | and I work in a market as a checkout girl.
| Cmaj7 G | I know things will get better:
| Em D | you’ll find work and I’ll get promoted.
| Cmaj7 G | We’ll move out of the shelter,
| Em D | buy a big house, and live in the suburbs.
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Chorus:
C So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
G the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Em and the city lights lay out before us
Dsus4 (crescendo all downs) and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
| C Em| D and I had a feeling that I belonged
| C Em| D and I had a feeling I could be someone | C D | be someone, be someone
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 6:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car
| Em D | and I got a job that pays all our bills.
| Cmaj7 G | You stay out drinking late at the bar,
| Em D | see more of your friends than you do of your kids.
| Cmaj7 G | I’d always hoped for better.
| Em D | Thought maybe together you and me would find it,
| Cmaj7 G | I got no plans, I ain’t going nowhere,
| Em D | so take your fast car and keep on driving.
Chorus:
C So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
G the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Em and the city lights lay out before us
Dsus4 (crescendo all downs) and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
| C Em| D and I had a feeling that I belonged
| C Em| D and I had a feeling I could be someone | C D | be someone, be someone
Interlude: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D |
Verse 7:
| Cmaj7 G | You got a fast car,
| Em D | but is it fast enough so we can fly away?
| Cmaj7 G | We gotta make a decision:
| Em D | leave tonight, or live and die this way.
Outro: | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G | Em D | | Cmaj7 G |
Chord Progression and Tips for Playing
The beauty of “Fast Car” lies in its simple and repetitive chord progression: Cmaj7 – G – Em – D. These four chords form the foundation of almost the entire song.
- Cmaj7 (C Major 7): This chord has a slightly jazzy and sophisticated feel compared to a standard C major. If you find it challenging, you can substitute it with a regular C major chord (C).
- G (G Major): A fundamental and very common guitar chord.
- Em (E minor): Another essential and easy-to-learn minor chord.
- D (D Major): A bright and uplifting major chord that resolves nicely back to the Cmaj7 or G.
Strumming Pattern: For the verses and interludes, a simple strumming pattern like Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up or even just down strums on each beat will work well. Listen to the song to get a feel for Tracy Chapman’s rhythm and try to emulate it. The chorus has a slightly different feel, with more emphasis on the C, G, Em, and D chords.
Key and Tempo: “Fast Car” is in the key of C major. The tempo is moderately slow, giving you time to change between chords smoothly. Practice transitioning between Cmaj7-G, G-Em, Em-D, and D-Cmaj7 to get comfortable with the changes.
Learning “Fast Car” guitar chords is a rewarding experience. It’s a great song for practicing basic chord changes and strumming, and it’s a song that resonates with many. Grab your guitar, learn these chords, and start playing this classic today!
