Blackbird

How to play Blackbird by The Beatles on guitar

Blackbird is a great song to learn because it feels delicate and flowing, with a steady pulse that rewards clean picking and control. You get a calm, reflective sound that still feels alive, and once it starts to settle in, it is very satisfying to play.

Most of the chart uses open shapes like G, A, Em, C, and D, but the harder barre shapes D#, Cm, and Gm can slow you down. The main change to watch is the opening move between G, A, G, and Em, since that shift needs to stay smooth and even.

Start by practicing the opening progression slowly, making each change sound clear before you worry about speed. Then loop the open shapes until your hands move automatically, and only after that bring in the barre shapes one at a time. When it feels stable, raise the tempo little by little.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.