Fast Car

How to play Fast Car by Tracy Chapman on guitar

“Fast Car” is a great song to learn because the progression is memorable and the groove feels steady and relaxed once you lock in. You get a strong sense of motion without having to play aggressively, so it is satisfying at a moderate tempo and works well for building confidence.

The chart mixes open shapes like A, D, Dm, and E with harder barre shapes like B, F#m, and C#m, so the main challenge is moving cleanly between the easier and tougher grips. Watch the opening change from A to D to A to B, since that shift sets the feel and can expose any hesitation.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly until the changes feel automatic. Then add the rest of the song in short sections, keeping your fretting hand relaxed and your transitions even. Once the chords are smooth, bring the tempo up little by little until it sits comfortably at speed.

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.