Leaving on a Jet Plane

How to play Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver on guitar

This is a great beginner song because it stays relaxed, familiar, and easy to sing along with. You get a steady, gentle feel that makes it a good choice for building confidence while keeping your playing smooth and musical.

You only need open shapes here - D, G, and C - so you can focus on clean changes instead of barre chords. The main thing to watch is the move between D, G, and C as the progression keeps cycling, especially when it comes back around quickly.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly: D - G - C - G. Once that feels comfortable, practice the full chord cycle with even timing, then bring it up to the song’s tempo. Keep your changes relaxed, and speed will come naturally.

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.