Fast Car Guitar Lesson

Learn how to play Fast Car by Tracy Chapman!

The progression of IV - I - VI - V is never resting since the I chord is placed on the second half of the first bar.

This is a great trick when creating a loop pattern.

Compare the opening hammer on/pull off of 'Fast Cars' IV chord to David Grays 'Babylon'.

In 'Fast Car', the maj7 is used over chord IV, for Babylon it's chord I.

Can you tell how Babylons lick is more rested (chord I, Ionian) compared to Fast Car (chord IV, Lydian)?

Details like this are very important to look into, aim to understand all chords in relation to their mode like this for a deeper understanding of musical harmony.

SpyTunes Vs Tracy's version

You might have noticed that my version look different from Tracy's version.

Tracy Chapman playing this song further up the neck.

I found it easier to play the same part using open position chords.

The part can also be adapted to using an open G tuning, or alternatively a dropped G tuning.

Experiment and find what is right for you.

As you can see in the video, a capo is placed on the 2nd fret, this means that you are playing in the key of A.

However, it is better to think of this as playing in G since as a guitar player it is more important to relate the key signature to the chord shapes.

Use Chordacus images, DIY TAB and SWS to see the connection.

Guitar Conspiracy e Book

C, C shape

D, D shape

Dsus4, D shape

Em7, Dm shape

Em, Em shape

G, G shape