Good Times | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Em7 | E7sus4 | Asus4 | A6 :||
Chorus 1
||: Em7 | E7sus4 | Asus4 | A6 :||
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
our new state of mind, these are the good times.
Verse 1
||: Em7 | Em7 (E7sus4) | Asus4 | Asus4 (A6) :||
Happy days are here again.
The time is right for makin’ friends.
Let’s get together, how ’bout a quarter to ten?
Come tomorrow, let’s all do it again.
Boys will be boys, better let them have their toys.
Girls will be girls, cute ponytails and curls.
Must put an end to this stress and strife.
I think I want to live the sporting life.
Chorus 2
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
our new state of mind, these are the good times.
Verse 2
A rumor has it that it’s getting late.
Time marches on, just can’t wait.
The clock keeps turning, why hesitate?
You silly fool; you can’t change your fate.
Let’s cut a rug, a little jive and jitterbug.
We want the best, we won’t settle for less.
Don’t be a drag, participate.
Clams on the half shell, and roller skates, roller skates.
Chorus 3
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
our new state of mind, these are the good times.
Good times.
Instrumental
||: Em7 | E7sus4 | Asus4 | A6 :|| x6 (bass only)
||: Em7 | E7sus4 | Asus4 | A6 :|| x8 (keyboards)
||: Em7 | E7sus4 | Asus4 | A6 :|| x6 (guitar)
Verse 3
A rumor has it that it’s getting late.
Time marches on, just can’t wait.
The clock keeps turning, why hesitate?
You silly fool; you can’t change your fate.
Let’s cut a rug, a little jive, and jitterbug.
We want the best, we won’t settle for less.
Don’t be a drag, participate.
Clams on the half shell, and roller skates, roller skates.
Chorus 4
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
our new state of mind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
our new state of mind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times,
leave your cares behind, these are the good times.
Good times, these are the good times.
Good Times Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Good Times. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar to 438Hz. In the backing tracks, I’ve done this job for you by tuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
At its core, Good Times is built on a simple II–V progression, moving between Em and A—a timeless choice when you want people to dance.
Since Em feels like the tonal centre, we can say Good Times is in Dorian, much like I Wish. The chords are extended, and these extensions form the main riff.
Chorus
The chorus alternates between: Em7 – Em7sus4 → Asus4 – A6.
Verse
During the verse, these extensions reappear, but the guitar stays on Em7 while the keyboard plays E7sus4.
Good Times is perfect for a party—the groove is deceptively simple to lock into. Once you’ve got it, you can stretch it out for as long as you like. Instead of focusing on harmonic changes, it’s the dynamics of the arrangement that keep things alive—happy days indeed!
Below is a chord chart. You’ll probably only need it to follow the structure, as Good Times’ chords are so easy to remember. Remembering them is one thing, but playing them authentically is another—the more you listen to Nile Rodgers, the more intimidating his precision becomes.
I’ve designed some TAB for you that, once mastered, will set you on a path towards improvised funk rhythm playing. You’ll find it further down this guitar lesson.
Good Times Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
If you want my Good Times chord chart, you can download it as a static PDF or in the more flexible iReal Pro format.
With iReal Pro, you can easily change the key to suit your range or band setup. It’s also great for jamming, as the app provides MIDI backing tracks in various styles—perfect for locking into that classic disco groove and experimenting with key changes for the best learning experience.
Good Times | TAB
Let’s go through some TAB, showing how you can play Good Times. Use these as a starting point, aiming for improvisation, especially in the verse. For the chorus, you can keep it as written throughout.
Chorus
This is basically a riff, instantly recognisable. Play along with the backing tracks to get the feel right.
All the 8th notes have a dot above them, meaning “play short”.
Verse
The verse is far more complex—almost impossible to play exactly like Nile, as he never plays it the same way twice!
After much consideration, I came up with two parts. Once you can play these exactly as written, you should be able to stop staring at the TAB and create a suitable improvised verse part.
Here’s the first one. Notice how we stay on Em7 while the keys play the suspended chord—he does this throughout, creating tension very cleverly.
Here’s another idea. This time, we move to the 7sus4; it’s sparser, and we play with a 3-against-4 rhythm, especially in the fourth bar.
Keep playing along with the backing track, then eventually stop staring at the TAB and use the chord chart instead.
One of the Most Sampled Songs in Music History
Reaching #1 in 1979, Good Times became one of Chic and Nile Rodgers’ signature tracks.
Still a staple on the radio, in DJ sets, and performed by disco and soul bands worldwide, its lasting legacy is undeniable. Most famously, Good Times is one of the most sampled songs in music history, thanks in large part to its iconic breakdown—most notably used in Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.
Study the chords and lyrics carefully to understand how Nile and the band crafted this timeless groove!
Good Times Chords: Continue Learning
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