Chords + Lyrics | Jolene (capo 4)
Intro
||: Am11 | Am11 :||
Chorus 1
| Am C | 2/4 G | 4/4 Am11 |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
| Am C | 2/4 G | 4/4 Am11 |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
Please don’t take him just because you can.
Verse 1
| Am C | G Am |
Your beauty is beyond compare with flaming locks of auburn hair.
| G | Am (Am/E) | Am (Am/E) |
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green.
| Am C | G Am |
Your smile is like a breath of spring, your voice is soft like summer rain.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.
| Am C | G Am |
He talks about you in his sleep and there’s nothing I can do to keep.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene.
| Am C | G Am |
And I can easily understand how you could easily take my man.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
But you don’t know what he means to me, Jolene.
Chorus 2
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
Please don’t take him just because you can.
Verse 2
| Am C | G Am |
You could have your choice of men but I could never love again.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
He’s the only one for me, Jolene.
| Am C | G Am |
I had to have this talk with you, my happiness depends on you.
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
And whatever you decide to do, Jolene.
Chorus 3
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
Please don’t take him even though you can.
Jolene, Jolene.
Jolene | Chords + Lyrics (no capo)
Intro
||: C#m11 | C#m11 :||
Chorus 1
| C#m E | 2/4 B | 4/4 C#m11 |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
| C#m E | 2/4 B | 4/4 C#m11 |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
Please don’t take him just because you can.
Verse 1
| C#m E | B C#m |
Your beauty is beyond compare with flaming locks of auburn hair.
| B | C#m | C#m |
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green.
| C#m E | B C#m |
Your smile is like a breath of spring, your voice is soft like summer rain.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.
| C#m E | B C#m |
He talks about you in his sleep and there’s nothing I can do to keep.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene.
| C#m E | B C#m |
And I can easily understand how you could easily take my man.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
But you don’t know what he means to me, Jolene.
Chorus 2
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
Please don’t take him just because you can.
Verse 2
| C#m E | B C#m |
You could have your choice of men but I could never love again.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
He’s the only one for me, Jolene.
| C#m E | B C#m |
I had to have this talk with you, my happiness depends on you.
| B | C#m11 | C#m11 |
And whatever you decide to do, Jolene.
Chorus 3
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.
Please don’t take him even though you can.
Jolene, Jolene.
Jolene Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Jolene. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, horns, 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 sharp to 443Hz. In the backing tracks, I’ve done this job for you by tuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
To play the chords for Jolene in a way that captures the original sound, you need to use a capo on fret 4 and think in the key of Am.
This setup helps get the hammer-on/pull-off chord riff to sound authentic.
Technically, you could call the chord Am11, but it only makes sense if you understand the riff, which is best explained through TAB. Find said TAB further down this guitar lesson.
There’s also TAB available for playing the main riff without a capo, which would work for electric guitar in a band setting.
Chorus
After exploring the riff, you’ll find the chords for the verse and chorus simple to memorise. The only difference between the two is the time signature. Here’s the chorus:
| Am (VI) C (I) | 2/4 G (V) | 4/4 Am |
| G | Am11 | Am11 |
Verse
And the verse chords for Jolene:
||: Am (VI) C (I) | G (V) Am |
| G | Am11 | Am11 :||
With the TAB, capo, and backing tracks, you’ll soon be playing this Dolly Parton classic. All you need to bring to the gig is a simple chord chart—here’s one I’ve made for you.
Jolene Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Above, you saw a chord chart for Jolene which assumed you played using a capo on fret 4.
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Jolene chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Jolene iReal Pro.
Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key. This will be useful if you don’t have a capo and play it in a band (change the key to C#m).
Jolene | TAB
Before we look at full TAB for the verse and chorus, let’s break down that chord lick. You can play it fingerstyle, with a pick, or even without a capo (thinking in C#m). Here are three ways to approach it:
- The first riff is what the original guitarist plays—fast, fingerpicked, and capoed.
- The second is adapted for playing with a pick, still using an acoustic in the key of Am.
- The third is a stripped-back version for electric guitar, without a capo, ideal for band settings.
Personally, I think the best approach is to use a capo and a pick. So here’s TAB for the chorus played that way:
And here’s the verse using the same approach:
Take your time—practice slowly and accurately before trying to keep up with Dolly and her. band in the backing tracks!
A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser
Imagine writing a song as iconic as Jolene and, on the same day, writing I Will Always Love You. Apparently, that’s what Dolly Parton did back in 1973.
Jolene is Dolly’s most covered song, with even Jack White giving it a go. From personal experience, I can tell you that Jolene is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every time.
There are also countless parody versions, and plenty of jokes have been made about the song. This only happens when a song is so famous that everyone knows it, and I’m sure Dolly takes it as a compliment.
To hear the original, as well as live versions by Jack White, Miley Cyrus, and Postmodern Jukebox, check out the playlist at the top of this page to hear them all.
Jolene Chords: Continue Learning
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