Chords + Lyrics | Learning To Fly
Intro
||: Fadd9 C | Am7 G (Gsus4) :|| x4
Verse 1
||: Fadd9 C | Am7 G (Gsus4) :||
Well, I started out, down a dirty road.
Started out, all alone.
And the sun went down, as I crossed the hill.
And the town lit up, the world got still.
Chorus 1
||: Fadd9 C | Am7 G (Gsus4) :||
I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings.
Coming down, is the hardest thing.
Verse 2
Well the good ol’ days, may not return.
And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn.
Chorus 2
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly). But I ain’t got wings (I’m learning to fly).
Coming down (I’m learning to fly). Is the hardest thing (I’m learning to fly).
Instrumental 1
| G | G |
||: Fadd9 C | Am7 G (Gsus4) :|| x4
Verse 3 (breakdown)
Now some say life, will beat you down.
Yeah, break your heart, steal your crown.
Verse 4 (full band)
So it started out, for God knows where.
I guess I’ll know, when I get there.
Chorus 3
I’m learning to fly, around the clouds.
But what goes up (I’m learning to fly), must come down.
Instrumental 2
| G | G |
||: Fadd9 C | Am7 G (Gsus4) :||
Chorus 4 (outro)
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly), but I ain’t got wings.
Coming down, is the hardest thing.
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly), around the clouds.
But what goes up (I’m learning to fly), must come down.
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
(I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
Learning To Fly | Chords + Lyrics (2nd guitar, capo 5)
Intro
||: C G | Em D (Dadd4) :|| x4
Verse 1
||: C G | Em D (Dadd4) :||
Well, I started out, down a dirty road.
Started out, all alone.
And the sun went down, as I crossed the hill.
And the town lit up, the world got still.
Chorus 1
||: C G | Em D (Dadd4) :||
I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings.
Coming down, is the hardest thing.
Verse 2
Well the good ol’ days, may not return.
And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn.
Chorus 2
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly). But I ain’t got wings (I’m learning to fly).
Coming down (I’m learning to fly). Is the hardest thing (I’m learning to fly).
Instrumental 1
| D | D |
||: C G | Em D (Dadd4) :|| x4
Verse 3 (breakdown)
Now some say life, will beat you down.
Yeah, break your heart, steal your crown.
Verse 4 (full band)
So it started out, for God knows where.
I guess I’ll know, when I get there.
Chorus 3
I’m learning to fly, around the clouds.
But what goes up (I’m learning to fly), must come down.
Instrumental 2
| D | D |
||: C G | Em D (Dadd4) :||
Chorus 4 (outro)
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly), but I ain’t got wings.
Coming down, is the hardest thing.
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly), around the clouds.
But what goes up (I’m learning to fly), must come down.
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
I’m learning to fly (I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
(I’m learning to fly, I’m learning to fly).
Learning To Fly Chords: Mastering Dual Guitar Parts with Capos
Much like another Tom Petty hit, Free Fallin’, Learning To Fly is best played with two guitars (or more!).
Guitar 1
The first guitar should be played without a capo using these chords on a never-ending loop:
||: Fadd9 (IV) C (I) | Am7 (VI) G (V) (Gsus4) :||
By using extensions like Fadd9 and Am7, we get the open G string ringing through the progression, reminiscent of how Blackbird uses similar techniques.
To play it correctly, you’ll need TAB. Here’s a link to that part of the lesson: Learning To Fly – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Guitar 2
The second guitar can play these chords using a capo on the 5th fret:
||: C (IV) G (I) | Em (VI) D (V) (Dadd4) :||
Avoiding extensions in Guitar 2 helps the parts blend more smoothly, much like how it’s done in Free Fallin’.
A third possibility exists when playing Learning To Fly’s chords. The TAB linked above covers all three options.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, a simple chord chart will be all you need. Here’s one I made for you.
Learning To Fly Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Since the chords are so simple, I decided to write it out once in the chart above, detailing the arrangement, and then included the capo version on the same page. I felt having two separate charts would be unnecessary.
If you’d like to download the chart, here’s a PDF: Learning To Fly chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro. You can access the file here: Learning To Fly iReal Pro.
By using this and the iReal Pro app, you can change the key, but keep in mind that doing so will alter the sound of the original parts, as they rely on the chord shapes.
Learning To Fly TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we investigate how the Tom and Mike’s guitar parts work together and how the intro melody outlines the chords intervals – the only way to write a hit!
As a preview, here’s Guitar 1.
A Classic Hit from Tom Petty’s Golden Era
Featured on the 1991 album Into the Great Wide Open, both the title track and Learning to Fly were standout singles. This marked Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ reunion after his brief solo venture with Full Moon Fever two years earlier.
As a single, Learning to Fly reached #1, solidifying its place in the peak of Tom Petty’s hit parade. During this period, it seemed as though writing hits came effortlessly for him. Together with producer Jeff Lynne and guitarist Mike Campbell, they had seemingly discovered a formula for success that they just kept perfecting.
If you’re looking to write hits, it’s hard to name a better era than Tom Petty’s output between 1989 and 1991. Study those tracks in-depth—you might just learn how to fly!
Learning To Fly Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Learning To Fly (Tom Petty) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
