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 Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Learning To Fly. 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 sharp to 441Hz. In the backing track, I’ve done this job for you by detuning it by 1Hz, doesn’t sound like much, but you can feel it!
Chord Progression – What’s Going On?
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 (available furtehr down this guitar lesson).
Guitar 2
The second guitar 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 detail this.
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
Learning to Fly is best played using three guitars. Here’s the TAB for the parts.
If you want to play exactly like Mike, the intro riff is included as well. Notice how he outlines the chord extensions with precision.
While this might seem simple, few guitarists can write such perfectly crafted, straightforward parts. This is probably why Tom has kept him as his guitarist all these years.
When you can play all parts – try it with the backing tracks, and maybe invent a few of your own!
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
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