Patience | Chords + Lyrics (tune down 1/2 tone)
Intro (whistle)
||: C Cadd9 Cmaj7 | G Gadd4 Gadd9 | A Asus4 Asus2 |1. D Dsus4 Dadd9 :||
|2. D C/D G/D F/D |
| C G | C Em | C G | D |
Verse 1
| C Cadd9 Cmaj7 | G Gadd4 Gadd9 |
Shed a tear ’cause I’m missin’ you, I’m still alright to smile.
| A Add4 Aadd9 | D Dadd4 Dadd9 |
Girl, I think about you every day now.
| C Cadd9 Cmaj7 | G Gadd4 Gadd9 |
Was a time when I wasn’t sure but you set my mind at ease.
| A Add4 Aadd9 | D Dadd4 Dadd9 |
There is no doubt you’re in my heart now.
Chorus 1
| C G | C Em |
Said woman, take it slow and it’ll work itself out fine.
| C G | D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 |
All we need is just a little patience.
| C G | C Em |
Said sugar, make it slow and we’ll come together fine.
| C G | D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 |
All we need is just a little patience.
| D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 |
(Patience) mm yeah.
Verse 2
I sit here on the stairs ’cause I’d rather be alone.
If I can’t have you right now, I’ll wait, dear.
Sometimes I get so tense but I can’t speed up the time.
But you know, love, there’s one more thing to consider.
Chorus 2
Said woman, take it slow and things will be just fine.
You and I’ll just use a little patience.
Said sugar, take the time ’cause the lights are shining bright.
You and I’ve got what it takes to make it.
| D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 | D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 | D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 |
We won’t fake it. Aw, I’ll never break it, ’cause I can’t take it.
Solo
||: C G | C Em | C G | 1. D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 :||
||: 2. D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 :|| x3
| D Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 | ritardando
|3/4 D | hold
||: 4/4 D D/F# | G :||
Outro
||: D D/F# | G | D D/F# | G :||
Little patience. Hm yeah, hm yeah.
We need a little patience, yeah. Just a little patience, yeah. Some more patience.
I’ve been walkin’ the streets at night (Yeah). Just trying to get it right (A little patience).
It’s hard to see with so many around (Yeah).
You know I don’t like being stuck in the crowd (Could use some patience).
And the streets don’t change, but maybe the names (Yeah).
I ain’t got time for the game.
‘Cause I need you (Gotta have more patience). Yeah, yeah, but I need you (Yeah).
| F | G |
Ooh, I need you (All it takes is patience). Oh, I need you (Just a little patience).
| D D/F# | D6 | D |
Ooh, this time (Is all you need).
Patience Chords: Learn the progressions
Played by Izzy, Slash, and Duff, Patience involves three guitars that we need to combine to play the chords on just one guitar.
Using the chords and lyrics above, try playing along with the original recording. You’ll need to tune down a semitone to match the key, as the Digitech drop pedal won’t be useful here (it only works for electric guitars).
To get in tune with Guns N’ Roses, my tuner will help as you first need to go down a semitone, but I also found that tuning to 434Hz works well in this case.
Once tuned, take some time to absorb the feel of the song, and then dive into transcribing.
I spent a few hours working on it and managed to break down the intro, verse, chorus, and outro into parts that work well on one guitar. I’ve left out the solo since it’s been covered by many teachers, but I’ve included a version in the playlist above for reference.
The verse chords are diatonic to the key of G and follow this progression:
||: C (IV) Cadd9 Cmaj7 | G (I) Gadd4 Gadd9 |
| A (IIx) Add4 Aadd9 | D (V) Dadd4 Dadd9 :||
If you’d like a TAB version of how to play these chords, I’ve made one available here: Patience – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
In the chorus, we switch to two chords per bar, adding intensity with this progression:
| C (IV) G (I) | C (IV) Em (VI) |
| C G | D (V) Dadd9 Dadd4 Dadd9 |
Once you’ve absorbed the TAB, a chord chart will help keep you on track. I’ve made one for you below.
Patience Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
It took me quite a while to get this chart to a point where I was satisfied. The challenge isn’t in the chords themselves, but in pinning down the structure.
If you’d like to download the chart, here’s a PDF link: Patience chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro. Here’s a link to that file: Patience chord chart iReal Pro.
With the iRealPro app, you can change the key, but I don’t think it would work well. Patience is all about those open-position chords.
To match the original key, you must tune down a semitone or have the singer perform it higher than the original.
Patience: The Bridge Between Appetite and Illusion
The original recording of Patience can be found on Lies (1988). By this point, Guns N’ Roses’ debut album had taken off, propelling them on the path to becoming the biggest band in the world.
Patience was a huge hit, marking a moment of transition between Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.
Interestingly, all the iconic tracks we associate with Guns N’ Roses were written during the band’s early years. The label was likely aware of the band’s potential, as tracks like November Rain and You Could Be Mine were held back for the Use Your Illusion albums.
In between these two (or three, depending on how you look at it), Patience was the only release.
Axl Rose’s bold move to launch a solo career while keeping the band name seems to have backfired, as the band’s post-Use Your Illusion years were a mere shadow of its former self.
Since Izzy, Slash, and Duff all played on Patience, this track may be the perfect example to highlight their pivotal role in the band’s success.
Patience Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Patience (Guns N’ Roses) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: