Take It Easy | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: G | G | C/G | D7sus4/G :||
| G | G (D7sus4/G) |
Verse 1
| G | G |
Well, I’m a-running down the road tryin’ to loosen my load.
| G D5 | C |
I’ve got seven women on my mind.
| G | D |
Four that wanna own me, two that wanna stone me.
| C | G |
One says she’s a friend of mine.
Chorus 1
| Em | Em | C | G |
Take it easy, take it easy.
| Am (G/B) | C | Em | Em (Em/D) |
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.
| C | G | C | G |
Lighten up while you still can, don’t even try to understand.
| Am (G/B) | C | G | G | G | G (D7sus4/G) |
Just find a place to make your stand and take it easy.
Verse 2
| G | G |
Well, I’m a-standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.
| G D5 | C |
And such a fine sight to see.
| G | D |
It’s a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford.
| C | G |
Slowin’ down to take a look at me.
Chorus 2
| Em | D | C | G |
Come on, baby, don’t say maybe.
| Am (G/B) | C | Em | Em (Em/D) |
I’ve gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me.
| C | G | C | G |
We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again.
| Am (G/B) | C | G | G |
So open up, I’m climbin’ in. So take it easy.
Solo
| G | G | G D5 | C |
| G | D | C | G |
| Em | D | C | G |
| Am (G/B) | C | Em | Em D |
Verse 3
| G | G |
Well, I’m running down the road trying to loosen my load.
| G D5 | Am |
Got a world of trouble on my mind.
| G | D |
Looking for a lover who won’t blow my cover.
| C | G |
She’s so hard to find.
Chorus 3
| Em | Em | C | G |
Take it easy, take it easy.
| Am (G/B) | C | Em | Em (Em/D) |
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy.
| C | G | C | G |
Come on baby, don’t say maybe.
| Am (G/B) | C | G | N.C |
I’ve gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me.
Outro
||: C | C | G | G :|| C | C |
||: Oh, oh, oh… :||
| G | G7 | C | C |
Oh, we got it easy.
| G | G7 | C | C | Em ||
We oughta take it easy.
Take It Easy’s chords and progressions
Let’s take a look at all of Take It Easy’s chords, starting with the intro which somewhat disappointingly never returns. Here are the chords:
||: G | G | C/G | D7sus4/G :||
Compare this with Jackson Browne‘s other hit, Doctor My Eyes, and you’ll see how it’s a similar idea. Chord I – IV/I – V/I, we’re maintaining that root note!
Once the verse kicks in it’s very simple, using only chords I, V, and IV, like this:
| G | G | G D5 | C |
| G | D | C | G |
The only variation is that verse 2 changes in bar 4 from chord I to VI, an Am.
The chorus starts on chord VI and is, just like the verse, completely diatonic. Only the last line is varied:
| Em | Em | C | G |
| Am (G/B) | C | Em | Em (Em/D) |
| C | G | C | G |
1. | Am (G/B) | C | G | G | G | G (D7sus4/G) |
2. | Am (G/B) | C | G | G |
3. | Am (G/B) | C | G | N.C |
The solo is verse 2 and half a chorus. The outro goes between chords IV – I, extending that G chord to a G7.
When you play along with the original recording you’ll feel a bit uneasy, this is because the Eagles have tuned down 4 Hz. Use my online guitar tuner, set it to 436 Hz and you’ll be on their frequency, literally!
Take It Easy chords | Related pages
Five similar tunes
- American Pie chords
- The Boxer chords
- Doctor My Eyes chords
- Hotel California chords
- Ventura Highway chords
Eagles
Formed in Los Angeles, the Eagles released their debut album in 1972. They spent the next seven years becoming one of the biggest bands in the world.
Their best tunes include Take It Easy, Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes, Life In The Fast Lane, One Of These Nights, and Take It To The Limit.
Eagles On The Web
Jackson Browne
Jackson Brown wrote his first big hit at 16 and had it covered by three artists before he released it himself.
His best-known tunes include Doctor My Eyes, Running On Empty, Somebody’s Baby, and Take It Easy.
Jackson Browne on the web
