Advanced Acoustic, Ballads & First Dances, Songbook A-Z

Tears In Heaven Chords | Eric Clapton Guitar Lesson

Video blocked due to privacy settings

[rcb-consent type=”change” tag=”link” text=”Change privacy settings”]

Tears In Heaven | Chords + Lyrics

Intro

| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |

Verse 1

||: Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 :||
Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same, if I saw you in heaven?

Bridge 1

| F#m | C#/F | A7/E | F#7 F#7sus4 Bbm7 |
I must be strong and carry on, ’cause I
| Bm7 | Bm7/E |
know I don’t belong here in heaven.

Instrumental 1 (as intro)

| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |

Verse 2

Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand, if I saw you in heaven?

Bridge 2

I’ll find my way through night and day, ’cause I
know I just can’t stay here in heaven.

Instrumental 2 (as intro)

| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |

Middle 8

| C G/B | Am D/F# | G D/F# | Em D/F# G |
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees.
| C G/B | Am D/F# | G D/F# | E A/E E7 |
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging, please.

Solo (as verse)

||: Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 :||

Bridge 3

Beyond the door, there’s peace I’m sure, and I
know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.

Instrumental 3 (as verse)

| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |

Verse 3

Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven?

Bridge 4

I must be strong and carry on, ’cause I
know I don’t belong here in heaven.

Outro

| A E/G# | F#m F#m/E | Bm7 | Bm7/E |
’cause I know I don’t belong here in heaven.
| A E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |

Tears In Heaven Chords: Learn the progressions

Tears In Heaven features a masterful chord progression, using subtle variations and slash chords to maintain harmonic interest.

For example, the middle 8 shifts from A major to G major, with the section beginning on chord IV—a brilliant example of modal interchange.

Let’s break down each section using Roman numerals to better understand how this masterpiece is constructed.

Intro Chords:

This is a descending chord progression, where the bass notes (rather than the chord roots) create the movement—an incredibly clever approach.

Verse Chords:

||: Aadd4 (I) E/G# (V/3) | F#m (II) A/E (I/5) |
| D/F# (IV/3) A (I) | E (V) A/E (I/5) E7 (V) :||

Notice how closely this follows the intro, reinforcing the song’s structure with subtle variations—one of Clapton’s hallmarks.

Bridge Chords:

Here, several chords step outside the key, adding tension. The VIx chord is a common variation, while the bII functions more as a chromatic passing chord.

Middle 8 (Key Change to G Major):

This section cleverly shifts to G major, starting on chord IV before seamlessly returning to A major—a sophisticated and emotive transition.

Here’s a chord chart I made for you.

Tears In Heaven Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro

Since the sections transition in different ways, I found it best to write them out separately without suggesting how to move between them.

At the bottom of the chart, you’ll find the full song structure laid out in order.

If you’d like to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Tears In Heaven chord chart PDF.

This chart was created using iRealPro—here’s the file: Tears In Heaven chord chart iReal Pro.

Below, you’ll find a preview of how we approach learning the chords for Tears In Heaven in the course.

Video blocked due to privacy settings

[rcb-consent type=”change” tag=”link” text=”Change privacy settings”]

Tears In Heaven TAB | Course Preview

As a preview of the course, let’s take a look at the intro. Play along with me to start playing Tears In Heaven, just like Eric Clapton.

Here are the intro chords:

Make it your mission to see how the intervals in these chords are played in the TAB below. This will serve as a reminder once you’re using only a chord chart to guide you.

In the course, you’ll get plenty of TAB like this to help you learn Tears In Heaven note-for-note, complete with play-along loops.

You’ll cover the verse, bridge, and middle 8—everything you need to play the full song!

After that, you’ll move on to scale practice before learning Andy Fairweather Low’s part. Once you’ve got that down, you, me, and the singer can play Tears In Heaven together, like a trio.

Here’s a link to the 8 step-by-step guitar lessons: Tears In Heaven – Guitar Lessons with TAB.

How Tears In Heaven and Unplugged me as a Guitarist

Tears In Heaven was originally released as a single from the Rush (1992) soundtrack, but it’s the live version from Unplugged that most people recognise.

As a whole, Unplugged is an essential album, showcasing a wealth of blues classics played by one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Tracks like Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out, Malted Milk, Old Love, Before You Accuse Me, and Walking Blues highlight Clapton’s blues mastery.

Alongside these blues standards, the album also features an acoustic version of Layla and the unforgettable Tears In Heaven.

At 15, I spent a summer learning the entire album using a TAB book and CD—an experience that shaped me more than anything as a guitarist. Transcribing Clapton’s playing and adapting Andy Fairweather Low’s part to create a two-guitar arrangement for my advanced acoustic course was an absolute pleasure.

Tears In Heaven Chords: Continue Learning

Tears In Heaven 8 step-by-step guitar lessons.

Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton has been transcribed note-for-note. The guitar part is so well crafted that it stands strong on its own, even without the band.

The second guitar part features some excellent licks that have been transcribed and developed, combining bass lines and additional chords to add depth.

Start learning with the full lesson series: Tears In Heaven – Guitar Lessons with TAB.

Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: