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?
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
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
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |
Verse 2
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in heaven?
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
Would you help me stand, if I saw you in heaven?
Bridge 2
| F#m | C#/F | A7/E | F#7 F#7sus4 Bbm7 |
I’ll find my way through night and day, ’cause I
| Bm7 | Bm7/E |
know I just can’t stay here in heaven.
Instrumental 2
| 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
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
Bridge 3
| F#m | C#/F | A7/E | F#7 F#7sus4 Bbm7 |
Beyond the door, there’s peace I’m sure, and I
| Bm7 | Bm7/E |
know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.
Instrumental 3
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m F#m/E | D/F# D/E E7 | A |
Verse 3
| 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?
| Aadd4 E/G# | F#m A/E | D/F# A | E A/E E7 |
Would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven?
Bridge 4
| 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.
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 Guitar Lesson | Course Preview
Tears In Heaven is a single from the album Rush by Eric Clapton. However, most people recognize the live version from the Unplugged album.
The song forms a genius chord progression that uses small variations and slash chords to keep the harmonic interest on top.
For example, the key changes from A major to G major during the m8 section. To then make the m8 section start on chord IV, is truly a masterclass in modal interchange.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, before we get to the middle 8, let’s first work on the intro and verse sections as they make up the majority of the song.
Below, there’s a lesson detailing, note-for-note, what Eric Clapton plays on that Unplugged recording during the intro and verse, enjoy!
Tears In Heaven’s intro and verse chords with TAB
Let’s start learning Tears In Heaven. In this first lesson, we focus on Eric’s main fingerstyle part by practicing with six TAB loops.
Here’s the TAB for example 1. This is the intro and later on, the instrumental section.
For example 2, we are into the verse.
In the course, you get six examples for practicing the verse, we next learn the bridge and m8, which is all you need to play the complete song!
This is then followed by some scale practice before we learn Andy Fairweather-Low’s part as well. If you learn this, you, me, and the singer can play Tears In Heaven together.
The Unplugged Album
The album Eric Clapton Unplugged, as a whole, is highly recommended. It contains a wealth of blues classics played by one of the best guitar players of all time.
Songs like Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out, Malted Milk, Old Love, Before You Accuse Me, and Walking Blues clearly demonstrate Clapton’s blues mastery.
As well as these blues classics, we also find an acoustic version of Layla and the aforementioned Tears In Heaven on this fantastic live album.
At the age of 15, I spent the summer learning the entire album using a TAB book and the CD, nothing has ever shaped me more as a guitarist.
Transcribing what Eric played and then modifying Andy Fairweather-Low’s part to make Tears In Heaven work as a two-guitar arrangement was an absolute pleasure.
Tears In Heaven’s 8 guitar lessons in the course
Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton has in this series of lessons been transcribed note for note. The part is so well written that it stands up on its own without the band.
The 2nd part has some excellent licks which have been transcribed, developed, and combined with some bass lines and extra chords.
In total, there are 8 step-by-step lessons for Tears In Heaven available. Here are links to each lesson in the course (members only):
- Step 1 – Verse
- Step 2 – Bridge and M8
- Step 3 – The complete song, with TAB
- Step 4 – Mixolydian D and C shapes
- Step 5 – Mixolydian A, G, and E shapes
- Step 6 – 2nd guitar verse
- Step 7 – 2nd guitar bridge M8, solo
- Step 8 – 2nd guitar complete song
Become a member today and get unlimited access to all my guitar courses, the SEPR practice route, and the eBook Spytunes Method – You can learn guitar!
Tears In Heaven chords | Related pages
Advanced Acoustic
The advanced acoustic tunes use big chord extensions and sometimes, unique and complex chords that incorporate open strings.
Study these in-depth and you will gain a complete understanding of the guitar fretboard, including how to build any scale, arpeggio, or chord.
Five similar tunes
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You chords
- Blackbird chords
- Dream A Little Dream Of Me chords
- What’s Going On chords
- Wonderful Tonight chords
Eric Clapton
As well as a member of bands like Derek & The Dominos, The Yardbirds, and Cream, Eric Clapton has successfully played sessions for more stars than any other guitar player.
His long career earned him three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Eric Clapton on the web
Ballads
The perfect first dance or an emotional piece for your next audition, this collection of ballads is great for working on your expression.
Learn tunes from Burt Bacharach, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Eva Cassidy, Ben Harper, Etta James, Chet Baker, Elvis, Norah Jones, and many more.
