John Prine - Souvenirs Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [C] [D7] [G]
[G]All the snow has turned to [C]water [C7]
[D]Christmas days have come and [G]gone
[G]Broken toys and faded [C]colors [C7]
[D]Are all that’s left to linger [G]on [G]
[verse 2]
[G]I hate graveyards and old [C]pawn shops [C7]
[D]For they always bring me [G]tears
[G]I can’t forgive the way they [C]rob me [C7]
[D]of my childhood souve[G]nirs [G]
[chorus]
[D]Memories, they can’t be [G]boughten
They [D]can’t be won at carnivals for [G]free
[D]Well it took me years to [G]get those souvenirs
And I [C]don’t know how they slipped away from [D]me
[verse 3]
[G]Broken hearts and dirty [C]windows [C7]
[D]make life difficult to [G]see
[G]That’s why last night and this [C]morning [C7]
[D]always look the same to [G]me [G]
[Closing]
[G]I hate reading old love [C]letters [C7]
[D]for they always bring me [G]tears
[G]I can’t forgive the way they [C]rob me [C7]
[D]of my sweetheart’s souve[G]nirs [G]
[chorus]
[D]Memories, they can’t be [G]boughten
They [D]can’t be won at carnivals for [G]free
[D]Well it took me years to [G]get those souvenirs
And I [C]don’t know how they slipped away from [D]me
How to play Souvenirs on Guitar (Step-by-step)
John Prine - Souvenirs on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Souvenirs uses these transitions most often: D → G (15), G → C (11), and C → C7 (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. C → D7 chord transition
To move from C to D7;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
3. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
4. C → C7 chord transition
To move from C to C7;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on G string fret 3.
5. C7 → D chord transition
To move from C7 to D;
- While playing C7, lift your pinky from G string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
6. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
7. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
Souvenirs chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Souvenirs.
- Souvenirs includes 52 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Souvenirs contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Souvenirs connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%