Robert Mitchum - The Ballad Of Thunder Road 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 D,A,E keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]Let me tell the story, I can tell it all
[G7]About the mountain boy who ran illegal alco[C]hol
[C]His daddy made the whiskey, son, he drove the load
[G7]When his engine roared, they called the highway thunder [C]road.
[verse 2]
[C]Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis town
The [G7]revenuers chased him but they couldn’t run him [C]down
Each [C]time they thought they had him, his engine would explode
He’d [G7]go by like they were standing still on thunder [C]road.
[chorus]
And there was [F]thunder, thunder [C]over thunder road
[G7]Thunder was his engine, and white [C]lightning was his load
There was [F]moonshine, moonshine to [C]quench the devil’s thirst
The [G7]law they swore they’d get him, but the devil got him [C]first.
[verse 3]
[C]On the first of April, nineteen fifty-four
A [G7]federal man sent word he’d better make his run no [C]more
He [C]said two hundred agents were covering the state
Which[G7]ever road he tried to take, they’d get him sure as [C]fate.
[verse 4]
[C]Son, his daddy told him, make this run your last
Your [G7]tank is filled with 100-proof, you’re all tuned up and [C]gassed
Now, [C]don’t take any chances, if you can’t get through
I’d [G7]rather have you back again than all that mountain [C]dew.
[chorus]
And there was [F]thunder, thunder [C]over thunder road
[G7]Thunder was his engine, and white [C]lightning was his load
There was [F]moonshine, moonshine to [C]quench the devil’s thirst
The [G7]law they swore they’d get him, but the devil got him [C]first.
[verse 5]
[C]Roaring out of Harlan, revvin’ up his mill
He [G7]shot the gap at Cumberland, and [C]screamed by Maynardville
With [C]G-men on his taillights, roadblocks up ahead
The [G7]mountain boy took roads that even angels feared to [C]tread.
[Closing]
[C]Blazin’ right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike
Then [G7]right outside of Bearden, they made the fatal [C]strike
He [C]left the road at ninety, that’s all there is to say
The [G7]devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that [C]day.
[chorus]
And there was [F]thunder, thunder [C]over thunder road
[G7]Thunder was his engine, and white [C]lightning was his load
There was [F]moonshine, moonshine to [C]quench the devil’s thirst
The [G7]law they swore they’d get him, but the devil got him [C]first.
[chorus]
And there was [F]thunder, thunder [C]over thunder road
[G7]Thunder was his engine, and white [C]lightning was his load
There was [F]moonshine, moonshine to [C]quench the devil’s thirst
The [G7]law they swore they’d get him, but the devil got him [C]first.
The [G7]law they swore they’d get him, but the devil got him [C]first.
How to play The Ballad Of Thunder Road on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Robert Mitchum - The Ballad Of Thunder Road on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 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.
The Ballad Of Thunder Road uses these transitions most often: C → G7 (21), G7 → C (21), and C → F (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 C - G7 chord transition.
1. C → G7 chord transition
To move from C to G7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
2. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
The Ballad Of Thunder Road chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Ballad Of Thunder Road.
- The Ballad Of Thunder Road includes 58 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- The Ballad Of Thunder Road contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how The Ballad Of Thunder Road connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → F: 16%
- C → G7: 2%
After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).- G7 → C: 69%