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Songs/弹唱

Chengdu (成都)

AdvancedZhao LeiCapo 1

Strumming: Verse fingerpicking (5 3 2 3 1 3 2 3), chorus strumming: D · D U · U · D U

Play along: The classic 53231323 Play along: The all-purpose strum

Focus: Inversions G/B and C/E in practice (descending bass) + the dynamic contrast of fingerpicked verse vs. strummed chorus

Transpose · Capo

C
Original C
Pick a target key
Match your voice

The original key is inferred from the first chord in the chart. Transposing changes the chords you have to play; to keep easy shapes, switch to “Capo” instead.

💡 Too high to sing? Move down. Too low? Move up. Guys often go a few keys below the original, women a bit above — that's just a starting point. You've got it right when you can sing the highest line of the chorus comfortably.

Chords in this song

✦ = harder to play (mostly barre); try a capo
✕321
✕23
✕231
23
1342
321
✕✕231
213

Chord progression

Verse
CG/BAmEmF✦C/EDmG
Chorus (first half)
F✦GEmAmF✦GCC
Chorus (second half)
F✦GEmAmDmGCC

Play-along

Chords change automatically to the beat (following the current key C). Get it smooth slowly, then speed up.

Tap “Start” to play along with the beat
CG/BAmEmFC/EDmGFGEmAmFGCCFGEmAmDmGCC
Speed80 BPM
Time

One bar of count-in first, then the chord changes automatically each bar. Get it smooth slowly, then speed up bit by bit.

Practice ladder · from playing it to playing it well

Not sure how to practice? Follow these four steps — each has a clear goal and a concrete method.

  1. 1

    Get the chords ringing

    Goal: every chord clear, no buzzing

    Get this song's 8 chords ringing one by one and switchable (C · G/B · Am · Em · F · C/E · Dm · G). Press each alone first, then switch in pairs; for any that won't ring, scroll to “Don't know these chords?” below, or use the chord-change timer for a one-minute challenge.

  2. 2

    Play it through in time

    Goal: no stalls with the metronome, start to finish

    Using the “Verse fingerpicking (5 3 2 3 1 3 2 3), chorus strumming: D · D U · U · D U” strum, open the metronome and connect the whole song from a slow tempo, no pausing on the changes.

  3. 3

    Play it with feel

    Goal: dynamics and a sense of breath

    Inversions G/B and C/E in practice (descending bass) + the dynamic contrast of fingerpicked verse vs. strummed chorus。

  4. 4

    Own it & make it yours

    Goal: explain why it works and change up your own version

    Try analyzing its chord progression, then use the Transpose / Capo control above to change keys, and try reworking the rhythm, adding color chords or improvising — turn “I can play this one” into “I can play many.”

Practice this in the courses

A course uses this very song as a practice piece — follow it step by step, faster than fumbling on your own:

Inversions & Slash Chords: Get the Bass Line Moving

Don't know these chords? Learn them in the courses

Chords only (no lyrics or melody tab); the melody and lyrics are copyright of the original authors — please practice along with the original recording. Capo 1 matches the original (roughly key of D♭); without a capo, singing in C is very comfortable too. The verse uses the inversions G/B and C/E to chain the bass into a descending line (a Canon-style walk-down), which is exactly what makes this song sound so good.

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