John Lennon didn't care about being a virtuoso. He cared about the feeling. When you sit down to learn the woman john lennon chords, you aren’t just playing a series of finger positions; you are stepping into the final, most mature chapter of his life. It’s a love letter to Yoko, sure, but it's also a masterclass in how to use "common" chords to create something that feels expensive.
The song is deceptively simple. Most people think they can just strum a few basic majors and minors and call it a day. Honestly? They're wrong. If you miss the subtle hammer-ons and that iconic key change at the end, the song loses its soul.
Let's break down how this 1980 classic actually works.
The Secret Key of the Original Recording
Here is where most beginner guitarists get tripped up. If you play along with the Double Fantasy record using standard open chords, you’ll sound "off."
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The song sounds like it’s in the key of Eb. But John didn't play it in Eb. That would be a nightmare for a rhythm guitarist who loved the ring of open strings. Instead, he slapped a capo on the 1st fret and played "in D."
If you want the authentic sound, put your capo on fret 1. Now, all the shapes I’m about to talk about will be relative to that capo.
The Intro: Setting the Vibe
The song starts with a shimmering, suspended feel.
You’re looking at a Dsus4 to D move.
Then it slides into a G6/D back to D.
That G6/D is basically just a D chord where you let the high E string stay open or hit a G note. It creates that "airy" feeling before the vocals even start. It's gentle. It's not aggressive. It's Lennon.
Breaking Down the Verse Chords
The verses follow a beautiful, descending-ish logic. It’s a very "Beatles" way of writing, moving through the scale to mirror the vulnerability in the lyrics.
The Verse Progression (Relative to Capo 1):
D — Em — F#m — Em
This is the "Woman, I can hardly express" part.
Then it shifts:
D — Bm — Em — Asus4 — A
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The move from Bm to Em is the "thoughtlessness" line. You can really hear the weight of the lyrics in that minor chord transition. Most people forget the Asus4. Don't do that. That little "sus" chord provides the tension that makes the resolution to the A major feel so satisfying.
The "Ooh, Well, Well" Section
This is technically the pre-chorus or the transition.
- Dmaj7
- Bm
- Em
- A
Using a Dmaj7 (XX0222) instead of a regular D major here is vital. It gives it that dreamy, 1970s soft-rock shimmer. If you just play a D, it sounds too "folk song." The major 7th adds the sophistication.
That Tricky Modulation (The Key Change)
About two-thirds of the way through, the song does something brilliant. It shifts up.
Most pop songs use a "truck driver gear change" where everything just jumps up a whole step. Lennon goes up a half-step. He moves from the key of D (Eb concert) to the key of Eb (E concert).
How to handle it on guitar
If you’re playing live, this is a pain. You can't exactly move your capo mid-strum.
You have two choices:
- The Barre Chord Route: You switch everything to barre chords. The D becomes an Eb barre chord on the 6th fret. The Em becomes Fm.
- The "Lennon" Hack: Just keep playing the same shapes but move your hand up one fret and ignore the open strings.
Actually, the easiest way to practice the ending is to learn the Eb shapes:
- Eb (x68886)
- Fm (133111)
- Gm (355333)
- Ab (466544)
- Bb (x13331)
It's a workout for your index finger, but it’s the only way to get that "I love you, yeah, yeah" outro to sound right.
Strumming Pattern: Keep it "Breathable"
The rhythm isn't a straight "down-down-up-up-down." It’s more of a pulse.
Think of it as a 4/4 time signature but with a lot of space. A good starting point is Down, Down-Up, (pause), Down-Up.
You want to emphasize the first beat of every measure. Lennon’s acoustic style was often very percussive but light. He wasn't digging into the strings. He was grazing them. If you’re playing on a piano, it’s all about the "1" and the "3" with the left hand, while the right hand does gentle eighth-note pulses.
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Why These Chords Matter
Lennon wrote this song as a "grown-up" version of "Girl" from the Rubber Soul era.
By 1980, he wasn't trying to prove he was the smartest guy in the room. He was trying to be honest. The use of the F#m in the verse is a classic "middle" chord—it's not quite sad, not quite happy. It’s reflective.
That’s the nuance of the woman john lennon chords. They bridge the gap between his rock and roll roots and his newfound peace as a "house husband."
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your tuning: Make sure you aren't just in standard E if you're playing to the record. Use a capo on the 1st fret.
- Master the Dmaj7: Practice switching from Bm to Dmaj7. That transition is the "sweet spot" of the song's harmonic structure.
- Slow down the outro: The transition to the key of Eb is where most covers fall apart. Practice the jump from the A major at the end of the second chorus into the Eb major of the final verse.
- Listen for the bass: If you’re a piano player, notice how the bass notes often stay on the root to keep the song grounded while the chords shimmer on top.