Carolina On My Mind Chords & Guitar Lesson

Welcome to my Carolina On My Mind chords and guitar lesson by James Taylor. As with many James Taylor songs, this one features a lot of finger picking and it's a little tricky to strum along and get the real feel of the song, but I did my best here!

There are a couple of barre chords to contend with too. But I did try simplifying it as much as possible to make is accessible.

Carolina On My Mind Guitar Chords:

Carolina On My Mind Strumming Patterns:

Strum:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D   DU D    DU

Carolina On My Mind Guitar Lesson:

At this time, this song page does not have a guitar lesson video to go with it. Check back at a later date!

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Carolina On My Mind Chord Chart:

INTRO:
|D D D/F# G|  |Em A7|

CHORUS:
|D                              G   G/F#|   |Em A7|
In my mind I've gone to Carolina
|G                               A7|.             |Em7
Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the
A7|                         |D                             Bm|
moonshining?   Ain't it just like a friend of mine to
|G            D/F#    Em7|
hit me from behind
         |D                   Em7|              D
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.

VERSE:
|D                       Cadd9|
Karen, she's a silver sun you'd best
|G              G/F#         Em|
walk her way and watch it shining.
|Bm                    G|                                   A
   watch her watch the morning come.
|G                         D/F#|                  | E                    A7|
A silver tear appearing now, I'm cry - ing ain't I?
         |D                  Em7|               D
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.

VERSE:
|D                                          Cadd9|
There ain't no doubt in no  ones mind that
|G               G/F#   Em|
loves the finest thing around.
|Bm                    G|                                  A
---Whisper something soft and kind.
|G                                D/F#|                       |E           A7|
And hey babe, the skies on fire, I'm dying ain't I?
         |D                  Em7|               D
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.

CHORUS:
|D                              G   G/F#|   |Em A7|
In my mind I've gone to Carolina
|G                               A7|.             |Em7
Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the
A7|                         |D                             Bm|
moonshining?   Ain't it just like a friend of mine to
|G            D/F#    Em7|
hit me from behind
         |D                   Em7|              D
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.

VERSE:
|D                         Cadd9|
Dark and silent, late last night I think I
|G                  G/F#           Em|
might have heard the highway calling
|Bm                   G|                                    A
--- geese in flight and dogs that bite.
           |G                                  D/F#|                |E
And signs that might be omens say I'm go - ing,
       A7|
I'm going,
        |D                   Em7|                D
I
've gone to Carolina in my mind.

BRIDGE:
              |G                       A7|                        Bm
With a holy host of others standing round me
|F#m7                Em7|                     | G        A7|
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon.
        | Cadd9                   G/B|                              D
And it seems like it goes on like this forever.
                       |Cadd9   G/B|   |Em7
You must forgive me
   A7|                  |D              Em7|                    D
if I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind.

CHORUS:
|D                              G   G/F#|   |Em A7|
In my mind I've gone to Carolina
|G                               A7|.             |Em7
Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the
A7|                         |D                             Bm|
moonshining?   Ain't it just like a friend of mine to
|G            D/F#    Em7|
hit me from behind
         |D                     Em7| D           |G G/F# Em7 |
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.
         |D                     Em7| D           |G G/F# Em7 |
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.
         |D                     Em7| D           |G G/F# Em7 |
I've gone to Carolina in my mind.

This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.

We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.

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