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How Long

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Bminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/15

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 15Position: 3

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Key: G
Tuning:  E   A   D   G   Be
Capo: 0  or 1
Paul plays two version - one acoustically with no capo in the
key of G and with a capo on the 1st fret in the key G#; the
latter being the more commonly used key. Regardless, the chord
structures remain the same.
INTRO
e|-Gadd2/A-––x–––-|----A0----|--Bbm7--6----|---Bm7-7----|
B|--––3–––-|----5----|----6----|----7----|
G|---–4-–--|----6----|----6----|----7----|
D|–---5----|-–--7----|----6----|----7----|
A|----0----|----0----|----x----|----x----|
E|---–x-–-–|----x----|----6----|----7----|
VERSE
         Gadd2/AA1                Bbm7        Gadd2/A         A  
e|--––x–––-|----x----|----6----|    |--––x–––-|----0----|
B|--––3–––-|----5----|----6----|    |--––3–––-|----5----|
G|---–4-–--|----6----|----6----| or |---–4-–--|----6----|
D|–---5----|-–--7----|----6----|    |–---5----|-–--7----|
A|----0----|----0----|----x----|    |----0----|----0----|
E|---–x-–-–|----x----|----6----|    |---–x-–-–|----x----|
CHORUS
e|--Bm7-7---|--F#m7-2---|--Em7-0---|--F#m7-2---|    |-E#m7--7---|--F#m7-9---|
B|---7---|---2---|---3---|---2---|    |---8---|---10--|
G|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---| or |---7---|---9---|
D|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---|    |---9---|---11--|
A|---x---|---x---|---2---|---x---|    |---7---|---9---|
E|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---|    |---7---|---9---|
---------------------------------------------------------------
INTRO:  |  Gadd2/A|  A|  Gadd2/A|  A|
|  Gadd2/A|  A|  Gadd2/A|  A   Bbm7|
CHORUS:
Bm7How long      F#m7has this been Em7going on?F#m7  
Bm7How long      F#m7has this been Em7going on?F#m7  
VERSE 1
Well, your Gadd2/Afriends with their fancy persA1uasion
Don't adGadd2/Amit that it's part of a sA1cheme
And I Gadd2/Acan't help but have my susA1picions
   Gadd2/AAin't quite as dumb as I A1seem
VERSE 2
You know yGadd2/Aou said you was never inA1tended
To Gadd2/Abreak up our scene this wA1ay
There ain't Gadd2/Aany use in pretA1ending
                      Gadd2/AA1  Bbm7  
It could happen to us any day
CHORUS:
Bm7How long      F#m7has this been Em7going on?F#m7  
Bm7How long      F#m7has this been Em7going on?F#m7  
GUITAR SOLO
|   Bm7|   F#m7|  Bm7|  F#m7|
|   Bm7|   F#m7|  Bm7|  F#m7|
|   Bm7|   F#m7|  Bm7|  F#m7|
|   Bm7|   F#m7|  Bm7|  F#m7|
VERSE 3
Well, your Gadd2/Afriends with their fancy persA1uasion
Don't adGadd2/Amit that it's part of a sA1cheme
And I Gadd2/Acan't help but have my susA1picions
   Gadd2/AAin't quite as dumb as I A1seem
VERSE 4
You know yGadd2/Aou said you was never inA1tended
To Gadd2/Abreak up our scene this wA1ay
There ain't Gadd2/Aany use in pretA1ending
                      Gadd2/AA1  Bbm7  
It could happen to us any day
CHORUS:
Bm7And how lF#m7ong has this been gEm7oing on?F#m7  
Bm7How long F#m7has this been going Em7on?            F#m7Tell me babe
Bm7And how lF#m7ong has this been gEm7oing on?F#m7  
Bm7How long F#m7has this been going Em7on?F#m7  
REPEAT TO TASTE...

All chords in this song (11)

The story behind the song

"How Long" captures the sting of betrayal, as the singer confronts someone about a deception, asking how long this "scheme" has been going on. It's a moment of realization, where the truth of a broken promise—that something "was never intended"—comes to light. This song is one of the best-known hits from Paul Carrack's time as frontman and principal songwriter for the band Ace in the mid-1970s. It plays like a direct, heartfelt plea for honesty in the face of a hidden truth.

AI-written from these sources:Paul Carrack — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

How Long

How Long

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How Long

by Paul Carrack

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Gadd2/A

Bbm7

Bm7

F#m7

Em7

Key: G

E A D G B

Tuning: e

Capo: 0 or 1

Paul plays two version - one acoustically with no capo in the

key of G and with a capo on the 1st fret in the key G#; the

latter being the more commonly used key. Regardless, the chord

structures remain the same.

INTRO

Gadd2/A A Bbm7 Bm7

e|--––x–––-|----0----|----6----|----7----|

B|--––3–––-|----5----|----6----|----7----|

G|---–4-–--|----6----|----6----|----7----|

D|–---5----|-–--7----|----6----|----7----|

A|----0----|----0----|----x----|----x----|

E|---–x-–-–|----x----|----6----|----7----|

VERSE

Gadd2/A Bbm7 Gadd2/A A

e|--––x–––-|----x----|----6----| |--––x–––-|----0----|

B|--––3–––-|----5----|----6----| |--––3–––-|----5----|

G|---–4-–--|----6----|----6----| or |---–4-–--|----6----|

D|–---5----|-–--7----|----6----| |–---5----|-–--7----|

A|----0----|----0----|----x----| |----0----|----0----|

E|---–x-–-–|----x----|----6----| |---–x-–-–|----x----|

CHORUS

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7 E#m7 F#m7

e|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---| |---7---|---9---|

B|---7---|---2---|---3---|---2---| |---8---|---10--|

G|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---| or |---7---|---9---|

D|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---| |---9---|---11--|

A|---x---|---x---|---2---|---x---| |---7---|---9---|

E|---7---|---2---|---0---|---2---| |---7---|---9---|

---------------------------------------------------------------

Gadd2/A A Gadd2/A A

Gadd2/A A Gadd2/A A Bbm7

| | | | |

CHORUS:

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on?

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on?

VERSE 1

Gadd2/A A1

Well, your friends with their fancy persuasion

Gadd2/A A1

Don't admit that it's part of a scheme

Gadd2/A A1

And I can't help but have my suspicions

Gadd2/A A1

Ain't quite as dumb as I seem

VERSE 2

Gadd2/A A1

You know you said you was never intended

Gadd2/A A1

To break up our scene this way

Gadd2/A A1

There ain't any use in pretending

Gadd2/A Bbm7

It could happen to us any day

CHORUS:

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on?

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on?

GUITAR SOLO

Bm7 F#m7 Bm7 F#m7

| | | | |

Bm7 F#m7 Bm7 F#m7

| | | | |

Bm7 F#m7 Bm7 F#m7

| | | | |

Bm7 F#m7 Bm7 F#m7

| | | | |

VERSE 3

Gadd2/A A1

Well, your friends with their fancy persuasion

Gadd2/A A1

Don't admit that it's part of a scheme

Gadd2/A A1

And I can't help but have my suspicions

Gadd2/A A1

Ain't quite as dumb as I seem

VERSE 4

Gadd2/A A1

You know you said you was never intended

Gadd2/A A1

To break up our scene this way

Gadd2/A A1

There ain't any use in pretending

Gadd2/A Bbm7

It could happen to us any day

CHORUS:

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

And how long has this been going on?

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on? Tell me babe

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

And how long has this been going on?

Bm7 F#m7 Em7 F#m7

How long has this been going on?

REPEAT TO TASTE...

About How Long Chords by Paul Carrack

Learn how to play How Long by Paul Carrack with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “How Long chords”, “How Long guitar chords”, or “Paul Carrack How Long chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy How Long chords and for experienced players who want accurate How Long lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, E, A, D, B, Gadd2/A.

FAQ — How Long by Paul Carrack

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Is "How Long" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "How Long" in?

The chords for "How Long" show the original chord names (including G, E, A, D, B, Gadd2/A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.