Now playing

The Great Unknown

Chords

4.926 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Chuck plays it different to Shawn but both do it superbly.
Capo 1st Fret
A standard G can be used instead of the Gadd9 if desired. Still sounds sweet.
Chords used
E----------C0----------Gadd9--3-----------Am-0---------Fmaj7--0----------Fmaj9--0------------F1
B----------1------------0------------1-----------1------------1------------1
G----------0------------0------------2-----------2------------0------------2
D----------2------------0------------2-----------3------------3------------3
A----------3------------0------------0-----------0------------3------------3
E----------0------------3------------0-----------0------------0------------1
INTRO
C Fmaj9 x 3
CIt’s Friday night and I’m Fmaj9back agaiCnFmaj9  
CWith my oAmld guitar and my Gadd9trusty Fmaj7grin
And a Gadd9best you don’t come in here sAmign
Fmaj7Tattooed on this Gadd9heart of CmineFmaj9  C  Fmaj9  
CFrom a dirty brown shag Fmaj9carpet staCgeFmaj9  
CI sing my sAmongs and I Gadd9pace the Fmaj7cage
Gadd9Stuck up here in the twilight zAmone
Fmaj7Staring out into the Gadd9great unCknownFmaj9  C  Fmaj9  
CThere’s an old Hank Williams Fmaj9figurineC  
AmHanging by a gGadd9uitar stFring
From the pull Gadd9chain of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Amsign
Fmaj7With a clock that’s stopped on Gadd9half past CnineFmaj9  
CYeah the time ain’t changed round Fmaj9here in yearCs
AmSame sad Gadd9story, same oFld tears
Gadd9Ain’t nobody wants to be Amalone
Fmaj7Out here in the Gadd9great unkCnownFmaj9  C  Fmaj9  
CYou can find the stool thFmaj9ere at the baCrFmaj9  
CDesigned to tAmake you Gadd9nowhere Fmaj7far
Gadd9They got a mirror back behind the whiskey sAmhelf
Fmaj7Where we don’t dare look bacGadd9k at ourCselvesFmaj9  
CJust past the men’s room Fmaj9down the halClFmaj9  
CBarely haAmnging there on a pGadd9laster Fmaj7wall
Gadd9A faded sticker on the old paAmyphone
Fmaj7Says welcome to the Gadd9great unknCownFmaj9  C  Fmaj9  
CIt’s out beyond the Fmaj9yonder staCrFmaj9  
CIt’s Amall up in there Gadd9where you Fmaj7are
Gadd9By some cosmic wind we’re bAmlown
Fmaj7Out into the Gadd9great unkCnownFmaj9  C  Fmaj9  
CHopes and dreams and Fmaj9ash and dustC  Fmaj9  
CIt all Amseems to either Gadd9rot or Fmaj7rust
Gadd9Souls wrapped in in flesh and bAmone
Fmaj7Heartbeats in the Gadd9great unkCnownFmaj9  
CIt’s Friday night and I’m Fmaj9back againC  

All chords in this song (6)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Great Unknown

by Shawn Mullins

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Gadd9

Fmaj7

Fmaj9

Chuck plays it different to Shawn but both do it superbly.

Capo 1st Fret

A standard G can be used instead of the Gadd9 if desired. Still sounds sweet.

Chords used

C Gadd9 Am Fmaj7 Fmaj9 F

E----------0------------3------------0-----------0------------0------------1

B----------1------------0------------1-----------1------------1------------1

G----------0------------0------------2-----------2------------0------------2

D----------2------------0------------2-----------3------------3------------3

A----------3------------0------------0-----------0------------3------------3

E----------0------------3------------0-----------0------------0------------1

INTRO

C Fmaj9 x 3

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

It’s Friday night and I’m back again

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

With my old guitar and my trusty grin

Gadd9 Am

And a best you don’t come in here sign

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Tattooed on this heart of mine

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

From a dirty brown shag carpet stage

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

I sing my songs and I pace the cage

Gadd9 Am

Stuck up here in the twilight zone

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Staring out into the great unknown

C Fmaj9 C

There’s an old Hank Williams figurine

Am Gadd9 F

Hanging by a guitar string

Gadd9 Am

From the pull chain of the Pabst Blue Ribbon sign

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9

With a clock that’s stopped on half past nine

C Fmaj9 C

Yeah the time ain’t changed round here in years

Am Gadd9 F

Same sad story, same old tears

Gadd9 Am

Ain’t nobody wants to be alone

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Out here in the great unknown

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

You can find the stool there at the bar

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

Designed to take you nowhere far

Gadd9 Am

They got a mirror back behind the whiskey shelf

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9

Where we don’t dare look back at ourselves

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Just past the men’s room down the hall

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

Barely hanging there on a plaster wall

Gadd9 Am

A faded sticker on the old payphone

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Says welcome to the great unknown

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

It’s out beyond the yonder star

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

It’s all up in there where you are

Gadd9 Am

By some cosmic wind we’re blown

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Out into the great unknown

C Fmaj9 C Fmaj9

Hopes and dreams and ash and dust

C Am Gadd9 Fmaj7

It all seems to either rot or rust

Gadd9 Am

Souls wrapped in in flesh and bone

Fmaj7 Gadd9 C Fmaj9

Heartbeats in the great unknown

C Fmaj9 C

It’s Friday night and I’m back again

About The Great Unknown Chords by Shawn Mullins

Learn how to play The Great Unknown by Shawn Mullins with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Great Unknown chords”, “The Great Unknown guitar chords”, or “Shawn Mullins The Great Unknown 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 The Great Unknown chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Great Unknown lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, Gadd9, C, Am, Fmaj7.

FAQ — The Great Unknown by Shawn Mullins

How do I play "The Great Unknown" by Shawn Mullins on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Great Unknown" by Shawn Mullins on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Great Unknown" by Shawn Mullins free?

Yes. The chords for "The Great Unknown" by Shawn Mullins are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Great Unknown" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Great Unknown" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Great Unknown"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Great Unknown" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Great Unknown" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Great Unknown" by Shawn Mullins with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Shawn Mullins below.

What key is "The Great Unknown" in?

The chords for "The Great Unknown" show the original chord names (including A, G, Gadd9, C, Am, Fmaj7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.