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The Guitar Man

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
   G     C      D   Dsus4   D   Dsus2    Dx2
[Verse 1]
GWho draws the crowd and Cplays so loud, baby, it's the Dguitar manDsus4  D  Dsus2  D  
GWho's gonna steal the Cshow, you know, baby, it's the Dguitar manDsus4  D  Dsus2  D  
[Chorus I]
He can Emmake you love, he can Cmake you cry
He will Embring you down and he'll Aget you high
Cmaj7Something keeps him going Bm7miles and miles a day
to fAm7ind another place to DplayDsus4  D  Dsus2  D  
[Verse 2]
GNight after night who Ctreats you right, baby, it's the Dguitar maDsus4nD  Dsus2  D  
GWho's on the radioC, you go and listen to the Dguitar manDsus4  D  Dsus2  D  
[Chorus II]
When he Emcomes to town and you Csee his face
And you Emthink you might like to Atake his place
Cmaj7Something keeps him drifting Bm7miles and miles away
Am7searching for the songs to Dplay
[Bridge]
Then you Amlisten to the AmM7music and you Am7like to sing alongD  Dsus4  D  
You Gwant to get the G/F#meaning out of Emeach and every songE7  
And you Amfind yourself a AmM7message and some
Am7words to call your Down and Dsus4take tDhem EhoEsusmeE  Cmaj7  
[Solo]
   G     C      D   Dsus4   D   Dsus2    Dx2
[Chorus III]
He can Emmake you love, he can Cget you high
He will Embring you down, then he'll Amake, make you cry
Cmaj7Something keeps him moving, but Bm7no one seems to know
Am7what it is that makes him Dgo
[Outro]
Then the Amlights begin to AmM7flicker and the Am7sound is getting dimD  Dsus4  D  
The Gvoice begins to G/F#falter and the Emcrowds are getting thinE7  
But he Amnever seems to AmM7notice, he's just Am7got to find
Danother Dsus4place Dto Eplay…...Cmaj7......Fade Eaway….Cmaj7.… got to Eplay…
Cmaj7…… fade Eaway…Cmaj7……… Got to Eplay……Cmaj7……...Fade Eaway

All chords in this song (16)

The story behind the song

"The Guitar Man" paints a vivid picture of the touring musician, the one who draws the crowd and plays so loud, night after night. It captures the essence of a performer dedicated to their craft, always ready to play and make the audience sing along. Written by David Gates and released on Bread's 1972 album Guitar Man, the song blends soft rock sounds with acoustic and electric guitar, offering a rich production that goes beyond a simple love song. It's a tribute to the enduring connection between a musician and their listeners, where the music itself becomes a shared experience.

AI-written from these sources:The Guitar Man — Wikipedia ↗Bread (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

The Guitar Man

The Guitar Man

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Chord Book

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

The Guitar Man

by Bread

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dsus4

Dsus2

Cmaj7

Bm7

Am7

AmM7

G/F#

Esus

[Intro]

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

[Verse 1]

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

Who draws the crowd and plays so loud, baby, it's the guitar man

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

Who's gonna steal the show, you know, baby, it's the guitar man

[Chorus I]

Em C

He can make you love, he can make you cry

Em A

He will bring you down and he'll get you high

Cmaj7 Bm7

Something keeps him going miles and miles a day

Am7 D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

to find another place to play

[Verse 2]

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

Night after night who treats you right, baby, it's the guitar man

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

Who's on the radio, you go and listen to the guitar man

[Chorus II]

Em C

When he comes to town and you see his face

Em A

And you think you might like to take his place

Cmaj7 Bm7

Something keeps him drifting miles and miles away

Am7 D

searching for the songs to play

[Bridge]

Am AmM7 Am7 D Dsus4 D

Then you listen to the music and you like to sing along

G G/F# Em E7

You want to get the meaning out of each and every song

Am AmM7

And you find yourself a message and some

Am7 D Dsus4 D E Esus E Cmaj7

words to call your own and take them home

[Solo]

G C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D

[Chorus III]

Em C

He can make you love, he can get you high

Em A

He will bring you down, then he'll make, make you cry

Cmaj7 Bm7

Something keeps him moving, but no one seems to know

Am7 D

what it is that makes him go

[Outro]

Am AmM7 Am7 D Dsus4 D

Then the lights begin to flicker and the sound is getting dim

G G/F# Em E7

The voice begins to falter and the crowds are getting thin

Am AmM7 Am7

But he never seems to notice, he's just got to find

D Dsus4 D E Cmaj7 E Cmaj7 E

another place to play….........Fade away…..… got to play…

Cmaj7 E Cmaj7 E Cmaj7 E

…… fade away………… Got to play…………...Fade away

About The Guitar Man Chords by Bread

Learn how to play The Guitar Man by Bread with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Guitar Man chords”, “The Guitar Man guitar chords”, or “Bread The Guitar Man 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 Guitar Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Guitar Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D, Dsus4, Dsus2, Em.

FAQ — The Guitar Man by Bread

How do I play "The Guitar Man" by Bread on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Guitar Man" by Bread 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 Guitar Man" by Bread free?

Yes. The chords for "The Guitar Man" by Bread are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Guitar Man" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Guitar Man"?

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

Is "The Guitar Man" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Guitar Man" by Bread with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bread below.

What key is "The Guitar Man" in?

The chords for "The Guitar Man" show the original chord names (including G, C, D, Dsus4, Dsus2, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.