Fingerpicking Classics Series (1 of 10) Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

Tracy Chapman – Debut by Piano Piano!, licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Welcome to the Guitar Domination Fingerpicking Classics Series. The first song in this series of 10 songs is the fabulous song ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman.

If you want to download two free eBooks (in both pdf and Kindle formats) head HERE.

It’s a song close to my heart and I remember hearing it as a kid and really loving it back then. Since teaching guitar, ‘Fast Car’ has made its way to the top of my list as the first fingerpicking song that I teach most of my private students – if they like it of course!

Most students not only like it but love it! I hope you enjoy playing this song as much as I and my other students do.

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Fast Car Guitar Chords

Fast Car is played using a capo on the 2nd fret and uses just 4 chords throughout the song. They are C, G, Em, D. 

You may not recognise the shapes of Em and D in the fingerpicking section of the song as they are played higher up the fretboard. This is where it pays to learn the common Major and minor chords all over the fretboard so you can recognise them whenever a song such as this uses those chords.

Start off slow and build up the speed especially if you need quicker chord changes as this may hamper your playing with this song.

Fast Car Tab

Capo fret 2

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|x2
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8---8-----7---7----------------------------------|
G|--0---------------0-----------------------0--------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------5--------------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8------10--8----7-----8----7---------------------|
G|--0---------------0--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------------5--------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--0h1--0---3--3-----------8---8-----7---7----------------------------------|
G|--0---------------0-----------------------0--------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------7---------5--------------------------------------|
E|-----------3---------------------------------------------------------------|

Fast Car Strumming Pattern

The strum pattern in the chorus is a fairly simple strum and one I call ‘The Ultimate Strum Pattern’. If you want more help with your strumming, click here.