ChordSongs
Rock, Folk

Going to California Chords

Led Zeppelin Beginner Key of D 3 Chords 2 min read
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.

Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.

Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.

Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.

Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.

Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
D · G · A

Led Zeppelin’s gentle acoustic ballad about seeking a simple paradise. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.

Acoustic Folk (4/4 Time)
↓↑↓↑↓↑
123456

Tip: Fingerpick this song if possible. It has a delicate, pastoral quality that comes alive with picked notes rather than strumming. Think of a peaceful journey.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

 
D G D
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D G D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
D G D
Made up my mind to make a new start
G A G D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
 

Verse 2

 
D G D
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D G D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
D G D
Took my chances on a beautiful song
G A G D
Strummin’ my pain with his fingers
 

Verse 3

 
D G D
Singing songs and carrying on
D G D
Sitting on a high and watching the sun
D G D
To find a queen without a king
G A G D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings
 

Verse 4

 
D G D
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D G D
Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard as it seems
 

Practice tip: The D-G-A pattern is simple but the beauty is in the fingerpicking. Try alternating your thumb on the D and A bass strings while picking the melody on the B and E strings.