Rock, Folk

California Dreamin’ Chords

The Mamas & The Papas Beginner Key of A 4 Chords 2 min read

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Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Guitar

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Etap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Ukulele

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Etap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Piano

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Etap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Banjo

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Etap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Mandolin

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Etap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · G · F · E

California Dreamin’ Chords – Harmonica

The Mamas & The Papas’ iconic folk-rock song about longing for warmth and sunshine. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: The flute intro can be played on guitar by picking the melody on the high strings. Start the strum gently and build through each verse.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

I’d be safe and warm

E Am G

If I was in L.A.

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 2

Am G

Stopped into a church

F G E E7

I passed along the way

F C

Well I got down on my knees

E Am

And I pretend to pray

F C

You know the preacher likes the cold

E Am G

He knows I’m gonna stay

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Verse 3

Am G

All the leaves are brown

F G E E7

And the sky is gray

F C

I’ve been for a walk

E Am

On a winter’s day

F C

If I didn’t tell her

E Am G

I could leave today

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

Outro

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am G

On such a winter’s day

F G E

California dreamin'

F Am

On such a winter’s day

Practice tip: The Am-G-F-G-E progression in the verses is the heart of this song. Practice the E to E7 variation for extra color. If you can nail this sequence, you’ve got the whole song.