Indie

First Day of My Life Chords

Bright Eyes Beginner Key of C 4 Chords 2 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Guitar

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Ukulele

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Piano

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Banjo

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Mandolin

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · F · G · Am

First Day of My Life Chords – Harmonica

Conor Oberst’s most tender love song is a wedding staple and one of indie rock’s most beloved ballads. The simple fingerpicking pattern over four chords makes it perfect for beginners.

Gentle Fingerpicking (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Fingerpick this one for the best effect. Keep it intimate and gentle. The simplicity is the beauty of this song.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

This is the first day of my life

F

I swear I was born right in the doorway

C

I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed

G

They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Verse 2

C

Yours is the first face that I saw

F

I think I was blind before I met you

C

And I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been

G

But I know where I want to go

Chorus

Am F

And so I’d thought I’d let you know

C G

That these things take forever

Am F

I especially am slow

C

But I realized that I need you

F G C

And I wondered if I could come home

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "First Day of My Life"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, F, G and Am.

Is "First Day of My Life" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "First Day of My Life" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "First Day of My Life"?

It was written by Conor Oberst, and released in 2005.