Quick And Easy ​​California Dreamin’ Chords And Guitar Lesson (The Mamas And The Papas)

Ever felt pain and the longing to be in another place? 

Well, this song symbolizes that along with the freedom and beauty of the California lifestyle. 

It’s a simple song, but the emotions run deep. 

Below I’m going to break it down for you step-by-step.

So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this "California Dreamin'" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote California Dreamin'?

"California Dreamin’" was written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas. It came about during the winter of 1963 in New York where these two were living at the time.

They were longing for an escape from the cold weather and were dreaming of the California sunshine. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness, isolation, and the desire to return to the warmth and freedom associated with the West Coast.

Initially, the track was offered to Barry McGuire (famous for "Eve of Destruction"), and it was McGuire’s producer, Lou Adler, who saw potential in the song for The Mamas & the Papas. McGuire recorded the first version, and The Mamas & the Papas recorded backup vocals, though eventually, Adler decided to have them re-record it as their own track.

"California Dreamin'" was recorded at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California. The iconic flute solo, which became one of the song’s signature moments, was performed by jazz flutist Bud Shank. This added a haunting and memorable layer to the tune.

Released in 1965 as a single, "California Dreamin’" became an instant hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to become a defining anthem of the 1960s and is widely recognized as one of the greatest songs of all time. It’s been featured in multiple films, TV shows, and commercials. Plus, it’s been covered by some great artists like The Beach Boys:

And Sia:

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for California Dreamin'?

The tuning for "California Dreamin’" as recorded by The Mamas And The Papas is standard tuning. 

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

However, it does use a capo on the 4th fret so with that in mind your tuner should read something like this:

• G# (6th string, lowest pitch)
• C# (5th string)
• F# (4th string)
• B (3rd string)
• D# (2nd string)
• G# (1st string, highest pitch)

Next, let’s talk about the…

California Dreamin' Chords

To play "California Dreamin'" on guitar you only need to know 6 main chords Am, G, F, E7sus4, E7, and C. The good news is, that only one bar chord is needed, the rest of the shapes can be played as open chords. Let’s take a look at a few options for how they might appear on the fretboard.

Am is played from the 5th string down like this: 

G is played in a folk style like this:

F is the one bar chord you’ll need to know, I play it in 1st position like this:

E7sus4 is played using all 6 strings like this:

E7 just changes one note from the E7sus4 chord like this:

Finally, we have a standard open position C chord played like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it faster and in the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

All right, now that you know the "California Dreamin'" chords, let’s now talk about…

​​Does California Dreamin' use a capo?

Yes. To play “California Dreamin'” on guitar I would recommend putting the capo on the 4th fret. If you don’t have a capo you can still play the song using this lesson, it’s just going to sound slightly lower in pitch then the recording. Which is fine for practicing the shapes and chord movements. Then when you get a capo, place it on the 2nd fret and you will be good to go – this will put you in the right key to play along with the original Mamas And Papas recording.

This brings us to the question of…

What key is California Dreamin' in?

"California Dreamin'" as recorded by The Mamas And The Papas is in the key of C# minor concert pitch. However, since the guitar part uses a capo, think of it simply in the key of A minor.

In A natural minor (A - B - C - D - E - F - G), each chord fits into a specific role within the key. Some of these chords add color by incorporating notes from the A harmonic or melodic minor scales. Here’s a quick breakdown of how these chords function in the key of A minor.

Am (i chord)

Am (A-C-E) is the tonic or i chord in A minor.

This chord is the tonal center, providing a sense of stability and resolution.

It’s often the starting or ending chord in progressions, grounding the harmony in the minor key.

G Major (VII chord)

G (G-B-D) is the VII chord in A minor.

In natural minor, the VII chord has a strong relationship to the tonic and can give a sense of movement without as much tension as a dominant chord.

In progressions, G often leads back to Am or F, creating a smooth, almost circular feel typical of many minor key progressions.

F Major (VI chord)

F (F-A-C) is the VI chord in A minor.

The VI chord is a common chord in minor keys, bringing a warm, melancholic quality. It contrasts with the minor tonic and can act as a pre-dominant chord, often moving towards G or E7.

E7sus4 (V7sus chord)

E7sus4 (E-A-B-D) is a V7sus chord in A minor, replacing the third (G#) of E7 with the fourth (A). This suspension adds tension, and delays the resolution to E7. This chord in the progression maintains a sense of anticipation before resolving back to the tonic, Am.

E7 (V7 chord)

E7 (E-G#-B-D) is the dominant or V7 chord in A harmonic minor (where G# replaces G).

The G# in E7 is the leading tone, creating a strong pull back to the tonic Am. E7 is crucial for providing harmonic tension in minor keys.

C Major (III chord)

C (C-E-G) is the III chord in A minor. The III chord is a stable major chord that shares two notes (A and C) with the tonic Am, creating a consonant relationship.

C can lead to Am, F, or G in progressions, making it versatile in minor key arrangements. Its major quality adds a touch of brightness within the darker A minor tonality.

That’s the theory, but remember knowing all this doesn’t mean a thing without a good… 

California Dreamin’ Strumming Pattern And Groove

The main underlying groove for "California Dreamin’" is a steady 8th-note feel. Strumming 8th notes means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into two equal parts.

To properly strum 8th notes, you need to understand how to count them within each measure. In a 4/4 time signature, each measure has four beats. When subdividing each beat into 8th notes, each beat is divided into two equal parts, giving us a total of eight 8th notes per measure. 

To count 8th notes, you typically use the following syllables:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 

Here’s the breakdown: 

1: The first 8th note (on the beat)

&: The second 8th note (off the beat)

When counting out loud, it sounds like:

"One and, Two and, Three and, Four and" 

Here’s an example of a “California Dreamin’" style strumming pattern:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “California Dreamin’” is a classic song from the 60s. While it does have some dark undertones, it’s resonated with audiences around the world for decades now. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

Jon MacLennan