The ULTIMATE Nights In White Satin Chords And Guitar Lesson

Here’s a brilliant tune that’s been called "a song that won't die."

It seems to keep striking a chord with new generations and new audiences ever since the 60s. It all started when guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward was gifted by his then-girlfriend (and later wife), Ann Marie Guirron, a set of satin bedsheets.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Nights In White Satin” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Nights In White Satin?

"Nights in White Satin" was written by Justin Hayward, the guitarist and vocalist for the English band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1967 on their album Days of Future Passed.

Amazingly, Justin Hayward wrote "Nights in White Satin" when he was only 19 years old! The song was inspired by a gift of satin bedsheets given to him by a girlfriend. In interviews, Hayward mentioned the song came together rather quickly. It was all based on the emotions he was experiencing at the time. It was a very raw and immediate song. 

The song has a bit of a haunting feel to it. Blending elements of classical music with rock, which was innovative at the time. "Nights In White Satin" prominently features the Mellotron, an early keyboard instrument that could simulate the sound of strings and other instruments. This instrument was also famously used by The Beatles on tunes like “Strawberry Fields Forever”. It gives the song a lush atmospheric quality. The orchestral arrangement was performed by the London Festival Orchestra, conducted by Peter Knight. 

"Nights in White Satin" was recorded at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London. The sessions for the album Days of Future Passed were unique because it was one of the first rock albums to be recorded in stereo and mixed using early multitrack technology. The album was conceived as a collaboration between The Moody Blues and the Decca Records classical music label Deram, aiming to bridge the gap between rock and classical music.

The song was initially released as a single in 1967 but didn't achieve immediate success in the UK, peaking at #19 on the charts. However, it became a massive hit in the United States in 1972 when it was re-released, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the years, it has become one of The Moody Blues' most signature songs.

"Nights in White Satin" has been certified Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in the UK. It was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. 

There are two main versions to the song, a radio cut, and a longer album version. The longer version has a poem towards the end deemed "Late Lament": This was written by drummer Graeme Edge and recited by keyboardist Mike Pinder. The poem's introspective and philosophical tone adds another layer of depth to the song. 

Next, let’s take a look at the…

Nights In White Satin Chords

If you want to play “Nights In White Satin” on guitar you’ll need to know 8 main chord shapes Em, Dadd9/F#, C/G, G, F, A, B7, and Am. All these chords can be played in open position. There is just one bar chord F. Let’s take a look at a few ways these chords can be played on the fretboard.

Em is a beautiful chord. It’s played using all 6 strings like this:

Dadd9/F# is played using 5 strings. I use my fretting hand thumb on the 6th string but you don’t have to if that is uncomfortable:

C/G is an open position C chord but played with all 6 strings. This gets a strong sound. I play it like this:

G is played using all 6 strings like this:

F is the one bar chord you’ll need to know. This chord is played in the first position like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard so you can play RHYTHM and LEAD anywhere on the neck with ease… then get your hands on my free fretboard guide right here now:

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

B7 is a common chord used in the blues. This one is played from the 5th string down like this:

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

Now that you know the “Nights In White Satin” chords let’s talk about…

Is Nights In White Satin hard to play on guitar?

To play “Nights In White Satin” on guitar you will need a solid intermediate-level guitar skill. The song presents many challenges to beginner players like strumming in a triple meter and bar chords. 

What is the tuning for Nights In White Satin?

The tuning for "Nights In White Satin" as recorded by The Moody Blues is standard tuning. Justin Hayward plays the song using a combination of open chords and bar chords in 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)

Next, you may be wondering...

What key is Nights In White Satin in?

“Nights In White Satin” as recorded by The Moody Blues is in the key of Em. The majority of the chords fit the diatonic scale of E natural minor/ G major. But there are a few exceptions. Remember – the E natural minor scale uses the notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, and D. 

Let's explore how each chord relates to this scale and key:

E Minor (Em)

Chord: E-G-B

Scale Degrees: 1st (E), 3rd (G), 5th (B)

Function: Tonic chord, the root chord of the key of E minor. It establishes the tonal center.

Dadd9/F#

Chord: D-F#-A with an added E (9th) and F# as the bass note.

Scale Degrees: 7th (D), 2nd (F#), 4th (A), 1st (E)

Function: This chord can function as a dominant preparation (V) leading back to Em. The added 9th (E) creates a suspended, unresolved feeling.

C/G

Chord: C-E-G with G in the bass.

Scale Degrees: 6th (C), 1st (E), 3rd (G)

Function: Submediant chord (VI) in the key of E minor. The C chord adds a melancholic or somber color to the progression.

G Major (G)

Chord: G-B-D

Scale Degrees: 3rd (G), 5th (B), 7th (D)

Function: Mediant chord (III) in the key of E minor. G major shares notes with both Em and C major, making it a strong supporting chord in minor key progressions.

F Major (F)

Chord: F-A-C

Scale Degrees: b2nd (F), 4th (A), b6th (C)

Function: This chord functions like a flat 7 to the relative major. G going down to F as it does in the verse progression.

A Major (A)

Chord: A-C#-E

Scale Degrees: 4th (A), raised 6th (C#), 1st (E)

Function: This is a major IV chord borrowed from the E Dorian mode. Having a major IV chord is a common move used in millions of songs. 

B7

Chord: B-D#-F#-A

Scale Degrees: 5th (B), raised 7th (D#), 2nd (F#), 4th (A)

Function: Dominant 7th chord (V7) in the key of E harmonic minor. The B7 chord naturally resolves to E minor, creating a strong tension and release due to the raised 7th (D#) leading back to the tonic E.

A Minor (Am)

Chord: A-C-E

Scale Degrees: 4th (A), b6th (C), 1st (E)

Function: Subdominant chord (iv) in the key of E minor. Am has a darker, more introspective quality than A major, and it can be used to reinforce the minor tonality. 

All these chords work together to create the haunting, emotionally complex atmosphere of "Nights in White Satin." 

But all this theory doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

Nights In White Satin Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for “Nights In White Satin” is a light 16th-note feel. Strumming 16th notes on guitar means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into 4 equal parts. 

To properly strum 16th 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 16th notes, each beat is divided into four equal parts. This gives us a total of sixteen 16th notes per measure.

To count 16th notes, you typically use the following syllables:

1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a 

Here’s how it breaks down: 

• 1: The downbeat (first 16th note)
• e: The second 16th note
• &: The third 16th note (also known as the "and")
• a: The fourth 16th note
  

When counting out loud, it sounds like: 

“One ee and uh, Two ee and uh, Three ee and uh, Four ee and uh”

When strumming 16th notes, your hand should move in a consistent up-and-down motion. Here’s a basic pattern to get you started:

Downstroke on the count of “1”

Upstroke on the count of “e”

Downstroke on the count of “&”

Upstroke on the count of “a”

This continuous motion helps keep the timing steady and even. 

This is the basic feel. But in “Nights In White Satin” I like to blend a combination of with eighth notes and sixteenth notes. Here is an example of a strumming pattern in this style in a 6/8 time signature over the D chord we learned above:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, "Nights in White Satin" continues to live on. It’s resonated with guitar players and music lovers alike for decades now since its release. 

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

Jon MacLennan