The ULTIMATE One Of These Nights Chords & Guitar Lesson (Eagles)

Have you ever said:

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"I’ll do it tomorrow."

"I’ll get to it eventually."

"It’s on my to-do list."

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Well if so, you might be able to relate to this epic Eagles rock song below. You see, the inspiration for it came from – putting off dreams until tomorrow.

This monumental tune also marks a pivotal change in the band’s sound.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “One Of These Nights” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote One Of These Nights?

"One Of These Nights" was co-written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, two founding members of the American rock band Eagles. Frey explained in an interview that the song's inspiration came from about from the them of postponing ambitions. 

He noted, "We've all said, 'One of these nights I'm gonna do something – get that girl, make that money, find that house.' We all have our dreams – a vision we hope will come true someday." 

The track was recorded between late 1974 and early 1975 at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. The recording process involved laying down the basic track in Miami, adding guitar overdubs in Los Angeles, and returning to Miami for the vocal tracks. 

“One Of These Nights” was released on May 19, 1975, as the title track and lead single from their fourth studio album. It was the Eagles’ second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

This track marked a period of stylistic shift for the Eagles. They started incorporating more elements of R&B and disco into their country-rock sound. Glenn Frey mentioned being influenced by artists like the Spinners and Al Green during the songwriting process.

One of my favorite parts is Don Felder’s incredible solo. It’s got some killer blues licks and powerful sustaining string bends. 

“One Of These Nights” was listed as Billboard's No. 25 song of the year in 1975. And the Eagles have included it in many of their live performances over the years.  

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for One Of These Nights?

The tuning for "One Of These Nights”, as recorded by the Eagles is standard tuning. Standard tuning on 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, let’s take a look at the…

One Of These Nights Chords

To play “One Of These Nights” on guitar you’ll need to know 6 main chords they are Em, D6, Cmaj7, Am, Bm, and Gmaj7. Let’s take a look at a few ways the “One Of These Nights” chords can be played on the fretboard:  

Em is played using all 6 strings and as a bar chord in 7th position like this:

D6 shifts down to the 5th position and uses 5 strings like this:

Cmaj7 can be played with an optional fretting hand thumb on the low 6th string like this:

Note: if the “thumb-over” technique is not comfortable for you, then just play the chord from the 4th string down.

Am is a bar chord in 5th position and uses all 6 strings like this:

Bm is the same as Am, just shifted up 2 frets like so:

Finally, Gmaj7 is played in 7th position and from the 5th string down like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar and want to discover the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

All right! Now that you know the "One Of These Nights” chords, let’s next talk about…

What key is One Of These Nights in?

"One Of These Nights" as recorded by the Eagles is in the key of E minor. The primary scale used in the song is the E natural minor scale. The E natural minor scale uses the notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, and D. 

Let’s take a gander at how these chords all relate in the key of E minor.

Em (E minor)

• Notes: E, G, B
• Scale Degrees: 1 (E), ♭3 (G), 5 (B)
• Function: This is the tonic chord (i), the home chord of the key. It is built on the 1st degree of the E minor scale and establishes the tonality of E minor.
  
  

D6 (D major with a 6th)

• Notes: D, F#, A, B
• Scale Degrees: ♭7 (D), 2 (F#), 4 (A), 6 (B)
• Function: This chord is an extension of the VII chord (D) in the key of E minor. The added 6th (B) comes from the E minor scale and gives the chord a more colorful, jazzy feel. The VII chord often resolves back to the tonic (i).
  
  

Cmaj7 (C major with a major 7th) 

• Notes: C, E, G, B
• Scale Degrees: ♭6 (C), 1 (E), ♭3 (G), 5 (B)
• Function: This is the VI chord (C) in E minor, often used to create a lush, melancholic sound. The major 7th (B) adds sophistication and a smooth voice-leading connection to other chords.
  
  

Am (A minor)

• Notes: A, C, E
• Scale Degrees: 4 (A), ♭6 (C), 1 (E)
• Function: This is the iv chord (A minor) in E minor, a minor subdominant chord. It often serves as a pre-dominant chord, leading naturally to the dominant (Bm or sometimes D in a modal context).
  
  

Bm (B minor)

• Notes: B, D, F#
• Scale Degrees: 5 (B), ♭7 (D), 2 (F#)
• Function: This is the v chord (B minor) in E minor. In the natural minor scale, the v chord is minor, but it can also be altered to a dominant 7th chord (B7) by raising the F# to G#, creating a stronger resolution back to E minor.

Gmaj7 (G major with a major 7th)

• Notes: G, B, D, F#
• Scale Degrees: ♭3 (G), 5 (B), ♭7 (D), 2 (F#)
• Function: This is the III chord (G) in E minor. The major 7th (F#) comes from the E natural minor scale and adds a dreamy, jazzy quality. The III chord often provides a stable and uplifting sound in minor keys.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Tonic (i): Em
• Subdominant (iv): Am
• Dominant (v): Bm
• Mediant (III): Gmaj7
• Submediant (VI): Cmaj7
• Subtonic (VII): D6

These chords showcase the harmonic richness of the E natural minor scale and how extensions (like 6ths and 7ths) can add depth and emotional color. The Eagles explored these sounds extensively in “One Of These Nights.”

So that’s the theory, but all that info doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

One Of These Nights Groove & Strumming Pattern

The main underlying feel for “One Of These Nights” is a funky 16th-note groove.

In 4/4 time, 16th notes divide each beat into four equal parts. This creates a steady and consistent rhythm like this:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure. The "e," "&," and "a" are the evenly spaced subdivisions within each beat. 

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

"One-ee-and-uh, Two-ee-and-uh, Three-ee-and-uh, Four-ee-and-uh."

However, you don’t want to just strum all 16th notes. That is going to be overkill. So the secret is to blend 16th notes, with some 8th notes, and also some muted percussive strums. Muted percussive strums on guitar are a rhythmic technique that creates a "chuck" or "click" sound rather than producing a clear musical note.

Here’s an example of a “One Of These Nights” strumming pattern played over an Em bar chord in 7th position:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “One Of These Nights” is a powerful rock song from the Eagles. The guitar parts are searing, and show an interesting blend of R&B, disco, and country-rock.

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