Quick And Easy Strawberry Fields Forever Chords And Guitar Lesson

Did you know the Beatles used many unusual recording tricks to create some of their biggest hits?

In this post, I want to share with you a strange example of this. The final recording was pieced together in the studio with some tape machine magic from producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Strawberry Fields Forever” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Strawberry Fields Forever?

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is one of The Beatles' most iconic and experimental songs. It was written primarily by John Lennon but has some contributions from Paul McCartney. It is credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, as were all Beatles songs written by either or both of them. “Strawberry Fields Forever” was released as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane" in February 1967. 

The studio recording techniques used in this song at the time were quite unconventional and groundbreaking. 

The recording took place at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London and spanned multiple sessions from November to December 1966. The final version of the song was a combination of two different takes, recorded at different tempos and in different keys. 

That’s quite a predicament to try to navigate. But producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick spliced two takes together using tape manipulation techniques, speeding up and slowing them down to create a seamless but otherworldly effect.

Years ago I heard in an interview with George Martin, he said, “Listen at 1 min into the song. Right when John sings, “Let me take you down cuz I’m going…

TO”

On the word “to”, you can hear a double kick flam that sounds like 2 pieces of tape were spliced together. Also, the pitch subtly changes from one take to the next. Martin said it still stuck out to him like a sore thumb every time he heard it on the radio.

Another cool anecdote in “Strawberry Fields Forever is the use of the Mellotron. A Mellotron is an early analog keyboard instrument that uses pre-recorded tape loops to produce sounds. Each key on the Mellotron triggers a strip of magnetic tape that plays a recording of an actual instrument, such as a flute, violin, or choir. When a key is pressed, the tape is pulled across a playback head, producing the corresponding sound. When the key is released, the tape rewinds, ready to play again.

It’s an amazing little instrument. I got to hear one in person years ago at a Grammy award-winning studio here in Hollywood, and there’s nothing quite like it.

Now, if you’re trying to play this legendary song on guitar you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Strawberry Fields Forever?

The tuning for “Strawberry Fields Forever” is quite strange. Since the song is a blend of multiple takes in different keys and different tempos, and because of what George Martin and Geoff Emerick did with the tape machines it can seem a bit confusing. To play along with the original recording you’ll have to tune your guitar about 50 cents sharp and play it in A.

The strings for standard tuning:

• E +50 cents (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A +50 cents (5th string)
• D +50 cents (4th string)
• G +50 cents (3rd string)
• B +50 cents (2nd string)
• E +50 cents (1st string, highest pitch)

Of course, the easiest way to play it is just in standard tuning. But, if you want to play along with the original recording from “Magical Mystery Tour” then follow the above tuning.

Let’s next take a look at the…

Strawberry Fields Forever Chords

To play “Strawberry Fields Forever” on guitar you’ll need to know 7 chords E, Emaj7, E7, F#m, D, A, and F#. Here are a few ways to play these chords on guitar.

E is played with all 6 strings like this:

Emaj7 changes just one note:

Then again move another note to get E7 like this:

These are the opening chords played by the Mellotron and they demonstrate a very common Beatles’ style chord progression. From there we’ve got an F#m bar chord played in 2nd position like this:

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

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

And finally, F# is a major bar chord played in 2nd position like this:

If you struggled to understand and navigate the fretboard for rhythm and lead then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here:

Now that you know the “Strawberry Fields Forever” chords let’s talk about…

What key is Strawberry Fields Forever in?

“Strawberry Fields Forever” as recorded by The Beatles is in the key of A major. However, because of the unusual recording techniques producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick used to blend separate takes together, the final recording ended up being about 50 cents between A major and Bb major. But for all practical purposes, and for playing it on guitar it’s A major.

Let’s take a look at how all the chords relate in the key of A major and to the A major scale. 

The A major scale uses the notes:

A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G#

Now, let's relate each of the chords to the key:

E Major (V):

Notes: E - G# - B

Function: Dominant. In A major, E major is the V chord, leading strongly back to A major (I). It's often used before returning to the tonic chord to create a sense of resolution.

Emaj7 (Vmaj7):

Notes: E - G# - B - D#

Function: This is still a Dominant chord but this chord is less common in traditional tonal harmony because of the D# (which is not in the A major scale), but it can be used to add a jazzy or smooth flavor.

E7 (V7):

Notes: E - G# - B - D

Function: Dominant 7th. This chord introduces the flat 7th (D), creating a strong tension that resolves naturally to the tonic (A major). It’s the most common dominant chord in the key of A major.

F# Minor (vi):

Notes: F# - A - C#

Function: This chord is the relative minor of A major.

D Major (IV):

Notes: D - F# - A

Function: Subdominant. The IV chord is a very common chord in any major key and is often used in progressions like I - IV - V.

A Major (I):

Notes: A - C# - E

Function: Tonic. This is the home chord, the central chord of the key.

F# (II):

Notes: F# - A# - C#

Function: This chord is not diatonic to the key of A major because of the A# (not in the A major scale), but it's often used in secondary dominants to lead into the ii chord.

Now that you understand the key and chords, let’s talk about the…

Strawberry Fields Forever Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for "Strawberry Fields Forever" is an 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 playing in this style:

Conclusion

“Strawberry Fields Forever” is an iconic Beatles tune that showcases their psychedelic and experimental side. The best artists are always willing to push the boundaries of what is possible. From the complex layering of takes in different keys and tempos to the use of unique instruments like the Mellotron, this song captures the essence of the psychedelic era while showcasing their extraordinary creativity. 

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 right here now:   

Jon MacLennan