Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Hello! Below you'll find my "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Bob Dylan is a folk classic and only uses 4 chords! It was originally played on guitar, but translates well to piano.
Enjoy!
Knockin' On Heaven's Door Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Knockin' On Heaven's Door:
Knockin' On Heaven's Door Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
G D Am G D C
Ooooo
G D Am G D C
Oooooo Ooooo
G D Am G D C
Ooooo
G D Am G D C
Oooooo Ooooo
[Verse 1]
G D Am
Mama take this badge off of me
G D C
I can't use it anymore
G D Am
It's getting dark, too dark to see
G D C
I feel I'm knockin on heaven's door
[Chorus]
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
[Verse 2]
G D Am
Mama put my guns in the ground
G D C
I can't shoot them anymore
G D Am
That long black cloud is comin' down
G D C
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Mama put my guns in the ground
G D C
I can't shoot them anymore
G D Am
That long black cloud is comin' down
G D C
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
[Chorus]
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D Am
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
[Outro]
G D Am G D C
Oooooo Ooooo (fade)
G D Am G D C
Oooooo Ooooo (fade)
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Knockin' On Heaven's Door Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
