[Intro]
| G | G | Cadd9 | Cadd9 |
G Cadd9
Back then, right now
[Verse 1]
G
Back when that blacktop was just a gravel road
Cadd9
Back when that Walmart was just a fishin' hole
G Cadd9
Back when my ol' guitar had some brand-new strings
Cadd9
Yes, it did
G
Back when a work truck was just a stick shift
Cadd9
Back when you took a pic and didn't have to post it
G Cadd9
Back when a Baptist church was where we learned to sing
Cadd9
Yeah, we did
[Chorus]
G
I could use some back then, right now
Cadd9
'98 Chevy with the tailgate down
Am7 G
FM only with the gold up loud
Cadd9
Burnin' up the night, innocent and wild
Am7 G
I could use a little more wide-open
Cadd9
Back when all I wanted was the hand I was holdin'
Am7 G
Livin' in the moment with the good-time crowd
G
Makin' life count
Cadd9
Damn, I could use a little more
Am7 G
Back then, right now
Cadd9 Am7
Back then, right now
[Verse 2]
G
Back when a, "How ya been?" came through a phone call
Cadd9
Back when a pastime was watchin' baseball
G
Yeah, back when politics, it wasn't table talk
Cadd9
Back when you had a fight, you could just walk it off
[Chorus]
G
I could use some back then, right now
Cadd9
'98 Chevy with the tailgate down
Am7 G
FM only with the gold up loud
Cadd9
Burnin' up the night, innocent and wild
Am7 G
I could use a little more wide-open
Cadd9
Back when all I wanted was the hand I was holdin'
Am7 G
Livin' in the moment with the good-time crowd
G
Makin' life count
Cadd9
Damn, I could use a little more
Am7 G
Back then, right now
Cadd9 Am7
Back then, right now
[Bridge]
G Cadd9 Am7
Back then, it was simple, it was slow
G Cadd9
We didn't worry 'bout what we didn't know
[Chorus]
G
I could use some back then, right now
Cadd9
'98 Chevy with the tailgate down
Am7 G
FM only with the gold up loud
Cadd9
Burnin' up the night, innocent and wild
Am7 G
I could use a little more wide-open
Cadd9
Back when all I wanted was the hand I was holdin'
Am7 G
Livin' in the moment with the good-time crowd
G
Makin' life count
Cadd9
Damn, I could use a little more
Am7 G
Back then, right now
[Outro]
Cadd9
Back then, back then, back then, right now
G
Yeah, back then, right now
Cadd9
Back then, back then, back then right now
N.C.
Just a little more back then now
How to play "Back Then Right Now" on guitar by Tyler Hubbard
Guitar Lesson:
[Intro]
The song starts with a repeating pattern in the intro:
| G | G | Cadd9 | Cadd9 |
The chords used here are:
G major: 320003
Cadd9: x32033
Play each chord for one measure, focusing on a steady rhythm,
preferably a mix of down and up strums to give it a relaxed feel.
[Verse 1]
For the verse, the chord progression is a simple alternation between G and Cadd9:
G
"Back when that blacktop was just a gravel road"
Cadd9
"Back when that Walmart was just a fishin' hole"
Maintain a relaxed strumming pattern here, focusing on accentuating the
first beat of each measure to drive the narrative of the lyrics forward.
[Chorus]
In the chorus, we introduce Am7 alongside G and Cadd9. The chord Am7 adds a
softer, more melodic touch to the progression:
G
"I could use some back then, right now"
Cadd9
"'98 Chevy with the tailgate down"
Am7 G
"FM only with the gold up loud"
Here, emphasize a mix of strumming patterns to keep the energy up. This part of
the song is more dynamic, so a blend of louder and softer strums can be effective.
[Bridge]
G Cadd9 Am7
"Back then, it was simple, it was slow"
The bridge slows down slightly, using the same chords but with more emphasis
on the lyrical message. Maintain a softer strumming pattern to reflect the
nostalgic tone of the lyrics.
General Tips:
- Ensure your guitar is tuned to standard tuning before playing.
- Practice transitioning smoothly between the chords, especially where the pace
of the song increases.
- Listen to the original track to get a feel for the rhythm and dynamics of the
song, particularly how the strumming pattern fits with the lyrics.
Common Mistakes:
- Rushing through the chord transitions without properly timing them to the lyrics.
- Not varying strumming dynamics where the song's emotional tone changes.
Lyrics Meaning:
The song "Back Then Right Now" by Tyler Hubbard reminisces about simpler,
happier past times contrasted against today's complex world, expressing a
longing to return to those uncomplicated days.