[Intro]
G Dadd11 D (F#)
e|| --------------------------------- ||---------------------------------|
B|| -0h3---3-------2-------0--------- ||-----------3---------------------|
G||.-----------0-------0-------0-----.||-----0h2-------2-----------------|
D||.-----0-------0-------0-------0---.||---------------------------------|
A|| --------------------------------- ||---------------------------------|
D|| -5------------------------------- ||-0-----------------------0h4-----|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
G
e|| ---------------------------------
B|| -0h3---3-------2-------0---------
G||.-----------0-------0-------0-----.
D||.-----0-------0-------0-------0---.
A|| ---------------------------------
D|| -5-------------------------------
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Dadd11 D
||---------------------------------|--
||-----------3-------3-------------|--
||-----0h2-------2-------2---------|--
||---------------------------------|--
||---------------------------------|-0
||-0-------------------------------|--
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1
A D/A A
-------------------------------|
---2h3-----3p2-2-----2---------|
---2-----2-----2---2-----------|
---2h4-----4p2-2---------------|
-------------------------------|
-------------------------------|
e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
[Verse 1]
G
Lately things are on my mind
G Dadd11 D (F#)
Good news is hard to find
G
And I work on the factory line
G Dadd11 D A D/A A
And all I do is stay behind
G
Call my mama like I should
G Dadd11 D (F#)
She says daddy ain't doing too good
G
Me and him should wet a line
G Dadd11 D A D/A A
Just can't seem to find the time
[Chorus 1]
G A D
But I love my life
G A D
Man it's something to see
G D A D/A A
It's the kids and the dogs and you and me
G A D
It's the way it's alright
G A Bm7
Everything goes wrong
G A
It's a sound of a slow simple song
[Instrumental]
G Dadd11 D (F#)
e|| --------------------------------- ||---------------------------------|
B|| -0h3---3-------2-------0--------- ||-----------3---------------------|
G||.-----------0-------0-------0-----.||-----0h2-------2-----------------|
D||.-----0-------0-------0-------0---.||---------------------------------|
A|| --------------------------------- ||---------------------------------|
D|| -5------------------------------- ||-0-----------------------0h4-----|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
G
e|| ---------------------------------
B|| -0h3---3-------2-------0---------
G||.-----------0-------0-------0-----.
D||.-----0-------0-------0-------0---.
A|| ---------------------------------
D|| -5-------------------------------
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Dadd11 D
||---------------------------------|--
||-----------3-------3-------------|--
||-----0h2-------2-------2---------|--
||---------------------------------|--
||---------------------------------|-0
||-0-------------------------------|--
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1
A D/A A
-------------------------------|
---2h3-----3p2-2-----2---------|
---2-----2-----2---2-----------|
---2h4-----4p2-2---------------|
-------------------------------|
-------------------------------|
e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
[Verse 2]
G
Finally saved some money up
G Dadd11 D
'Til I had to fix my truck
G
Tryna quit these cigarettes
G Dadd11 D A D/A A
I can't seem to kick em yet
G
Talked to brother the other day
G Dadd11 D
He didn't have too much to say
G
Sister got laid off last fall
G Dadd11 D A D/A A
And I got high cholesterol
[Chorus 2]
G A D
But I love my life
G A D
Man it's something to see
G D A D/A A
It's the kids and the dogs and you and me
G A D
It's the way it's alright
G A Bm7
Everything goes wrong
G A Dadd11 D
It's a sound of a slow simple song
[Chorus 3]
G A D
Yeah I love my life
G A D
Man it's something to see
G D A D/A A
It's the kids and the dogs and you and me
G A D
It's the way it's alright
G A Bm7
Everything goes wrong
G A
It's the sound of a slow, simple song
[Outro]
G D
e|| --------------------------------- ||-2-------------------------------|
B|| -0h3---3-------2-------0--------- ||-3-------------------------------|
G||.-----------0-------0-------0-----.||-2-------------------------------|
D||.-----0-------0-------0-------0---.||-0-------------------------------|
A|| --------------------------------- ||-0-------------------------------|
D|| -5------------------------------- ||-0-------------------------------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
************************************
| x Dead note
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
How to play "A Simple Song" Tabs on acoustic guitar
Welcome to this Guitar Lesson. We will learn the ACM Awards live version played
in drop D with a capo on the 3rd fret. I will show an easy strum, the signature
intro, clean chord switches, and how to keep that steady 77 bpm country pulse.
This Tutorial keeps things beginner-safe while honoring the feel of the record.
Chris Stapleton is playing the 'A Simple Song' tabs / chords in the
music video.
Key: Concert F major (with drop D + capo 3 it lines up to the
studio key). Capo: 3rd fret. Difficulty:
Easy–intermediate. Tempo: ~77 bpm, 4/4, steady feel.
Chords used
Core shapes with drop D bass; keep the low string ringing.
All shapes are written relative to drop D (D A D G B E), then place your capo
on fret 3. Let the low 6th string drone when on G or D-family shapes.
G (500003)
Dadd11 (0x0032)
D (0x0232)
D/A (x0423x)
A (x02220) simple alternate (x0222x)
Bm7 (x24232) easy alternate (x20202, muted 1st)
Walking bass note F# on 6th string, 4th fret (in drop D)
Strumming pattern
Use a relaxed, even right hand; accent the bass.
Beginner-safe pattern: D D U U D U per bar. Count it
“1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&” and keep your wrist loose. Aim tiny accents on beat 1
(bass) and beat 3 (light brush). For the live feel, mix this with light
fingerpicking and bass drones; do not over-strum. The song sits around 77 bpm,
so give the groove space and resist rushing. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Sections breakdown
Think two ideas: the droning low string in drop D, and the hammer-on movement
inside Dadd11 to D and A to D/A. Keep fingers close to the strings for quiet,
confident changes.
Intro (fingerpicked motif): G for a bar, then
Dadd11 → D with a quick F# walk, then A → D/A → A. Let bass notes ring.
Verse: G | G | Dadd11 D (F# walk) | G |
G | Dadd11 D (F# walk) | G | Dadd11 D A D/A A
Chorus: G A D | G A D | G D | A D/A A |
G A D | G A Bm7 | G A (tag)
Outro: Return to intro feel, then land on open D chord.
Signature intro (live at the ACMs)
Play with a steady thumb on the low string and light melody hammers and pulls.
Let the first measure of each line repeat. Keep the walking F# clean.
e||----------------------------------||----------------------------------|
B||-0h3---3-------2-------0----------||-----------3----------------------|
G||-----------0-------0-------0------||-----0h2-------2------------------|
D||-----0-------0-------0-------0----||----------------------------------|
A||-----------------------------------||----------------------------------|
D||-5---------------------------------||-0-----------------------0h4------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
e||----------------------------------
B||-0h3---3-------2-------0----------
G||-----------0-------0-------0------.
D||-----0-------0-------0-------0----.
A||-----------------------------------
D||-5---------------------------------
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Dadd11 D
||----------------------------------|--
||-----------3-------3--------------|--
||-----0h2-------2-------2----------|--
||----------------------------------|--
||----------------------------------|-0
||-0--------------------------------|--
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1
A D/A A
-------------------------------|
---2h3-----3p2-2-----2---------|
---2-----2-----2---2-----------|
---2h4-----4p2-2---------------|
-------------------------------|
-------------------------------|
e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
How to play: step by step
Tools: acoustic guitar, pick, tuner, metronome
Supplies: capo
Total time: about 15 minutes to learn the core groove
Tune to drop D (D A D G B E). Place capo on the 3rd fret to match the live
cut and the studio key center. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Freight-train thumb: pluck the low string on beats 1 and 3. Keep the pick
angle shallow for a round tone.
Hammer-on moves: in Dadd11 to D, let the open top string ring while the
middle finger hammers from 2 to 3 on the B string, then relax back. Same idea
from A to D/A with a quick 4–2 pull on the D string.
Lay in the strum (D D U U D U). Start softly and add bass accents. Loop
one bar until it feels automatic. Tempo target: ~77 bpm. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Assemble the verse: G for two bars, then the Dadd11→D move with the clean
F# walk, then back to G. Keep transitions legato, no gaps.
Chorus lift: widen your strum on G and A, then settle on D. On Bm7 use the
x24232 grip; mute the 6th string if it booms.
Finish: reprise the intro figure and land on D. Let it ring.
Common mistakes
Avoid rushing and heavy-handed strums; the feel is unhurried.
Too much attack on the strum. This song breathes; lighten your
touch so the melody notes speak.
Muddy bass walk. Keep the F# walk staccato against the ringing D
drone so it reads clearly.
Over-fretting Dadd11. Relax pressure; let open strings carry the
shimmer while the hammers provide motion.
Tuning: drop D with capo on 3. Keep the low string slightly detuned if your
attack is heavy, then check with a tuner after a few minutes of playing.
Voicings: favor open strings. On G (500003), plant pinky on the top string
to keep the chime while the bass drones. On Bm7, use a light barre and stop the
6th string with the thumb if needed.
Tone: a medium pick works well. Angle the pick and pick closer to the neck
for a warmer verse; move toward the bridge for the chorus.
Practice loop: run 4 bars of G, then 2 bars of Dadd11→D with the F# walk, then
A→D/A→A once, repeat. Add the intro figure between loops to build endurance.
Song Facts:
“A Simple Song” appears on Chris Stapleton’s 2017 album “From A Room:
Volume 2,” recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville. The tune was co-written with
Darrell Hayes, Stapleton’s father-in-law. On release, the album extended
Stapleton’s critical and commercial run, helping him occupy the top Country
Albums spots alongside his other titles. The track itself is unflashy by design,
sitting mid-tempo in F major at around 77 bpm, leaning on a relaxed pocket and
plainspoken melody. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Stapleton has said the song sprang from real conversations about everyday
life’s pressures and the solace of family—health scares, tight money, time
squeeze—countered by gratitude for home. That authenticity is why the lyric
lands; it reads like a note to self set to a porch-time groove. He performed it
at the 54th ACM Awards in 2019, using the same drop D, capo-3 approach and a
gentle fingerpicked intro, which we mirror in this lesson. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Song meaning
Whole-song: it catalogs the week’s worries and then flips the frame—love,
kids, dogs, and a partner make the mess feel worthwhile. The music echoes that
move: verse textures stay small and close, chorus widens and brightens.
Verse notes: list-like lines ride a droning bass; the arrangement keeps you
near the narrator’s headspace. Chorus notes: harmony shifts to G–A–D for a lift,
underscoring the gratitude refrain. Bridge or tag moments keep the groove steady
rather than dramatic; the message is the mood.
Comparisons to previous works:
Compared to the grit of “Midnight Train to Memphis” or the somber weight of
“Drunkard’s Prayer,” “A Simple Song” offers warmth and domestic steadiness.
Critical writeups on the twin 2017 releases noted how these tracks balance his
catalog—where road-worn themes sit alongside family-forward gratitude—while the
arrangements stay lean and live-sounding. That contrast helps the quiet songs
hit just as hard as the barn-burners. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
On-page FAQ
What tuning and capo match the live performance?
Drop D (D A D G B E) with a capo on the 3rd fret.
What is a simple strum that still fits?
Use D D U U D U at ~77 bpm; keep light accents on beats 1 and 3.
How do I get the intro to sound right?
Let the low string drone, keep the melody hammers crisp, and repeat the
first bar before moving on.
What chords are in the chorus?
G A D | G A D | G D | A D/A A, then G A D | G A Bm7 | G A (tag).
Is there a quick practice loop?
Yes: 4 bars G, 2 bars Dadd11→D with F# walk, then A→D/A→A, repeat.
