How to play "Starting Over" Chords on acoustic guitar
Welcome to this Guitar Lesson. We will match the record’s feel and shapes, then
offer easy swaps. You will learn the G–Gadd11 push, the Cmaj7 color, and the
walks that glue the chorus. This Tutorial keeps the pulse steady and the tone
warm, with options to sing it in your range.
Chris Stapleton is playing the 'Starting Over' tabs / chords in the
music video.
Key: Bb major on the record. Capo: put capo
3 and play G shapes to match the studio key. Tuning: standard.
Difficulty: intermediate. Tempo: ~89 bpm in
4/4 (often felt as 178 with a brisk strum).
Chords used
Core shapes with friendly alternates. Shapes shown without capo;
add capo 3 to match the record.
G (320003 or 320033)
Gadd11 (320013) toggle from G by adding B string 1st fret
Cmaj7 (x32000) easy color against G
C (x32010) classic voicing
D (xx0232) anchor the backbeat
Dsus2 (xx0230) lift index for air
Em7 (022033) shares fingers with G family
D/F# (200232) thumb-over bass; alt is 2x0232 with muted A
Cadd9 (x32033) smooth link from G
Am (x02210)
Em (022000)
Strumming pattern
Keep the forearm loose; let the lyric sit on top of the groove.
Main groove (one bar of 4/4): D D U U D U. Count “1-& 2-&
3-& 4-&”. To match the record’s push, ride continuous eighths with light wrist
motion and small accents on 2 and 4. If you prefer a busier feel, double-time
your hand but keep the chord hits relaxed.
Sections breakdown
Play with capo 3 to sound in Bb while using G-family shapes.
Intro: G Gadd11 G Gadd11 | Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
(repeat). Let the top strings ring while toggling the B string 1↔0 on G.
Verse:
G Gadd11 G | Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 | D Dsus2 | Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 |
G Gadd11 G | Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 | D Dsus2 | C Cmaj7 C
Chorus:
Em7 D/F# G | Cadd9 D/F# G |
Em7 D/F# G | Cadd9 D/F# G |
D/F# | Cadd9 | G Gadd11 G Gadd11 | Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
Bridge: Am | Em | G | G |
Am | Em | D | Dsus2 Dsus2 Dsus2
Outro: cycle the Intro figure; end on a soft G.
How to play: step by step
Tools: acoustic guitar, pick, tuner, metronome
Supplies: capo
TotalTime: about 20 minutes to feel comfortable with the flow
Capo 3. Strum muted strings for 30 seconds at 89 bpm to lock time before
adding chords. Keep your motion small and steady.
Learn the G ↔ Gadd11 toggle: from G (320033), drop index to B1
for Gadd11 (320013), then lift. Keep the high E ringing.
Shape the Cmaj7: fret x32000 and let open G and high E ring for
shimmer. Slide between Cmaj7 and C to underline phrases.
Chorus bass walk: treat D/F# as a passing chord. Thumb the low F#
(E2). Keep the A string muted if you do not fret it cleanly.
Bridge contrast: drop strum volume by half on Am and Em, then swell into D
and let Dsus2 breathe before the last chorus.
Polish: record your strum for one verse; check if 2 and 4 feel late. If so
lighten your grip, reduce pick travel, and lean into the click.
Signature intro figure (capo 3, play as written)
G Gadd11 toggle, then to Cmaj7
e|--3-----3-----3-----3-----|--0-----0-----0-----0--|
B|--0--1--0--1--0--1--0--1--|--0--1--1--0--1--0--1--|
G|--0-----0-----0-----0-----|--0-----0-----0-----0--|
D|--0-----0-----0-----0-----|--2-----2-----2-----2--|
A|--2-----2-----2-----2-----|--3-----3-----3-----3--|
E|--3-----3-----3-----3-----|-----------------------|
keep the right hand moving let open strings sing
Common mistakes
Softer right hand, clearer left-hand lifts. Let the lyric lead.
Over-hitting the upstrokes. Keep ups light so the vocal stays on
top.
Messy D/F#. If the bass is boomy, mute the A string with your
ring finger pad or use 2x0232.
Forgetting the capo. Without capo 3 you will be in G concert, not
Bb like the record.
Flat dynamics. Drop to half-volume for the bridge and the first
line of each verse; then bloom into the chorus.
General tips
Touch is tone. Pick nearer the neck on verses and inch back toward the bridge
for choruses. Keep fretting pressure just firm enough to ring; excess squeeze
kills sustain. For duet singing, have the harmony take the 3rd on “It do not
matter to me” and resolve unison on “be.” Build a two-bar loop of
G–Gadd11–G–Gadd11 | Cmaj7–C–Cmaj7–C and play it for three minutes to settle the
feel before tackling lyrics.
Song Facts:
“Starting Over” is the lead single and title track from Chris Stapleton’s 2020
album. The single arrived on August 28, 2020, with the album following on
November 13, 2020. Stapleton co-wrote the song with Mike Henderson and produced
the recording with Dave Cobb. The track’s arrangement is stripped and intimate:
acoustic guitar, brushed snare, a gentle shaker, and tasteful organ textures,
with Stapleton’s voice foregrounded. The album Starting Over later won
Best Country Album at the 64th Grammy Awards, with additional Grammys that
night for songs from the project. On release, coverage highlighted the theme of
resetting after hard seasons, reading the song as a steadying hand for a shaken
year. The official video presents Stapleton and band in a relaxed, live-off-the
-floor setting, underscoring the record’s “no frills” approach. The studio key
lands in Bb major, and charts list the tempo near 89 bpm, though many players
count it as a brisk 178 to match the strum hand’s motion.
Song meaning
The lyric is a gentle dare: leave the safe rut, embrace risk, and rebuild
together. Verses map the miles and worries; the chorus reframes it with
partnership. The bridge admits the hard road and pays it off with resolve.
Musically, bright open chords and the G↔Gadd11 toggle make optimism audible.
Play it with a hopeful lift on bar four of each chorus to sell the turn.
Comparisons to previous works:
Where “Tennessee Whiskey” lounges in a slow 12/8 sway, “Starting Over” steps
into a breezier, roots-folk lane. The acoustic-forward mix and conversational
melody echo the warmth of “Traveller,” but the lyric points forward rather than
inward. Across the album, that blend—earthy textures, plainspoken hooks, and
Dave Cobb’s room-first production—keeps the song feeling immediate and
road-ready.
On-page FAQ
What tuning and capo match the record?
Standard tuning with capo 3. Play G-family shapes to sound in Bb.
What is a simple strum that fits?
Down Down Up Up Down Up at ~89 bpm. Keep accents on 2 and 4.
How do I play Gadd11 cleanly?
From G (320033) drop index to B1 for Gadd11 (320013). Lift smoothly.
Is D/F# required in the chorus?
It glues the bass line. If tricky, use plain D or 2x0232 as a pass.
How do I sing and strum without rushing?
Loop the Intro figure for two minutes, then add lyrics on beat 1 only.
Grow the phrasing after it feels automatic.
==================================================================
[Intro]
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
[Verse 1]
G Gadd11 G
The road rolls out like a welcome mat
C Cmaj7 C
To a better place than the one we're at
D Dsus2
And i ain't got no kinda plan
C Cmaj7 C
I've had all of this town I can stand
G Gadd11 G
I got friends out on the coast
C Cmaj7 C
We can jump in the water and see what floats
D Dsus2
We've been saving for a rainy day
C Cmaj7 C
Let's beat the storm and be on our way
[Chorus]
Em D/F# G
It don't matter to me
Cadd9 D/F# G
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
Em D/F# G
And Honey, for once in our life
Cadd9 D/F# G
Let's take our chances and roll the dice
D/F# Cadd9
I can be your lucky penny, you can be my four-leaf clover
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
Starting over
[Verse 2]
G Gadd11 G
This might not be an easy time
C Cmaj7 C
There's rivers to cross and hills to climb
D Dsus2
Some days we might fall apart
C Cmaj7 C
And some nights might feel cold and dark
G Gadd11 G
Nobody wins afraid of losing
C Cmaj7 C
And the hard roads are the ones worth choosing
D Dsus2
Some days we'll look back and smile
C Cmaj7 C
And know it was worth every mile
[Chorus]
Em D/F# G
It don't matter to me
Cadd9 D/F# G
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
Em D/F# G
And Honey, for once in our life
Cadd9 D/F# G
Let's take our chances and roll the dice
D/F# Cadd9
I can be your lucky penny, you can be my four-leaf clover
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C
Starting over
[Bridge]
Am Em G
Am Em G
G
[Chorus]
Em D/F# G
It don't matter to me
Cadd9 D/F# G
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
Em D/F# G
And Honey, for once in our life
Cadd9 D/F# G
Let's take our chances and roll the dice
D/F# Cadd9
I can be your lucky penny, you can be my four-leaf clover
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
Starting over
[Outro]
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
G Gadd11 G Gadd11 Cmaj7 C Cmaj7 C
G
