Rocky Mountain High Chords & Guitar Lesson
Welcome to my Rock Mountain High guitar lesson. I will be showing you the chords and strumming patterns you can use to make this song playable even if you are just getting started.
The great thing about this song is it usually open chords. Now John probably throws in a few 7 chords here and there, but for this lesson we are going to keep it strictly to the open chords below.
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Rocky Mountain High Guitar Chords:
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH CHORD CHART
CAPO 2ND FRET
Rocky Mountain High Strumming Patterns:
Now if you watch John live, you will see that he is mostly likely doing a 16th note strumming patterns with lots of variations and embellishments.
16th Note Strumming Pattern:
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
DU DU DU DU DU DU DU DU
If you need an easier strumming pattern to get through this song:
Easier Strumming Pattern:
1 2 3+ 4 +
DD DU DU
If you know how to fingerpick and Travis pick, this song sound lovely with a bit of improvising.
Rocky Mountain High Guitar Lesson:
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Rocky Mountain High Chord Chart:
Intro:
D D Em |G A|
Verse:
D D Em |C A|
He was born in the summer, of his twenty seventh year;
D D Em |G A|
Coming home to a place he'd never been before
D D
He left yesterday behind him,
Em |C A|
you might say he was born again
D D Em |G A|
You might say he found a key for every door
Verse:
D D Em |C A|
When he first came to the mountains, his life was far away
D D Em |G A|
On the road and hanging by a song
D D Em |C A|
But the string's already broken, and he doesn't really care;
D D Em | G A|
It keeps changing fast, and it don't last for long
Chorus:
G A D D
But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
G A D D
I've seen it raining fire in the sky
G A | D - G A | G G G G
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lul la by
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
Verse:
D D Em |C A|
He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below;
D D Em |G A|
he saw everything as far as you can see
D D
And they say that he got crazy once,
Em |C A|
and he tried to touch the sun;
D D Em |C G|
And he lost a friend but kept the memory
Verse:
D D Em |C A|
Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forests and the streams;
D D Em |G A|
seeking grace in every step he takes
D D Em |C A|
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand;
D D Em |C G|
the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake
Chorus:
G A D D
And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
G A D D
I've seen it raining fire in the sky
G A |D - G A | G G G G
talk to God and listen to the casual re ply
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
Verse:
D D
Now his life is full of wonder,
Em |C A|
but his heart still knows some fear;
D D Em |C G|
of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
D D
Why they try to tear the mountains down,
Em |C A|
To bring in a couple more;
D D Em |C G|
more people, more scars upon the land
Chorus:
G A D D
And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
G A D D
I've seen it raining fire in the sky
G A |D - G A | G G G G
I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eag le fly
D D
Rocky Mountain high
G A D D
And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
G A D D
I've seen it raining fire in the sky
G A |D - G A | G G G G
Friends around the campfire and every body's high
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
D D Em |G A|
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.