Song Tabs

 The original version of "You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma" by David Frizzell & Shelly West is a classic country duet known for its storytelling and melodic simplicity. Understanding its relaxed, heartfelt style will help guide your approach to playing it.

Chord Progression and Transitions
This song uses basic open chords: C, F (and Fsus), G, D, and A. For beginners, use the F major as an Fmaj7 or a simplified barre (xx3211) if full barre chords are challenging. Fsus can be played as xx3311, just add your pinky to the 3rd fret of the G string.

The song modulates between C and G keys. Pay attention to sections where you switch from C/F/G to G/C/D/A; practice these transitions slowly. Use anchor fingers (fingers that stay on the same string/fret across chords) to make changes smoother.

Strumming Pattern
A simple country strumming pattern works best:
Down-down-up-up-down-up
Keep your wrist loose and let the pattern flow naturally. Emphasize the second and fourth beats for a country feel.

Tips
Start slow. Play along with the original recording to get the tempo and feel. Count in 4/4 time. Use a capo if you want to match the original pitch without difficult chords. If you’re singing along, focus on keeping the rhythm steady rather than playing fancy fills.

With regular practice, the chord transitions and strumming will become smoother and more automatic.