Song Tabs



The Eagles are known for their polished harmonies and accessible country-rock sound. "How Long" follows this tradition with straightforward chords and a laid-back groove, making it suitable for beginner guitarists.

Strumming Pattern:
A good pattern for this song is Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up for each chord. Keep a relaxed wrist and focus on a steady tempo to match the song’s easygoing feel. Beginners may start with simple downstrokes, especially during chord changes.

Chord Transitions:
The song uses basic open chords: G, C, D, Em, and A. These are all beginner-friendly. Practice switching between G and C, as this is a common transition throughout. Use your ring finger as a pivot (keeping it on the 3rd fret of the B string when possible) to make the C-G change smoother.

Techniques:

• For a more authentic sound, try to let the chords ring out and avoid muting strings accidentally.
• In the chorus, emphasize the "How long" phrase by playing slightly louder or accenting the first downstroke of each new chord.
• At the outro, slow down and strum softer to match the song’s winding down mood.

Tips:

• Play along with the Eagles' recording to internalize the rhythm.
• If barre chords are challenging (like the A in the outro), you can use the open A chord shape.
• Practice the chord order for each section so transitions become natural.

Enjoy playing and let the song’s groove guide your strumming!