Bright Side Of The Road - Van Morrison | Song Tabs

Bright Side Of The Road Van Morrison

Van Morrison’s “Bright Side Of The Road” is an upbeat, soulful classic known for its lively rhythm and optimistic feel. The original features a swinging groove, prominent acoustic guitar, and a blend of R&B and folk influences, making it approachable for beginner guitarists.

## Chords
The song uses basic open chords: C, Em, F, G, Fmaj7, Fm, C7, D, and D7. Practice switching between C, Em, F, and G, as these form the backbone of the verses and intro.

## Strumming Pattern
Aim for a light, bouncy strum to match the original’s feel. A simple pattern such as
Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up
works well. Keep your strumming hand moving steadily for a relaxed, swinging groove.

## Chord Transitions
Transitioning from F to G and back to C is frequent. Practice these changes slowly, focusing on clean sounds. For the F chord, use the easy F (xx3211) if barre is challenging. The change from Fmaj7 (xx3210) to Fm (xx3111) in the bridge may need extra practice—move your index finger down one fret for Fm.

## Additional Tips
Let the chords ring and avoid heavy strumming; keep it light and rhythmic. During the bridge, slow down slightly for dramatic effect. For the harmonica section, play the chords as written to maintain momentum.

Enjoy playing and focus on keeping the groove steady—this is the heart of the song’s joyful vibe!

Fmaj7

Intro

C Em F G C F C G C

Verse 1

From theEm dark end of theF streetG C

To theEm bright side of theF roadG C

We'll beEm lovers once aF gain, on theG bright side of theC roadF C G C

Verse 2

LittleEm darlin' come withF meG C

Won't youEm help me share myF loadG C

From theEm dark end of theF street, to theG bright side of theC roadF C

Bridge

AndFmaj⁷ into this life we'reF bornFm

BabyC sometime, sometime we don't knowC⁷ whyF

And times seem to go by soFm fastD

In theD⁷ twinkling of anG eyeC

Verse 3

Let's enEm joy it while weF can, let'sG enjoy it while weC can

Won't youEm help me share myF load,G help me share myC load

From theEm dark end of theF street, to theG bright side of theC roadF C G

Harmonica

C Em F G C C F G C Em F G C F C F

Bridge

AndFmaj⁷ into this life we'reF bornFm

BabyC sometime, baby sometime we don't knowC⁷ whyF

And time seems to go by soFm fastD

In theD⁷ twinkling of anG eyeC

Verse 4

Let's enEm joy it while weF can, let'sG enjoy it while weC can

Em Help me sing myF song,G help me sing myC song

LittleEm darling come aF long, on theG bright side of theC roadF C G C

Outro

On theEm dark end of theF street, on theG dark end of theC street

To theEm bright side of theF road, to theG bright side of theC road

LittleEm darlin' come aF long, on theG bright side of theC roadF C G C