Tears in Heaven Chords: Eric Clapton

"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton, written in 1992, is the song that taught a generation of acoustic players what Travis picking sounds like in a popular hit. The chord progression walks through the key of A major with descending bass lines that give the song its emotional arc. The picking pattern is approachable for an intermediate player.

The Chords

• A major
• E/G# (E major with G# in the bass; thumb wrap)
• F#m
• F#m/E
• D major
• D/F#
• E major
• A/E
• Bm7
• C#m (or C#m/G#)

The verse: A-E/G#-F#m-F#m/E-D-A/C#-Bm7-E. The descending bass line is A-G#-F#-E-D-C#-B-E, walking down most of the scale.

The Travis Picking Pattern

The thumb plays an alternating bass on beats 1 and 3 (sometimes 1, 2, 3, 4 for half-time feel). The fingers play the melody on the upper strings.

For the A chord:

• Beat 1: thumb on the 5th string (A)
• Beat 1.5: index on the 3rd string
• Beat 2: middle on the 2nd string
• Beat 2.5: index on the 3rd string
• Beat 3: thumb on the 4th string (or alternate to a different bass)
• Continue similarly for beats 3.5, 4, 4.5

For each new chord, the bass note moves to whichever low string holds that chord's root. The fingers above adjust slightly but the pattern stays similar.

The Descending Bass Line

The verse's signature feature is the bass walking down: A-G#-F#-E-D-C#-B. Each chord change drops the bass by one scale step. This is what creates the song's emotional gravity. The chords on top change less than the bass does.

If you can't manage the slash chords with the thumb wrap, simplify by playing the basic chord (A, E, F#m, D) and letting the bass line happen naturally through your thumb's bass-note choices.

Common Mistakes

• Thumb too loud. The bass should be balanced with the fingers, not louder.
• Skipping the bass-line walk. The descending bass is what makes the song work. If you simplify all the slash chords to plain chords, the song loses its arc.
• Tempo rushing. About 80 BPM. Slow.

FAQ: Tears in Heaven Questions

What key is "Tears in Heaven" in?

A major. No capo needed in most arrangements.

Is "Tears in Heaven" hard for beginners?

The chord palette is intermediate. The Travis picking is intermediate. The slash chords with thumb wraps are intermediate. Not a beginner song. Plan for two months of dedicated practice.

Do I need to use a thumb wrap?

For the slash chords with bass notes on the 6th string (E/G#, A/G#), yes. Without the thumb wrap, you can't play the bass line as written.

What's the picking pattern?

Travis picking. Thumb alternates on the bass strings while the fingers play the melody on the upper strings.

How do I learn the song?

Start with the chord shapes alone. Strum through the verse a hundred times until the changes are automatic. Then add the Travis picking pattern with simple chords. Then add the slash-chord bass line. Three layers, learned one at a time.