So Long, Marianne (Leonard Cohen) Guitar Lesson with TAB

In this guitar lesson, you get a complete analysis and a full arrangement in TAB for this early Cohen classic!

So Long, Marianne | TAB

Before you start playing along with the original recording, tune sharp to 447Hz using my online guitar tuner. This way, you’ll be on the same frequency as Mr. Cohen himself.

So Long Marianne is in 6/8. The intro’s chords (later the instrumental section) find variations of the I chord in the key of A, like this:

| A A/E | Asus4 A |

Keep that alternating bass line in mind, as if you play this on your own, you may want to include this throughout. More on this later.

The first verse chords are I – II – IV – I. The second half starts with a chord outside the key: bVIIx – IV – VI – V.

| A | A | Bm | Bm |
| D | D | A | A |
| G | G | D | D |
| F#m | F#m | E | E |

The chorus doesn’t include any new chords, as it goes I – VI – V, like this:

| A | A | F#m | F#m |

| E | E | E | E |

As mentioned, on just one guitar, you may want to include that alternating bass line. This is best described using TAB.

Study the arrangement below; all bass notes have been considered carefully. Start with these, then explore other options.

So Long, Marianne TAB, one acoustic guitar arrangement.

So Long, Marianne TAB | Related Pages

So Long, Marianne | Chords + Lyrics

You can learn to play So Long, Marianne by Leonard Cohen using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.

| A | A | Bm | Bm |
Come over to the window, my little darling…

Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics

When you can play the TAB for So Long, Marianne, try these five tunes from the songbook.

Leonard Cohen tunes

Following a career as a novelist and poet for over a decade, Leonard Cohen released his debut album in 1967.

His best tunes include Suzanne, Bird on the Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, Chelsea Hotel #2, Hallelujah, Dance Me To The End Of Love, and So Long, Marianne.

Leonard Cohen on the web

About me | Dan Lundholm

Dan Lundholm wrote this guitar lesson and TAB So Long Marianne.

This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers So Long Marianne. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.

Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.