Major view
G major
Brightness rank 2/7 (bright)
Characteristic notes
- 7 = F# (leading tone, pulls home)
- 4 = C (the note that leans on the 3rd)
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight - Chord
Key G major – E minor Chords C, D, G, D/F#, Em Difficulty already in its easiest key
No ratings yet
or your user informations
Make it yours
Text size
Key: G | Em
Capo: 0
G D/F# C D
G D/F# C D
It's late in the evening, she's wondering what clothes to wear.
G D/F# C D
She puts on her make-up, and brushes her long blond hair.
C D G D/F# Em
And then she asks me "Do I look all right?"
C D G
And I say "Yes, you look wonderful tonight!"
G D/F# C D
G D/F# C D
We'd go to party, and everyone turns to see
G D/F# C D
This beautiful lady, that's walking around with me.
C D G Em
And then she asks me: "Do you feel all right?"
C D G
And I say: "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight!"
C D G D/F# Em
I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes,
C D C D
And the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize,
G
How much I love you!
G D/F# C D
D/F# C D
It's time to go home now, and I've got an aching head
G D/F# C D
So I give her the carkeys, and she helps me to bed.
C D G D/F# Em
And then I tell her, as I turn off the light:
C D G D/F# Em
I say: "My darling, you are wonderful tonight!
C D G
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."
G D/F# C D
G
End of song Play again?
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight Tabs
NotesX
Harmony analysis
Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight: key and chord analysis
The song opens on G and ends on G. Its chords belong to both G major and Em, so every chord below is read both ways.
Minor view
E minor
Brightness rank 5/7 (leaning dark)
Characteristic notes
- b6 = C (the minor's melancholy)
- b7 = D (natural-minor colour)
Which side does the ear lean to?
Our reading: to us the song feels closer to the G major side because it both starts and finishes on G and G is heard 19 times against 5 for Em. That is an interpretation, not a rule — hearing the same chords from E minor is just as valid and teaches you something different.
Chord degrees: major and relative minor
Show the degrees above the chords — relative to G or to Em; comparing both readings is a practice of its own.
Every chord of the key, listed 1 to 7 separately for each key. Chords played in the song show how often they appear; chords from outside the scale sit next to their own degree.
| Degree | Chord | Role | Notes | In song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | G | Tonic — home | G · B · D | 19× |
| ii | Am | Supertonic — prepares the dominant | A · C · E | — |
| iii | Bm | Mediant — a tonic-family shade | B · D · F# | — |
| V/vi | B | Secondary dominant V/vi — leads to Emsecondary dominant | B · D# · F# | — |
| IV | C | Subdominant — moves away from home | C · E · G | 20× |
| V | D | Dominant — strongest pull home | D · F# · A | 20× |
| V | D/F# | Dominant — strongest pull home | D · F# · A | 14× |
| vi | Em | Relative minor — the melancholy side | E · G · B | 5× |
| vii° | F#dim | Leading-tone chord — tension | F# · A · C | — |
| Degree | Chord | Role | Notes | In song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Em | Tonic — home | E · G · B | 5× |
| ii° | F#dim | Supertonic — prepares the dominant | F# · A · C | — |
| III | G | Relative major — the bright side | G · B · D | 19× |
| iv | Am | Subdominant — moves away from home | A · C · E | — |
| v | Bm | Minor dominant — soft pull | B · D · F# | — |
| V | B | Dominant — borrowed from harmonic minor, pulls hard to the tonicharmonic minor | B · D# · F# | — |
| VI | C | Submediant — warm colour | C · E · G | 20× |
| VII | D | Subtonic — steps back to the tonic | D · F# · A | 20× |
| VII | D/F# | Subtonic — steps back to the tonic | D · F# · A | 14× |
Analysis
The key pair is G major and its relative E minor (1 sharp). 5 different chords appear 78 times in total; 5 of them sit naturally inside the shared scale. Everything stays inside one scale, which is why the song is easy to follow by ear.
Chord movement
- C D GIV → VIV → V EmVI → VIIVI → VII ×20
- D G GV → Iauthentic cadence EmVII → III ×15
- D/F# Em GV → videceptive cadence EmVII → iAeolian arrival ×4
The move to watch is C → D, heard 20 times. From the G side it reads IV → V (IV → V: the lift that builds tension before home); from the Em side it is VI → VII (VI → VII: the rising step that heads for the tonic). Knowing where these arrivals fall helps you feel the phrasing and anticipate the next chord.
Improvisation tips
- G major pentatonic and E minor pentatonic are the same five notes (G – A – B – D – E): start from G for a brighter phrase, from E for a bluesier one.
- Over C, land on C, E, G — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
- Over D, land on D, F#, A — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
- Over G, land on G, B, D — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
The song on the circle of fifths
- Played in the song — chord of the key
- Played — the minor's harmonic V or a secondary dominant
- Played — borrowed or outside chord
- Home region: IV–I–V and ii–vi–iii
Empty slices are chords the song doesn't use.
Capo and easier keys
With G major shapes
- No capo — open G shapes
- Capo 3 + E shapes
- Capo 5 + D shapes
With E minor shapes
- No capo — open Em shapes
- Capo 2 + Dm shapes
- Capo 7 + Am shapes
Easiest keys on guitar
The song is already written in its easiest key for guitar.
The song's harmonic story
Starting on G, the song gives away its key from the very first bar. The backbone is C, D, G, D/F# — IV–V–I–V from the G side, VI–VII–III–VII from the Em side. No chord leaves the shared scale, so a single pentatonic shape works over the whole song. Keep an ear on C → D (IV → V in G, VI → VII in Em): IV → V — the lift that builds tension before home. It closes on G, letting the G side have the last word.
This analysis is generated from the song's chords by akorculuk's harmony engine using consistent rules. When you change key, the degrees stay the same; only the chord names change.
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight Chords on Guitar, Ukulele and Piano
Hover over or tap a chord in the lyrics for its shapes, its degree in both keys and a listen button. Here you have every chord of the song side by side.
Repertoires with this song
Similar songs, ready to play: pick a list.
Report error for this content report.
All copyrights belong to their respective owners. If you think this content contains copyright infringement, please contact us.