How to play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Enduring classic, Landslide by Fleetwood Mac seems more popular than ever in the 2020s. The 1975 original, from the self-titled Fleetwood Mac album was a popular album track but wasn’t a single at the time. Landslide gained new audiences in the mid-’90s via a cover by The Smashing Pumpkins, and was boosted further by the popular Dixie Chicks 2002 version. This poignant ballad has since become one of the Mac’s most recognisable songs and this chart in C is perfect for fingerstyle players of all acoustic guitars, steel or nylon-strings.
Genre: Acoustic Pop/Country
Chords: C G/B Am7 D7/F# G Em
Do I need a capo? The original version of Landslide is in B♭ Major ; as written here with a capo at the 3rd fret. The Smashing Pumpkins version is likewise but with a more country/folk style picking pattern, and the 2022 Josh Tatofi version is in the same key but with a catchy light reggae feel underneath. Use this chart with a capo at the 7th fret to create the G Major Dixie Chicks version or, if you need a lower key to suit your own vocal, try it in open position (C Major) or 2nd fret (D Major).
Picking style: This chart is written for finger picking on acoustic guitar. It suits both steel and nylon string instruments. The picking fingers are designated as p = thumb, i = index finger, m = middle finger, a = ring finger.
Why is this chart in notes? OMG, no TAB! Relax - the notes perfectly display the arpeggio pattern of each chord. Notice how the chord boxes all describe a four-note chord shape; the notes simply show the finger-picking pattern from lowest to highest note and back. Follow the p i m a m i pattern on each chord and it will work!
Can it work on electric guitar? Whilst this chart is intended for acoustic guitar, as per the original recording, it can work on electric guitar but the thin strings are not ideal for finger picking; finger picking needs stronger strings to create a full tone. It could be adapted to hybrid-picking style ; pick + middle and ring fingers.
Relevant pages in Modern Guitar Fingerstyle 1 : To learn more about the chords and finger picking in Imagine go to pages 8, 12-13, 17-19 and 45 in MGCS1. For a detailed course in finger picking and fingerstyle arpeggio patterns check out the very useful Modern Guitar Fingerstyle 1.
Need a bit of help?
Modern Guitar Fingerstyle 1 is the perfect companion for our fingerpicking song guides- it is specifically designed to help beginners develop finger independence, tone and articulation, helping guitarists master their fingerpicking abilities!
