Song · Bobby Womack

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) by Bobby Womack

Soul1972IntermediateBarre chords7th chords🎸 Interactive

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) by Bobby Womack runs at 130 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of E major. It is built on 6 chords — A, E, B, B7, Amaj7, E7. Released in 1972.

✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) — Bobby Womack
Tempo 130 or 65 half-time
Key E major verified
Time 4/4 signature
Length 3:10 runtime
Released 1972 Soul
Chords 6 shapes below
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🎚 Tuning: This recording sits about 13 cents flat of concert pitch (A=436.7Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.
🎸 Tap a chord to hear it Every shape in this song, on a real fretboard.

What to watch for

At least one shape here is a full barre — one finger pressing all six strings, no open strings to lean on. Fret it unplugged first; if a string buzzes, it's the barre, not the chord. Listen for the 7th in these chords — it's the note doing most of the harmonic pull, and it's the first thing that disappears if you fret only the plain triad underneath it.

Practice at the right tempo

This song sits at 130 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.

🥁 Metronome 130 BPM · 100%

Learn the theory

Music TheoryThe Major Scale Music TheoryMajor 7, Minor 7 & Dominant 7

Play it on a live fretboard

Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.

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Keep playing

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Frequently asked questions

What key is Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) in?

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) is in E major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.

What tempo is Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)?

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) runs at 130 BPM (or 65 half-time).

What chords does Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) use?

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) is built on 6 chords: A, E, B, B7, Amaj7, E7.

Does Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) need barre chords?

Yes — at least one shape is a full barre (one finger across all six strings). Everything else on the page is a standard open shape.

What tuning is Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) in?

This recording sits about 13 cents flat of concert pitch (A=436.7Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.