The Tide Is High by John Holt
Key: G# · 83 BPM · 4/4
The Tide Is High by John Holt is written in Ab major. Its chords cycle through the I-IV-V progression — classic resolving progression (1-4-5): Ab-Db-Eb. At 83 BPM, it moves at a relaxed, mid-tempo pace.
The progression
This song follows the I-IV-V progression (Classic resolving progression (1-4-5)) in Ab major. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.
Play it in other keys
| Capo | Shape key | Chords to play |
|---|---|---|
| Capo 1 | G | G-C-D |
| Capo 4 | E | E-A-B |
| Capo 6 | D | D-G-A |
Chord chart
- 0:01 Ab
- 0:04 Db
- 0:06 Eb
- 0:07 Ab
- 0:10 Db
- 0:11 Eb
- 0:13 Ab
- 0:16 Db
- 0:17 Eb
- 0:19 Ab
- 0:22 Db
- 0:23 Eb
- 0:24 Ab
- 0:27 Db
- 0:29 Eb
- 0:30 Ab
- 0:33 Db
- 0:35 Eb
- 0:36 Ab
- 0:39 Db
- 0:40 Eb
- 0:42 Ab
- 0:45 Db
- 0:46 Eb
- 0:48 Ab
- 0:50 Db
- 0:52 Eb
- 0:53 Ab
- 0:56 Db
- 0:58 Eb
- 0:59 Ab
- 1:02 Db
- 1:03 Eb
- 1:05 Ab
- 1:08 Db
- 1:09 Eb
- 1:11 Db
- 1:14 Eb
- 1:16 Db
- 1:19 Eb
- 1:22 Ab
- 1:25 Db
- 1:26 Eb
- 1:28 Ab
- 1:31 Db
- 1:32 Eb
- 1:33 Ab
- 1:36 Db
- 1:38 Eb
- 1:39 Ab
- 1:42 Db
- 1:43 Eb
- 1:45 Ab
- 1:48 Db
- 1:49 Eb
- 1:50 Ab
- 1:53 Db
- 1:55 Eb
- 1:56 Ab
- 1:59 Db
- 2:01 Eb
- 2:02 Ab
- 2:05 Db
- 2:06 Eb
- 2:08 Ab
- 2:11 Db
- 2:12 Eb
- 2:13 Ab
- 2:16 Db
- 2:18 Eb
- 2:19 Ab
- 2:22 Db
- 2:23 Eb
- 2:25 Ab
- 2:28 Db
- 2:29 Eb
- 2:31 Ab
- 2:33 Db
- 2:35 Eb
- 2:36 Ab
- 2:39 Db
- 2:40 Eb
- 2:42 Ab
- 2:45 Db
- 2:46 Eb
- 2:47 Ab
Frequently asked questions
What key is The Tide Is High in?
The Tide Is High is in Ab major.
What chords does The Tide Is High use?
The core of The Tide Is High cycles through Ab, Db, Eb (3 chords).
What is the tempo of The Tide Is High?
The Tide Is High runs at 83 BPM in 4/4 time.
What chord progression does The Tide Is High use?
The Tide Is High follows the I-IV-V progression. It's a classic resolving progression (1-4-5).
What capo should I use for The Tide Is High?
Capo 1 and play G major shapes — that gets you open chords instead of barring in Ab major.