"Wildflowers" by Tom Petty is a wicked acoustic guitar song.

I'm a Tom Petty fan, and Wildflowers has been super present in my playlist lately – it has lovely embellishments, a great strumming pattern, and loads of cool guitar to explore. I hope you enjoy playing this song as much as me. :)

☺️ I feel a bit weird about this video because I'd just got a new tattoo when I recorded it. Don't worry - I won't make that tank top a habit! #lmao

Now grab your acoustic, put your capo on 5, and let's get stuck into Wildflowers!

Wildflowers by Tom Petty: Guitar Chords

The majority of Wildflowers by Tom Petty is based around four simple chords, with two extra chords in the bridge. And some simple chord embellishments will make you sound just like Tom!

The main progression is |Fadd9 C |, |G C |, |Fadd9 C |, |G G | with each chord lasting half a bar. There are also two extra bars of C at the end of each verse.

🎶 Check out JustinGuitar Tabs to get chords, tabs, and lyrics for this tutorial. You can try it out for free! :)

The note G on string 1 acts as a drone note. It sounds awesome, and it means you keep the pinkie down for the entire sequence. Fadd9 sounds difficult but it’s simply the open FMaj7 grip with little finger added to string 1. :)

The C is not the standard open C chord - we keep the pinkie down to get a different sound. As for G, I tend to use Weak Finger G, with string 5 muted.

Those are the basic chords - and we need to add embellishments with fingers 1 and 2 to get the authentic sound. Check out the video tutorial for the exact embellishments, or experiment with your own.

Wildflowers by Tom Petty: Rhythm Guitar

Once you're comfortable with the chord progression, it's time to practice the rhythm. Wildflowers gets its unique character from the 16th-note intro and verse strumming pattern that has a slight shuffle! We look at the pattern in tons of detail in the video. :)

🚨 Remember the Shuffle! I often fall into straight playing, and it doesn't sound right. If I do, I relisten to the song to trigger my memory of the groove.

There are also accents in unusual places and variations, so it’s crucial you listen to the Tom Petty original and absorb the timing into your musical imagination. Mute your strings and strum along to nail the groove.

Finally, make sure you get the strumming pattern sounding relaxed and groovy: music is all about rhythm! The key to nailing the feel is to practice the pattern until it feels natural and comfortable to you. That confidence will transmit to the listener and create that amazing groove.

Bridge Chords & Rhythm

This bridge sequence comes after verse 3 and in the outro.

It's two reps of:

|Fadd9  C/E  Am7  D/F#|, G
|Fadd9  Am|, G

then two whole bars of G. I tend to play the F bass note with my thumb to get a fuller sound, and I use my thumb for the F# bass note over the D chord. The bars of G are a great opportunity to add embellishments with fingers 1 and 2. :)

The feel changes too. During the four-chord bar, each beat is accented in sync with the chord changes, and the strums in between beats are different.

How to Practice Wildflowers by Tom Petty

The bridge is a bit sticky - it has lots of quick changes and complex strumming. Practice the chord sequence first, ignoring the strumming. Strum one chord after the next in order, making sure you correctly memorize the progression. The same goes for the other parts - if you find them tricky, separate the chords and rhythm.

🎙 Playing the guitar and singing? Learn each part at a time! This is a tricky rhythm - and singing over it will require concentration for most guitarists. At least it did for me!

And as soon as you have the technique mastered, jam along with Tom Petty and pretend you’re in the band. Suck up that amazing groove! :)

🎶 Want chords, guitar tabs, and lyrics for this tutorial? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!