Song practice guide
How to Practice 500 Miles
The Hedy West folk standard '500 Miles' (made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary, and later by The Proclaimers and Justin Timberlake's Inside Llewyn Davis recording) is one of the most-recorded folk songs of the 20th century. The simple chord progression, the lonesome lyric, and the universally familiar chorus make it a folk standard.
Song Details
- Key
- D
- Tempo
- 110 BPM
- Time
- 4/4
- Style
- boom-chuck
Structure
This song is still under copyright, so we publish its form rather than its chord chart. Add it to your library and you can enter or attach your own chart, and Repertoire will schedule it either way.
What to Focus On
Simple chord changes through C major (or any key). Steady folk strumming. Singing the lonesome melody with restraint.
Practice Tips
- 1
Three chords, no excuses. Master the changes and the song is yours.
- 2
Different versions are in different tempos. Pick a version and commit.
- 3
The vocal is meant to feel lonesome. Sing it with restraint.
Why This Song
It's the universal folk lonesome-traveler song, covered by everyone for sixty years.
Practice 500 Miles Daily
Repertoire uses spaced repetition to keep your songs sharp. Add this song to your collection and the system schedules your practice automatically.
No credit card required • Free tier: 3 collections · 15 songs each
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