“Looking Out My Backdoor” by CCR is one of the best sing-along songs ever written. Everyone knows the chorus – “do, do, do, looking out my back door” – and it’s a crowd favorite at any gathering. This two-part lesson covers the chords, the signature muted strum pattern, and how to put it all together.
Part 1: Chords and Verse Structure
The original recording is technically in B major, but Fogarty tuned his guitar down a half step (E-flat tuning). For this lesson, we’re staying in standard tuning using C, F, G, and A minor. If you want to play along with the recording, just tune down a half step.
Verse Chord Progression
The verse is an 8-bar phrase that repeats with a slight variation:
- C major – 2 bars
- A minor – 2 bars
- F major – 1 bar
- C major – 1 bar
- G major – 2 bars
The second half of the verse is identical except the last bar goes to C instead of staying on G. Colin recommends playing the full F barre chord rather than the easier variations – you’ll need that shape for some embellishments later.
The Muted Strum Pattern
The signature sound of this song comes from the muted stroke rhythm. Count it as: “one, two-and, three-and, four.” The first beat is muted (lay your fingers across the strings so they don’t ring), then you open up into the chord.
For the muted strokes, place all your fingers lightly across the strings somewhere between the 3rd and 5th frets. Make sure nothing rings out – you want a percussive “chunk” sound.
Part 2: The Intro and Full Arrangement
The intro combines muted strums with the verse progression. Here’s the structure:
- 4 bars of muted strums (that chunky rhythm)
- Last 8 bars of the verse with open chords
This creates a build-up that grabs attention before the song kicks in properly.
Full Song Arrangement
Once you have the pieces, here’s how they fit together:
- Intro (4 muted bars + last 8 bars of verse)
- Verse 1
- Chorus 1
- Instrumental verse (same as verse, just no singing)
- Chorus 2
- Back to intro pattern
The song moves pretty fast, but Fogarty has played it at different tempos over the years. Start slower until you nail the muted strum feel, then speed up to match the energy of the original.
Why This Song Works
Four chords, a catchy rhythm, and a chorus everyone can sing – “Looking Out My Backdoor” has everything you need for a crowd-pleaser. The muted strum technique adds a rhythmic drive that makes simple chords sound professional. Master this pattern and you’ll use it in dozens of other songs.