This is a great Tom Petty song and a great song for beginners who
need to work on your strumming pattern. And after you've made your 
jugdement, please rate.

D= down
U= up

So the song is in 4/4 beat and strumming pattern for the entire 
song is just:

DU (xx0232@1)DU (xx0232@1)   U DU (xx0232@1)1 & 2 & (3)& 4 &

So just take a brief pause on the 3 count and strum up on the 
& of the 3 count.

So the strumming to the chords would be:

DU (xx0232@1)DU (xx0232@1)   U DU (xx0232@1)DU (xx0232@1)DU (xx0232@1)   U DU (xx0232@1)1 & 2 & (3)& 4 & 1 & 2 & (3)& 4 &
C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)        Em (022000@1)  D (xx0232@1)If you still have trouble with the strumming just listen to the song.

So now to the song.

Intro:

C G Em D 2 times

Verse 1:

       C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1) EmD
Well I started out
       C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)  EmD
down a dirty road
C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1) EmD
Started out
C (x32010@1)  D (xx0232@1)  EmD
all alone

Verse 2:

        C (x32010@1)      G (320003@1)  EmD
And the sun went down
     C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1)  EmD 
as I crossed the hill
        C (x32010@1)      G (320003@1)EmD
And the town lit up
    C (x32010@1)       D (xx0232@1)   EmD
the world got still

Chorus 1:

    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD
I'm learning to fly
    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1)   EmD
but I ain't got wings
C (x32010@1)    G (320003@1)  EmD
Coming down 
       C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1)   EmD
is the hardest thing

Verse 3:

         C (x32010@1)      G (320003@1)  EmD
Well the good old days
    C (x32010@1) G (320003@1)    EmD
may not return
        C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1)  EmD
And the rocks might melt
        C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1)  EmD
and the sea may burn

Chorus 1

Solo (just repeat the intro)

Verse 4:

     C (x32010@1)      G (320003@1)  EmD
Well some say life
     C (x32010@1)      G (320003@1)  EmD
will beat you down
C (x32010@1)        G (320003@1)   EmD
Break your heart
C (x32010@1)        D (xx0232@1)   EmD
steal your crown

Verse 5:

     C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1) EmD
So I started out
    C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)   EmD
for God knows where
  C (x32010@1)        G (320003@1)  EmD
I guess I'll know 
     C (x32010@1)   D (xx0232@1)   EmD
when I get there

Chorus 2:

    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD
I'm learning to fly
 C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)    EmD
around the clouds
C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)EmD
What goes up
C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)  EmD
must come down

Bridge (just repeat the intro)

Last Chorus:

    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD
I'm learning to fly
    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1)   EmD
but I ain't got wings
C (x32010@1)    G (320003@1)  EmD
Coming down 
       C (x32010@1)     G (320003@1)   EmD
is the hardest thing
    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD
I'm learning to fly
 C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)    EmD
around the clouds
C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)EmD
What goes up
C (x32010@1)       G (320003@1)  EmD
must come down
    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD CG EmD
I'm learning to fly
    C (x32010@1)         G (320003@1) EmD CG EmD 
I'm learning to fly

(end on G)

And that should be that for Learning to Fly by Tom Petty.
One of these days I'll figure out that solo, but for now
it works as a great solo acoustic song. And once again, please rate.

-I hope you enjoy; my little droogies.