How to Play Chain Gang on Guitar?

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang can be played in the key of Em using the Em, G, C, D chords. For Em, To play Em, let low E, G, B, high E ring open, mute A, D. For G, To play G, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute low E, high E. For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D. For D, To play D, press fret 2 on the low E string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the high E string with finger 2, let A, D ring open, mute B. Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat. You can play Chain Gang with the ↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang Chords

Chord reference Em, G, C, D

Rhythm tips ↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

[Em]I hear something saying [G]ooh, [Em]aah, [C]ooh, [D]aah, [G]ooh, [Em]aah, [C]ooh, [D]aah,

That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [G]chain [Em]gang [G]That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [D]chain [G]gang

All day long they’re singing [G]ooh, [Em]aah, [C]ooh, [D]aah, [G]ooh, [Em]aah, [C]ooh, [D]aah,

(Well, don’t you [G]know) That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [G]chain [Em]gang [G]That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [D]chain [G]gang

[G]All day long they [Em]work so hard, ’till the [C]sun is going [D]down [G]Working on the [Em]highway and byways and [C]wearing, wearing a [D]frown [G]You hear them moaning their [Em]lives away [C]then you hear [D]somebody say

[G]That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [G]chain [Em]gang [G]That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [D]chain [G]gang

[NC]Can’t you hear them saying [G]Mmm [Em]I’m going home one of [C]these days [D]I’m going home see my [G]woman whom I [Em]love so dear But [C]meanwhile I got to [D]work right here

(Well, don’t you [G]know) That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [G]chain [Em]gang [G]That’s the sound of the [C]men working on the [D]chain [G]gang

All day long they’re singing [G]Hmm my [Em]my, my, my, my, [C]my, my my [D]work is so hard Give me [G]water, I’m [Em]thirsty [C]My my [D]work is so hard

[G]Wooh my [Em]my, my, my, my, [C]my, my my [D]work is so hard Give me [G]water, I’m [Em]thirsty [C]My my [D]work is so hard [G]

Artist Sam Cooke

Album Swing Low

Genres Blues, Soul

Year 1960

Key Em

Sam Cooke - Chain Gang can be played in the key of Em using the Em, G, C, D chords.

For Em, To play Em, let low E, G, B, high E ring open, mute A, D.
For G, To play G, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute low E, high E.
For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D.
For D, To play D, press fret 2 on the low E string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the high E string with finger 2, let A, D ring open, mute B.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Chain Gang with the ↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.