Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
When [Em]Israel [B7]was in [Em]Egypt’s land,
[Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
O[Em]ppressed so [B7]hard they [Em]could not [Am]stand,
[B7]let my people [Em]go.
[chorus]
[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in Egypt’s [Em]land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
[verse 2]
[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
So [Em]Moses [B7]went to [Em]Egypt’s land,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go
He [Em]made old [B7]Pharaoh [Em]under[Am]stand,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go.
[chorus]
[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in [Em]Egypt’s land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
[Closing]
[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
Thus [Em]spoke the Lord, bold [B7]Moses [Em]said,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go
If [Em]not I’ll smite, your [B7]firstborns [Em]dead,
[Em]Let my [B7]people [Em]go
[chorus]
[Em]Go down, [Am7]Moses,
[B7]Way down in [Em]Egypt’s land.
[Em]Tell old [Am7]Pharaoh
to [Em]let my [B7]people [Em]go.
[Em] [Am7] [B7] [Em]
How to play Go Down Moses on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Go Down Moses uses these transitions most often: B7 → Em (22), Em → B7 (14), and Em → Am7 (10). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Em - Am7 chord transition.
1. Em → Am7 chord transition
To move from Em to Am7;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
2. Am7 → B7 chord transition
To move from Am7 to B7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
3. B7 → Em chord transition
To move from B7 to Em;
- While playing B7, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
4. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
5. Am → B7 chord transition
To move from Am to B7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
Go Down Moses chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Go Down Moses.
- Go Down Moses includes 60 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Go Down Moses contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Go Down Moses connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
- Em → Am: 12%
- Em → B7: 1%
After B7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are Em (58%), E7 (10%), and C (8%).- B7 → Em: 58%