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Merle Haggard - Mama Tried Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, F, G7, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,E keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

[Opening]
[C]The first thing I remember [F]knowing
was a [C]lonesome whistle [F]blowing
And a [C]youngun’s dream of [F]growing up to [G7]ride
On a [C]freight train leaving [F]town
not [C]knowing where I’m [F]bound
And [C]no one could change my [G7]mind but Momma [C]tried

[verse 2]
One and only Rebel [F]child from a [C]family meek and [F]mild
My [C]momma seemed to [F]know what lay in [G7]store
Spite [C]all my Sunday [F]learning
with the [C]bad I kept on [F]turning
Till [C]momma couldn’t [G7]hold me any[C]more

[chorus]
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [F]life without pa[C]role
No one could steer me right but Momma [G]tried Momma [G7]tried
Momma [C]tried to raise me better but her [F]pleading I de[C]nied
And that leaves only me to [G7]blame cause Momma [C]tried

[Closing]
Dear ole’ daddy rest his [F]soul left my [C]mom a heavy [F]load
She [C]tried so very [F]hard to feel his [G7]shoes
Working [C]hours without [F]rest wanted [C]me to have the [F]best
She [C]tried to raise me [G7]right but I re[C]fused

[chorus]
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [F]life without pa[C]role
No one could steer me right but Momma [G]tried Momma [G7]tried
Momma [C]tried to raise me better but her [F]pleading I de[C]nied
And that leaves only me to [G7]blame cause Momma [C]tried

SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistMerle Haggard
AlbumMama Tried
GenresCountry
Year1968
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Mama Tried on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Merle Haggard - Mama Tried 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.

Mama Tried uses these transitions most often: C → F (19), F → C (16), and G7 → C (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 C - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from C to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
C to F

2. F → G7 chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

To move from F to G7;

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
F to G7

3. G7 → C chord transition

Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from G7 to C;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
G7 to C

4. C → G chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from C to G;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
C to G

5. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7;

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

Mama Tried chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Mama Tried.

  • Mama Tried includes 57 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Mama Tried contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Mama Tried connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G7: 3%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.