How to Play Sailor's Alphabet on Guitar?

Fairport Convention - Sailor's Alphabet can be played in the key of C using the C, G, F chords. 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 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 F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G. Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat. You can play Sailor's Alphabet with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.

Fairport Convention - Sailor’s Alphabet Chords

Chord reference C, G, F

Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

[C] [G] [C] [C]A’s for the anchor that [F]lies at our [C]bow; [F]B’s for the bowsprit and the [C]jibs all [G]lie [C]low [C]C’s for the [G]capstan we [F]all run [C]around; D’s for the davits to [G]lower the boat [C]down

[C]Merrily, merrily, so [F]merry sail [C]we No [G]mortal on earth like a sailor at [C]sea [C]Heave away, [G]haul away, the [F]ship rolls [C]along Give a sailor his grog and there’s [G]nothing goes [C]wrong

[C]E’s for the ensign that [F]at our peak [C]flew; [F]F’s for the forecastle, where [C]lives our [G]wild [C]crew [C]G’s for the [G]galley where the [F]salt junk smells [C]strong; And H is the [G]halyards, we hoist with a [C]song

[C]I’s for the eyebolts, [F]no good for the [C]feet; [F]J’s for the jibs hoist, stands [C]by the [G]lee [C]sheet [C]K’s for the [G]knightheads where the [F]petty officer [C]stands; L’s for the leeside, [G]not manned by new [C]hands

[C]M’s for the mainmast, it’s [F]stout and it’s [C]strong; N’s [G]for the needle that never points [C]wrong [C]O’s for the [G]oars of our [F]old jolly [C]boats; And P’s for the [G]pinnace that lively do [C]float

[C]Q’s for the quarterdeck where [F]officers [C]stand; And [G]R’s for the rudder - keeps the ship in com-[C]mand [C]S is for the [G]stuns’ls that [F]drive her [C]along; [C]T’s for the tops’ls, to [G]get there takes [C]long

[C]U’s for the uniform, [F]mostly worn [C]aft; [G]V’s for the vangs running from the main [C]gap [C]W’s for [G]water, we’re on a [F]pint and a [C]pound; [C]And X marks the spot where old [G]Stormy was [C]drowned

[C]Y’s for yard arm, needs a [F]good sailor [C]man; [G]Z is for Zoë, I’m her fancy [C]man Z’s also for [G]zero in the [F]cold winter [C]time; And now we have brought all the [G]letters in [C]rhyme

Artist Fairport Convention

Album Babbacombe" Lee

Genres Folk, Folk Rock, Rock

Year 1971

Key C

Fairport Convention - Sailor's Alphabet can be played in the key of C using the C, G, F chords.

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 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 F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G.

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

You can play Sailor's Alphabet with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.