Bing Crosby - Those Were The Days My Friend Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[Em] Once upon a time there was a [Em7] tavern [E]
[E7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Am] two
[Am] Remember how we laughed away the [Em] hours
And [F#7] dreamed of all the great things we would [B7]* do
[verse 2]
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they’d [Am] never end
We’d sing and [D] dance for[D7] ever and a [G] day
We’d live the [Am] life we choose we’d fight and [Em] never lose
For we were [B7] young and sure to have our [Em] way
[chorus]
[B7] La la la [Em] la la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la La la la [B7] la, la la la la [Em] la
[verse 3]
[Em] Then the busy years went rushing [Em7] by us
We [E7] lost our starry notions on the [Am] way
[Am] If by chance I’d see you in the [Em] tavern
We’d [F#7] smile at one another and we’d [B7]* say
[chorus]
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they’d [Am] never end
We’d sing and [D] dance for[D7] ever and a [G] day
We’d live the [Am] life we choose we’d fight and [Em] never lose
Those were [B7] the days, oh yes those were the [Em] days
[chorus]
[B7] La la la [Em] la la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la La la la [B7] la, la la la [Em] la
[verse 4]
[Em] Just tonight I stood before the [Em7] tavern
[E7] Nothing seemed the way it used to [Am] be
[Am] In the glass I saw a strange re[Em]flection
[F#7] Was that lonely woman really [B7]* me
[chorus]
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they’d [Am] never end
We’d sing and [D] dance for[D7] ever and a [G] day
We’d live the [Am] life we choose we’d fight and [Em] never lose
Those were [B7] the days, oh yes those were the [Em] days
[chorus]
[B7] La la la [Em] La la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la La la la [D] la, la [D7] la la la la [G] la
La la la [Am] la la la, la la la [Em] la la la La la la [B7] la, la la la la la [Em] la
La la la la la [G] la, la la la la la [Am] la la la la la [Em] la
[Closing]
[Em] Through the door there came familiar [Em7] laughter
I [E7] saw your face and heard you call my [Am] name
[Am] Oh my friend we’re older but no [Em] wiser
For [F#7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [B7]* same
[chorus]
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they’d [Am] never end
We’d sing and [D] dance for[D7] ever and a [G] day
We’d live the [Am] life we choose we’d fight and [Em] never lose
Those were [B7] the days, oh yes those were the [Em] days[B7] La la la [Em] La la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la La la la [D] la, la [D7] la la la [G] la
La la la [Am] la la la, la la la [Em] la la la La la la [B7] la, la la la la la [Em] la
La la la la la [G] la, la la la la la [Am] la la la la la [Em] la
La la la la la [G] la, la la la la la [Am] la la la la la [Em] la
How to play Those Were The Days My Friend on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Bing Crosby - Those Were The Days My Friend on guitar requires 10 chords and 16 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.
Those Were The Days My Friend uses these transitions most often: B7 → Em (16), Am → Em (13), and Em → B7 (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 - Em7 chord transition.
1. Em → Em7 chord transition
To move from Em to Em7;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
2. Em7 → E chord transition
To move from Em7 to E;
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on D string fret 2.
3. E → E7 chord transition
To move from E to E7;
- While playing E, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Keep index finger on G string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
4. E7 → Am chord transition
To move from E7 to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
5. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
6. Em → F#7 chord transition
To move from Em to F#7;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
- Place index finger on E string fret 2.
7. F#7 → B7 chord transition
To move from F#7 to B7;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
8. 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.
9. Am → D chord transition
To move from Am to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
10. D → D7 chord transition
To move from D to D7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
11. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
12. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
13. Em → E7 chord transition
To move from Em to E7;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 1.
14. 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.
15. Em7 → E7 chord transition
To move from Em7 to E7;
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 1.
16. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
Those Were The Days My Friend chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Those Were The Days My Friend.
- Those Were The Days My Friend includes 104 chord transitions, 16 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Those Were The Days My Friend contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Those Were The Days My Friend 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 → G: 18%
- Em → Am: 12%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → Em: 10%
- Am → D: 7%