How to play Oh! Susanna on guitar
Three chords and a tune you cannot get wrong. A good test of whether your G to D change is fast enough yet.
At a glance
- Key G major
- Time 4/4
- Level Easy
- Chords G, C, D
Why this song is worth learning
Oh! Susanna moves faster than most first songs, which makes it a useful measuring stick. The chords are the easy three, but at 112 beats per minute you need your G to D change to be reasonably quick. If you can play this cleanly, your changes are in good shape.
The chords, as shapes
| Chord | Frets (low E to high e) |
|---|---|
| G | 3 2 0 0 0 3 |
| C | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| D | x x 0 2 3 2 |
x means do not play that string, 0 means play it open. Tap any shape on the page to hear it.
Play along
Press play. The track counts you in, clicks the beat and lights up the chord you should be holding. Drop the tempo while you are learning and raise it once you can get through without stopping.
Chord order
| Verse | G | G | D | D | G | G | D | G | G | G | C | C | G | G | D | G |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 4 beats per bar.
Strumming pattern
D D U D D U
D is a down-strum and U is an up-strum. If the pattern feels like too much at first, play one down-strum per bar until the chord changes are comfortable, then add the rest.
How to learn it
- Make sure G, C and D are all ringing cleanly.
- Time yourself: how many G to D changes can you make in a minute? Aim for thirty or more before trying the song at tempo.
- Strum the pattern on G alone until the hand movement is automatic.
- Play bars one to four at half speed: two bars of G, two of D.
- Work through the chart, then play along at a slow tempo and build up.
Tips that matter
- G to D is the whole song. Practise that one change on its own and the rest follows.
- Use the play-along slowly first. Set it to around 70 beats per minute, then raise it in steps of ten.
- The C arrives late. It only appears in bars eleven and twelve, so do not expect it earlier.
Questions about Oh! Susanna
What chords are in Oh! Susanna?
G, C and D in the key of G. Three chords for the whole song.
Is Oh! Susanna easy to play on guitar?
The chords are very easy. The tempo is the challenge, because it moves faster than most beginner songs, so practise it slowly first.
Who wrote Oh! Susanna?
Stephen Foster, in 1848. It is in the public domain.
What strumming pattern works best?
Down, down-up, down, down-up gives it the right bounce. Four straight down-strums also works while you learn the changes.