How to play Scarborough Fair on guitar
A modal English ballad that sounds far more advanced than it is. Four open chords and a rolling 3/4 picking pattern.
At a glance
- Key A minor (Dorian)
- Time 3/4
- Level Improver
- Chords Am, C, G, Em, D
Why this song is worth learning
Scarborough Fair is in the Dorian mode, which gives it that floating, slightly ancient sound. You do not need to understand modes to play it. What you get from this song is a rolling 3/4 picking pattern and a chord sequence that stays mostly on Am, which means you have time to think between changes.
The chords, as shapes
| Chord | Frets (low E to high e) |
|---|---|
| Am | x 0 2 2 1 0 |
| C | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| G | 3 2 0 0 0 3 |
| Em | 0 2 2 0 0 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 | Am | C | Am | Am | Am | C G | Am | Am | Am | Em | G Em | Am |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 3 beats per bar.
The picking pattern
Am — one bar of the pattern
5:0 3:2 2:1 1:0 2:1 3:2
C — one bar of the pattern
5:3 3:0 2:1 1:0 2:1 3:0
G — one bar of the pattern
6:3 3:0 2:0 1:3 2:0 3:0
Em — one bar of the pattern
6:0 3:0 2:0 1:0 2:0 3:0
Every note comes straight out of the chord shape, so if you can hold the chord you can play the pattern. Numbers are string:fret, counting string 1 as the thin high E.
How to learn it
- Learn Am, C, G and Em. All four are open chords and three of them share fingers.
- Play the six-note pattern on Am until it is automatic. Thumb on the root, then up through the top strings and back.
- Practise Am to C, which is the change that appears most.
- Play bars one to four, which are Am, C, Am, Am. Three of the four bars are the same chord.
- Add the Em section in bars ten to twelve, then play the whole twelve-bar sequence with the play-along.
Tips that matter
- Thumb on the bass, fingers on the top. Use your thumb for the root note and your index, middle and ring fingers for the three thin strings.
- Stay relaxed. The pattern is a roll, not a series of separate plucks. Let it flow across the three beats.
- The D is optional. Some versions use it as a passing chord. Leave it out while you learn the shape of the song.
Questions about Scarborough Fair
What key is Scarborough Fair in?
It is usually played in A Dorian, which uses the same notes as A minor but with a raised sixth. That raised note is what gives the song its distinctive sound.
What chords does Scarborough Fair use?
Am, C, G and Em cover the standard arrangement, with D sometimes added as a passing chord.
Should I fingerpick or strum Scarborough Fair?
Fingerpicking suits it better and is how it is usually played, but strumming three beats per bar works perfectly well while you are learning the chord changes.
Is Scarborough Fair copyrighted?
The traditional ballad is in the public domain. Particular 20th-century arrangements of it are copyrighted, but the song and the chord sequence here are not.