How to play When the Saints Go Marching In on guitar
The cheerful three-chord standard. If you can change between G, C and D, you can play this today.
At a glance
- Key G major
- Time 4/4
- Level Easy
- Chords G, C, D, G7
Why this song is worth learning
This is the song to play when you want proof that you can play guitar. The chords are the three most common in beginner guitar, the rhythm is a straight four, and the tune is instantly recognisable even played badly. It is also the standard test piece for whether your chord changes are ready for real music.
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 |
| G7 | 3 2 0 0 0 1 |
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 | G | G7 | C | C | G | G | G | D | D | D | G | C | G | D |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 4 beats per bar.
Strumming pattern
D D D U 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
- Get G, C and D clean and learn the changes between them.
- Add G7, which is G with one finger moved. It appears in bar four and makes the move into C sound right.
- Strum four down-strums per bar on G alone, counting one, two, three, four.
- Play bars one to four: three bars of G, then G7. Then add the two bars of C.
- Build up through the chart and play along, raising the tempo once you can get through it without stopping.
Tips that matter
- G7 matters more than it looks. It is what pulls the music toward C. Playing plain G there sounds flat by comparison.
- Keep the strumming hand going. If a chord is not ready, strum the beat anyway and catch up. Stopping is a worse habit than a missed chord.
- Start slower than feels natural. This song invites rushing, and rushing is what makes beginners' versions sound untidy.
Questions about When the Saints Go Marching In
What chords do I need for When the Saints Go Marching In?
G, C and D, plus G7 which is an easy one-finger change from G. Four chords in total and all of them open.
Is When the Saints Go Marching In easy on guitar?
It is one of the easiest real songs there is. Three main chords, a steady four-beat rhythm and a melody most people already know.
What strumming pattern should I use?
Start with four down-strums per bar. Once that is steady, try down, down, down-up, down-up, which gives it more of a marching feel.
Is the song in the public domain?
Yes. It is a traditional gospel hymn from the early twentieth century and is not under copyright.