ChordPocket

America the Beautiful chords

Katharine Lee Bates (words, 1895), Samuel Ward (music, 1882)

Bates wrote the poem after visiting Pikes Peak, and it was published with Ward's tune "Materna" in 1910. It is broad and stately.

Chords
4
Level
Easy
Time
4/4

Chords

C×321
G213
D7××213
F××321

Chart

Verse

  1. C
  2. /
  3. G
  4. /
  5. G
  6. /
  7. C
  8. /
  9. C
  10. /
  11. G
  12. /
  13. D7
  14. /
  15. G
  16. /
  17. C
  18. /
  19. F
  20. C
  21. F
  22. C
  23. G
  24. C

How to play it

You need 4 chords: C, G, D7 and F. The change you'll make most is C to G, so practice switching between those two slowly before playing along.

Each box is one bar of 4/4 time. Strum the chord on the beat, and change when the next box starts. A slash means keep playing the same chord.

Questions

What chords are in America the Beautiful?

This arrangement uses C, G, D7 and F.

Is America the Beautiful easy to play on guitar?

Fairly. None of the 4 chords needs a full barre, though there are a few more shapes to learn.

Can I play America the Beautiful with easier chords?

Yes. Put a capo on fret 3 and play A, E, B7 and D. It sounds exactly the same.