ChordPocket

Cielito Lindo chords

Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, 1882

The "Ay, ay, ay, ay" chorus makes it a mariachi favorite. A strong three-beat strum on C, F and G7 carries it.

Chords
3
Level
Easy
Time
3/4

Chords

C×321
G7321
F××321

Chart

Verse

  1. C
  2. /
  3. G7
  4. /
  5. G7
  6. /
  7. C
  8. /
  9. C
  10. /
  11. F
  12. /
  13. C
  14. G7
  15. C
  16. /

How to play it

You need 3 chords: C, G7 and F. The change you'll make most is C to G7, so practice switching between those two slowly before playing along.

Each box is one bar of 3/4 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 Cielito Lindo?

This arrangement uses C, G7 and F.

Is Cielito Lindo easy to play on guitar?

Fairly. None of the 3 chords needs a full barre, though there are a few more shapes to learn.

Can I play Cielito Lindo with easier chords?

Yes. Put a capo on fret 3 and play A, E7 and D. It sounds exactly the same.