ChordPocket

Waltzing Matilda chords

Banjo Paterson (words, 1895), Christina Macpherson (music)

Australia's best-known folk song, about a swagman camping by a billabong. The chorus is easy to join in on.

Chords
3
Level
Easy
Time
4/4

Chords

C×321
G213
F××321

Chart

Verse

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

How to play it

You need 3 chords: C, G 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 Waltzing Matilda?

This arrangement uses C, G and F.

Is Waltzing Matilda 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 Waltzing Matilda with easier chords?

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