Queen - ’39 Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar B7 chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]In the [D]year of ’39 assembled [Em]here the Volunteers
In the [C]days when [G]lands were [D]few
Here the [Em]ship sailed [G]out into the [C]blue and sunny morn
The [Em]sweetest [D]sight ever [G]seen.
[verse 2]
And the [D]night followed day, and the [B7]story tellers say
That the [Em]score brave [Bm]souls in[C]side
For [G]many a lonely day sailed a[D]cross the milky seas
Never looked [Em]back, never [D]feared, never [G]cried. [D]
[chorus]
Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
Write your [Em]letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]For the [C]day I [G]take your [Am]hand
In the [G]land that our [D]grandchildren [G]knew.
[verse 3]
[G]In the [D]year of ’39 came a [Em]ship in from the blue
The volun[C]teers came [G]home that [D]day
And they [Em]bring good [G]news of a [C]world so newly born
Though their [Em]hearts so [D]heavily [G]weigh
[verse 4]
For the [D]earth is old and grey, little [B7]darling we’ll away
But my [Em]love this [Bm]cannot [C]be
For so [G]many years have gone though I’m [D]older but a year
Your mother’s [Em]eyes from your [D]eyes cry to [G]me. [D]
[chorus]
Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
Write your [Em]letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]For the [C]day I [G]take your [Am]hand
In the [G]land that our [D]grandchildren [G]knew.
[verse 5]
[D]Don’t you [G]hear my call though you’re [C]many years a[G]way
Don’t you hear me calling [D]you
All [Em]your letters [Bm]in the [C]sand
[G]cannot [C]heal me [G]like your [Am]hand
[Closing]
For my [Em]life, still a[D]head
Pity [G]Me.
[G] [D] [Em] [C] [G] [D] [G]
How to play '39 on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Queen - '39 on guitar requires 7 chords and 11 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
'39 uses these transitions most often: G → D (18), C → G (14), and D → G (11). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D chord transition.
1. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
2. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
3. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
4. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
6. D → B7 chord transition
To move from D to B7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
7. B7 → Em chord transition
To move from B7 to Em;
- While playing B7, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
8. Em → Bm chord transition
To move from Em to Bm;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 4.
- Place index finger on E string fret 2.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
9. Bm → C chord transition
To move from Bm to C;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
10. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
11. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
'39 chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in '39.
- '39 includes 93 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- '39 contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how '39 connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%