Harry Belafonte - Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,E keys to play this song with easier chords.
How to play Banana Boat Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Harry Belafonte - Banana Boat Song on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 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.
Banana Boat Song uses these transitions most often: C → G7 (24), G7 → C (24), and C → F (16). 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 C - F chord transition.
1. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.
2. C → G7 chord transition
Switching from C to G7:
- 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 1.
This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.
Banana Boat Song chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Banana Boat Song.
- Banana Boat Song includes 80 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Banana Boat Song contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Banana Boat Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → F: 16%
- C → G7: 2%
After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).- G7 → C: 69%