Ramblin’ Jack Elliott - Diamond Joe Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [Em] [C] [G]
[G]Now There’s a man you’ll hear a[Em]bout
Most [C]anyplace you [G]go,
And his [C]holdings are in [G]Tex[Em]as
And his name is [G]Diamond [Em]Joe.
[verse 2]
And he [C]carries all his [G]money
In a diamond studded [Em]jar.
And he [G]never was much [Em]bothered
By the [C]process of [G]the law.
[verse 3]
[G]I hired out to Diamond Joe, [Em]boys,
I did [C]offer him my [G]hand,
And he [C]gave me a string of [G]horses
So [C]old they could [G]not stand.
[verse 4]
[G]And I like to starve to death, [Em]boys,
He [C]did mistreat me [Em]so,
I [G]never saved a [Em]dollar
In the [C]pay of Diamond [G]Joe.
[verse 5]
[G]Now his bread it was corn dod[Em]ger
And his [C]meat I couldn’t [G]chaw,
And he [C]drove me now dis[Em]tracted
With the wagging of [G]his jaw.
[verse 6]
And the [C]telling of his [G]story,
I [Em]aim to let you [G]know
There [G]never was a roun[Em]der
That [C]lied like Diamond [G]Joe.
[verse 7]
[G]Now, I tried three times to quit him, [Em]boys
But [G]he did argue [Em]so
But [G]I’m still punching catt[Em]le
In the [C]pay of Diamond [G]Joe
[Closing]
[G]And when I’m called up yon[Em]der
And [C]it comes my time to [G]go,
Give my [C]blankets to my [Em]buddies
Give the [C]fleas to Diamond [G]Joe.
How to play Diamond Joe on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Diamond Joe on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.
Diamond Joe uses these transitions most often: G → Em (16), C → G (15), and Em → C (12). 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 - Em chord transition.
1. G → Em chord transition
To move from G to Em;
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Diamond Joe chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Diamond Joe.
- Diamond Joe includes 59 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Diamond Joe contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Diamond Joe 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 → Em: 9%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).- Em → C: 26%
- Em → G: 18%