Marty Robbins - El Paso Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[D]Out in the West Texas [Em]town of El Paso
[A7]I fell in love with a Mexican [D]girl
Night time would find me in [Em]Rosa’s cantina
[A7]Music would play and Felina would [D]whirl
[verse 2]
[D]Blacker than night were the [Em]eyes of Felina
[A7]Wicked and evil while casting a [D]spell
My love was deep for this [Em]Mexican maiden
[A7]I was in love but in vain, I could [D]tell
[verse 3]
[G]One night a wild young [D]cowboy came [G]in
Wild as the West Texas [D]wind [D7]
[D7]Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
[D7]With wicked Felina, the girl that I [G]loved
[verse 4]
So in [A7]anger I:
[D]Challenged his right for the [Em]love of this maiden
[A7]Down went his hand for the gun that he [D]wore
My challenge was answered in [Em]less than a heart beat
[A7]The handsome young stranger lay dead on the [D]floor
[verse 5]
[D]Just for a moment I [Em]stood there in silence
[A7]Shocked by the foul evil deed I had [D]done
Many thoughts raced through my [Em]mind as I stood there
[A7]I had but one chance and that was to [D]run
[verse 6]
[G]Out through the back door of [D]Rosa’s I [G]ran
Out where the horses were [D]tied [D7]
[D7]I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
[D7]Up on its back, and away I did [G]ride
[verse 7]
Just as [A7]fast as I
[D]Could from the West Texas [Em]town of El Paso
[A7]Out to the bad lands of New Mexi[D]co
[D]Back in El Paso my life [Em]would be worthless
[A7]Everything’s gone in life nothing is [D]left
[verse 8]
[D]It’s been so long since I’ve seen [Em]the young maiden
[A7]My love is stronger than my fear of [D]death
[G]I saddled up and [D7]away I did [G]go
Riding alone in the [D7]dark [D7]
[D7]Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me
[D7]Tonight nothing’s worse than this
Pain in my [G]heart
[verse 9]
And at [A7]last here I
[D]Am on the hill over [Em]looking El Paso
[A7]I can see Rosa’s cantina be[D]low
My love is strong and it [Em]pushes me onward
[A7]Down off the hill to Felina I [D]go
[verse 10]
[D]Off to my right I see [Em]five mounted cowboys
[A7]Off to my left ride a dozen or [D]more
Shouting and shooting I [Em]can’t let them catch me
[A7]I have to make it to Rosa’s back [D]door
[verse 11]
[G]Something is dreadfully [D7]wrong for I [G]feel
A deep burning pain in my [D]side [D7]
[D7]Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
[D7]I’m getting weary, unable to [G]ride
[verse 12]
But my [A7]love for
[D]Felina is strong and I [Em]rise where I’ve fallen
[A7]Though I am weary I can’t stop to [D]rest
I see the white puff of smoke [Em]from the rifle
[A7]I feel the bullet go deep in my [D]chest
[Closing]
[D]From out of nowhere [Em]Felina has found me
[A7]Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my [D]side
Cradled by two loving arms [Em]that I’ll die for
[A7]One little kiss and Felina, good [D]bye
How to play El Paso on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Marty Robbins - El Paso on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.
El Paso uses these transitions most often: A7 → D (23), D → Em (19), and Em → A7 (19). 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 D - Em chord transition.
1. 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.
2. Em → A7 chord transition
To move from Em to A7;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 2.
3. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
4. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. D → D7 chord transition
To move from D to D7;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
6. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
7. G → A7 chord transition
To move from G to A7;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 2.
El Paso chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in El Paso.
- El Paso includes 88 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- El Paso contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how El Paso connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%
After A7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (42%), D7 (18%), and Dm (12%).- A7 → D: 42%