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Kingston Trio - Greenback Dollar Chords

ChordsEm, G, C7, D, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

EmSomepeoplesayI’maGnocount,
EmotherssayI’mnoGgood,
ButC7I’mjustanaturalbornGtravelingman,
DDoingwhatIthinkIshould,Emohyeah,
DDoingwhatIthinkIEmshould.
AndIGdon’tgiveaCdamnaboutaGgreenbackCdollar,
GSpenditCfastasIGcan,
CForaGwailingCsong,andaGgood Cguitar,
TheDonlythingthatIunderstand,Empoorboy,
TheDonlythingthatI Emunderstand.
EmWhenIwasalittleGbabe,Cmymamasaid,“heyGson,
GTravelwhereyouCwill,andGgrowtobeaman,
AndDsingwhatmustbesung,Empoorboy,
DSingwhatmustbeEmsung.”
AndIGdon’tgiveaCdamnaboutaGgreenbackCdollar,
GSpenditCfastasIGcan,
CForaGwailingCsong,andaGgood Cguitar,
TheDonlythingthatIunderstand,Empoorboy,
TheDonlythingthatI Emunderstand.
EmNowthatI’maGgrownman,I’vetravelledEmhereandGthere,
I’veC7learnedthatabottleofGbrandyandasong,
TheDonlyoneswhoevercared,Empoorboy,
TheDonlyoneswhoeverEmcared
AndIGdon’tgiveaCdamnaboutaGgreenbackCdollar,
GSpenditCfastasIGcan,
CForaGwailingCsong,andaGgood Cguitar,
TheDonlythingthatIunderstand,Empoorboy,
TheDonlythingthatI Emunderstand.
AlbumNew Frontier
GenresFolk
Year1962
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Greenback Dollar on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Kingston Trio - Greenback Dollar on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.

Greenback Dollar uses these transitions most often: G → C (20), C → G (17), and D → Em (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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Em to G

2. G → C7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C7:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

G to C7

3. G → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

G to D

4. D → Em chord transition

Switching from D to Em:

  1. While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

D to Em

5. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 20 times.

6. C → D chord transition

Switching from C to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Greenback Dollar.

  • Greenback Dollar includes 75 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Greenback Dollar contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Greenback Dollar 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 C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%