Peter, Paul and Mary - If I Had a Hammer 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 E,G keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo [F]oooo [G7]oooo
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo [F]oooo [G7]oooo
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo [F]oooo
[verse 2]
If [G7]I had a [C]ha[Am]am[F]mer
I’d [G7]hammer in the [C]mo[Am]or[F]ning
I’d [G7]hammer in the [C]e[Am]eve[F]ning all over this [G7]land
[G7]I’d hammer out [C]danger, I’d hammer out a [Am]warning
[Am]I’d hammer out [F]love be[C]tween my [F]brothers and my [C]sisters
[F]All[C] [G7]ll over this [C]land [Am] [F] [G7]
[verse 3]
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo [F]oooo
If [G7]I had a [C]bell [Am] [F]
I’d [G7]ring it in the [C]mo[Am]or[F]ning
I’d [G7]ring it in the [C]e[Am]eve[F]ning all over this [G7]land
[G7]I’d ring out [C]danger, I’d ring out a [Am]warning
[Am]I’d ring out [F]love be[C]tween my [F]brothers and my [C]sisters
[F]All[C] [G7]ll over this [C]land [Am] [F] [G7]
[verse 4]
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo I [F]oooo
If [G7]I had a [C]song [Am] [F]
I’d [G7]sing it in the [C]mo[Am]or[F]ning
I’d [G7]sing it in the [C]e[Am]eve[F]ning all over this [G7]land
[G7]I’d sing out [C]danger, I’d sing out a [Am]warning
[Am]I’d sing out [F]love be[C]tween my [F]brothers and my [C]sisters
[F]All[C] [G7]ll over this [C]land [Am] [F] [G7]
[verse 5]
[C]Oooo [Am]oooo [F]oooo
Well [G7]I got a [C]ha[Am]am[F]mer
And [G7]I got a [C]bell [Am] [F]
And [G7]I got a [C]song to sing, [F]all over this [G7]land
[G7]It’s the hammer of [C]justice, it’s the bell of [Am]freeee[Am]dom
It’s the song about [F]love be[C]tween my [F]brothers and my [C]sisters
[F]All[C] [G7]ll over this [C]land [Am] [F]
[Closing]
It’s the [G7]hammer of [C]justice, it’s the bell of [Am]freeee[Am]dom
It’s the song about [F]love be[C]tween my [F]brothers and my [C]sisters
[F]All[C] [G7]ll over this [C]la[F]a[C]and [C] [G7] [C]
How to play If I Had a Hammer on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Peter, Paul and Mary - If I Had a Hammer on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 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.
If I Had a Hammer uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (28), Am → F (26), and C → Am (26). 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 - Am chord transition.
1. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
2. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am 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.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. F → G7 chord transition
To move from F to G7;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E 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.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
4. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
5. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
If I Had a Hammer chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If I Had a Hammer.
- If I Had a Hammer includes 136 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- If I Had a Hammer contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how If I Had a Hammer 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 → Am: 10%
After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → C: 40%
- F → G7: 3%