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Harry Belafonte - Island in the Sun Chords

ChordsC, F, G7, Am, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

CThisismyislandFinthesun
WheremyG7peoplehavetoiledsinceCtimebegun
AmImaysailonDmmanyasea
HerCshoreswillalwaysbeG7hometoCme
COhislandDminthesunG7willedtomebymyCfather’shand
AmAllmydaysIwillFsingandpraise
OfyourG7forestwatersyourCshiningsandsG7C
CAsmorningbreakstheFheavenonhigh
G7IliftmyheavyloadCtothesky
CSuncomesdownwithaDmburningglow
CMinglesmysweatwiththeG7earth Cbelow
COhislandDminthesunG7willedtomebymyCfather’shand
AmAllmydaysIwillFsingandpraise
OfyourG7forestwatersyourCshiningsandsG7C
CIseewomanonFbendedknee,
G7CuttingcaneforherCfamily
AmIseemanDmatthewaterside,
CCastingnetsattheG7surgingCtide
COhislandDminthesunG7willedtomebymyCfather’shand
AmAllmydaysIwillDmsingandpraise
OfyourG7forestwatersyourCshiningsands
CIhopethedaywillFnevercome
G7ThatIcan’tawaketotheCsoundofadrum
AmNeverletmemissDmcarnival
With Ccalypsosongs G7philosophical
COhislandDminthesunG7willedtomebymyCfather’shand
AmAllmydaysIwillDmsingandpraise
OfyourG7forestwatersyourCshiningsands
AlbumBelafonte Sings of the Caribbean
GenresFolk, Pop
Year1957
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Island in the Sun on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Harry Belafonte - Island in the Sun on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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.

Island in the Sun uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (18), C → Am (7), and C → G7 (6). 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:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

C to F

2. F → G7 chord transition

Switching from F to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

F to G7

3. G7 → C chord transition

Switching from G7 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 1 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

G7 to C

4. C → Am chord transition

Switching from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

C to Am

5. Am → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

6. Dm → C chord transition

Switching from Dm to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

7. Dm → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to G7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

8. Am → F chord transition

Switching from Am to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Island in the Sun.

  • Island in the Sun includes 63 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Island in the Sun contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Island in the Sun 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 G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%