Skip to song content

Roger Miller - King of the Road Chords

ChordsC, F, G7, C7
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 A,D,E keys to play this song with easier chords.

CTrailerforFsaleorrent,
G7RoomstoletCfiftycents.
Nophone,noFpool,nopets
IG7ain’tgotnocigarettes
Ahbut,CtwohoursofFpushingbroom
BuysanG7eightbytwelveCfour-bitroom
I’maC7manofFmeansbynomeans
G7KingoftheCroad.
CThirdboxcar,Fmidnighttrain,
G7DestinationCBangor,Maine.
OldwornoutFsuitsandshoes,
IG7don’tpaynouniondues,
IsmokeColdstogiesFIhavefound
G7Short,butnottooCbigaround
I’maC7manofFmeansbynomeans
G7KingoftheCroad.
IknowCeveryengineeronFeverytrain
G7Alloftheirchildren,andCalloftheirnames
AndCeveryhandoutinFeverytown
AndG7everylockthatain’tlockedwhennoone’saround.
Ising,CTrailerforFsaleorrent,
G7RoomstoletCfiftycents.
Nophone,noFpool,nopets
IG7ain’tgotnocigarettes
Ahbut,CtwohoursofFpushingbroom
BuysanG7eightbytwelveCfour-bitroom
I’maC7manofFmeansbynomeans
G7KingoftheCroad
G7KingoftheCroad
G7KingoftheCroad
AlbumThe Return of Roger Miller
GenresCountry
Year1964
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play King of the Road on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Roger Miller - King of the Road 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.

King of the Road uses these transitions most often: G7 → C (16), F → G7 (14), and C → F (11). 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

Here's how 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 chorus, played 11 times.

C to F

2. F → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move 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 chorus, played 14 times.

F to G7

3. G7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move 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 chorus, played 16 times.

G7 to C

4. C → C7 chord transition

Switching from C to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to C7

5. C7 → F chord transition

Switching from C7 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. Lift your pinky from G string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in King of the Road.

  • King of the Road includes 49 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • King of the Road contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how King of the Road 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 → G7: 2%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%