Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville 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 D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[F] [G] [C] [C]
[C]Nibblin’ on sponge cake, watchin’ the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with [G]oil.
Strummin’ my [G]FOUR string, on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp, they’re beginnin’ to [C]boil. [C7]
[chorus]
[F]wasted a [G]way again in Marga[C]ritaville,[C7]
[F]searchin’ for my [G]lost shaker of [C]salt.[C7]
[F]some people [G]claim that there’s a [C]wo[G]man to [F]blame,
but I [G]know [F]it’s nobody’s [C]fault. [C] [C]
[verse 2]
[C]Don’t know the reason, stayed here all season
with nothing to show but this brand new tat [G]too.
but it’s a real beauty, a [G]Mexican cutie, how it got here
I haven’t a [C]clue.[C7]
[verse 3]
[F]wasted a [G]way again in Marga[C]ritaville,[C7]
[F]searchin’ for my [G]lost shaker of [C]salt.[C7]
[F]some people [G]claim that there’s a [C]wo[G]man to [F]blame,
now I [G]think, [F]hell it could be my [C]fault.[C] [C]
[Closing]
[C]I blew out my flip flop, stepped on a pop top;
Cut My heel, had to cruise on back [G]home.
But there’s [G]booze in the blender, and soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang [C]on. [C7]
[chorus]
[F]Wasted a [G]way again in Marga[C]ritaville,[C7]
[F]Searchin’ for my [G]lost shaker of [C]salt.[C7]
[F]Some people [G]claim that there’s a [C]wo[G]man to [F]blame,
But I [G]know, [F]it’s my own damn [C]fault. [C]
[F]Some people [G]claim that there’s a [C]wo[G]man to [F]blame,
But I [G]know, [F]it’s my own damn [C]fault. [C]
How to play Margaritaville on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville 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.
Margaritaville uses these transitions most often: F → G (15), G → C (14), and C → C7 (9). 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 F - G chord transition.
1. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- 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 3.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → C7 chord transition
To move from C to C7;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on G string fret 3.
4. C7 → F chord transition
To move from C7 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.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Lift your pinky from G string fret 3 and place it on D 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.
Margaritaville chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Margaritaville.
- Margaritaville includes 67 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Margaritaville contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Margaritaville 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 → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%