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Melanie Safka - The Nickel Song Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Bb, C
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,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

[chorus]
[F] [Bb] [F] [C] [F]
[C]Well, you [F]know that I’m not a gambler
But I’m [Bb]being gambled on
They put in a [F]nickel and I [C]sing a little [F]song
[F]Dad da dad da dad da da da
Dadn [Bb]da dad da da da
They put in a [F]nickel and I [C]sing a little [F]song

[Opening]
[F]Well I don’t mind that they’re lucky, but it [Bb]seems like they always win
And gambling is i[F]llegal in the [C]state of mind I’m [F]in
[F]And if I had a nickel for each [Bb]time that I’ve been put on
I would be the [F]nickel man and I’d [C]sing a nickel [F]song

[verse 2]
You know, hey’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel
And they [C]want a dollar [F]song
Oh, they’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel
And they [C]want a dollar [F]song

[verse 3]
[F]Well, you know I know I don’t know so many things
But I [Bb]know what’s been going on
We’re only putting in a [F]little to get [C]rid of a lot that’s [F]wrong

[verse 4]
And if we had a nickel for each [Bb]time that we’ve been put on
We’d all be the [F]nickel man and we’d [C]sing a nickel [F]song, you know

[verse 5]
They’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel
And they [C]want a dollar [F]song
Oh, they’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel
And they [C]want a dollar [F]song

[chorus]
[F]Well, you know that I’m not a gambler
But I’m [Bb]being gambled on
They put in a [F]nickel and I [C]sing a little [F]song
[F]Dad da dad da dad da da da
Dadn [Bb]da dad da da da
Dad da dad da [F]da da, Da da [C]dad da da [F]da

[verse 6]
Da da da [Bb]da dadn [F]da da da
[C]Da da da da [F]dad da da da
[Bb]Da da da da [F]dad da da da
[C]Da da da da [F]dad da da da

[Closing]
They’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel and they [C]want a dollar [F]song
We’re only putting in a [F]little to get [C]rid of a lot.
They’re [Bb]only putting in a [F]nickel and they [C]want a dollar [F]song

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SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistMelanie Safka
AlbumThe Good Book
GenresFolk, Folk Rock, Rock
Year1971
KeyF

How to play The Nickel Song on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Melanie Safka - The Nickel Song on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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.

The Nickel Song uses these transitions most often: F → C (19), C → F (18), and Bb → F (17). 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 - Bb chord transition.

1. F → Bb chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

To move from F to Bb;

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

2. F → C chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from F to C;

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
F to C

3. C → Bb chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram

To move from C to Bb;

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

The Nickel Song chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Nickel Song.

  • The Nickel Song includes 71 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Nickel Song contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Nickel Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → Bb: 5%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    • C → Bb: 2%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.