The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
[Opening]
[A]Desmond has a borrow in the [E]market place,
[E]Molly is a singer in the [A]band.
Desmond says to Molly, girl, I [D]like your face
And Molly [A]says this as she [E]takes him by the [A]hand,
[chorus]
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[verse 2]
[A]Desmond takes a trolly to the [E]jewller’s store.
[E]Buys a twenty carat golden [A]ring.
Takes it back to Molly waiting [D]at the door.
And as he [A]gives it to her [E]she begins to [A]sing,
[chorus]
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[chorus]
[D]In a couple of years they have built a home sweet [A]home.
[D]With a couple of kids running in the yard,
Of [A]Desmond and Molly [E]Jones.
[verse 3]
[A]Happy ever after in the [E]market place,
[E]Desmond lets the children lend a [A]hand.
Molly stays at home and does her [D]pretty face
And in the [A]evening she still [E]sings it with the [A]band.
[chorus]
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[chorus]
[D]In a couple of years they have built a home sweet [A]home.
[D]With a couple of kids running in the yard,
Of [A]Desmond and Molly [E]Jones.
[verse 4]
[A]Happy ever after in the [E]market place,
[E]Molly lets the children lend a [A]hand.
Desmond stays at home and does [D]his pretty face
And in the [A]evening she’s a [E]singer with the [A]band.
[Closing]
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [A]on.
[A]Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes [E][F#m]on bra.
[A]La-la how their [E]life goes [F#m]on.
And if you want some fun,
Take [E][A]Ob-La-Di-Bla-Da.
How to play Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 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.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da uses these transitions most often: A → E (26), E → A (18), and E → F#m (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 A - E chord transition.
1. A → E chord transition
To move from A to E;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
2. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
3. E → F#m chord transition
To move from E to F#m;
- While playing E, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
- Place pinky on D string fret 4.
4. F#m → A chord transition
To move from F#m to A;
- While playing F#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on G string fret 2.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da includes 78 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
- A → D: 29%
- A → E: 12%
After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).- E → A: 25%
- E → F#m: 9%