The Beatles - Octopus’s Garden Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar C#m | D♭m chord diagram
Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
[B] [E] [B] [A] [B] [E] [C#m] [A] [B]
[E]I’d like to be [C#m]under the sea, [A]in an Octopus’s Garden in the [B]shade.
[E]He’d let us in, [C#m]knows where we’ve been,, [A]in his Octopus’s Garden in the [B]shade.
[C#m]I’d ask my friends to come and see, [A]an Octopus’s [B]Garden with me.
[E]I’d like to be [C#m]under the sea, [A]in an Octopus’s [B]Garden in the [E]shade.
[verse 2]
[E]We would be warm [C#m]below the storm, [A]in our little hideaway beneath the [B]waves.
[E]Resting our head [C#m]on the sea bed, [A]in an Octopus’s Garden near a [B]cave.
[C#m]We would sing and dance around, [A]because we know we [B]can’t be found.
[E]I’d like to be [C#m]under the sea, [A]in an Octopus’s [B]Garden in the [E]shade.
[Closing]
[A] [F#m] [D] [E] [A] [F#m] [D] [E] [A] [B]
[E]We would shout [C#m]and swim about, [A]the coral that lies beneath the [B]waves.
[E]Oh, what joy for [C#m]every girl and boy, [A]knowing they’re happy and they’re [B]safe.
[C#m]We would be so happy, you and me, [A]no one there to tell us what to [B]do.
[E]I’d like to be [C#m]under the sea, [A]in an Octopus’s [B]Garden with [C#m]you,
[A]In an Octopus’s [B]Garden with [C#m]you, [A]in an Octopus’s [B]Garden with [E]you, [B] [E]
How to play Octopus's Garden on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Beatles - Octopus's Garden on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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.
Octopus's Garden uses these transitions most often: A → B (17), C#m → A (15), and B → E (14). 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 B - E chord transition.
1. B → E chord transition
To move from B to E;
- While playing B, lift your pinky from B string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 4 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.
2. B → A chord transition
To move from B to A;
- While playing B, lift your pinky from B string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 4 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.
3. E → C#m chord transition
To move from E to C#m;
- Keep index finger on G string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
- Place pinky on A string fret 4.
4. C#m → A chord transition
To move from C#m to A;
- While playing C#m, lift your pinky from A string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 2.
5. B → C#m chord transition
To move from B to C#m;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 2.
- Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to A string fret 4.
6. E → A chord transition
To move from E to A;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
7. A → F#m chord transition
To move from A to F#m;
- While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 4.
- Place pinky on D string fret 4.
8. F#m → D chord transition
To move from F#m to D;
- 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 G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on E string fret 2.
9. D → E chord transition
To move from D to E;
- Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
Octopus's Garden chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Octopus's Garden.
- Octopus's Garden includes 73 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Octopus's Garden contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Octopus's Garden connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After B, the most likely next chords across Chordier are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).
- B → E: 21%
- B → A: 16%
After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).- A → F#m: 6%
- A → B: 4%