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Bob Marley - Redemption Song Chords

ChordsG, Em7, C, Am, Em, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar Em7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-0-0-0Guitar Em7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram


Old [G]Pirates, yes, they [Em7]rob I
[C]Sold I to the [G]merchant [Am]ships
[G]minutes after they [Em]took I, [C]from the [G]bottomless [Am]pit
But my [G]hand was [Em7]made strong
By the [C]hand of [G]the Al[Am]mighty
We [G]forward in this gener[Em]ation [C]triumphant[D]ly


[D]Won’t you help to [G]sing [C]these [D]songs of [G]freedom?
‘Cause [C]all I [D]ever [Em]had, [C]re[D]demption [G]songs,
[C]re[D]demption [G]songs [C][D]


Emanci[G]pate yourselves from mental [Em7]slavery,
None but our[C]selves can [G]free our [Am]minds
Have no [G]fear for atomic [Em]energy,
‘Cause none of[C]them can [G]stop the [Am]time
How [G]long shall they kill our [Em7]prophets
While we [C]stand a[G]side and [Am]look?
Yes, some [G]say it’s just a [Em]part of it.
We’ve [C]got to fulfill the [D]book


Won’t you help to [G]sing [C]these [D]songs of [G]freedom?
‘Cause [C]all I [D]ever [Em]had, [C]re[D]demption [G]songs,
[C]re[D]demption [G]songs [C]re[D]demption [G]songs [C][D]


[Em][C][D]x4


Emanci[G]pate yourselves from mental [Em7]slavery,
None but our[C]selves can [G]free our [Am]minds
Have no [G]fear for atomic [Em]energy,
‘Cause none of[C]them can [G]stop the [Am]time
How [G]long shall they kill our [Em7]prophets
While we [C]stand a[G]side and [Am]look?
Yes, some [G]say it’s just a [Em]part of it.
We’ve [C]got to fulfill the [D]book


[D]Won’t you help to [G]sing [C]these [D]songs of [G]freedom?
‘Cause [C]all I [D]ever [Em]had, [C]re[D]demption [G]songs,
[C]All I [D]ever [Em]had, [C]re[D]demption [G]songs,
[C]These [D]songs of [G]freedom
[C][D]Songs of [G]freedom [C][G][Am]

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AlbumUprising
GenresReggae
Year1980
KeyG

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

Bob Marley - Redemption Song 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.

Redemption Song uses these transitions most often: C → D (22), D → G (17), and G → C (15). 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 G - Em7 chord transition.

1. G → Em7 chord transition

To move from G to Em7;

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
G to Em7

2. Em7 → C chord transition

To move from Em7 to C;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
Em7 to C

3. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

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

4. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am;

  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 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
G to Am

5. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

  1. While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

6. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C;

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

7. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

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

8. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

9. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em;

  1. While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

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

  • Redemption Song includes 117 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Redemption Song contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Redemption Song connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Am: 13%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%