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Grateful Dead - Ripple Chords

ChordsG, C, D, Am, A
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 D,A keys to play this song with easier chords.

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


[G]If my words did glow with the gold of [C]sunshine
[C]And my tunes were played on the harp un[G]strung
[G]Would you hear my voice come through the [C]music
[C]Would you [G]hold it [D]near [C]as it were your [G]own?


[G]It’s a hand me down, the thoughts are [C]broken
[C]Perhaps they’re better left un[G]sung
[G]I don’t know, don’t really [C]care
[G]Let there be [D]songs [C]to fill the [G]air


[Am]Ripple in still [D]water
When there [G]is no pebble [C]tossed
Nor [A]wind to [D]blow


Reach out your [G]hand if your cup be [C]empty
[C]If your cup is full may it be a[G]gain
[G]Let it be known there is a [C]fountain
[G]That was not [D]made [C]by the hands of [G]men


[G]There is a road, no simple [C]highway
[C]Between the dawn and the dark of [G]night
[G]And if you go no one may [C]follow
[G]That path is [D]for [C]your steps [G]alone


[Am]Ripple in still [D]water
When there [G]is no pebble [C]tossed
Nor [A]wind to [D]blow


You who [G]choose to lead must [C]follow
[C]But if you fall you fall a[G]lone
[G]If you should stand then who’s to [C]guide you?
[G]If I knew the [D]way [C]I would take you [G]home


Lat da dat [G]da, Lah da ah da [C]da, da
[C]La da da, la da, da da daah, da [G]da
[G]Lat da dat da, Lah da ah da [C]da, da
[G]La da da [D]da, [C]Lah da da da [G]da

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AlbumAmerican Beauty
Year1970
KeyG

How to play Ripple on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Grateful Dead - Ripple on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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.

Ripple uses these transitions most often: C → G (18), G → C (14), and D → C (6). 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 - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

  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 A string fret 3.
G to C

2. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

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

3. D → C chord transition

To move from D to C;

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

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. Am → D chord transition

To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.

6. C → A chord transition

To move from C to A;

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

7. A → D chord transition

To move from A to D;

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

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

  • Ripple includes 56 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Ripple contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Ripple 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 → D: 24%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → A: 1%