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Johnny Cash - Sam Hall Chords

ChordsC, G7, C7, F, Fm
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,E,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

CWellmynameitisSamHall,SamHall
YesmynameitisSamHall,itisSamG7Hall
MyCnameitisSamC7Hall,andIFhateyouoneandall
AndIChateyouoneandG7all,damnyourCeyes.
CIkilledamantheysaid,sotheysaid
Ikilledamantheysaid,sotheyG7said
ICkilledamantheyC7said,andIFsmashedinhisFmhead
AndIClefthimlayingG7dead,damnhisCeyes.
CWella-swinginImustgo,Imustgo
A-swinginImustgo,ImustG7go
CA-swinginImustC7go,whileyouFcrittersdown Fmbelow
YelloutC“SamItoldyouG7so”,welldamnyourCeyes.
CIsawMollyinthecrowd,inthecrowd
IsawMollyinthecrowd,intheG7crowd
IsawCMollyintheC7crowd,andIFholleredrightoutFmloud
HeythereCMollyain’tyouG7proud,damnyourCeyes.
CThentheSheriffhecametoo,hecametoo
Awyeah,theSheriffhecametoo,hecameG7too
TheCSheriffhecomeC7too,Fandhesaid“SamhowareFmyou?”
AndIsaid C“WellSheriffhowareG7you?DamnyourCeyes.”
CMynameisSamuel,Samuel
MynameisSamuel, G7Samuel
MyCnameis C7Samuel,andI’llFseeyouallinFmhell
AndI’llCseeyouallinG7hell,damnyourCeyes.
AlbumJohnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West
GenresCountry
Year1965
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Sam Hall on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Johnny Cash - Sam Hall on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.

Sam Hall uses these transitions most often: C → G7 (12), G7 → C (12), and C → C7 (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 C - G7 chord transition.

1. C → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to G7:

  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 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

C to G7

2. C → C7 chord transition

Switching from C to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

C to C7

3. C7 → F chord transition

Switching from C7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

C7 to F

4. F → C chord transition

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.

This transition appears in the verse.

F to C

5. F → Fm chord transition

Switching from F to Fm:

  1. While playing F, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Keep pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

6. Fm → C chord transition

Switching from Fm to C:

  1. While playing Fm, 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. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

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

  • Sam Hall includes 47 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Sam Hall contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Sam Hall connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G7: 2%
    • C → C7: 2%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%