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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, G7, F, Am, G, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CG7C
CNow,whenCIwasayoungFmanICcarriedmeAmpack,
andIClivedthefreeG7lifeoftheCrover.
FromtheMurray’sgreenFbasintotheCdusty Amoutback,
well,ICwaltzedmy G7MatildaallCover.
TheninG7nineteenfifteenmyFcountrysaid,
C“Son,it’sG7timeyoustoprambling,
there’sFworktobeCdone”
SotheygavemeaFtinhatandtheyCgavemeaAmgun
andtheyCmarchedme G7awaytotheCwar.FC
AndtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
astheshippulled FawayfromtheGquay.
AndF‘midstallthecheers,theflagCwavingandFtears,
weCsailedoffforG7Gallipoli.G7C
AndhowCwellI FrememberthatCterribleAmday,
howourCbloodstainedtheG7sandandtheCwater.
AndhowinthatFhellthattheyCcalledSuvlaAmBay,
wewereCbutcheredlikeG7lambsattheCslaughter.
JohnnyG7Turk,hewasready,he’dFprimedhimselfCwell,
heG7showereduswithbulletsandheFraineduswithCshell
AndinfiveminutesFflathe’dblownCusalltoAmhell,
nearlyCblewusrightG7backto CAustraliaFC
ButtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
whenwestoppedtoFburyourGslain.
FWeburiedours,andtheCTurksburiedFtheirs,
thenweCstartedallG7over Cagain.G7C
AndCthosethatwereFleft,well,weCtriedto Amsurvive,
inthatCmadworldofG7blood,deathandCfire.
AndfortenwearyFweeksIkeptCmyself Amalive,
though CaroundmetheG7corpsespiledChigher.
ThenaG7bigTurkishshellknockedmeFarseoverChead,
andG7whenIwokeupinmeFhospitalCbed
AndsawwhatithadFdone,well,ICwishedIwasAmdead,
neverCknewtherewasG7worsethingsthanCdying.FC
ForI’llCgonomoreFWaltzing CMatilda,
AllaroundthegreenFbush,farandGfree.
ToFhumptentandpegs,aCmanneedsbothFlegs,
nomore C‘Waltzing G7Matilda’forCme.G7C
SotheyCgatheredtheFcrippled,theCwounded,theAmmaimed,
andtheyCshippedusbackG7hometo CAustralia.
Thelegless,theFarmless,theCblindand Aminsane,
thoseCproudwoundedG7heroesofCSuvla.
AndG7whenourshippulledintoFCircularCQuay,
IG7lookedattheplacewhereFmelegsusedtoCbe.
AndthankedChrist,therewasFnobodyCwaitingforAmme,
toCgrieve,toG7mourn,andtoCpity.FC
ButtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
astheycarriedusFdownthe Ggangway.
ButFnobodycheered,theyCjuststoodandAmstared,
thentheyCturnedalltheirG7faces Caway.G7C
AndsoCnoweveryFAprilICsitonmeAmporch,
andICwatchthe G7paradepass Cbeforeme
AndIseemyoldFcomrades,howCproudlytheyAmmarch,
CrevivingoldG7dreamsandpastCglory.
AndtheG7oldmenmarchslowly,oldFbonesstiffandCsore;
they’reG7tiredoldheroesfromaFforgottenCwar.
AndtheyoungpeopleFask“WhatareCtheymarchingAmfor?”
andCIask G7meselfthesameCquestion.FC
CButthebandplaysFWaltzing CMatilda,
andtheoldmenstillFanswertheGcall.
ButasFyearfollowsyear,moreoldCmen Fdisappear,
somedayCnoonewillGmarchthereatCall.
CWaltzingmatilda,Fwaltzingmatilda,
Cwho’llcome Amawaltzing DmmatildawithG7me?
AndtheirCghostsmaybeG7heardastheyCmarchbythatFBillabong,
CWho’llcome Amawaltzing G7matildawithCme?
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistEric Bogle
AlbumNow I'm Easy
GenresFolk
Year1980
KeyE
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Band Played Waltzing Matilda on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda 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.

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda uses these transitions most often: F → C (46), C → F (36), and C → G7 (35). 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

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

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 35 times.

C to G7

2. C → F chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

Here's how to move from C 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. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 36 times.

C to F

3. C → Am chord transition

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

To move from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

C to Am

4. G7 → F chord transition

Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from G7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

G7 to F

5. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

6. 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.

This transition appears in the verse.

7. Am → Dm chord transition

To move from Am to Dm:

  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. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

8. Dm → G7 chord transition

To move from Dm to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

9. Am → G7 chord transition

To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse.

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

  • The Band Played Waltzing Matilda includes 203 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Band Played Waltzing Matilda contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Band Played Waltzing Matilda 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 → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.