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Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer Chords

ChordsC, Am, G, F, Dm, Em, G7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CIamjustapoorboy,thoughmystory’sseldomAmtold
IhaveGsquanderedmyresistance
ForapocketfulofmumblessuchareCpromises
AllliesandAmjeststillaGmanhearswhatheFwantstohear
AnddisregardstheCrestGC
WhenIleftmyhomeandfamilyIwasnomorethanaAmboy
IntheGcompanyofstrangers
IntheDmquietofarailwaystationCrunningscared
LayingAmlowseekingGoutthe
PoorerFquarterswheretheraggedpeopleCgo
LookingGfortheplacesFonlyEmtheyDmwouldCknow
AmLielalie,Glielalielalielalie
LielaAmlie,GlielalielalalalalielalaGlalaClie
AskingonlyworkmanswagesIcomelookingforaAmjob
ButIgetnoGoffers
JustaDmcomeonfromthewhoresonseventhCavenue
IdoAmdeclaretherewereDmtimeswhenGIwasF
SolonesomeItooksomecomfortCthere
GOoolalalalalalaC
AmLielalie,Emlielalielalielalie
LielaAmlie,GlielalielalalalalielalaGlaClalie
CThenI’mlayingoutmywinterclothes,G7andCwishingIwasAmgone.
GoingGhomewheretheDmNewYorkG7CitywintersGaren’tCbleedingme.
Leadingme,AmgoingGhome.
IntheCclearingstandsaboxerandafighterbyhisAmtrade.
AndheGcarriesthereminders,of G7ev’ryglovethat Claidhimdown.
Orcuthim Dm‘tillheG7criedout,CinhisangerandhisAmshame.
“IamGleaving,IamFleaving.”ButthefighterstillCremains.
GCGFC
AmLielalie,Emlielalielalielalie
LielaAmlie,GlielalielalalalalielalalaAmlalie
AlbumFM Broadcasts 1965-1970, vol. 2 (Live)
Year1965
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play The Boxer on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer on guitar requires 7 chords and 14 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 Boxer uses these transitions most often: Am → G (13), C → Am (13), and G → C (8). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

Switching 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 13 times.

C to Am

2. Am → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

Am to G

3. G → C chord transition

Here's how 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

G to C

4. G → F chord transition

Here's how to move from G 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 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

G to F

5. F → C chord transition

Switching 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, played 5 times.

6. G → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Dm:

  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 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

7. Dm → C chord transition

Switching from Dm to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. F → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from F to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

9. Em → Dm chord transition

Switching from Em to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

10. 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.

11. Am → Em chord transition

Switching from Am to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

12. C → G7 chord transition

Switching 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.

13. 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, played 2 times.

14. G7 → G chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to G:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 1 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse.

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

  • The Boxer includes 75 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Boxer contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Boxer 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 → Am: 10%