Dubliners - The Sick Note Chords
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,D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
[Opening]
Dear [C]Sir, I write this note to you to [G]tell you of me [C]plight
and [F]at the time of [C]writing, I am [F]not a pretty [G]sight;
me [F]body is all [C]black and blue, me [F]face a deathly [G]gray
and I [C]write this note to say why Paddy’s [G]not at work to[C]day.
[verse 2]
While working on the fourteenth floor some [G]bricks, I had to [C]clear;
now, to [F]throw them down from [C]such a height was [F]not a good i[G]dea.
the [F]foreman wasn’t [C]very pleased, he [F]being an awkward [G]sod
he [C]said I’d have to cart them down the [G]ladders in me [C]hod.
[verse 3]
Now, clearing all these bricks by hand it [G]was so very [C]slow,
so I [F]hoisted up a [C]barrel and se[F]cured the rope be[G]low.
But [F]in me haste to [C]do the job I [F]was too blind to [G]see
that a [C]barrelful of building bricks was [G]heavier than [C]me.
[verse 4]
So when I untied the rope the [G]barrel fell like [C]lead
and [F]clinging tightly [C]to the rope I [F]started up in[G]stead.
Well, I [F]shot up like a [C]rocket till to [F]my dismay I [G]found
that [C]halfway up I met the bloody [G]barrel coming [C]down.
[verse 5]
Well, the barrel broke me shoulder as [G]to the ground it [C]sped,
and [F]when I reached the [C]top I banged the [F]pully with my [G]head.
Well, I [F]clung on tight through [C]numbed with shock from [F]this almighty [G]blow
and the [C]barrel spilled out half the bricks some [G]fourteen floors be[C]low.
[verse 6]
Now, when these bricks had fallen from the [G]barrel to the [C]floor
I [F]then outweighed the [C]barrel and so [F]started down once [G]more;
still [F]clinging tightly [C]to the rope, [F]I sped towards the [G]ground,
and I [C]landed on the broken bricks that [G]were all scattered [C]round.
[verse 7]
While I lay there groaning on the ground, I [G]thought I’d passed the [C]worst,
when the [F]barrel hit the [C]pullywheel and [F]then the bottom [G]burst.
A [F]shower of bricks rained [C]down on me, I [F]hadn’t got a [G]hope
as I l[C]ay there moaning on the ground, I let [G]go of the bloody [C]rope.
[Closing]
The barrel than being heavier, it [G]started down once [C]more,
and [F]landed right a[C]cross me, as I [F]lay upon the [G]floor.
It [F]broke three ribs and [C]my left arm and [F]I can only [G]say
that I [C]hope you’ll understand why Paddy’s [G]not at work to[C]day.
How to play The Sick Note on Guitar (Step-by-step)
The Dubliners - The Sick Note on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 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 Sick Note uses these transitions most often: C → F (24), G → C (24), and C → G (16). 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 - G chord transition.
1. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
The Sick Note chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Sick Note.
- The Sick Note includes 104 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- The Sick Note contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how The Sick Note 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 G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%