Dubliners - The Sick Note Chords

ChordsC, G, F

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,D,G keys to play this song with easier chords.

DearCSir,IwritethisnotetoyoutoGtellyouofmeCplight

andFatthetimeofCwriting,IamFnotaprettyGsight;

meFbodyisallCblackandblue,meFfaceadeathlyGgray

andICwritethisnotetosaywhyPaddy’sGnotatwork Ctoday.

WhileworkingonthefourteenthfloorsomeGbricks,IhadtoCclear;

now,toFthrowthemdownfromCsuchaheightwasFnotagood Gidea.

theFforemanwasn’tCverypleased,heFbeinganawkwardGsod

heCsaidI’dhavetocartthemdowntheGladdersinmeChod.

Now,clearingallthesebricksbyhanditGwassoveryCslow,

soIFhoistedupaCbarreland Fsecuredtherope Gbelow.

ButFinmehastetoCdothejobIFwastooblindtoGsee

thataCbarrelfulofbuildingbrickswasGheavierthanCme.

SowhenIuntiedtheropetheGbarrelfelllikeClead

andFclingingtightlyCtotheropeIFstartedup Ginstead.

Well,IFshotuplikeaCrockettilltoFmydismayIGfound

thatChalfwayupImetthebloodyGbarrelcomingCdown.

Well,thebarrelbrokemeshoulderasGtothegrounditCsped,

andFwhenIreachedtheCtopIbangedtheFpullywithmyGhead.

Well,IFclungontightthroughCnumbedwithshockfromFthisalmightyGblow

andtheCbarrelspilledouthalfthebrickssomeGfourteenfloors Cbelow.

Now,whenthesebrickshadfallenfromtheGbarreltotheCfloor

IFthenoutweighedtheCbarrelandsoFstarteddownonceGmore;

stillFclingingtightlyCtotherope,FIspedtowardstheGground,

andIClandedonthebrokenbricksthatGwereallscatteredCround.

WhileIlaytheregroaningontheground,IGthoughtI’dpassedtheCworst,

whentheFbarrelhittheCpullywheelandFthenthebottomGburst.

AFshowerofbricksrainedCdownonme,IFhadn’tgotaGhope

asI Claytheremoaningontheground,IletGgoofthebloodyCrope.

Thebarrelthanbeingheavier,itGstarteddownonceCmore,

andFlandedright Cacrossme,asIFlayupontheGfloor.

ItFbrokethreeribsandCmyleftarmandFIcanonlyGsay

thatIChopeyou’llunderstandwhyPaddy’sGnotatwork Ctoday.

ArtistThe Dubliners

AlbumLive in Carré

GenresCeltic

Year1985

KeyC

DifficultyIntermediate

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

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 24 times.

3. F → G chord transition

Switching 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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

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%