Skip to song content

Ricky Nelson - Travelin’ Man Chords

ChordsBm, D, G, A7, A, F#m, E7
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

BmDBm
I’maDtravelin’man
I’veBmmadealotofstops,DallovertheBmworld
AndinDeveryportIGowntheheart,
ofatDleastoneA7lovelyAgirl
I’veaDprettySenorita,Bmwaitingforme
Ddowninold BmMexico
Ifyou’reDeverinAlaskaGstopandsee,
myDcutelittleA7Eskimo
Oh,myGsweetFrauliendowninF#mBerlintown
GmakesmyheartstarttoDyearn
AndmyGChinadolldowninF#moldHongKong,
E7waitsformy A7return
PrettyDPolynesianbabyBmoverthesea,
DIremembertheA7night
WhenweBmwalkedinthesandsoftheGWaikiki,
andDIheldyouA7ohsoDtight
OhmyGsweetFrauliendowninF#mBerlintown
GmakesmyheartstarttoDyearn
AndmyGChinadolldowninF#moldHongKong,
E7waitsformy A7return
PrettyDPolynesianbabyBmoverthesea
DIremembertheA7night
WhenweBmwalkedinthesandsoftheGWaikiki,
andDIheldyouA7ohsoDtight
DOh,I’maBmtravelin’man
DYes,I’maBmtravelin’man
DYes,I’maBmtravelin’man
DAD
AlbumSingle
Year1961
KeyBm
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Travelin' Man on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man on guitar requires 7 chords and 10 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.

Travelin' Man uses these transitions most often: Bm → D (11), D → Bm (10), and D → A7 (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 Bm - D chord transition.

1. Bm → D chord transition

Switching from Bm to D:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

Bm to D

2. D → G chord transition

Here's how to move from D to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

D to G

3. D → A7 chord transition

To move from D to A7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

D to A7

4. A7 → A chord transition

To move from A7 to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

A7 to A

5. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. G → F#m chord transition

Switching from G to F#m:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

7. F#m → E7 chord transition

Switching from F#m to E7:

  1. While playing F#m, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

8. E7 → A7 chord transition

Here's how to move from E7 to A7:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

9. A7 → Bm chord transition

Here's how to move from A7 to Bm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

10. Bm → G chord transition

Switching from Bm to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Travelin' Man.

  • Travelin' Man includes 62 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Travelin' Man contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Travelin' Man connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%
    After Bm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (25%), A (19%), and Em (13%).
    • Bm → G: 25%
    • Bm → D: 12%