Johnny Cash - Wayfaring Stranger Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar B7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[Em] [Am] [Em]
I’m just a [Em]poor wayfaring stranger
Travelin [Am]thru this world be[Em]low
[verse 2]
There ain’t no [Em]sickness, toil, or danger
In this bright [Am]land to which I [Em]go
I’m going [C]there to see my [G]Father
He said he’d [C]meet me when I [B7]go
[chorus]
I’ll just be [Em]going over Jordan
I’ll just be [Am]going over [Em]home
[interlude]
[Em] [Am] [Em]
[verse 3]
I know dark [Em]clouds gonna gather around me,
I know my [Am]way will be rough and [Em]steep
But beauteous [Em]fields lie before me
Where God’s re[Am]deemed their vigils [Em]keep
[Closing]
I’m going [C]there to see my [G]mother
She said she would [C]meet me when I [B7]come
[chorus]
I’ll just be [Em]going over Jordan
I’ll just be [Am]going over [Em]home
[chorus]
I’ll just be [Em]going over Jordan
I’ll just be [Am]going over [Em]home
[chorus]
I’ll just be [Em]going over Jordan
I’ll just be [Am]going over [Em]home
How to play Wayfaring Stranger on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Johnny Cash - Wayfaring Stranger on guitar requires 5 chords and 5 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.
Wayfaring Stranger uses these transitions most often: Am → Em (10), Em → Am (10), and B7 → Em (2). 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 Em - Am chord transition.
1. Em → Am chord transition
To move from Em to Am;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
2. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
3. 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.
4. C → B7 chord transition
To move from C to B7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
5. B7 → Em chord transition
To move from B7 to Em;
- While playing B7, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
Wayfaring Stranger chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Wayfaring Stranger.
- Wayfaring Stranger includes 30 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Wayfaring Stranger contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Wayfaring Stranger connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
- Em → C: 26%
- Em → Am: 12%
After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).- Am → Em: 10%