“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a timeless classic, beloved for its heartwarming melody and hopeful lyrics. If you’re looking to play this beautiful song on your guitar, you’ve come to the right place. This lesson provides you with easy guitar chords for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. While more complex and embellished versions exist, this chord chart focuses on a simple harmonic progression that captures the essence of the song using basic guitar chords.
To play along with the original recording’s key of Ab, you can easily use a capo on the 1st fret and play in the key of G. The chords you will need to learn for this version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” are G, G7, C, Cm, Em, Bm, Am, F#, D, and D7.
Basic Chords to Learn “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on Guitar
These chords might seem like a few at first, but with a little practice, you’ll find they create the iconic sound of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Don’t worry if some of these are new to you; we’ll help you get started. The key chords are: G, G7, C, Cm, Em, Bm, Am, F#, D, and D7. Playing in the key of G is guitar-friendly, and as mentioned earlier, using a capo on the 1st fret will put you in the original key of Ab if you want to match the original recording.
Chord Diagrams and Chart for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
To help you visualize these chords and understand the song’s structure, we’ve provided a chord chart. This chart displays the harmonic rhythm and chord structure of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in music and tab notation. Below you will also find a basic chord chart paired with the lyrics, making it easy to strum along and sing.
Guitar chords diagram for Somewhere Over the Rainbow
A visual guide illustrating the guitar chord diagrams needed to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Lyrics and guitar chords for Somewhere Over the Rainbow
A chord chart with lyrics for Somewhere Over the Rainbow, enabling guitarists to easily play and sing along.
Click here to view the chord chart and lyrics as a pdf .
Having the chords and lyrics together like this is a great way to start learning the song’s flow. Feel free to download the PDF for easy access anytime.
Strumming and Rhythm Tips
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is written in 4/4 time, meaning there are four beats per measure. You can use almost any strumming pattern that fits within this time signature. Experiment with different strumming patterns to find what sounds best to you and matches the feel of the song. Don’t be afraid to switch up your strumming patterns throughout the song to emphasize the harmonic rhythm and dynamics. A simple down-down-up-down-up strum is a good starting point, but let your ear be your guide!
Explore Fingerstyle Guitar and More Songs
If you are interested in expanding your guitar skills beyond basic strumming, consider exploring fingerstyle guitar arrangements. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sounds particularly beautiful as a fingerstyle piece. For those wanting to delve deeper, I offer a fingerstyle arrangement of “Over the Rainbow.”
For access to fingerstyle arrangements, video lessons, and tabs, consider becoming a member of guitarplayers.net. Members gain access to a vast library of fingerstyle guitar lessons covering a range of songs and techniques, from beginner-friendly patterns to more intricate melodies. New arrangements and lessons are added each month, spanning various styles and difficulty levels. Visit the song list page to preview the available fingerstyle arrangements and discover new songs to learn. Sign up today to unlock a world of fingerstyle guitar learning!
