Guitar Tab for Southern Cross: Learn to Play This Classic Hit

“Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills & Nash (or Stephen Stills solo, depending on version) is a timeless classic, beloved by guitar players for its beautiful melody and sing-along quality. If you’re looking to learn how to play this iconic song on your guitar, you’ve come to the right place! This guide provides you with easy-to-read guitar tabs and chord structures so you can master “Southern Cross” and impress your friends or simply enjoy playing it yourself.

Intro Tab

The intro to “Southern Cross” sets a relaxed and melodic tone. Here are the chords to get you started:

|A G| D |A G| |D A|

These chords create the signature opening sound of the song. Practice transitioning smoothly between A, G, and D chords to capture the flowing feel of the intro.

Verse 1 Tab

The verses of “Southern Cross” tell a story of escape and self-discovery. The chord progression remains consistent, making it easy to learn and memorize.

**|A G| D** Got outta town on a boat for the southern islands
**|A G | |D A|** Sailing a reach before a following sea
**|A G| D** She was making for the trades on the outside
**|A G| |D A|** And the downhill run to Papeete Bay

As you can see, the verse uses the same chord pattern as the intro: |A G| D and |A G| |D A|. Focus on your strumming rhythm to match the song’s gentle groove.

Verse 2 Tab

Continuing the narrative, the second verse builds on the themes introduced in the first. The chords remain the same, allowing you to concentrate on the lyrics and rhythm.

**|A G| D** Off this wind on this heading lie the Marqueses
**| A G| |D A|** We got eighty feet of the waterline nicely making way
**|A G| D** In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you
**|A G| |D G A - |** But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away

Notice the slight variation at the end of the second verse, leading into the pre-chorus with |D G A – |. This creates a subtle shift in the song’s dynamics.

Pre-Chorus Tab

The pre-chorus introduces a moment of reflection, both musically and lyrically, before building up to the chorus.

**Pre-Chorus:**  **A (2/4)** Think about **| G D | |G A|**  Think about how many times I have fallen
**| G D| | G A|** Spirits are using me, larger voices calling **|G D| |G A| A** What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

The pre-chorus uses a slightly different chord progression: | G D | |G A|, creating a sense of anticipation for the chorus. The A (2/4) indicates a shorter duration for the A chord, adding a rhythmic nuance.

Chorus Tab

The chorus of “Southern Cross” is powerful and anthemic, delivering the song’s central message of searching for enduring love.

**Chorus:** **A(2/4) |D G| A** I have been around the world
**|D G | A** Looking for that woman girl
**|D G| A** Who knows love can endure
**|A G| D |A G| |D A|** And you know it will

The chorus chord progression |D G| A is catchy and memorable. Strum with more energy in the chorus to emphasize the emotional intensity of this part of the song.

Verse 3 Tab

The third verse brings in the iconic imagery of the Southern Cross constellation, linking the personal journey with a broader, almost cosmic perspective.

**Verse:**  **|A G| D** When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
**|A G| |D A|** You understand now why you came this way
**|A G| D** Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small
**|A G| |D A| A (mute)** But it's as big as the promise the promise of a coming day

Again, the familiar verse chords |A G| D and |A G| |D A| are present. The A (mute) at the end adds a dramatic pause before the next line.

Verse 4 Tab

Verse four continues the sailing metaphor and deepens the themes of dreams and love.

**|A G| D** So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dying
**|A G| |D A (mute)|** And my love is an anchor tied to you tied with silver chain
**|A G| D** I have my ship and all her flags are a flying
**|A G| |D G A -|** She is all that I have left And music is her name

The chord structure remains consistent, allowing you to focus on the evocative lyrics and the song’s emotional core.

Pre-Chorus 2 & Chorus 2 Tab

These sections repeat the chord progressions from the first pre-chorus and chorus, reinforcing the song’s structure and themes.

**Pre-Chorus:**  **A (2/4)** Think about **| G D | |G A|**  Think about how many times I have fallen
**| G D| | G A|** Spirits are using me, larger voices calling **|G D| |G A| A** What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

**Chorus:** **A(2/4) |D G| A** I have been around the world
**|D G | A** Looking for that woman girl
**|D G| A** Who knows love can endure
**|A G| D |A G| |D A|** And you know it will
**|A G| |D A|** And you know it will

**|A G | D | A G | D A| |A G | D | A G | D A|**

Practice these sections to solidify your understanding of the song’s form.

Verse 5 Tab

The final verse offers a slightly different perspective, reflecting on relationships and resilience, before returning to the chorus and outro.

**Verse:  |A G| D** So we cheated and we lied and we tested
**|A G| |D A|** And we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do
**|A G| D** You will survive being bested
**|A G| (2/4) |D Bm| A** Somebody fine will come along make me forget about loving you
**|A G| D |A G| D** In the Southern Cross.

This verse introduces a slight chord variation with |D Bm| A before returning to the familiar |A G| D progression, providing a sense of closure.

Conclusion

Learning to play “Southern Cross” on guitar is a rewarding experience for any guitarist. Its relatively simple chord structure and repetitive progressions make it accessible for beginners, while its beautiful melody and meaningful lyrics offer depth for more experienced players. With these guitar tabs, you can start playing along with this classic song today. Practice each section slowly at first, gradually increasing your speed as you become more comfortable with the chord changes. Enjoy playing “Southern Cross” and sharing this wonderful song with others!