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Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Ukulele Chords

ChordsC, G7, F, Am, G, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

CG7C
CNow,whenCIwasayoungFmanICcarriedmeAmpack,
andIClivedthefreeG7lifeoftheCrover.
FromtheMurray’sgreenFbasintotheCdusty Amoutback,
well,ICwaltzedmy G7MatildaallCover.
TheninG7nineteenfifteenmyFcountrysaid,
C“Son,it’sG7timeyoustoprambling,
there’sFworktobeCdone”
SotheygavemeaFtinhatandtheyCgavemeaAmgun
andtheyCmarchedme G7awaytotheCwar.FC
AndtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
astheshippulled FawayfromtheGquay.
AndF‘midstallthecheers,theflagCwavingandFtears,
weCsailedoffforG7Gallipoli.G7C
AndhowCwellI FrememberthatCterribleAmday,
howourCbloodstainedtheG7sandandtheCwater.
AndhowinthatFhellthattheyCcalledSuvlaAmBay,
wewereCbutcheredlikeG7lambsattheCslaughter.
JohnnyG7Turk,hewasready,he’dFprimedhimselfCwell,
heG7showereduswithbulletsandheFraineduswithCshell
AndinfiveminutesFflathe’dblownCusalltoAmhell,
nearlyCblewusrightG7backto CAustraliaFC
ButtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
whenwestoppedtoFburyourGslain.
FWeburiedours,andtheCTurksburiedFtheirs,
thenweCstartedallG7over Cagain.G7C
AndCthosethatwereFleft,well,weCtriedto Amsurvive,
inthatCmadworldofG7blood,deathandCfire.
AndfortenwearyFweeksIkeptCmyself Amalive,
though CaroundmetheG7corpsespiledChigher.
ThenaG7bigTurkishshellknockedmeFarseoverChead,
andG7whenIwokeupinmeFhospitalCbed
AndsawwhatithadFdone,well,ICwishedIwasAmdead,
neverCknewtherewasG7worsethingsthanCdying.FC
ForI’llCgonomoreFWaltzing CMatilda,
AllaroundthegreenFbush,farandGfree.
ToFhumptentandpegs,aCmanneedsbothFlegs,
nomore C‘Waltzing G7Matilda’forCme.G7C
SotheyCgatheredtheFcrippled,theCwounded,theAmmaimed,
andtheyCshippedusbackG7hometo CAustralia.
Thelegless,theFarmless,theCblindand Aminsane,
thoseCproudwoundedG7heroesofCSuvla.
AndG7whenourshippulledintoFCircularCQuay,
IG7lookedattheplacewhereFmelegsusedtoCbe.
AndthankedChrist,therewasFnobodyCwaitingforAmme,
toCgrieve,toG7mourn,andtoCpity.FC
ButtheCbandplayedFWaltzing CMatilda,
astheycarriedusFdownthe Ggangway.
ButFnobodycheered,theyCjuststoodandAmstared,
thentheyCturnedalltheirG7faces Caway.G7C
AndsoCnoweveryFAprilICsitonmeAmporch,
andICwatchthe G7paradepass Cbeforeme
AndIseemyoldFcomrades,howCproudlytheyAmmarch,
CrevivingoldG7dreamsandpastCglory.
AndtheG7oldmenmarchslowly,oldFbonesstiffandCsore;
they’reG7tiredoldheroesfromaFforgottenCwar.
AndtheyoungpeopleFask“WhatareCtheymarchingAmfor?”
andCIask G7meselfthesameCquestion.FC
CButthebandplaysFWaltzing CMatilda,
andtheoldmenstillFanswertheGcall.
ButasFyearfollowsyear,moreoldCmen Fdisappear,
somedayCnoonewillGmarchthereatCall.
CWaltzingmatilda,Fwaltzingmatilda,
Cwho’llcome Amawaltzing DmmatildawithG7me?
AndtheirCghostsmaybeG7heardastheyCmarchbythatFBillabong,
CWho’llcome Amawaltzing G7matildawithCme?
AlbumNow I'm Easy
GenresFolk
Year1980
KeyE
DifficultyEasy

How to play The Band Played Waltzing Matilda on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda on ukulele requires 6 chords and 9 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 Band Played Waltzing Matilda uses these transitions most often: F → C (46), C → F (36), and C → G7 (35). 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 - G7 chord transition.

1. C → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from C to G7:

  1. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 35 times.

C to G7

2. C → F chord transition

Here's how to move from C to F:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 36 times.

C to F

3. C → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Am:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 18 times.

C to Am

4. G7 → F chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to F:

  1. While playing G7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 10 times.

G7 to F

5. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

6. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G:

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

7. Am → Dm chord transition

Switching from Am to Dm:

  1. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

8. Dm → G7 chord transition

Switching from Dm to G7:

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

This transition appears in the section.

9. Am → G7 chord transition

Switching from Am to G7:

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

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

  • The Band Played Waltzing Matilda includes 203 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • The Band Played Waltzing Matilda contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Band Played Waltzing Matilda connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%