Video lesson
Get the PDF chord sheet (4 pages)
- Support me on Patreon.com to get access to this and 200+ other PDF chord sheets I've made, plus new PDFs I make going forward (1-2 added each week).
- The cost is $3/month (one month minimum, cancel anytime). Annual plans also available. Here's a free sample if you're on the fence. Thanks!
After clicking the button and logging in to Patreon, look for the PDF attached to the bottom of the post.
Editorβs notes
This guitar lesson is for a solo acoustic version of βSweet Home Alabamaβ by Lynyrd Skynyrd. For this classic song, Iβll show you how to play all of the recognizable riffs and fills you hear during the song: including during the intro, verses, and choruses. Iβll also show you how to play the chords used during the entire song, including strumming patterns (both simple and complex). My aim with this lesson is to give you the core building blocks youβll need to take this song to advanced places, should you wish. I wonβt cover the solo or 100% note-for-note tab recreations of what each guitar plays during the song, as thatβs a huge effort and others have done that in many cases.
Lyrics with chords
INTRO
D ... Cadd9 ... G ... G ... (x4, with riff)
VERSE
D Cadd9 G
...Big wheels, keep on turning
D Cadd9 G
...Carry me home to see my kin
D Cadd9 G
...Singing songs about the Southland
D Cadd9 G
...I miss ole 'Bamy once again, and I think it's a sin, yeah
INTERLUDE
D ... C ... G ... G ... (x2, with interlude riff)
D Cadd9 G
...Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her
D Cadd9 G
...Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
D Cadd9 G
...Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
D Cadd9 G
...A southern man don't need him around, anyhow
CHORUS
D Cadd9 G
Sweet home, Alabama
D Cadd9 G
Where the skies are so blue
D Cadd9 G
Sweet home, Alabama
D Cadd9 G
Lord, I'm coming home to you
(interlude)
F C D
In Birmingham they love the governor (boo, hoo, hoo!)
Now, we all did what we could do
Now, Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth
[chorus]
Here I come... Alabama...
(solo + interlude)
Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord, they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how about you?
[chorus x2, solo to end]
Chords needed
For 99% of the song, youβll only need to know these 3 chords. If youβve never seen the Cadd9 chord before, donβt be scared! Itβs actually easier to play than the typical C-major chord, since youβll be keeping your left-ring and left-pinky fingers in the same place as they are in the G chord.
E βββ2βββββ3βββββ3ββββ
B βββ3βββββ3βββββ3ββββ
G βββ2βββββ0βββββ0ββββ
D βββ0βββββ2βββββ0ββββ
A βββββββββ3βββββ2ββββ
E βββββββββββββββ3ββββ
D Cadd9 G
Thereβs one place in the song (the βboo-hooβ lyric) where an F chord is needed. You can play a full 6 string F if you please, but know you can also get away with a 4-string F that only uses the middle four strings.
E βββ(1)βββ
B ββββ1ββββ
G ββββ2ββββ
D ββββ3ββββ
A ββββ3ββββ
E βββ(1)βββ
F
Chord progression for the entire song
For the entire song, youβll want to use this progression from D to Cadd9 to G. Repeat it over and over:
"Sweet wheels keep on turning..."
D . . . Cadd9 . . . G . . . G . . .
In one or two cases, youβll change this for one progression by throwing an F into the mix. You can use as simplified an F as you prefer:
"In Birmingham they love the Governor, boo hoo..."
D . . . Cadd9 . . . G . . . F . C .
How to play the main riff
There are many ways you can play this β each has slight variations in the final measure. Iβm not super interested in mapping each of these out to their exact location in the songβ¦ for that, I leave it to you to listen to the album version, watch my video, and combine these as you prefer. Also, note that some of these riffs may not be 100% accurate to what you hear in the album version β Iβm less concerned with an exact reproduction, and more concerned with giving you the structure thatβll get you started with things.
Variation A:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββ0h2ββ0ββββββββββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|βββββββ2ββ|ββ0h2βββββββββ2ββ0h2ββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββ3β3βββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G
Variation B:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββ2β0β0βββ4β0β0βββ5~~β
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|βββββββ2ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββ3β3βββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G
Variation C:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββ0h2ββ0ββββββββββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|βββββββ2ββ|ββ0h2βββββββββββ3βββββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββ3β3βββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G
Variation D:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββ0βββββ0βββββ0βββββ0βββββ0ββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|ββ0h2βββ0h2βββ0h2βββ0h2βββ0h2ββββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G
Variation E:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββ3ββ|βββ1ββββ-βββ1βββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββ0ββ|βββ2ββββ-βββ0βββββββββ
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββ|βββ3ββββ-βββ2βββββββββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|βββββββ2ββ|βββ3ββββ-βββ3βββββββββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββ3β3βββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G F C
Variation F:
e βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ3ββββ|ββββββ3ββββ|βββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2ββ|ββββββββ0ββ|βββββββ0ββ|βββββββββββββββββ2p0ββ
D ββ0β0ββββββ|βββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββ|ββββββ0h2ββ0ββββββββββ
A βββββββββββ|ββ3β3ββββββ|βββββββ2ββ|ββ0h2βββββββββ3βββββββ
E βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ|ββ3β3βββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Cadd9 G
Interlude riff
This is what you hear between each verse. Again, there are a few ways you can play it. Use the method(s) that work for your needs.
Variation A:
e βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββ0βββββββββ
G ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|ββββββββ0β0ββββ|ββββββ2ββ0ββ
D ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
A ββ7h8h9βββββ9ββ|ββ5h7βββββββ|ββ0h1h2ββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββ
D C G Variation B:
e βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββ0β1β0ββ3ββ
G ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|ββββββββ0β0ββββ|ββββββββββββ
D ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
A ββ7h8h9βββββ9ββ|ββ5h7βββββββ|ββ0h1h2ββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ3ββ|ββββββββββββ
D C G
Variation C:
e βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββ4βββ4βββββ
D ββββββββ7β7ββββ|βββββββ5β5ββ|ββββββββ5β5ββββ|ββ5βββ5βββββ
A ββ7h8h9βββββ9ββ|ββ5h7βββββββ|βββββββββββββββ|ββ5βββ5βββββ
E βββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββ|ββ5h6h7βββββ3ββ|ββ3βββ3βββββ
D C G
Strumming Patterns
Hereβs a few ways to strum it, in order of complexity (starting at the easiest version). The ββ symbol in the patterns below designates playing the bass note of that chord, for that strum. See my video for reference for all these.
D . C . G . . .
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d d d d d d d d
D . C . G . . .
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d d d u d d d d u d
D . C . G . . .
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d d d d d d d d d d d d
Β― Β― > Β― Β― > Β― Β― > Β― Β― >
D . C . G . . .
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d d d dud d d dud d d dud d d du
Β― Β― > Β― Β― > Β― Β― > Β― Β― >
Hope that helps!
Let me know how things work for you when learning this song! Hopefully well. Hit me up with any comments / questions / etc.
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
You can also support me on Patreon. For only $3/month you'll get access to a print-friendly PDF of my notes for each new lesson (view free sample).
Thanks!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent video lessons:
π Print-friendly PDFs now available for all new lessons I make, including all those listed below. Get a free sample Β»
-
Adding Pentatonic Fills over D-Cadd9-G
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 23, 2020 β’Β Lesson #348
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
7 Summers
by Morgan Wallen
Jan 16, 2020 β’Β Lesson #347
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
by Nathan Evans
Jan 13, 2020 β’Β Lesson #346
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Melody Notes in "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 10, 2020 β’Β Lesson #344
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Blank Guitar Tab Templates
Free PDF (7-pages)
Jan 9, 2020 β’Β Lesson #345
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Auld Lang Syne
traditional New Years song
Dec 30, 2020 β’Β Lesson #203
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Sunday Morning Coming Down
by Johnny Cash / K. Kristofferson
Dec 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #98
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
O Holy Night
by Sufjan Stevens
Dec 24, 2020 β’Β Lesson #343
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Nothing Compares 2 U
by Chris Cornell
Dec 12, 2020 β’Β Lesson #339
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Cats in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin
Dec 5, 2020 β’Β Lesson #341
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Sweet Virginia
by The Rolling Stones
Nov 29, 2020 β’Β Lesson #340
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Last Christmas
by Wham!
Nov 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #200
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
You've Got a Friend in Me
Toy Story / Randy Newman
Nov 22, 2020 β’Β Lesson #338
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Enough to Leave
by Billy Strings
Nov 15, 2020 β’Β Lesson #337
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
by Bob Dylan
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #88
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
"Starlight" Riff in F#
Warm-Up Exercise
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #336
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Thunder Road
by Bruce Springsteen
Nov 1, 2020 β’Β Lesson #335
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
G finger position guide
Tips & Technique
Oct 25, 2020 β’Β Lesson #334
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Oct 23, 2020 β’Β Lesson #65
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»
-
Father and Son
by Cat Stevens
Oct 18, 2020 β’Β Lesson #333
Watch Video & Get PDF Β»