Sweet Mama Chords

KeyG# CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays569

Sweet Mama by Van Zant is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of G#. It uses the chords G, C, D7 and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
G#
Text
16
Speed
  			CAPO I 
 
 
INTRO: G      
 
RIFF: C G  C D7 G (2x) 
 
 
       G 
I was raised on the west side shanty town  
 
I didn't get up until the sun went down 
            C 
When your back's against the wall, you better get tough 
                            N.C. 
You learn real quick how to swing and duck 
 
      C 
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine 
G 
Good lookin' women backwoods and moonshine 
        D 
Learned more about life on the streets than in the school 
N.C.          
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool, that's right 
 
 
RIFF 
 
 
G 
Some folks cheat and some folks lie 
 
But I can judge a man by the look in his eye 
C 
Don't hand by Jack and try to call it cola 
                                  N.C. 
I can tell the difference between shit and shinola 
 
 
CHORUS 
 
 
SOLO: C  G  C  D 
 
 
G C G C                    G      
         I'm talkin' 'bout mama 
G C G C           D 
         Oh sweet mama 
 
G 
Mama was no angel but she taught me right from wrong 
 
She knew every single word and every note of every song 
     C 
She taught me how to gamble and how to roll the dice 
     
If it makes you feel good do it, don't think twice 
 
 
CHORUS (2x) 
 
 
RIFF (4x)  
 

    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

--
Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
No microphone? You can still tap any string above to hear its exact reference pitch.

Metronome

100 BPM Andante