Learn "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett on Guitar

In this easy lesson, we'll learn how to play Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett on the acoustic guitar. This song is perfect for beginners; you mostly need easy open chords, which often last several bars, and the strumming pattern is pretty simple.

If you're a more Intermediate Guitar Player, you can explore the awesome lead lines and other chord embellishments. :)

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Margaritaville is super fun to play; I know you'll dig this song, so grab your guitar and let's get stuck in.

Intro Chord Sequence

The intro for Margaritaville lasts five bars, and the chord progression is D, G, A, D, D.

💡 Lasting give bars is strange! Music usually works in fours, eights, twelves, and sixteens. But the melody fits well, so as long as you're familiar with Margaritaville, you should find it easy to play this unusual intro.

If you need extra help playing D, G, and A chords, Grade 1 of my free Beginner Guitar Course is the place to go. :)

Verse Chord Sequence

The verse sequence lasts 16 bars: it starts with six bars of D, then two bars of A, another six bars of A, then two bars of D. See how there are only two chord changes?

It's best to think of it like this rather than thinking six of D, eight of A, and two of D. You'll find it easier to locate the two halves and the chord changes. If you need help, check out the Verse Demo chapter for the guitar and vocal.

Chorus Chord Sequence

The chorus also lasts 16 bars, but there are more chord changes. The progression is as follows:

G, A, D, D
G, A, D, D
G, A, |D  A/C# |, G
A, A, D, D

The A/C# is a bit trickier than the standard open A chord. If you're still learning the basic open chords, you can leave it out - it won't make a big difference. Just play open A instead. :)

Arrangement

To play the instrumental section, play the first eight bars of the verse, then the last eight bars of the chorus.

We finish the song with a chorus, followed by the last eight bars of the chorus, and we finish with a quick shift from D to A to D.

Strumming Pattern

A wicked pattern for Margaritaville is even eighth notes with accents on beats 2 and 4. This drumming pattern drives the song if you're playing alone! In a band, the other instruments will add those accents.

When learning a new song, play it strumming only on beat 1 before you add the authentic strumming pattern. Make sure your chord changes are good before you try to spice up your rhythm!

Chord Embellishments

You might have noticed on my cover that I added embellishments on D and A. Three embellishments work well over D in this song: Dsus4, Dsus2, and Dadd4. Don't worry about the names, though! :)

🔥 Chord embellishments work well when you stay on one chord for a long time, like in the verse! But don't add too many chord embellishments or you'll spoil the effect.

You can hear the Dsus4 chord a lot on the original recording. Dsus2 also sounds wicked. You get Dadd4 by lifting off finger 1 from the D chord to expose open string 3. Asus2 and Asus4 work well.

Let's move on to the lead playing.

Lead Guitar Parts

If you're a more advanced guitar player, try adding the lead lines from the intro and chorus, played by the kettle drum. These lines are based around diads or double stops on strings 1 and 2. They work well as a second guitar part, but you can blend them with your rhythm playing if you know a bit about the CAGED system. ;)

There's also a cool lead line after the kettle drum part in the instrumental section. It's based on the G and A Major chords and the D Major Pentatonic scale. These are great fun if you have a jam buddy, and you'll have loads more fun jamming with other musicians than playing alone.

Enjoy this Jimmy Buffett song, and revisit it as your skills grow. Laters!

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