When the Saints Go Marching In

Learn these first. The dots are where your fingers go, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little finger); an open circle means play that string open, and × means don’t play it.

About this tune

The New Orleans anthem, in first position on the top two strings. Most phrases start after a rest on beat 1, so you count “one” and come in on “Oh when the”. Bar 11 turns C into C7, the first real jazz move in this set: the B♭ in C7 pulls the ear towards the F chord that follows. We use Fmaj7, which is easier than F and sounds jazzier.

How to practise it

Learn C, C7, Fmaj7 and G7 from the boxes. C to C7 adds just one finger: the little finger puts the B♭ on the G string, 3rd fret.
Strum four to the bar with Chords only. The chord changes in bars 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 (on beat 3) and 16.
Learn the tune slowly. Count the rest out loud: “one, Oh when the saints”. The long G (3rd fret, high E string) gives you four beats to get ready.
When it’s comfortable, play the tune a second time and change one thing: hold a note longer, or add a note. That’s the beginning of improvising.

A short history

An African-American spiritual about the end of time, when the saints march into heaven and the singer hopes to be among them. Its origins are unclear: it seems to have grown out of similar gospel songs around 1900, and the first known recording was made in 1923.

New Orleans brass bands played it on the way back from funerals, and Louis Armstrong’s 1938 recording made it one of the best-known tunes in jazz. Most traditional jazz bands still play it, often as the last number of the night.

Where the tune comes from

Melody as on our kids’ piano page for When the Saints (John Chambers’ ABC collection, checked against a second transcription), moved up an octave for guitar notation. Chords ours.

Quick facts

Tune: Traditional (African-American spiritual)
Key: C major
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 16 bars
Tempo: Swing, crotchet = 116
Chords: C, G7, C7, Fmaj7
What it teaches: Starting after a rest, and the C7 that leads to F
Place in the course: Tune 2 of 10 (Your first tune)

Questions and answers

Which chords are in When the Saints Go Marching In?

C, G7, C7, Fmaj7. The chord boxes above show where to put your fingers, and each has a Hear it button.

Is When the Saints Go Marching In free to use?

Yes. When the Saints Go Marching In is a traditional tune that is out of copyright (Traditional (African-American spiritual)). The guitar arrangement and chords here are ours, free for personal and classroom use.

How do I read the TAB under the music?

The six lines are the guitar’s strings, the high E string on top. A number is the fret to press (0 means play the string open). The music above it shows the rhythm, and is written an octave higher than the guitar sounds, as all guitar music is.

How fast should I play it?

Slowly at first. Press Slower to hear it at 70% of the speed, and only speed up when it feels easy. The full tempo is Swing, a crotchet (quarter note) = 116.

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The chords

The music