Feb152022

Cass Elliot – The Banjo Song Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro 1]
Am     Am     Am    Am

[Intro 2]
Am     D      Am

[Intro 3]
Am     D     Am      D

[Verse 1]
      Am     D       Am   D
Well, I come from Alabama
       Am      D
with a   banjo
              Am    D
on my knee,
Am             D        Am       D
I'm heading on earth at old Missisipi,
      Am*
got a new woman waiting for me.

[Chorus]
              Dm     G
Oh, oh, oh, Susanna,
Dm          G
  don't you
    Am    D   Am  D
cry   for me
           *F*
'cause' I'm going to Louisiana with
  E7*             Am  D    Am  D
a b a n j o on my knee.

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[Verse 2]
      Am        D
Well, it rained so
     Am          D     Am
hard the night I left,
              D           Am    D
the wind blew   terrible storm,
    Am             D
so, I'm heading on earth
   Am        D
at old Muddy River where
    Am*
the sun gonna keep me from home.

[Chorus]
              Dm     G Dm
Oh, oh, oh, Susanna,
          G     Am D     Am  D
don't you   cry      for   me
           *F*
'cause' I'm going to Louisiana with
  E7*             Am  D     Am  D
a b a n j o on my knee.

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Bridge]
Am D Am          D
Well,  now, now, one
         Am      D Am
of these morning     and
   D           Am    D  Am   D
it won't be at long,
          Am              D Am
you gonna wake up, little Suzy,
       D          Am       D Am*
you're gonna find me gone.     Wow!

[End-Chorus]
              Dm     G Dm
Oh, oh, oh, Susanna,
          G     Am    D  Am  D
don't you   cry   for me
           *F*
'cause' I'm going to Louisiana with
  E7*             Am  D   Am  D
a b a n j o on my knee.
              F*
You know, I'm going to Loisiana with
  E7                    Am
a b a n j o on my knee.

How to play The Banjo Song: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for The Banjo Song by Cass Elliot on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

The Banjo Song by Cass Elliot is built around A minor (no sharps or flats), with 6 chords in all: Am, D, Dm, G, F and E7.

Listen for D – Am – D – F (IV – i – IV – VI in A minor): the song comes back to it again and again. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Em, A, Am, D, C, B7 (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 83% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.

Chord diagrams

E7 chord on guitar (020100) — E7E G♯ B D

The Banjo Song chords: questions

What key is The Banjo Song in?

The Banjo Song by Cass Elliot is centred on A minor (no sharps or flats).

What chords are in The Banjo Song?

The Banjo Song uses 6 chords: Am, D, Dm, G, F, E7.

What is the chord progression of The Banjo Song?

The main progression is D – Am – D – F (IV – i – IV – VI).

Is The Banjo Song easy to play on guitar?

Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 5th fret and play the shapes Em, A, Am, D, C, B7 (100% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 83% without a capo).

How to play The Banjo Song: key, chords and progression

Chord diagrams

The Banjo Song chords: questions

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