Country

Ghost Riders in the Sky Chords

Johnny Cash Beginner Key of A 4 Chords 3 min read

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Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.

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Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.

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Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.

Amtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · C · F · Dm

The classic Western cowboy ballad about a ghostly cattle drive. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.

Western Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a steady, haunting feel. This is a spooky cowboy campfire song — let the minor key chords create that eerie atmosphere.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

Am C

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day

Am E

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

Am C

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

Dm Am E

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 2

Am C

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Am E

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

Am C

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky

Dm Am E

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 3

Am C

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

Am E

He’s riding hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught ’em yet

Am C

‘Cause they’ve got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

Dm Am E

On horses snorting fire as they ride on, hear their cry

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am E

Ghost riders in the sky

Verse 4

Am C

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name

Am E

”If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Am C

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Dm Am E

Trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies”

Chorus

Am C

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-oh

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am

Ghost riders in the sky

Dm Am EAm

Ghost riders in the sky

Practice tip: The Am-C-Dm-E progression creates a dark, cinematic feel. Practice the Dm to Am transition smoothly — it’s the climax of each verse. A great campfire song.