Rock

Down on the Corner Chords

Creedence Clearwater Revival Beginner Key of C 4 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Guitar

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Ukulele

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Piano

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Banjo

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Mandolin

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.

Ctap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Dtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · G · F · D

Down on the Corner Chords – Harmonica

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s upbeat classic about a street-corner band. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Boogie Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a bouncy, steady rhythm to match the song’s feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C F

Early in the evenin’ just about supper time

C G

Over by the courthouse they’re startin’ to unwind

C F

Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up

C G

Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Verse 2

C F

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile

C G

Blinky thumps the gut bass and soloes for a while

C F

Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo

C G

Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Bridge

F C

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

F C

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

F C

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

F C

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Verse 3

C F

You don’t need a penny just to hang around

C G

But if you’ve got a nickel, won’t you lay your money down?

C F

Over on the corner there’s a happy noise

C G

People come from all around to watch the magic boy

Chorus

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Outro

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

C F

Down on the corner, out in the street

C G

Willy and the Poorboys are playin’

C F

Bring a nickel, tap your feet

C G C

Down on the corner, out in the street

Practice tip: Master the C-F-G progression before adding the strum pattern, as it’s the core of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Down on the Corner"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: C, G, F and D.

Is "Down on the Corner" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Down on the Corner" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Down on the Corner"?

It was written by John Fogerty, and released in 1969.