Country

Family Tradition Chords

Hank Williams Jr. Beginner Key of G 3 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Guitar

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Ukulele

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Piano

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Banjo

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Mandolin

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D

Family Tradition Chords – Harmonica

Hank Williams Jr.’s outlaw country anthem about carrying on the family legacy. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Play with a driving, confident strum. This is a rowdy country anthem — don’t be shy with the dynamics.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

Country music singers have always been a real close family

C

But lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and me

D

I guess it’s because I kinda changed my direction

G

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 2

G

So don’t ask me, Hank, how come you drink

C

Hank, how come you roll smoke

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote

D

Lord, I’m just carryin’ on

G

An old family tradition

Verse 3

G

I am very proud of my daddy’s name

C

Although his kind of music and mine ain’t exactly the same

D

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my unique position

G

If I get stoned and sing all night long

It’s a family tradition

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Verse 4

G

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam

C

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three

D

When that doctor asked me, “Son, how’d you get in this condition?”

G

I said, ”Hey, sawbones, I’m just carryin’ on

An old family tradition”

Chorus

G

They get on me, wanna know, Hank

Why do you drink?

C

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

D

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

G

Stop and think it over

Try and put yourself in my unique position

C

If I get stoned and sing all night long

D G

It’s a family tradition

Practice tip: Just three chords — G, C, D. The timing follows a talking/singing style, so don’t worry about hitting every change exactly on beat. Let the lyrics lead.