Pop, Rock

Walking in Memphis Chords

Marc Cohn Beginner Key of C 5 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

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Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Guitar

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Ukulele

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Piano

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Banjo

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Mandolin

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Walking in Memphis Chords – Harmonica

Marc Cohn’s Grammy-winning song about a spiritual and musical pilgrimage to the home of the blues. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Eb, but play the C chord shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me?

G

Yeah, I got a first class ticket

F

But I’m as blue as a boy can be

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Verse 2

C

Saw the ghost of Elvis

G

On Union Avenue

F C

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

G F

Then I watched him walk right through

C

Now security they did not see him

G

They just hovered ’round his tomb

F

But there’s a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

C G F

Down in the jungle room

Chorus

C

Then I’m walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

/verse

verse label="Verse 3"

C

They’ve got catfish on the table

G

They’ve got gospel in the air

F

And Reverend Green be glad to see you

C G

When you haven’t got a prayer

F

But boy, you’ve got a prayer in Memphis

/verse

bridge label="Bridge"

C

Now Muriel plays piano

G

Every Friday at the Hollywood

F

And they brought me down to see her

C

And they asked me if I would

G

Do a little number

F

And I sang with all my might

C

And she said, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?”

G

And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight!”

/bridge

chorus label="Chorus"

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

C

Walking in Memphis

G F

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Outro

C

Put on my blue suede shoes

G

And I boarded the plane

F C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

C

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

G F

In the middle of the pouring rain

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (C, G, F). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Walking in Memphis"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: C, Am, F, G and Dm.

Is "Walking in Memphis" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of C, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Walking in Memphis" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Walking in Memphis"?

It was written by Marc Cohn, and released in 1991.