FERNANDO

Abba

(Any copyright which may be vested in the original author of the song used in this lesson is acknowledged. Portions of the song are used here solely for educational purposes. Copyright in the material used in this lesson vests in the author of the material.)

G/         /                 /      /   /
   Can you hear the drums Fernando
       /            /          /                 Em/   /   /
   I remember long ago another starry night like this
          /            Am/   /   /
   In the firelight Fernando
            /              /               /                 D7/
   You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
           /                /
   I could hear the distant drums and sounds
      /                /            G/   /   /
   Of bugle calls were coming from afar

CHORUS:
          /                D7/      /
There was something in the air that night
    /          /         G/    /   /
The stars were bright Fernando
          /                 D7/     /      /    /     G/    /   /
They were shining there for you and me for liberty Fernando
          E7/                /        /    /            A7/   /   /
Though we never thought that we could lose there's no regret
     /             D7/   /      /        /         G/    /   /
If I had to do the same again I would my friend Fernando
     /             D7/   /      /        /         C/    /  G/   /   /
If I had to do the same again I would my friend Fernando

             /             /     /   /
   They were closer now Fernando
         /          /                /           Em/   /   /
   Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
         /            Am/    /   /
   I was so afraid Fernando
           /                 /                /              D7/
   We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
           /              /               /
   And I'm not ashamed to say the roar of guns and cannons
   /              G/   /   /
   Almost made me cry

CHORUS

             /               /     /   /
   Now we're old and gray Fernando
             /            /              /             Em/   /   /
   And since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
           /                 Am/    /   /
   Can you hear the drums Fernando
          /                /                /               D7/
   Do you still recall the fateful night we crossed the Rio Grande
         /              /                  /
   I can see it in your eyes how proud you were to fight 
       /               G/    /   /
   For freedom in this land.

CHORUS.

Instructions

The chords and strum you require for this song are shown above. Click on each of them to hear how they should sound.

Click here to hear the song itself (recorded with capo on first fret).

You have seven chords in this song and they are all reasonably easy. If you are using the correct G chord fingering (as shown above) the changes will be a lot easier than if you are using the more simple G fingering.

Practice all the chords and practice changing them in the sequence they appear in the song.
Practice the alternating bass pick strum using A, D and E chords until you have reasonable thumb control.
Then practice the strum using the chords in the sequence of the song
Finally play and sing the song.

The timing for this song is quite tricky; its almost as if there are too many words to fit into the strum:

G/     /             /          /                 Em/   /    /
12 3 4 1   2   3   4 1  2 3 4   1   2  3     4    1234  1234 12  3  4
   I remember long a go another starry night like this           In the

Again, if you are battling with the pick strum, you can play and sing the song using the basic 4/4 strum but please continue working on the pick strum.