Brother Can You Spare A Dime

Chords4.710 votes
15
Original
Guitar Tablature
1/34
Sound:
123456789101112131415eBGDAEOO22O×1234
Step 1 / 34Position: 1
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
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                           Brother can you spare a dime?  Jay Gorney / Yip Harburg
---------------------------------------------------------------- 1930 ---------------
Tabbed by: Mike Lydiat
E-mail: mike@docsworkshop.co.uk
Tuning:EADGBE

This arrangement owes much to that of Daddy Stovepipe - find him here:
https://www.daddystovepipe.com/

Here is Daddy Stovepipe's recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ3J95Q2IfM
And here's his tutorial for the tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmf7S1s_LB0
You might also want to put your Capo at fret 5 and play along slowly to this barber shop harmony arrangement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMpQGsgAuJk

This arrangement has 3 different shapes for the E7 chord in different sections;
try to use the specified one each time to hear the tune behind the chords.

INTRO CHORD SHAPES                                                    
   Am9 C6  Dm9 Dm G7 C Fdim7 B7 E7 G E7+ E7 Am E7
e|-0---0---0---1--1--0-x-----x--0--3-4---4--5--0--|
B|-0---1---3---3--0--1-0-----0--0--0-3---3--5--0--|
G|-2---2---2---2--0--0-1-----2--1--0-4---4--5--1--|
D|-2---2---3---3--0--2-0-----1--0--0-3---2--7--0--|
A|-0---3---x---0--2--3-0-----2--2--2-x---2--7--2--|
E|-x---x---x---x--3--x-1-----x--0--3-0---0--5--0--|

VERSE CHORD SHAPES                                                    
   Am Am  E7 A7 D7 G7 C E7 D7 Fmaj7 B7 E 
e|-0--5---4--3--2--1--0-x--x--0-----x--0--|
B|-1--5---3--2--1--0--1-3--3--1-----0--0--|
G|-2--5---4--0--2--0--0-1--2--2-----2--1--|
D|-2--x---2--2--0--0--2-0--0--3-----1--2--|
A|-0--x---2--0--x--2--3-2--0--2-----2--2--|
E|-x--x---0--x--x--3--x-x--0--1-----x--0--|

CHORUS CHORD SHAPES                                                    
   A7 Am7 Am D9 G7 G6 F7 E7
e|-0--0---0--0--1--0--5--7--|
B|-2--1---1--1--0--3--4--5--|
G|-0--0---2--2--0--0--5--7--|
D|-2--2---2--0--0--0--3--6--|
A|-0--0---0--0--2--2--x--x--|
E|-x--x---x--2--3--3--x--x--|

[INTRO]       
 Am9             C6            Dm9 
    They used to tell me I was building a dream,
 Am9         C6           Dm    G7    
    And so I followed the mob,                       
 C                                    Fdim7 
    When there was earth to plough or guns to bear,                        
      B7                               E7 
I was always there, right there on the job 

Am9             C6            Dm9 
   They used to tell me I was building a dream,                                        
Am                       G    G7
   with peace and glory ahead.    Why should  
C                E7+   E  
I be standing in line?            
Am                  E7 
   just waiting for bread?

[VERSE 1]        
Am             Am        E7      A7 
Once I built a railroad, made it run            
D7      G7           C     E7
Made it race against time                      
D7             E7        Am       Fmaj7 
Once I built a railroad, now it's done                           
B7              E       Am     E7
Brother can you spare a dime? 

[VERSE 2]
Am             Am     E7        A7 
Once I built a tower, up to the sun              
D7      G7        C    E7
Mortar, brick and lime                
D7             E7     Am       Fmaj7 
Once I built a tower, now it's done                           
B7              E       Am
Brother can you spare a dime? 
 
[CHORUS] 
A7                   Am7
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum                                    
D9                        G7                G6
Half a million boots went slogging through  Hell
    F7                     E7
And I was the kid with the drum! 
 
[VERSE 3]
Am              Am            E7        A7 
Say don't you remember?  They called me Al.
D7       G7         C     E7 
  It was Al all the time. 
D7                E7    Am       Fmaj7
Why don't you remember? I'm your pal.
B7              E       Am
Brother can you spare a dime? 

Brother Can You Spare A Dime chords and lyrics

Free chords for Brother Can You Spare A Dime by Bing Crosby. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

This arrangement owes much to that of Daddy Stovepipe - find him here:
https://www.daddystovepipe.com/
Here is Daddy Stovepipe's recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ3J95Q2IfM
And here's his tutorial for the tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmf7S1s_LB0
You might also want to put your Capo at fret 5 and play along slowly to this barber shop harmony arrangement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMpQGsgAuJk
This arrangement has 3 different shapes for the E7 chord in different sections;
try to use the specified one each time to hear the tune behind the chords.
[INTRO]       
[VERSE 1]        
[VERSE 2]
[CHORUS] 
[VERSE 3]

Brother Can You Spare A Dime Chords by Bing Crosby

Learn how to play Brother Can You Spare A Dime by Bing Crosby with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Brother Can You Spare A Dime chords”, “Brother Can You Spare A Dime guitar chords”, or “Bing Crosby Brother Can You Spare A Dime chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Brother Can You Spare A Dime chords and for experienced players who want accurate Brother Can You Spare A Dime lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, E7, Am9, C6, Dm9, Dm.

Frequently asked questions about Brother Can You Spare A Dime

How do I play "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" by Bing Crosby on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" by Bing Crosby on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" by Bing Crosby free?

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Can I transpose "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Brother Can You Spare A Dime"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" by Bing Crosby with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bing Crosby below.

What key is "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" in?

The chords for "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" show the original chord names (including E, E7, Am9, C6, Dm9, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.