River

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River chords (for the acoustic guitar) *
Joni Mitchell 1971
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_(Joni_Mitchell_song)
[Intro (with piano)]
C Am F G
[Verse 1]
F C
It's coming on Christmas
F C
They're cutting down trees
F C
They're putting up reindeer
F C
And singing songs of joy and peace
Am G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
[Verse 2]
F C
But it don't snow here
F C
It stays pretty green
F C
I'm going to make a lot of money
F C
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Am G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
[Chorus 1]
F G
I wish I had a river so long
C F Am Dm Dm7
I would teach my feet to fly---- wooh . .
C G F
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
C G C
I made my baby cry
[Interlude]
C Am G
[Verse 3]
F C
He tried hard to help me
F C
You know, he put me at ease
F C
And he loved me so naughty
F C
Made me weak in the knees
Am G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
[Verse 4]
F C
I'm so hard to handle
F C
I'm selfish and I'm sad
F C
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
F C
That I ever had
Am G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
[Chorus 2]
F G
I wish I had a river so long
C F Am Dm Dm7
I would teach my feet to fly---- whoa
C G F
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
C G C
I made my baby say goodbye
[Interlude]
C Am G
[Verse 1, repeated]
F C
It's coming on Christmas
F C
They're cutting down trees
F C
They're putting up reindeer
F C
And singing songs of joy and peace
Am G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
[Outro]
G F Dm
* Alternate:
Capo III
C A
=
Am F#m
=
F D
=
G E
=
Dm Bm
=
Dm7Bm7
=
Set8

River chords and lyrics

Free chords for River by Joni Mitchell. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

River chords (for the acoustic guitar) *
Joni Mitchell  1971
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_(Joni_Mitchell_song)
[Intro (with piano)]
C Am F G
[Verse 1]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus 1]
[Interlude]
C Am G
[Verse 3]
[Verse 4]
[Chorus 2]
[Interlude]
C Am G
[Verse 1, repeated]
[Outro]
G F Dm
* Alternate:
Capo III
C   = A
Am  = F#m
F   = D
G   = E
Dm  = Bm
Dm7 = Bm7
Set8

River Chords by Joni Mitchell

Learn how to play River by Joni Mitchell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “River chords”, “River guitar chords”, or “Joni Mitchell River 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 River chords and for experienced players who want accurate River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Am, F, G, Dm, Dm7.

Frequently asked questions about River

How do I play "River" by Joni Mitchell on guitar?

Open the free chords for "River" by Joni Mitchell 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 "River" by Joni Mitchell free?

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Can I transpose "River" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "River" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "River"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "River" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "River" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "River" by Joni Mitchell with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Joni Mitchell below.

What key is "River" in?

The chords for "River" show the original chord names (including C, Am, F, G, Dm, Dm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.