Is Free Chord Book really free?

Yes. Free Chord Book is 100% free with no sign-up required. Access 670,000+ guitar chords, tabs, and lyrics for every song you want to learn.

How do I transpose chords to a different key?

Open any song and use the transpose buttons to move every chord up or down by half-steps. Perfect for singers who need a different key or capo players.

Can I see chord diagrams while I play?

Yes. Tap any chord in a song to instantly see its interactive guitar chord diagram, including alternate fingerings and variations.

What's the difference between guitar chords and guitar tabs?

Chords show you which strings to strum together (great for rhythm playing and singing). Tabs (tablature) show you exact note-by-note fingerings, which is great for solos, riffs, and fingerpicking.

Does Free Chord Book work on mobile?

Yes. Free Chord Book is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. Use auto-scroll to play hands-free. There is also a free iPhone app (The Chord Book) and Android app (Free Chords).

Is there an iPhone or Android app?

Yes. Download The Chord Book on the Apple App Store and Free Chords on Google Play. Same 670,000+ songs, transpose, tuner, and auto-scroll — 100% free.

Can I print guitar chords?

Yes. Open any song and tap the Print button next to Save. You'll get a branded chord sheet with the Chord Book logo, ready for practice.

Is there a built-in guitar tuner?

Yes. Free Chord Book includes a free online guitar tuner that uses your microphone and YIN pitch detection for accurate tuning in standard and alternate tunings.

How many songs are available?

Over 670,000 songs with chords, tabs, and lyrics — covering every genre, from rock and pop to country, indie, folk, and Hebrew songs.

Is Free Chord Book a good alternative to Ultimate Guitar?

Yes. Free Chord Book is a fast, ad-free, 100% free alternative to Ultimate Guitar with interactive chord diagrams, instant transpose, auto-scroll, and a built-in tuner — no account required.

SavedFavorites

Stagger Lee

Chords

4.9113 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

(Garcia/Hunter)
[Intro]
C D E
F19C40, BbXmas Feve, with a Bbfull moon over town
FStagger CLee met BbBilly DeFLion
And he Bbblew that poor boy down.
FDo you Cknow what he Bbshot him Ffor?
                        Bb( Bb   A  Ab)
What do you make of that?
Cause GBilly DeLion threw lucky dice
Won AStagger Lee's Stetson hat.
Riff
CBayDou, CBayDou, Gtell me how can this be?C  G  
You arGrest the girls for Cturning Gtricks
But you're scared of CStagger DLee.C  
GStagger Lee is a CmadGman and he shot my CBilly DD.
            C        G                 C     D( C   G   C  D)
Bayou go get him or give the job to me.
CDeliDa DCeLionDs, oh Gsweet Delia-DC  G  
HGow the hell can I aCrrest hiGm? He's twice as bCig as mDe.C  
Well doGn't ask me to gCo downtoGwn, I won't come bCack alDive
                        C             G         C     D( C   G   C  D)
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45 
FBayoCu, DBbelia Fsaid, jBbust give me a gun
FHe shot my BiClly dBbead nFow I'm goBbnna see him hung.
       F            C          Bb            F                  Bb( Bb   A  Ab)
She went into the DeLion's club through Billy DeLions blood
SteGpped up to Stagger Lee at the bar,
Said, "BAuy me a gin fizz, love."
CAs StaDgger Lee Clit a cDigarette she shoGt him in the ballsC  G  
BGlew the smoke off her revColvGer, had him dragged to cCity hDallC  
BGayou, BaCyouG, see you hanCg him Dhigh
            C        G                        C     D( C   G   C  D)
He shot my Billy dead and now he's got to die.
DDelia CwDent a walCking down Gon Singapore StreetC  G  
A Gthree-piece band on the coCrner pGlayed "Near My GCod to TDhee"C  
BGut Delia whistled a diCfferent tuGne, what tune couCld it Dbe?
                     C                   G         C     D( C   G   C  D)
The song that woman sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".
                     C                   G         C     D( C   G   C  D)
The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".

All chords in this song (8)

The story behind the song

This song tells the infamous American folk tale of Stagger Lee, a figure from late 19th-century St. Louis. It recounts the Christmas night in 1895 when Lee Shelton, known as "Stag" Lee, shot and killed Billy Lyons over a Stetson hat. The narrative captures the raw, dramatic confrontation that quickly became a legend, exploring themes of pride, violence, and the dark side of human nature. Playing this song means stepping into a vivid, storied piece of American folklore.

AI-written from these sources:Stagger Lee — Wikipedia ↗Grateful Dead — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Stagger Lee

by Grateful Dead

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

(Garcia/Hunter)

[Intro]

C D E

F C Bb F Bb

1940, Xmas eve, with a full moon over town

F C Bb F

Stagger Lee met Billy DeLion

And he blew that poor boy down.

F C Bb F

Do you know what he shot him for?

Bb Bb A Ab

( )

What do you make of that?

Cause Billy DeLion threw lucky dice

Won Stagger Lee's Stetson hat.

Riff

C D C D G C G

Bayou, Bayou, tell me how can this be?

G C G

You arrest the girls for turning tricks

C D C

But you're scared of Stagger Lee.

G C G C D

Stagger Lee is a madman and he shot my Billy D.

C G C D C G C D

( )

Bayou go get him or give the job to me.

C D C D G C G

Delia DeLions, oh sweet Delia-D

G C G C D C

How the hell can I arrest him? He's twice as big as me.

G C G C D

Well don't ask me to go downtown, I won't come back alive

C G C D C G C D

( )

Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45

F C Bb F Bb

Bayou, Delia said, just give me a gun

F C Bb F Bb

He shot my Billy dead now I'm gonna see him hung.

F C Bb F Bb Bb A Ab

( )

She went into the DeLion's club through Billy DeLions blood

Stepped up to Stagger Lee at the bar,

Said, "Buy me a gin fizz, love."

C D C D G C G

As Stagger Lee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls

G C G C D C

Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall

G C G C D

Bayou, Bayou, see you hang him high

C G C D C G C D

( )

He shot my Billy dead and now he's got to die.

D C D C G C G

Delia went a walking down on Singapore Street

G C G C D C

A three-piece band on the corner played "Near My God to Thee"

G C G C D

But Delia whistled a different tune, what tune could it be?

C G C D C G C D

( )

The song that woman sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".

C G C D C G C D

( )

The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".

About Stagger Lee Chords by Grateful Dead

Learn how to play Stagger Lee by Grateful Dead with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Stagger Lee chords”, “Stagger Lee guitar chords”, or “Grateful Dead Stagger Lee 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 Stagger Lee chords and for experienced players who want accurate Stagger Lee lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, D, E, F, Bb, A.

FAQ — Stagger Lee by Grateful Dead

How do I play "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead 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 "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead free?

Yes. The chords for "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Stagger Lee" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Stagger Lee"?

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

Is "Stagger Lee" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Grateful Dead below.

What key is "Stagger Lee" in?

The chords for "Stagger Lee" show the original chord names (including C, D, E, F, Bb, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.