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Mack The Knife

Chords

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Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/62

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 62Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

"As for the jug band, that came about more or less by accident. One weekend Max Gordon, the owner of the
Village Vanguard, was in Cambridge for some reason, and he walked by the Club 47 and saw this huge line of
people waiting to get in to see the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. In his mind's eye he transposed this queue to 7th
Avenue South, where he had his room, and visions of sugarplums started dancing in his head. So when he got
back to New York, he called Robert Shelton and said, 'Are there any jug bands around town?' Bob said, 'Well,
yeah, but what you really ought to do is get hold of Dave Van Ronk and have him put one together.' So he did,
and I did."
Capo 7
[Chords]
    A6x02222
E9    020102 or 022102
[Intro]
e|-----A62-2-|-----Bm2-2-|-----E92-2-|-5-4-A62---|
B|-2-5-----|-2-5-----|---3-----|---------|
G|---------|---------|-4-------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|---------|---------|---------|---------|
E|---------|---------|---------|---------|
e|-----F#m7-5-|-542-Bm5---|---2-E95---|-542-A65\--|
B|-2-5-----|---------|---------|-------2-|
G|---------|-------4-|-4-----4-|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|---------|---------|---------|---------|
E|---------|---------|---------|---------|
Oh, the A6shark has Bmpretty teeth, dear
And he E9shows them, A6pearly white
Just a F#mjack-knife has BmMacHeath, dear
And he E9keeps it out of A6sight
When a A6shark bites with his Bmteeth, dear
Scarlet E9billows start to A6spread
Fancy F#mgloves, oh, wears BmMacHeath, dear
So there's E9not a A6trace of red
On a A6sidewalk, BmSunday morning,
Lies a E9body once in A6life
Someone F#msneakin' 'round the Bmcorner
Is that E9someone, Mack the A6Knife?
[Outro]
e|-----A62-2-|-----Bm2-2-|-----E92-2-|-5-4-A62---|
B|-2-5-----|-2-5-----|---3-----|---------|
G|---------|---------|-4-------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|---------|---------|---------|---------|
E|---------|---------|---------|---------|
e|-----F#m7-5-|-542-Bm5---|---2-E95---|-542-A65---|
B|-2-5-----|---------|---------|-------2-|
G|---------|-------4-|-4-----4-|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|---------|---------|---------|---------|
E|---------|---------|---------|---------|
(Repeat to Fade)

All chords in this song (4)

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Mack The Knife

by Dave Van Ronk

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 7 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

"As for the jug band, that came about more or less by accident. One weekend Max Gordon, the owner of the

Village Vanguard, was in Cambridge for some reason, and he walked by the Club 47 and saw this huge line of

people waiting to get in to see the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. In his mind's eye he transposed this queue to 7th

Avenue South, where he had his room, and visions of sugarplums started dancing in his head. So when he got

back to New York, he called Robert Shelton and said, 'Are there any jug bands around town?' Bob said, 'Well,

yeah, but what you really ought to do is get hold of Dave Van Ronk and have him put one together.' So he did,

and I did."

Capo 7

[Chords]

x02222

E9 020102 or 022102

[Intro]

A6 Bm E9 A6

e|-----2-2-|-----2-2-|-----2-2-|-5-4-2---|

B|-2-5-----|-2-5-----|---3-----|---------|

G|---------|---------|-4-------|---------|

D|---------|---------|---------|---------|

A|---------|---------|---------|---------|

E|---------|---------|---------|---------|

F#m Bm E9 A6

e|-----7-5-|-542-5---|---2-5---|-542-5\--|

B|-2-5-----|---------|---------|-------2-|

G|---------|-------4-|-4-----4-|---------|

D|---------|---------|---------|---------|

A|---------|---------|---------|---------|

E|---------|---------|---------|---------|

A6 Bm

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear

E9 A6

And he shows them, pearly white

F#m Bm

Just a jack-knife has MacHeath, dear

E9 A6

And he keeps it out of sight

A6 Bm

When a shark bites with his teeth, dear

E9 A6

Scarlet billows start to spread

F#m Bm

Fancy gloves, oh, wears MacHeath, dear

E9 A6

So there's not a trace of red

A6 Bm

On a sidewalk, Sunday morning,

E9 A6

Lies a body once in life

F#m Bm

Someone sneakin' 'round the corner

E9 A6

Is that someone, Mack the Knife?

[Outro]

A6 Bm E9 A6

e|-----2-2-|-----2-2-|-----2-2-|-5-4-2---|

B|-2-5-----|-2-5-----|---3-----|---------|

G|---------|---------|-4-------|---------|

D|---------|---------|---------|---------|

A|---------|---------|---------|---------|

E|---------|---------|---------|---------|

F#m Bm E9 A6

e|-----7-5-|-542-5---|---2-5---|-542-5---|

B|-2-5-----|---------|---------|-------2-|

G|---------|-------4-|-4-----4-|---------|

D|---------|---------|---------|---------|

A|---------|---------|---------|---------|

E|---------|---------|---------|---------|

(Repeat to Fade)

About Mack The Knife Chords by Dave Van Ronk

Learn how to play Mack The Knife by Dave Van Ronk with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Mack The Knife chords”, “Mack The Knife guitar chords”, or “Dave Van Ronk Mack The Knife 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 Mack The Knife chords and for experienced players who want accurate Mack The Knife lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A6, E9, Bm, B, G, D.

FAQ — Mack The Knife by Dave Van Ronk

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What key is "Mack The Knife" in?

The chords for "Mack The Knife" show the original chord names (including A6, E9, Bm, B, G, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.