Fernando chords

by Abba

Song Key: A Major

Chords Used: A, A7, A/G, B7, Bm, D, E, E7, F#m, F#

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 104 bpm (verses) → 112 bpm (choruses)


Guitar Tuning: Standard (E A D G B e)

Skill Level: Intermediate

R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
A Major A7 A/G B7 Bm D Major E Major E7 F# Major F#m
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
A Major A7-LH A/G-LH B7-LH Bm-LH D Major-LH E Major-LH E7-LH F# Major-LH F#m-LH
Play-Along Video
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Fernando

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
             A
Intro: 4/4 |    |  %  |  %  |  %  |  %  |

         D      E  D    D      E  A     A
Count: ‖ 1+2+3+ 4  +  | 1+2+3+ 4  +  |     |  %  |  %  |  %  ‖
                                                          (Can you hear...)
                              A
1. Can you hear the drums Fer-nan-do
                                                       F#m
   I re-mem-ber long a-go a-no-ther star-ry night like this
                         Bm
   In the fire-light Fer-nan-do
                                                                  E
   You were hum-ming to your-self and soft-ly strum-ming your gui-tar
                             E7
   I could hear the dis-tant drums
                                                  A
   And sound of bugle calls were com-ing from a – far

                             A
2. They were clos-er now Fer-nan-do 
                                                        F#m
   Ev-‘ry hour ev-‘ry min-ute seemed to last the time a-way
                        Bm
   I was so a-fraid Fer-nan-do
                                                              E
   We were young and full of life and none of us pre-pared to die
                          E7                                              A
   And I'm not ashamed to say the roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry

                                   E        E7
Chorus: There was something in the air that night
            E        E7          A
        The stars so bright   Fer-nan-do
                                     E       E7       E      E7       A
        They were shin-ing there for you and me   For lib-er-ty   Fer-nan-do
                  A7                           F#                    B7
        Though we ne-ver thought that we could lose   There's no reg-ret 
                           E      E7       E        E7           A
        If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-nan-do
                           E      E7       E        E7            D
        If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-(nan-do)

           D           A           E7           A  
        |     |  %  |     |  %  |      |  %  |     |  %  |
        (nan-do)

                                A
3. Now we're old and grey   Fer-nan-do
                                                     F#m
   Seems ma-ny years I have'nt seen a rif-le in your hand
                              Bm
   Can you hear the drums Fer-nan-do
                                                              E
   Do you still re-call the fate-ful night we crossed the Rio Grande
                        E7
   I can see it in your eyes how proud you were to fight for  
                    A
   Free-dom in this land

                                   E        E7
Chorus: There was something in the air that night
            E        E7           A
        The stars so bright   Fer-nan-do
                                     E       E7       E      E7       A
        They were shin-ing there for you and me   For lib-er-ty   Fer-nan-do
                  A7                           F#                    B7
        Though we ne-ver thought that we could lose   There's no reg-ret 
                           E      E7       E        E7           A
        If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-nan-do

                                   E        E7
Chorus: There was something in the air that night
            E        E7           A
        The stars so bright   Fer-nan-do
                                     E       E7       E      E7       A
        They were shin-ing there for you and me   For lib-er-ty   Fer-nan-do
                  A7                           F#                    B7
        Though we ne-ver thought that we could lose   There's no reg-ret 
                           E      E7       E        E7           A
        If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-nan-do

                               E      E7       E        E7           A
        Yes If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-nan-do

                           E      E7       E        E7           A
        If I had to do the same a-gain   I would my friend   Fer-nan-do...

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: A Major - 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately - slow rock
  • Metronome (verses) ♩ = 104
  • Metronome (choruses) ♩ = 112
  • Please Note In the chorus, you can replace A7 with A/G... see charts.
  • Chord Types in This Arrangement:
    • Major chords: A, D, E, F#
    • Minor chords: Bm, F#m
    • Dominant 7th chords: A7, B7, E7
    • Slash chord: A/G (G chord leading with an A bass-note)

Beginner Guitarists

Some of the chords look pretty scary, but they are all very easy to play once you get used to them. Here are some alternative voicings you can try with right and left-handed charts for each chord:
  • Bm is perhaps the hardest to play, but once you get used to it, you will use it time and time again.
    Because you are covering the top 4 strings, you can use the same shape, and with every fret movement upwards you are playing the chord 1 semitone higher than the previous chord; with every fret movement downwards from the previous chord, you are playing the chord 1 semitone lower. This same principal applies to all barre chords.
    Bm starts on the second fret. If you want to play Bbm - start on the 1st fret. If you want to play Cm - start on the 3rd fret.

    Bm Bm-LH

  • F#m requires a mini-barre, but it's very easy to play. Just make sure you apply even pressure over the top 3 strings with your first finger.

    F#m-V2 F#m-V2-LH

  • F# Major is super easy. It is exactly the same shape as F major—just shifted up to the 2nd fret. The same principle applies - one fret upwards = one semi-tone higher.

    F# Major-V2 F# Major-V2-LH

Song Details:

fernando Single Cover
Single Cover
  • Songwriters: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
  • Lyrics Begin: Can you hear the drums Fernando, I remember long ago another starry night like this
  • Genre: Pop, schlager
  • Featured Artists: ABBA
  • Single:
    Recorded: 4 September 1975
    Released: 12 March 1976 (UK), 12 April 1976 (Sweden), August 1976 (US)
    B-side: Tropical Loveland, Hey, Hey Helen (UK), Rock Me (US)
  • Album: Greatest Hits
    Recorded: March 1972 – September 1975
    Released: 17 November 1975
Other Songs by ABBA on this site:
Song Title Key Core Chords
Dancing Queen G G, A7, Am7, B7, C, D, Em
Mamma Mia D D, Em7, G, A, Bm, C
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