The Ballad of the Green Berets chords

by Barry Sadler

Original Published Key: C Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 170 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner 🟢

Guitar Chords: C, F, G7

Arrangement Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
C Major F Major F Major barre chord G7
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH F Major-LH F Major barre chord-LH G7-LH
Speed: x0.1

The Ballad of the Green Berets

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 

Intro: 4/4 |  Drums   |     |     |     |

   C                   G7       C
1. Fight-ing sol-diers from the sky
   G7                         C
   Fear-less men who jump and die
           F                   C
   Men who mean just what they say
             G7                   C 
   The brave men of the Green Ber-et 

            C       G7        C
CH: Sil-ver wings u-pon their chest
              G7                C
    These are men, A-mer-i-ca's best
                 F                C
    One hund-red men will test to-day
             G7                      C
    But only three win the Green Ber-et 

   C                    G7        C
2. Trained to live, off na-ture's land
   G7                          C
   Trained in com-bat, hand to hand
           F                  C
   Men who fight by night and day
            G7                       C
   Cour-age take, from the Green Ber-et 

            C       G7        C
CH: Sil-ver wings u-pon their chest
              G7                C
    These are men, A-mer-i-ca's best
                 F                C
    One hund-red men will test to-day
             G7                      C
    But only three win the Green Ber-et 

   C              G7         C
3. Back at home a young wife waits
       G7                       C
   Her Green Ber-et has met his fate
          F                 C
   He has died for those op-pressed
            G7               C
   Leav-ing her this last re-quest 

                C        G7       C 
CH: Put sil-ver wings on my son's chest
             G7                  C
    Make him one of A-mer-i-ca's best
               F                    C
    He'll be a man they'll test one day
             G7                C     F      C
    Have him win the Green Ber-et |  et  |  et   |

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: C Major - no sharps or flats
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: ♩ = 170
  • Voice Range: G3 - C5

Song Details:

Ballads of the Green Berets Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriters: Robin Moore, Barry Sadler
  • Lyrics Begin: Fighting soldiers from the sky,
  • Genre: Country, March
  • Featured Artist: Barry Sadler
  • Album: Ballads of the Green Berets
    Released: 1966
  • Single:
    Recorded: December 18, 1965
    Released: January 1966
    B-side: Letter from Vietnam
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