The Gambler chords

Kenny Rogers

Original Published Key: Eb Major with a key change to E Major

Time Signature: 2/2

Tempo: 94 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Intermediate 🟠

Guitar Chords: Eb, Ab, Bb, Bb7 → E, A, B, B7

Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
Eb Major Eb Major barre chord Ab Major Ab Major barre chord Bb Major Bb Major barre chord Bb7 barre chord E Major A Major B7 B Major B Major barre chord
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Eb Major-LH Eb Major barre chord-LH Ab Major-LH Ab Major barre chord-LH Bb Major-LH Bb Major barre chord-LH Bb7 barre chord-LH E Major-LH A Major-LH B7-LH B Major-LH B Major barre chord-LH
Speed: x0.1

The Gambler

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
               Eb       Ab       Eb       Ab   
Intro: 2/2 ‖        |        |        |        ‖
                                             (On a)
   
        Eb                              Ab              Eb
1. On a warm sum-mer's ev-en-ing   On a train bound for no-where
                                                          Bb
   I met up with the gam-bler   We were both too tired to sleep
      Eb                               Ab               Eb
   So we took turns a staring   At the dark-ness at the win-dow
        Ab            Eb       Bb                Eb
   Till bore-dom over-took us    And he began to speak
 
           Eb                            Ab                 Eb
2. He said Son I've made a life   Out of read-ing peo-ple's fa-ces
                                                                   Bb
   And know-ing what their cards were   By the way they held their eyes
          Eb                                Ab                Eb
   And if you don't mind my say-in'   I can see you're out of a-ces
         Ab            Eb              Bb               Eb
   For a taste of your whis-key   I'll give you some ad-vice |  %  | 
 
        Eb                              Ab                 Eb
3. So I han-ded him my bot-tle   And he drank down my last swal-low
                                                     B
   Then he bummed a ci-gar-ette   And asked me for a light
           Eb                                 Ab               Eb
   And the night got death-ly quiet   And his face lost all ex-pres-sion
                  Ab              Eb                   Bb               Eb
   Said if you're gon-na play the game boy   Ya got-ta learn to play it right
 
                   Eb                     Ab             Eb
Chorus: You got to know when to hold 'em    Know when to fold 'em
      Ab             Eb                            Bb
        Know when to walk a-way   And know when to run
                   Eb                              Ab              Eb
        You ne-ver count your mo-ney   When you're sit-ting at the ta-ble
                           Ab        Eb        Bb7                   Eb
        There'll be time e-nough for count-ing    When the deal-ings done | % | % | % |
        
 (key change)
  E                                 A              E
3. Ev-'ry gam-bler knows   That the se-cret to sur-viv-ing
                                                          B7
   Is know-ing what to throw a-way   And know-ing what to keep
         E                           A               E
   Cause ev-'ry hand's a win-ner and ev-'ry hand's a lo-ser
           A                 E                B7          E
   And the best that you can hope for   Is to die in your sleep
 
       E                                  A                       E
4. And when he'd fi-nished speak-in'   He turned back to-ward the win-dow
                                                   B7
   Crushed out his ci-ga-rette   And fa-ded off to sleep
       E                                 A                 E
   And some-where in the dark-ness   The gam-bler he broke e-ven
       A             E                B7               E
   But in his fi-nal words I found an ace that I could keep
   
                   E                      A              E
Chorus: You got to know when to hold 'em    Know when to fold 'em
      A              E                             B
        Know when to walk a-way   And know when to run
                   E                               A               E
        You ne-ver count your mo-ney   When you're sit-ting at the ta-ble
                           A         E         B7                   E 
        There'll be time e-nough for count-ing   When the deal-ings done 
        
                   E                      A              E
Chorus: You got to know when to hold 'em    Know when to fold 'em
      A              E                             B
        Know when to walk a-way   And know when to run
                   E                               A               E
        You ne-ver count your mo-ney   When you're sit-ting at the ta-ble
                           A         E         B7                   E 
        There'll be time e-nough for count-ing   When the deal-ings done 
        
                   E                     A              E
Chorus: You got to know when to hold 'em   Know when to fold 'em
      A               E                            B
        Know when to walk a-way   And know when to run
                   E                               A               E
        You ne-ver count your mo-ney   When you're sit-ting at the ta-ble
                           A         E         B7                   E 
        There'll be time e-nough for count-ing   When the deal-ings done

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: Eb Major - 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
  • Key Signature: E Major - 4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#)
  • Time Signature: 2/2 — Two half-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderate Country in 2
  • Metronome: h = 94 (h represents a half-note)
  • Voice Range: Bb3 - E5

🎸 Beginner Guitarists:

  • If you haven't learned to play barre chords, this will be difficult to play. An easier alternative is to play in the key of B Major with a key change to C Major.
  • Chord Set: B, E, F#, F#7 → C, F, G, G7
  • Both keys can be played with open chords including B, F# and F#7:

    Right Handers:
    B Major F# Major F#7

    Left Handers:
    B Major-LH F# Major-LH F#7-LH

  • Capo on the 4th fret if playing along with the video.

Song Details:

he Gambler Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Don Schlitzg
  • Date: 1976
  • Lyrics Begin: On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere I met up with the gambler, we were both too tired to sleep.
  • Genre: Country
  • Featured Artist: Kenny Rogers
  • Album: The Gambler
    Recorded: 1978
    Released: November 1978
  • Single:
    Released: November 15, 1978
    B-side: "Momma's Waiting
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