Buffalo Soldier

How to play Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley on guitar

These are the sounding chords. With a capo on fret 2 you play G, Em, C, Bm, D, Am, the shapes the player above shows.

Buffalo Soldier is a great groove to learn because it sits in a steady, relaxed feel that still keeps your hands moving. You get a strong reggae-style pulse without needing anything flashy, so it is a good song for locking in timing and keeping the rhythm even.

You can lean on the open shapes A, D, and E, but the harder barre shapes F#m, C#m, and Bm will ask for clean fretting and steady pressure. The main change to watch is the opening move between A and F#m, since it comes back right away and can expose any hesitation.

Start by looping A - F#m slowly until the switch feels smooth, then add the rest of the chart in short sections. Once the shapes are secure, practice with a metronome or backing track at a slower tempo, then bring it up to full speed while keeping each change relaxed and even.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.