Somewhere Over the Rainbow

How to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole on guitar

This song is a great beginner pick because it feels calm, warm, and familiar right away. You get a gentle, singable flow that lets you focus on clean changes instead of speed, so it is rewarding even at a relaxed pace.

Most of the chart uses open shapes, so you can stay comfortable on F, C, Em, G, Am, and Dm. The harder shapes are G# and A#, so watch for those if they appear later in the song - they will ask for a barre and a little more hand strength. The opening move from F to C to Em to G is the main change to lock in.

Start by looping just F to C until it feels smooth, then add Em and G. Once that is steady, practice the full opening progression slowly with even timing, then bring it up to the song's easy, flowing tempo. Keep your changes relaxed and let each chord ring clearly before moving on.

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.