El Paso chords by
Don Mclean

N/A•

Key: C major•

Intro 1

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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G

G

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C

C

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Verse 1

C

C

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Out in the West

Bb

Bb

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Texas town of El Paso

G

G

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C

C

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I fell in love with a Mexican girl.

Night- time would find me in

Bb

Bb

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Gm

Gm

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G

G

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Rosa's cantina;

Music would play and

Interlude 1

Felina would whirl.

C

C

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Verse 2

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina,

G

G

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C

C

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Wicked and evil while casting a spell.

My love was deep for this

Bb

Bb

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G

G

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Mexican maiden;

Interlude 2

I was in love but in vain, I could tell.

C

C

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Verse 3

F

F

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C

C

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F

F

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One night a wild young cowboy came in,

F#dim

F#dim

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C

C

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Wild as the West Texas wind.

Dashing and daring,

A drink he was sharing

With wicked Felina,

The girl that I loved.

F

F

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Verse 4

G

G

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So in anger I

Verse 5

C

C

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Challenged his right for

Bb

Bb

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the love of this maiden.

G

G

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Down went his hand for

C

C

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the gun that he wore.

G

G

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C

C

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My challenge was answered in

Bb

Bb

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less than a heart- beat;

G

G

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The handsome young stranger

Interlude 3

lay dead on the floor.

C

C

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Verse 6

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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Just for a moment I stood

there in silence,

G

G

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Shocked by the FOUL EVIL

C

C

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G

G

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deed I had done.

C

C

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Many thoughts raced through my

Bb

Bb

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Gm

Gm

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G

G

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mind as I stood there;

I had but one chance and that was to run.

C

C

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Verse 7

F

F

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Out through the back

C

C

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F

F

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door of Rosa's I ran,

F#dim

F#dim

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C

C

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Out where the horses were tied.

I caught a good one.

It looked like it could run.

Up on its back

And away I did ride,

F

F

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Verse 8

G

G

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Just as fast as I

Verse 9

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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Could from the West Texas town of El Paso

G

G

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Out to the bad- lands of New Mexico.

C

C

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Verse 10

Bb

Bb

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Back in El Paso my life would

G

G

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be worthless.

C

C

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Everything's gone in life; nothing is left.

It's been so long since I've

Bb

Bb

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G

G

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seen the young maiden

Interlude 4

My love is stronger than my fear of death.

C

C

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Verse 11

F

F

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C

C

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F

F

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I saddled up and away I did go,

F#dim

F#dim

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C

C

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Riding alone in the dark.

Maybe tomorrow

A bullet may find me.

Tonight nothing's worse than this

F

F

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Pain in my heart.

Verse 12

G

G

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And at last here I

Verse 13

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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G

G

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Am on the hill overlooking El Paso;

C

C

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I can see Rosa's cantina below.

Bb

Bb

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My love is strong and it pushes me onward.

G

G

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Down off the hill to Felina I go.

Interlude 5

C

C

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Verse 14

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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Off to my right I see five

G

G

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mounted cowboys;

C

C

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Off to my left ride a dozen or more.

Shouting and shooting I can

Bb

Bb

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't let them catch me.

G

G

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I have to make it to Rosa's

back door.

C

C

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Verse 15

F

F

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Something is dreadfully

C

C

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F

F

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wrong for I feel

F#dim

F#dim

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C

C

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A deep burning pain in my side.

Though I am trying

To stay in the saddle,

I'm getting weary,

Unable to ride.

F

F

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Verse 16

G

G

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But my love for

Verse 17

C

C

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Bb

Bb

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Felina is strong and I rise

G

G

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where I've fallen,

C

C

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Though I am weary I can't stop to rest.

Bb

Bb

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I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle.

G

G

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I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

C

C

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Verse 18

G

G

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C

C

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From out of nowhere

Bb

Bb

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Felina has found me,

G

G

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Kissing my cheek as she

C

C

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kneels by my side.

Cradled by two loving arm

Bb

Bb

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s that I'll die for,

G

G

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C

C

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One little kiss and Felina, good- bye.

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An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

Chords

C
Bb
G
Gm
F
F#dim

Capo: 0

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of El Paso by Don McLean is C major.

The primary chords used in El Paso are C, Bb, G, Gm, F, Gbdim.

No capo is required for this song.

Yes, this version uses open chords like C, Bb, G, Gm, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

The tempo of El Paso is approximately 171 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of El Paso using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for El Paso. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Don McLean.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add El Paso to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for El Paso by Don McLean on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.