How to Play King of the Road Chords by Roger Miller on Guitar

“King of the Road” is a classic country song written and performed by Roger Miller in 1965. The song tells the story of a hobo who lives a carefree life, traveling by train and living in cheap motels. The song was a huge hit for Miller, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by many artists, such as Dean Martin, Randy Travis, and The Proclaimers.

In this article, we will show you how to play “King of the Road” on guitar using chords, strumming patterns, and capo. We will also provide some background information on the song and its writer.

The Chords

The chords for “King of the Road” are relatively simple and common in country music. The song is in the key of A major, but it modulates to Bb major in the bridge. The chords are:

"King of The Road" (1965)
by Roger Miller
 
 
[Verse 1]
A            DTrailers for sale or rent,
E            ARooms to let fifty cents,
A            DNo phone, no pool, no pets.
EI ain't got no cigarettes.
 
A            DAh, but...two hours of pushin' broom,
E               ABuys an...eight-by-twelve four-bit room.
A      DI'm a man of means by no means,
E           AKing of the road.
 
 
[Verse 2]
A             DThird boxcar, midnight train,
E           ADestination Bangor, Maine.
A            DOld worn out suit and shoes,
EI don't pay no union dues.
 
A           DI smoke...old stogies I have found,
E              AShort, but not too big around.
A            DI'm a man of means by no means,
E           AKing of the road.
 
 
(Key change from A to Bb)
 
[Bridge]
Bb                EbI know...every engineer on every train,
F                          BbAll their children, 'n all of their names,
Bb               EbAnd...every handout in every town,
FAnd...every lock that ain't locked when no one's around.
 
 
[Verse 3]
Bb           EbI sing...trailers for sale or rent,
F             BbRooms to let, fifty cents,
Bb           EbNo phone, no pool, no pets.
FI ain't got no cigarettes.
 
Bb           EbAh, but...two hours of pushin' broom,
F               BbBuys an eight by twelve four-bit room.
Bb     EbI'm a...man of means by no means,
F           BbKing of the road.
 
 
[Outro] (bass only)
Bb           EbTrailers for sale or rent,
F             BbRooms to let, fifty cents,
Bb           EbNo phone, no pool, no pets.
FI ain't got no cigarettes.
Bb           EbAh, but, two hours of pushin' broom,
F               BbBuys an eight by twelve four-bit room...

The Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern for “King of the Road” is a simple down-up-down-up pattern that follows the beat of the song. You can accent the first and third beats to give it more groove. Here is an example of how to strum one measure of A

You can also add some variations to the strumming pattern, such as adding or skipping some upstrokes, or adding some palm muting or percussive hits. Experiment with different rhythms and see what sounds good to y

The Background

Roger Miller was a singer-songwriter, musician, and actor who was born in Texas in 1936. He grew up in poverty and learned to play guitar from his uncle. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and later moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. He became a successful songwriter, writing hits for artists such as Ray Price, Jim Reeves, and Ernest Tubb.

Miller also had a distinctive style as a performer, combining humor, wit, and novelty in his songs. He was known for his scat singing, yodeling, and whistling skills. Some of his most famous songs include “Dang Me”, “Chug-a-Lug”, “England Swings”, and “Do-Wacka-Do”.

Miller wrote “King of the Road” after seeing a sign that said “Trailers for Sale or Rent” on the road. He said that he thought of the first line of the song immediately, but it took him six months to finish it. He recorded the song in one take with minimal instrumentation. The song won him five Grammy Awards in 1966, including Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance.

Miller died of lung cancer in 1992 at the age of 56. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998.

Conclusion

“King of the Road” is a timeless song that showcases Roger Miller’s talent and personality. It is a fun and easy song to play on guitar, with simple chords and strumming patterns. You can learn the song by following the chords, lyrics, and diagrams provided in this article, or by watching some video lessons online. You can also try to sing along with the song or improvise some solos or fills. Enjoy playing “King of the Road” and have fun!