How to Play Maggie May Chords by Rod Stewart on Guitar

Maggie May is a classic rock song by Rod Stewart that was released in 1971 as part of his album Every Picture Tells a Story. The song is about a young man’s love affair with an older woman, and the mixed feelings he has about leaving her. The song features a catchy acoustic guitar riff, a mandolin solo, and a memorable chorus.

In this article, we will show you how to play Maggie May by Rod Stewart on guitar, using chords, strumming patterns, and tabs. We will also give you some tips on how to practice and perform the song.

Chords

Maggie May chords
Rod Stewart *  1971 (Every Picture Tells a Story)
 
D Em G D 2x
 
A                  G                         D
Wake up, Maggie, I think I got some-thing to say to you:
     A                    G                D
It's late September and I really should be back at school.
  G                D            G              A
I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used.
    Em                      F#m       Em
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more.
    Em                 A             Em                    A
You lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone.
    Em                 A           G      D
You stole my heart and that's what really hurts.
 
    A                      G                   D
The morning sun, when it's in your face really shows your age.
    A                   G                       D
But that don't worry me none; in my eyes you're everything.
  G                      D         G                       A
I laughed at all of your jokes, my love you didn't need to coax,
    Em                     F#m       Em
Oh, Maggie I couldn't have tried any more.
    Em                 A             Em                    A
You lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone.
    Em                     A          G      D
You stole my soul that's a pain I can do without.
 
A                G                D
All I need was a friend to lend a guiding hand.  
        A                       G                        D
But you turned into a lover and Mother what a lover your wore me out.
G                        D               G                      A
All you did was wreck my bed, and in the morning kick me in the head,
    Em                     F#m       Em
Oh, Maggie I couldn't have tried any more.
    Em                 A             Em                    A
You lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone.
    Em                        A         G    D
You stole my heart I couldn't leave you if I tried.
 
A                 G                        D
I suppose I could collect my books and get back to school.
   A                G                            D
Or steal my daddy's cue and make a living out of playing pool.
   G                           D         G               A
Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helping hand,
    Em                 F#m             Em
Oh, Maggie, I wish I'd never seen your face.
    Em                             A
You made a first class fool out of me, 
           Em                  A
but I'm as blind as a fool can be.
    Em                    A        G  D
You stole my heart, but I love you anyway.
 
* Alternate:
 
Capo II
 
A   = G
D   = C
G   = F
Em  = Dm
F#m = Em

Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern for the song is fairly simple and consistent throughout. You can use a down-up-down-up pattern for each chord, with some accents on certain beats. Here is an example of how to strum the intro chords


The “>” symbol indicates an accent, which means you strum harder or louder on that beat. You can also add some variations to the strumming pattern by skipping some upstrokes or adding some muted strums. The main idea is to keep the rhythm steady and smooth.

Tabs

The tabs for the song are available in the web search results The tabs show you how to play the guitar riff that starts the song and repeats throughout. The riff is based on the D chord shape and uses some hammer-ons and pull-offs to create some melody. Here is how to play the first part

The “h” symbol means hammer-on, which means you pluck the string once and then press down another finger on a higher fret without plucking again. The “p” symbol means pull-off, which means you pluck the string once and then release a finger from a higher fret without plucking again.

The tabs also show you how to play the mandolin solo that comes after the second chorus. The solo is played by Ray Jackson, who was a guest musician on the album. The solo uses some fast picking and slides to create some interesting sounds. Here is how to play the first part of the solo:

Tips

Here are some tips on how to practice and perform Maggie May by Rod Stewart on guitar:

• Practice each part of the song separately before putting them together. Start with the chords and strumming pattern, then add the riff and solo.
• Use a metronome or a backing track to help you keep time and stay in sync with the song. You can find some backing tracks in the web search results .
• Sing along with the song or use a vocal guide to help you remember the lyrics and melody. You can find some vocal guides in the web search results .
• Have fun and enjoy playing this classic rock song!

Conclusion

Maggie May by Rod Stewart is a great song to learn and play on guitar. It has a catchy acoustic guitar riff, a mandolin solo, and a memorable chorus. It also uses some interesting chords and variations that can expand your chord vocabulary. By following the chords, strumming pattern, and tabs in this article, you can play Maggie May by Rod Stewart on guitar with ease. Happy playing!