Song Tabs

 Merle Haggard’s "Rainbow Stew" is a classic country tune with a lively, upbeat feel. The original is performed in a swinging country style, which is essential to capture the song’s spirit on guitar.

## Chords

The song uses basic open chords: A, D, E, and E7. These are beginner-friendly shapes and appear frequently in country music.

## Strumming Pattern

For a country feel, use a steady alternating bass strum. Try: Down – Down-Up – Down – Down-Up Count: 1 – 2& – 3 – 4&

On the "A" and "D" chords, emphasize the bass note (open A or D string), then strum the rest. For "E" and "E7," use the low E string as the bass.

## Chord Transitions

Practice moving between A–D and A–E/E7 smoothly. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and fingers close to the fretboard.

For A–E7 transitions, slide your index finger from the second fret of the D string (A chord) to the first fret of the G string (E7 chord) to minimize movement.

## Additional Tips

Keep the tempo lively but steady. Tap your foot to help maintain rhythm. For the instrumental, keep the same strumming but play a little louder for emphasis.

Listen to the original for a sense of timing and feel. Most of all, have fun and don’t rush the chord changes—clean transitions are more important than speed.