"Mony Mony" by Tommy James & The Shondells is a classic upbeat rock song from the 1960s. Its simple, catchy structure makes it a great choice for beginner guitarists to practice basic chords and rhythm.
Chords and Progression
The main chords used are A, D, E, with occasional A7, Dm, and G. All of these are open chords, ideal for beginners. The song cycles through these chords in straightforward progressions, so familiarity with basic chord shapes is helpful.
- Practice switching between A, D, and E smoothly, as these are most frequent.
- A7 is played briefly in the chorus, easily reached by lifting your middle finger from the A chord.
- Dm appears quickly within the chorus; use your index, middle, and ring fingers for efficient movement from D to Dm.
Strumming Pattern
The energy of "Mony Mony" comes from its driving, steady rhythm. Use a simple down-up strumming pattern:
- Try D-DU-UDU (D=down, U=up) at a moderate tempo to match the original’s lively feel.
- Keep your wrist loose and accent the first beat slightly for extra punch.
Additional Tips
Count in with the intro's repeated A chords to lock into the tempo. For choruses, keep strumming even as you change quickly between A, A7, and back. The bridge is a bit slower, so relax your strumming to match the vocals.
With practice, this song is both fun and a great way to build confidence with chord transitions and rhythm!
IntroA A A A A A A A
Verse 1Here she come now sayin'D Mony,A Mony
Well shoot 'em down turn aroundD come onA Mony
Hey she give me love and ID feel allA right now
You gotta toss and turn andD feel all right yeah I feel all right
I saidE yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
ChorusWell you make meA feel(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny)
So(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny), good(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny), yeah-ah(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny)
SoD good(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny), all right(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny)
Come on(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny), alright baby(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny)
SayE yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Verse 2A Wake it shake itD MonyA Mony
Shotgun get it doneD come onA Mony
Don't you stop cookin' itD feels soA good yeah
Hey-ey well don't stop now heyD come on Mony well come on Mony
E Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
ChorusWell you make meA feel(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny)
So(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny), good(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny), yeah yeah(Mony [A7]Mo[A]ny)
D Yeah(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny), come on(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny)
So good(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny), well alright(Mony [Dm]Mo[D]ny)
I sayE yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahA G D A
BridgeOooh I love you MonyG mo-mo-D mon said IA do
I love you MonyG mo-monD mon said IA do
I love you MonyG mo-monD mon IA do
I love you MonyG Mony, MoD ny
OutroE Yeah, everybody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
A Come on, come on, come on, everybody,D alright, alright, come on, come on
E Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahA