Buffalo Soldier

by Bob Marley
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of β€œBuffalo Soldier”
Two-handed piano arrangement β€” color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

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Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

Buf fa lo sol dier,

(F#m)dread lock Ras ta;

There was a buf fa lo sol dier

in the (F#m)heart of A mer i ca.

Said he was a Stol en from Af ri ca,

(F#m)brought to A mer i ca;

fight ing on ar riv al,

in the (F#m)fight ing for sur viv al,

I mean it.

When I an (A)a lyze the stench,

to me it (E)makes a (F#m)lot of sense

how the (A)dread lock Ras ta

was the (E)buf fa lo sol dier.

And he was tak en from Af ri ca,

(F#m)brought to A mer i ca,

There was a fight ing on ar riv al,

in the (F#m)fight ing for sur viv al.

Said he was a buf fa lo sol dier

(F#m)dread lock Ras ta,

buf fa lo sol dier

in the (F#m)heart of A mer i ca.

I mean it.

If you know (A)your his to ry,

then you would (E)know where you’re (F#m)com ing from.

Then you (A)would n’t have to me

was the (E)buf fa lo sol dier.

And he was who the (E)heck do I (F#m)think I am.

I’m just a (A)buf fa lo sol dier

in the (F#m)heart of A mer i ca,

stol en from Af ri ca,

(F#m)brought to A mer i ca.

Said he was fight ing on ar riv al,

(F#m)fight ing for sur viv al.

Said he was the buf fa lo sol dier,

win the (F#m)war for A mer i ca.

Sing ing: wo yo yo, wo yo yo yo;

Wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo;

Wo yo yo, wo yo yo yo;

wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo.

(F#m)Buf fa lo sol dier

trod ding through the (D)land.

Said you wan na (F#m)run and then you make a stand.

Trod ding through the (D)land,

yeah.

Said he was a (A)buf fa lo sol dier,

win the (F#m)war for A mer i ca,

buf fa lo sol dier,

the dread lock Ras ta.

Fight ing on ar riv al,

(F#m)fight ing for sur viv al,

driv en from the main land

to the (F#m)heart of the Car ib be an.

Sing ing: Wo yo yo yo yo yo yo;

wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo.

Wo yo yo yo yo yo yo; wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo.

- yo (D)yo (A)yo.

Wo yo yo yo yo yo yo; wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo.

Wo yo yo yo yo yo yo; wo yo yo yo yo yo (D)yo (A)yo.

Buffalo Soldier β€” Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

4 people have learned this song

Classic piano notation for "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in A β€” sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 100 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (A) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range β€” the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About β€œBuffalo Soldier”

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "Buffalo Soldier" suitable for a pianist?
Yes β€” both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key A, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley in?
The backing track is in A at 100 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones β€” the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Buffalo Soldier" with this accompaniment?
Yes β€” that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Buffalo Soldier"?
Effectively yes β€” it's the piano-only backing for "Buffalo Soldier", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Buffalo Soldier" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work β€” the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Buffalo Soldier"?
Yes β€” registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Buffalo Soldier"?
"Buffalo Soldier" was originally performed by Bob Marley. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Bob Marley are available?
Other accompaniments by Bob Marley: "One Love/People Get Ready", "Redemption Song". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode β€” both hands, classic piano notation, key of A, real chord symbols β€” but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "Buffalo Soldier" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes β€” treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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