Other arrangements of Sugaree
Pick a learning view.
When they come to take you down,
when they bring that (F)wag
on ’round,
when they come to call on you
and drag your poor bod y (F)down,
just one thing I (Dm)ask of you.
There’s just one thing for (F)me.
Please for get you (Dm)knew my name,
my (Bb)dar ling
Sug ar (F)ee.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(F)me.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(F)me.
When they come to take you down,
when they bring that (F)wag
on ’round,
when they come to call on you
and drag your poor bod y (F)down,
Just one thing I (Dm)ask of you.
There’s just one thing for (F)me.
Please for get you (Dm)knew my name,
my (Bb)dar ling
Sug ar (F)ee.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(F)me.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(F)me.
Well, shake it up now,
Sug ar ee.
I’ll meet you at the (F)ju
bi lee.
And if that ju bi lee
don’t come,
may be I’ll meet you
on the run.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(F)me.
Shake it, shake it, Sug ar ee.
Just don’t tell ’em that you (Bb)know
(C)me.
Sugaree — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
44 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Sugaree" by Grateful Dead: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of C, 120 BPM.
This arrangement is a great way to get comfortable with minor-key color inside a major framework — you've got Dm and Gm alongside C and F, plus that Bb chord which might feel unfamiliar under your fingers at first.
Start hands-separate: your left hand plays block bass, so lock in the root positions cleanly before adding the right-hand melody.
The trickiest transitions are C to Bb and F to Gm, because both involve shifting your whole hand position down a step quickly — drill just those two-chord pairs slowly until they feel automatic.
At 120 BPM the tempo is steady but not rushed, so resist speeding up during easier passages and slowing down at the harder changes; use a metronome from the start.
Once both hands are solid, loop the verse section a few times before connecting it to the rest.
This is the piece that'll make borrowed chords like Bb and Gm feel like old friends in your hands.
Try other practice modes:
About “Sugaree”
- What key is "Sugaree" by Grateful Dead played in?
- Sugaree is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Sugaree"?
- The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Sugaree" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "Sugaree"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Sugaree"?
- "Sugaree" was originally performed by Grateful Dead. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Sugaree"?
- This arrangement uses 5 chords: Bb, C, Dm, F, Gm.
- What other songs by Grateful Dead can I play here?
- Try "UNCLE JOHN'S BAND", "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED", "SUGAR MAGNOLIA". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Sugaree" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Sugaree" by Grateful Dead. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Sugaree" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Sugaree" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.