The ULTIMATE Three Little Birds Chords & Guitar Lesson

Stressed out or got problems?

Here’s a pro tip: put on some Bob Marley and drift away. 

His deep reggae grooves and feeling can help ease your mind, and they are also a TON of fun to play on guitar. 

Below I’m going to break down some essential reggae guitar tips and tricks used in one of Bob Marley’s most popular songs.  

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Three Little Birds” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Three Little Birds?

“Three Little Birds” was written by Bob Marley and released by Bob Marley & The Wailers on their 1977 album Exodus. Like many of Marley’s tunes, it was credited to Bob Marley alone.

The lyrics on this gem are very uplifting and reassuring, the chorus sings the famous lines: 

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Don’t worry about a thing,

‘Cause every little thing is gonna be all right.

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It’s a beautiful tune with a positive outlook on life. 

According to some accounts, Marley was inspired by actual birds that he would see outside his home in Kingston, Jamaica. He would watch them perch near his porch and sing, which led to the imagery in the song. The I-Threes (Backup Singers) – Another theory is that the "three little birds" symbolize the I-Threes—Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt—who were Bob Marley’s backup singers. Marcia Griffiths, in particular, has suggested that the song was a tribute to them.

“Three Little Birds” was recorded at the legendary Harry J. Studios in Kingston, Jamaica during the session for the Exodus album. This studio was a major recording hub for reggae artists during the 1970s. The track was first released in 1977 on Exodus, and then it was later released as a single in 1980. Exodus was named Album of the Century by Time magazine in 1999. “Three Little Birds” has been used a lot in movies, commercials, and sporting events. Plus, it’s also been covered by numerous artists, including Billy Ocean, Connie Talbot, and Ziggy Marley.

Bob Marley’s music was all about spreading love, peace, and unity, and “Three Little Birds” is one powerful example of that.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Three Little Birds?

The tuning for "Three Little Birds," as recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers, is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E.  

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

Now that you know the “Three Little Birds” tuning, let’s next talk about the…

Three Little Birds Chords

To play “Three Little Birds” on guitar, you’ll only need to know 3 main chords they are A, D, and E. All of these can be played in open position. Let’s take a look at a few ways they can be played on the fretboard.

A is played from the 5th string down like this:

D can be played from the 4th string down like so:

Finally, E uses all 6 strings and can be played like this:

All right. That’s how to play those chords in open position. However, if I was playing in a band with a rhythm section or wanted a tighter feel. I may play these chords higher up the neck. For example, A could be played in the 5th position from the 4th string down like this:

D makes a slight change from the A, but still keeps things on the top 4 strings like this:

Finally, E shifts down to the 4th position and can be played like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

Is Three Little Birds hard to play on guitar?

“Three Little Birds” is a great song for newer guitarists to try out because it only has 3 chords and 2 main sections. Playing an easy version through the chords is not going to require a ton of skill. However, to nail the groove like Bob Marley & The Wailers did, well that’s another story. That may take a lifetime and will require hours of playing to develop your “feel” and groove. 

Reggae guitar is an art form.

What key is Three Little Birds in?

“Three Little Birds” as recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers  is in the key of A major. The primary scale used in the song is the A major scale which is built using the notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#.

Let’s take a look at how all the chords relate in the key of A major:

• A Major (I Chord) – The tonic, or "home base." This is the most stable chord in the key and gives a sense of resolution.
• D Major (IV Chord) – The subdominant, which creates movement away from the tonic and adds tension.
• E Major (V Chord) – The dominant, which is the most powerful chord in creating musical tension. It almost always resolves back to A major, making it a crucial part of the classic I-IV-V progression. 

So that’s the theory. Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Three Little Birds?

Reggae is all about the offbeat, meaning you strum on the "ands" rather than the downbeats. You want to olay a harmonically percussive strike on the strings of the guitar. 

The rhythm pattern is:

1 “and” 2 “and” 3 “and” 4 “and” 

Each chord is played on the "and" and this gives the groove that signature bounce. 

Bob Marley himself often strummed downstrokes on the upbeat rather than upstrokes. You can try both, but I like to mimic his technique for an authentic sound. A huge key to this is focusing on muting. You want to control the pressure of your fretting hand. This is key to nailing the reggae strum. 

Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “Three Little Birds”:

Conclusion

Bob Marley may no longer be with us, but his music and message live on!  

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now:  

Jon MacLennan