Intermediate melody · key of C major
Aura Lee — Easy Guitar Tab
Aura Lee — George R. Poulton (1861) — the melody later used for "Love Me Tender". In the key of C major, 4/4 time — a good next step once you can play simple tunes. Public domain.
Aura Lee — guitar tab
C D7 G7 C e|------------|------------|------------|------------| B|----1--0--1-|-3-----3----|-1--0-----0-|-1----------| G|-0----------|----2-------|-------2----|------------| D|------------|------------|------------|------------| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------| C D7 G7 C e|------------|------------|------------|------------| B|----1--0--1-|-3-----3----|-1--0-----0-|-1----------| G|-0----------|----2-------|-------2----|------------| D|------------|------------|------------|------------| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------| E7 Am C C e|-0--0--0----|-0--0--0----|-0----------|-0----------| B|------------|------------|----3--1--3-|------------| G|------------|------------|------------|------------| D|------------|------------|------------|------------| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------| A7 D7 G7 C e|-0--0--1--0-|------------|-------0----|------------| B|------------|-3-----3----|-1--0-----3-|-1----------| G|------------|----2-------|------------|------------| D|------------|------------|------------|------------| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------|
Standard tuning. Top line = thin high E string. Numbers are frets (0 = open string). This tab uses frets 0–3 on strings 1, 2, 3.
The notes, in letters, numbers or Do-Re-Mi
Show notes as
Numbers and Do-Re-Mi count from the key note (C), so you can sing it or play it in any key.
Chords
CD7G7E7AmA7
How to practise it
- Press Play and follow the highlighted numbers in the tab. Slow the speed slider down until you can follow every note.
- Play along slowly, one bar at a time. Use one finger per fret: frets 1, 2, 3 and 4 get fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- When the melody feels comfortable, untick Play chords too and play it alone, then try strumming the chords while the player plays the tune.
- Test your ear in the melody trainer: it plays a phrase and you name its last note — or, on Advanced and Master, tap out every note you hear.
The lowest note is G; the guitar is written an octave higher than it sounds, so this tab matches standard guitar notation.
More intermediate melodies
Beginner · C majorHappy Birthday to YouMildred & Patty Hill (1893 melody "Good Morning to All")Intermediate · A minorSakura SakuraTraditional Japanese folk songIntermediate · G majorMinuet in GChristian Petzold (c. 1725), from the Anna Magdalena Bach NotebookIntermediate · F majorAngels We Have Heard on HighTraditional French carol "Les Anges dans nos campagnes"Intermediate · C majorBrahms' Lullaby (Wiegenlied)Johannes Brahms (1868)Intermediate · G majorAuld Lang SyneTraditional Scottish (Robert Burns, 1788)
Questions
Is Aura Lee easy to play on guitar?
Yes — this version stays between frets 0 and 3 and it is rated intermediate. Start slowly with the speed slider and speed up as it gets comfortable.
What chords go with Aura Lee?
This arrangement uses C, D7, G7, E7, Am, A7 in the key of C.