Kenny Rogers- The gambler

Kenny Rogers- The gambler - Easy Songs https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:10:44 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Kenny Rogers- The gambler https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler/#post-98084 Wed, 13 Apr 2005 01:54:41 +0000
Speaking of picks up, the song also steps up a half a step after the chorus just before the 4th verse.

So I tune down a half step, place a capo on the first fret, and then slide it quickly up to the second fret when it becomes time to do so.

I know this doesn't really answer your question but so long as you are strumming down with the kick drum it shouldn't sound to far off.

Here's what I got for the tab...



THE GAMBLER - Kenny Rogers (1977 Words and Music by Don Schlitz)
(TUNE DOWN 1/2 STEP & CAPO 1st FRET)

VERSE 1:

NC   D                           G               D
ON A WARM SUMMER'S EVENIN', ON A TRAIN BOUND FOR NOWHERE,
  G             D                                  A
I MET UP WITH A GAMBLER; WE WERE BOTH TOO TIRED TO SLEEP.
   D                                G             D
SO WE TOOK TURNS A STARIN', OUT THE WINDOW AT THE DARKNESS,
     G            D        A                 D
'TIL BOREDOM OVER-TOOK US,   AND HE BEGAN TO SPEAK.

VERSE 2:
                                      G                D
HE SAID "SON I'VE MADE A LIFE, OUT OF READIN' PEOPLE'S FACES,
    G                  D                                      A
AND KNOWIN' WHAT THEIR CARDS WERE, BY THE WAY THEY HELD THEIR EYES.
      D                               G                 D
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MY SAYIN', I CAN SEE YOU'RE OUT OF ACES.
      G             D            A                  D
FOR A TASTE OF YOUR WHISKEY I'LL,  GIVE YOU SOME AD-VICE."

VERSE 3: (* = single strum)
                                  G                  D
SO I HANDED HIM MY BOTTLE, AND HE DRANK DOWN MY LAST SWALLOW.
G                  D                             A
  THEN HE BUMMED A CIGARETTE, AND ASKED ME FOR A LIGHT.
        D                                G                D
AND THE NIGHT GOT DEATHLY QUIET, AND HIS FACE LOST ALL EX-PRESSION.
     G                  D                     
SAID,  "IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAY THE GAME BOY, YOU GOTTA
A                  D*
  LEARN TO PLAY IT RIGHT.â€

CHORUS: (* = single strum)

 NC         D                     G              D
â€œYOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM,  KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM,
G              D                           A
  KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY, AND KNOW WHEN TO RUN.
          D                             G              D
YOU NEVER COUNT YOUR MONEY, WHEN YOU'RE SITTIN' AT THE TABLE.
            G               D        A                   D*
THERE'LL BE TIME ENOUGH FOR COUNTIN',  WHEN THE DEALIN'S DONE.â€

   (** SLIDE CAPO UP TO 2ND FRET - STEPS UP A HALF STEP **)

D (for one measure)

VERSE 4:

 D                             G             D
â€œEV'RY GAMBLER KNOWS, THAT THE SECRET TO SUR-VIVIN' IS
G                 D                               A
  KNOWIN' WHAT TO THROW AWAY, AND KNOWING WHAT TO KEEP.
       D                          G              D
'CAUSE EV'RY HAND'S A WINNER, AND EV'RY HAND'S A LOSER,
        G                 D              A             D 
AND THE BEST THAT YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS TO,  DIE IN YOUR SLEEP.â€

VERSE 5: (* = single strum)
                                    G                       D
AND WHEN HE'D FINISHED SPEAKIN', HE TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE WINDOW,
G                 D                           A
  CRUSHED OUT HIS CIGARETTE, AND FADED OFF TO SLEEP.
    D*                             G*               D*
AND SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS, THE GAMBLER HE BROKE EVEN.
    G*           D*               A*                D*
BUT IN HIS FINAL WORDS I FOUND AN ACE THAT I COULD KEEP.

CHORUS 3X: (SECOND TIME IS VOCALS ONLY / * = single strum)

 NC         D                     G              D
â€œYOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM,  KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM,
G              D                           A
  KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY, AND KNOW WHEN TO RUN.
          D                             G              D
YOU NEVER COUNT YOUR MONEY, WHEN YOU'RE SITTIN' AT THE TABLE.
            G               D        A                   D*
THERE'LL BE TIME ENOUGH FOR COUNTIN',  WHEN THE DEALIN'S DONE.â€

]]> Easy Songs jonnyt https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler/#post-98084 Kenny Rogers- The gambler https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler/#post-8338 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 04:30:24 +0000
Can any one supply me with the chords/Strum pattern for this song?

Chords all over net, but no idea for the strum pattern

Cheers,

Rob]]> Easy Songs floydthegolfer https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/kenny-rogers-the-gambler/#post-8338