Chords + Lyrics | Mamma Mia
Intro
||: D5 | Daug :|| x4
Verse 1
| D | D | G (G6) | G (Gmaj7) |
I’ve been cheated by you since I don’t know when.
| D | D | G (G6) | G (Gmaj7) |
So I made up my mind, it must come to an end.
| D | D | Daug | Daug |
Look at me now, will I ever learn? I don’t know how but I suddenly lose control.
| G | G | A | A G D/F# |
There’s a fire within my soul.
| A | A5 G D/F# |
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring.
| A5 | A5 |
One more look and I forget everything, o-o-o-oh.
Chorus 1
| D5 | D5 (G/D) |
Mamma mia, here I go again.
| G/D G6/D G/D | G/D Gmaj7/D |
My my, how can I resist you?
| D5 | D5 (G/D) |
Mamma mia, does it show again?
| G/D G6/D G/D | G/D Gmaj7/D |
My my, just how much I’ve missed you.
Chorus tag 1
| D5 | A/C# |
Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted.
| Bm | A |
Blue since the day we parted.
| C/G G | Em A |
Why, why, did I ever let you go?
| D | Bm |
Mamma mia, now I really know.
| C/G G | Em7 A |
My my, I could never let you go.
Instrumental 1
| D | Daug |
Verse 2
I’ve been angry and sad about the things that you do.
I can’t count all the times that I’ve told you we’re through.
And when you go, when you slam the door.
I think you know, that you won’t be away too long.
You know that I’m not that strong.
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring.
One more look and I forget everything, o-o-o-oh.
Chorus 2
Mamma mia, here I go again.
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I’ve missed you.
Tag 2
Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted.
Blue since the day we parted.
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, even if I say.
Bye bye, leave me now or never.
Mamma mia, it’s a game we play.
Bye bye, doesn’t mean forever.
Middle 8
| D5 | D5 |
Mamma mia, here I go again.
| G C/G G | G D/G |
My my, how can I resist you?
| D5 | D5 |
Mamma mia, does it show again?
| G C/G G | G D/G |
My my, just how much I’ve missed you.
Tag 3
Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted.
Blue since the day we parted.
Why, why did I ever let you go.
Mamma mia, now I really know.
My my, I could never let you go.
Instrumental 2 (Outro)
||: D | Daug :||
Mamma Mia Chords: Diatonic movements with one augmented chord!
The chord progression throughout Mamma Mia is diatonic to the key of D, and perhaps that’s how it began before the writers felt it needed a little extra edge.
If that’s the case, they chose to put that edge right at the top of the tune, and by doing so allowed the rest of the song to stay firmly within the diatonic framework — it certainly works!
Intro + Instrumental
That edge comes from taking the I chord and making it augmented — raising the 5th. Put this on a loop using strings, answer it with a classic guitar lick in the relative B minor blues scale, and you have a great opener.
The chords underpinning this bold statement are simply:
||: D5 | Daug :||
Verse
The verse is super basic, moving from I to IV with a few extensions:
| D | D | G (G6) | G (Gmaj7) |
Next, the intro chords return, now with a new guitar lick targeting that #5 over these chords:
| D | D | Daug | Daug |
This is followed by IV and V, using the I chord with its 3rd in the bass as a pivot:
| G | G | A | A G D/F# |
| A | A5 G D/F# | A5 | A5 |
Apart from the guitar lick itself, it can be tricky to find something effective to play here. Luckily, I’ve designed some TAB to get you going. Here’s the link: Mamma Mia – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Chorus + Middle 8
The chorus is a breakdown section pivoting between chords I and IV. I feel we should take responsibility here and find a part (yes, I’ve got TAB for you!), rather than just stop playing and angrily look towards the keyboard player.
Here are the chords I feel work best:
||: D5 | D5 (G/D)|
| G/D G6/D G/D | G/D Gmaj7/D :||
Later on, there’s a variation on this idea during what I’ve labelled a middle 8. The chords change in a subtle way:
||: D5 | D5 |
| G C/G G | G D/G :||
There’s no movement to G6 here — it’s replaced by C/G — and Gmaj7/D becomes D/G.
Chorus Tag
The big release in this tune is what I like to label the chorus tag (“Yes, I’ve been broken-hearted…”):
| D5 | A/C# |
| Bm | A |
| C/G G | Em A |
| D | Bm |
| C/G G | Em7 A |
I really like how the chords repeat here, especially in bar seven when we move from D to Bm.
Once you can play my custom-designed TAB — which makes this work in a band setting without all the original production — test yourself by using only this chord chart as you play along with ABBA.
Mamma Mia Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my Mamma Mia chord chart as a PDF, or in the industry-standard iReal Pro format, where you can change the key and alter the layout.
Mamma Mia TAB | Course Preview
In the course, I give you TAB for all sections, whether there’s a guitar part on the original recording or not. If you learn all the TAB, you could even play this without a keyboard player!
As a preview, here’s the intro, notice the early switch from 5th to #5:
Mamma Mia – A Musical + Movie!
I’m a musical snob. I only learned to like ABBA as I grew older. Now I appreciate the production, the catchy melodies, and perhaps most of all, the bass and drums.
The problem with being this way is that I find it very difficult to “have fun with music”. Even though I can see the appeal of creating a musical around a band’s songs — like Mamma Mia! or Queen’s We Will Rock You — it’s not something I’m willing to put myself through.
If you’re not like me, you’ll probably love the musical version of Mamma Mia!, and maybe even the movie, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which is based on the stage production.
Described as a joyful celebration of love, family, and music built around the timeless songs of ABBA, Mamma Mia! first opened as a stage musical in London’s West End in 1999. It quickly became one of the most successful musicals of all time. Its combination of catchy pop songs, humour, and heartfelt emotion helped it reach audiences far beyond traditional musical theatre fans (well, not me). The story was later adapted into a film in 2008, bringing the same energy to the big screen and introducing Mamma Mia! to an even wider global audience.
The plot centres on Sophie, a young woman living on a small Greek island with her mother, Donna. As Sophie prepares for her wedding, she secretly invites three men from her mother’s past, believing one of them may be her father. This simple but clever premise allows the story to explore themes of identity, independence, and the complex bond between parents and children.
What truly defines Mamma Mia! is its use of ABBA’s music. Songs such as Dancing Queen and The Winner Takes It All are woven into the narrative in a playful way. The upbeat numbers create an atmosphere of celebration, while the more reflective songs add depth and vulnerability. The familiarity of the music creates an instant emotional connection, encouraging sing-alongs and repeat viewings.
The 2008 film adaptation, starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan, was shot on location in Greece. It highlights sun-soaked landscapes, turquoise seas, and vibrant colours, enhancing the sense of escapism. While the film received mixed critical reviews — largely due to the cast’s singing — it was a huge commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing movie musicals ever made.
Both the stage musical and the film share a sense of unapologetic fun. They don’t take themselves too seriously, which is part of their enduring charm. Mamma Mia! encourages audiences to let go, embrace joy, and celebrate life’s messy, imperfect moments. Whether experienced live in a theatre or on screen, it remains a feel-good story that connects generations through music, laughter, and emotion.
I’ve chosen to be grumpy about all this fun nonsense and often find myself claiming ABBA should be left alone — which is ironic, as many years ago I felt they were awful, much like I now feel about the musical and film.
Maybe if I give it another 30 years, I’ll appreciate the musical. I’m sure it’ll still be playing in the West End.
Mamma Mia Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Mamma Mia (ABBA) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
