The Beach Boys - When I Grow Up (To Be A Man): Guitar Chords

Learn to play "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) Guitar Chords and Lyrics by The Beach Boys

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

G#                C# Cm6 A#m7 G#
When I grow up to be     a   man

       G#                       D#
Will I dig the same things that turn
            G#
me on as a kid?
                                 D#
Will I look back and say that I wish
                     G#
I hadn't done what I did?
              A#m7  D#            Cm7        Fm7
Will I joke around and still dig those sounds

Chorus:
    F#           C# Cm6 A#m7 G# C#
When I grow up to be     a  man?

Will I look for the same things in
a woman that I dig in a girl?
(fourteen, fifteen)
Will I settle down fast or will
I first wanna travel the world?
(sixteen, seventeen)
Now I'm young and free, but how will it be

Chorus:
When I grow up to be a man?

Will my kids be proud or think their
old man is really a square?
(eighteen, nineteen)
When they're out having fun, yeah
Will I still want to have my share?
(twenty, twenty-one)
Will I love my wife for the rest of
my life (rest of my life)

Chorus:
When I grow up to be a man?
What will I be when I grow up to be a man?

(twenty-two, twenty-three)
Won't last forever
(twenty-four, twenty-five)
It's kind of sad
(twenty-six, twenty-seven)
Won't last forever
(twenty-eight, twenty-nine)
It's kind of sad
(thirty thirty-one)
Won't last forever
(thirty-two)


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A#m7

Guitar chord A#m7

C#

Guitar chord C#

Cm6

Guitar chord Cm6

Cm7

Guitar chord Cm7

D#

Guitar chord D#

F#

Guitar chord F#

Fm7

Guitar chord Fm7

G#

Guitar chord G#

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" by The Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys Song List