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American Pie (v3) (D Major)
Artist: Don McClean    Genre: Rock & Roll    Roman Numerals: I, I7, ii, IV, v, V7, m7    Instrument: Guitar - Standard Tuning [E,A,D,G,B,E]    Entered by: PollyEV   
▼ Show transpose, instrument, and other display options ▼
D
(D,F♯,A)
- - D A D F♯
D7
(D,F♯,A,C)
- - D A C F♯
Em
(E,G,B)
E B E G B E
G
(G,B,D)
G B D G B G
Am
(A,C,E)
- A E A C E
A7
(A,C♯,E,G)
- A E G C♯ E
C
(C,E,G)
x,3,2,0,1,0
- C E G C E


Verse 1
A [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] long,		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] long		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] time ago,
[AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] I can still re-		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] member
how that [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] music used to make me		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] smile
And I [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] knew if I		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] had my		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] chance,
That [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] I could make those		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] people dance
and [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] maybe they'd be		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] happy for a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] while
But [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] February		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] made me shiver,
with [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] every paper I'd de-		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] liver
[CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] Bad news		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] on the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] doorstep, I		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] couldn't take one		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] more step
I [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] can't re		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] member		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] if I cried when I		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] read about his		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] widowed bride
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Something		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] touched me		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] deep inside
The [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died

Chorus
So [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] bye,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] bye Miss A-		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] merican		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Pie
Drove my [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Chevy to the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] levy but the		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] levy was		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] dry
And them [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] good old		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] boys were drinkin'		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] whiskey and		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] rye
Singin' [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] this will be the day that I		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] die,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] this will be the day that I		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] die

Verse 2
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Did you write the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] book of love
[AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] And do		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] you have faith in		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] god above,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] if the bible		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] tells you so?
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Do you believe in		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] rock and roll
Can [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] music save your		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] mortal soul and can		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] you teach me how to		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] dance real		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] slow?
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Well I		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] know that you're in		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] love with him 'cuz I		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] saw you dancin'		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] in the gym
You [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] both kicked		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] off your		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] shoes, man I		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] dig those rhythm and		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] blues
[D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] I was a		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] lonely		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] teenage		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] broncin' buck with a		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] pink carnation and a		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] pickup truck
But [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] I knew		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] I was		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] out of luck the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] 		[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] I started singin'
Repeat Chorus

Verse 3
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Now for ten years we've been		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] on our own,
and [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] moss grows fat on a		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] rolling stone but		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] that's not how it used to		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] be
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] When the j		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] ester s		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] ang for the		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] king and queen
in a [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] coat he borrowed		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] from James Dean in a		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] voice that came from		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] you and		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] me
And [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] while the king was		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] looking down, the		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] jester stole his		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] thorny crown
The [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] courtroom		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] was ad		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] journed, no		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] verdict was re		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] turned
[D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] And while		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Lenin		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] read a		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] book on Marx, the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] quartet practiced		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] in the park
And [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] we sang		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] dirges		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] in the dark the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] 		[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] we were singin'
Repeat Chorus

Verse 4
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Helter skelter		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] in a summer swelter
the [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] birds flew off with a		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] fallout shelter,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] eight miles high a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] nd fallin' fast
It [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] landed		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] foul		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] on the grass
the [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] players tried for a		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] forward pass,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] with the jester on the		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] sidelines in a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] cast
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Now at		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] halftime there was		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] sweet perfume, while		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] sergeants played a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] marching Tune
[CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] We all got		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] up to dan		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] ce, but		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] we never got the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] chance
[D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] 'Cuz the		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] players		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] tried to		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] take the field, the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] marching band re		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] fused to yield
Do [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] you re		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] call what		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] was the feel the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] 		[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] we started singin'
Repeat Chorus

Bridge
And [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] there we were all		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] in one place,
a [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] generation		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] lost in space,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] with no time left to		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] start again
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] So come on		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Jack be		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] nimble,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] Jack be quick,		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] Jack Flash sat on a		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] candle
[CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] stick,		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] 'cuz fire is the		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] devil's only		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] friend
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] And a		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] s I watched him		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] on the stage, my		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] hands were clenched in		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] fists of rage
No [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] angel		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] born in		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Hell could		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] bread that Satan's		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] spell
[D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] And as the		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] flames climbed		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] high in		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] to the night to		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] light the sacri		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] ficial rite
[CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] I saw		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Satan		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] laughing		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] with delight the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] 		[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] he was singin'
Repeat Chorus

Verse 5
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] I met a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] girl who		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] sang the blues
And [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] I asked her for some		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] happy news, but		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] she just smiled and turned a		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] way
I [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] went down		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] to the		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] sacred store
[EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] Where I'd		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] heard the music		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] years before, but the		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] man there said the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] music
[CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] wouldn't		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] play
But [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] in the streets the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] children screamed, the		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] lovers cried and the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] poets dreamed
But [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] not a		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] word was		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] spoken, the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] church bells all were		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] broken
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] And the		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] three men		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] I ad		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] mire most, the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] Father,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] Son, and the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] Holy Ghost
They [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] caught the		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] last train		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] for the coast the		 [AmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Perfect Fifth] day the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] music		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] died,
Repeat Chorus

Final Chorus
Slower
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] They were singin'
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Bye,		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] bye Miss		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] American		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Pie
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Drove my		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Chevy to the		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] levy but the		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] levy was		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] dry
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] And them		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] good old		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] boys were drinkin'		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] whiskey and		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] rye
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Singin'		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] this will be the		 [D7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Unison] day that I		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] die		 [CMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Minor Seventh] 		[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth]
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