American Pie
View chords used in this chart
G D/F# Em7
A long_, long_ time ago,
Am C Em D
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile_
G D/F# Em7
And I knew if I had my chance,
Am C Em C D
I could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while
D (&Riff1) 4x
G Am C Am
Did_ you_ write the book of love and do you have faith in God above?
Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
If the Bible tells you so___
G D/F# Em7
Now do you believe in rock and roll
Am7 C
and can music save your mortal soul and
Em Am7 D Dsus4 D
Can you teach me how to dance real_ slow_______?
Em D
Well, I know that you're in love with him,
Em D
Cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
C G Am7
You both kicked off your shoes,
C D7
Man I dig those rhythm and blues__.
G D/F# Em7
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck with a
Am C
Pink carnation and a pick up truck,
G D/F# Em7 C D7 G C G
But I knew that I__ was out__ of luck the day__, the mu___sic, died__.
D7
I started singing,
[Refrão]G C G D
Bye__ - Bye__, Miss American Pie,
G C G D
Drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry,
G C G D
Them good ole' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin'
Em A7 Em D
This'll be the day that I die___, This'll be the day that I die___.
D D/C D/B
G Am C Am
I met a girl who sang the blues and I asked her for some happy news__,
Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
But she just smiled and turned away____.
G D/F# Em
Well I went down to the sacred store
Am7 C Em Am7
Where I'd heard the music years before, but the man there said the music
D Dsus4 D
wouldn't play_____
Em D
Well now in the streets the children screamed,
Em D
the lovers cried and the poets dreamed
C G Am C D
But not a word was spoken__, the church bells all were broken____
G D/F# Em Am7 C
And the three men I__ admire the most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
G D/F# Em7 C D7 G C G
They caught the last_ train for the coast_ the day__, the mu___sic, died__.
D7
They started singing,
REFRÃO
D D/C D/B
REFRÃO
D D/C D/B
We started singing___
D D/C D/B
We started singing___
D D/C D/B
We started singing___
D D/C D/B
We started singing___
How to play American Pie
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.