Big Yellow Taxi
View chords used in this chart
GUITAR TUNING: E B E G# B E
Intro : A A6 A A6 A B B6 B B6 B
E A/E E7 A/E E A/E E7 A/E E
A A6 A E A/E E7 A/E E
They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot
A A6 B B6 E
With a pink hotel, a boutique and a swingin' hot spot. Oh,
[Refrão]
E5 Emaj7
Don't it always seem to go
A/E E
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone
A A6 B B6 E
They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot
E A/E E7 A/E E A/E E7 A/E E
(Choo bop bop bop bop, choo bop bop bop bop)
A A6 A E A/E E7 A/E E
The took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum,
A A6 B B6 E
And they charged all the people a dollar-and-a-half just to see 'em.
Chorus
A A6 A E A/E E7 A/E E
Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now.
A A6 B B6 E
Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, Please!
Chorus x2
A A6 A E A/E E7 A/E E
Late last night I heard the screen door slam
A A6 B B6 E
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
Chorus (with only one chooo bop, bop. at each end)
A A6 B B6 E
They've paved paradise, put up a parking lot (choo bop bop bop bop)
A A6 B B6 E
They've paved paradise, put up a parking lot.
Chord fingerings for this tuning:
E 0 0 0 0 0 0
E5 0 0 3 0 5 0
E7 0 0 4 0 3 0
Emaj7 0 0 3 0 4 0
A 5 5 5 5 5 5
B 7 7 7 7 7 7
B6 7 7 7 7 9 7
A6 5 5 5 5 7 5
A/E 0 0 1 0 2 0
NOTE: On the first two lines of the chorus and
often on the verse, it is better to slightly mute the chords so
that the rhythm can be heard but the actual notes barelynoticed.
How to play Big Yellow Taxi
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 E. 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.